Name: Sue O’Reilly
Job Title: Product Information Adviser
Tell us a bit about yourself
I live in Hednesford, about 20 minutes drive from the Armitage site. I have been married to Brendan for 22 years, I have three older sisters, one of whom is my twin and I am the youngest by 12 mins. My mom still says Jane pushed me out the way to get out first. We have two beautiful Chocolate Labradors, Dexter and Ellie, who are nine years old and we enjoy taking them for walks everyday over Cannock Chase.
We live and work for our holidays. We love America and have been going there for the last 20-odd years, east and west coasts. We were due to go to Texas last year for the first time, then COVID hit. Oh well, another time. Our favourite place is Sanibel Island, just off the west coast of Florida. It is a beautiful, tranquil place to relax but look out for the alligators! I did see a baby one in a pond in front of some shops, and then the last time we were there, two years ago, we saw iguanas running around. Now they can be big suckers too.
Describe your job to a five-year-old
When people have problems with their toilets and showers, I help them.
What do you like most about your job?
Helping people, from guiding architects through our website, advising what products would work best. To troubleshooting with the plumbers who are on site, trying to set up a Sensorflow 21 tap, and hearing that sigh of relief from them when it is working correctly.
How did you get here?
After leaving school at 16, I went on a Youth Opportunity Scheme at Meynell Valves in Wolverhampton. I was there for 15 years and had various jobs, from working in the packing area to being a wages clerk and then ending up in customer care/sales, until I was made redundant and we had to train the team at Mira to take over from us. Then in one year I had six rubbish little jobs. One only lasted a day; I walked out and never went back. Shocking, I know. I’ve been here now since August 1998. I started on the contracts and moved to aftersales/product information in 2011 to present day.
What motivates you?
People – helping them, being appreciated and loved.
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
Anyone that works in the movies. I’d love to work somewhere like Universal Studios, in LA of course. It also benefits from having better weather.
Your favourite song lyric or line from a film?
This is hard, as I have lots and lots of quotes. Me and my sister Chris, are always quoting them and using them to sum up our situations. Mostly from Shrek and Lion King, these make us laugh. “You cut me deep Shrek”, “I’m a donkey on the edge”, “I’m all alone, with no one to love me”, “Mufasa oohh do it again”.
Your favourite app?
Google Maps – I love it when we are booking our holiday. I have to search for the house or apartment, so I can see where we will be staying. That determines if we book that one or not. Very sad I know, but I have to find it. It drives Brendan mad.
Biggest facepalm moment at work?
I don’t think I have one for myself, but I do believe I have caused others to do face palms, which they end up muttering “did she really say that in front of….!?”
I do have a funny story… When I first started in contracts, I was speaking with Dennis Fowles who is in Cardiff, so I asked him if he knew what was the best thing to come out of Wales? He said what? I said the road to England, he promptly put the phone down on me. When I next spoke with him he told me he had drawn me a line and said that I was not to step over it, and to this day I still step over it. He is a lovely man and I can still make him laugh with my wit and cheek, which is why I am sure he loves me.