Q&A: Victoria Elliott, business development, Datum

Victoria has been in sales for 20 years: five years within the printing industry and 15 years in the motor trade. She’s a single parent to a “beautiful 10-year-old daughter who keeps me on my toes”, and says she will always be a rock chick at heart.

What is your nickname? 

I answer to most abbreviations of my name, Victoria, Vicki or Vic. But I do have one customer that calls me Dave

Why did you get into printing? 

After being in the motor trade for so long, I was looking for a new challenge. Printing is a great industry, no job is the same. You need to know the right product for your client’s needs and create something that’s within their budget and delivered on time

What would be your dream job? 

If I wasn’t in print I would have loved to have been an archaeologist

Who would play you in a movie about your life? 

Sandra Bullock as she can be serious and a little bit quirky too! 

What would you most like to print? 

The Ikea catalogue and the Argos catalogue, not that I’m being greedy

What is your favourite film? 

Any of the Harry Potters (My daughter made me write that)

What is your favourite TV programme? 

Gray’s Anatomy 

Sweet or savoury? 

Savoury! Crisps or popcorn over chocolate any day of the week

Who or what do you hate the most? 

Brexit. Totally fed up of hearing about it

Who do you admire most in the industry? 

Scott Pearce and Mark Gamble they are my MDs and they really are nice, genuine people. Family focused and with great business minds. As a single parent this means so much to me having employers that understand how hard it can be. But also know how to treat customers and produce great work

What is your favourite saying? 

Awesome! 

What is your favourite album? 

Too many to choose just one, Pearl Jam Ten, Nirvana Nevermind, The Cadillac Three Legacy, Eagles Hotel California... I could go on forever

What book are you reading at the moment? 

I’m reading War Horse with my daughter. But I love anything trashy, like Danielle Steel, I hate to admit 

Cat or dog, or…? 

Dogs. I have a British bulldog called Casey LuLu and a Jack Russell called Samuel. We make up a funny but happy little family

What is your greatest luxury in life? 

Shoes, shoes and more shoes (I have over 120 pairs but would always find room for more)

What is the strangest job you’ve ever done? 

Producing a 10ft Foamex cat

Who would you like to be stuck on a desert island with? 

Jim Morrison. Not only is he HOT he can sing to me all day and read poetry 

What is your greatest ambition? 

To be a great mum! 

What’s your greatest fear? 

Not being a great mum

Who or what makes you laugh?

My daughter and my friends always know how to make me laugh until my face hurts

Which celebrity would you like to get out of here? Why? 

Everyone from the only way is Essex. Gives us true Essex girls a bad name

Most embarrassing moment? 

Falling off of a very high pair of shoes in a club

Where would you like to be right now? 

On a beach sunbathing somewhere very hot

What’s your worst fashion disaster? 

I was a Brossette when I was a teenager. Need I say more? 

Which superpower would you like to have? 

Mind control 

Who would be your favourite party guests? 

Prince! We could party like it was 1999

Where would you go if you could time-travel?

Ancient Egypt 

What was your childhood obsession? 

Cabbage patch dolls 

What is the worst kind of print? 

Low-budget POS (why do people do that when it represents their business?)

What advice would you give to your teenage self? 

Don’t leave home. My mum was Italian/Maltese and was an amazing cook and did all my washing and ironing. Not sure why I wanted to leave home so badly?

How would you like to be remembered? 

As a good mum, kind, caring and hard working

Life is…? 

Today is blessed, the rest remembered (Jim Morrison)