Three-Minute Interview: Peter Breddal

Describe yourself in three words?

Danish, craftsman and (over)analytical.

When you were at school, what did you want to be and why?

I wanted to be an architect or civil engineer but my math skills were not quite sufficient.  I spent four years at business school after which I knew that a corporate career was not for me, though I’m glad it taught me how to read a balance sheet and profit and loss a/c.

How did you get to be where you are today?

My family business was started by my parents Nina and Paul in 1963, and this offered me the perfect balance between my latent craftsmanship and the business skills I learnt at college. I joined them in 1973 and have never looked back.

 Which aspect of your job do you enjoy and why?

Visiting customers. The logistics of getting round the country can be very tiring but it is more than made up for by the good company I enjoy with a wide variety of family jewellery businesses.

What is your proudest achievement?

Aside from family, maintaining a sound business for more than 40 years.

What is the best advice you’ve been given in work or in life in general?

The Three Ps: being ‘patient, personable and persistent’.

What is your next goal?

To expand our business with family and craft jewellers, these are the businesses who we most identify with.

This feature first appeared in the July 2014 issue of Jewellery Focus.