Thistle Team Newsletter October

Photo by Kerwin Robertson
Thistle Times
The Monthly Newsletter
Issue 1 / October 2020
HOW DO THEY
DO IT??
Your complete guide to our
new Thistle Room Pods
WHATS ON...
In your community
GET TO KNOW...
Tom Ellis
+ so much more!

WELCOME
Hello & welcome to the first edition of the Thistle Times for
October 2020!
I believe I have met most of you now but my name is Kate & I
recently started as a Marketing Assistant here at Thistle!
As one of my first projects, I was really keen to launch a team
newsletter, especially in these challenging times as a way for us
to stay connected with the goings on of the businesses & to
lighten the mood!
Every month the newsletter will cover a range of topics such as
our star story, Directors Deets & a Q&A with a member of the
team!
I hope you enjoy & if anyone is keen in taking part in
future editions, just shoot me an email or pop up
and see me!
My child Zeus & I
Issue 1 / October 2020
2

GEARING UP FOR
GARDEN PODS
Last month saw the grand unveiling of our brand new garden Room
Pods. We caught up with Architectural Technician Tom Ellis to find out
how the has been & how the team have helped make such a unique &
innovative product.
Q: How was it for you being part of such a large project?
A: It was very interesting for me to be part of this project.
Normally as an architect, after we send away the
drawings, we very rarely see the completed product.
With this, I've been able to experience a project from
beginning to end. It's very surreal to see the pod sitting
outside and know that as a team we have been able to
achieve this, especially in these difficult times. It is also
very exciting to be part of a team that aren't afraid to
take risks. In this case, those risks have really paid off.
Q: And how have our clients reacted to the launch?
A: The feedback has been fantastic. We are offering a
different sort of pod to many of our competitors so many
are very excited at the prospect of the new product.
Q: How have the leads been looking for the pods so far?
A: We have had a lot of queries about them! We
expected with the pandemic and people working from
home that it would be the office pods which were most
popular but we have been designing everything from
playrooms to jaccuzzi pods!
If you haven't yet seen our brand new
display, you can view our Family Pod A
beside the decking display outside our
showroom!
Issue 1 / October 2020
Tom's Takeaways
None of this would be possible without
the support I received from the team
during this time.
Specifically I would like to highlight the
work of Michael, who worked many
hours and night shifts to help launch the
product to the public, as well as
Jonathan & Zoe for taking over the
extensions work that I was unable to
complete and also managing the
increased workload perfectly. I would
also like to thank Nick & Ian for making
this project happen and for all the
support through the many questions
and changes we went through before
we finalised everything!
My thanks are also extended out to Phil
Angelo who organised the trades for the
showroom build, Paul Mair for helping
with costing, even during his time off! As
well as the Gardens & Outdoors team
for supplying and building the decking.
I have definitely taken advice from every
aspect of the company and truly believe
that the collective team effort is what
has geared us towards success.
3

Why should clients choose our
Room Pods?
No Planning or Building Warrant Required
Premium Quality Glass Wool Insulation Throughout,
Keeping you Warm or Cool All Year Round
A State of the Art, High Performance, Environmentally
Friendly Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) Roof Structure
Aesthetically Pleasing Siberian Larch Cladding, Grown
Slowly for More Durability as Standard
Comprehensive 10-Year Thistle Guarantee
Completely Free Design & Quotation Service Carried out by
our Highly Skilled Team, Using Custom 3-D designs, Known and
Loved by our Customers
Project Managed from Start to Finish, Completely by Thistle and
our own Tradespeople - Giving you Peace of Mind
Multi Award Winning UK Conservatory Installer of The
Year 2015 & 2017
Issue 1 / October 2020
4

DIRECTORS
DEETS
I see and
appreciate how
hands on every
member of the
team has been to
ensure we are
working as efficient
as possible
Issue 1 / October 2020 5

Hello and welcome to the first edition of our
newly launched newsletter. It is my hope
through this monthly publication we can create
a sense of stability amongst the team, through
keeping everyone as informed as possible
during these unprecedented times. As long as
we continue to deliver the outstanding
customer service we are known for I truly
believe there is no reason why we cannot come
out of this period in a strong position. Already
our enquiries have been much healthier than
we could have ever expected during lockdown!
Firstly, I would like to take a moment to
acknowledge the effort the entire team is
putting in, to get the business through these
difficult times. Right now we are facing a
complex issue within our supply chain but I see
and appreciate how hands on every member of
the team has been to ensure we are working as
efficiently as possible to ensure we have a
healthy amount of work ahead of us. Following
from this, we recently received the news that
we had won the 2020 UK National Customer
Satisfaction award from the Independent
Network! Such an award came as a surprise to
us, especially given the current situation!
On a more serious note, I would like to remind
the team to not get complacent when it comes
to the Coronavirus as we can work around the
current situation as long as we all follow
government issued guidance & ensure we are
not putting our fellow colleagues at risk. In
addition to this, I want the team to know that
we are all in this together and I urge anyone
who feels like they are struggling in this
current climate to speak to a colleague to
ensure the appropriate resources are made
available to you.
In other news, we have celebrated a couple of
milestones as a business recently, including
our 25th anniversary, we have certainly come
a long way from the Bedford Place days!
Furthermore, we have just released another
plot at our development of new homes at
Cranfield, meaning only 3 plots now remain.
I would also like to let the team know that this
month, work will be being carried out to
restore the remainder of the warehouse, to
ensure the entirety of the building is
structurally safe & water-tight for all members
of the team. During this time there will be
slight disruption, including restricted parking
but it is essential such work is carried out to
secure us for winter.
I would like to leave the team with
this, remember to always under
promise and over deliver when
talking with our clients, this way
we can always deliver an
outstanding service and work
towards a great result that
exceeds expectations!
Remember to under
promise and over
deliver
Ian
Bruce
Issue 1 / October 2020
6

Community Corner
YOUR ONE-STOP-SHOP TO ALL THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NORTH EAST
Local charity Street Friends Helping
the Homeless are currently appealing
for more volunteers to help with
daily operations such as handing out
meals and information flyers to the
community. Moreover, they have
released a plea for individuals to
donate food & toiletries to the
charity due to an increase in
individuals using the service
because of the Coronavirus
pandemic. To find out more about
how you can help visit their
Facebook or website for more
details!
https://www.facebook.com/justinstreetangels/
Issue 1 / October 2020
7

Throwback
Territory
What we
were up to
this time
in...
At the end of August back in 2016 we were getting all shook up behind bars at Peterhead
Prison! Thistle were main sponsors of “Jail House Rock” the first ever rock concert to be
held on the grounds of the former-prison which began a new life as a public museum in the
summer of the same year. Unfortunately Elvis didn’t get round to singing the Thistle
Jingle during his act, but a great
night was had by all in a very unique
setting. Originally built in 1888, the
2016
prison was steeped in history,
perhaps most famously as the site of
a 1987 prisoner riot that had to be
brought under control by the SAS!
Issue 1 / October 2020 8

Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED
TO DO AS A CHILD BUT HAVE NEVER GOT
ROUND TO DOING?
A: CLIMB MACHU PICCHU. I WAS ACTUALLY
FINALLY SUPPOSED TO DO THAT THIS YEAR,
BEFORE CORONAVIRUS STARTED.
Q. IF YOU COULD GO TO DINNER WITH ANY 3
FAMOUS FIGURES, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD
YOU PICK?
A: I ACTUALLY HAVE THIS ANSWER AS A NOTE
ON MY PHONE.. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO BE
JIMI HENDRIX. JIM MORRISON & QUENTIN
TARANTINO. I'M NOT TOO SURE HOW MUCH
EATING THEY'D DO THOUGH. THERE WOULD BE A
LOT OF ALCOHOL THEN JUST ME SAT WITH MY
STEAK.
Q. IF YOU COULD BE FAMOUS FOR ONE THING?
WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO BE KNOWN
FOR?
A: MOTOR GP RIDER, ABSOLUTELY.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY FEARS?
A: NOT REALLY ANY MORE BUT SHARKS ARE A
BIT SCARY AREN'T THEY... I WAS ALWAYS SCARED
OF THEM AS A KID.
Q: CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR BEST JOKE?
A: *PLEASE SEE TOM DIRECTLY FOR THE BEST
JOKE HIS SON HAS TOLD HIM RECENTLY*
Q: IF YOU HAD TO CREATE YOUR PERFECT MEAL
DEAL, WHAT WOULD YOU PICK?
A: SALT & VINEGAR CRISPS & AN OASIS. I'M NOT
TOO SURE FOR A SANDWICH. IF THIS WAS
SUBWAY FOR SURE A MEATBALL SUB BUT FROM
A SUPERMARKET, MAYBE SALMON.
Q: WOULD THAT BE WITH CREAM CHEESE
A: I GUESS IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT MOOD
I'M IN.
Q: HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY PARANORMAL
EXPERIENCES?
A: NOT PERSONALLY BUT I HAVE WENT THROUGH
TO MY SONS BEDROOM BEFORE AND HES BEEN
STANDING POINTING TO THE CORNER OF THE
ROOM LIKE HES TRYING TO SHOW ME
SOMETHING BUT NOTHING IS THERE! NOT TOO
SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
POINTLESS
QUESTIONS WITH
TOM ELLIS
A R C H I T E C T U R A L
T E C H N I C I A N
Q: IF A MOVIE WAS MADE ABOUT YOUR
LIFE, WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO PLAY
YOURSELF?
A: WELL I'M NOT TOO SURE WHY
SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO MAKE A
MOVIE ABOUT MY LIFE, IT WOULD BE
VERY BORING THAT IS FOR SURE!
PROBABLY A YOUNG ARNOLD
SCHWARZENEGGER, I WAS GOING TO SAY
RYAN GOSLING BUT THEN I WOULD COME
ACROSS A BIT FULL OF MYSELF.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE
DESTINATION THAT YOU HAVE VISITED?
A: FRASER ISLAND IN AUSTRALIA. IT IS
PRETTY MUCH UNINHABITED, WE GOT TO
CAMP THERE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS
AND DRIVE BUGGIES ROUND THE ISLAND.
IT WAS REALLY COOL
Q: WHICH MEMBER OF THE THISTLE TEAM
INSPIRES YOU THE MOST?
A: DEFINITELY IRENE, WITHOUT HER I
WOULDN'T GET PAID!
Issue 1 / October 2020 9

Interesting Holidays
for the Diary...
ASIDE FROM HALLOWEEN,
WHAT OTHER HOLIDAYS CAN
WE CELEBRATE?
October 1st - World V
egetarian etarian Da
y
show your support for those herbivores
October 4th - National Ships in Bottles Day
whatever floats your boat
OCTOBER 2020
October 9th - Bring your Teddy Bear to Work
Day
if you go down into Thistle today, you're sure of a big surprise
October 12th - International Scream in
Frustration Day
we ❤ technology
October 15th - National Face your Fears Day
Sounds good in theory but is absolutely a bad decision
October 27th - Cranky Co-Work
ork
er Day
we love you really
October 27th - Mother-in-law Da
y
they just care... a lot
October 29th - National Cat Day
my personal favourite
October 30th - Haunted Refrigerator Night
who's taking one for the team and going on showroom duty?
Issue 1 / October 2020 10

Garden Ofces
More of us are working from home than ever before, but finding
the space to do so isn’t always easy. The kitchen table has taken
on a second life as a workspace for many people and while our
homes bring us comfort, they can also bring distractions!
With a Garden Studio you can create the perfect Home Office
without having to give up any space in your existing home.
A Garden Office can provide you with the extra space you need to
work in privacy and comfort – and the only commute you have to
deal with is the length of your garden!
Create the perfect Garden Office with a Thistle Office Pod.
Garden Gyms
Time is precious – so why not cut out the journey to your local Gym and
create a workout space that is just a few footsteps away in your own
Garden! No membership fees, no noise or crowds – just you and your
very own personalised workout space.
Just pop down to the end of your garden for a workout – any time of day,
365 days a year!
Our Garden Gyms are designed with a concrete floor to easily hold the
weight of heavy gym equipment.
Create the perfect Garden Gym with a Thistle Fitness Pod.
Garden Family Rooms
Create an additional living space, without having to change the
layout of your home with a Garden Family Room!
Whether your family needs more space for work, study, hobbies or
play, a Garden Room is a practical, comfortable and affordable
solution.
From Playrooms to Garden Bars, Garden Libraries to Garden
Cinemas and from Man-Caves to She-Sheds, with our largest
Garden Rooms your imagination really is the limit!
Create the perfect Family Garden Room with a Thistle Family Pod.
Issue 1 / October 2020 11