Richard Hagan talks making his company ‘Crystal Doors’ go green, Mental Health & Career Advice! Interview with The NGY Show, Hosted by Block Builders
Entrepreneur Richard Hagan who built the company ‘Crystal Doors’
spoke to The NGY Show, hosted by Block Builders on Unity Radio
to discuss the importance of making his company Crystal Doors go green.
Richard also goes on to discuss Mental Health
and share some top tips & career advice.
Listen back to the full interview for more or read below!
The NGY Show
We are the next gen youths. Hi, welcome back to the NGY show here on Unity radio. And today, we’re going to be joined by Richard Hagen, who’s the managing director of Crystal Doors. Crystal Doors manufacture bespoke vinyl wrap floors and accessories for kitchen, bedroom and bathroom retailers. One of the most impressive things about crystal doors is that they have a unique and radical approach to environmental protection by 2013. They aim to be carbon neutral. Fisher very interesting talking about today. Hi, Richard, and welcome to the show. How are you today?
Richard Hagan
Hi, I’m very well. Thank you. Thanks for inviting me here, Leo.
The NGY Show
So you’re the managing director of Crystal Doors for houses out here. Could you please explain what your company does?
Richard Hagan
Certainly will do. But thank you very much for the introduction. That was brilliant. And thank you for inviting me here to talk this evening. For all of us every night is an item that now has been for nearly a whole year. I believe talking sharing thoughts and feeling real unity in action. The global society is about supporting each other crystal doors I started 27 years ago and we manufacture so we’ve got big machines and they fully automated so the guys that we’ve got and the girls are button pushers is like playing a game it is so much fun now in manufacturing. The factory starts at 6:30 in the morning, and then one shift finishes and another shift comes in and it’s 12 o’clock before we finished that’s Monday to Friday for that would bang out about 3000 items every single week. To kitchens bedrooms and bathrooms to people’s homes shopfitting hotels, restaurants, motorhomes you name it whack a sticker panel, I’ll put one there for you.
The NGY Show
Wow, that’s really interesting. You know,
on your website, we saw a custom Batman logo that you had made. Do you think you can make the Batmobile? And what is the most craziest piece that your company has made for a customer so far.
Richard Hagan
I’m going to expand it now. And you can only hear what is an electric car. I’ve got three times even hear it. I’ve got one of these Tesla’s one of the fastest and P 100. d 2.4 0-60 that I can make it drive autonomously with my phone. So I can order things from McDonald’s winde the window down, play the music, change the channels, it is a Batmobile. The technology that’s coming through nowadays for you to enjoy when you get to my age will be absolutely incredible. And all with people at the info group at the landing in Salford. They’re pushing artificial reality, this idea of being able to do something where you’re sitting now but but absolutely anywhere. It’s all about creativity. And this is where we’re going to be the next area and creativity is what crystal doors does. So yes, we’ve got some really, really exciting things that we’ve done for the people. I think probably the main ones is so like curved panels, 3d panels that you’ll have seen on TVs and in shops we do mirror tiles, therefore you can see yourself in them. The main one for crystal doors to do with creativity is our ability to switch over on the day of lockdown is crystal doors was the company that produced over 6000 overbed tops for all the nightingale hospitals throughout the country, doing our bits for COVID-19. And obviously trying to get people into recovery. On the other side of it, though, is when we are open companies like gamma radiation, they’re up in Scotland have private jets for the billionaires of this world. We did a huge reception side that was very, very creative Formula One, we’ve done a workbench for them that you’ll see at the side of the term that the track. And then the main one that we’re working with at the moment is footasylum, Greater Manchester has got some fantastic companies and to do with sustainability, I’m supporting them as much as possible. And that’s when creativity is really going to get pushed to the limit, if you will a lot about famous people, Aamir Khan, we’ve done his bedroom, Man City, Vincent Kompany, I’ve been to his house, I’ve been to his bedroom, there live a different lifestyle to us. And this is the thing that we need to address should be an equal opportunity and equal share of this wonderful world that we live in.
The NGY Show
The environment is obviously very important to you and your company. Could you please describe to us why it means to be carbon neutral and why you feel it’s important to you and crystal doors to become carbon neutral by 2022.
Richard Hagan
Absolutely, absolutely brilliant question. Thank you very much the need to step back first, the thing that is fundamental to me, the most important is to have that respect for people. And now respect to the planet. It’s that simple. So sustainability, by definition is to leave an environment in the same or better state when you arrive. So if you go into a hotel, you don’t trash it, to try to leave in sort of an okay stage. So we can sorted out for this world. The whole economy values money, not people not environment. This is why now I’m so passionate about doing business different so for crystal doors this year with are going to be carbon neutral. We’ve done all the things that the government wants to do that cop 2060 trying to push for all the way up to 25th before they’re going to do it. I’ve already done it. I started in 2015 2022 before cop 26 starts, I will be carbon neutral for scope one, two, and three, which is sort of the technical stuff to do with the tick boxes I’ve got to do. For me now is no respect. no business with crystal doors by the end of this year, time for talking is almost over. It’s now time for action. These people might like yourselves, which is why I’m so privileged to be on the show, is we created the problem at my age, and we are leaving it to you to have to pick up the litter, pick up the problem, it’s not fair.
The NGY Show
What advice would you give to people who want to start a company?
Richard Hagan 5:32
That is a really good question. It’s a hard one, there’s a lot of people want to start a company and then want to make themselves rich. So there’s two reasons people could start a company, one is a great idea. And it makes business sense, they are going to get sales, they are going to get customers, and it’s going to work. And other people just see it as Oh, well. Let me work for myself. Some people can’t work for other people as in being told what to do, or work within that environment is like people work on bands, they love the little environment, but they’re not being sort of pushed around. It’s just like I’m in, I’m in control and responsible. So I really enjoy being a boss and an owner of 35 employees. But at the same time, I’m responsible for those people. So it’s a hard decision in life to make to sort of say, you want to have your own company. So most people start as self employed, if you’ve got a great, great idea, there’s places like the landing, the infogroup, supporting 50, female, freelance creative people, because obviously, that’s an area that the government didn’t support that well. And then putting them to sort of say, this is how you run business. And tomorrow, they’re launching their new brand it’s people like them. That’s Salford, at the landing, where you can sort of log in, have a look at their websites, and connect to people like them, because that’s what they are. They’re an inspiration for small businesses, people have got great ideas. And that is that that’s what businesses have Tesla richest man in the world. Now, Elan Musk, it was just a great idea that he came up with once. And then he got a team of people that are talented around him. And yes, if that’s what you want in life, to have your own company, you’ve got a lot of responsibility, which is what I’ve got, but at the same time, you’ve got a huge amount of freedom to do whatever you want. And that’s where your creativity really comes in.
The NGY Show
Do you have any questions for us?
Richard Hagan
Yes, the projects that you’re doing, which ones have you enjoyed? And did you have some challenges? And how did you overcome them?
The NGY Show
Well, you know, for me, I was really nervous at first because I didn’t know what to expect. I thought I’d be all over the place. But it was actually really fun. When I started to get into it, you know, I’m pretty confident about it now. And it’s really nice to interview people.
Richard Hagan
It says yes, it’s really good to have different people come on, it’s best to ask them questions. Because socially, we can’t sort of dive into some of these lies about them. But obviously, on an interview, that’s when you’ve got the freedom to, to really sort of deep dive and push them. So to say, you know, get to the essence get to the truth, get to the core of what is the questions that you want to ask. So yes, it’s brilliant to interview people.
The NGY Show
At first, I thought it was like just straight into radio stuff. But actually, when you get to use to it and interview people that you don’t have a clue you won’t get used to. And like people you don’t know, you want to know more about. So yeah, I’ll just like interview people like talking to people and pretty conversation.
Richard Hagan
Brilliant. Yeah. The top three things that I look for, for an employee is creativity. Communication, more than qualifications. Because obviously, we can upskill people, and we can change what what skill sets they’ve got so a bit like myself, I knew nothing about sustainability. I’ve got no qualifications so jump on the web, we can get so much information and upskill yourselves very, very quickly. But the important one is the growth mind. A person whose mind is willing to accept that this is a changing world. We all see problems, we see opportunities, we see challenges, and then we learn to adapt, and obviously succeed, and obviously champion them. So it’s about having a passion for life, respect for others, that enthusiasm to learn. So crystal doors is an award winning team last year, we were smashed it, we won six national awards. And it’s the thing about unity and diversity. That’s what it is. It is from its fun things that make you nervous, because that’s the adrenaline. That’s the reason why we got to Alton Towers and places where we have rides is we want that sense of scared but not too scared. And that’s that is the psychologically This is sort of a perfect zone, which is if you’re not being pushed enough, you switch off if you’ve been pushed too much never know straight down. You just want to be at that level where you’re pushing yourself enough but you’ve got to be excited. And I think this is an issue with education at the moment is it doesn’t work for everybody because everybody’s unique and we all need to find what that sweet spot is to That’s a sort of say, that’s how I enjoy it. And that’s where people then run off into different directions in life to do the different things. And that’s why it’s brilliant. Everyone’s got different things, to contribute.
The NGY Show
You know, it’s absolutely amazing what you’re doing to protect the planet and this company you’ve made.
Richard Hagan
It is. A nother question is, what are your biggest concerns that aren’t being addressed today by society?
The NGY Show
You know, my biggest fear that climate change, you know, it’s very scared, you know, we have like a deadline to try to save the world.
Richard Hagan
But the other side of it is, it’s an epic journey, where heroes are made. And that’s the reason why a lot of people do enjoy my story, because mine was in 2015. Is Rochdale council rejected planning permission for my biomass burner, which is a big woodburner with our waste wood, and that is better than going into landfill. But because it’s next to Rochdale canal said, No, you can’t have it, you have done the risks, you have done the understanding, you don’t know how bad that burner is. And that’s when I got involved with the environmental side. And that’s when I learnt stupid amounts, which is why I’m here today. It is true. It’s all about whereabouts we are now what we need to do, what we can do is change the way that we are sort of consumed less understand what you’re consuming. Vegan is one of the big forms, it’s a difficult one to change in your lifestyle. But it’s understanding of learning about what is the impact to the environment on the people of all those purchases that you do and the lifestyle that you lead. And the young people as yourselves absolute champions, you just take it up and say, Yeah, I get it straight away. But when I talk to people of my age, they don’t get it. They don’t want to change. And they don’t see it as a problem even. And it’s like, Whoa, wake up. What about your children and grandchildren?
The NGY Show
Absolutely amazing. You know, I think you’re going to inspire all the listeners to this right now.
Richard Hagan
No, thank you, thank you very much indeed. This, this is what I’ve dedicated my life to now is Bristol doors. I’ve got a fantastic Operations Director, I’ve got a fantastic team. And they’re allowing me to just put so much effort and energy into what I’m doing now, which is to try and influence to educate and to support because it isn’t that difficult. It’s just understanding what we’ve got is the big fossil fuel companies, the oil, the gas, and all the rest of it are purposely because they get 5 trillion a year. It’s crazy money. And they don’t want to stop what they’re doing because they’re making money out of it. So they’re honestly pushing back and say no, no, no, everything’s okay. Obviously, other people, extinction rebellion, and paint earth and all the other people sort of say, No, we’ve got a problem. We need to do something now. And one of the difficulties I’ve got, and I don’t want to be political, but the sea bills, which has been brought out by Caroline Lucas from the Green Party, and cross party, every party, not one out, the conservatives have signed up to say, yes, that’s what we should do. yet. That’s the greenest option our country could do. And this is the difficult that we’ve got is you’ve got politics. People say yes and no, just because of the camp their sitting in, and then you’ve got big companies saying yes or no, just because it’s been making money. So they’re looking after us, they’re looking after themselves. And that is what has to change. And that’s where me in business is not me as a rich man. It’s me as a rich man supporting my employees. And that’s what needs to change around is companies like Zen internet in Rochdale, even Footasylum are doing absolutely amazing work now. And it’s about the empowering of all the employees about changing it around. It’s all for our community. It’s not for individuals to be obscenely rich, whilst the rest of us suffer.
The NGY Show
If you leave us with one piece of advice, then what would it be
Richard Hagan
live your dreams. That is really it is. I left my degree in food manufacturing. I had a vision of mass customization, I had a vision of this automation. And when I was young, I had that idea. It’s taken me 27 years to get there. What not one day have I given up? And that is the difference between people who succeed. Most people who sort of go Yeah, I’ll have a go at this, i’ll have a go at that. That’s why the question about, you know, you want to start a company, you’ve got to have a huge amount of passion and belief in yourself. And this allows anything to be possible. They can conquer anything once you’ve got that belief within your heart.
The NGY Show
Richard, I’ve got your question. So do you know when you saw Vincent company.
Richard Hagan
I went to his house. He wasn’t there. They’ve got two kitchens. This is how cool his houses he’s got a stream at the bottom of the garden going up the staircase just glass overlooking his garden down to the stream for the kitchen I saw is humongous.
The NGY Show
Did he have city all over the walls?
Richard Hagan
No, no, no, no, not once. Not Not one little bit in the parts that our went into. I would imagine it they have what’s called a trophy room. So his house is absolutely huge its gated obviously And I was going there, he had a black gloss, it had all the bedroom black gloss. And then it had a glass window. And that went through the into the bathroom. But what was more impressive is they then had a corridor with chandeliers and that was then the dressing room. And that then went into a further wardrobe. So his wardrobe is absolutely awesome. And going down the staircase, it’s just a humongous entrance hall. So obviously, these people, they know how to party they can have 30 40 50 100 people turn up their houses to be able to entertain. And that is the other side is people have that sort of importance and fame. And knowledge is one, they need a helicopter to get out of there. So they don’t have to get swamped by all the fans. But at the same time, they have things like shutters on the windows. So one of the companies that we work with is when they leave, and we’ve left also like two or three weeks, all the shutters come down. So obviously nobody can break into the house in any way shape or form. So they are they are livable houses and monster houses they’re party houses and a very, very secure.
The NGY Show
Thanks so much for this you’re really inspiring person. So thanks for joining us on the NGY show. It’s been amazing to have you here. And now back to the music.
Richard Hagan
There’s brilliant. Thank you very much indeed for your time. Thank you very much for inviting me.
Listen Back to the Full Show Here:
The NGY Show, is made by the Youth, For The Youth.
For more info visit here:
https://www.unityradio.fm/the-ngy-show/
Crystal Doors, provide quality vinyl wrapped items; backed by a long tradition of a unique customer care and delivery service.
Our vinyl doors, and accessories are supplied to companies who offer a bespoke manufactured solution to any room in your home. Only the finest quality raw materials are used, underpinned by exceeding BS6222 1993 quality standard with up to a 10 year guarantee.
Vinyl doors are made with MDF, using wood from sustainable forests having both PEFC and FSC accreditation. These are cut to size, and routed with any design. Finally, they are finished with high quality vinyl. Our manufacturing process recycles over 99% of waste.
For more info visit here:
https://crystaldoors.co.uk
