repeat treacherousness: Interview | Paul Demarco

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Interview | Paul Demarco | Informed Edinburgh

Paul Demarco, Managing Directer of Marcos, which owns the Edinburgh Corn Exchange, has always worked in the family business. Having had various roles, including being put in charge of opening the Corn Exchange, Paul officially took over when his Father retired 3 years ago. We caught up with him to get an insight into one of Edinburgh?s most influential businesses.

Career

Describe your career path so far? I?ve been involved in our family business my whole life. My Father was a workaholic and I spent most days in the business, doing a variety of jobs at Marcos Flagship premises. Once I left school I went to University in Dundee and would travel back at weekends to Dj and run Club nights in between working a couple of shifts for my Dad at the Forum in Livingston- anything to get money, which inevitably I would waste on buying records.

Once I graduated in 1996 I went into management within Marcos and concentrated on this until I was given the task of opening the Corn Exchange Venue in 1999. This was a massive investment for the family and a big risk so I was delighted to be given the responsibility at the tender age of 23! We started with a tiny team and now, 14 years on, the venue has 8 full time Event Managers and a Sales Team of 6- last year we operated over 400 events. When my father retired 3 years ago I was given the official role of running Marcos.

What was the first job you ever had? Working as part of the Clean Team in Marcos Grove Street, aged about 12 or 13. I got paid 50p an hour for clearing up glasses and dishes around the centre, which with over 80 Snooker tables created a lot of work. I soon graduated to the kitchen where I flipped burgers and steakwiches.

Career highlight? The opening of The Corn Exchange in 1999 and then seeing Blur and Travis play the venue in the same week.

What made Marcos branch out into the Corn Exchange?? We believed Edinburgh needed a venue to compete at the time with Glasgow?s Barrowlands. Our contacts and success at the Forum in Livingston was the stepping stone to finding a similar capacity event space in Edinburgh.

Have Marcos got any new ventures planned in the coming years? Our future plans involve continued investment in our Corn Exchange site, improving facilities for events and on the leisure side we are expanding our popular World Of Football brand and should have another centre in Edinburgh open next summer. We also plan to re-open Marcos on grove street as a bar and pool hall.

If you could choose any job, what would it be??This one, there is nothing I would rather be doing.

How was the idea of Pout Edinburgh conceived? Women organise a lot of events here, whether it be there weddings or conferencing, exhibitons, banqueting and our database is predominantly female. As we are very passionate about Edinburgh we felt we were well positioned to be able to deal with and feature Edinburgh?s finest products and services through an event targeted at women. The result will be an event that Edinburgh will become proud of and an important part of the events calendar year on year.

What?s a typical day like for you? The only typical thing I do each day is drop my kids off at school, after that anything is possible.

Have Marcos and the Corn Exchange felt the impacts of the recession in any way? We are doing more events in the venue now than we have ever done. We have always been able to provide excellent service at reasonable prices, so it has not been a challenge for us to remain competitive throughout the last few years. Our leisure business is still thriving as more and more customers appreciate the quality and value we can provide.

Quick Fire

Describe your ideal weekend away? Camping with Jane and the Boys is my ultimate weekend away.

How do you switch off after a day at work? I find it difficult to switch off but usually running helps a lot.? Running really changed my life and my outlook and I would recommend everybody to run as much as they can. Just don?t take your mobile with you?

Favourite place to eat out in Edinburgh? Oishi Japanese on Rose Street or the Legendary Bells Diner on St Stephen Street.

Who/what inspires you? Watching my father through the years always inspired me to try and achieve and continue what he grew as a business.

Any hobbies? I love skateboarding, snowboarding and running.? As my eldest son Luke is now 8 he loves to go to Sauchton or Transgression skatepark and I?m always in tow with my skateboard, much to the humour of the cheeky wee rascals who frequent the park..

Favourite sport at the Olympics? Got to be the running events, the athleticism of these guys is phenomenal, I shed a tear as most did watching Mo Farah perform.

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