UK Sales Manager from Calne in Wiltshire - Hi Phil, Tell us a little bit about your time in the amusements industry? I actually sold Sega equipment when I was Sales Manager at Cosmic Video Amusements, but I started working at Sega on 5th November 2012. I've been in the Amusement industry for 30 years and have worked for Crown Leisure, JNC Export Sales, Wessex Coin Ltd, MAM Inn Play (No longer trading) and Associated Leisure. When I first joined the industry, they were the days of the electro mechanical fruit machines and pinball machines. We were just on the era of micro processers that eventually did away with the old type relays in machines. The industry was in much better shape during that era even though the technology has progressed so much over the years.

What is your job and can you describe a typical day at work and the challenges you face?

Day to day I spend a lot of my time speaking to and emailing customers, helping them with any problems they might have and of course selling Sega arcade games!

What do you like most about your job and what are you most passionate about? Anything you dislike about it?

I like the people that I work with. I am most passionate about meeting new customers that have never dealt with Sega before and seeing if we can help them improve the amusements location with what we have to offer. I do hate the drive to and from work as it takes about 2 hours 30mins, but it's worth it!

What are the biggest trends you are seeing at the moment and how do you think the industry might change, within your sector, in the next 5 years?

Redemption machines, customers are recognizing that it always pays to give the players a reward for playing a machine. In the future it would be good to see machines accepting debit and credit card payments to eradicate the cash in and out of machines, this would stop all machine break ins and fiddling that costs the industry a lot of money.

What makes this business so special?

It is like horse racing, it gets in your blood and is very difficult to get out of it. It is a very addictive business because one year is always so different to the previous year.

What is a little known secret about you or the business that customers might not know?

I had an Uncle that won the Military Cross in World War 2, which I quite proud of. Also going back a few years I have competed against Damon Hill, Derek Bell and John Watson on Sega Rally 1 and won!

How did you arrive in this field or job? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I answered an advert for a van driver’s job in my local newspaper and within 6 months promoted to sales. In 10 years’ time I see myself on a sunny beach in the Med or Pacific Ocean.

Do you have any tips for anyone wanting to get involved in the amusements arcades?

Hard work and dedication. Customer is King.

Is there anything you would change about the industry?

I'd have a more level playing field between traditional Amusement Arcades both inland and seaside arcades and on-line gambling and bookmakers shops. Because the traditional amusement arcades are under much heavier scrutiny from the Gambling Commission these days, traditional high street and sea side arcades are not allowed to offer incitement’s to gamble whereas on-line gambling can offer very high incentives to lure customers in with their “You pay £10 and we will give you £30 to play” and bookmakers shops can all have £500 jackpot machines without having to have Category C machines to allow them to have FOBTs.

What has surprised you most about working for Sega Amusements?

Seriously, I'm was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the refurbished games that come out of our workshop. The range of games we have also staggers me!

To finish up we have a few quick fire questions for you Phil.....

What is your first Sega memory?

Sonic the Hedgehog.

What’s your favorite game?

Daytona USA

What do you do when you aren't working?

Fishing, Cooking, Cinema, Formula 1 and going out in our camper van.

What did you want to do when you were growing up?

Be a HGV lorry diver.

If you weren't working in the Amusements industry, what might you be doing now?

Driving a big lorry!

Thanks for your time Phil, and for being the first 'Meet Team Sega' interviewee! Meet Team Sega will be back next month with another insight in to the people behind Sega's Arcade games!

For more information please contact us on sales@segaarcade.com