Clare Bushby is a prominent figure in Devon’s hospitality, food and drink sectors. She is the Managing Director of Clockwork Marketing, a specialist agency she founded in 1992 that provides comprehensive marketing support, including digital marketing, design, branding, and website development, specifically for the hospitality and hotel industries. Concurrently, Clare also serves as a Board Director for Food Drink Devon, a Community Interest Company dedicated to promoting the region’s finest food, drink, and hospitality businesses with a focus on quality, sustainability, and provenance. Having spent her entire working life in hospitality, starting from early roles as a chambermaid and waitress, Clare brings extensive experience and strategic insight to both her roles, helping businesses thrive.
I recently sat down with Clare for an insightful interview.
What does your Monday morning routine look like?
Mondays start early here at the office. As a team, we have a meeting at 9:30 AM every Monday where the entire team comes together. We go through the highlights of the business for the week that’s gone and the key points that are coming up for the week ahead, including activities like client meetings and road trips . Everybody updates the rest of the team with the projects they’re working on, any areas where they might need support, and their priorities for the week ahead. We also update from a business perspective on what’s on the radar. It’s just a really great way to start the week; it gives us clarity and focus for our priorities as we move forward. Once we’ve done that, we divide into our marketing, technical and gift voucher team, and I’ll join one or the other to be involved with their planning for the week ahead.
What was your first full-time job?
My first full-time job was as a General Assistant at the Fortfield Hotel in Sidmouth, which is no longer there. I absolutely loved it. The interesting thing back then was that you had to aspire and train to be a receptionist; you couldn’t just turn up. Even though I trained for a year, that wasn’t a prize that was going to be awarded to me. I first had to be a waitress and a chambermaid because I didn’t have any experience as a receptionist, and then I was promoted. I used to look at the managers there and I used to aspire to be able to develop to that level, thinking that I’d like that person’s role. I used to watch their behaviour and how they conducted themselves and just tried to soak up as much as I could.
What has been the best moment in your career?
The best moment in my career was starting Clockwork. My father had his own business, so it was always an ambition to have my own business too. If I thought about now creating what we’ve got here, it would be overwhelming and daunting and feel unattainable. Whereas actually, I just sat down and thought I can provide marketing services for independent hotels who want someone with the skills I have but don’t want someone full-time. It was all very simple and very humble. Today, 33 years later, we’ve got a team of 21 and we cover so many different aspects, and have clients throughout the UK. I had no idea that starting off like that would take me on the journey that it’s taken me on, and how grateful I am.
What has been the worst moment in your career?
I find that difficult to answer. As a hospitality specialist, I’m an optimist and always try to look at the opportunity. Through COVID, we reinvented ourselves and came out stronger and grew, so I don’t really want to say COVID. One of the things that’s always challenging as a business owner is that nothing is ever stable. I often liken business to a jigsaw puzzle; you think you’ve got all the pieces and then you suddenly lose a corner piece or some clients change. Every day you get something different to deal with, to manage. So it’s the constant changing environment that we work in. I don’t know that that’s my worst moment because that’s just life.
What’s your all-time favourite movie, and why?
I’m not much of a movie person. My go-to movie, which is a bit sad, is Pretty Woman. When I do watch something, it’s more to escape into something. I’ve just started watching Clarkson’s Farm, and I’m really enjoying that.
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading a book called ‘Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes’ by William Bridges. I’m literally just into Chapter 3, but it talks about the changes that all of us in life go through from the point where you’re a child and then you become an adult, and you suddenly realise you’re independent, and then through to perhaps becoming a parent and then the next chapter of life. It helps to explain the stages of transition in life from a business and personal perspective that inevitably happen to all of us.
If you could visit any place in the world right now, where would you go?
I’d like to go to Mauritius. The scenery looks incredible and the fact I’ve never been appeals to me, and it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go to. I want to be able to relax, but I also want to learn and enjoy the culture and the food. But I’m not a strict itinerary person; I don’t like to have everything planned, I prefer to enjoy the moment.
What is your most memorable foody childhood memory?
My parents used to have a caravan, so our holidays growing up were going away in the caravan with Mum and Dad. It was a precious time. We’d have a week away in the summer and we would travel to the New Forest. I remember often going to Christchurch, and a highlight for me, was having an ice cream float in a café. That felt like a real treat. So it’s not a true foodie memory, but I just remember it as really special memory with my Mum, Dad and brother.
Name one thing on your bucket list that you still need to do.
Because of what we do, I’m fortunate in the properties we work with and the locations that they are. When I visit a client, I find myself on roads I’ve heard of or in towns I’ve seen the names of but have never been to. So, one of the things on my bucket list is to explore more of the UK and the places that I haven’t been to yet. We’ve got such fabulous countryside. I’d like to travel and spend more time exploring in a slower way, enjoying more of what the UK coastline and countryside has to offer.
What’s your favourite way to unwind and de-stress?
It could be a lovely meal out with friends and a glass of wine. We’ve got such an abundance of fantastic restaurants, cafes, and pubs in Devon. I’ve become even more aware of that as part of the work I do with Food Drink Devon. The richness of experiences and places and hospitality is huge. So, that’s a real pleasure – discovering another wonderful place to go and enjoy and then an area to explore.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
“When you don’t know what to do, do nothing.” When you’re unclear on something, then just hold, just pause. I like to reflect, so my best answer will always be tomorrow.
If you could meet any living person for a conversation, who would it be?
I’d be fascinated to meet Prince William. I think because of all that he’s experienced and the relationships that he’s had in his quite short lifetime. As a younger royal he brings a different approach. And thinking about his Conservation Alliance and his family ethics, I think it would be interesting. It would never happen, but to have a real conversation, not just a polite one, and to understand more about him as a person would be incredible.
What are you currently listening to?
I’m currently listening to Jay Shetty. He has a podcast called ‘On Purpose‘. I also like to listen to Rich Roll. Self-improvement and all things wellness, he’s just great; I love his podcasts.
What is your favourite food/drink product on the market right now and why?
I’m afraid I’ve been influenced by Greg of Sharpham Cheese and Chairman of Food Drink Devon. At our last board meeting, Greg brought one of his new cheeses, Sharpham Cremet. At Christmas, as a business, we get cheese hampers for all the team, and it was incredible. I particularly like the Sharpham Brie, but then this Cremet was on another level again.
What would you like to be doing in 5 years’ time?
I’m fortunate that even though I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing for 33 years in terms of Clockwork Marketing, I really enjoy every day. I’m grateful for what we do and for the industry we work in. In five years’ time, I would like to be able to visit more of the clients that we work with, but in a slower way. I’d like to make more time to enjoy the friendships that have been created through the years with our hospitality clients.
What is happening in your life that you would like a shout out about?
I’d like to celebrate that in the last 12 to 18 months, which has been difficult time for so many businesses, we’ve really been investing in the work we do and the team that we have. Whilst times are challenging, I’m incredibly proud of the fact that we’re growing; our business is up 24% this year, which is huge. It’s not about me; it’s about the team that I have and the skills and the insights and the benchmarking. We really invest our time in what works, what we can do to create the biggest impact for our clients. The result of doing that and surrounding yourself with smart people is, you reap what you sow. As a B Corp business, investing in the team, caring about the work that we do and caring about our clients has enabled us to grow and to win more work because we can evidence that. For me, that’s absolutely something that I celebrate. We had a team meeting a week ago where we came together, had a BBQ and we shared where we are, and it’s the sum of everybody who cares and supports and nurtures each other and our clients.
You can contact Clare Bushby through her LinkedIn profile. Find out more about Clockwork Marketing through their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
