23/09/2026
I have a bit of a thing about people getting my name right. If someone cold calls me and calls me Ann, I know straight away that they haven’t done even the most basic research. It's such a small detail, but it is really annoying.
Today I had an email from a supplier's credit control team telling me we hadn't paid an invoice. I checked our PO and bank account, and confirmed that we had paid it in full, including delivery, back in June.
They came back to press the point again, while calling me Ann.
I mean, that is never a good start. Telling me I am wrong when I have explained exactly what I have checked, while getting my name wrong at the same time, is not going to help.
It reminded me why we are so particular about the way we run projects. If a client, supplier or contractor asks me what was ordered, agreed or paid, I want to be able to answer confidently because we have the records to back it up.
Good communication is not just about replying quickly or being friendly. It comes from having good systems behind the scenes and knowing exactly where the information is when you need it, especially when it relates to something that happened months ago.
Not the glamorous side of interior design, but a very important part of doing the job properly.
Also, my name is Ann Marie.
Photography by David Lindsay
