of Jimmy Possum Furniture Pty Ltd, a family
owned and run furniture design and produc-
tion company. Spalding and her husband Alan
employ five of their seven children. A blended
family, three of the children came from her pre-
vious marriage, two from Alan's and one from
this union. "It makes it more complex, I sup-
pose, but we have strong common values that
run through all our relationships personal,
family and business," Spalding observes. "I lost
my entire family parents, brother and sister,
when I was about 15, so that might explain why
we're so close now."
ucts through five own-name retail stores and
supply contracts with 66 stores across Austral-
ia. Spalding won the national Telstra Business-
the children as the business grew was a natural
step but they all had careers outside of Jimmy
Possum. "Alan has always said, `don't come to
the business until you can bring something to
it' and we encouraged all the kids to do some-
thing for themselves.
material: "They add a foundation of core values
to the business. I am also aware that the rest of
the company is very watchful of family mem-
bers within the business, and they know they
have to behave impeccably because of it."
to be heard and we provide training to assist
that participation. Having said that, if someone
doesn't choose to speak up in a meeting they
can't come to me afterwards and say they don't
like something. They have their chance."
2.
3.
speak directly to each other
4.
5.
6.
decisions sometimes you have
to go with (or accept)
the majority vote