Welcome to the Engaging Marketeer podcast. Today I’m joined by Orsolya Szőcs. Ori, welcome! Now, I think you’re currently running… four businesses?
Ori: Yes, that’s right—four!
Darren: So, what drives you to keep building these businesses?
Ori: I think it’s just part of who I am. I love the challenge and hate feeling idle. When one business is running smoothly, I get the urge to start another. They all relate to each other, which helps keep things streamlined.
Darren: So tell us about these businesses. What was your first venture?
Ori: My first was a service accommodation business. Essentially, we manage properties and rent them out on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com. We lease properties from landlords and offer a good return for them. From there, we expanded to other related businesses, like a commercial laundry for hotels and cleaning services.
Darren: Service accommodation was your starting point, then?
Orsolya’s first foray into running her own business
Ori: Initially, it was a five-bedroom property in Chester. Many thought it was a risky choice for a first property—big properties like that aren’t typical. But I wanted to prove everyone wrong, and despite Covid hitting shortly after, we actually managed well, thanks to contracts with hospitals for nurse accommodations.
Darren: So, are your landlords getting returns similar to what they would with long-term rentals?
Ori: Yes, but without the hassle of changing tenants every year, and they don’t have to deal with damage or the void periods that student rentals bring. We’ve even included a “first refusal” clause in contracts, meaning if they sell the property, I get the first option to buy. It’s worked out quite well, actually.
Darren: That’s very clever! And what about the numbers? You mentioned Chester races—how much do you charge per night then?
Ori: Chester races can be quite lucrative! The highest rate we’ve achieved was £550 per night, with a minimum two-night stay. That covered the monthly rent in just two nights. Though we do adjust rates based on demand, it’s an approach that’s worked well.
Darren: Do you see other operators having success as well?
Ori: Not always. Many enter the Airbnb market thinking it’s an easy way to make money, but without understanding the logistics or seasonal demands. They often end up lowering prices, which affects all of us because platforms like Airbnb adjust based on market rates. Unfortunately, a lot of people just don’t realise that it’s not as simple as it looks.
Darren: And you have the advantage of seeing occupancy trends through your laundry business, don’t you?
Ori: Exactly! I can see how demand fluctuates, which is very helpful.
Darren: So you saw an opportunity in laundry services and decided to buy a laundry business?
Ori: Yes, during Covid, we tried to set up a laundry from scratch but found it challenging. Then, we came across a commercial laundry in administration. They had clients but were struggling. Since I was already familiar with their services, the transition was smoother. Today, we’ve improved efficiency and moved from 24-hour operations to eight-hour shifts by upgrading machines.
Darren: Did the existing staff take well to the new ownership?
Ori: Initially, there was hesitation. Here I was, a foreigner, a woman, younger than many of them, and with limited laundry experience. But I focused on respect and trust. Many knew me as a client, so that helped bridge the gap. I believe showing up and being supportive made all the difference.
Darren: Let’s talk about staff. Finding good, motivated people isn’t always easy in the UK.
Ori: That’s true! I find it comes down to upbringing and mindset. In many Eastern European countries, we grow up with the mentality that you have to work hard, regardless of what you do. There’s no sense of entitlement. I’ve been lucky with my team now, but there were challenging times, especially with Covid, when everyone suddenly wanted to work from home or take it easy.
Darren: Do you have plans for any more businesses?
Ori: Who knows! For now, I want to focus on the businesses I have. Though, I am considering a consultancy to help others with similar goals. I get so many questions, particularly from other Hungarians and Romanians, on starting businesses here.
Darren: That’s a fantastic idea! There are many people who could benefit from that kind of support, especially in navigating the UK’s business landscape.
Ori: Thank you! Yes, I’d love to share what I’ve learned over the years and help others make a smooth transition.
Darren: It sounds like you’ve come a long way. How did you end up in the UK?
From Hungary in search of a new life
Ori: My ex-partner was actually the reason. We came to work, thinking it was a way to save and return to Hungary, perhaps even buy a home. I had just finished university and actually turned down a job at a bank. When I arrived, my ex and I took jobs in a chicken factory. It was a rough start, especially because, just two weeks in, the agency that hired us disappeared without paying anyone. So, we were left with no money and no way to recover those three weeks’ worth of work.
Darren: They just vanished? So you weren’t paid at all?
Ori: Exactly. It was quite the welcome to the UK! But as luck would have it, the factory decided to hire some of us directly as compensation. That was a big relief. And because I could speak multiple languages, including Romanian and Hungarian, I often helped translate for other workers, which strengthened my role there.
Darren: And were you fluent in English at that point?
Ori: Yes, I knew English, but many others didn’t, so I helped out where I could. It felt like a small way to contribute, even in the midst of that challenging start. I learned a lot from that. Moving to the UK and finding my path here, even after such a difficult start, showed me that I could survive and thrive independently.
Darren: And here you are, running multiple successful businesses.
Ori: Yes, and I’m proud of what we’ve built. Having a supportive partner in my current ventures makes a huge difference. We share responsibilities, respect boundaries, and work toward common goals.
Darren: That’s key. Working with the right people is so important.
Ori: Absolutely. I believe in doing what you love and working with people you trust. It’s made all the difference.
Darren: Ori, thank you for joining us. It’s been a pleasure hearing about your journey and your success. You’ve certainly proved that with determination and hard work, anything is possible.
Ori: Thank you for having me, Darren. It was a pleasure to share my story.
Conclusion:
This has been another episode of The Engaging Marketeer. We’ve heard Ori’s inspiring journey, her business insights, and her hard-won wisdom on trusting in the process, regardless of the challenges. Ori shows that entrepreneurship isn’t about luck but about persistence, adaptability, and passion. Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll see you in the next episode!
Connect with Orsolya:
Website: https://cleanique.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orsolya.szocs88
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orsolyaszocs/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orsolya-sz%C5%91cs/
About your host:
Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/
Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com
Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk
