Meet the team | Episode 2: James Merrix

After nearly a decade with the company, this month we sit down with commercial manager James Merrix, who tells us about everything from his favourite way to spend time in the countryside to his go-to pieces from the Schöffel Country range.

How long have you been with Schöffel Country and what does your role entail?

I joined Schöffel nearly 10 years ago as part of the sales team – initially looking after customers in the South, working alongside Paul Tomson and Sue Somerfield. About four years ago I swapped from selling to buying, and I now look after our stock – trying to work out what we need to buy, and when. Unfortunately, this means lots of spreadsheets!

In between drives on a team day’s shooting at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire a couple of seasons back.

Away from the office, how do you like to spend time in the countryside?

If it’s summertime, then watching my eldest son play cricket would be something I really look forward to – if we can then walk to a pub afterwards, even better!

Away from cricket, I like to get out for a walk with the rest of my family and our dog, Juno. Juno is a nearly two-year-old whippet, she’s incredibly quick and getting her out for a run is great fun.

Do you have a favourite season/time of year in the countryside? What is it and why?

Definitely the spring: Lighter mornings and evenings, together with some warm weather just transforms how much you can enjoy the countryside. It’s also nice not to have to wear wellies every time you want to take the dog for a walk.

Juno the two-year-old whippet.

Is there one event in the countryside calendar that you look forward to most?

The Game Fair is my favourite event. It’s our unofficial team social of the year – with lots of food, drink and laughs. It’s also a great time to catch up with other people within the industry – usually with a Schöffel G+T in hand! I haven’t missed one since 2008 and I couldn’t really imagine not going.

We know you’re a keen cook. What’s your go-to dish in the summer months?

This is too tricky to narrow down to one thing, so I will cheat slightly and say a Lebanese mezze. It is by far my favourite type of food, mainly because there are pretty much endless side dishes and salads that go with the main part – in my case, lamb shawarma, cooked for hours over a low and slow barbecue.

The unofficial head chef for team Schöffel at The Game Fair, James’ food is always a highlight and often features game.

Suppose you could do anything, anywhere in the British countryside for a day – with no constraints – what would that day look like?

As well as food, I’m pretty keen on boats and cars, so a perfect day out would be: A couple of friends in some interesting old cars (a Series 1 Land Rover and/or a Caterham would do), driving through the countryside to the coast. We’d then jump on a boat and head out fishing for mackerel. After catching enough for supper, we’d then head back to the beach to barbecue them with something nice to drink.

Of course, in reality, I am sure one of the cars would overheat and breakdown, the fish wouldn’t bite and someone would have brought a gas barbecue instead of a proper one – but we can dream, can’t we?!

A road trip in some interesting old cars would feature in James’ fantasy day in the countryside.

... as would a barbecue on the beach – ideally with some mackerel after a day’s fishing.

What’s your all-time favourite product from the Schöffel Country range?

The Hallaton Down Jacket. It’s a really lightweight baffled down jacket and I wear it pretty much year round. Although there are other alternatives available in the shops, I’ve always found them a bit too ‘outdoors’ looking – ours is great as it fits in with the rest of the range really well and looks like a proper Schöffel jacket.

And if you had to pick a favourite piece from the SS26 collection?

Probably one of our new linen shirts, like the Walsingham. When the weather is as hot as it has been recently, there is nothing more comfortable to wear. They are also pretty versatile, as they cross over between smart and casual really well.

What part of your role do you enjoy most?

Being part of a great team. I am so lucky to have worked with some truly brilliant people over the last nine years, many of whom have become great friends. The Schöffel team is actually pretty small, and when you have to spend lots of time together working and travelling, it makes all the difference when you genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

Read our first ‘meet the team’ interview, with Isobel, here