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Monday 11 August 2008 8:32 AM
The launch of a direct-to-public retail showroom has seen sales figures soar for a Warwickshire manufacturer of hard wood furniture.
Sitting Firm, based in Harvest Hill Lane, Allesley, has built a reputation over nearly 20 years for creating quality, bespoke furniture for trade customers and high street stores, like John Lewis.
In the last week of April, it opened its own showroom for the first time in a bid to broaden its market – and has seen sales flourish at a time when many businesses are feeling the pinch.
Director Stephanie Green, whose husband David founded the firm in 1989, said: “The response has been incredible. We have had people visiting the showroom from all over the country and the feedback has all been very positive on the quality, design and presentation.
“I have a background in retail and when I joined the firm in 2001, I told David we should have a showroom and selling to the general public. Looks like I was right!
“Until we launched the showroom, which is within the workshops, we didn’t really have a direct retail presence though we have a strong reputation in the industry for quality products, which are all crafted here on site from sustainable European timber.
“It is particularly pleasing that an English manufacturer is flourishing in the current climate. We have ridden the ups and downs over the years but the quality of our products, strong after-sales service and lifetime guarantee have ensured we are now going from strength to strength.
“And though we have a of range designs for people to look at, because we do everything here we can still tailor a design to a person’s needs. So if a back needs to be higher on a chair or a table needs to be slightly longer, we can be flexible. In particular, bespoke media units seem to be the biggest trend at the moment.”
People have travelled from as far afield as Essex, Windsor and Chesterfield to view and buy products from a range of more than 500 items, some of which are displayed in the luxury showroom.
Among the more unusual customers in the first few weeks were a couple who wanted a special chair made for their pet, toy monkey Tol – and they even had his name engraved on the seat back!
Sitting Firm has also recently supplied furniture for The Aruba Bar on Bournemouth Pier, a National Trust venue in Wales and even a school in Japan.
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