Sitting Firm stretches its legs
Tuesday 10 June 2008 4:04 PM
A leading manufacturer of bespoke solid hardwood furniture is to open a dedicated showroom at its West Midlands base for the first time – nearly 20 years after it was founded.
Sitting Firm makes more than 500 different hand-made wooden products at its base in Harvest Hill Lane, Allesley, and yet remains one of the best kept secrets in English furniture.
It has survived the ups and downs of UK manufacturing, supplying to an impressive range of established retailers like John Lewis, but on April 26 will finally emerge as a brand in its own right with the launch of its own public showroom next to its workshops on the edge of Coventry.
“Over the years, we have produced bespoke and volume pieces for household brands, but because we have sold mainly to the trade, we have not had our own brand presence,” said Stephanie Green, of Leamington Spa, whose husband David founded the company in Balsall Common in 1989.
“Up to now, the work we have had has come through trade reputation. With this new showroom, we want the public to come along and see exactly what Sitting Firm does and why we have such a strong reputation for quality and individuality.
“We are proud to still be making our collection of solid, hand-crafted furniture in the UK. The whole ethos of the business is based around quality and looking after people and I believe that is why we have such a highly skilled and loyal group of people working with us.
“They help us do everything on site. After buying in seasoned timber from sustainable forests, we do all the processes here, from steam bending and turning the wood, to crafting the pieces and finishing them.
“More so now than ever, customers know exactly what they want. They want to buy from a UK manufacturer. They demand professional after sales service, and the reassurance of our lifetime guarantee gives peace of mind.
“And, remaining a family-run business, we will still go that extra mile so customers can personalise whatever piece they buy, whether it is making chair backs that bit taller, or shaving a few inches off the length of a table so it fits in the dining room.”
Sitting Firm has a range of traditional and contemporary furniture which will be on display in the new showroom and will be adding a range of garden furniture soon.
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