TIME flies, they say, especially when you're enjoying yourself.
That's certainly the case for Alan Towns and Peter Denham who are approaching the first anniversary of acquiring Knightsbridge Furniture on Thornton Road.
Their first 12 months of owning as well as managing the firm has seen some major developments and they are buoyed up about prospects for the future.
Alan and Peter were directors of Knightsbridge when they completed a management buyout from majority shareholder and chairman Margaret Miller who had joined the firm in 1959 as personal assistant to founder Arnold Moore, who died in 2010 aged 93 and was well known for setting up the city's War On Cancer charity.
Margaret Miller became the first woman to hold the title Lady Master of the Worshipful Company Of Furniture Makers.
Alan and Peter celebrate the heritage and culture of Knightsbridge, which Mr Moore started as Furniture Productions in Leeds Road in 1938 making domestic chairs.
It now operates from a three-and-a-half acre site incorporating six former mill buildings providing 250,000 sq ft of space. The canteen area is where Mr Moore used to drill as a member of the Home Guard during the Second World War.
Some of this history was communicated to employees during a briefing about Knightsbridge's new branding, which represents a new era for the business which is also making waves in new market sectors.
Alan Towns said: " Our heritage remains important to our commitment to making quality products and excellent customer service for which Knightsbridge is renowned.
"But we are moving the business forward by widening the areas in which we operate, developing new designs for new customers and ensuring the business is on a growth path."
New developments have included developing direct export business, including for market leading office furniture specialists in the United States, Herman Miller and Steelcase for which Knightsbridge produces upholstered seating.
Bradford-made furniture now also graces the business and first class Emirates passenger lounges at Dubai Airport. Knightsbridge has produced furniture for a hospital in Israel and has shipped a consignment of bar and lounge chairs to Cadiz for use on Carnival Cruise Lines ships.
Knightsbridge has also secured its first order from the Baltic States to provide products for a care home in Finland
Peter Denham said: " We've started looking at the Baltic states and appointed a new agent there which has resulted in enquires for the care home order. Since we acquired the business Alan and I have put more focus on exports and on producing for the corporate sector.
" This has paid off as we now get corporate clients, including several blue chip companies, approaching us directly with enquiries about furniture for retail showrooms and offices.
"These developments are part of our stated objectives."
Under the new ownership Knightsbridge has increased its workforce from 118 to 135, including four apprentices in the upholstery section and other operations. More recruitment is planned next year to meet planned increased capacity..
Alongside people, the business has also made capital investment totalling around £250,000. It's delivery fleet is being upgraded, new CNC machines are on order and a new cross-cutting machine was recently installed.
Alan said: "The investment will ensure we are geared up to meet rising demand and handle orders from a more diverse customer base.
" Refreshing our transport fleet is vital as it is a critical part of our operations. Our furniture needs careful handing and needs to be unpacked and installed correctly. A big attraction for our customers is our drivers who are ambassadors for the company."
Knightsbridge is also investing in a new biomass boiler which will burn all the factory waste wood to heat the premises in winter.
Knightsbridge is a debt-free business and being run by a Scot and a Yorkshireman keeps a tight rein on its finances.
" We don't spend money lightly and when we do it's our own," said Glaswegian Alan, who joined Knightsbridge in 2006 after a range of senior management roles in brand management, security products and construction.
Peter started as sales administration manager at floorcoverings firm Associated Weavers in Bradford, later working for a leading jewellery supplier as operations director and joined Knightsbridge in 2008.
The pair work well together and are friends as well as colleagues. They share n aversion to "top down" management
Alan said: "We have a very open management style and like to involve our people wherever possible. We like staff to take customers round the factory and have a lot of long -serving staff.
"We have enormous passion for what we do and create environment that's fun to work in. Our core values include open communications and developing a true team through attracting and retaining good people as well as delivering excellence through quality "
All Knightsbridge furniture is bespoke and included 120 new lines this year . Customers can order one item or hundreds. The factory is an end -to-end operation, starting with pieces of sustainably sourced beech wood with the bark still on through carpentry and machining, upholstering and stitching the computer designed products.
The in-house design team led y Jason Brown has recently collaborated with leading furniture designers David Fox and John Coleman on crossover furniture suitable for health, hospitality and corporate uses.
Design has been key to boosting business in the firm's traditional healthcare market .
"What we bring to the party for healthcare is design. Our healthcare furniture not only meets the required standards but also looks good. We don't believe healthcare furniture needs to look institutionalised like many ranges do.
"We know the practical side is right and we offer a ten year guarantee knowing it will outperform that . It's essential to have cutting edge design and that puts Knightsbridge ahead of the market. Our ability to design and make products to meet individual requirements also sets us apart," said Alan.
Through increasing margins and controlling costs, along with smarter buying Alan and Peter have seen Knightsbridge's profits increase significantly on a slightly lower turnover. In the 2014-15 financial year revenues of £9.2 million produced a £300,000 profit, against just £18,000 on a £9.8 million turnover the previous year.
This year they are budgeting for a £10 million turnover and expect to exceed that figure - sales are already 20 per cent ahead of plan.
The company has been selected as the preferred supplier for the Scottish NHS which will see it supply contract furniture to more than 200 hospitals across Scotland and the Isles - which could mean an extra £1 million of business.
Knightsbridge Furniture has produced contract furniture for the new £250 million Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
Alan said: “We have been making great progress since the management buyout and the Scottish NHS deal is an exciting development for Knightsbridge. Our plans are going very well and we continue to look at opening up new markets in the corporate sector and are seeing growing demand from own equipment manufacturers .
"Apart from the quality and design of our furniture, our best selling point is to bring customers to the factory where they the skills and craftsmanship."
Skills development is key to the continued success of Knightsbridge, which is also committed to sourcing as many supplies as possible from local firms.
In addition to the usual apprentices, Knightsbridge is also preparing to provide work experience to people helped by its adopted charity the Cellar Trust in Shipley, which works with those recovering from mental illness.
SOURCE
No comments:
Post a Comment