This month we learn more about one of our new suppliers, UNILIN (division panels) from Dory D’Arcy, Project Sales Manager UK.
How would you sum up your company in three words?
Innovative, customer-oriented, sustainable
How long has the company been established and how long have you been working for them?
UNILIN was founded in 1960, I joined in the last 12 months.
What is your role at the company?
Project Sales Manager UK – developing the business in the UK
What is the best part of the job?
Being amongst creative people and being part of the creation
Do you have a best-selling product?
In general, our wood decors: we are specialised in the design and development of wood decors and structures, to be able to approach the look and feel of natural wood.
Where have you been most proud of seeing your brand in-situ?
Global retail chains that use our decors for their furnishings, ie. Maisons du Monde
Do you have a favourite new product this year?
I feel that our black veneer imitation, 113 W06, is beloved by designers. Our Coloured MDF is also amazing and exciting.
How do you promote your brand to make sure it stays in the mind of your buyers/consumers?
Visiting architects and designers, events at our showroom, media campaigns, new products, exhibitions… shouting it from the roof top, whatever it takes ?
The design calendar seems to grow every year. Do you have a favourite interiors/design exhibition?
Salone del Mobile Milano, architect@work in several countries.
How do you see your company evolving over the next few years? Do you have any plans you can share with us?
Today we are the challenger in the market – our intention is to become a strong brand in the commercial and hospitality project market.
Tell us about your company culture. The ‘Happy Workout’ Calendar sounds intriguing!
Our company culture is built on 4 strong pillars: Respect (for customers, colleagues and environment), Entrepreneurship (innovation), Excellence (in what we do, willing to be the best) and Passion (work hard, play hard).
The ‘Happy Workout’ calendar groups all fun initiatives that boost the team spirit amongst our staff. Because happiness is not the same for everybody, we offer a mix of activities – more active individuals can participate in sports initiatives, such as cycling or mountain biking tours, marathons etc. For others, we have tickets to the Samson + Gert Christmas Show, or a football game, or a cycling race.
It’s very commendable that you have a Chief Sustainability Officer, what does the role entail?
Our CSO mainly focuses on our double circular economy vision: reducing the need for virgin raw materials by increasing our percentage of by-products and post-consumer wood as input material and reducing our impact on climate change by focusing on energy reduction and the use of end-of-life wood as energy source (both heat and electrical) for our production activities.
The use of natural materials for interior never seems to go out of fashion, are there certain sectors that are utilising your panels more than any others? E.g. retail, hospitality, homes?
Very large range for several applications, countries, sectors… but we see a recurrent usage in retail, hospitality and office furnishings.
Many thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Dory! It’s been great learning more about UNILIN.
For more information on UNILIN visit their website www.unilin.com
