We are continuing getting to know more about our Suppliers; this month it is the turn of Bourne Furniture. Paul Gibson tells us more.
How would you sum up your company in three words?
Design, Quality, Service
How long has the company been established and how long have you been working for them?
Bourne Furniture was established in 2004 and I came on board around a year ago.
What is your role at the company?
Business Development Director
What is the best part of the job?
I enjoy the opportunity to work with hotel groups and designers on prestigious projects, and following those projects from a design concept right through to completion. We are very much a team and one of our key strengths as a company is that we all pull together to provide exemplary service; I’m fortunate to work with some really good people.
Do you have a best-selling product?
It’s difficult to identify just one as we have such an extensive range, with many variations of each design. Also, a lot of our products are bespoke case goods; every project requires its own unique solution.
Where have you been most proud of seeing your brand in-situ?
Hampton by Hilton at Stansted Airport was a great project to be involved with, and one that received a lot of praise and coverage from within the industry.
What has the most influence over your product design?
We keep a close eye on trends but ultimately our design directions are dictated by our clients.
Do you have a favourite new product this year?
I love our new MLA2553 armchair which has just been released.
How do you promote your brand to make sure it stays in the mind of your buyers/consumers?
As a company we are active within the BCFA, and we make good use of case studies which are a great shop window for what we can offer. But really it’s all about building relationships; I visit designers, procurement companies and hotel groups the length and breadth of the country.
Are there brands in the industry that you admire, what makes them great?
I’m a fan of Vescom’s clean, modern and cutting edge wallcoverings, and I admire the great history and heritage of Brintons Carpets.
The design calendar seems to grow every year. Do you have a favourite interiors/design exhibition?
Sleep is always a good event, I’ve attended nearly every year and it’s a great networking opportunity. It’s probably the most appropriate show for the sector we work in.
How much travel is involved with your job?
I travel extensively within the UK, from my home in Oxfordshire to our headquarters in Wiltshire to one of our clients or projects in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, anywhere!
You have just returned to Twitter, how important is social media to your marketing?
Social media is massively important, it’s a such a powerful tool with a reach you could only have dreamed of an few years ago. Instagram is my favourite, on a business level. To be able to share and view visual inspiration with designers and colleagues is very useful.
Your recent projects look so colourful, is colour a trend that you can see continuing in popularity and if so, why?
Yes, colour is making a strong return in hotel schemes following a few years of neutrals and pastels. I see it as being cyclical though, there will always be a reaction to whatever trend is current. I’m sure we’ll be heading back towards neutrals again in a few years.
Many thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Paul! It’s been great learning more about Bourne Furniture.
For more information on Bourne Furniture visit their website bournefurniture.com
