Family firm in Whickham goes from garage to global in four years
A father and son leather care business that started in a Whickham garage four years ago is set to create 33 new jobs and expand into new premises thanks to increasing sales all over the world.Furniture Clinic is bucking the recession trend and planning the recruitment exercise to coincide with the purchase of new production line equipment and relocation to a larger premises in Tyne and Wear.
In a relatively short period of time the company has cemented a reputation for quality and delivery of bespoke leather cleaning and repair solutions. Its list of clients includes a string of top fashion houses and luxury car and yacht manufacturers.
The £800,000 project is seen as the next stage in the development of the company by Managing Director Keith and Sales Director Ben Staerck, who have also secured a £163,000 Grant for Business Investment from One North East.
Furniture Clinic, a manufacturer of specialist leather cleaning, repair and restoration products based in the Team Valley, Gateshead, was started by Keith, 61, from the garage of his Whickham home four years ago, but the company took off when son Ben, 22, created a website for the business, which attracted clients from all over the world.
“When my dad started he was selling the leather cleaning and repair product to the trade and we started to get requests for one-off products to remove things like different coloured ink,” said Ben. “We began to tailor the products to meet the specific needs of the client – effectively creating new products all the time – and our reputation grew.
“Furniture Clinic has gone from strength to strength and is now the fastest growing company in the leather industry. We want to continue that success by continually improving and investing in our products and the service we offer our customers.”
The creation of a website by Ben has helped double turnover each year and online sales are now at £30,000 per month – £200,000 a year – making a growing contribution to the annual turnover of more than £1m.
Keith said: “We have invested a lot in advertising in the past three years to place Furniture Clinic as the leading leather care and repair manufacturer in the region. We have attracted significant new business which has led us to outgrow our current premises. We should be moved into the new premises in October this year.”
The company, which currently employs 12 staff, has also established a string of 13 franchises around the UK and is looking to expand into the US early next year with opening of a base in New York.
One North East Director of Business and Industry, Ian Williams, said: “The Furniture Clinic is a real North East success story – a local firm which has succeeded nationally and established an international reputation in its field.
“It has grown year on year and established a string of high-profile clients, but remained equally focused on servicing its core customers in the region and leather trade. Keith and Ben have achieved a great deal in a relatively short space of time and I am pleased the agency has been able to support their company’s development.”
Established in 2005, Furniture Clinic is based on the knowledge and experience of managing director Keith Staerck, who has over 18 years experience in the industry. In May 2007 Furniture Clinic launched its first franchise in Gateshead, which was an immediate success and it now operates a franchising package that is offered throughout UK.
Furniture Clinic has 13 franchises operating in across the country and is looking to establish up to 50 franchises over the next 3 years.
The Grant for Business Investment (GBI) initiative delivered by One North East is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2007-13.
Topics: Britain, development, economic growth, Economy, England, Global, jobs, planning, production, recession, success story, UK, Whickham
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