Sofas & Stuff Is The British Sofa Company To Know, Creating Tailored, One-Of-A-Kind Sofas
By
11 months ago
Committed to making beautiful furniture in the UK
Sofas & Stuff is an entry in our Great British Brands 2024 book.
Sofas & Stuff: Great British Brand 2024
‘We recently established our own factory in Preston, strategically tapping into a pool of highly skilled individuals in the area. Our commitment is to make beautiful furniture that reflects your unique style, much like your wardrobe. Whether you envision distinct design details or a specific fabric, we offer the flexibility to tailor your sofa – adjusting size, depth, and cushion interiors. Every piece is a one-of-a-kind creation, which is a manufacturing challenge, but also our raison d’être and a key point of difference.
At Sofas & Stuff, our most valuable asset is our people. They are the heartbeat of our business, embodying our commitment to exceptional service. Placing customers at the forefront, followed closely by our dedicated teams in the showrooms, the factory and our distribution centre, we prioritise investment in training and nurturing the next generation. Upholsterers, for instance, undergo a rigorous five-year training, ensuring mastery in their craft. Upholding traditional furniture-making skills is vital, and as the seasoned craftspeople age, we remain steadfast in recruiting the best talent to prevent the erosion of these invaluable skills.
One source of pride since our factory’s inception is our approach to work-life balance. Our team operates on a four-day working week, condensing a five-day workload without compromising productivity. Any necessary overtime is scheduled on Fridays, granting our team a well-deserved three-day weekend. This innovative approach is very popular among our workforce and helps foster a harmonious and productive environment. I’m sure AI will become very important but how useful it will be for the type of relatively straightforward manufacturing we do, I’m not so sure.
As the CEO and founder of Sofas & Stuff, I am deeply committed to longevity, a belief rooted in our identity as a family business. We take the long view, understanding the importance of sustained growth and prosperity.’
Andrew Cussins, CEO and founder
Five Proudest Moments
- For us, family equals business, so beyond the joy of raising our four grown-up children, welcoming our first grandchild, Etta, 18 months ago, was a cherished moment.
- Leading and managing a flourishing team that has grown to just under 200 individuals is testament to the opportunities we create.
- The successful launch of our production facility in Preston in 2022 marking a pivotal moment in our company’s growth, establishing a foundation for continued success.
- Achieving the satisfaction of making over 7,000 customers happy each year speaks volumes for our unwavering commitment to excellence and customer service.
- Becoming recognised as a fabric as well as a furniture brand is an exciting and natural progression for us, aligning with our vision for the future.
What I’ve Learnt…
- Always go for the best person you can employ.
- Always understand the numbers. However creative you are, the answer is always in the numbers.
- Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, what you’re good at and what you’re not good at.
SOFAS & STUFF
The Dairy, Tripp Hill Farm Buildings, Fittleworth, West Sussex RH20 1ER
+44 (0)1798 300154
