Planning for the future, Leisure Furnishings targets continued success as a leading soft furnishings manufacturer 

From humble origins with a team of just five people, Leisure Furnishings has become a leading supplier of soft furnishings to the leisure industry, and as a result has worked with most of the major manufacturers in the sector. Founded in 1999, the business has grown to accommodate a team of over 200 people that is still expanding. Managing Director, Robert Hunter, elaborates: “Leisure Furnishings is a family-owned business which celebrated its 25th anniversary in October of last year. 

“It was founded by husband-and-wife team Colin and Kirsty Crewther in Long Eaton where we are still based today. Although we have grown considerably as a company over that time we still try and provide that personal touch for our employees and run it as a small to medium family-owned business.” 

Robert continues, outlining the company’s current offering and range of services: “We’re a very hands-on business with people making things from scratch rather than assembling. We have a sewing facility, cutting rooms, and a wood mill which we utilize to make mattresses, divans, headboards, and sofas. Essentially, anything in your home that has fabric on it, we make. Our core business is providing the leisure industry with soft furnishings such as seats and backs for caravans (both towed and static), as well as motorhomes and campervans. We’re the biggest supplier of interiors for the industry, so that’s our specialty.” 

Reflecting on the ways in which family-ownership has shaped the business Robert says that it creates a more balanced approach: “When things are busy for example, and you need a decision made quickly it’s easy to get all the key stakeholders into a room and have those conversations. You become a part of the family – I’ve known Colin for over 29 years – and so we’re agile when required. Then, equally when you experience difficult moments, and you need to mitigate your losses or find ways to maintain profits, we can achieve results in a much less ruthless, less corporate way. In the end we always get to where we need to be, but through a much nicer approach. We care more than a large corporate entity; we are very aware that the decisions we make can have serious implications on other people’s lives.” 

Moving on, Robert explains how Covid, which caused enormous challenges for many industries triggered a significant uptick in certain areas of the business: “With the travel restrictions put in place by the government and indeed governments all over the world, there was a pent-up frustration. People wanted to go on holiday and had the money to spend so the full leisure industry exploded. Manufacturers could not resupply quickly enough; we had to recruit and work overtime to meet consumer demand. We then had to adjust accordingly to account for the dramatic increase in the motorhome and campervan side of the business. Once travel restrictions were lifted, people jumped at the opportunity to travel around the UK with the comfort and security of their own spaces.” 

Remaining at the cutting edge of an industry requires continuous investment, and for Leisure Furnishings, this is a process that begins with equipment. “The technology is continually changing and advancing,” Robert explains. “We’re constantly integrating and adapting to new technology with regards to our machinery. Just this week [at time of writing] for example, we are introducing some people who work with AI to the office to evaluate what benefits that might bring to the operation.

“Then for our customers everything is computer based. This means we’re continually having to invest in new software, which in turn can require people to have extra training. This also occurs on the shop floor, for example, we recently acquired a new CNC fabric machine. It is a more clever, sophisticated and faster machine, but it also produces more reports and requires people to learn how to use its programming. 

“Similarly, we have some very specialist sewing machines that have provided us with the capabilities to create some unique designs which have enabled us to become the industry leader in the motorhome and campervan sector. These machines represent a significant investment not only in terms of the material but also in terms of the training required. This forms an ongoing process that is constantly evolving as the technology develops.” 

Robert then takes a moment to reflect on what achieving 25 years in business means for the company and the team: “It’s something we’re really proud of. As well as the celebrations and reminiscing about the good old days, it’s important to realize how big a role we play in our community. We’ve employed a lot of people and provided them with security. We’ve also gained a reputation the likes of which is incredibly hard to achieve, so we strive to continue and maintain that.” 

Looking forward, this year will be about consolidation and remaining a consistent supplier to its significant customer base. “We’re looking to not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations,” Robert says. “We want to be seen as a reliable and steady partner in the industry. 

“In five years’ time we’d like to maintain our position as one of the leading soft furnishings manufacturers in the UK. We want to continue going from strength to strength, evolving with our customers, and still operating successfully in another 25 years,” Robert concludes.  

https://leisure-furnishings.co.uk