From his humble beginnings as a farmer attempting to make ends meet, Jim Lawrence created an organization that prides itself on craftsmanship, range and high quality. A phenomenal assortment of handmade residence furnishings together with lighting, curtain rods, lampshades and extra, in stunning finishes, all made within the UK.
The Story of Jim Lawrence
The massive success of his eponymous firm nonetheless surprises Jim Lawrence. “Really, it began by chance,” he laughs. “I labored on the farm for 10 years, caring for pigs and cows, however the farm misplaced cash yearly, so I needed to discover one thing else to do.”
To complement his earnings, Lawrence made some candlesticks for a good friend, and regardless of claiming that what he made “wasn’t actually excellent”, he offered a number of at markets and gala’s. This was in 1994 and by 1996 Lawrence had given up on farming as enterprise boomed. “By 1992 the farm was shedding £4,000 a yr.” Simply over twenty years later, gross sales had been £6 million. “It has been superb, and I actually do not know the way it occurred,” he says, with none trace of false modesty.
This success was not unintended, in fact, it’s due to the standard and variety of merchandise that Lawrence, his spouse Sheena and their staff of expert native artisans handcraft of their Suffolk workshops. The 150-person staff consists of engineers, welders, painters, seamstresses, designers, lampshade makers and technicians, in addition to a spread of help employees. The devoted employees consists of “outdated palms and youth on internships. All of us work collectively, there isn’t any hierarchy right here,” says Lawrence.
Jim Lawrence immediately
Because the enterprise continued to develop, so did the necessity for a retailer the place prospects may view the rising vary of merchandise. In 2019, the model ventured from Suffolk to the town of Bathtub, the place a Georgian constructing (on Walcot Avenue in Bathtub’s well-known craft district) was transformed into a store promoting the total vary of lighting and residential items (there’s additionally a showroom subsequent to a of the workshops in Hadleigh, Suffolk).
Whereas the model remains to be primarily recognized for its lighting, Jim Lawrence has a broad portfolio of curtain rods, ironwork and fabric. Lawrence’s palpable enthusiasm for increasing the gathering signifies that “each week I attempt to give you new concepts, and my spouse is similar.”
Newest Jim Lawrence Collections
The newest new idea developed by the staff is a set of plug-in wall lamps. An enlightening thought, in recognition of the demand for direct lighting that can be utilized wherever within the residence with out worrying about inner wiring. The lamps characteristic the model’s best-selling designs of strong brass and hand-blown glass lampshades – within the signature Jim Lawrence type, however outfitted with a plug and in-line change.
On a bigger scale, the corporate can also be trying to the way forward for English manufacturing by buying native Sudbury-based glassblower Suffolk Glass. Jim Lawrence has labored with Suffolk Glass for a few years to develop glass pendants, ceiling lights and lampshades utilizing conventional glass blowing and manipulation strategies. “It has at all times been our goal to champion nice British craftsmanship,” says Lawrence, “and by enhancing our vary of in-house craft abilities at our Suffolk workshops, we’re delighted to be upskilling, recruiting and additional growing our staff. to let develop.”
Nevertheless, range and growth don’t detract from high quality. For Lawrence it’s crucial that they’ve consultants on the bottom. “It is a lot simpler to run a enterprise the place all the things is right here. If I wished, I may design one thing within the morning, have it made in one among our workshops within the afternoon and promote it on-line within the night.” Maybe the key behind his success, then, is right down to Lawrence’s ethos of ‘taking satisfaction in making issues right here and making issues proper’. The English Dwelling can attest that it’s this dedication to high quality that shines by in merchandise which are on our want lists.
Learn extra:
Would you want extra info and inspiration from The English Dwelling? Click on ‘Like’ on our Fb web pagecomply with us on Instagram and Pinterest, be part of the dialog Twitter and take heed to our newest podcast.
