After years trading in the hospitality furniture industry as a family business, Liam and his team realised that they weren’t truly marketing the company for what it really was – a British-made furniture specialist that maintained an unrivalled commitment to the environment.
A brand overhaul was considered vital in order to convey the true ethos behind the company, as Liam explains: “We decided to rebrand with our core values as part of our message and Valdivian Furniture was born – a name derived from an eco region on the west coast of South America in Chile and Argentina.”
Liam adds: “The British branding of Valdivian Furniture gives the company a competitive edge, with all designs being developed and manufactured in our UK factory. With British-made furniture becoming less common, this makes Valdivian exclusive and has proven the popularity of both in-house and bespoke, handcrafted furniture pieces.”
The company has a USP like no other – the ability to undertake large-scale projects with incomparable quality finishes while still maintaining a personable service from a family-run company.
“Each client gets a truly unique experience,” comments Liam, “with visibility and communication through all stages of design, manufacturing and fitting.”
This commitment to customer relationships has been significantly bolstered thanks to a recent move of premises, which enabled Valdivian to employ more staff with expertise in both upholstery and joinery.
The Valdivian team has an unrivalled passion for furniture and a unique eye for craftsmanship and design, which showcases the creative talents behind the business. Moreover, the company’s close-knit character enables team members to work together in a highly productive manner, thus driving the business forward. Liam continues: “We have and always will see our workforce as family. Without their constant hard work and support, our dream of being an eco-friendly British manufacturer wouldn’t be possible.”
As customers strive to become more sustainable and implement their corporate social responsibility schemes, Valdivian has found its environmental initiatives fully meet these needs, as Liam explains further: “All of our woods are carefully sourced from sustainable forests and will always be FSC or PEFC certified.”
The company’s product portfolio is extensive; one of the many reasons hotels and restaurants continue to source their furniture from Valdivian. However, the company’s greatest asset is its ability to manufacture bespoke pieces to the exact design requirements of the client, demonstrating its flexibility as a company. “Alongside our bespoke service, we are finding The Savannah, Albertine and Malayan ranges to be extremely popular.”
At busy times, the company utilises a strategic in-house production system, which all staff are responsible for keeping updated in their various departments. Liam comments: “This way, everyone knows the stage they are at and, in turn, we can keep our finger on the production at all times.”
To maintain its high-quality product offering, Valdivian keeps up to date with the latest innovations in woodworking machinery and spraying systems available in the UK. Recent investments include planer saws and sanders manufactured by Felder, and a bespoke-designed spray booth produced by L and B Norwich.
Liam comments: “We, as a company, believe in making furniture by hand. Our traditional machinery saws and planers, plus full extraction systems, increase efficiency and ensure customer lead times are met and completed to a high standard.”
CAD software has also become integral to the company’s operations. “It would be difficult to run efficiently without it,” explains Liam. “The software allows us the freedom to design furniture and create full-scheme layouts, which has been invaluable for the business and opened new doors for Valdivian.”
On the factory floor, reduction of waste and recycling are important issues. Liam explains: “We run an in-house recycling programme, which involves us working with local schools to recycle our off-cuts of material and foam. The remaining waste is then split up and recycled accordingly.”
Valdivian’s commitment to the environment alongside its unique service has earned the company a suite of prestigious clients in the hospitality sector. Liam recalls the business’ most notable commission to date: “Antipodea restaurant is a true mark of our bespoke design skills and demonstrates Valdivian’s unique attention to detail and creative aptitude.
“This is our greatest achievement in furniture design and manufacturing and there isn’t a single piece of furniture in the setting that we didn’t have a hand in creating in-house. We worked closely with the project designers to develop the bespoke pieces that complement the space, with the mixture of natural woods and materials being specifically chosen to capture a natural aesthetic.”
Liam continues: “The exposed brick walls and solid oak tabletops also bring together the elements for a truly stunning finish, which reflects the grounded vibes of the Australian outdoors. For us, the Antipodea project really tested our ability as a manufacturer, but in a positive way.”
With the company’s recent investment in new spacious premises and increased manpower, growth is certainly on the horizon for Valdivian.
Liam concludes: “We are currently working on new furniture ranges that we hope to launch by the end of the year, so there are lots of exciting new pieces and designs in store. With restaurant openings on the rise and hotels investing 57% more on refurbishments, the future is looking promising for those manufacturing and supplying furniture to the sector. Owners are becoming more aware of the importance of surroundings in completing a full service offering and with new trends setting in, we hope to use this to our advantage over the next 12 months. We have in-depth knowledge of the industry and can offer our insight and designs to those looking to update, open or re-design.”
