Member Article

From little acorns…

We all know the ancient proverb ‘Great oaks from little acorns grow’. It means that something can become very impressive from relatively modest beginnings. But this saying, first recorded in poetry dating from c1640, carries even more significance today when you consider what society has achieved with the help of the mighty oak tree. For centuries oak timber has been the hero of historic battleships, medieval roofing and stately home wall panelling – much evidence of which has survived to the present day.

It’s little surprise then that today oak is the timber of preference for some of our most iconic furniture items. And the Oak Furniture Company (OFCo) has set out its online stall to offer customers the very best oak furniture available in the marketplace. OFCo was only founded six months ago. Since July 2013, the company has invested over £500,000 and has gone on to establish an enviable position in the online retailing of quality oak furniture. ‘Desirable, stylish and affordable’ is their mantra. All their oak products are manufactured from sustainable sources, or from reclaimed timber to preserve stocks of this sought-after manufacturing material.

Their ethos of providing first class service is borne out by the scores of recommendations from satisfied customers who post complimentary messages on their website. Dave Goodman, one of the founder directors of OFCo, with many years of experience behind him, says, “It was a brave move to set up online in the midst of one of the deepest recessions in living memory, but our optimism was well-founded with the recently announced signs of national growth and economic recovery. We firmly believe that our policy of multi-channel retailing was the best way to approach this venture, and it’s already paying dividends”.

This is due in part to OFCo’s attention to detail. They have a comprehensive 68,000sq ft warehouse in the West Midlands, so everything is readily available from stock. Because of this central location they can effectively reduce their carbon footprint too, as they don’t have to collect from a wholesaler first, before delivering to the customer. Rather than resorting to a courier company, they use their own two-man delivery team who will courteously manoeuvre items to the room of your choice, as well as unwrapping and taking waste away for ethical recycling at no extra cost. Utilising advanced technology, customers can order at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year. And of course, all precautions are in place to ensure secure online payments.

Dave Goodman has high hopes of continued growth for the company, through embracing key aspects of modern-day retailing. He says, “These days, you have to listen more intently than ever to your customers. We keep in touch with them via an active programme including social media and blogging – it’s the most efficient way of letting people know about new products and styles. It’s our way of ensuring that we stay at the top of the tree in our field.” And of course, there are no prizes for guessing to which tree he’s referring.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by OFC .