Yorkshire Christmas catch-up: James Dowsing-Reynolds, owner of Dowsing & Reynolds

As Christmas is only weeks away, and the businesspeople of Yorkshire are preparing to hang up their stockings, Bdaily is continuing its December interview series with James Dowsing-Reynolds, owner of Dowsing & Reynolds.

As you already know, we at Bdaily love to bring our readers closer to the stories we write. So this month, we’re asking the questions we don’t usually get a chance to ask - giving you the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the businesses you often read about.

Based in Leeds, Dowsing & Reynolds is a design-led interiors ecommerce business, which was launched by James Dowsing-Reynolds from his kitchen table in 2013. It specialises in bespoke lighting products.

Your Business

What were the highlights for your business in 2015?

We hit our £1m annual turnover milestone ahead of target and have had record-breaking sales. We’ve also taken on six new staff this year. It’s been a real privilege to build a great team who I love to work with every day.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently this year?

I wish we’d done the 100% Design Show in September, we just didn’t have time. It’s the show to put yourself in front of architects and designers which has been one of our growth markets – so we’re definitely going to do that in 2016 and make sure our stand is the one to watch.

What’s in store for Dowsing & Reynolds in 2016?

We’re planning to take on more staff and move into larger premises to accommodate our growth in the New Year.

We’ve also got lots of new product lines coming up - new LED bulbs that are the closest to the vintage style yet, for example, and we’ll be the first in the UK to sell them. We’re also extending to light switches, expanding our bulkhead lighting range and introducing new geometric and enamel ranges. There’s a lot going on.

Your favourites

Have any other Yorkshire companies caught your eye this year? if so - why?

Duke Studios has always been on my radar and watching their growth this year has been fantastic. They do great business and are real pioneers in Leeds, in my opinion. One of the directors, Laura Wellington, is a designer and has recently turned her talents to creating a really unusual light design so we have shared interests.

When business life gets on top of you, what do you to destress?

Drive my 240z when I have time, but mainly I like to go out to unwind – I spend so much time behind a desk or on a screen I like to get away, eat out and go for a pint with my friends.

Who has been your favourite social media personality this year? Any accounts stood out for you?

Wonders of Engineering is my favourite site and I F***ing Love Science.

The what ifs

If you could do any job in the world what would it be?

A dragon in the Den, I just love business.

If you could go back in time, which piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Get your hair cut, don’t worry so much and enjoy being young, go travelling, realise that dyslexia is not a weakness.

What would be the perfect Christmas gift for you?

A personal chef to cook me healthy meals when I get home. They’re hard to wrap up though.

Thank you for your time James, Merry Christmas for the Bdaily team!

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