Harrogate interiors business designs expansion plan after record year

Harrogate-based Richard Grafton Interiors has announced an expansion programme and diversification into furniture manufacturing after growing sales by 5% to over £2.1m in the year to 29 February 2015.

Launched in 2012 by Yorkshire interior designer and businessman Richard Grafton, the interiors business has seen consistent growth of revenues from its furnishings and interior design showroom and studio in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter.

Mr Grafton said: “After three years building our showroom and interiors businesses, we have spent the last 12 months planning the next stage in our development – we are looking to expand outside Harrogate and also to manufacture our own designs of furniture for the first time.

“We are now in the final stages of planning the opening of a second showroom in Yorkshire and we are also in the process of finalising a deal that will see us launch our own range of high quality furniture.”

The business’ joint venture interior architecture company, Grafton Freestone, has also expanded since it relocated last year to a new 1,000 sq ft showroom located on the corner of Montpellier Street and The Ginnel, adjacent to Richard Grafton Interiors’ main 4,000 sq ft showroom and offices.

The business also has a further 2,000 sq ft warehouse showroom which opened in 2013 at the Beech Avenue Business Park in Harrogate.

Mr Grafton commented: “The existing interiors business has seen solid growth as our reputation in the region has continued to increase. There has been a real uplift in projects in North Yorkshire and our move to bring a broad team of complementary skills under one roof continues to give us an edge, providing a competitive point of difference.

“Our clients often want to work with a single team to supply everything they need from makeovers for living rooms and offices to more specialist design and installation projects for bedrooms suites, dressing rooms, spa style bathrooms, wet rooms and kitchens, and there very few firms which can deliver that complete service.”

He added: “The bespoke cabinetry and installations, as well as the technology and tailored audio visual systems we install through Grafton Freestone, have also seen increasing demand, particularly with a younger clientele who are opting for high levels of tech in their home design projects.

“With a team of 13 including eight experienced designers, we are already the largest team in the region and we have plans to recruit several new staff this year to help us cope with the expansion and new lines of business.”

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