Member Article

Yorkshire manufacturing opens door to growth for Deuren

A West Yorkshire luxury door manufacturer looks set to double in size over the next 12 months, following an overhaul of the business model only two and a half years ago.

Mirfield-based Deuren is no stranger to the interiors market, having supplied fine Italian doors to domestic and commercial customers for the past 20 years. But in 2014, founder Ian Chubb overhauled the company and brought everything in-house, transforming the business from a small import operation, to an 18-strong UK craftsmanship brand.

And the decision appears to be paying off. Deuren relocated to a 10,000sft premises at the converted Wheatley Park mill, late last year, to help pave the way for further growth. Purchase of a £160,000 CNC machine further increased the technological capabilities of the workshop, taking the machinery investment total to £270,000 in the past two years alone.

But the spend will not stop there. Ian already has his sights set on a new veneer press, and there are plans to procure another CNC machine by the end of the year. It is hoped that more people will be coming on board too, with Deuren having begun the hunt for at least three more joiners over the next few months.

Commenting on what has been a whirlwind time for the business, Ian said: “When the recession hit, the quality of products we were importing became harder to control, and it was particularly difficult to get hold of fire doors. We were also finding that customers’ requirements were becoming increasingly bespoke, but we couldn’t offer the design and sizing flexibility that the UK new-build and renovation market sought.

“So, we bit the bullet and brought the manufacturing in-house, taking us from a small team of salesmen to a company employing our own craftsmen, installation engineers and project administrators. ‘Shutting the door’ on the import market was the best thing we ever did. We’ve boosted our turnover by 81% in that time, and with a strong forward order book, project that revenue will double again within the next 12 months.”

With more than 100 years’ combined experience in the door industry, the new-look Deuren team has manufactured more than 3,000 front, internal and garage doors since the new chapter began. Whilst all doors have been supplied as pre-finished sets – complete with frame, architrave, handle, latch and hinges – every one has been entirely bespoke.

“A growing number of people are realising that a door is a crucial piece of furniture within a room – a gateway to the space they are about to enjoy,” explains Ian. “So, when it comes to new builds or renovations, homeowners are starting to think beyond the obvious. They’re exploring the design, size and finish options of their doors at the start of their projects, and looking for something unique. That’s great news for us – the boom of the interiors market and a passion for products ‘made in the UK’ has proven a real catalyst to our growth.”

Deuren has kitted out the Mirfield workshop so that it is a customer facing environment where clients can either come for a little inspiration, or see their chosen door in production.

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