Member Article

Show Stopping Year Ahead For Cheshire Interiors Firm

A Cheshire based interior design business that specialises in show homes for large-scale property developers is on track to almost double in size in its coming financial year following significant investment and new owner/management team.

Established in 2009, Lifestyle Interiors is a £1.2M business with headquarters in Middlewich. Since coming under new ownership by Gemma Schofield and husband Dean, a former England International rugby player – who has now swapped his muddy boots to work alongside Gemma on the operational side of the business – the company has already added 50 per cent more contracts to its current order book and is projecting a turnover of between £1.75 and £2M by this time next year.

Lifestyle Interiors is a well-established name within the North West housebuilding scene with an impressive client list that includes developers such as Barratt Developments, Bellway and Jones Homes and North West housebuilders Henderson Homes, Rowland Homes and Create Homes. But already Gemma and Dean have broadened its remit to new contracts for developments across the UK.

Since taking over the business from Elaine Gore, who remains as a consultant, Gemma and Dean have injected heavy inward investment into the company with additional staff, new software, IT and operating systems, new uniforms and liveried vehicles and they have plans for a larger head office in the coming year. They are also investing in marketing and PR, with a new website and social media campaign, to support its fast-paced growth.

And the hard work is already paying off with the business currently shortlisted for two categories in this year’s The Grafters Awards – which celebrates the very the very best companies and individuals in construction and property.

Gemma commented: “We are now in strong position for huge growth, and we’re forecasting a turnover of around £1.75m, even £2m, in the next financial year, which may seem like ambitious target that is almost double our current income, but we already have a full order book, with lots more in the pipeline.

“This next stage of growth will be achieved by expanding within the areas we already operate, as well as making the most of our fantastic industry and sporting contacts. We have just finished the interior fit-out of a new 18-room hotel in Wesham, Lancashire within the Mill Farm Sports Village, home to rising football club AFC Fylde.

“As a team we’re well versed in the nuances of the property industry. I have run property related businesses for the last 15 years and before his rugby career Dean was a joiner. He substituted the building site for a Rugby pitch at 21 to make his Sale Sharks debut v Leicester Tigers!

“As well as show home interiors, we’re able to offer a full project management service for private clients and smaller projects.

“Dean will also be managing our move to a new purpose-built building, as we have already outgrown the office in Middlewich and this will aid us further in our expansion plans.”

She added: “I am aware of the pitfalls of growing too quickly, but we have a great team and a strong vision for how we can achieve success.

“We’re unique in that we design and manufacture our own soft furnishings in house and do not simply source fixtures and fittings from the typical places, because of this we bring added value to all our projects, responding to the customer demand for individual and bespoke looks.”

Lifestyle Interiors also undertakes interior projects for high-end luxury homes, working with many of Cheshire’s elite sporting personalities in the Cheshire area.

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