Jarrow's Funky Chunky Furniture firm enjoys record sales during lockdown home improvement boom

Due to the increase in demand for online shopping, as well as people wanting to improve and accessorise their homes in lockdown, business has boomed for Funky Chunky Furniture.

From its workshop in Viking Industrial Park in Jarrow, the company has sent out orders of its wooden furniture and accessories to homes across Britain and Europe as sales soar.

Business had already been growing at the local firm, which last year had a turnover of nearly £1.7million, but May 2020 proved to be its best sales month in its seven-year history with sales in excess of £300,000.

The company was founded by former South Tyneside Council joinery apprentice Kevin Johnston in 2013 who, recognising the rise in demand for floating shelves and mantels, began an online business from his garage.

His woodwork proved popular and the range was soon expanded to include furniture, with the company growing from a garage to a small workshop to a large 1200sqm workshop in Jarrow where 24 people are now employed.

Speaking about the lockdown success story, marketing manager Sophie O’Mahony said: “I think it’s down to two things. One is that with high street and retail bricks and mortar closed, there’s been a shift to buying online. It’s what would have probably happened in five years’ time anyway, but lockdown made it happen faster.

“Also, with people not spending money on meals out and drinks, they’ve had more disposable income and have been using that on home improvements.”

As well as shelves and mantels making up a lot of orders, desks have also been in demand as more people than ever are working from home,

“People are spending more time at home and are making that space work for them,” explained Sophie.

The workshop closed for a few weeks at the beginning of lockdown, but reopened in early May with enhanced safety precautions in place.

From there, staff have worked on customers’ orders which are made to their requirements.

Speaking about one of the firm’s major appeals, Sophie said: “The items are about as bespoke as you can get, without the bespoke price, as people can choose different woods, lengths, legs for dining tables.”

Instagram has also proved an important part of the business model, with customers keen to share their shelves and furniture with their followers.

To meet demand, Funky Chunky Furniture has already taken on two new full time operatives in the workshop, who were originally agency support staff but have now been given guaranteed full time employment.

The firm is also looking to recruit five new team members for the workshop, which would create a whole new work shift to expand production capabilities, as well as recruiting two more apprentices as part of its training programme.

Such is their success, they’ve also been able to invest in a new plant as they gear up to expand their furniture range for autumn / winter 2020.

It comes as the Gazette is running its #SupportLocal campaign to encourage people to boost local trade.

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