£150k investment to support furniture maker

MANCHESTER-based investment house The UK Manufacturing Accelerator has invested £150,000 to support a furniture business.

Peak District firm Authentic Furniture specialises in handcrafted furniture and has opened its first showroom close to the Chatsworth Estate. It is now planning several other showrooms to support its online presence.

The company is aiming for £1m turnover in its first full year of trading.

Founder Tim Lowry said: “At least 80% of our mature business will be online. Traditionally a business such as ours might have targeted 20 showrooms but times have changed.

“A few key showrooms are useful places for customers to come and physically touch the quality but one of their main purposes is giving reassurance that a majority online business is actually ‘real’ and ultimately reliable.”

Manufacturing Accelerator chief executive Malcolm Evans said: “Authentic ticks all the boxes for us; UK manufacturing, excellence in all things, disruptive business model and experienced, ambitious management.”