North Yorkshire furniture store to favour local craftsmen

A NORTH Yorkshire furniture store owner is playing his part in helping smaller, artisanal producers, designers and manufacturers around the UK by shunning cheap imports.

Jason Hadlow, who runs Leeming Bar and Batley-based Simply Dutch, formerly relied heavily on importing his unique ranges of furniture from all over the world.

However, the entrepreneur has decided to build on his extensive network of regional suppliers to supply hand-crafted and independently produced furniture at both of his stores.

Although items from overseas will continue to be stocked a number of new furniture ranges produced by local artisanal craftsmen will go on sale.

Mr Hadlow said he took the decision to concentrate more heavily on regional craftsmen as demand for British-made furniture has increased rapidly since the start of the economic downturn.

There has also been an increase in demand for such furniture from overseas, from countries such as Spain and France. The firm is also planning to export to the Far East later this year.

“Customers are going back to basics and want traditional, handmade furniture that is of the highest quality but also quirky,” he added.

“British craftsmen produce some of the most intricately crafted furniture in the world so we’re going to be stocking a lot more of it in the future. We don’t do bland, disposable pieces- we sell pieces that will always have a value and that people will hand down through the generations.”

As well as retail, Simply Dutch will be selling the regionally produced furniture through its wholesale arm.

Mr Hadlow took over Simply Dutch in 2004 and has since grown the company, which now employs 10 staff.