Birmingham interior design business celebrates milestone

Edward Thomas Interiors to mark fifth birthday with charity initiative.

Birmingham-based interior design specialist, Edward Thomas Interiors celebrated its fifth year of trading last month. To mark this milestone, directors and co-owners of the business, Andy Richardson and Steve Hird set up a ‘5 for 5’ initiative which pledges to support local charities, college students and their own team.

Steve said: “Naturally we’re immensely proud of achieving five years in business, but we wanted to do more than just talk about it, which is where the 5 for 5 initiative originated. Over the next twelve months, we’re pledging to support five charities with either donations or fundraising; offer five work placements for local design students and undertake five teambuilding activities for our staff. Making this commitment is our way of giving back to the people who have helped build this business but also investing in the wider West Midlands community, where we’ve been so successful.”

Established in 2015, Edward Thomas Interiors was created with three core values: exceptional customer service; innovative design; and top quality products. Working with housebuilders nationwide, the firm creates exquisite show homes, sales centres, marketing suites and retirement living spaces.

“It was always our intention to build a business that could become a trusted design partner,” explains director, Andy Richardson, whose 25-year career in the industry includes time with Wedgwood and Ikea. “A well-designed scheme requires a collective approach, as well as time to conceptualise and mature. We pride ourselves on working alongside our clients from the earliest stage, taking inspiration from location, house styles, individual taste and overall brand identity, and seeing this through to complete installation and launch.

“This process enables us to develop longstanding relationships and it’s testament that even when people move on, they invariably take us with them.”

This ethos has bred success for Edward Thomas Interiors, resulting in not only partnerships as the preferred interior designer for five-star housebuilders such as St Modwen and William Davis Homes but also group approved supplier status with Barratt David Wilson and Kier Homes in multiple regions.

Now employing a team of 21 including specialists in design, styling, buying and installation, Edward Thomas Interiors is growing solidly. From a £1.4 million turnover in its first year of trading to £4 million recorded in 2019, the directors expect to achieve a similar figure this financial year despite the interruptions of the pandemic.

Steve added: “We’re in a strong position for growth, which we hope to achieve organically and incrementally in the coming years. Our forward order book includes projects in 13 different towns and cities; we hope to offer operations, design and style apprenticeships shortly and in the long-term, have plans to expand the business with complementary services including logistics and soft furnishings installation. So, along with our ‘5 for 5’ pledges we have plenty to keep us busy for the next five years!”