TV medic signs with growing furniture firm

Dr Hilary Jones, who appears on GMTV's Daybreak and on Steve Wright's BBC Radio Two show, will be the face of Repose Furniture's range of bespoke chairs which have been developed to meet a wide range of healthcare needs.

Dr Jones visited Repose's new factory in Cokeland Place, Cradley Heath, last week to sign a contract and help celebrate the business's 15th anniversary.

The Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Linda Horton, was among the guests who also visited on the day and she and managing director Lisa Wardley cut a celebration cake.

Commercial director Keith Fairhurst said that Dr Jones would help Repose to move on to the next stage of its growth.

The company, which was originally started in Cradley Heath, relocated from Brierley Hill where it had been since 2001 in August last year.

Mr Fairhurst said the 23,500 sq ft unit has three times the space of the former premises and gave the company the room it needed to grow.

Repose's turnover grew by 27 per cent last year to £3.2 million and it aims to reach £5m by 2016.

The move has also seen the company recruit 10 increasing its workforce to 33.

Dr Jones said he was delighted to have become the 'medical ambassador' for the business which he said already had a wonderful reputation within the medical market.

"When they approached me they realised that as a practising doctor I had lots of patients who had conditions requiring comfortable practical seating.

"They spend many hours of the day in a chair which needs to be comfortable, hygienic and adaptable," he explained.

Dr Jones said he had been impressed by the range of furniture Repose produced and had tried out many of the company's different theraputic seats on his visit to its new home.

He added that hew was looking forward to having an input into Repose's future designs.

He said that with an ageing population its was increasingly important that older people had seating what helped prevent falls and provided proper support and comfort.

"They have already thought of many of the things that are needed including electronic remote control to tilt and alter the height of chairs and heated cushions that can help those with arthritis who need heat to the lumbar or shoulders," he added.

Repose currently produces a range of more than 30 different products including reclining chairs, care chairs, sleeper chair,sofas and wooden furniture for care homes.

Mr Fairhurst said that about 90 per cent of its output was bespoke pieces made to match the requirements of buyers. All final manufacturing is done on site.

Repose was started by John Elcocks, who is the father of Mrs Wardley and production director David Elcocks. He is still with the business as one of the directors.

Repose puts its success down to constant innovation and key strategic partner distributors in each region of the UK, with emphasis placed on a quality product, delivered on time and at a competitive price.

More information on the full Repose range is available on the company's website at www.reposefurniture.co.uk