Furniture firm expands with move to new Cradley Heath site

Repose Furniture has outgrown its existing premises in Brick Kiln Street, Brierley Hill and is moving to a new 23,500 sq ft factory in Cokeland Place.

The company originally started as a two-man operation in Cradley Heath but moved to Brierley Hill in 2001.

Repose is continuing to expand its team after recently announcing a 21 per cent increase in turnover on the same 12-month period last year.

The continued growth in demand for its specialist furniture, both in the healthcare and home markets, has led to the company expanding its team with the appointment of two new sales consultants – taking staff numbers to 32.

Further manufacturing jobs will be created once Repose has moved to its new premises, with the company predicting annual growth of 25 per cent following the move.

Up to 10 new posts are expect-ed to be created in the upholstery, wood mill and labour departments.

Kevin Critchlow has been appointed to run the company's distributor operation in the north and new account manager Rachel Panter will support internal sales and marketing.

Repose has national sales coverage and has set targets to grow each of its regional territories to figures in excess of £600,000 which will enable a total annual turnover of £5 million to be achieved by 2016.

The company puts its continued success down to its constant innovation and key strategic partner distributors in each region, with the emphasis squarely placed on the right product, delivered quickly and at a competitive price.

Managing director Lisa Wardley said: "Coming from the West Midlands we are proud to be growing our business here – it is an ideal location for our national operation with an excellent motorway infrastructure and access to an experienced work force.

"Our local success has been fuelled by the excellent support of our local distributors and their increasing sales into the local NHS, care homes and charities."

Repose has already built up sales volume of more than 5,000 chairs a year across a range of successful lines.

Its new factory provides three times the current space to allow for the expansion of manufacturing capabilities, the development of a training suite and extensive showrooms.

Production director David Elcocks, who is Mrs Wardley's brother, said: "Investing in new production facilities and machinery is a critical factor in our future success.

"It provides us with an excellent opportunity to expand our new lines of furniture such as our Stargazer chair/bed which is selling well into care homes and hospices and our reception/ward chairs."

Repose was started by their father John Elcocks who still has a hand in the running of the company.