LEADING Belfast-based furniture supplier, Sliderobes has revealed plans to double the size of the business over the next five years.
Speaking to The Irish News, Mervyn McCall and Paul Rothwell, who took over the company in 2016, said they hope to increase store and staff numbers as well as grow turnover beyond £30 million as part of major expansion plans.
The business partners, who previously worked together at Co Antrim joinery business, Mivan felt the time was right to breathe new life into Sliderobes, which they admit had become "stale" and "jaded".
Mr McCall, who previously held a non-executive position on the board at Sliderobes, felt that along with his friend, they could rejuvenate the company, which designs, manufactures and installs bespoke furniture and storage solutions and have set about doing so in the past year.
The major programme of works has included the six figure refurbishment of its Boucher Crescent base, additional product offerings, the implementation of new CAD design software and the launch of a new website.
"We've actually changed everything in the company," Mr McCall explained.
"We've changed a lot of the people - we've brought in a new head of sales, new head of design and new marketing person so the whole management structure has been changed as well as our outlook and strategy. The showroom is really the last part of it."
The refurbishment of the company's flagship Belfast store has created a new design studio concept, set to be rolled out across the remaining 11 partner sites throughout the UK and Ireland. The plans are part of an ambitious five-year strategy for the business, which includes as many as 12 new showrooms, predominantly in England.
"There's a few significant areas in England where there is a lot of potential and we don't cover at the minute," Mr Rothwell said.
"Certainly we would be look to double the number of sites, there's some regions we're thinking about a total of five or six showrooms."
In addition to the proposed new sites the business duo believe this will correspond with a spike in both staff numbers, which could double from the 100 currently employed and turnover, which could surpass £30m from a base of between £12m and £15m.
"We think there's a lot of growth in it, that's why both of us have become involved and we're convinced of that now more than ever," Mr Rothwell continued.
The pair have not ruled out further sites in Northern Ireland in the future, but in the short-term there are currently greater opportunities in the British market.
One potential stumbling block to growth however, is Brexit, but the owners maintain that Northern Ireland will always be home for the business, founded in 1983.
"The company's always been established here so there's no reason why you would move. You get really talented people here in design, research and development, it wouldn't make sense to move," Mr McCall said.
"Brexit has definitely been a strong challenge, we're pushing against the wind as far as the market is concerned.
"We just have to be better at everything than anyone else to make sure we get more business. We've already had to deal with the weakening of the currency, which put our costs up so we've had to manage that.
" I think with Brexit, not just for us, but for most businesses, once we actually understand what the rules are we'll all make whatever adjustments we have to make and get on with it. Right now we're at the worst stage of it, we just don't know and the uncertainty itself creates doubts in people's minds," he added.
