Name of Business
Bespoke Spaces Cheshire Ltd
· Who are you?
Matt Kindon, Founder of Bespoke Spaces- we design, create and install bespoke furniture and interior storage solutions for both domestic and commercial clients.
I’ve previously renovated and extended properties, and was a firefighter for 14 years.
I have a young family and have lived in Warrington my whole life.
· What sets you apart from the competition?
The word ‘bespoke’ has been misused by so many companies before, but we truly do create BESPOKE products.
Our main competitors make their existing products (in limited colours and styles) fit as closely as possible- whereas we make new, bespoke solutions that meet whatever brief the client demands- we can work with any material, finish, size, function etc.
This approach certainly makes us work hard, but having no design limitations really does enable us to give our clients exactly what they want!
We are also agile enough to accommodate unusual requests, and respond quickly to last minute projects where others might not have been able to meet the deadline.
· How did the business come about?
Having been renovating properties for 15 years, including building my own home extension(!), I’d been shifting towards ‘bespoke joinery’ work for a number of years. Once I’d decided to make this my absolute focus and specialism, I incorporated last May and started looking for a space to set up a workshop! I’ve been extremely busy since then (sound familiar?!) but it’s been 100% worth it.
I’m absolutely passionate about improvement and efficiency. I have a creative mind and am fascinated by design. Starting a company that designs solutions for our clients plays to all these strengths. Improving the spaces our clients live or work in, and adding value to their properties is really rewarding too.
· What are your main target markets?
The bulk of our current business comes from domestic clients, who want a custom storage solution they can’t buy off the shelf, e.g. fitted furniture, under-stairs storage/seating, alcove units/shelving, home offices, etc. We’ve relied on word of mouth and client referrals up to this point, so there’s still lots of potential to expand here.
We’ve completed a number of projects within the commercial space too, with the most prominent one being the fit out of the home dressing room at Rylands FC. Commercial clients needing office fit out, hospitality (bars, tables, entrance desks etc) are a new target market for us.
I’m currently working on some special design ideas for outdoor kitchens, so I aim to develop this in time for Spring!
· How long has your business been in existence?
We incorporated in May 2021 and finally found a unit to set up the workshop in February 2022.
· How many staff do you employ?
Currently there is just me full time, with 4-5 trusted subcontractors who assist with larger projects and specialist functions, such as paint spraying.
· What job or achievement makes you most proud?
Personally- making the leap to finally start a business, and developing a fully functioning workshop where we can make some really amazing things!
In terms of projects- fitting out the home dressing room at our local football club- Rylands FC. This was a great assignment and a massive improvement on the Club’s previous facilities (and something for their rivals to be really jealous of!)
· Where do you see the business being in five years?
We hope to be a well-known name across Cheshire, employing a large and locally sourced team of talented and skilled craftspeople. I’m a strong believer in sharing knowledge, and developing people- apprenticeships will be a big part of our business.
We aim to be the ‘go-to’ company for manufacturing and delivering projects- with teams specialising in joinery, metalcraft, upholstery, decoration, and installation. This will enable us to serve a much wider range of markets, such as events, exhibitions, new business fit out etc.
· Tell us one interesting thing about the business that might surprise us?
We offer a fantastic sprayed-paint finish to our products, in any colour imaginable- but 99% of our clients choose white!
· Tell us one interesting thing about you that people might not know? (ie, hobbies, amusing fact, etc)
I am the Group Scout Leader for Woolston Scout Group. We have about 70 young members and 21 volunteers I’m responsible for at the moment, in addition to our own fantastic Scout Headquarters. Scouting is an amazing thing to be involved in!
· Fantasy dinner party – which six people alive or dead would you invite?
Yvon Chouinard
Judi Dench
Jack Black
Greta Thunberg
Adam Savage
Ranulph Fiennes