We’ve really put ourselves ‘out there’ this year after realising it isn’t something we’ve done enough of! Dedicating some time to showcasing who we are and what we do has been a great way to look back over the years and to shine a spotlight on our talented team too. We thought we would use our last blog of the year doing more of the same!
Kicking off our blogs earlier in the year with a trip down memory lane was a wonderfully ‘fitting’ way to start. It offered the perfect opportunity to catch up with Phil who happily filled in the ‘blanks’ that I just didn’t know or Sam had forgotten! It also acted as a great conversation starter both in and out of the office, everyone seemed to have a memory of the old shop and where it all began. We all learnt something! Greg and Sue especially had plenty of tales to tell of times gone by and they’re both still here so we must be doing something right - or maybe very wrong?!!
The newspaper cutting was a real reminder of just how far Philip Cowan Interiors had come. How many things have changed as well as how some, well haven’t changed at all! One of the most important aspects that remains is the family ethos we still maintain today. We feel it's one of the main attractions which sets us apart from the rest. Regardless of department, the team remains relatively small on the whole - we’re very much about quality and not quantity here!
When we talk to you on the phone about a visit to your project we talk about who exactly will be coming and what they’ll be doing and sure enough you’ll be able to put a face to that name on the day.
The personal touch
The vision of providing an ‘end to end’ all-round service is still the same as it was in the beginning only now we’ve added to it, honed it and are confident that we bring everything you need to the table and bring it consistently. This very work ethic means we can often provide a quick turn-around to our clients when they find themselves in a situation where time constraints have changed and an install is required…. yesterday!
Appreciated, it isn’t always possible but our long-standing clients know that wherever possible we’ll strive to go that extra mile to make that vision a reality and pronto! You can be safe in the knowledge that in these situations everyone back at Philip Cowan HQ will have played some part in achieving what only days earlier, seemed like the impossible to us all.
The office - where the ‘magic’ happens!
The office will take a break from all that important paper shuffling to fill cushions, Matt in the workshop will hang up his saw and provide an extra pair of hands to Jo in the workroom and Sam and Joe will reacquaint themselves with the back of the van whilst they load it! Our ability and desire to show a ‘can do’ attitude applies to the whole team here with everyone ‘mucking in’ to make it happen. We remind ourselves on these occasions that ‘if you aren’t living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room!’ It’s why we aim to ensure that the skill set across our business is transferable to some extent within the team to ‘step up’ when required and keep the process moving whatever the situation.
We aren’t constrained by a fixed lead time due to stock and production efficiencies in our business being the best they’ve ever been. We’ve worked hard in recent months looking at every little step of our production process and where it’s working for us and where it isn’t. To hold stock or to work to the ‘just in time’ way of thinking? As is usually the case with Philip Cowan Interiors we’ve taken the best bits, the things that work for us and our clients and incorporated them to provide an efficient and effective service that suits us all - the majority of the time!
Food for thought…
But let's not forget our valued suppliers and the role they play, ensuring that when we’re up against it we can still deliver. As with our client base, we work with the best of the best and have done so for many years. These long-standing relationships have been built on their part by taking the time to understand our business, the sectors we cover and how we work. They are solid foundations enabling us to call on them to ask for their advice and recommendations when we’re looking for something a bit different or just need something fast! It all culminates in a working relationship which benefits both parties and ultimately enables us to provide an unwavering commitment to personalised service. We feel it's what sets us apart from the rest.
Earlier this year we had the pleasure of working with James Tasker at The Lamplighter Dining Rooms in Windermere. He was mid-project, renovating their guest bedrooms and had been let down by their original fabric and blind supplier. We were kindly recommended to him and the rest is history.
Mark didn’t need too much persuading to make a last-minute trip to Windermere and measure up, after all, it's a beautiful part of the country and he does love a good landscape! With the rooms measured and fabrics chosen, we could order everything required and begin producing the curtains immediately. It’s in times like these where a great relationship with your suppliers is key!
Mark got a second trip to Windermere on installation day, James’s rooms went ‘live’ on time and everyone was happy - job well and truly done!
Our ‘can do’ attitude and ability to turn jobs around when the situation calls for it doesn’t just apply to hospitality. We’re also used to keeping the healthcare sector moving which is what we did recently when a much-valued and long-standing client needed a project ‘pulling out of the bag’ in record time!
The urgent inquiry came in, a measure was booked for the following week. Measure complete, and fabric specification provided the following day we reserved fabrics in preparation for the order. The purchase order was received the next day and we installed 6 days later! We’re never afraid to ‘have a go’ that's for sure!
We’re a little late to the party where marketing is concerned so we’re still learning. We’ve been in a fortunate position where we’ve never needed to - we’ve been constantly busy from one project to the next for the last 20 years or so. There’s been just enough ‘down’ time in between to rest, plan and evolve to improve on and maintain our success.
Work in progress
Our decision to step up and step out where marketing is concerned has been more about sharing who we are, where we started and where we’re going. It’s also taken me way out of my comfort zone - I’m still trying to decide (along with everyone else) whether that's a good thing, or not! This is probably a good time to refer you back to my earlier point about ‘living on the edge!’ If I’m walking around with my phone out, you’d best hide unless you want to feature in the next post. No one is safe now…!
‘Poised’ and ready… just like us!
‘Showing up’ has allowed us to highlight the fantastic projects we help bring to life alongside the amazingly talented clients we collaborate with during the process. One can’t work without the other and we appreciate what each person brings to the table, inside and outside of Philip Cowan Interiors.
We’re proud to be able to apply the finishing touches to your project, we see our curtains and blinds as the ‘full stop.’ We’re the ‘icing on the cake’ when all the paint has dried and the space is clean and clear and ready to be brought to life and what a pleasure that is.
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