40 years of innovative design – more than just furniture – it’s about changing lives

David Bailey Furniture is 40 years old and as the company approaches its metaphorical middle age, it’s worth asking the question – what comes next?  It has been spectacularly successful, turning a small manufacturer of kitchen units into a major supplier of specialist products and is realistically looking forward to winning more multi-million-pound contracts in all of its key markets.

The company is now the fastest growing organisation of its kind, increasing its turnover 20% year on year and is well on course to be a market leading supplier to the healthcare sector with more potential growth planned for education and veterinary services.

That’s great news for staff who work at David Bailey’s factory in Broadstairs, Kent and the company is reinforcing its commitment to more solid growth with a massive and ongoing investment programme. It has recently bought new plant and machinery ready to increase production capacity and is looking to grow jobs and turnover.

The story really started in 1982 when local entrepreneur David Bailey, who lived at the time in Ramsgate, decided to open a small manufacturing plant making domestic kitchens. The factory initially shared space with a transport company until the early 1990’s. It was around this time that Trevor Gillman joined the company. He purchased the company and started to take it in a new direction- and that is when David Bailey Furniture really started to take off in a big way.

It was Trevor who grew new market sectors into healthcare, education, veterinary services and more recently prisons. Under his leadership the company was able to respond quickly to changing market needs.

This continues to be vividly illustrated with the latest launch of a new range of mobile furniture products for hospitals. The range which includes a versatile choice of bedside cabinets, wardrobes, storage units and writing desks, has been designed with movement in mind, ready to be wheeled into action to meet any emergency situation or day to day medical requirement – must have products for hospitals that need to be ready to respond to any kind of emergency.

At David Bailey it is not about furniture but what it delivers. Outwardly what the company produce are items of furniture that most would take for granted, but take a closer look and you discover that clever design can literally change lives. Units provide safe spaces for patient’s valuables and versatile cupboards and desks that medical professionals need in their daily lives become essential work stations. It has always been more than just furniture and after 40 years, the company is ready for its next exciting chapter – and the future looks very bright indeed.

Please contact our healthcare furniture expert here.