How we've helped Stratum Marquetry
Business overview
Dan Burke Thomson and Ravi Bains are the founders of Stratum Marquetry, a contemporary marquetry and furniture design company based in Helston.
They have combined their skills in general carpentry, furniture making and marquetry to create sustainable, circular pieces crafted with recycled materials.
Dan and Ravi make and sell furniture, fitted furniture, pieces of wall art and build modern, unique kitchens. The patterns and colours they create can be determined by the duo or can create completely bespoke pieces to suit clients’ requests.
The pair knew that they wanted to combine their skills and start a business together. However, they were unfamiliar with all the aspects of running and sustaining a business.
That’s when they approached the Growth Hub for help which they received in the form of grants, courses and general business support.
I would definitely recommend other businesses approaching the Growth Hub for support. They’re very personable, they’re prompt, clear, kind and effective, which is essentially what you need when you’re a bit of a newbie in that world - they don’t overwhelm you.
How we helped
Ravi said: “To conceive of a business or company is relatively simple. To get it off the ground and keep it going requires a lot of activities that go beyond the product your company is making, like marketing or administrative processes, and links with other business.”
Dan added: “Being able to access all of these courses, all of this business mentoring support, it just allowed us, as two individuals of a business, to learn all of the different skills and gain the knowledge that we needed to grow.”
Ravi and Dan have attended one-to-one courses in accounting and marketing to broaden their business knowledge and put that back into the business. The Growth Hub has also supported them with branching out into different revenue streams.
Dan said: “Rather than focusing on the bespoke project part of the business, we have been able to get support in branching out into new revenue streams. We’ve focused on a new product line, a furniture range, we’re also now able to offer workshops for people in the community to come and learn the basics of modern marquetry techniques.”
With regard to the funding, Stratum Marquetry was able to buy more workshop machinery which is also helping the duo grow into different revenue streams.
Dan added: “The machines will allow us to take on board more reclaimed materials. We’re very focused on circular networks and one of the biggest aims of our business is to use reclaimed and recycled materials within our marquetry. These new machines will allow us to process a lot more of that material and allow us to increase productivity and save more material from landfill or the bin.”
Stratum Marquetry can now grow, develop, integrate with the local community and continue designing its new furniture range.
As for their experience with the Growth Hub, Ravi said: “I would definitely recommend other businesses approaching the Growth Hub for support. They’re very personable, they’re prompt, clear, kind and effective, which is essentially what you need when you’re a bit of a newbie in that world—they don’t overwhelm you.”
Dan added: “I see the Growth Hub as the central support hub, if you have got any questions or needs, they’ll be able to point you in the right direction or just give you general support or mentoring as a start up.”
As for the future of their business, Dan and Ravi would like to remain hands-on as founders, grow slightly and continue to contribute to the circular economy, building upon the sustainable promises they have made to save materials from landfill and create beautiful, modern marquetry products.
| Business name | Stratum Marquetry |
|---|---|
| Website | https://www.stratummarquetry.co.uk |
| Contact number | 07947758757 |
| Contact email | [email protected] |
