AWARD-winning furniture company, Forest to Home, based in Lacock, is looking for people to join their team as they continue to grow and succeed.
Forest to Home was founded by William Hibbert and Samuel Baker in August 2016. Inspired by the Wiltshire countryside, the two men create unique pieces of furniture from sustainable timber.
A self-taught craftsman, Samuel has over 20 years’ experience and has been involved in various handcraft projects – some based on a private country estate in Wiltshire. Business partner William, who started his first business whilst studying at the University of Bath at the age of 20, focuses his expertise on growing the business
Since its launch, Forest to Home has met with great success and recently launched a commercial branch of the business, Forest & Maker, building furniture for hotels, workspaces and restaurant chains. One of Forest & Maker’s biggest commercial clients is restaurant chain Nando’s. The team have created statement pieces for the popular restaurant including big party tables, long benches, lighting pieces, and bespoke pieces for the world’s first Nando’s Nino – a fast-food version of the restaurant giant. Other clients include restaurant chain Tonkotsu and leading architectural and interior design firms such as Michalis Boyd. Forest & Maker will officially launch at the London Clerkenwell Design Week in May.
Samuel says, “We started off as two people – one with a passion for nature, one with a passion for craft. And when we first started we were looking to make furniture out of pieces of timber that had either been discarded by bigger companies because of their perceived imperfections – lumps, cracks and what have you – and we decided they’re actually the nice parts, the natural parts. So let’s try to preserve them and turn them into furniture. And it’s just evolved from there – but the main thing is we’re staying true to those two passions we started with.
“Last year we paid for just under 400 trees to be planted. We use the most sustainable timber possible, we use up our off-cuts and the aim is to give back way more than we take, so for every furniture item we sell we plant trees.
“People know they can come to us and get British-made, extremely ethically-minded, naturally-sourced furniture. The wood is sourced as locally as possible, with probably 95 per cent of our timber coming from registered mills in the south-west.”
About the company’s plans for the future, William says, “The aim is to be the leading interior store in the UK; with it comes naturally minded, sustainable products. Alongside the development of Forest & Maker, Forest to Home is set to be evolved, providing an optimised online shopping experience, alongside multiple new collections that are currently being designed and crafted.”
In the last 12 months the Forest to Home team has grown from two to six people, and with business continuing to grow, the team are looking for more members.
William and Samuel say, “We want to encourage people that share our values and passion for what we do to join our team. Predominately we are looking to hear from experienced furniture makers; experienced workshop machinists; people with an interest in furniture making; people with a passion for the environment and sustainability; people with a passion for interior and furniture design; and experienced marketeers and sales people.”
Enquiries to join the Forest to Home team can be sent to: hello@forestandmaker.com
