Oak Furniture Land makes two senior hires as part of growth plan
Furniture retailer Oak Furniture Land has made two senior appointments within customer service and retail as part of its continued growth strategy.
Sara Bird has joined the company in the newly created role of service director where she will be responsible for streamlining and strengthening the customer journey, and identifying new processes and efficiencies. She will also oversee Oak Furniture Land’s customer service team which has grown four-fold in the past two years to over 50 people.
Prior to joining the company, Bird held director positions in retail operations at Steinhoff, the owner of Bensons for Beds, Harvey’s and Cargo, She has also worked with Boots, Specsavers and B&Q.
Bird said: “I came into the business with a 100 day plan in mind. At the heart of this plan is the development of a sustainability platform for the business, focused around engagement and transparency. The company is now maturing as we reach a certain size and my job is to communicate our longevity and commitment to our staff and customers alike.”
Never Miss a Retail Update!In a second appointment, Paul Burgham has been promoted to the position of director of retail operations after he helped grow the store network from 12 to 50 from when he joined the company 18 months ago.
Burgham said: “My job now is to focus on further developing the retail infrastructure as the business moves to the next level in terms of size, performance and capabilities.
“We still have ambitious plans for further growth but with more of a strategic focus on securing prime locations for new stores and reviewing the stores that are now approaching anniversaries, to make sure they are meeting performance expectations.”
Oak Furniture Land reported record sales of £85 million in January 2013, which represented a 140% increase in turnover. It also saw its pre-tax profit rise from £3.9 million to £9.2 million. Last year, the company invested in additional warehouse facilities and infrastructure including a 300,000 sq ft state-of-the-art distribution centre at its new headquarters in Swindon.
