Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2010 | Page 158

island business

Island Life - April/May 2010

Lavender Farm

Richwoods
totally British
It's a rare thing nowadays to see anything
British made, but Spencer Howard owner
of Richwoods has been flying the BRITISH
flag for over 25 years at his shop in Ryde.

As you step into Richwoods Furniture

have had this shop for around 25 years.

store in Ryde the one thing you

From a small boy I always wanted to work

immediately notice is the welcoming air of

for my father, who is 80 this year, and I

tranquillity.

finally got him to retire recently!”

No high-pressure salesman rushing up

The store’s name, says Spencer, is

to try to sell you something you don’t

‘descriptive – rich coloured woods’

want. And as you browse through the

one of the company’s hallmarks. He

vast variety of furniture and accessories,

continued: “A large part of our business

the classical music playing softly in

is manufacturing furniture to customer

the background adds to the relaxing

specifications – all types of woods and

atmosphere.

colours, and even painted furniture.

Maybe it is because Richwoods stands

“People will come in with an idea – I

on the site where Ryde United Reform

even had someone in once with a sketch

Church used to be. When the church was

on the back of a cereal packet for a

demolished the current building was put

display cabinet. He knew roughly what

in its place.

he wanted so we drew it up on the

Whatever the reason, it is a clever
concept, developed by Spencer Howard,

computer, and then made it up in our
factory in London.”

who helped his father start Richwoods,

Throughout the labyrinth of three-piece

and has been running it for the past 15

suites, chairs, dining room suites, mirrors,

years.

beds and lamps – to mention just a few -

Its mere position, perched above most of
Ryde on the corner of Melville Street and

the focus is on ‘British made’.
“Around 90 per cent of the furniture we

George Street, also presents a feeling of

sell is British made. I think it is extremely

grandeur befitting of a store where you

important because a lot of companies

can still buy real quality – and the vast

have gone over to Chinese imports

majority of it being British made.

because they think they can get them

Spencer explains: “It is a family business,

cheap, and make a higher profit. But we

and I have been in it for 31 years. My

know how it is made, and can see the

father Gerry began the business and we

problems,” said Spencer.

158

There are at least 100 mirrors on display,
and more than 200 in stock. The majority
are again British made. Spencer prefers
to call them ‘works of art’ and when you
look around you can understand why. All
shapes, sizes and intricate designs, which
can also be custom made.
Such top brand names as G Plan, Parker
Knoll, Sherborne, and American Lazyboy
company, made under licence in this
country, and exclusive to Richwoods on
the Island, are all readily available to try
for size - and comfort.
Spencer continued: “One thing we
make sure is that we don’t try to sell to
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