James Hudson, Commercial Director at Gallery Direct, shares his industry insights, why strong design will always prosper and what’s to come moving forward.
Let’s start with you. Can you share a bit about yourself and your background?
I’m High Wycombe boy born and bred – I grew up with wood shavings and sawdust in my hair from sweeping the factory floors from an early age. My father and grandfather started Frank Hudson and Son Ltd in 1956 making furniture for Top London Hotels and Harrods. I’m married to my wonderful wife Debbie who has been by my side for nearly 31 years and raised our two lovely children Amy and Jack almost single handed whilst I was travelling the world working in factories – a real team effort and I could not have done my job without her unwavering support.
What is your current job role and key responsibilities?
My current job title is Commercial Director at Gallery Direct, since stepping down from Sales and Furniture Development Director 3.5 years ago due to ill health. I now concentrate on a few key accounts, with my main product focus being Indoor and Outdoor Furniture design and creation which means a lot of overseas travel which I really enjoy. We have great management teams in our overseas locations who are a joy to work with, plus I love seeing different cultures and great food, and nothing compares to getting your hands dirty in the factories amongst the product and skilled factory workers – I hated doing this all by zoom calls back in lock down.
Why did you choose to work in the industry?
I didn’t choose to work in the industry, the industry chose me! I wanted to go into the building trade restoring old buildings or the Military, but in the end, I did all three. My Dad woke me up on my 17th Birthday and said he needed a hand in the factory with the Christmas rush – I intended to stay for Christmas and 41 years later I’m still in the industry. I got my fix doing up old houses as I moved up the property ladder and I got my fix with the Military by signing up with the 5th Battalion Royal Green Jackets reserves for nearly 7 years.
Who do you admire in the industry and why?
I’m very much a people’s man and believe good business is based on people first then good design /quality and price. I’m very fond of the Gallery team and its people who keep me enjoying this industry. I could name a huge list of people I admire but stand outs for me are my brother Tom (otherwise known as Tombo) who I have worked with for around 35 years through Frank Hudson and now Gallery (a perfect guy to have on a desert island as he is the Bear Grylls of our industry, hence the nick name), Mark Benson who has been my wing man and travel companion as well as a brilliant designer for 15 years, and Peter Delaney who is the hardest working and most dedicated man I have ever met plus has a great eye for detail in design and business.
Have there been any special moments during your career?
There have been many special moments in my career which has been an exciting roller coaster ride. Flying out to Indonesia back in the early 90’s with my older brother Tim, not knowing where we would end up, but from the trip we created a great business Frank Hudson Ltd which we successfully sold to Gallery in 2014. This was another special moment as I was then able to test myself outside a family business and fully focus my passion for furniture creation and sales without the shackles of running a business – it’s been the best decision I could have made and have enjoyed the journey immensely.
What do you love about your job?
I love creating products and seeing them come to market. Getting great value for our customers and then getting joyful reactions at the shows, with a full order book at the end, is fantastic, and knowing our customers have new exciting products to sell to their customers is a win-win all round.
What time is your alarm clock set for?
I have varied times for my alarm clock according to my travel. I now live in North Devon so if I’m heading ‘Up Country’ to Head office then it’s an early 5.30 am wake up. If I’m working from home, then my office is next to my bedroom so 7am is the norm unless I want to go for an early morning kayak in the estuary which is a brilliant way to start the day before work. Having said that, some of my best work ideas have come from waking up at 3am with a light bulb moment – funny enough my wife is never happy to discuss the idea at that time in the morning!
What is your favourite item of furniture and why?
My favourite item of furniture is a hand carved mirror that was one of my grandfather’s first apprentice pieces back in the early 1920’s. He went on to become a master woodcarver and great businessman, restoring a lot of the carvings in the great London houses after WW2, as well as carving the iconic Red Lion in High Wycombe High St in 1954 – it is still standing today!
What do you think is trending within the industry at present?
Organic shapes are trending right now. Natural materials, such as marble, are very strong and lovely textured timbers and finishes. Gallery prides itself on creating designs and looks across the industry – we don’t follow one particular trend but like to give our customers a range of styles that will suit any interior.
What would you change in the industry?
Our industry has survived and thrived through thick and thin, and one of the benefits of being in the industry for so many years is that I’ve pretty much seen it all – the best and worse that economic challenges have thrown our way, not to mention Covid. I believe that as long as we continue to create strong design with good value for the sector they are aimed at, then nothing needs to change.
Can you share an insight into your future plans?
Gallery has been very busy developing new products to bring to market and this is the best job in the world. We have been very successful with our January living and dining product launch and are therefore creating bedroom ranges to compliment them, plus other exciting new lines with a focus on beautiful veneers and textured timbers. We’ve also been working on new outdoor ranges ready for 2025, giving them the all-important Gallery twist. These will be launched in July at our @Home event.
What do you enjoy most outside of work?
My hobbies are endless – I’m a jack of all sports and master of none! Being in North Devon and living by the sea, I love all things water based (surfing, gig rowing, sailing & kayaking), as well as cycling the Devon hills and further afield. In fact, I’m cycling from Normandy to Paris, leaving on Monday 24th June to raise money for Help for Heroes. The ride, to commemorate the D-Day 80th Anniversary and Armed Forces Day, is 400km in four days, so no easy task, but worth it for such an amazing cause. Any donation would be greatly appreciated by the charity to support our heroes who have sacrificed so much for us and our country, so please visit my Just Giving page (https://www.justgiving.com/page/james-hudson-bikeride) and make a donation – 100% of the donations I receive will go directly to Help for Heroes as I am paying all my own costs to do the ride.
What might someone not know about you?
I ran the London Marathon at the age of 39 in just over 4 hours. I loved it but wouldn’t do it again as couldn’t walk properly for three days afterwards!
If you had a different career, what would it be?
I’ve already mentioned the old houses restoring and the Military connection, but to be honest there is no other job I would rather do than the one I have now, it’s a true passion.
If you were an item of furniture, what would it be?
Wow that’s a tricky one to answer! I know the Worshipful Company motto is Straight and Strong, so I guess that’s me – I’m loyal and a straight shooter and want to please, so like an old Labrador really! But if I have to go for a piece of furniture, I’d say Gallery’s Craft Extending Dining Table – straight and strong, as well as flexible and practical, but also stylish!
Five fun Qs
If you could hack into any computer question?
Anyone who knows me will know that I have a job to turn a computer on let alone hack into one, but if they were around back in the 1940’s then Winston Churchill’s computer would be fascinating.
What amazes me every time I think of it?
How you can talk on a video call to someone across the world from a little phone – I can’t believe how tech has come so far.
What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
Buying a big diamond ring for my wife on holiday after 10 years of marriage. The one I got her for our engagement was a bit on the small side, so when we went to Aruba and the dollar was 2.10 to the pound, it seemed like a good idea – I always like to get good value!
What’s the most important object you own and why?
My most enjoyable item I own is my modern classic Land Rover 2009 Defender – it’s perfect for those Devon lanes and putting the surf boards in the back.
What did you think was cool when you were young but isn’t cool now?
My first car was a Beetle and I put wide wheels, rear window fins, and front spoilers on it, plus go faster stripes and a Cherry Bomb exhaust! It was only a 1300 engine, but I thought I was cool as a cucumber!
