Matthew Lock, Director of online retailer and supplier Luxus Home and Garden, talks about future plans, product category expansion, why sustainability is core to its concept and an update on business performance.
Meet Matthew
I’m the director and oversee daily operations with a focus on strategy and purchasing.
Recent investments?
We have recently launched in Europe and Australia and invested heavily into our IP and back-office systems. We have also been working on our indoor range of products, which will be in line with our current offering of high-quality, natural, sustainable products at a reasonable price.
Future plans?
We have lots of exciting things in the pipeline. We are making a move into the indoor furniture market, with our own designed and manufactured indoor range of furniture in production, and we are also introducing some new products to our outdoor range.
We have an innovation for an outdoor table that has never been seen before that we are releasing shortly.
Other than this, we are planning to scale up our European arm, expanding the range in line with our UK offering, and cutting our current lead times by half, ensuring more growth.
We are also excited about our new foothold in Australia and have high hopes after the success of our early testing there. We have also been busy organising the official launch of our European site at a national trade show coming up shortly in Berlin, Germany.
What is your mission?
Our motto is Sustainability, Value and Quality. We are constantly evolving our product range to keep us at the forefront of the market and improving our systems to make us more efficient and give our customers the best experience possible.
Nestled in the tranquil Warwickshire countryside at the Heart of England, our strategic base enables us to seamlessly distribute our thoughtfully curated range of teak garden furniture across the globe, offering you an efficient and eco-conscious delivery experience.
At Luxus, sustainability isn’t just a concept – it’s our cornerstone. We are deeply committed to minimising our environmental impact and ensuring a greener future. From responsibly sourcing materials to eco-conscious design and manufacturing, every step is taken with the planet in mind. When you choose Luxus, you choose furniture that not only enhances your outdoor space but also reflects our dedication to preserving the environment.
Luxus Home and Garden, which is based in Stratford-upon-Avon, began life at the kitchen table of my home, as a business selling sustainable high-quality teak outdoor furniture. After achieving huge success in 2020, business has continued to grow, and we have been working with Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub for support with international growth.
On sustainability, what is your business doing on this topic?
Sustainability is a key part of our business, all of the materials used in the production of our furniture are fully sustainable, with all wood carrying Flegt and Svlk certification.
We purchase our timber through the Trees4Trees foundation, which is a non-profit organisation, and each piece of timber harvested can be traced back to their part of the sustainable planation that they originated from.
As well as this, we have also created a website to process any returned or damaged furniture at a reduced price, ensuring that we minimise wastage, and any unsaleable furniture goes to a wood recycling centre for sustainable energy.
How has recent business been?
We have seen a huge increase in our sales. We feel that customers are looking for more quality than has been on offer previously, especially in our sector.
Since lockdown, there has been a huge increase in customers making their larger purchases online even though they do not get to touch and feel the products. Whilst it is extremely convenient, you really have to be wary of companies selling inferior products cheaply that will not last, and I think that customers are now becoming wiser to this. They see cheaper imitations online that look very similar, and are realising that it’s not the same, and will not stand the test of time.
At Luxus, our customers can be secure that what we are offering is a genuinely well-made product, at the right price, that is fully sustainable.
What would you change in the industry?
I would make it easier to trade with other markets. Although we have overcome all of the difficulties entailed, it has been a hard process, and was a lot easier pre-Brexit, but, overall, I think the industry is in good shape and we have experienced huge growth so we cannot complain.
What challenges do you currently face and how are you overcoming these?
We have faced challenges in cross-border trade and compliance generally, and scaling up to where we are. We have received some really invaluable support from Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub which has helped us to navigate the various challenges.
We’re really pleased with the growth of our business, but we know sales in UK and Europe as well as Australia will continue to grow, with our constant innovations, quality products, and focus on great customer service.
Do you have any staff you would like to pay special thanks or recognition to and why?
We would love to give some recognition to our despatch team as a whole as over the past year, they have rebuilt our systems and managed to half our lead times, while minimising our damages and making us much more efficient when it comes to stock control. The end result has been a massive increase in customer satisfaction. Well done to the team.
Why do you think customers choose your business?
We have some of the best quality furniture you can find, along with exclusive product innovations and services that are not offered elsewhere. This is coupled with fantastic customer support and fast delivery, which makes us stand out from the crowd.
