discover the journey that made us who we are today
Learn in this video from the founders what drives us to make furniture and who we make it for...
Richard makes the first Abacus table under a tarpaulin in a boat yard, an Oak beam coffee table for his living room. Seeing it for the first time and loving it, a long conversation follows late into the evening and I (John) agree we will make 5 tables and "if we sell 3 of the 5 we'll start a business". And we did.
For the first 2 years we scoured the UK for independent furniture shops who believed in us, willing to display our tables and champion British-made products from an unknown company. By late 2013 we had 18 shops selling our tables, but it was very tough. The reality was that those chunky Oak beam tables looked fantastic, but the style was very limited. We had to innovate - take our style and apply it to new designs.
There have been several big steps up for us over the years and launching our first dining table was the first. The Komodo launched in 2015, combining the thickest high quality French Oak with imposing brushed stainless steel legs. It was a nod to our childhood growing up around boats and combined my engineering and Naval Architecture background with everything we had learned about furniture making over the past few years. It was a hit and for many years it was our best selling table model. It's still in our collection today and the design has remained unchanged. Its a table close to our hearts.
Following the success of the Komodo we realised something important - if we ignored what the masses did (who tried to make everything as cheap as possible) and we just focussed on making furniture the very best it could be, we loved our work, we made better products and there were people who wanted exactly what we loved to make. So we designed a full collection around the Komodo of dining tables, benches and coffee tables all built to order from the very best materials and finishes we know of at the time. Customers could not only choose the exact table size they wanted but could also tailor how chunky they wanted their Oak, what style they wanted their table edges and we added powder coated paint finishes and widened the range of Oak colours. We began making truly unique pieces for every customer and that first fully-custom collection, designed from our core principle of never settling for average, we named The Signature Collection.
So much has happened since that first collection. But the one thing that has driven it all is our determination to make the most impressive, jaw-dropping products possible, without compromise. The journey has taken us around the world to find the most incredible materials, designs and innovative technologies so we can create the furniture that enables our customers to build their dream homes. And that journey continues to this day...
Learn more about the team behind Abacus Tables
DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING
Everything the world knows about Abacus is because of Rick. He is on a mission to find everyone we can help to make their dream homes and inject them with excitement about the furniture we can make for them.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
John is responsible for all of our designs. He is forever hunting the globe for the most impressive materials made by the earth and its people, to make jaws drop with products that seem impossible.
Operations Manager
Michael is the engineer, chief mechanic and the oil of the Abacus machine, making sure our products and service meet the highest possible standards.
Customer Support Manager
Alex is immersed in every part of the Abacus operation, making sure our customers always come first. His dedication to customer care and willingness to go above and beyond with every order make him a natural master of customer service excellence.
Customer Support Deputy Manager
Paul is embedded in the details of every order, making sure the customer's needs are understood and an integral part of the support team communications.
Production Manager
Arne's experience and dedication to perfect every aspect of furniture making, means he is the perfect leader that sets the gold standard for our production team.
Production Technician
Jaye has progressed impressively from delivery assistant, to delivery lead, to production technician. His hunger to improve and dedication to consistent high standards make him an invaluable part of our team.
Production Technician
Dom is the bedrock of the production team, making sure every aspect of every piece of furniture is as good as it can be. His focus on his work is reflected in the quality of everything his produces.
Accounts Manager
Pam looks after all of our finances and interacts with every customer. Her smile and positivity are infectious - It's always sunny when Pam's around!
Sales Manager
Hugh is the perfect person to help anyone find their perfect table. His encyclopedic knowledge is combined with a friendly, practical approach that makes him the perfect guide to help with anything you need to know about our products.
Business Development Manager
Avril is dedicated to our relationships with interior designers and other professionals. Her eye for style and entrepreneurial background helps her consider projects from every point of view and devise simple, but brilliant, solutions. She goes above and beyond for every client.
Graphic Designer
The beautifully styled presentation of everything Abacus is a result of Beth's unwaveringly high aesthetic standards. She has been the driving force behind raising our marketing and online presence to sit comfortably alongside some of the world's most luxurious brands.
Enquire
Order