10 QUESTIONS WITH…
Each month we ask a flooring industry professional 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Gary Bridge, Design Director, Axminster Carpets.
Q1
What was your first job? My first job, quite fittingly,
was as a Trainee Carpet Designer at Firths Carpets when I was 17, in 1983. Times have changed dramatically, as we used to draw in charcoal with the initial design and the whole process for a floral used to take 2-3 weeks. Now, with the advent of computers, whilst we still use the old techniques for some designs, computers have sped up the process and present different opportunities and techniques not previously possible; so it’s good to use both.
Q2 Q3
How did you get into the flooring industry?
I was just finishing my A-Levels and applying for university and the local carpet manufacturer placed an advert for an apprentice at the company. I applied and was fortunate enough to get the job. I’ve been working in the flooring industry ever since!
What do you think are the positives and
negatives of the flooring trade? One of the main positives of this industry is the people. All across the industry, people are from different backgrounds with various skill sets, but each and every one of them has a passion to make projects successful by working together. There is a truly dedicated and loyal workmanship within the flooring industry.
I would say that a negative aspect of the industry would be that too many people are selling on price and not on value for money. High-quality products need to be seen as long- lasting investment pieces and, here at Axminster Carpets, we pride ourselves on the quality of our materials and designs. A wool carpet may have a higher initial cost, for example, but will stand the test of time against other materials.
54 | 10 QUESTIONS Q4
If you could hire any one person to be part
of your team, who would it be
and why? I would definitely want to hire Paul Smith! We are very proud of our British heritage here at Axminster Carpets and Paul Smith has the ability to deliver stunning traditional design with a twist. He produces designs with individuality and understated elegance that are able to cross age groups and lifestyles and would be a dream to work with.
Q5
What’s the best advice you could
give to someone new coming
into the industry? The best advice I could give would be to never stop being creative. Always try to challenge the normal perspective. It’s important to not be bound by the tradition of the industry and express your individuality through
your creativity and your designs. Experiment with natural dyes, with wool and other natural fibres with its various individual aesthetics.
Q6 Q7
Q8
If you could invent any product, what would it
be and why? My ideal invention would be a self- measuring and self-fitting carpet!
If you could have a dinner party with any
three people, dead or alive, who
would they be and why? I would have a dinner party with: Adrian Edmondson, as he is funny, a good cook and a musician; Winston Churchill, as I’d love to hear about how he coped personally in the face of adversity and for his memories of that terrible time; and Stephen Fry for his intellect with wit.
What do you think the future holds for the
flooring industry? I think there are exciting times ahead in the flooring industry, and in particular, in the carpet industry. As a company, we are continually experimenting with wools, fibres and natural dyes and evolving. I think it will also be interesting to see how recycling is embraced and how we are able to reduce the carpet waste footprint in the near future.
Q9
What would you like to see in a future issue of
Tomorrow’s Contract Floors? I’d like to see more about wool and how specifying wool and natural products supports the contract flooring industry.
Q10
Marcus Bentley, Managing Director,
Solus Ceramics, asked: Who would be your dream client
and why? I think we might just have achieved this one. Let’s just say that our Royal Warrant speaks for itself!
www.axminstercarpets.co.uk www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
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