Rising Star Award // September
Georgia Astley
We’ve teamed up with Blum to find the upcoming stars of kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom retail. This month our Rising Star is Georgia Astley, branch manager at Kutchenhaus Lutterworth, who explains her passion for kitchen design
L
ike many before her, Georgia Astley didn’t set out to join the kitchen industry but her career path was, perhaps, more inevitable when you consider that her dad owns his own fitting company. “With dad running a kitchen fitting business, I'd grown up around
the industry,” she explains. “But, I’d never really planned a career in kitchen design, it just developed into a possible pathway that I now absolutely love.” At 18, Astley decided against going to university, favouring a work-based
career route instead. She got more involved in her dad’s fitting business and realised that designing kitchens didn’t only come naturally but was a process she really enjoyed. “Working in dad’s business progressed from sweeping floors to helping fit
the kitchens,” she explains. “It gave me good insight because it taught me how a kitchen gets put together and what’s required if things go wrong. I loved the end result and realised that designing kitchens was what I wanted to do. I have a real passion for designing kitchens and when you've got that passion for something it doesn’t feel like work, which is lovely.” Two and a half years ago, Astley’s talent landed her a role as an apprentice junior designer with Coalville Kitchens in Leicestershire where she soon became a valuable member of the team, as co-owner Luke Wedgebury explains. “Georgia quickly became a huge asset to that business, taking on key design
work for myself and other designers,” Wedgebury says. “The energy and creativity that Georgia carries is infectious and powerful. Ideas, design, and creative thinking are the key elements she brings to any project she builds.” Recognising her talent, just 18 months into her junior role Wedgebury
promoted Astley to the role of branch manager, following the opening of his franchise operation Kutchenhaus Lutterworth. Add to this the fact that Astley is only 22 and the gravity of her achievements really hit home. Having already achieved so much in just four years, where does Astley see
herself in 10 years. What does her KBB future look like? “With everything I’ve already learned, I can see myself running my own
kitchen business eventually,” she says. “I’ve still got lots to learn and I’m going to really enjoy that process, but in another five or ten more years I hope to have the confidence to do something like that and it'll be a decision that isn't money driven, it's passion driven which I think is what we need in this industry.”
kbbr
Listen to the full interview with Georgia Astley in an upcoming episode of The kbbreview Podcast -
kbbreview.com/podcast
Do you know a Rising Star?
We need YOU to tell us who your Rising Star is – who are the members of your team that you believe stand out as a star of the future in this industry?
THERE ARE ONLY TWO RULES: They must be currently employed by a retailer – defined as a company that sells direct to the consumer. They must be under 30 years of age on March 4, 2025.
Other than that, they can perform any role within your business, we don’t mind as long as they’re a star!
Between August 2024 and March 2025, we’ll be picking a monthly Rising Star to feature in the magazine, online and podcast. Those eight monthly winners then become the shortlist for the overall winner which will be revealed at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025 in April.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SEND US: A clear high-resolution head-and-shoulders picture of them (one taken with your phone on normal settings is fine) Their full name and job title Up to 500 words telling us why they’re your Rising Star Your full name and job title
And don’t worry if you qualify and want to nominate yourself, that’s fine too.
This is a great opportunity to let your people know how much you value them and believe in their contribution. It’s also a way of demonstrating to the wider industry just what can be achieved if you take the time to nurture raw talent.
Email your nominations to
rebecca@kbbreview.com. See all the Rising Stars so far at
kbbreview.com/risingstar
September 2024
kbbreview
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