Picture the scene: you are getting ready for bed and you are taking off your clothes – where do they land? On the floor in a heap 😳? On a chair as they are not dirty & can be worn again? Or do you take the time and put them back in your wardrobe or into the laundry basket? My guest this week is Jon Thurling, founder of Floordrobe – the perfect solution to clothes on the chair syndrome! Welcome to the blog, Jon…
Hello! I’m Jon Thurling the founder of Floordrobe®. I’m South African, born in Johannesburg and moved to the UK almost two years ago. I’ve been around a bit though; spent a couple of years in Amsterdam. So, I guess you could say that Floordrobe® came about through my experience living in different, great but cramped cities. Beyond that, I say I’m relatively “normal” if that’s a word; work, eat, sleep, play. I’m kind of happy with this lifestyle. I enjoy having a beer on the weekend and attacking Monday morning in the same vein.
What inspired the setting up of your company, Floordrobe?
It was really the problem that led to a solution which led to a product which then led to a business. When I first moved to London, my girlfriend, at the time, and I didn’t have space to put our worn-but-clean clothes and so, one slow day working from home, I thought, “you know what, I can make something that solves this problem.” An early version of the Floordrobe® was produced and then I thought, “hey, maybe other people would be interested in this!” And from then on, we had a little business.
The Floordrobe® is indeed a stylish way to de clutter and organise your semi clean clothes instead of dumping your clothes on a chair or floor! What’s the Floordrobe® dimensions? And is it easy to assemble?
The Floordrobe® stands 160 cm tall, and 45cm wide. It is dead easy to assemble (and purposefully designed to be so). I have assembled a few in my time and, now have a running record of how fast I can assemble it. I’m currently at 2m 34 seconds.
The Floordrobe® is made of durable acacia wood & recyclable materials. Is the Floordrobe® only available in the wood/metal set up or are there other colours available?
Yes, currently it is only available in high quality Acacia wood and black powder coat steel. As I said, the business just evolved and so now we are looking into different types. I think there is a whole range that can be explored. Different colours are definitely an option (we are thinking a dusty white painted one would be nice) and we are also thinking about different designs with some free-standing units, smaller more compact units. There is a lot going on!
What are the benefits of using acacia wood?
The main benefits of the Acacia are twofold. First, it is sustainably harvested in Vietnam. We are ensuring that the Floordrobe®’s we make are made from sustainable sources. Wood is only a sustainable resource insofar as you harvest it sustainably. Secondly, it looks and feels great. As opposed to a plywood cupboard, the wood of the Floordrobe® is going to be visible in your bedroom all the time and so you want something that is high quality and easy on the eye, something you are proud of purchasing, and we feel Floordrobe®’sAcacia wood accomplishes this.
As your HQ is based in the UK, are your products available to purchase internationally?
Yes, so our products are available throughout the UK and in the US. We offer affordable 48-hourdelivery to all customers in the UK. For the US, we are currently shipping from our distribution centre in Bristol, UK. This means that delivery times are longer and it is a little more expensive. We are looking into creating a supply chain in the US that will help us bring the price point down for our US customers.
The Floordrobe® is manufactured in Vietnam, although stored and despatched from Bristol. Why did you pick Vietnam specifically for manufacturing the Floordrobe?
We chose Vietnam half with the heart and half with the head. From the heart, I had travelled a bit of Vietnam as a student and thoroughly enjoyed the people, the culture and the food and so when I was looking for a place to manufacture the Floordrobe® Vietnam was high on the list. It just so happened that Vietnam has a world class furniture manufacturing industry and so, voila, Vietnam itwas. And I can say, it has been a great experience so far. Working with our Vietnamese partners has been a pleasure.
Have you got any other new furniture ideas in the pipeline to add to the Floordrobe?
Right now, we are focused on the worn but clean clothes problem. As I said, I think there is still so much to do in the space. We really dream of Floordrobe® becoming a household name. But, as an entrepreneur, I am always scheming. A thought we had the other day was something that holds the lid of your pot when you open it to stir. I never know where to put the lid. It’s hot and wet and so the counter doesn’t feel right yet that’s where it goes. I suggested this to my friend and he thought I should call it Sous Chef, which I thought was a great name although its probably taken. Also no dibs on the idea, if one of your readers wants to run with it, then they should reach out!
Growing up, had you always inspired to be a furniture designer or did your aspirations lay elsewhere?
No, I would be lying if I said I aspired to be a furniture designer. I would have to say I aspired to be a sportsman. And to be honest, at the moment, I don’t really think of myself as a furniture designer but more of a creator. That’s the part of the business I really enjoy, creating, sampling, testing and releasing products and seeing how customers react to the product. It’s an amazing feeling to see someone’s reaction to something you thought of.
Although you are based in the UK, you have visited Vietnam. What 5 must see places or experiences would you recommend a tourist visit or do whilst in Vietnam?
Oh man, that’s a good question. So, a few things, the trip from North (Hanoi) to South (Ho Chi Minh) is epic and I would suggest that to everybody. We unfortunately had to cut our trip a little short and couldn’t do the full trip but I will go back and do every stop on that trip. To get more definitive, top three highlights were the following. Hạ Long Bay blew me away. I completely underestimated the natural beauty of the place. It will stay with me forever. Next, I would say the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh was really powerful. I am a bit of a history nut and so spent hours in it. It was really interesting to see the perspective of the Vietnam war from the Vietnamese. Next, the Mekong Delta and doing the Vietnamese war tunnels was also a great experience. I am a tall guy so going through some of the tiny tunnels for only 5 minutes was truly an experience. Lastly, just crossing the road is an experience! It is one of those places where the scooters and bikes just pass you and you are the one you mustn’t hesitate. You need to put your head down and walk!
Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?
I am a uniform kind of man to be honest. In the week, I have a pair of jeans and a pair of chinos, along with 5 Shirts and so I wear one a day with either my Chelsea boots in winter or sneakers in the summer (or maybe shorts if we are feeling a bit spicy). And of course, half my shirts go onto my Floordrobe® which is in use all the time!
Do you have any favourite shops or online sites? (Apart from your own!)
Ah great question, I would even say that while I think ours is good, I look to others and think that is a great store. I’ve just bought a pair of sunglassfrom Messy Weekend and that was a great experience. I also love the name. Next to that I am actually a big Huel person. I love the product, the brand, the website. It is a product I use so often and have such a good experience with that I hope one day people will look at their Floordrobe® in the same way.
What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?
I know its right at the end of the season, but this winter I really missed out on a long black or brown trench coat. I need something that is a bit formal, but sleek and warm. But now we are in spring so that ship has probably sailed until next winter.
Boots or Shoes?
I’m more of a shoes person hey. Although saying that, I wore my Chelsea boots almost every day this winter! No, I say shoes because I am a shorts guy and so when I wear my shorts (which is whenever he sun is up), I’ll probably be putting on my sneakers, Birkenstocks or flip flops. With these shoes, especially, my sneakers I feel comfortable yet active (which is a nice way to walk around London).
Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook/twitter etc so that readers can find out more about Floordrobe
b. IG: the_floor_drobe
c. FB: The Floordrobe®
d. TT: @floor_drobe
Great to chat to you Jon and what a fab idea!
Linda x
All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Jon Thurling/Floordrobe.
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