Here’s to the Women of Arlo!
To mark International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on some of the wonderful women who make Arlo & Jacob what it is. From stoking style inspiration, to making the furniture, to getting it safely delivered, we’re very lucky to have a number of leading ladies down the line. So, we chatted with a few to provide a bit of colour on how they came to work in the business and what it is that makes the business work for them! Allow us to introduce you…
Donna
Project Management
Arlo & Jacob is the product of many moving parts. We’ve got lots of teams hard at work on their own projects, from product development to marketing. At their confluence is the project management team! It’s people like Donna who ensure everything comes together smoothly, thanks to an eye for detail and a readiness to jump in and help across the board.
How did you get into your role?
After taking an about turn on a Finance career path I found myself in a stopgap role within a busy furniture design office. I became quickly embroiled in navigating through the development of sofas, chairs, and footstools. I was surprised to discover a natural knack for managing those processes, with all the organisation and planning that goes with it. With time and practice, I’ve developed an ability to 'see around corners' and predict where the obstacles and issues could occur, which helps to smooth over the process for all and keep me even keeled! My role then extended to PA for the CEO of the company, diversifying my day-to-day. Now I combine PA duties with the coordination of marketing activities across the business, liaising with stores and external parties to pull multipronged plans together.
What’s your favourite part about it?
I thrive on the variety within my role. No two days are the same and I enjoy the challenges this brings. The team at Arlo is small but full of huge personalities, which makes every day in the office a whole lot of fun whilst imparting a family feeling!
Lissa
Customer Service
We do our utmost to keep processes flowing smoothly and peacefully all the way along – though, given we do live in the real world, hiccups are bounds to happen! Lissa is one of the people who ensures that they’re swiftly made right, whatever it takes. She’s been instrumental in setting up our in-house TLC Delivery service, riding along from time to time in order to make sure it’s all up to snuff. We owe a lot to the customer service gang for building good relationships with clients and making everyone’s lives that extra bit easier!
How did you get into your role?
After being a full-on, full-time (and loving!) mum, I was ready to start a new challenge and join the family business. Just over a year ago I re-started my working life in our Harrogate showroom. I loved meeting customers, hearing about their homes and lifestyles, what made them tick, and helping them to discover the perfect piece of furniture. I’d get lost in the excitement of their renovation plans and loved being a part of their Grand Design story!
What’s your favourite part about it?
My role started evolving during the busy months of Summer ’22. I got stuck in with deliveries to help get orders to customers on time - this time with my husband who, as a Master Upholsterer, was also getting involved in helping our business grow. I’ve now moved into Customer Service with a hope of bringing a positive smile to everything we do. I want every Arlo & Jacob customer to be happy. So, when at times things may go wrong, I never shy away from dealing with a challenge head-on, keeping the customer firmly at the centre of my vision with every response designed to ensure the customer feels they are, quite rightly, at the heart of our business.
Abigail
Production
The craftsmanship that goes into each Arlo & Jacob piece is the bedrock of our business. We’re big supporters of the British tradition of sofa making and upholstery, making all of our furniture ourselves at our Nottinghamshire workshop. We’re incredibly proud of the team we’ve got bringing our designs to life, with people like Abigail going above and beyond to create something that’s not only beautiful, but will stay that way for many years to come.
How did you get into your role?
I studied fashion design for 3 years at university and I always knew I wanted to get into sewing upholstery. I enjoy using my skills and knowledge I’ve gained along the way to create long-lasting, bespoke furniture.
What’s your favourite part about it?
My favourite part of the job is being able to put my time and effort into each piece that I sew. I enjoy going the extra mile to create the finest quality furniture. I love how I can learn something new every day.
Elise
Product Development & Fabric
We do like our fabrics here at Arlo & Jacob. With over 120 House fabrics and an ever-evolving cast of designer options, it takes a very capable pair of hands to look after the operation! Elise is part of the team keeping tabs on trends and working with fabric mills to scope out new weaves. She’s always got an eye on the showroom floor, observing what our customers want more of and making sure we get it to you! Recently, for example, Elise answered our customers’ call, expanding our offering of the popular Linara and Aquaclean fabric ranges. She does it all in stride and with a smile – a true hero, indeed!
How did you get into your role?
I went to study Textile Design at Central St Martins and specialised in Woven Design, so I’ve always been passionate about the construction of fabric, colour, and texture. To be able to work within Product Design at Arlo & Jacob has really allowed me to explore and learn which fabrics work best within interior settings as well as within the context of product design.
What’s your favourite part about it?
My favourite parts of my role are seeing the beginning stages of selecting new fabrics and watching a sketch come to life. Being involved in all aspects of the business to launch new products into the range is also really exciting! It teaches a holistic understanding of how a product is actually made, how new fabrics are upholstered, how new products are launched onto the site, and how they show up on the shop floor. Plus, everyone in the business is extremely supportive and helpful, which is an amazing bonus!
Seona
Finance
To make our business work, it’s absolutely key to have bright minds helping the financial cogs turn! Not only are they whizzes at keeping us on track, but they also carve out time to help our customers’ pockets. With help from characters like Seona, we’re able to offer 0% financing on your orders, helping to keep cash flow in check for all!
How did you get into your role?
I applied for my new role internally. I was working in the customer service department but wanted to expand in another direction. Thankfully, the company had room for me to grow into the finance department, where I am now.
What’s your favourite part about it?
My favourite part of the role is the continued learning and development. It’s great to be able to jump into new roles and challenge myself. It definitely keeps things interesting. There's always room for growth!
Tash
Showroom Management
TWe’ve got five showrooms peppered across the UK and it takes some crack teams to keep them running smoothly. Tash manages our outpost in the idyllic town of Marlow, making sure it’s a welcoming environment full of inspiration for our customers. It’s also packed with expertise that comes not only from experience on the job, but from a diverse range of past roles. Tash, for example, is our resident colour expert, having come from Farrow & Ball before she started with Arlo. As such, she brings that extra level of savoir faire to the showroom, for which we are abundantly grateful!
How did you get into your role?
I've been at the Marlow showroom since it opened and the prospect of getting in at the ground floor of a growing business excited me. I've worked in retail for years and I loved the brand story, the products, and the people that I was going to work with.
What’s your favourite part about it?
I love working with our customers to help them choose a sofa, armchair, footstool, or rug to suit their interior, their style, and their life. And it's great when customers send their photos of whatever they've bought in their homes!