Home > About Us
About Us
Welcome to Utility! So often websites are devoid of personality because they are run by huge organisations but we thought we’d start the ‘about us’ section by showing you what we look like and introducing ourselves. So here’s our team together with our areas of responsibility & where we are based:
Richard Skelton (E Commerce)
Age : 41
Birthplace : York
Favourite Designer : Antonio Citterio
Likes : Sunny days and Victoria plums
Dislikes : Square yoghurt pots & magpies
Favourite Building : York Minster & Castle Howard (can't decide!)
Dick Mawdsley (Finance/Furniture)
Age : 43
Birthplace : Liverpool
Favourite Designer : Alvar Aalto and Achille Castiglioni
Likes : Pickles, Ryvita, good modern architecture
Dislikes : Tea, nylon, three quarter length trousers
Favourite Building : Wrigley Building, Chicago
Kate Cowie (HR / Gift Stores)
Age : 41
Birthplace : Weston-Super-Mare
Favourite Designer : Hans Hilfiker
Likes : French bread & cheese, sunshine, chilled sauvignon blanc
Dislikes : Bananas & UGG Boots
Favourite Building : Grand Central Station
Paul Morris (Retail Sales)
Age : 36
Birthplace : Northwich
Favourite Designer : Jasper Morrison
Likes : Wine gums, football & trainers
Dislikes : Apricots & leather jackets
Favourite Building : Sportscity
Julie Valentine (Web and Contract Sales/Furniture)
Age: 33
Birthplace : Aughton
Favourite Designer : Charles Eames
Likes : Anglesey, Southern Comfort & doughnuts
Dislikes : Spicy food & rudeness
Favourite Building : Barcelona Pavilion
Jo Barclay (Marketing)
Age: 23
Birthplace : Bedford
Favourite Designer : Philippe Starck
Likes : Cakes, magazines, stitching & flamingos
Dislikes : Pigs in blankets, flat tonic, bombay mix
Favourite Building : Imperial City, Hue
As well as the six of us there is also a fun and dedicated team who work with us to make Utility a fun, vibrant and exciting place to be.
We opened our first store in Liverpool in November 1999 with an experimental range of products from both independent designers and makers and some of the larger brands such as Alessi and Kartell. Over the past few years we have expanded from our original store to two larger stores, both on Bold Street - with two separate formats. Our larger store (Number 60) is our interiors store where you will find the city’s very best range of contemporary furniture, lighting and home accessories from all the leading Italian manufacturers as well as a many others.
Also on Bold Street is our second store format, the Utility Gift Boutique (Number 86) where you’ll find a gorgeous, inspirational range of cool greetings cards, jewellery, watches and great items for giving..and treating yourself !!! We opened our Preston Utility Gift Boutique in the beautiful Victorian Miller Arcade in 2007 and July 2010 saw the opening of our Liverpool One Gift Boutique in the North West's premier shopping destination - Liverpool One.
Our on line store – www.utilitydesign.co.uk - was launched in January 2004 to offer our products to a wider audience....and to customers who can’t shop with us because they live outside Liverpool.
Our product ranges include such brands as ALESSI, A DI ALESSI, ALESSI OFFICINA, , JESSE, KARTELL, VITRA, E15, ETHNICRAFT, LSA, FLOS, FOSCARINI, ARTEMIDE, BESTLITE, MOOOI, CARL HANSEN, LIGHTYEARS, TOM DIXON, LUCEPLAN, MAGIS, MONDAINE, NIXON WATCHES and many many others. What’s more, because we are dealers for many of the world’s leading furniture brands we are able to source a huge range of products. Just ask and we’ll do our best. We will also be price competitive.
‘Utility Contract’ is a service for architects, interior designers and specifiers to purchase furniture, lighting and accessory packages for new build and refurbishment projects. Commissions include projects with Radisson Hotels, 3 Mobile, Jaeger, Cruise and Urban Splash as well as furniture and lighting for many bars, restaurants and private individuals. Please telephone 0151 494 9412 and ask to speak with our contract manager Julie Valentine or Dick Mawdsley for further details.
Thank you for taking the time to look at website – we hope you have an enjoyable browsing experience but if we can be of any help just ask. We’d also love to hear any feedback from you – good and bad!
CHARITY SUPPORT
Here at Utility we are proud to adopt North West Cancer Research Fund as our chosen charity to support.
NWCRF is a regional independent charity that funds research into the causes of cancer.
Their funding is raised entirely through donations locally and used to support research scientists and centres across the North West. As a company with our roots in Liverpool, we are proud to support such an important charity in their search for better cancer treatments and understanding of this disease.
Throughout the year we hold various events to help raise funds for the charity. Subscribe to our mailing list or join us on Facebook for updates on upcoming charity events.
For more information on NWCRF visit their website: www.nwcrf.co.uk
Richard, Dick, Kate, Paul, Julie, Jo and all the Utility team.
