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 (Web Sales / Warehouse)
Age : Too old to be young, too young to be old
Birthplace : York
Favourite Designer : Antonio Citterio
Likes : Liquorice, nachos & beagles
Dislikes : Courgettes, science fiction & plagiarism
Image : Skiing in Meribel...running the website is hard work!
Dick Mawdsley (Finance / Furniture)
Age : 41
Birthplace : Liverpool
Favourite Designer : Alvar Aalto and Achille Castiglioni
Likes : Pickles, Ryvita, good modern architecture
Dislikes : Tea, nylon, most new build houses in the UK
Image : Touring Amsterdam's sights..
Kate Cowie (HR / Gift Stores)
Age : The wrong side of 40!
Birthplace : Weston-Super-Mare
Favourite Designer : Hans Hilfiker
Likes : French bread & cheese, sunshine, chilled sauvignon blanc
Dislikes : It's quicker to name the things I do like...
Image : These trade shows are such hard work!
Paul Morris (Retail Sales / Furniture)
Age : 34
Birthplace : Northwich
Favourite Designer : Jasper Morrison
Likes : Wine gums, football & trainers
Dislikes : Apricots & leather jackets
Image : Chatting with the Eames House Bird
Julie Valentine (Contract Sales / Furniture)
Age: 31
Birthplace : Aughton
Favourite Designer : Arne Jacobsen
Likes : Anglesey, Southern Comfort & doughnuts
Dislikes : Spicy food & pigeons
Image : Fresh from the Bobby Brown counter...
Chris Jones (Websales / Website Maintenance)
Age: 29
Birthplace : Moreton
Favourite Designer : Alexander Girard
Likes : Star Wars, The F Word & The Affection!
Dislikes : Celery, waiting & pop music
Image : Playing host at the warehouse party
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. 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 suppliers as well as a many others.
Also on Bold Street is our Gift Store (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’ve also opened a further gift store in the gorgeous Victorian Miller Arcade in Preston.
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, MOOOI, KUNDALINI, LIGHTYEARS, TOM DIXON, LUCEPLAN, MAGIS, VIPP, MONDAINE 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 708 4192 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!
The Utility Team
