An independent British lifestyle retailer that designs its own homeware, fashion, jewellery and gifts, with shops across the UK and Ireland.
Oliver Bonas is a British lifestyle brand that designs and sells fashion, homeware, jewellery and gifts. Its in-house design team travels for inspiration and creates its own products, and stores are known for the personality of their ranges. Founder and chief executive Oliver Tress says it is an independent business and describes the market as crowded, so it aims to stand out through distinctive products and customer interactions.
The company's motto is "Work Hard, Play Hard, Be Kind". It began as a piece of wall art that sold well and was later adopted as the company's core values. Tress also says the customer comes first at every level, in store and online. Its own About page says its mission is "to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism". It also says it wants to "celebrate difference and welcome team members from all walks of life", and to be a positive, vibrant and diverse company to be part of.
Oliver Tress opened the first shop on Fulham Road in west London in 1993, aged 25. The chain is named after Anna Bonas, his then girlfriend. Its head office is in Chessington, south west London. Wikipedia reports 83 shops in the UK and Ireland and 1,500 employees as at July 2023. A 2019 trade interview mentioned shops in airports such as Gatwick and Luton and a first Irish store.
In the same interview, Tress said the team judges what customers will want when choosing products, for example the launch of its Rose and Loon concept attracted about 90 makers who wanted to display their products. Stores generally carry a consistent range, with some local buying such as local books in Glasgow. This points to a culture where design, buying and storytelling matter as much as selling. Its sustainability page lists six commitments, including positive shopping and working experiences, conscious design and sourcing, working with suppliers, supporting charity partners and local communities, and making products last longer through care, repair and recycling. It says new products arrive in stores and online every week, and its own page now says it has more than 90 shops across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. It runs a furniture collection service with the British Heart Foundation, according to a link label on its page.
Roles in a company like this include shop assistants and managers, product designers, buyers, merchandisers, visual merchandisers, e-commerce and marketing teams, and head office support in finance and technology. Check the company's careers page for current openings. We did not find a current staff headcount or a stated list of values beyond the motto.
Website: www.oliverbonas.com
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