Vale Furnishers
Family Run Since 1960
Qty: 0 Total: £0
Meet the Team
Meet Our Team
Mark Chandler - Managing Director
Mark well and truly has furniture in his blood. He is the third generation of the Chandler family to take the helm and steer Vale Furnishers towards an exciting future. He has a keen eye for current trends and styles and a passion for discovering new ranges and modes of living for you to consider in your home. Mark is proud to be living proof that Vale Furnishers has never lost its roots as a local family business.
Mark says, “Vale has grown so much since my father ran it years ago. Originally we specialised in traditional British furniture. Today we’re home to brands and ranges from all across Europe and cater for literally all interior styles. I can genuinely say that there is no store in the South that can match us on variety, quality, experience and, above all, great customer service.”
Mark Chandler
Managing Director
Meet Our Team
Alex Mundell - General Manager and Director
Alex really does know Vale Furnishers like the back of his hand, having notched up more than 30 years with the company. He began working here at 15 on weekends and during school holidays, and became a permanent member of the team at 18. Today he manages the showrooms and helps make sure we are always heading in the right direction.
Alex says, “So much has changed since I first started here. We used to have one small shop... now we have two vast showrooms full of furniture. It’s incredible to think how far we’ve come and it’s an honour to be a part of it.”
Alex Mundell
General Manager and Director
Meet Our Team
Alan Partridge - Floor Manager
Everybody remembers AP, but not just because of his famous name; he’s also notched up 22 years as Vale Furnishers’ product expert and has become a firm favourite with customers. In addition to knowing everything there is to know about our furniture, AP helps manage the Ash Vale showroom and offers guidance to the sales team.
AP says, “My wife once said to me that you know you love your job when you bring it home with you (I'm sure she was being sarcastic). Well, my home is a mini Vale Furnishers showroom. I can't think of anywhere else that sells such variety – and all at such a high standard.”
Alan Partridge
Floor Manager
Meet Our Team
Ron Gould - Manager
Our longest serving member of staff, Ron came into the fold in 1979 and has seen Vale Furnishers evolve from one tiny shop to two colossal showrooms. At the same time Ron himself has progressed from a humble carpet fitter to a senior manager, arranging and organising deliveries, dealing with sales and managing the Ash Vale showroom.
Ron says, “I've been at Vale Furnishers for considerably more than half my life, but the best thing is that I’ve shared a large portion of that time with the same friendly colleagues. There is a reason why several members of staff have chosen to stay here for decades, and I am proud that many of our customers have stayed loyal over the years too.”
Ron Gould
Manager
Meet Our Team
Dan Chapman - Flooring Department Manager
Dan is the Vale Furnishers flooring guru. With 14 years in the carpet industry and 8 years working in Vale’s flooring department, he’s a fountain of knowledge on carpets, rugs, vinyl, laminate and hardwood floors. Quiz him on any of our fine flooring options and you won’t stump him.
Dan says, “It gives me great pride that Vale Furnishers has such an extensive offering when it comes to flooring. It means I’m confident I can satisfy my customers’ needs and expectations, whether they’re looking for quality, style, authenticity, affordability, maintenance or a combination of the lot.”
Dan Chapman
Flooring Department Manager
Meet Our Team
Clare Davis - Sales Advisor and Flooring Administrator
Clare is the organisation queen when it comes to flooring admin. Her and Dan make the perfect duo, so with their knowledge, experience, skills and passion, you know you're in safe hands!
Clare Davis
Sales Advisor and Flooring Administrator
Meet Our Team
Sam Fisher - Farnham Store Manager
With 12 years of service under his belt, Sam is our resident expert in modern furniture and in charge of all in-store displays at our two showrooms. He manages our Farnham sales team and day to day running of our Farnham store. He’s also visited the factories of various leading manufacturers across Europe to gain first-hand insight about our products. This makes Sam uniquely placed to offer guidance to the sales team.
Sam says, “I love helping customers see how great our products are. The fact that we offer such a wide range of styles and options means my job is never dull. I’m particularly fond of our sleek European ranges, which we’re expanding all the time.”
Sam Fisher
Farnham Store Manager
Meet Our Team
Lorraine Roberts - Curtains and Sales Advisor
With more than 20 years in the curtain industry, Lorraine is well placed in our linens and soft furnishings department, looking after the vast array of curtains, cushions, rugs and bed linen we have to offer. Her eye for coordinating fabrics makes her a great person to talk to when you are revitalising the look of your home.
Lorraine says, “I have an enthusiasm for all aspects of interiors, most of all soft furnishings. It’s so easy to add opulence and beauty to a room just with a pair of curtains or a rug. What I particularly love about working for Vale Furnishers is that everything you need is under one roof: flooring, furniture, wallpaper, accessories, the lot.”
Lorraine Roberts
Curtains and Sales Advisor
Meet Our Team
Harvey Bruce - Sales Advisor
A well-loved member of our sales team, Harvey has fingers in many pies. As well as offering friendly and comprehensive sales advice, he provides telephone and customer service support, looks after the presentation of the Ash Vale showroom, and offers general support to the flooring department.
Harvey says, “Vale Furnishers is a fantastic company to work for. Our staff are friendly, our customers are well looked-after, and our range of furniture is vast and brimming with interesting style choices.”
Harvey Bruce
Sales Advisor
Meet Our Team
Vicky Haigh - Sales Advisor
Customers love Vicky. She is friendly, approachable and her knowledge of our furniture is sound. She provides sales advice, telephone and admin support, deals with customer web enquiries, and makes sure our Ash Vale showroom is tidy, clean and looking shipshape for our customers.
Vicky says, “Vale Furnishers is a very rewarding company to work for. Our customers are lovely and many of them have been customers for years. Our staff are like one big family. It makes my job easy.”
Vicky Haigh
Sales Advisor
Meet Our Team
Michael Whitehead - Sales Advisor
Impressions count, whether it’s the first impression on a new customer or the hundredth impression on a longstanding customer. Michael's solid awareness of this imbues his warm, friendly and dedicated approach to sales advice, web and telephone support, and keeping our Ash Vale showroom well presented.
Michael says, “It’s great that after all these years, while Vale has grown and expanded its offering, it remains a family business that’s indebted to the local area. And I say ‘family business’ not just because it’s still owned and operated by the Chandler family, but because all the staff here are more than colleagues; they’re like family too.”
Michael Whitehead
Sales Advisor
Meet Our Team
Trina Tan - Interior Designer
Our resident interior designer, Trina is the heart and soul of our in-house interior design service. With a BTEC Diploma in Art and Design and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Architecture, she really knows her stuff when it comes to room plans, trends, styles, colour schemes, decor, fabrics and furniture.
Trina says, “I love taking customers on a journey. At the end of the journey is an interior they can be proud of, with more visual and practical benefits than they had before.”
Trina Tan
Interior Designer
Meet Our Team
Marlieze Tolley - Sales Advisor
A member of our Farnham sales team, Marlieze is obsessed with furniture and has a passion for interior design. She loves to show off all the modern, interesting and distinctive pieces that grace our Farnham showroom. She also comes with her very own brand of enthusiasm, which has cemented her as a customer favourite in a very short space of time.
Marlieze says, “I can’t wait to come into work each day and show the customers why that table is so great, or that cabinet is so handy, or that sofa is just such an indulgence to sit on. It’s not difficult either, because I really do feel that way about our furniture.”
Marlieze Tolley
Sales Advisor
Meet Our Team
Charles Brookes - Sales Advisor
Charles is our resident Calligaris expert but his product knowledge doesn't end there. Having worked previously with some of our most luxurious furniture brands, he's a wealth of information and your go to guy for almost anything Italian. He's part of our ever expanding Farnham team, so you'll find him there, weekdays and weekends!
Charles Brookes
Sales Advisor
Meet Our Team
Cristina Ruiz - Sales Advisor
Cristina has a glowing background with some big name department stores, meaning her customer service levels are exceptional. Always on hand and happy to help, she's a very passionate member of our Farnham team.
Cristina Ruiz
Sales Advisor
Meet Our Team
Becky Manville - Buyer and Visual Merchandiser
We have Becky to thank for making our showrooms look so good. With an eye for style, she is not only in charge of buying the art, lighting, soft furnishings and accessories but also the visual presentation at both Ash Vale and Farnham. This includes creating room sets, ornamentation and decor, and the fashioning of our all-important window displays. She also conducts interior design research and makes proposals for great new products to be added to our repertoire.
Becky says, “I love researching interior styles and bringing up-to-the-minute looks and trends right into the heart of our showrooms for customers to discover. My job is fun and creative and the reward is that customers get to see how good their homes can look.”
Becky Manville
Buyer and Visual Merchandiser
Meet Our Team
Gemma Richelmann - Visual Merchandiser
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Promotion, Gemma is someone else to credit for the eye-pleasing look of our showrooms. She helps manage the visual presentation of both Ash Vale and Farnham, proposing new ideas for decor, ornamentation and window displays, and helping implement them.
Gemma says, “I enjoy showing customers a variety of different room sets and decor ideas for them to consider. My job pays off when a customer says, ‘Wow, I really want that in my home.’”
Gemma Richelmann
Visual Merchandiser
Meet Our Team
Rosie Hithersay - Head of Marketing and Digital
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design and years of design experience to boot, Rosie has an eye for what looks good. She is the brains behind our marketing materials and marketing strategy, including online graphics, point-of-sale materials and advertising. Since starting, she has given the website a complete overhaul to help give Vale Furnishers a better representation online. She also offers SEO support and deals with suppliers.
Rosie says, “I was already a big fan of furniture and interior design before I came to Vale Furnishers. Now that I get to create sales and marketing materials to showcase these things, I can’t think of a more perfect job.”
Rosie Hithersay
Head of Marketing and Digital
Meet Our Team
Rhianne Hill - Design and Admin Assistant
Rhianne's background in Interior Architecture shines through in her passion for furniture and interiors in general. She can be found creating spec sheets, updating the website and helping to come up with new marketing strategies for Vale Furnishers.
Rhianne Hill
Design and Admin Assistant
Meet Our Team
Peter Bogusz - IT Support and Maintenance
Peter is our computer whizz. Drawing on his qualifications in computer science and years of experience in IT, Peter looks after the upkeep of our servers, computers and in-store TVs, and is an invaluable aid to the smooth running of our systems. If a computer freezes, develops a glitch or our emails go down, he always seems to have a quick and easy fix up his sleeve.
Peter says, “Companies are relying on computers more and more to manage their systems and serve their customers. That makes my job here at Vale Furnishers really important, because this is a company that prides itself on providing a great customer experience every time.”
Peter Bogusz
IT Support and Maintenance
Meet Our Team
Jackie Wedderburn - Accounts
Our very own Rachel Riley, Jackie is our numbers guru and accounts hotshot. She’s the one who keeps the books balanced so that Vale Furnishers can continue to offer you quality products at great prices.
Jackie says, “It’s great to work for a company whose products bring tangible pleasure to customers. We now offer such a range that literally all tastes and preferences are catered for. It’s been exciting to watch and be a part of Vale’s amazing growth and diversification over the years.”
Jackie Wedderburn
Accounts
Meet Our Team
Lisa Streeter - Senior Office Administrator
Lisa is a key component of our office team. She coordinates order and database administration, deals with suppliers and customer enquiries, and oversees the price tickets for the thousands of products gracing the floors of our showrooms. Most importantly, she ensures the smooth processing of all your furniture orders so you have a hassle-free experience every time you buy from us.
Lisa says, “I really enjoy coming to work each day and playing my part in the Vale Furnishers team, partly because everyone’s so friendly and welcoming, and partly because we’re all so passionate about the furniture we offer.”
Lisa Streeter
Senior Office Administrator
Meet Our Team
Barbara Smart - Admin and Logistics
Barbara provides crucial admin support and is particularly adept at helping our Distribution and Service Manager to arrange and organise deliveries. She is also a Vale Furnishers enthusiast, proudly owning and displaying oodles of our furniture in her home. This makes her specially placed to sing the virtues of what we offer.
Barbara says, “I always tell customers that getting a job with Vale is like joining a big, friendly family. There’s no hierarchy here. We’re all players on the same team, the Vale Team!”
Barbara Smart
Admin and Logistics
Meet Our Team
Russell Mountain - Customer Services
A friendly face, understanding manner and years of hands-on furniture experience working in our warehouse make Russell Mountain the go-to guy for customer enquiries in Ash Vale. If you have any queries at all — be it a question about your order or a general enquiry about our furniture — Russell will help. And on the rare occasions that something isn’t right with your order, Russell will do his utmost to ensure your issue is dealt with promptly and painlessly.
Russell says, “Apart from the brilliance of our furniture, another key reason why our customer base is so loyal is the overall customer care we provide. I always endeavour to resolve issues quickly so that you can rest easy and enjoy your furniture.”
Russell Mountain
Customer Services
Meet Our Team
Virginia Hunt - Customer Services
If you have a query about your order or a general enquiry about our store or furniture, Virginia is your woman. On the rare occasions that something isn’t right with your order, Virginia will go the extra mile to make sure your issue is dealt with promptly and painlessly.
Virginia says, “I love making sure our customers feel looked after. I think good customer service is the lifeblood of Vale Furnishers. It’s the reason so many of our customers keep coming back year after year.”
Virginia Hunt
Customer Services
Meet Our Team
Amanda Russell - Administrator
When you call us and Amanda answers, you can be assured that your questions will be answered promptly and comprehensively. Amanda will either employ her own extensive knowledge of Vale Furnishers to settle your query, or she will transfer you to the most appropriate person who can help.
Amanda says, “It’s an absolute pleasure to answer the phone to a Vale Furnishers customer — they’re all such lovely people.”
Amanda Russell
Administrator
Meet Our Team
Fran Hutton - Receptionist
Fran is usually the first person you'll speak to by phone at Vale Furnishers. She's on hand to answer your every query and if she can't, she'll make sure to find you someone who can.
Fran Hutton
Receptionist
Meet Our Team
Steve Paine - Warehouse Manager
Steve is in charge of our warehouse and delivery operations. The most important element of his job is to oversee your furniture, from the moment it arrives in the warehouse to the moment it’s installed safely and professionally in your home by our delivery teams. He’s the person who makes sure that when you receive your furniture, it’s in exactly the same condition as when it left the manufacturers.
Steve says, “Vale is like one big family and all the boys from the warehouse and delivery team feel as much a part of it as if they worked all day in-store. We’re dedicated to providing customers with the best possible service throughout the process.”
Steve Paine
Warehouse Manager
Meet Our Team
Stuart Sheppard - Warehouse Supervisor
Stuart takes care of the warehouse and the enormous quantity of products that passes through it. He and his hardworking team are responsible for quality-checking, assembling goods prior to delivery, stain guarding upholstery, inspecting replacement goods and more. His overarching goal is to ensure your product is checked, stored and looked after, in preparation for a smooth and efficient delivery to your home.
Stuart says, “I take my job seriously. No customer likes to receive a product with a fault. By rigorous checking and top-notch storage methods, we make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Stuart Sheppard
Warehouse Supervisor
Meet Our Team
Mark Conroy - Delivery Team Supervisor
Vale Furnishers is known for its excellent delivery service. This is thanks to people like Mark. Joining us 13 years ago as a van assistant, Mark now heads up our delivery team, making sure that each delivery is hassle-free for the customer. In essence, his primary objective is to look after your goods, your home and you as a customer, leaving you happy and with a good understanding of how your product works.
Mark says, “The delivery team makes the final impression on the customer, so it’s vital that we make the right one. Plus, it’s always rewarding when we arrive with a new sofa, table or cabinet and put it where it needs to be — and the customer couldn’t be happier or more appreciative.”
