product
From our early days in antiques to the ranges we make today, we’ve always valued quality, craft and longevity. Many of our products are handmade by specialist craftspeople where skills have been passed down generations. Our next focuses are on improving the way we source materials, rethinking packaging and designing for repair and reuse to make sure our products are honest, durable and lower in impact.
Sourcing materials responsibly
We believe that great products start with great materials. As we grow, we’re taking a closer look at what goes into each of our pieces, increasing the use of preferred materials and improving traceability so we can stand behind the things we make with even more confidence.
With our expansive product catalogue, we know how important it is to shift to materials that are better for the planet and increase traceability to reduce the impact of the products we sell. However, we recognise the scale of this task, so we’re starting small while keeping a long-term view to build momentum.
This year to support our Buyers, we developed a set of sustainability questions and considerations to guide purchasing decisions on Buying trips. These help them understand what to look for and which questions to ask suppliers. We’ve also begun reviewing our catalogue to identify existing products where materials or sourcing can be improved. This process has highlighted knowledge gaps that we plan to address through targeted team training.
Rethinking packaging
Packaging has never been the star of the show, but it plays a big part in our footprint and is essential for ensuring our products arrive safe in our customers’ homes. We’re beginning by understanding exactly what we use today, then shifting towards solutions that are lighter on the planet without compromising on protection.
We’ve been working with our suppliers over the past few years to gather packaging data for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) reporting, information that will be instrumental in helping us calculate our packaging baseline. We’ve also updated our packaging criteria in our supplier briefs and have been working with suppliers to eliminate non-essential plastics from our packaging – a challenge at times given that many of our products require extra protection.
Designing with integrity, making with purpose
Longevity has always been the Coach House way. We’re now building circular thinking into our processes so more products can be repaired, reused and kept in homes for longer. It’s about designing with care, choosing well, and supporting customers to get the most from the pieces they buy.
We have a dedicated section on our website showcasing products made from recycled and reclaimed materials, helping customers choose pieces with a lower footprint. Our Seconds and Repair departments also play a big part in keeping products in use. Almost everything that comes back to us as returns or damaged stock is repaired, restored and resold, giving each item a new lease of life rather than letting it go to waste.
We’re learning more about how to build circular thinking into how we source products by reducing the number of components in our products, shifting towards lower-impact and more natural materials, and exploring ways to extend product lifespans through multi-use designs and products like linen loose covers that allow pieces to be refreshed rather than replaced. It’s early days, but we’re steadily working towards a more circular approach at Coach House.
Saving products from landfill
Situated alongside our main showrooms, you’ll find our 20,000 square foot Seconds Emporium, a treasure trove of wonder and delights. In this Aladdin’s cave you’ll discover a variety of products, such as discontinued samples, ex-display pieces, end-of-line products and slightly damaged stock. Our team restores these products to a high, sellable standard and offers them at a reduced price, keeping beautiful furniture in homes and away from landfill.
In the past 12 months:
Over 17,000 pieces were sold from our Seconds Emporium to almost 500 customers.
1,050 items were repaired by our in-house joiners, saving them from the bin.
Only 0.63% of all items sold were sent to the bin – a percentage we’re aiming to keep reducing