Welcome to a new series on Well I Guess This Is Growing Up, dedicated to all of those small or independent businesses who are making the North a more fabulous place to be. Over the next few months, I’ll be chatting to interiors stores, local artists, independent makers and loads more creative people who give it their all to show that it’s not so grim up North after all! First up, I spoke to James after a trip to the 1838 Wallcoverings factory, based in Accrington, Lancashire.
Hi James! Why won’t you start by telling us a little about your business.
Myself and my sister, Abigail are the fourth generation of Watsons to work in the wallpaper industry! Our great grandfather Walter Watson, began his wallpaper career in 1888, following in his footsteps in 1936, our grandfather Jack Watson joined the industry. Continuing the family connection is our father, who started working in wallpaper in 1955, founding Surface Print in 1990. After 60 years in the industry, he has recently retired, although he still visits the office and factory regularly to make sure everything is under control! As Surface Print, we print for many prestigious and well-known brands, it was a natural progression for us to design, manufacture and sell our own wallpaper collections. We want to keep the business moving forward using our worldwide reputation for quality.
Our name, 1838 Wallcoverings evokes a deep history, for 1838 is the year that Charles Potter of Darwen, Lancashire invented the first wallpaper printing machine a Surface Print machine. A fitting tribute to the man and a perfect name for the brand, as the craft has changed little over the years. The current 1838 Wallcoverings collections have been printed on machines that date back over 100 years. In fact, there are now only a handful of Surface Print machines left in the world – four of which are located at the Clayton-le-Moors site.
What’s the best bit of design advice you’ve ever been given?
That all design is different – All brands, designs and companies have their own ‘hand-writing’ as they say. I believe as long as you believe in what you are producing and focus on innovation, you will always stand out.
And what about business? What do you think is key for making a small enterprise work?
Passion! As far as a can remember I have always been around the manufacture of wallpaper, but everyday I’m still amazed at the quality and creative wallpaper we produce. With the capacity to produce over one million rolls per year, one of the widest range of machine profiles in the world and a team of over 90 highly skilled employees, we can effortlessly blend tradition and innovation. We’re one of Lancashire’s little secrets, we use a great deal of skill and craft in what is a unique process. People don’t realise how much blood, sweat and tears go into what we do!
What have been your biggest achievements to date, and what are your goals for the next year? Tell us what’s in the pipeline!
Our biggest achievement is the launch of 1838 Wallcoverings and how well they have been received along with the buzz from the International market. 1838 Wallcoverings has expanded very quickly, with national stockists, an e-commerce website and 58 international distributors, we launched our first two collections in 2016, and are new to the market, but the feedback and support we have received has been overwhelming.
This year is a very busy year for us, previously launching one collection per year, this year we’re really pushing forward and have two collections launching! The first is ‘Aurora’ in September and the following (yet to be named!) will be launched in early January when we exhibit at Heimtexil, the largest International Trade Fair for Home and Contract Textiles, in Frankfurt, Germany.
What 3 things are you launching that you’re most excited about?
Just 3? I’m excited about all wallpapers!!
Tell us about someone you admire that you’d most like to collaborate with, and why.
My father! Although he has now retired, it’s down to his business acumen, drive and passion for wallpaper that we have been able to continue his legacy. In the early 90’s there was over 20 wallpaper factories all fighting for the same market space, it was my father who saw the gaps in the market and had the skills to produce something amazing. I still welcome all the advice and support he brings to the business and know I have some big shoes to fill.
Where do you find motivation/inspiration in your industry?
Inspiration in this industry is plentiful and comes from a wide variety of sources! We’re a member of the IGI, the Global Wallcoverings Association, a valuable, comprehensive and authoritative source on the wallcovering industry. Our Head Designer, Michelle, discovers and develops trends for our new collection through in-depth research online such as Trend Bible and taking colour influences from Pantone colour trend reports. The full team spends time visiting trade fairs and exhibitions in New York, Paris, London and lots more! The world of Instagram is growing daily and we are keen to be a part of the great network forming.
Tell us what songs really get you pumped on a Monday morning!
Smooth FM is the one for me.
You’ve won the lottery. What would be the first thing you splurge on? Would you treat yourself or invest in the biz?
It would have to be a bit of both. There are a few machines we’d be interested in for the factory – I would be thinking of which machines, whilst on a luxury holiday!
I’m personally a big lover of the 80s (controversial I know!) Name a design trend/era from the past you wish you could bring back!
For me it’s all about pattern and colour! Less minimalist-white, instead going for more flamboyant stylesa and really pushing design boundaries! I’m still a huge fan of Flock Wallpaper, which was massive in the 1980’s in the UK, then unfortunately died in the 1990’s. Since the year 2000 it has really progressed again. The machines we use to produce flock wallpaper are the only kind in the world and they create beautiful, velvety to touch wallpapers.
Many creatives work in an unrelated day job before making their passion into a career or business. What advice would you give them before taking the leap?
With all my family working in wallpaper I always knew this is where I wanted to be! I joined Surface Print fresh from university, after studying business and sales, whilst my sister studied and worked in Interior Design before joining the business. As the new generation of the business, we needed to move forward with our own brand – the time was right to make the leap.
You’ve been asked to patent your own colour. What shade would it be and what fancy name would you call it?
All of our Surface Print machines are painted in a very British, industrial blue colour, which really stands out when you walk through our factory! I’d call it ‘Surface Blue’.
Connect with 1838 Wallcoverings online:
1838wallcoverings.com
1838 Wallcoverings on Instagram
1838 Wallcoverings on Facebook
1838 Wallcoverings on Twitter
1838 Wallcoverings on Pinterest
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