HOME + GARDEN
LENLEYS HOME TURNS 90!
CANTERBURY
MAIDSTONE
Founded on Valentine’ s Day 1936, Lenleys Home is now celebrating 90 years as a family business. Is there a moment from your history that best captures the spirit of Lenleys today? There isn’ t one moment that we could pinpoint, it’ s all about the people involved in our journey. Our customers and staff, past and present, have always epitomised the spirit of Lenleys perfectly.
You’ ve seen interior trends come and go. Which shifts have surprised you most? And what styles or pieces do you believe will always endure in Kent homes? Over the years we’ ve seen many changes in trends, and also seen them cycle back around too. We’ ve seen bold statements come and go, but what has never changed is that our customers are seeking quality, craftsmanship and comfort. Timeless pieces and layered, liveable interiors will never fall out of favour. Styles may evolve, but that sense of warmth and understated elegance will always endure in Kent homes.
How has Lenleys’ approach to interiors and customer experience evolved over the decades? And which founding values have remained constant? We began specialising in fabrics and expanded from there with the aim to become a one-stop shop for your home. Whether you’ re looking for that finishing touch for a room or you’ re working on a whole house project, we can help. Our founding values of exceptional service, knowledgeable staff and a highly curated offering are still very much at the heart of the business. Retail itself has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades and we work tirelessly to make sure we keep up with the changes. The experience customers have when shopping with us is key; it has to be worth their while and memorable.
As a business spanning three generations, how does being family-run influence the way you curate your collections and connect with customers? Being a family-run independent business we are very hands on in all aspects of the business, but especially on the shopfloor. This gives us the opportunity to listen carefully to our customers, what they are looking for and the reasons behind it. This information is invaluable on buying trips as it helps us choose exactly the right products that we know are going to suit our customers.
Lenleys has weathered major challenges, including expansion and rebuilding after the 1983 fire. What has that resilience taught you about longevity and community? The resilience of the business over the last 90 years has taught us that true longevity is rooted in community. In times of difficulty or indeed times of expansion, it is not just determination that is needed, but the trust and loyalty of the people around the business. We feel it is important to stay adaptable while remaining true to our values. It’ s the relationships that are built through challenges that help sustain a business over generations, and these relationships have been built up over years in both Canterbury and Maidstone.
As you mark this 90-year milestone, what are you most excited about for the future of Lenleys- both creatively and as a family business? We have lots of exciting things planned for this year to celebrate our 90th anniversary, so keep an eye out for more details on these through the year in both Canterbury and Maidstone stores.
An exciting next step in the Lenleys’ journey is the forthcoming launch of Lenleys’ storage service; a new branch to the business. This will be for both commercial and residential customers looking for either short- or long-term storage solutions, and further details will be on our website in due course. Looking further to the future, we are passionate about continuing to evolve the business, ensuring it remains relevant while maintaining family values at its heart. We want the business to be in a strong position for future generations.
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