Murray Roberts writes about hotel amenities HK Magazine January issue | Page 10
COMPANY PROFILE
HOUSEKEEPING MANAGEMENT
DISCUSSES OUT OF EDEN -
THEIR HISTORY AND SERVICE TO
THE HOTEL INDUSTRY
S
winging into the driveway of Out
of Eden, you could be forgiven for
thinking that you were entering
the farmyard of any of Cumbria’s
countless sheep farms. The actuality
that you were instead pulling in to the
headquarters of one of the nation’s
leading hotel supply companies would
probably be quite far down your list of
possible scenarios.
Traditional dry stone walls encompass
the area and quaint refurbished farm
buildings look out over the dramatic
Cumbrian fells. It certainly isn’t the usual
modern warehouse, on a drab industrial
estate, that one would imagine, but then,
Out of Eden aren’t your usual, run of the
mill, hotel supply company.
Founded in 1993, on the edge of the Lake
District, by husband and wife team Ian and
Janet Hartley, it started out life as Cumbria
Hotel Furnishers, a small scale home-run
hotel furnishing company. Ian would ride
around in his van selling beds and linen to
the local hotels and B&Bs of Cumbria and
North Yorkshire.
Fast forward to today and Out of Eden
has never forgotten its roots. Despite the
exponential growth it has undergone in
recent years, the business still operates
out of Home Farm buildings. The same
Kirkby Stephen based site where the
company moved to in 2001; when it finally
outgrew Ian and his van.
It is now known as one of the UK’s
major suppliers to the country’s thriving
hospitality sector. Supplying products
to everyone from: the biggest players in
the hotel industry, to restaurants, art
galleries, cruise liners, universities and
even the military. Although more than
adept at supplying everyone from soldiers
to sommeliers it has also cemented itself
as a trusted supplier to the nation’s small
hospitality businesses.
Supplying Britain’s hoteliers with
everything from kettles, smart-bins,
hairdryers and hospitality trays, to natural
10 Housekeeping management
fill, feather and down bedding, Out of Eden
has made its name over the last 23 years
by supplying quality goods for a price
that is within reach of many independent
accommodation providers.
Out of Eden still maintains its family run
ethos, due in no small part to the Hartley’s
determination that the company stick to its
core principles of caring for the customer,
community and environment. Whether that
be through a highly incentivised walk-to-
work scheme or sponsoring latrines in
sub-saharan Africa; the company is fiercely
proud of both its charitable work and
exemplary customer service record.
Mike Gannon, Managing Director of
Out of Eden said: “We will never be one
of those faceless companies, where you
have to press buttons just to speak to
someone! Should you ever have a problem
or just want to have a friendly chat with us
for some advice, there is a team here in
Cumbria just a phone call away”
In line with its environmental ethos Out of
Eden places great importance in offering a
range of energy efficient products including
its popular eco-towels & robes, which helps
hoteliers save on energy costs and its low
wattage eco-kettle which can help reduce
the impact on both the environment and a
business’s bills.
It is clear from the way that Out of Eden
operates, that customer service is the
lynchpin of everything it does. It is by no
means coincidence that years of stark
dedication to this cause and championing
the customer, has resulted in the position
that it is in today as one of Britain’s
favourite suppliers to the nation’s small
army of B&B, guesthouse and hotel owners.
www.outofeden.co.uk