INTERIORS
Together – husband-and-wife team James and Steph Zielke have grown Wood Connexions into a global supplier of premium oak flooring.
TOGETHER, AGAINST ALL ODDS
From Poland to the heart of Teesside – Wood Connexions is carving a niche in the world of high-end flooring and interiors...
PICTURES: STUART BOULTON
Husband-and-wife team James and Steph Zielke have turned a family challenge into an extraordinary global success story – building Wood Connexions into one of the world’ s most respected names in luxury oak flooring and interiors.
What began as a sudden responsibility in rural Poland is now a business reaching across continents, supplying high-profile clients in the US, UK and beyond.
For James and Steph, it’ s been nothing short of a remarkable journey of resilience, creativity and sheer determination.
A life-changing moment In 2008, when James’ s father passed away, the couple faced an impossible decision. What was meant to be a six-month stay to steady the family’ s manufacturing factory in Brusy turned into a decade-long adventure that reshaped their lives.
“ We were suddenly responsible not just for a business, but for the livelihoods of dozens of local families,” recalls Steph.“ Neither of us had planned for it – but we refused to let it fail.”
Together, they rolled up their sleeves. James took charge of the technical side, while Steph – a former BBC broadcast journalist – threw herself into learning Polish, mastering manufacturing and building international distribution networks.
“ I literally carried a dictionary everywhere,” she laughs.“ We learned as we went – and we learned fast.”
Building something extraordinary Through grit and vision, the couple expanded the business into a premium global brand. They pushed boundaries, challenged conventions and placed quality, sustainability and customer trust at the very heart of everything.
By 2015, they had launched Wood Connexions – a name reflecting their
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