Family Team Approach: Father and Son Working TogetherCall Now on - 0115-824-4201
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How We Started Working Together
Michael had been in construction for over 20 years when we first talked about working together properly. I'd grown up around building sites and kitchens, but it wasn't until 2015 that we made it official.
The conversation happened over Sunday dinner, like most family decisions. We'd been collaborating on projects for a couple of years - Michael handling the construction side, me dealing with customers and design. It was working well, but we knew we could offer something special if we combined our skills properly.
What started as weekend help during college became a proper partnership when we realised how much customers appreciated having both perspectives on their projects.
Different Skills, Shared Values
Michael's Construction Expertise
Twenty-plus years in the building trade gives you a different view of how kitchens should work. Michael understands Victorian houses from the foundations up, knows why electrics fail, and can spot structural problems before they become expensive surprises.
His background means he thinks about kitchens as part of the building, not just furniture that gets installed. When the family in Carlton wanted to remove a wall, Michael knew immediately which walls were load-bearing and what Building Control would want to see.
Experience teaches you what actually works versus what looks good in magazines. Michael's seen enough kitchen disasters to know which shortcuts lead to problems and which details prevent callbacks three years later.
Emma's Design and Customer Focus
Growing up in the business gave me a different perspective. I understood the technical side, but I was more interested in how families actually use their kitchens day-to-day.
My focus is on listening to what customers really need versus what they think they want. Sometimes those are very different things. The family in West Bridgford thought they needed an island until we talked through their daily routines. They ended up much happier with a peninsula that gave them the same benefits without blocking their traffic flow.
I handle the design development, customer communication, and all the details that turn a construction project into someone's dream kitchen.
Complementary Problem-Solving
When you work together long enough, you develop a rhythm. Michael spots the structural challenges, I find design solutions. I understand what customers want, Michael knows what's actually possible.
The Victorian terrace in The Park had original features the family wanted to keep but modern needs that seemed impossible. Michael worked out how to support the loads differently, I designed storage that worked around the period details. Neither of us could have solved it alone.
Quality Standards We Both Obsess Over
Growing up in the trade, you learn that your reputation follows you everywhere. Particularly in Nottingham, where everyone knows everyone. Every job has to be something you'd be proud to show your neighbours.
We both check everything twice. Michael makes sure the technical work is perfect, I ensure every detail meets the design intention. By the time we hand over a kitchen, it's been scrutinised by two people who care about the family name.
What "Family Business" Really Means
Personal Accountability
When it's your family name on the van, every job matters personally. We're not employees who can blame the company if something goes wrong - we are the company.
The Johnson family in Arnold had a small problem with their soft-close mechanism two years after installation. Could have been a warranty claim with the supplier, but we sorted it immediately. Our reputation matters more than a £50 part.
Long-Term Thinking
Family businesses think in decades, not quarters. We want to be fitting kitchens for the next generation of Nottingham families, which means every customer needs to be happy enough to recommend us to their friends.
Short-term profit never wins over long-term relationships. The family in Sherwood needed extra work that wasn't in the original quote. We absorbed the cost because it was the right thing to do for people we'll know for years.
Community Connection
We live in the area we serve. Our kids go to local schools, we shop in Nottingham, and we see our customers around town. There's nowhere to hide if you don't do good work.
This community connection means we understand local property types, know reliable local trades, and have relationships that benefit our customers. When the family in Carlton needed emergency plumbing on Christmas Eve, Michael knew someone who'd come out.
Flexibility Without Bureaucracy
Being a small family business means we can make decisions quickly. If a customer needs to change something during installation, we don't need approval from regional managers or head office committees.
The Wilson family decided they wanted different handles halfway through installation. With a big company, that would mean forms, delays, and probably extra charges. We had the new handles fitted the next day.
Our Different Roles on Projects
Design Phase Collaboration
Initial consultations usually involve both of us. I lead the design discussion while Michael assesses the technical challenges. Customers get both perspectives from the start.
This prevents the common problem where beautiful designs turn out to be impossible or expensive to build. By involving construction expertise in design development, we avoid nasty surprises later.
Planning and Project Management
Michael handles building regulations, structural calculations, and coordination with other trades. I manage customer communication, material ordering, and design refinements.
We've divided responsibilities based on our strengths, but both of us stay involved throughout the project. Customers always have both perspectives available when decisions need making.
Installation Oversight
During installation, Michael focuses on technical quality while I ensure everything matches the design intention. Two sets of eyes checking different aspects of the work.
This dual oversight catches problems early. Michael might spot a technical issue that needs addressing, while I notice that something doesn't look right from a design perspective.
Customer Communication
We tag-team customer communication based on what's needed. Technical questions go to Michael, design queries come to me. But both of us can handle most situations.
Customers appreciate having options for who to contact. Some people prefer talking to Michael about practical issues, others find it easier to discuss design changes with me.
Learning from Each Other
Michael Learning Design Perspectives
Working with someone who thinks about aesthetics and user experience has changed how Michael approaches technical problems. He now considers how solutions will look and feel, not just whether they work structurally.
This makes the end result much better. Technical solutions that also look good and feel right to use. Construction expertise informed by design thinking.
Emma Understanding Construction Realities
Growing up around building sites is different from properly understanding why things are done certain ways. Working closely with Michael taught me the construction knowledge that makes designs actually buildable.
Now I can spot potential problems during design development and adjust accordingly. Designs that work technically as well as aesthetically, without needing expensive changes during installation.
Shared Customer Insights
We both learn from customer feedback, but we notice different things. Michael picks up on practical usage issues, I spot design elements that work particularly well or badly.
Combining these insights makes us better at both design and construction. Understanding how families actually use their finished kitchens helps us improve future projects.
Evolving Our Process
Fifteen years of working together has refined our process constantly. We've learned which decisions need both perspectives and which can be handled individually.
This evolution makes us more efficient without losing the benefits of dual expertise. Customers get better service delivered more smoothly.
Family Values in Business Practice
Honesty Over Profit
Family reputation matters more than individual job profits. We'd rather make less money and have customers who trust us than maximise profit and lose community standing.
This means honest advice even when it costs us sales. If someone doesn't need a full kitchen replacement, we'll suggest alternatives. Better to have a customer who trusts our advice than one who feels oversold.
Respect for People's Homes
We work in people's most personal spaces during stressful periods. Family values mean treating every home like it belongs to relatives.
Dust sheets everywhere, proper protection for existing surfaces, and cleaning up properly every day. The family's comfort during renovation matters as much as the final result.
Reliability as Personal Commitment
When we say we'll be there at 8am, we're there at 8am. When we promise a completion date, we hit it unless something genuinely unforeseen happens.
Reliability isn't just professional - it's personal. These families are trusting us with major investments and significant disruption to their lives.
Quality as Family Pride
Every kitchen we complete reflects on the family name. We want to drive past our installations in ten years and still feel proud of the work.
This pride drives quality standards higher than any corporate policy could. When it's your family reputation, "good enough" never is.
Customer Feedback on Our Approach
"Felt Like Having Family Friends Do Our Kitchen"
This comment from the Patel family in West Bridgford captures what we're aiming for. Professional expertise delivered with personal care and attention.
Customers notice the difference between employees doing a job and family members who care about the outcome personally.
Communication and Coordination
Families often comment on how well we communicate and coordinate. Having two people involved means customers always have someone to contact, and we can cover each other's schedules.
The personal attention that comes from family involvement shows up in customer satisfaction surveys and word-of-mouth recommendations.
Comparison with Larger Companies
Customers who've dealt with big kitchen retailers often mention the difference in personal attention. No call centres, no regional managers, just direct access to the people doing the work.
When problems arise, customers deal with us directly rather than navigating corporate customer service departments.
Long-Term Relationship Building
Many customers become family friends over the years. We're invited to see new babies, hear about job changes, and sometimes get asked back for house moves or extensions.
These relationships only develop when business is conducted with genuine personal care rather than transactional efficiency.
Challenges and Benefits
Working Through Disagreements
Father and son working relationships aren't always smooth. We've had our share of disagreements about approaches, priorities, and decisions.
Learning to disagree professionally while maintaining family relationships took time. Now we can argue about the best solution for a customer without it affecting family Sunday dinner.
Balancing Family and Business
Keeping business discussions at work and family time separate requires discipline. Kitchen problems don't stop at 6pm, but family relationships need protecting too.
We've learned when business issues need immediate attention and when they can wait until working hours. Family meals shouldn't become project meetings.
Decision-Making Authority
In the early days, we sometimes confused customers about who made final decisions. Now we're clear about areas of responsibility while maintaining collaborative approach.
Customers know Michael handles technical decisions and I manage design choices, but both of us can speak for the business on most issues.
Succession Planning
Working together means thinking about long-term business continuity. What happens as Michael approaches retirement? How do we maintain quality standards while transitioning responsibilities?
These conversations ensure the business continues serving Nottingham families with the same values and standards, regardless of who's leading day-to-day operations.
The Next Generation
Teaching Apprentices Our Approach
We're training young people who might carry forward our family business values even if they're not family members. Teaching skills, work ethic, and customer care standards.
The goal is building a team that delivers family business quality and personal attention, whether or not they share our surname.
Building Sustainable Business
A family business needs to outlast individual family members. We're building systems and relationships that can continue serving the community even as we get older.
This means training others in our approach, documenting our processes, and maintaining the community relationships that underpin everything we do.
Community Investment
Family businesses should contribute to their communities beyond just providing services. We support local sports teams, contribute to school events, and employ local people.
These connections strengthen both the business and the community. When everyone succeeds together, individual businesses become more sustainable.
Why It Matters to Customers
Working with a real family business means dealing with people who care about outcomes personally, not just professionally. Your kitchen project isn't just another job - it's something that affects our family reputation and community standing.
This personal investment shows up in attention to detail, willingness to solve problems, and long-term support that extends years beyond installation.
When you choose a family business, you're not just buying a kitchen - you're joining a community of families who've trusted us with their homes and their investments.
Want to experience the family business difference? Call us on 0115-824-4201 to meet both Michael and Emma and discuss your kitchen project.
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