Profile: Richard Blackwell


Eschewing the degree route in favour of starting out as a management trainee manager with Ryman Conran, Richard Blackwell – CE of Bisley – moved into the workplace storage furniture business as ‘something to do’.


FX

Words by Emily Martin

A 'Londoner's Londoner', Richard Blackwell was born in the City where he lived until he was seven, when he and his family moved to Ruislip in West London. He has lived in the area ever since, but despite largely staying put in terms of where he lives, the same can certainly not be said for his career.

Just before Christmas, I visit Bisley's London showroom to meet the new man in charge.

He tells me how not wanting to go to university and rebelling against his father led him to, eventually, the job at the top of one of Britain's leading and historic manufacturers -- in an industry he initially didn't want to work in.

'I didn't know what I wanted to do or where to go after finishing school. I took A-levels, but I didn't want go to university,' explains Blackwell. 'It was a time when people did degrees as a rite of passage, not vocationally. I really didn't know what I wanted to do, but I was fairly sure what I didn't want to do!'

In a vintage advert, the enduring Multi-Drawer and Plan files sits among some now-discontinued ranges
In a vintage advert, the enduring Multi-Drawer and Plan files sits among some now-discontinued ranges

His father wanted him to be an accountant, but as a 'protest', Blackwell accepted a job as a management trainee, at Ryman. He was keen to get into work and accepted the job through a friend. A well-known stationery brand, Ryman had merged with Terence Conran's business in the late Sixties to become Ryman Conran. At the time, it included a lot of 'trendy furniture brands' as well as the interior's business as part of the group. 'It was an exciting place to be and Ryman was a very fashionable brand', recalls Blackwell, who stayed with the company for 12 years. 'I really enjoyed it, until they parted company with me.'

Nevertheless his time with the company developed an enjoyment of buying and merchandising. Blackwell then joined British Home Stores (BHS) as a buyer, a job offered to him by an ex-colleague at Ryman.

Blackwell became a merchandise controller, responsible for seasonal products, with his sales target largely focused on the run-up to Christmas. He talks of a time of learning: 'It was a breathtaking ride, and you quickly learn how to become a bit of a trader in an organisation like that. I very much enjoyed my time there.'

Coincidently, BHS also merged with the Conran business. Later, the company reduced the management structure of the business, in which a number of people -- Blackwell included -- found themselves without a job. But it wasn't long until the next opportunity came calling, this time on the phone. Tony Brown, chairman of Bisley and whom Blackwell had first met during his time at Ryman, invited him to join Bisley. 'I said to him that I'd go down [to the Surrey office] and have a pint with him and chew it over, but I told him, "I don't want to get involved with manufacture". I had no interest in it; it didn't excite me,' recalled Blackwell. While keen to join another retailer, Blackwell, nevertheless, agreed to join Bisley on a temporary basis -- 'something to do'. 'Cutting a long story short: I stayed.

For 26 years,' he says. 'I might get to like it soon!' When Blackwell joined Bisley there was no London showroom, no Welsh factory in Newport, and no overseas sales offices. Blackwell describes Bisley as being a 'small manufacturing company', which was producing a limited range of office storage in large volumes to a limited number of customers. Blackwell says it was crucial to identify the company's vulnerable position and make the necessary measures to further future-proof it.

'We set about broadening our product range and the customer base,' explains Blackwell. 'We added products year after year, and customers and channels year after year. We've become much more adaptable to the different sectors of the market.' Looking around the showroom in Great Portland Street I see desks and soft seating -- all part of Bisley's new Be range -- and of course storage, which make up some of the company's extensive portfolio of offerings.

Originally taking the position as marketing director, Blackwell soon found himself as a key figure in the organisation and workforce (although talking to him, he modestly may lead you to believe otherwise). The small company expanded, which included marketing products to the A&D sector and an expanded workforce, and Blackwell found himself also becoming head of sales.

'I can't remember the chronology of it, but I managed to take over customer services and design as well,' says Blackwell.

It's probably no surprise that he is now the company's chief executive, a role he took on in August 2015. 'It's been exciting being part of the transformation,' he says of his time with Bisley.

Be by Bisley, on show in Washington DC. The USA is one of Bisley’s newest market
Be by Bisley, on show in Washington DC. The USA is one of Bisley's newest market

The company now operates overseas offices in seven countries, with some 50 per cent of the company's revenue now coming from abroad.

This year, and beyond, will see the company continue to further develop these profits, which are added to now by expansion into markets that include North America and the Middle East.

'The preservation of our brand, its heritage and values and what it means to people is of fundamental importance,' says Blackwell.

'We have a brand that still has resonance in the market and hopefully means the right thing to people.'








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