The Company between 2008 and 2020 opened over 120 stores whilst expanding continually warehousing as turnovers grew each year, operating hubs around the country as well as a major operation and head office near the Honda main factory in Swindon Wiltshire. Reply. Global247news investigates where it all went wrong for the Companies founder and Chairman Jason Bannister after many successful years. Come and see the quality for yourself, and view the different … There are 1199 customers that Oak Furniture Land, rating them as excellent. Pattern. From launch sales rocketed, placing advertisements on google using Google Ads at the top of search engines, Bannister was miles ahead of the traditional furniture market retailers as online selling was reaching a new level, the website in its first month took more revenue than a year on eBay. From a smoke and pet free home, I have this advertised … Price. The business model and formula were working extremely well as the recession of 2008 hit Britain, this though didn’t hinder the Company, recessions often see consumers wanting cut-price deals. Prime members enjoy fast & free shipping, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Video and many more exclusive benefits. You've already flagged this Matt 12 reviews. The Company had been bought in a quick Administration Pre Pack sale by American investment Company Davidson Kempner Capital Management, for an undisclosed fee who are not ruling out job losses and store closures, although the staff was told via the conference link, that staff was lucky that the Administrators had found a buyer avoiding total liquidation. According to a former Store Manager, Bannister announced he wanted a Billion Pound annual turnover Company: ” Each year the Company spent a fortune on a Christmas Party for all the staff, everything all paid for, 5-star hotel rooms, the lot, and in 2017 Bannister made a speech as well as sending everyone a personal letter by email stating how he wanted a Billion pound a year turnover, citing that the Company was now going to start trading in the USA.”, ” Just afterward, online trading started in the US market with a new website, sales were not fantastic, but a year or so later it was announced the first store opening, it seemed to me Jason’s focus was on America and was leaving the UK market to others, missing seeing what was unfolding in his core business operation as he left it to others, there were too many bad changes, even our famous and well-branded TV adverts were changed, all the branding history wiped out overnight that had become established”, ” All they talked about at the last Christmas bash was America this and America that, I sat and thought to myself at the time, but we all work in the UK why do we wish to hear all this? Furnitureland – beautiful and affordable solid wood furniture, only at Furniture Village. Meanwhile over the period of years, according to another insider, the structure of the business changed, citing it went from a “family team operation” trying to achieve a corporate status, the close source who worked for the Company for 10 years told Global247news: ” The atmosphere changed all over the business operation, it started out as a great place to work on the sales floor, through to the distribution hubs, for a salesman like I, incentives were great, products easy to sell and you felt part of the team but as Bannister formed a new structure based on Regional and Commercial Managers, times changed”, ” Regional Managers became brutal as they had to chase daily targets, they would be abusive to Store Managers who in turn became abusive to sales staff, the volume of staff turnover became unbelievable and recruiting good loyal staff became a nightmare, the sales staff at work no longer felt part of the business, we felt just like a number and were treated as such being set daily and weekly targets that became unachievable as the Company pushed for more sales and further growth.”, ” What the customer never saw was behind the scenes we were moved away from just selling the product, to what was known as KPI’s – we were basically forced to push customers onto finance deals, sell insurance of warranty and even tins of wax, we went from being furniture sales advisors to high pressured sellers, the customers didn’t like it and many walked away, but Regional Managers didn’t care, they just wanted numbers at all costs, we would get sent on training sessions, the rules of engagement would change all the time, at one session we were even told exact words of what to “pitch”  as the client walked in the door, it was another backfire as sales dropped away and was eventually dropped”, ” Targets for everything, you had at least 5 targets to reach a day, salaries and commissions were dropped to lower rates, if you didn’t reach those targets then you made nothing at all, well 0.5% to be exact but I think that dropped to O after I eventually resigned and moved on”. 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