Tom Hudson, Head of Product Performance at Gallery Direct, talks about his role, admiration for his father, a resurgence of heritage looks, American inspiration and why consumers need to shift their mindset on quality.
Let’s start with you. Can you share a bit about yourself and your background?
I’m the third‑generation son of a furniture maker, so craftsmanship and the furniture industry have always been part of my life. I grew up near High Wycombe in a small village called Bradenham. Being the youngest of seven meant there was never a dull moment, and our home was always full of siblings, friends, and relatives. It felt like an open house, with something happening all the time. These days homelife is a bit quieter, I live in a small hamlet in the Kent countryside near Faversham with my wife Lyndsey, our two daughters, Holly and Lois, and our dogs, Dexter and Roxy.
What is your current job role and key responsibilities?
I joined Gallery in June 2014 following the acquisition of Frank Hudson Ltd. My new role at Gallery emphasised on quality control and factory compliance, and I played a key role in building our QC department both in the UK and across our major global regions, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and China. Because my current role involves progressively more frequent international travel, I transitioned last year from heading up the QC department to concentrating more on product development, sampling, and product performance It’s a role that I really enjoy and fulfils my practical abilities and hands on approach. I do remain close with the QC department offering advice, factory compliance reporting, and supply‑chain traceability, especially when out in the field.
What do you love about your job?
I genuinely love the travel, planning trips, visiting different countries, and working alongside our fantastic in‑country teams. There’s something very motivating about seeing new developments come to life, especially when you’ve been part of creating them from the start. I really enjoy working directly with factories: improving products, ensuring smooth production, and supporting continuous facility improvement. Helping a factory refine a process or improve a product is incredibly rewarding. I am part of a fantastic development team and my Director Peter Delaney actively promotes input from everyone involved so as a collective we create some stunning ranges and collections.
What time is your alarm clock set for?
My alarm is generally set for 6am but sometimes I’m up before it. Because I work so closely with our teams and factories in Asia, my mornings usually start with catching up on emails, global WhatsApp groups, video calls and reviewing any overnight developments. It’s a good opportunity to get responses and updates back early as they are many hours ahead.
Why did you choose to work in the furnishing industry?
In many ways, the industry chose me. I’m a third‑generation furniture maker’s son, so I grew up surrounded by craftsmanship, materials and the factory workshop life. I used to visit our furniture factory on a Saturday morning with my dad Rex, seeing and hearing all the machines whirring away, the craftsmen’s tools and chisels set out and the amazing smell of freshly cut kiln dried timber. As I got older, I spent school holidays helping in different workshops, learning the trade hands-on and earning a bit of money along the way. Those experiences shaped me, and eventually I gravitated toward upholstery, where I went on to complete my apprenticeship.
Who do you most admire in the industry and why?
This might sound a bit corny, but genuinely, the person I admire most in the industry is my father, Rex. He was a furniture designer and maker, and I grew up watching him work closely with the team on the workshop floor to bring his designs to life. He was extremely practical and well liked; he spoke to everyone on the level and was well respected by the workforce. Always working side by side to push through new designs and urgent orders. At home, he taught me so much as he was always busy repairing something, building something, or landscaping the garden, and I loved being part of it. In-between all this he still found time to sail and where I gained my love for boats and the sea. I very much took on his work ethic and how I approach my role and work with people.
Have there been any special moments during your career?
One moment that stands out happened early in my career, on my first solo trip to a factory in Romania. I was still a young man, and I’d been discussing quality expectations on a new oak collection with the production manager and factory owner. Suddenly, he decided to gather more than a hundred workers into a huge showroom and asked me to explain the same points to everyone. It was completely unexpected, and I found myself standing in front of the entire workforce, speaking through an interpreter, trying to get my message across. It was nerve‑racking at first, but they engaged with what I was saying, and I could see they were genuinely invested in improving the product. From that moment on, I felt a real sense of pride that I could travel to another country and get a message across to a foreign workforce changing processes based on what I was suggesting. That experience moulded my confidence and my approach working with factories ever since.
What is your favorite item of furniture you own and why?
My favourite piece of furniture is a beautiful English oak refectory table made in Norfolk. It’s a stunning example of traditional craftsmanship and construction using original methods of pegging. The oak is incredibly hard and dense and full of character. I love feeling the quality every time I sit at it.
What do you think is trending within the industry at present?
We are seeing a real resurgence of heritage looks and character driven collections. I think our customers are looking for styles that feel familiar, grounded, and connected to the past, manufactured with materials and construction they can trust, with designs that feel meaningful rather than disposable. That’s something I relate to personally, as those classic collections were a big part of my upbringing. What’s exciting is we are currently developing some traditional authentic ranges but reimagined with a modern twist. Watch this space because that’s exactly the “twist” one of the collections is developing into.
Concurrently we’re also developing more sophisticated modern and contemporary collections. Clean, soft lines, refined silhouettes, and bold, confident colours are all gaining momentum. It’s a nice balance of heritage with heart on one side, and sleek, modern expression on the other.
What would you change in the industry?
I would love to help shift the way consumers think about quality. Fine furniture is designed to last for many years. Each piece is carefully crafted using responsibly sourced, premium materials, and unlike fast‑moving consumer goods, these items are not mass‑produced or disposable.
When products are returned for small aesthetic preferences or very subtle variations, it can unintentionally create waste, increase costs throughout the supply chain, and take away from the true value of the craftsmanship involved. I’d love to see greater appreciation for the skill, materials, and logistics that go into producing high‑quality value furniture.
We do our best to support this by providing detailed product descriptions, care guidance, and helpful information so customers can feel confident and informed about the premium pieces they’ve chosen for their homes.
Can you share an insight into your future plans?
One thing I would really love to do is head west. I’ve travelled extensively throughout Asia for many years, but I’ve never actually been to the USA or Canada. Both markets have such strong design identities, and there’s a huge amount of inspiration to be found there from classic American craftsmanship to bold contemporary trends. There’s a richness in their use of materials, scale, and architectural styling that I think could translate beautifully into our product development.
What do you enjoy most outside of work / free time?
Outside of work, I like to keep active and make the most of my home time, I love my home and enjoy DIY projects. I’m a big football fan and enjoy watching Watford and Real Madrid with my daughter Lois, I still play in a Veterans league too. I’m a keen cyclist and cycle to work weather permitting. We love taking short family trips away. Living in Kent means we are close to the continent, so hopping over to France or Belgium for a night or two has become a real treat.
What might someone not know about you?
Maybe that I found myself as a walk‑on extra in a World War II movie while I was in China. I once cycled from London to Rome, and at the end of the journey I was blessed by the Pope. I’ve cycled around Cuba with a backpack and tackled a volcano climb by bike in Indonesia.
If you had a different career, what would it be?
If the furniture industry hadn’t chosen me, I think I’d have ended up as a firefighter or a soldier. There’s something incredibly meaningful about serving and protecting others, and I think that side of me would have naturally gravitated toward one of those paths. My uncle was a Commando in the Marines who I admired.
Finally, if you were an item of furniture, what would it be and why?
I’d be an oak dining table, much like the old English oak table I have at home – it’s a piece of furniture that naturally brings people together. A dining table is practical and utilitarian, but it also is a centrepiece for social time with family and friends.
Five Fun qs:
1) If you could hack into any one computer, whose computer would you choose and why?
It would be Clint Eastwood’s. He’s been a hero of mine for years, the coolest, most quietly intense presence on screen and behind camera. I’d love to get a deeper sense of his thoughts, ideas, and creative process, because so much of who he is doesn’t always come across in interviews or films.
2) What fact amazes you every time you think of it?
One thing that never stops amazing me is what was achieved during and immediately after the Normandy landings. The scale of the infrastructure, the adaptability of the manufacturing all around the UK, and the sheer resourcefulness involved were extraordinary. In many ways it’s something that couldn’t be replicated today. I had the honour of visiting all the beaches and understanding more of what went on for the 80th anniversary.
3) What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
One of the most spontaneous things I’ve done happened during a trip to Berlin with friends. I was having a great social get together and on a complete whim we all decided to jump from the tallest hotel in the city centre on a static line. It was exhilarating, completely unplanned, and definitely memorable. My wife, however, was not quite as impressed as me when she heard about it afterwards.
4) What is the most important object you own and why?
The most important object I own is my passport. It’s essentially my key to the world, without it, I couldn’t do my job fully, explore new places, or enjoy the travel that’s become such a big part of my life. It’s also central to our family holidays and the experiences we all share together. It’s a small document, but it opens the door to so much.
5) What did you think was cool when you were young but isn’t cool now?
I thought smoking was cool, it’s not until you get older and you change your view, your responsibilities, health, and especially having children are big game changers. I was able to really focus on giving up when my wife became pregnant with our first child.
