Steve Whitcombe, Retail Director at Gardiner Haskins, talks about recent investments, a new showroom concept and its long-serving history.
Recent investments?
We have invested in our website, team and showroom. Our previous website no longer reflected the inspirational experience customers enjoy when they visit our multi-award-winning showroom. We invested in a new showroom specific website (www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk) to better showcase our exceptional customer service, design expertise, project work and our long-standing brand heritage as a trusted Bristol business. The project began in autumn 2025 with our new website launched in spring 2026. As part of this investment we also chose to separate our car parking business to a second new dedicated website at www.bristolcarparking.co.uk to provide clarity to our customers.
To support future growth, we have expanded both our bathroom and kitchen design teams. Increasing design capacity is a key part of maximising our growth potential and maintaining a high-quality customer experience. We have also continued to invest heavily into the showroom experience from larger additions such as our German Pronorm Kitchen Studio and Fitted Bedroom displays from Crown and Hepplewhite in 2025, to Bathroom showroom changes, tile updates and adding new ranges of sofas with more planned for 2026.
Future plans?
Building on the outstanding success of our Furniture Showroom transformation in 2025, we are embarking on one of our most exciting developments to date. We are investing significantly in the creation of a brand-new showroom, transforming a previously underutilised clearance centre and adjoining stores space into a distinctive destination designed to inspire customers and showcase the very best in premium furniture.
At the heart of this new concept will be a carefully curated collection of handcrafted upholstery from renowned British manufacturer Duresta, celebrated for its exceptional quality, craftsmanship and timeless design. Complementing this offering will be the introduction of a dedicated Leather Studio, featuring an extensive range of luxury leather furniture all aimed at the higher end of the market.
What is your mission?
Our mission is to build on more than 200 years of heritage by helping homeowners across Bristol improve, protect and enhance their properties through exceptional workmanship and customer service.
While our business has evolved over the years, our core values remain the same: providing trusted advice, delivering high-quality solutions and treating every customer with honesty and respect. We are proud to play a small part in improving Bristol’s homes, supporting the communities we serve and ensuring that future generations continue to benefit from the standards and reputation that have been at the heart of our company for over two centuries.
By continuing to invest in our people, our service and the quality of our work, we aim to remain the first choice for homeowners across the region for many years to come.
On sustainability, what is your business doing on this topic?
Sustainability is an important consideration for our business, and we believe it is about making sensible long-term decisions rather than simply following trends. Last year to sit alongside our Hybrid vehicles we introduced our first electric vehicle, affectionately named “Evie” by the team, as part of our ongoing efforts to reduce our environmental impact.
Within our industry, sustainability is also about quality and longevity. We encourage customers to invest in products and interiors that are built to last, reducing the need for frequent replacement. By focusing on high standards of workmanship and durable solutions, we help homeowners create spaces that can be enjoyed for many years to come.
As a business with more than 200 years of history, we have always believed in doing things properly and taking a long-term view. That approach continues to guide our decisions today, including how we think about sustainability.
How has recent business been?
Customer confidence remains subdued, and recent events have clearly reduced market activity. Our focus is on what we can control: delivering exceptional customer service and getting every detail right. Encouragingly, we are seeing growth in multi-room projects, including combinations of two and up to eight fitted bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms, bedrooms and beds. Customer recommendations are also increasing, which reflects the strength of our heritage, service and project management.
What would you change in the industry?
We would like to see the industry move away from a culture of constant replacement and towards one that places greater value on quality, durability and expert advice.
What challenges do you currently face?
One of the biggest challenges currently facing our industry is reduced consumer confidence. With ongoing economic uncertainty and rising household costs, many homeowners are understandably taking more time to consider investment in their homes.
We are addressing this in the same way we have approached challenges throughout our 200-year history: by focusing on exceptional customer service, honest advice and complete transparency. We believe that trust is earned through clear communication, realistic expectations and consistently delivering on our promises.
Do you have any staff you would like to pay special thanks or recognition to and why?
We are fortunate to have a passionate, highly experienced team across beds, furniture, bathrooms and kitchens, with the right people in the right roles throughout the business. We work as a team to deliver to our customers.
Why do you think customers choose your business?
For more than 200 years, Gardiner Haskins has been serving customers across the Southwest, building a reputation for quality, value and exceptional service. That longevity is something few retailers can match and reflects the trust generations of customers have placed in us over the years.
Many of our customers have shopped with us for decades, with families returning generation after generation. This enduring loyalty is rooted in our commitment to offering expert advice, a wide choice of quality products and a personal, customer-focused approach that places service at the heart of everything we do.
As an independent business with deep roots in the region, we combine the experience and heritage of a long-established retailer with a continual investment in our stores, products and customer experience. We believe customers choose Gardiner Haskins Interiors because they value dealing with a trusted local business that understands their needs, offers genuine expertise and provides the confidence that comes from more than two centuries of serving the community.
