About us
The Atlantis story... by Sean Cafferty, Managing Director
In the beginning
I founded Atlantis in 1990 aged 25. Mandy and I had married in June and I launched the business in September. Ahead of this I was National Sales Manager for a company that supplied kitchens and bathrooms to builders merchants and specialists.
The UK was in recession at the time. Homeowners and businesses were crippled with record high interest rates. It was a terrible time to start a business, and the early years were a rocky road. However, even in that climate, Atlantis sold kitchens every week from a standing start. Clients responded really well to the Atlantis ethos…
- listen to the customer
- find out how they use their kitchen
- offer advice and use your knowledge but only once you've listened
- offer a complete service
- negotiate mercilessly with manufacturers so you can give value for money
- make a promise to leave the customer happy at the end of the project, mean it and keep it.
We did it then and we do it now, every day, every time!
Business grew quickly and by the end of the first year I needed help.
What happened next was the start of something really special…
The evolution of a team
Close friend and next door neighbour, Ian Radford, joined as designer. Ian was gifted in design and business acumen, and as the business grew he took on the role of Sales Director. On a side note, I had also worked alongside Ian's dad, David, at Kendal builder's merchant - AP Kendal - my very first job in kitchens.
My wife (Mandy), sister (Lynda), mum (Pearl), brother (Ted) and Ian's brother (Noel) all stepped in to help when needed and the business went from strength to strength. Customers from the early days still say that "Mum sold kitchens with charm and a tea pot".
My wife's best mate, Sharon, joined early on and was quickly promoted to General Manager and Buyer (she still is... in fact, everyone still is!).
Gary Birkett started out as an installer and is now our Technical Manager - providing full project management and technical solutions.
Karen, our Finance Manager, started in accounts, and my father in law, Paul, is still our Warehouse and Distribution Manager.
A different kind of service
In short, Atlantis Kitchens is all about people. Fantastic people-people who approach your project with 100% commitment and enthusiasm. Honest folk who can always be trusted to look after you.
Visit our team page or meet us in person at our showroom in Kendal. There's no commitment to buy and we're sure you won't be disappointed.