Interview: Heal’s boss Hamish Mansbridge on the heritage retailer’s new look
Heal’s is a well-established name in the UK furniture market and, after a difficult few years, chief executive Hamish Mansbridge is bringing a modern take to the heritage brand for a new generation of consumers.
“What’s this chair famous for?” asks Mansbridge as he takes an Arne Jacobsen chair from the stack and puts it down in front of me. This one I know the answer to – it’s the chair model Christine Keeler famously posed on in 1963 amid the Profumo affair, the political scandal that was the subject of BBC series The Trial of Christine Keeler.
Mansbridge’s enthusiasm for furniture is evident as he bounds around the Heal’s shop floor, pointing out iconic pieces and bestsellers, including a bright yellow velvet sofa that has surprisingly been the season’s biggest hit.
Founded in 1810, Heal’s Tottenham Court Road flagship is also home to a lot of history.
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