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Home Page > SHOPS BY CATEGORY > Furniture - Contemporary > Heals

Heals

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Address:	196 Tottenhan Court Road
Area:	London
Postcode:	W1T 7LQ
Telephone:	0207 636 1666
Email:	reception@heals.co.uk
Website:	visit our website

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Description

Heals began in 1810 as a bed making firm and they've been designing and making quality furniture ever since. 'We love it and we're good at it'.

Heal's today has seven stores located throughout the UK and an online store www.heals.co.uk . Heal's sell a wide range of modern, designer and contemporary furniture, homewares, lighting, accessories and gifts for the home. Buy from leading designers, with often exclusive designs to Heal's, and brands such as Philippe Starck, Tom Dixon, Orla Kiely, John Reeves and Matthew Hilton.

When Sir Ambrose Heal joined the firm in 1893, he had the vision to work with the most skilled designers and crafts people of the day to create furniture that is comfortable, beautiful and affordable, reflecting the ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Influential designers like Mies van de Rohe, Marcel Breuer and Robin and Lucienne Day have all been drawn to Heal's distinctive character and reputation for innovation.

Heal's continues to work with the designers of the future and offer home furnishings that represent the best in contemporary design.

STORES STORES LOCATOR

LONDON - TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD

LONDON - KING'S ROAD

MANCHESTER - NEW CATHEDRAL STREET

KINGSTON - EDEN STREET

GUILDFORD - TUNSGATE SHOPPING CENTRE

REDBRICK MILL - WEST YORKSHIRE

BRIGHTON - DUKE STREET

HISTORY

Heal’s was established in 1810 as a family business by John Harris Heal. The business has had, since its foundation, a distinctive character and reputation for innovation.

The company was taken over by John Harris Heal junior in 1840 after the death of his father in 1833. During this time he improved the bed designs developing the Heal’s bed as a household name. He also pioneered the use of advertising, placing adverts in seven of Charles Dickens novels. The business during this time took a step from manufacturing just beds to a whole range of bedroom furniture including; wardrobes, chest of drawers and wash stands.

Ambrose Heal joined the business in 1893 and soon started designing and making simple furniture, the first catalogue of his furniture was published in 1898, founding the Heal Style. He had a great contribution both to the business, and to British furniture making in general.

Heal’s has been operating on Tottenham Court Road since 1840, its first purpose-built store was completed in 1854 and was then one of the largest in London. The central part of the present building was commissioned by Ambrose Heal and designed by his cousin and best friend Cecil Brewer. It was completed in 1917 and was immediately hailed as a landmark in shop architecture.

1960 marked Heal’s 150th Anniversary, in celebration the company decided to create a “Designers of The Future Exhibition” young designers from seven different European countries were selected and commissioned to design a room in the Mansard Gallery. Although the designs came from seven different countries, all the furniture was still made by Heal’s craftsmen. A similar tradition still remains today through the renowned “Heals Discovers” Awards.

A second store opened in Guildford in 1972 and in 1984 Heal’s was bought by Terence Conran under the Storehouse group umbrella, whilst part of Storehouse, Heal’s benefited from the professional retail skills and disciplines that a large retail group can bring. However, Storehouse largely had a chain store mentality that did not sit comfortably with the Heal’s brand. Due to the recession in the late 1980s the Company was the subject of a management buyout in 1990.

During this time, the business underwent radical change to revitalise the brand and its personality. The merchandise range was considerably expanded with most of the product lines changed to new exclusive ranges largely designed especially for Heal’s. In the second half of the nineties Heal’s started to expand and develop, opening a new store on King’s Road Chelsea in December 1995. On 23 October 1999 a fourth store was opened at Kingston upon Thames. The beginning of the 21st Century saw Heal’s launch its e-commerce website www.heals.co.uk in November 2000, just in time for Christmas trading, bringing Heal’s to customers further afield to regions across the United Kingdom.

Wittington Investments Limited acquired Heal’s plc in August 2001, as a private company. In the last five years Heal's has seen the opening of new stores, expanding outside the South East of England, with a Heal's opening in the centre of Manchester on the 24 July 2003 and a Heal’s
arriving at Redbrick Mill in Batley, near Leeds on 5 November 2005.

Over the past five years, Heal’s has been revitalising the business with new branding, including a new logo and graphics, introducing new products and services and producing a new brand campaign to convey the changes to the public. September 2006 saw the refurbishment of Heal’s flagship at 196 Tottenham Court Road, London with new departments and the unveiling of the brand new restaurant ‘Meals’ and bakery run by Oliver Peyton. New services include Wedding and Gift List Service available online and various in store services such as: adaptation and bespoke furniture, interior design, bespoke rugs and an updated curtain and blind making service.