Responsible
Everything we do has an impact, on both people and the planet. We consider everything that we use and respect every pair of hands that helps build Grain.
Transparent
Here at Grain, we like to show our workings. Everything’s done in plain view, because everything we do is ethical, sustainable and reasonable.
Curious
We always look for better ways to do things, and we’re not afraid to disrupt the status quo.
Nurturing
It’s our job to foster positive change. We aim to add value to every person who makes contact with Grain, and centre every process around the needs of people and the planet.
2015
Cast your mind back. Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’ is blaring from the stereo of a North London pub. Two friends, Tom Allen and Robin Tyler, are sitting at the bar thinking furniture.
They decide that the industry isn’t offering the kind of products and service people really need – plenty of companies were producing to meet market demand, but few were actually meeting human needs.
Worse still, in pursuit of bargain basement prices and seasonal sales, the industry was turning a blind eye to the needs of the planet, and producing furniture irresponsibly.
2017
Tom and Robin wanted to form a company of their own. They wanted to enable people to make positive changes in their daily lives, and to create a production model that gives back as much as it takes.
Soon enough, Grain was born.
For Tom, this was a chance to demonstrate that proper treatment of staff and customers is the best way for any modern company.
For Robin, Grain was an opportunity to bring sustainable, low-waste on-demand manufacture to a wasteful and inefficient industry.
2018
Just over a year later, Tom and Robin cut Grain’s first piece on a rented CNC machine. Tom and Robin were operating from a storage basement three storeys underground.
In 2018, Grain moved into a railway arch, and Tom and Robin got their very own CNC machine. In 2019, with the help of Jamie, Grain’s new designer, we launched the current product range.
In 2020, Grain expanded in size, with new staff who are passionate about a sustainable future.
Abby
Abby is our Design Engineer. You’ll usually find her making CAD files in the office or fiddling with lego prototypes.
Aleks
Aleks is our Research Designer. She’s determined to suss out ways that we can add value to people’s lives, and often sets up wacky workshops.
Chris
Chris is our Workshop Manager. He spends his days in the workshop producing products and operating the CNC.
Izzy
Izzy is our Customer Support Manager. She runs the socials and tends the phone, so no wonder we call her the voice of Grain.
James
James is our Marketing Assistant, but he likes to be known as the ‘content man’.
Jamie
Jamie is our Head Designer. He’s on a quest to create a design process that works throughout the company.
Robin
Robin is the Co-Founder of Grain. He controls the operations and production at Grain, and lives in the loft at the workshop.
