In today’s multi-faceted hospitality industry, it could be argued that leisure and outdoor furniture – in addition to being both beautiful and comfortable – must perform above and beyond the standards required by normal furniture. By its very nature, outdoor furniture has to be robustly manufactured, should be intelligently designed and look amazing. Three such brands – Dedon, EGOparis and Fischer Mobel – have been steadfastly represented in the UK”by Essex-based Leisure Plan.
Based in Stansted Mountfitchet, Leisure Plan is the type of supplier hospitality businesses dream about: a supplier of premium quality, contemporary leisure and outdoor furniture and accessories run by a man whose moral compass is perfectly tuned to the needs of the hospitality market – and one who’s products are actually in stock, here in the UK. Owned and operated since the early 1980s by the erudite Chris McCormack, the company’s showroom, offices and cushion production facility is housed in a tastefully-converted 19th Century chapel. Nearby is a first-class warehouse where the company houses its impressive £1m+ stockholding of its top-end brands; Dedon, EGOparis and Fischer Mobel.
Since the business began in 1980, the singular purpose has been to operate with the three principal companies whose products, as well as being among the very best of their type, are entirely complementary as a collection.
Dedon is widely respected for its outststanding collections of highly creative, hand-woven synthetic resin fibre furniture. Employing some of the world’s top designers, the German company’s designs have created a new design language with its output becoming inspirational and informative across furniture design, both for interior or outdoor spaces.
EGOparis is a true French brand – full of flair, flavour and flourish. The EGOparis collections are designed to enable spcifiers and designers to create and deliver an aspirational environment full of positivity and colour. EGOparis is a unique concept which offers a palette of more than 300 possible combinations of colour, materials and multi-functionality.
“Chris’ singular determination has been to deliver high quality solutions, fit-for-purpose, to the contract and hospitality marketplace. He has only operated in that area, where design and service allow a business to quite clearly differentiate itself from its competitors”
As with Dedon, EGOparis has created beautiful, timelss designs which have, and are continuing, to be setting new trends.
The final piece of Leisure Plan’s outdoor trio is Fischer Mobel, a company recognised for outstanding design and engineering.
Based in Stuttgart, the multi-award winning family-owned business has been producing exclusive designs made from the best quality materials available since 1984. Its output consists of a Design Collection, a Classic Collection, and various accessories.
All three of these brands; Dedon, EGOparis and Fischer Mobel, have been recipients of the prestigious Red Dot Design Awards, judged by an independent panel of experts.
With these brands, and their individuality yet at the same time compatibilty, Leisure Plan can furnish almost any design scheme imaginable: “With these three brands we can provide furniture which is suitable for any design scheme or location where individuality, style, quality, comfort, performance are paramount,” explains Chris.
“Leisure Plan’s furniture features extensively in high-end hotels, spas, conservatory restaurants, cruise ships and luxury motor yachts and a host of other commerical hospitality applications.”
A crucial aspect of any supplier to the UK hospitality market is the service ethos of that business – and this, as much as the great brands, is the cornerstone of the Leisure Plan business. For 30 years, Chris’ singular determination has been to deliver high quality solutions, fit-for-purpose, to the contract and hospitality marketplace. He has only operated in that area, where design and service allow a business to quite clearly differentiate itself from its competitors. There is a world of difference between most outdoor furniture and what Leisure Plan supplies, it only deals in the very best and the way it deals with the whole process on behalf of its customers is a perfect example of how it should be done.
First and foremost, thanks to its extensive warehousing and innate knowledge of the marketplace, Leisure Plan stocks almost all products here in the UK. Clients can therefore access a source for those last minute requirements which can crop up, especially with the nature of the British weather – Leisure Plan works in a realtime scenario.
To achieve this successfully, the company decided very early on to manufacture cushions and other soft furniture options in house to go with the furniture – and this is a service which, unsurprisingly, thrives today with clients able to supply own fabrics, or choose from the enormous range of options in stock at Mountfitchet.
Leisure Plan’s ever-youthful Chris McCormack is rightly proud of his business, the brands it represents and how the business has developed to date. It is evident in the attention to detail of Leisure Plan’s carefully-curated showroom, how passionate Chris is for his products, the service-ethos he has created for his customers, and the on-going quality of the three wise brands he has elected to represent for the past 30 years – truly, a perfect partnership. If anyone has, Leisure Plan certainly has the measure of leisure.
