It’s not every day that your local Dry Cleaner receives a Royal Warrant!
It turns out that Barker Group are not just your local Dry Cleaner. From supplying Downton Abbey with Gentleman’s Accessories and manufacturing Superior Quality Bed Linens, we wanted to learn more about this dynamic company so we interviewed Managing Director and avid Rugby Fan Matthew Barker!
Matthew – How did you get involved with Bournemouth Rugby?
It is the only sport I am really passionate about having played in my youth. I scored some tries in my time but when I discovered girls it seemed to me there were better things to do on a Saturday! Of course I was wrong! More recently I have enjoyed the sport with my Son who was a junior player at Bournemouth and now through sponsorship.
Matthew - How has your business evolved during this period?
Wow, where do I start! We are known locally as Dry Cleaners but, in fact, dry cleaning and our retail division actually account for less than 20% of our revenue. At our core is our laundry business which specialises in high quality domestic services to private individuals. But in more recent years we have expanded the business adding gentleman’s collars and accessories and a new line of luxury hotel quality bed linens to complement our core services.
We are now a Textile Services & Products Group with a growing online presence as well as our own delivery fleet covering central southern England and Greater London. In 2015 I was thrilled that the business had been awarded a Royal Warrant for services to HRH The Prince of Wales. I believe this is an awesome achievement as it recognises my teams’ commitment to provide a truly high quality service.
The latest addition to the group is The Barker Collection, our range of high quality bed linens and soft furnishings
Following several years of research, I found the best source of quality cotton in India where we are now manufacturing. All our cotton products can be sourced back to the field where the cotton bud was picked and we are in control of the quality standards at every stage of the spinning, weaving and tailoring process. No other supplier is able to guarantee this.
The Barker Collection launched in Autumn 2016 and our online bed linen store is gaining momentum with customers especially loving the fact that their new bed linen arrives freshly laundered, nicely presented in a luxurious gift box and bed ready.
Matthew – What are you currently looking forward to most in this new Rugby season?
Well, apart from Bournemouth doing exceptionally well this season, it has to be the launch of our new range of FUNBACK shirts. These are dress shirts with a twist. This autumn we are launching three new designs including a specially themed rugby shirt.
Matthew, you must be exhausted with so much going on, I am surprised you can find time for Rugby? You are match sponsors, with the big day on Saturday 9th September, we look forward to seeing you then, do you have any closing comment?
I’ll be on the sideline with some friends, eagerly supporting a club that I believe has an amazing future, I hope it’s an exciting game and good luck to both teams.
For more information please go to www.barkergroup.co.uk
