MOVERS & SHAKERS GEORGE SMITH

Onward and upward for Walford Timber chief!

George Smith, MD of Walford Timber, really is a mover and shaker and is helping to drive forward change for the UK timber industry. Based at Ross on Wye in Herefordshire, Walford Timber is currently celebrating its 80 year anniversary (see longer feature elsewhere in this issue). George has been immersed within the family owned firm for many years and explained: “I have grown up with the business and worked during school summer holidays and spells between school and university. “I can’t really remember my first day as such, but I started off stacking timber in the mill, carrying out basic timber machining, and working in the saw doctors shop when needed. “After leaving school, I attended Buckinghamshire College in High Wycombe and gained a degree in Forestry and Timber Technology before joining the business full time in late 2001. “Things have changed here significantly since my early days. My father Gerry was running the business at the time, and he had stopped cutting logs a few years before I joined it full time. “We now focus on the manufacture of high quality fencing and outdoor timber products in the buildings that once housed the sawmill. We have also opened two retail sites to sell our products through, one in Cheltenham, and a business we acquired in Chesham in 2017, with now all three sites trading as branches of Walford Timber. “In terms of what I’m most proud of, my first big project after joining the business was to get the Cheltenham site up and running. It was literally an area of wasteland that was covered in shopping trolleys and old mattresses when we took possession of it. “To see the professional and thriving business that it has become is a source of immense pride and you sometimes have to remind yourself of how it started. I also take great pride in the quality of both our products and our people. “It’s led to recognition and a number of awards achieved over the years. That is a fine testament to what we do and the excellent team we have in place here. It’s all part of the recipe of creating a successful business and building on the achievements and progress made over the last eight decades. “I’m acutely aware of the responsibilities of driving forward a company and leaving a legacy that will see us thrive for the next 80 years and beyond. “There are many issues affecting our industry but I think the main challenge is the consistent undervaluation of our products in this sector. This has been a source of frustration ever since I joined the industry. We have a responsibility to explain to customers why some products cost more than others, otherwise they will always go for the cheapest option. It’s always a harder sale than just selling cheaply but we want customers coming back with confidence year after year. “Coupled with this, the cost of operating has risen dramatically in recent years. It squeezes already tight margins and there has been a lot of consolidation in the industry as a result. “I am sure that this is going to create problems when demand returns to higher levels in the future, but you can rest assured that Walford Timber will always seek to be at the forefront of change through the adoption of the latest technologies and work processes. “We all value what we do here and that brings with it a tremendous amount of satisfaction,” concluded George. Onward and upward for Walford Timber with George it seems!