Earlier this week, Ed Vaizey, Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy visited Savoir Beds in Willesden Junction to see how the manufacturer/retailer's craftsmen and women work.
Savoir make some of the most luxurious beds in the world, with the likes of Oprah, Madonna and Elton John on its customer list. Ed Vaizey was interested to see how a small, local business operates across the world, in showrooms from New York to Shanghai. To begin with, he took a tour of the bedworks, greeted the craftsmen and women, and was shown first-hand how Savoir's bespoke beds are made.
Alistair Hughes, Savoir MD, says: "It's great to see that politicians like Ed care about how local London businesses run and how they impact the economy. While our business is small, we do employ 80 skilled staff and our beds are exported globally. We all think of Chinese imports, but this London business has turned the tables, supplying the billionaires of Beijing with some of the most expensive beds in the world - which I think Ed found really interesting. Mr Vaizey was also impressed with our ability to create numerous jobs for skilled artisans and craftsmen, as well as the opportunities we provide young people through our apprenticeships."
Towards the end of his visit, Ed laid on a Savoir No2 Claudia bed, and said: "It's like sleeping on air - I've never experienced anything like it!" The No2 was the bed Savoir first supplied to The Savoy hotel back in 1905.
