Celebrating our 50th Birthday!

Happy Birthday JPA!

This week we were delighted to celebrate our 50^th Birthday with our fabulous team. Originally known as John Pulsford Associates, the company evolved into JPA Furniture and more recently JPA Workspaces. To those of us who love it, we’re simply JPA.

We’re a family business founded on August 7^th 1974 by John Pulsford whose mission it was to provide quality service and quality furniture – and do it well. Ahead of the time even then, John ensured JPA had its own fitting teams to deliver, install and support clients with any furniture maintenance needed during its lifetime. He wanted to do things better.

Larger than life in every possible way, John was a people person, putting them front and centre of the business and creating a lively, energetic and successful place to work. Affectionately known as JP, ‘Leader’ or ‘The Big Cheese’ he mentored countless young people over the years who have gone on to be successful in careers all over the world.

Changing Times

During that time, our industry and marketplace have changed beyond all recognition. JPA’s office tech in 1974 was electronic typewriters and a lot of tippex whilst communication was on rotary dial phones (with no mute buttons) and via the postman. There was huge excitement when the first enormously large but slow computer arrived in the 80s, even more so when the first ‘as if by magic’ fax machine arrived in the 90s. The arrival of mobile phones was mind blowing!

The world continues to change at a rapid pace and today, as we celebrate our 50^th birthday, John’s principle of quality furniture, quality service remain at the heart of our business. JP’s quality ethos dovetails seamlessly with today’s sustainable business strategies and JPA’s commitment to responsible procurement.

Furnishing with Purpose

50 years later, JPA still design workspaces with quality furniture which we support over its lifecycle demonstrating tangible value and market differentiation. A war baby, JP couldn’t stand waste and appreciated the value of all resources which is why our repair, re-working and refresh services are still going strong and more topical than ever as we face a climate and resource crisis. Every 20 furniture items we help clients keep in use saves approximately one tonne of carbon (and associated procurement costs)

John particularly loved our furniture re-homing programme as it provided a way for the business to meaningfully integrate into local communities and provide tangible social and economic value – it made a difference to real lives locally and still does, with over 4500 items rehomed to date with a donation value in excess of £600,000.

John was known best for his humour, extraordinarily loud laugh and his integrity. He was a sheer force of nature and we miss him terribly. His legacy however loves on, and we remain committed to continuing to make a positive impact on people and planet through JPA’s business activity.  He would have loved this client feedback.

“I know how hard you all work and how you ensure that your customers have exactly what they need and when they need it, not to forget the customer service, workshop or delivery teams (as if I could forget that!!)”.  CM.

Contact us today to learn how we bring social and environmental value to workspace design and furniture  procurement, contributing positively to people and planet - 01727 840800.

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