Mark Henderson, Co-Founder, The New Craftsmen

In addition to keeping you updated about all the great things that are going on at The Clubhouse, we thought we would turn the tables and put the focus on all the exciting things our fantastic members are achieving!

For this month’s ‘Member in the Spotlight’ feature we spoke to Mark Henderson, Co-Founder, The New Craftsmen.

1. Tell us about your company.

My two co-founders, Natalie and Catherine, and I set up The New Craftsmen in 2012. We represent and sell the work of exceptional British craft-makers. With a growing roster of talent from across the British Isles, we have established a reputation for elevating craft and taking it into new places and spaces through a series of dynamic and high-profile collaborations. We opened our first pop-up with the support of Grosvenor Estates at 5 Carlos Place in December of that year. It was an immediate success, taking some substantial commissions and trading well for Christmas. We followed it with a second pop-up in mid to late 2013, and then moved into our 2,000 square foot showroom on North Row in mid 2014. We now work with over 100 craft-makers with a span of product from jewellery, through to textiles and tableware to furniture, selling online, through our own retail and to interior designers and architects across the world

2. What has been your biggest success?

Doing it right. We are a small business but have attracted some amazing partners (Burberry, Selfridges and Kit Kemp to name just three) and some amazing clients.

3. What project are you most excited about right now?

We are about to re-platform our website. That will have a major impact on the growth of the company.

4. How has being a member of The Clubhouse contributed to the success of your business?

It gave us a fabulous home (we took six memberships), it is close to the shop (eight minutes’ walk – 34 North Row, just off North Audley Street) and enabled us to grow fast very comfortably. We can run team meetings big and small here; The Clubhouse staff are brilliant – so smart and helpful; it has really been a super experience.

5. Where can members find you?

I mainly work out of The Clubhouse Mayfair but occasionally I visit St James’s. I’m often found at the shop at North Row and on Savile Row (where I also chair Gieves & Hawkes). thenewcraftsmen.com

Quick Fire Round:

Favourite place to go in London?

34 North Row and The Coburg Bar at The Connaught.

Who inspires you and why?

John Ruskin, Jeremy Corbyn, Martin Wolf. A love of beauty and integrity, a wonderful throw-back to when politics seemed an honest profession and the most insightful journalist in the world – respectively.

Best bit of advice you’ve been given?

Love thy neighbour.

If you were on a desert island, what would you bring?

Swimming trunks and a snorkel. A Smythson Featherweight notebook and pen. My wife! Which super power would you like to have? As someone has already said – the ability to reverse (or kill-off) Brexit.

What is the worst business ‘faux-pas’ you’ve committed?

Moi?