Member Article

Startup takes off for Gateshead entrepreneur’s aeroplane upcycling firm

An aeroplane engineer is about to turn his hobby into a full time business after his unique furniture designs created from old aeroplane parts have proved a huge hit with customers.

Stuart Abbott, 32, from Gateshead, began making and selling items of furniture in his garage at home 18 months ago.

His first piece, an office chair crafted from a recycled aeroplane chair, sold online within an hour of being listed and his following designs proved just as popular. By April of last year Stuart’s business, Stu-Art Aviation Furniture, was established in its own premises.

“I started making the furniture for something to do while my wife was busy with other things, but I had to keep moving my classic Mini out of the garage to work on my projects,” Stuart said.

“I started working on a desk made from an aeroplane door and I could only do a small part at a time because I didn’t have room to keep it all together. I soon realised I needed a dedicated workspace!”

Stuart moved into a workshop at Bizspace’s Felling Business Centre on Green Lane, which he says was “perfect” for a start-up space.

“It meant that I could store bigger pieces such as aeroplane doors and still have plenty of space to work,” said Stuart, who was previously in the RAF for 10 years.

“But as I started storing more items I soon realised I needed more room. I happened to see someone clearing out another larger unit within the centre and I asked the business centre manager, Luke Dunnett, if I could take it.

“Luke couldn’t have done more to help if he tried. If it had been a difficult experience, I would have thought twice about expanding, but Luke made things happen. I think I rang him about the unit on the Tuesday and by the Friday I had the keys in my hand.”

After his business got off to such a ‘flying’ start, Stuart is now planning to quit his job as an aircraft engineer and run his furniture business full time.

“Now I have my larger unit, I will be able to work on a greater range of products and will be able to bulk-buy parts and store them safely. I’ve also started creating a studio area where I can photograph my products in a professional looking environment,” Stuart said.

“I source my aeroplane parts from companies which recycle aircraft. Because I’ve built up strong relationships, they often approach me asking if I’d like to buy items and they are increasingly coming to me offering bigger parts, or sets of seating from an entire plane. Now I will have the luxury of taking them up on their offers!”

Stuart’s products include clocks, tables, desks, office chairs, and photo frames which he sells through his website, www.stu-artaviationfurniture.co.uk, and through social media. One of his most unusual creations has been a large bespoke bookcase, ordered by a customer in Scotland, and his most popular selling products are his catering trolley wine racks, which he also sells through a retailer. Stuart and his wife, Kerry, travel throughout the country to deliver and install his creations for a truly personal service.

Manager of Bizspace’s Felling Business Centre, Luke Dunnett, commented: “Stuart’s business is certainly one of the most unusual we have ever had at the centre. It’s really interesting to see his designs take shape and I am not surprised they are proving so popular.”

Emma Long, Bizspace’s sales and marketing director, added: “Our business centre managers do all they can to help fledgling businesses get off the ground successfully. Stuart’s business is a fantastic example of how companies can easily grow and develop within our centres and we wish him every success.”