Meet Gavin Brown

Gavin Brown – Managing Director – Think Timber

Gavin Brown, or ‘Gav’, as most in the industry know him, has been in the staircase sector for over 30 years. Starting as an 18-year-old school leaver, Gav grew up in the industry, learning his craft first in production and then in sales and customer support. It’s this grounding, he explains, that has shaped his view of the world: “From the age of 17 or 18, all I’ve known is staircases. From doing the CAD drawings to programming CNC machines, there’s nothing in this industry I’ve not tried my hand at. Looking back, there were some really important lessons and mentors who have given me things I’ve carried right through my career. Even in those early days, I could see where the industry was heading, and not necessarily for the better. It was then I thought, I could do it differently and Think Timber was born.”

Determined to challenge the industry he saw changing, Gavin decided to go solo, setting up Think Timber in 2008. From day one, the ethos of the business was about building a healthy and successful sector, taking a consultative approach with customers and suppliers to deliver added value. Gavin continues: “I took a big risk starting Think Timber. I was skint. But I knew, with the right approach we would bring people with us. Our products are a byproduct of added value – not the other way around. We aren’t yes men. We take time to understand our customers’ businesses and what they actually need from us and then work collaboratively to create a successful and profitable partnership. We don’t just sell bits of wood, it’s the whole Think Timber proposition that earns customers’ loyalty. 

“The biggest thing for me is trust. Whether it’s the suppliers we work with or the customers we sell to, we operate with complete honesty and transparency. We know exactly where our products come from, we understand the market and the unique challenges businesses face in the sector today. We owe it to ourselves, our customers and their customers to uphold high standards. Think Timber has never been transactional or about making a quick buck, we want the whole sector to succeed. That’s only possible through collaboration. 

Over the last 16 years, Think Timber has grown from Gav’s vision into an authoritative voice in the staircase industry. Gavin puts this down to our unique approach to business, something that hasn’t changed and is now part of the Think Timber DNA, he concludes: 

“The staircase industry is a small and tight-knit community and many people, like myself, have grown up in this industry. It’s taken time to learn our craft and develop our niche, but today I think customers recognise exactly what Think Timber stands for. That’s visible across our staff and our supply chain. Our partners are in for the long-term and as a result, we don’t compromise on quality. We are a strategic business and choose to work with those that share our vision. The growth is, of course, fantastic, but most important to me is that we don’t lose sight of who we are. That’s what I’m most proud of looking back. We’ve stayed true to ourselves and continue to run the business the right way. That’s the Think Timber difference.”