Granite Worktops Brockham
Brockham is the quintessential lovely Surrey village, nestling at the foot of the North towns near Dorking. Overlooked by Box Hill, with the Mole flowing lazily through the village, the place has a higher concentration of Affordable Granite worktops than anywhere else on earth. Only 3000 inhabitants or so, but we reckon that the best part of several hundred must lean their elbows or chop their carrots on our product!
Evening, Brockham by Edward Wilkins Waite
Waite was a prolific English landscape painter, born in Leatherhead, Surrey
Affordable Granite began as a granite worktop business in Brockham in 2003. Clive Marett was a successful local builder who was renovating a barn in the village as his own home. In the course of the conversion, he bought granite worktops (in Mahogany Granite) from a worktop specialist, and immediately knew that he could do the job better, and more cheaply himself. So, he reinvented himself. He ordered a whole container of granite, hired a kitchen sales specialist, took on fitters on a more or less ad hoc basis, and set about teaching himself how to cut, polish and fit solid stone worktops.
The one and only Clive Marett
Clive has an energy and drive to get things done that communicates itself to those around him. The early days of the company were very “seat of the pants”, and yet there was a spark and a buzz that saw us grow fast and come to dominate the market across a wide area. Our strategy of direct importation and willingness to travel widely gave us a cost advantage, and as the market grew, we grew with it. But at the start, our office was in his Brockham home, and that is how the village became full of our granite worktops.
Naomi joined Affordable Granite in sales very early on in our history. Despite some time away while her family grew, she has been with us for a large part of our existence, still dominating AG life as head of sales. She is from Caterham, so has special interest in the large number of granite worktop installations we have done in the Caterham, Chaldon, Whyteleafe, Warlingham and Kenley area.
Naomi KingÂ
Jamie Marett
Clive’s son Jamie joined us in his holidays from Business Studies at university, and then came full-time as a graduate. he brought the disciplined business nous of his studies to the firm, while at the same time having the practical head and product knowledge that came from his Dad. Famous as a heavy metal guitarist in Brockham, his presence has graced Redhill and Dorking – two larger Surrey towns that represent a big market for our granite and quartz worktop installations.
Fairly soon after Naomi’s arrival, Linda Dawson became our administrator. Originally from Bookham, she lived in Brockham when we began, but then moved to Guildford. That move could be said to represent other changes that were ahead for AG. Linda was our backbone for years, and tragically left us far too early. We mourn her still. She always seemed to have a special interest when we installed granite worktops in Guildford and Bookham!
Linda
Andy Phillips
You could say that the great watershed in our existence was the arrival of Andy Phillips. Clive aimed to retire (though we do not believe this will EVER mean stopping work!) and sold the firm to Andy. He and Jamie both continued with us for a period – it was an amazingly seamless and happy transition. You could say that, at least in terms of management, our centre of gravity moved from being “granite worktops Brockham” to “granite worktops Guildford” and “granite worktops Godalming”, where Andy lives and was chair of the Round Table respectively. Andy has brought a people-centredness and vision for expansion to the company which have helped us double in size and stay focussed even with growth. Our staff turnover has dropped through the floor – stability and reliability are key.
Summer 2018 saw us reach the point where we have been under Andy’s leadership as long as we were with Clive. Two very different men, two very different leadership styles, but a growing and increasingly united and happy company through our history. We look forward to serving Surrey with solid stone worktops for many years to come – and that includes granite worktops to Brockham – as ever!
Brockham Bridge – Remembrance DayÂ
A great entry in our recent photo competition from Julia Vasylevska
We are Affordable Granite, the leading installer of granite and quartz worktops in Surrey, Sussex and across the South East. For samples, quotes and any questions connected with any aspect of worktop installation or kitchen design, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01293 863992 or by email on sales@affordablegranite.co.uk/ .
