Minotti London’s Anke Summerhill: 35 Years of Leadership and Family Success
OLISE sits down with Anke Summerhill, from Minotti London and discovers how she raised 4 children, steered the business with help from her son Digby through a tricky and challenging time, and after 35 years in the business is preparing to hand over the reins to Digby.
Q: Minotti London has always been family-run, first you and your husband, now you and your son. What are the benefits and the challenges?
I think one of the main reasons we have been so successful is because we really care about what happens. It's not just a job that we could just leave and work somewhere else - it's our livelihood. I don’t want to come across corny but we really do go the extra mile (often 2!) for our clients. It’s also nice to spend time with the people you love and care about, as a family it has definitely brought us closer together. The downside, it's harder to switch off and draw the line between work and play.
Q: It has been quite a journey and not always glamorous. Please tell us about the highs and the lows…
May I be frank?
Absolutely.
It’s a lot of bloody hard work! Our family has built this business up during the last 35 years and it did not start with the beautiful showroom you are sitting in today.
How did it start?
I came from Holland and met my husband John in London. My family were actually furniture manufacturers and we were asked if we could sell the collection in the UK. We learned quickly and soon we represented 9 Dutch contemporary furniture manufacturers in a time when modern furniture was not much of a thing in the UK. We first opened a small showroom in 1997 on the fringes of Holland Park (Ladbroke Grove really!) with bars on the window as the area was not what it is today. We moved to central London in 2007 and we are in the same central London location, Margaret Street, today.
I remember doing Tradeshows in Earls Court back in the eighties, we built the stands ourselves, I was up a ladder installing the lights while I was 6 months pregnant - we just got on with it. Fast forward 12 months to the next Tradeshow and Digby enjoyed his make-shift cot in the drawer of one of our display pieces. Nobody blinked an eye. Nowadays someone would have called child services! We met the Minotti family around 1995 and after introducing Minotti to the UK market we were asked to open a mono brand-showroom and after careful consideration we accepted. The partnership was built on trust and determination.
Q: What convinced you to open the mono-brand showroom for Minotti?
John and I made the choice to work exclusively with Minotti because we really love the products. We can’t sell anything we don’t believe in. The quality and design and commitment of the family are the very best. The sofas really do last the test of time, I mean some of the bestsellers we have today are the same as twenty years ago. That is what sustainability is all about for me. Investing in pieces of furniture that will not date. Quality is also part of sustainability, I have had a Minotti sofa for over 20 years and it looks brand new!
Minotti is a family run business and this resonates with us. It is led now by the 2nd and 3rd generation of the family, the children and grandchildren of founder Alberto Minotti.
Alessandro, Alessio, Susanna and Leonardo as the 3rd generation have big shoes to fill but so far, they are doing a sterling job. They work closely with their fathers, the second generation Renato Minotti and Roberto Minotti who were key in taking the brand from a small Italian manufacturer to a global brand. We strongly believe they will drive Minotti to continue its legacy. The family's creative direction has resulted in an amazing collection with different designers, starting off back in the day with Rodolfo Dordoni to Marcio Kogan, Gam Fratesi, Inoda and Sveje to Hannes Peer and Giampierro Tagliaferri.
The latest collection was showcased in Milan where Minotti continues to shine. In addition to the timeless classics, the designers introduced a modern retro collection, comprising deep burgundy, olive greens and mustard tones to create the retro vibe as well as new pieces in a 70s style like the Trio arm chair. I mean, I lived through the 70s so this is not new for me. In fact it brings back memories of a simpler time when things were freer - maybe it's just nostalgia! What I enjoy about the collection is how the designers have made it relevant for today's tastes. The fabrics are modern, the marble and accent colours complement, so that the retro theme does not dominate. That is why Minotti is so successful, it always stays relevant but never loses who it is, quality, timelessness and elegant design. Minotti continues to be successful by sticking to the Minotti identity with its full expression of the "Made in Italy" concept which today permanently melds tradition and innovation. Combining artisan skills with state of the art technologies. This commitment to excellence runs through the entire company.
Q: Why did you choose to move to Spain when you had such a successful business in London?
I wanted to broaden my horizons a little. I had come to London very young and founded the business with John. I have a love for Spain and wanted to become fluent in Spanish, so we made a decision that the two youngest children and I would move to Spain whilst John, my husband would commute from Barcelona. We had a fantastic team in London and that allowed us to be flexible.
Q: Life took a sudden turn for you in 2015, can you tell us about it?
It was a really difficult time because my husband became ill. It was a slow illness and we did not realise how serious it was. It soon became clear that the business was not being run so well and I had to step back in.
Q: This meant leaving Spain and working full time for the business?
Yes absolutely. The more I became involved the more I realised we had serious financial issues and if I did not sort it out quickly we would not have a business to run.
Q: It must have been very stressful, your husband and your business both needed a lot of support, how did you cope?
It was hard. But my children had grown up and were very supportive and so were the Minotti family. I knew I just had to get on with it and fix things best I could. Once I had organised the finances, my focus was very much about building relationships with the design community. I enjoy design so much and being part of the design process. When designers come to us we support them on their projects and creative journey with their clients too. People care about who they work with and they know at Minotti London they will be looked after. That’s what makes family-run business different from corporations and our clients feel that.
Q: How did you navigate through Covid?
I remember thinking, OK things are now steady again and then the world woke up one morning to Covid-19. I was not going to let it get the better of us. We had worked so hard to get back on track. As a company working a fair bit with and supplying parts of the construction business, we were permitted to open the showroom and have someone available for trade clients, and I worked throughout Covid in the showroom with the Minotti London team working from home. The appetite to improve one’s home grew during lock-down and because we reacted to the client demand we did well. To be honest during the peak of Covid we did some of our best sales. The trend to see one's home as a workspace has continued post covid and people continue to invest in their homes, there is just not the same rush!
Q: How has the competition changed since you have been in business?
The environment is more competitive now than it has ever been. Interior designers are starting their own furniture collections. Furniture designers are starting their own interior design studios. Everyone sells to everyone, everywhere. Each one of these changes has its challenges but for us, Minotti still stands strong. The quality of the products speaks volumes and the designs and fabrics are so beautiful and timeless that designers trust us for their projects.
Designing a beautiful piece is only part of the process, working with a variety of skilled artisans each with their own unique specialism to combine their crafts to create the final piece, then delivering those pieces consistently on time, and in a superior quality that will stand the test of time is something Minotti have spent decades perfecting.
Q: You have been leading a successful business for almost 40 years, now is the time to take a step back and hand over the reins to your son Digby. How do you feel about it?
I feel many things. I am very proud of Digby, he has truly done a fabulous job with the finances and administration and is a huge help and I totally trust him to lead the business forward. It feels right for the new generation to take it to the next level. Much as I hate to admit it, as you get a little older you can get a little stuck in one's ways. You need the new generation to break new barriers. It's comforting to know that it is kept in the family and the dedication to service will continue. And I guess I feel some relief that I can take a step back although I will always remain involved at some level as I love what we do. However it will be great to be able to have a little more free time and pursue other interests. This journey has taught me a lot!
Q: Any advice you can give the next generation of business leaders and parents?
Live in the moment. Whether you are at work or with your loved ones. Leave the phone at home when you can, or if you must have it then leave it in your bag/pocket and off the table. I see couples and families in restaurants and they are all sitting there on their phones in their own world - it makes me sad to see it. Life is about connection. I would also say to the younger generation to not be too sensitive, not be so scared of making mistakes, and not to be too offended too easily. Don't be frightened to say what you really think. Try, fail and then try again. Good things rarely get handed to you. You have to create the opportunities and then work hard to make them a success. Everyone seems to want instant results and life is just not like that.
