INTERVIEW
The Royal Mint is, arguably, the oldest company in the UK, with its coin-making history dating back to 886AD.
Cheffins in numbers
throughout its history – has always been adept at navigating choppy economic and societal waters. It boasts the kind of durability that many businesses would envy. Says King: “From humble beginnings, the directors of each generation have guided our colleagues and the firm through world wars, a succession of agricultural depressions and economic recessions and, more recently, the tumult of Brexit as well as the Covid-19 pandemic. “Over the years, a number of departments were born out of a need to replace lost income from other areas of the business that were suffering in the face of adverse trading conditions. The result today is a firm with a solid financial foundation, a reputation for excellence and experience, and colleagues who take pride in delivering advice worth paying for.” Strong foundations King has clear views on what it takes to keep a business going over such an extended period. “Part of the reason we’re so successful is that we’re a true partnership,” he asserts. “There are 12 owners, including myself, and 180 staff, and we’re all on the same page. “We are nimble, move quickly with the times and confront whatever
economic or technological conditions we face. For example, during Covid-19, we were able to adapt very quickly to the shift online, particularly with our auction business. Our clients look to a business with a long-standing and trusted reputation, which was a real benefit during the pandemic and other periods of economic uncertainty.” This combination of reputation and trust underpins much of Cheffins’s success, but that doesn’t necessarily mean these traits guarantee longevity on their own. They’re part of a much more complex mix of elements, as King explains. “We aren’t sitting in an ivory tower,” he adds. “You can never communicate enough with your staff and clients. Everyone knows who we are, and there’s a big team behind us. Marketing, HR, technology… they’re all incredibly important.” Just before Covid-19, Cheffins invested in a major rebrand, which helped the business by giving it a fresh, contemporary look. King adds, “Our market research confirmed that evolving our corporate identity, including updating our logo, was the appropriate strategic move for us. This two-year-long project is indicative of our significant investment in the firm and commitment to Cheffins’s continued growth, alongside our confidence in our business in
worth of fine art sales properties under commercial management 200 £6m+ valuations of rural property £250m+ development site sales £60m+ tractors sold every year 3,000+
Source: cheffins.co.uk
ISSUE 2 | BUSINESS EDITION | 13
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