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NEON STAIRLIFTS A Cup of Tea With… We chat with Darren Stanton of Neon Stairlifts about how he got his business off the ground
does Neon Stairlifts balance practicality with design? DS: One reason we tend to specify that we have Thyssenkrupp stairlifts is that they manufacture such stylish, innovative, durable and quality stairlifts. We also offer a customisation service; so if a particular installation needs a unique colour scheme to match the aesthetics of a customer’s decor, we can usually provide it. CE: What challenges do people with mobility issues face when trying to adapt their homes? How do you help make the process easier? DS: All of our installations need little alteration and cause minimal disruption – in many cases taking no longer than a couple of hours and very little tweaking. CE: You must have encountered many customers whose lives have been transformed by your stairlifts. Is there a particular story that stands out? DS: I wouldn’t say there’s any one particular story – but we generally change our customers’ lives for the better, since they’re immediately given access to the whole of their upper floors. CE: Sustainability is an increasing concern in product design. How does Neon Stairlifts incorporate eco-friendly practices into its manufacturing and installation processes? DS: Stairlift manufacturers incorporate eco-friendly practices by using sustainable materials like recycled plastics and metals, minimising packaging waste, implementing efficient production processes to reduce waste, utilising energy-efficient motors and li-ion batteries, as well as promoting product longevity through robust design and readily available parts. CE: What advice would you give to someone considering a stairlift but feeling hesitant about the change? DS: Simple. Ask them how much they value their freedom. CE: Looking ahead, what’s next for Neon Stairlifts? Are there any exciting developments or plans you can share? DS: Just to keep on growing as a company and helping improve our customers’ lives.
Cambridge Edition: Can you tell us about the journey that led to the founding of the Neon Group? What inspired you to start the company? Darren Stanton: I landed the job of stairlift engineer for an established mobility retail shop 18 years ago. After a few years, I became manager of the stairlift department. However, 18 months ago the company decided to dispense with stairlifts and offered me all their step-free business, so I started my own company and haven’t looked back. CE: What sets Neon Stairlifts apart from other providers in the market? DS: I suppose it’s because we are specialists in step-free technology – stairlifts count for more than 80% of our business, but we offer other types of step- free technology, such as custom ramps, to give our customers total freedom of mobility. We’re also a family business and carry out our own installations, so we have that personal touch that seems to go down well with customers. CE: Cambridgeshire has an ageing population – how do you see demand for mobility solutions evolving in the region in future? DS: Each generation tends to live longer thanks to innovations in medical care, and particularly in Cambridge, since it has one of the country’s top hospitals in Addenbrooke’s, the trend will continue. This means mobility solutions need to last a lot longer – hence why we specify top- quality stairlifts and ramps. CE: Technology is advancing rapidly. How have innovations helped improve the design and functionality of stairlifts in recent years? DS: The very first stairlift is accredited to King Henry VIII, way back in the 1500s. The first commercial stairlift was invented by CC Crispen in the 1920s. Today’s have many features built in, including folding seats, foot rests, wireless remote control and safety features. They will continue to evolve much like other engineering innovations do. CE: Customisation and aesthetics are important to many customers. How
TAILORED TO YOU Neon’s products are typically customisable and alterable to each set of needs
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