Manufacturing is one of the most common topics I’m asked about, and it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Brands often want a simple answer: “Is it better to manufacture in the UK or overseas?” But the truth is, that debate is outdated. The real question isn’t where you manufacture. It’s what’s right for this project, at this moment, for this brand.
Flooring display is a perfect example. It sits at the intersection of cost, quality, speed, consistency and risk. And with brands under more pressure than ever, with tighter timelines, rising costs and higher expectations, manufacturing choices have become a strategic lever, not a procurement exercise. So instead of trying to pick a side, let’s demystify the decision.
When UK manufacturing is the right choice
There are projects where UK production isn’t just preferable, it’s essential. Speed is usually the biggest driver. Some brands simply don’t have the luxury of a 12-week lead time because their markets can shift in three months. They need displays quickly, reliably and with the ability to course-correct fast. That’s where our in-house UK manufacturing excels.
It’s also the right route for anything intricate, delicate or high-risk. If a display includes complex detailing, fragile materials or a level of finish that leaves no room for error, I won’t take it overseas, even if it saves money. Fathom’s reputation matters, and I won’t put our name to something if I can’t guarantee the quality.
Then there’s development. All our design and prototyping happens in-house, regardless of where the final production sits. That closeness to the project – the ability to iterate, refine and test – is something overseas production simply can’t replicate.
And finally, scale matters. If a project isn’t going to be ordered regularly or doesn’t have enough volume behind it, overseas production often isn’t worth the bother. UK manufacturing gives brands the control and responsiveness they need without unnecessary complexity.
When overseas manufacturing delivers the biggest value
Overseas production can unlock significant savings – typically between 20% and 40%, depending on the material mix and labour content. Metalwork, for example, often sits at the higher end of that range because of the labour involved in welding, dressing and finishing. Woodwork tends to sit lower because the labour content is lighter.
It’s also ideal for large rollouts, repeat orders and maintenance stock. Once a display is in the market, brands often need small top-up batches to keep stores supplied. Historically, low quantities made overseas production unviable. Today, we solve that by consolidating orders across multiple customers, filling containers efficiently and keeping costs low.
Overseas manufacturing also works brilliantly for entry-level, high-volume fixtures – the kind that are often given away to retailers and where price is the primary driver. If you can wait a few weeks for the first batch, the long-term savings are substantial.
The biggest barrier for most brands isn’t suitability, though, it’s confidence. Horror stories about overseas production circulate widely, and they keep brands from exploring the savings available. That’s where Fathom’s model makes the difference.
We use vetted factories, independent QC, on-the-ground oversight and UK backup to remove the risk. If something slips through the net – and occasionally it does – we can manufacture corrective parts in our in-house UK facility immediately. That safety net is one of the reasons brands trust us with overseas production.
The hybrid model: the smartest route for most flooring brands
The truth is, the best results rarely come from choosing UK or overseas. They come from using both. Every project at Fathom begins the same way: design, development and prototyping in the UK, where ideas can be tested, refined and stress-tested quickly. Once a design is signed off – often after a pilot install that reveals the real-world details no workshop ever can – overseas production begins in parallel.
While the first containers are on the water, UK manufacturing keeps supply moving, closing the 12-week gap and giving retailers the speed they need. As the overseas batches land, they take over the long-term rollout, delivering the scale and savings that make the project commercially viable.
And throughout, our in-house facility remains the safety net: the place where urgent fixes, tweaks or replacement parts can be turned around immediately. It’s a model that reduces risk, protects quality and gives flooring brands the best of both worlds – speed and control upfront, efficiency and consistency at scale.
Manufacturing as a strategic decision
What makes this work isn’t the factories. It’s the thinking. Every project has its own drivers: timelines, marketing goals, risk profile, store environment, material mix, installation complexity. There is no formula. There is no flowchart. There is only experience – decades of it – applied to the specifics of the brief.
That’s why we don’t push UK or overseas. We recommend what’s right for the project. And we look beyond unit cost to total project cost: installation, longevity, maintenance, risk and the operational realities retailers face every day. The hybrid model represents the future, and the brands that stop asking “UK or overseas?” and start asking “What’s right for this project?” will make better decisions – and better displays.