It's important to have a team that works together
They say that no one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it….
About B&W Furniture Finishing Ltd
Mark Benton started B&W Furniture Finishing Ltd in April 1985
With a background in Furniture Finishing, Mark is an expert at staining and colour matching both timber and veneer. Mark keeps a careful eye on every part of the business to ensure that his clients have the best experience possible. The ethics of Mark’s work are based on integrity and fairness. He makes sure that the customer gets the product they are hoping for. Mark also carries out all of the quality checking, making sure that every single piece has been checked before it leaves the factory.
Mark enjoys talking to joiners and homeowners alike, demonstrating to them the finish that can be achieved and offering suitable options for them. Mark is always saying things like...
“do it right the first time” and
“don’t compromise the quality”
Quality Control Process
“The aim is for all work to leave the factory to a high standard of quality and that no work comes back because it is substandard”
Mark believes that quality control at the end, starts at the beginning of the job. Mark and his team make sure that all joinery is checked over and defects in the substrate are repaired and filled and all joinery is pre-sanded to a high level when the job arrives to ensure the finishing process is successful.
Once the spray-painting process has been completed, Mark checks for dust, overspray, scratches, ‘orange-peel’, correct colour and gloss level. Mark does this by examining each piece of joinery with a bright light ‘ToolPro’ and in a well-illuminated area. Mark unmasks dark paint colours and bespoke joinery items and ‘details’ the panels with a rag. Any items not meeting the finish required get resprayed and rechecked before the job goes out.
Mark Benton
Owner/Operator
Mark is a qualified Furniture Finisher with over 40 years of experience in the Industry.
He specialises in staining and colour matching Timber and Veneer and has a great eye for paint colour and tone.
Mark does all the quality checking and checks every single item before it leaves the factory.
Customers and Designers love Mark's personal attention.
Avril Benton
General Manager
Avril is a Chartered Accountant and trained with PwC and worked for Ernst & Young NZ. She was the Finance Manager for 3 large Multi-National Companies in London and a large Retail Group and Not for Profit in Christchurch. Avril joined the B&W Furniture team in 2010.
At B&W, Avril is responsible for all administrative functions, accounting, finance, HR, Health & Safety, stock purchasing, stock control, emailing quotes to clients and customers, job sheets for every job that goes through the factory specifying what is to be done to it and what products are to be used.
Clients like Avril because she has a can-do attitude, is efficient, has a friendly disposition and is always helpful. Avril’s aim is to make sure the clients get what they want and need.
Gordon Sarchett
...in his twilight years
Gordon has been at B&W Furniture Finishing Ltd since 2001. Gordon spent his first 18 years with us staining and spraying timber and veneer and he now does all the sanding and assists other staff members.
Gordon is great for staff morale, he makes everyone laugh and he never runs out of great stories. In-spite of his age, Gordon still loves coming to work. Loyal as the day is long and he will work until the job is done. He is always able to suggest better ways of tackling different projects. Literally goes the extra mile to make sure the job is done right.
Gordon loves motor sport and driving around the South Island.
Emer Abing
Furniture Finisher
Emer started working at B&W Furniture Finishing Ltd in 2014 under a Working VISA from the Philippines and he is now an NZ Permanent Resident and his wife and two sons have since joined him and are very happy in NZ.
Emer is a Furniture Finisher and specialises in painting all types of internal joinery. He is great at his job, produces high-quality work and works efficiently.
Emer is great at following instructions and overseeing other staff.
Emer loves fishing, biking and walking.
Phil Black
Joiner & Joinery Installer
Phil is a qualified Joiner with over 35 years of experience and he now owns his own business as a Joiner and Joinery installer. Phil is a real hit with our customers (homeowners) – they seem to really love him and his work. He has a high attention to detail, produces great work and offers the customers practical and functional renovation ideas. He is highly efficient and a quick worker and is a man of his word.
Phil dismantles existing Kitchens for us, transports the parts to our factory, we paint them and then he reinstalls the Kitchen again. Phil also manufactures any new joinery parts required.
Lloyd Sparks
Furniture Finisher
Lloyd started as an apprentice and completed his apprenticeship in 2020 with excellence.
Lloyd now specialises in staining and spraying Timber and Veneer. Lloyd enjoys creativity and getting the job done right and has a keen interest in Health & Safety. Lloyd is good with customers.
Lloyd loves snowboarding and travelling.
