Few figures on the London Design scene have been in business as long as Sheridan Coakley, founder of retail store and furniture brand SCP. Since opening the doors of his Shoreditch showroom in 1985, he has navigated recessions, the digitisation of retail, Brexit and a pandemic. Coakley was the first to bring Philippe Starck’s furniture to the UK, and subsequently helped kickstart the careers of design legends such as Jasper Morrison, Donna Wilson and Matthew Hilton. He is a staunch supporter of UK manufacturing, and integrated a Norfolk upholstery factory into his business in 2003. After 39 years at the helm, you might think he’d be ready to put his feet up. But on the contrary – when we speak, Coakley is just back from a visit to his factory where his team are putting the finishing touches to new pieces ahead of the London Design Festival 2024.
