One Last Thing: Stephen Flower, Ashford Kitchens MD
We caught up with kbbreview's Kitchen Retailer of the Year winner to hear about his career highs, the lessons he's learned, and why he was almost a full-time footballer
When people outside the industry ask what I do I say….
“I own a kitchen company.” It always seems like a simple question, but for some reason it’s never that easy to answer — maybe because what we do is quite broad. Depending on the context, I like to keep it short and let people ask more if they’re genuinely interested. Then I can elaborate on the design, the installations, the showrooms — the parts they find interesting.
If I was in charge of this industry I would…..
Focus on raising awareness in schools, colleges, and universities — to show young people just how creative, technical, and rewarding this industry really is. Right now, too many people seem to fall into it rather than aspire to be part of it. It’s a hidden gem — and with the rise of interior design trends and social media, it has all the potential to become a career of choice, not chance.
What I love most about my job is…
The variety it brings. I feel so fortunate that I don’t see what I do as a job — it’s just part of my life, and I genuinely love it. I love design, transforming homes, and seeing the joy it brings to people. I thrive on building relationships, selling, marketing, motivating others, I love dealing with the public and adapting to all the different personalities I meet. Every day is different, and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding.
Professional football isn’t all the glamour people think it is… and the kitchen industry came calling
The thing people might not know about me is…
I was a goalkeeper for Wycombe Wanderers from the age of 10. I left school at 16 to sign a full-time contract for three years. That experience taught me resilience, discipline, and respect. It was a tough environment — the world of professional football isn’t all the glamour people think it is, and I’ve got huge respect for those who make a career out of it. Needless to say, it didn’t quite work out for me… and the kitchen industry came calling.
The industry person I most admire is…
My parents Richard and Tracey, who founded this business in 1984 and steered it through the 90s recession and the 2008 credit crunch — all while giving me, my brother, and my sister a loving and happy childhood. Their resilience and drive laid the solid foundations for what we achieve as a business today. And James Bishton (Omega PLC, Retail Sales Director) who I admire greatly for his unwavering loyalty to his company, his wealth of experience, and his honest, fair, and impartial advice — which I value enormously. He has been a consistent support and reliable advisor throughout my journey as an independent retailer.
I wish this industry would talk more about…
Supporting British manufacturing – We have some excellent British furniture manufacturers. It’s like complaining that shops on your local high street keep closing, but when they are open, you don’t use them.
I wish this industry would talk less about…
Online appliance pricing. Find the right partner for your business, work together to formulate a strategy (which will require some give and take) You can absolutely make it work for the benefit of your customers, your team, your service and then your profits!
My proudest professional achievement is….
Building a team that shares the same passion and vision and seeing how much myself and my wife Grace have accomplished together. Opening our second showroom in our hometown of Farnham Common was a huge milestone for us, and its overwhelming success was incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about what I’ve done, but what we’ve achieved as a collective.
One professional mistake I’ve learned from is…
Trying to do everything myself. I’ve since learned the value of delegating early — and surrounding myself with people who are better than me at what they do. That’s when real progress happens.
If I could go back to the day I started in this industry, I would tell myself…
Go for a run – since I have been a regular runner, no matter how I feel when I leave home, I always come back with all my best ideas and solutions. And stop overthinking. Start doing. Most of the problems you worry about will never happen — and the ones that do, you’ll handle.
I dance in my kitchen to…
You will often find myself, Grace and our three boys dancing in the kitchen! Don’t Stop Me Now, by Queen is first on the playlist.
The song I always sing in the shower is…
Grace would tell you that I’m a huge fan of singing in the shower! Angels by Robbie Williams (pictured right) is probably my number one hit!
Ashford Kitchens & Interiors was the winner of this year’s Kitchen Retailer of the Year award at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025.