Friends John Sims-Hilditch and Giles Redman set up a business selling hammocks. In their first year, they sell over 5,500 hammocks, taking even them by surprise.
John and Giles design a rocking deckchair, and then expand into garden furniture. They travel to exhibitions across the UK and Europe, often camping to save money.
The garden furniture business is successful but seasonal. John and Giles decide to expand their knowledge into tables and chairs for the interior.
Searching for a crafted kitchen at an affordable price, John designs a collection of freestanding cabinets. This is the beginning of Neptune’s innovative approach to kitchen design, and what becomes the Chichester collection. That first kitchen remains in the family home to this day.
A paint collection is needed to support the growing painted kitchen business. The first shade is Limestone, followed by Honed Slate. Today, there is a signature collection of 28 natural shades which sit alongside seasonal shades.
A sketch by Emma Sims-Hilditch, John’s wife and Neptune’s creative founder, becomes the first magazine advertisement for Neptune.
Following the success of the first kitchen design, Neptune launches the pared back, Shaker-inspired Suffolk kitchen collection.
As customers regularly enquire about the accessories they see in Neptune photography, John and Giles decide to launch a homeware collection, starting with lighting and accessories and working with partners across Europe.
The understated Henley kitchen launches, offering customers the chance to have exposed oak cabinetry or a mix of painted and oak cabinets.
“A wooden table contains the story of its journey as a living thing. We need to protect the surface, but we need to connect with the beauty of the wood as well. It's why we devised our IsoGuard finish.”
The success of the accessories and lighting collection propels John and Giles to launch a full home collection, starting with the Charlotte sofa and Sophie and Amelia armchairs.
The first Neptune store opens in Winchester, in a renovated Victorian pub, featuring the full kitchen and home collections. Setting the stage for Neptune stores to come, it is designed to feel more like a home than a store.
From a Chippenham barn, Neptune moves into a new HQ in Wiltshire, which includes a showroom, café, offices, workshops, shoot studio and distribution facility.
The first European store opens in Berlin, Germany.
The sleek, contemporary Limehouse kitchen collection launches.
Taking full control of end-to-end production to ensure optimum quality, Neptune opens a state-of-the-art production house in Qingdao, northern China.
Neptune’s first major press launch, where a London art gallery is transformed into a Neptune home, is met with critical acclaim.
Stories magazine launches and sets a new benchmark for brand publishing.
The Home Design Service launches providing customers with expert interior design project management.
Neptune redevelops the historic Tram Yard in Bath, building a flagship store and The Provenist cafe, and refurbishing ten luxury apartments, creating a complete Neptune complex.
Following the popularity of the Design Service, the Colour Consultancy launches, helping customers create the perfect colour palettes for their homes.
We want us to be known for our integrity and commitment to doing the right thing. We want to stick by that for the next 100 years and beyond.
