How Vertex Garden Rooms Went from a Start Up in the Pandemic to Featuring in The Telegraph.
We’re beyond thrilled to share some exciting news—Vertex Garden Rooms has been featured in The Telegraph! Being highlighted in such a respected publication is a proud moment for us, and it’s a testament to the journey we’ve been on to build not just a business, but a brand grounded in resilience, craftsmanship, and forward-thinking.
This feature gives a glimpse into the dedication it takes to run a business while planning for the future, and we’re honoured to see our founder’s story resonate on a platform as prestigious as The Telegraph. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do—creating beautiful, functional garden rooms that our clients can enjoy for years to come.
In just a few years, Vertex Garden Rooms has grown from a bold start-up launched during the uncertain times of the pandemic to a well established brand in Surrey. This blog delves into our founder Ollie’s journey—how he overcame early challenges, built trust with new clients, and achieved a major milestone in a top publication. It’s a story of passion, resilience, and steady growth that we’re excited to share with you.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a fan of home innovation, or simply love a great success story, join us as we share an inspiring look behind the scenes at Vertex Garden Rooms. Discover how we navigated start-up challenges and what it took to get from day one to national recognition.
The Founding Story of Vertex Garden Rooms
Due to the covid pandemic and unable to extend his visa, Ollie was forced to migrate back to the UK in June 2020. Starting again from scratch, he bought himself a small van and some tools and picked up where he left off doing small carpentry and joinery jobs. He registered as a sole trader again in the UK and slowly grew a small client base again in the Surrey area.
Launching a business is challenging in any environment, but starting Vertex Garden Rooms during the pandemic brought unique, unprecedented obstacles. As people adjusted to spending more time at home, the demand for functional and versatile spaces soared. Ollie realised from talking to clients, that a growing demand for additional space was needed in family homes where an isolated office was required to concentrate and focus on work away from the busy household.
Seeing this need, Vertex Garden Rooms emerged as a solution to help people expand their living areas, whether for a home office, workout space, or quiet studio retreat in the garden. Effectively these were timber-framed home extensions, ‘Tiny Houses’ if you will. Navigating through lockdowns and restrictions, the team embraced this shift as an opportunity to meet changing lifestyles, shaping Vertex’s vision to provide beautiful, practical, and high-quality garden rooms for every customer. The garden rooms were able to be built under permitted development laws which meant less cost for the end user and no planning applications or time wasted. This meant a quick turnaround, it was a no brainer!
He had already honed his skills in timber framing in Australia so he was equipped with the knowledge and hungry to create his own product to sell to the general public. And so, Vertex Garden Rooms was born and we have been helping clients create extra space in their homes ever since.
Our founder’s vision for Vertex Garden Rooms grew from a passion for designing unique spaces that transform how people experience their homes. Seeing the impact that well-crafted garden rooms could have on work-life balance, mental well-being, and family life, the founder set out to create a brand that would make these benefits accessible to more people.
The mission was simple yet powerful: to offer beautiful, functional garden rooms that blend seamlessly with the outdoors, enriching clients’ everyday lives, whilst simultaneously adding value to their property. This customer-focused vision and attention to detail has been the cornerstone of Vertex’s growth and continues to guide the company.
Building a Business and Navigating the Pandemic
Like many businesses launched during the pandemic, Vertex Garden Rooms faced early hurdles. Limited access to materials, fluctuating costs, and supply chain disruptions made every project an exercise in creativity and resilience. Social distancing restrictions also posed challenges, from design consultations to installation processes.
Yet, these obstacles only strengthened Vertex’s commitment to adaptability and problem-solving. The founder and team remained flexible, finding new suppliers, adapting timelines, and innovating solutions to keep projects on track. These early experiences fostered a spirit of resilience that has been key to Vertex Garden Rooms’ journey and is reflected in the quality and care poured into every build.
In the first couple of years Ollie swapped between doing smaller carpentry jobs and garden rooms in between. Building awareness was a challenge during the pandemic and naturally some customers also didn't want contractors at their homes during the pandemic. Vertex could work through lockdowns as all work was outside and could be conducted safely without entering the house.
Creating Innovative Garden Room Solutions.
In a time when traditional routines and workspaces were being redefined, the team at Vertex Garden Rooms quickly adapted to meet customers' evolving needs for versatile outdoor spaces. At the start of the pandemic office space was the main request but as time went on people came to realise how versatile these rooms are and then they started getting calls for all sorts of purposes.
Recognising the demand, they focused on creating adaptable designs that could serve multiple purposes—whether a hobby room, gym, bar, cinema, music studio or even a home spa. The team invested in sustainable, durable materials and streamlined the installation process to deliver projects efficiently without sacrificing quality.
Every zero-maintenance garden room produced is completely fire retardant and finished in a mixture of concrete and metal cladding. This adheres to the permitted development laws and gives the client complete peace of mind that their investment is safe and durable for many years to come. By remaining agile and innovative, Vertex Garden Rooms built a reputation for delivering spaces that enhance daily life, adding value to the customer’s property and offering clients a reliable solution during an otherwise unpredictable time.
Community Support for Vertex Garden Rooms.
Building trust was essential to establishing Vertex Garden Rooms in the midst of economic uncertainty. The team prioritised transparency, offering clear communication about project timelines, costs, and any potential challenges. They also emphasised personalised service, and full project management from start to finish, taking the time to understand each client’s unique needs and preferences. This client-centred approach extended to providing virtual consultations and sharing progress updates throughout each project, creating a seamless experience from start to finish.
Additionally, by showcasing completed projects to prospective clients and previous client testimonials, Vertex Garden Rooms strengthened its credibility, turning satisfied clients into ambassadors for the brand. Through a blend of quality, reliability, and attentive service, Vertex Garden Rooms built a loyal customer base that continues to grow and support the brand.
Community and client support have been vital to the growth and success of Vertex Garden Rooms. From the beginning, our clients have been our biggest advocates, sharing their experiences and referring friends, family, and neighbours who were inspired by the beauty and functionality of their new garden spaces. Their feedback helped us refine our designs and services, allowing us to better meet the unique needs of each client. This ongoing dialogue has not only strengthened our reputation but has also created a sense of community around Vertex Garden Rooms. Each project feels like a shared success, thanks to the trust and enthusiasm our clients bring.
Vertex Garden Rooms has also sponsored their local sports club, Reigate Squash Club, providing funds to host junior squash tournaments, bringing people from further afield into the local community. The support from our community continues to be a driving force in our growth, expanding our reach organically and helping us establish a trusted name in the industry.
Vertex Garden Rooms Features in The Telegraph.
Being featured in The Telegraph marks a significant milestone for Vertex Garden Rooms, affirming the hard work, dedication, and vision that have guided us from the very start. This feature focuses on our founder’s journey and the balancing act of building a thriving business while planning for a secure future. It highlights the challenges of entrepreneurship, particularly during uncertain times, and emphasises the importance of foresight and financial planning in sustaining long-term growth. For us, this recognition in The Telegraph is a proud testament to our journey—one that resonates with anyone who has supported a small business or pursued a big dream.
What’s Next for Vertex Garden Rooms?
What the future holds is very exciting and even though the pandemic is over the demand for bespoke multi-purpose spaces is still very high. We believe that breathing new life into an unused awkward space at the back of a garden and elevating somebody's asset while doing so will always be attractive to homeowners.
We are currently operating out of a 44 square metre workshop but there are plans to move to bigger premises in the not too distant future. The recruitment of more staff and expanding our team is also on the to do list. Due to the fine tuning and efficiency of the installation process we will also look to service clients a bit further afield, our radius will grow with the ultimate goal of turning over more jobs per year.
We owe an enormous thank you to everyone who has supported Vertex Garden Rooms on this journey - from our clients who trusted us with their vision for a perfect garden space to our community whose word-of-mouth referrals have been invaluable. To our dedicated team members, whose hard work and passion bring each project to life, your commitment has been the foundation of our growth. We’re incredibly grateful to each of you for believing in Vertex and helping us reach this exciting milestone of being featured in The Telegraph.
For those interested in the story behind Vertex Garden Rooms, we invite you to read our feature in The Telegraph. The article offers a behind-the-scenes look at our founder’s journey, navigating the challenges of building a business while planning for a sustainable future.
This feature in The Telegraph is a proud moment, but it’s only the beginning. As we look toward the future, we’re excited to continue building beautiful, functional spaces for our clients, inspired by the support and encouragement that brought us here. Here’s to many more milestones, challenges, and successes as we keep growing and serving our community. Thank you for being part of the Vertex Garden Rooms story.