Company History

Jali was established in 1990 to design, manufacture and market decorative wood products for the home and for the DIY, architectural and display industries. The following pages give a synopsis of how the company has developed in that time and also gives an insight into the hard work and determination that has built Jali so far.

The history is divided across a few pages: to look at another page, click on the appropriate date in the left-hand sidebar.

1990

• Nicholas Showan sets up Jali
• First Jali cutting machine set up in his garden shed
• Small-scale manufacturing starts
• Employees: one!

1991

• First Jali exhibition - IDI at Earls Court.
• Exhibition stand designed and built in four weeks
• Exhibition attracted over 600 potential customers from 28 different countries
• Interest from architectural practices to major bluechip organisations
• Employees: 2

1993

• First editorial appearances in national magazines leading to huge public interest
• Country Homes and Interiors publishes major feature on Jali's edge trims
• Home Decoration Range launched
• Start of major PR interest which continues today
• Employees: 5

1994

• Jali produces working toy factory model for a Christmas display for Hamleys toy shop
• Jali completes major work for Earls Court in 28 days. Five lorryloads of stage sets including a complete 7-sided fountain and a marathon 24-hour installation by our own staff
• Employees: 10

1995

• Jali wins first major business award - a DTI Smart Award for development of our own unique CNC router (computer-controlled cutting machine)
• First retailers begin stocking Jali products, using display stands designed and built by Jali
• Employees: 15