Five Minutes with... Denise Clemenger

Can you tell us a little about your role at Bisley?

I am the Head of A+D and Key Accounts for Bisley Ireland. This is a new role where I get to work closely with architects and designers promoting our Bisley brands and helping with product specifications. I also manage Key Accounts, supporting our dealer partners on the commercial fit-out side of the business. It’s a very diverse role which I really enjoy!

What does a typical working day look like for you?

Personally, I like to start my day with a positive mindset. First thing I do is check my emails, which I think most people do before getting out of bed! I’m quite an organised person, so I set my list of tasks for the day which could be anything from specifying products to pricing projects, arranging a Zoom meeting with the design team or I may be out and about at various meetings. However, my favourite part of the day is that first coffee and catch up in the morning with colleagues when in the office - I love a good chat!

Why did you want to work in the furniture industry?

I was offered my first job in the industry at the age of 18. I knew nothing about office furniture back then, but in time, I navigated my way into various roles where I got to do a variety of things. I have mainly worked for manufacturers; however, I’ve spent most of my time at Bisley. I’ve always been drawn to design and love seeing workplaces transform into beautiful spaces and being involved in that process. After 36 years, it can’t have been that bad!

Does your subsidiary have a goal for the year ahead? If so, what are they?

Yes, we have some very exciting things happening this year. We are taking on a second showroom space in Dublin, which we are all really looking forward to. It’s great to be able to have this additional space where we can showcase products aimed at architects and designers and the commercial fit-out market. It’s also a great space to host events and product training - it’s a very positive move for Bisley. We are also looking at growing our home office market share here in Ireland, which has a full portfolio of amazing products that will be displayed in our new space.

What makes you proud to be a woman working in the furniture and manufacturing industries?

I have worked alongside some incredible women over the years, and I am extremely proud when I see women taking on the big jobs! This, like so many other industries, has been male-dominated for quite some time and in recent years, I have seen hard-working friends and colleagues move into strong leadership roles. It’s very refreshing!

Do you have or know an inspirational quote that you can share in support for International Women’s Day? Can you share it with us, please?

Yes - “she believed she could, so she did”. I am a firm believer that if you commit to a positive mindset, anything is possible!

What’s your favourite thing about working at Bisley?

It’s got to be the longstanding friendships I’ve made through the years - Bisley has always felt like a family to me. It’s important to like what you do and most importantly, who you do it with. The environment and culture are what makes it enjoyable. It’s great to see how Bisley has evolved and adapted to new ways of working with a more extensive range of products to go to the market with.