Staff Spotlight: Paul Duffin

Few people embody the spirit of Forbes quite like Paul Duffin.

Paul joined Forbes in 1987 and has been a familiar face to customers and colleagues ever since. Over the years, he progressed through a variety of roles, working in our Purley showroom before going on to manage our B2C Sanderstead showroom, where he became a well-known and trusted figure within the local community.

With a strong background in retail and sharing a birthday with Stuart Forbes, Paul often felt destined to join the family business. For almost 40 years, he has been a familiar and valued face within the company. Known for building lasting relationships, Paul has maintained friendships with customers and families across generations. His annual tradition of personally sending Christmas cards to hundreds of customers, delivering around 30 by hand each year, reflects the care and connection that have defined his career.

When Forbes closed its consumer showrooms and moved to its innovative digital showroom model, Paul relocated to our Redhill head office, where he continued to play a key role within the sales team. Today, as one of our highly respected Customer Service Advisors for our B2C pillar, Forbes Rentals. He draws upon nearly four decades of experience to help customers and colleagues alike. Having recently reduced his hours, Paul remains as passionate about Forbes as ever, generously sharing his knowledge and expertise with the next generation of the team.

Stuart Forbes, Chairman said:"Paul’s dedication to our customers, his loyalty to the business and the relationships he has built over nearly 40 years are truly remarkable. He has been a huge part of our journey, and we are incredibly grateful for everything he continues to contribute."

Away from work, Paul’s greatest passions are his family and music. A talented musician, he spent many years performing in a band and still enjoys making music today. Paul’s band, Howzat, was the company’s band of choice at Christmas parties in the 1980s. In fact, colleagues are often treated to lunchtime performances from the meeting rooms, with Paul and one of our commercial engineers Dave Perkins keeping the office entertained.

Paul’s warmth, loyalty and dedication have made him a friend to many customers and colleagues over the years. To the Forbes family, he is much more than a long-serving employee, he is part of the extended family. Having known four generations of the family, Paul has watched with fondness and pride as each generation has grown up, with many later joining the family business themselves.

Paul Duffin says of his journey with Forbes:"I've been fortunate to spend my career doing something I genuinely enjoy, alongside people I've come to regard as friends. The relationships I've built with customers and colleagues over the years mean a great deal to me, and I'm proud to have been part of the Forbes story for so long."

After nearly 40 years with Forbes, Paul's enthusiasm, knowledge and friendly approach continue to make a difference every day, and we are delighted that he remains such an important part of the Forbes team.