From Warehouse Floors to London Bridge: John Conroy’s Lifelong Journey in Furniture

Some careers are chosen. Others are shaped by family, values, and time spent learning from the ground up.

For John Conroy, Guardsman Business Development Manager for the North, the furniture industry has never just been a job. It has been part of his life from the very beginning. Growing up in the North East of England, John was surrounded by the world of furniture through his father Michael, who owned and operated Conroy’s, a family business that at its height ran eleven furniture stores across the region.

From an early age, John learned that the industry was about more than selling sofas. It was about relationships, service, and helping people build something better for themselves.

“For me, this industry has always been about relationships. Treat people how you’d want to be treated and the rest tends to follow.”

John Conroy with his father Michael, whose family business Conroy’s once operated eleven furniture stores across the North East of England

Learning the business from the ground up

John’s first real introduction to working life came at just fourteen years old. When he asked his father for a Nintendo 64 for his birthday, Michael offered him something different. A job.

John spent a month working in the warehouse and on the shop floor, earning his own wages before buying the console himself. It was a simple lesson, but one that stayed with him. Effort, responsibility, and pride in earning your own success.

Michael’s ethos was clear. Everyone who worked at Conroy’s was encouraged to develop, improve themselves, and look ahead. That culture shaped John’s outlook and would go on to influence how he approaches people and business throughout his career.

A defining moment

John had always expected to follow his father into the family business. However, just one week after his eighteenth birthday, Conroy’s sadly went out of operation.

It was a defining moment that forced John to reconsider his future and begin building his own path forward. The experience gave him resilience and a deep understanding of how challenging business can be, particularly in an industry built on trust, service, and long-term relationships.

Rather than turning away from furniture entirely, John carried those lessons with him, shaping both his career and his values.

Finding his own path in furniture

Over the years, John built an impressive and varied career in the furniture industry. For a time, he explored other career paths, trying to prove that he did not need to remain in furniture. But he soon realised how much he missed it.

Without any formal design training, John went on to design fabrics and leathers to be used in upholstery for manufacturers around the world. His knowledge didn’t come from textbooks, but from understanding trends, customer expectations, and what retailers truly needed.

Later, he strengthened this practical experience by completing a Master’s degree in International Business (MBA), giving him a strong understanding of how businesses operate and the challenges they face.

“You can learn theory, but there’s nothing like understanding an industry from the inside out. That’s where the real value is.”

Relationships that last – the Safeclean connection

One of the most powerful threads in John’s story is the people he has stayed connected with over decades, and how those relationships now link directly to Safeclean and Guardsman.

Paul Charlton first met John when he worked in Conroy’s warehouse when Paul was 16 years old. Encouraged by Michael’s belief in development and opportunity, Paul went on to build his own successful Safeclean business.

Today, Paul is over ten years into his franchise journey and renewed his franchise agreement last year. This is a clear testament to his commitment, the strength of the Safeclean model, and the long-term relationships formed early in their careers.

Paul Charlton of Safeclean Newcastle, now over ten years into his franchise journey after first meeting John Conroy while working together at Conroy’s.

Another former colleague from Conroy’s, Rob Shaw, worked as a cabinet specialist on the repair team and is now an independent Guardsman technician, continuing his specialist repair work within the same industry.

Together, these connections highlight how values passed down through Conroy’s, development, craftsmanship, and respect for people, now live on through Safeclean and Guardsman.

“Seeing people you worked alongside years ago still thriving in this industry is incredibly rewarding. It shows what can happen when people are supported and encouraged to grow.”

Why Guardsman

After being made redundant, John was contacted by Will Taylor, Head of Network Services at Guardsman following a LinkedIn post. What followed was a conversation that would shape his next chapter.

Although John had other options, Guardsman stood out because of the people and the challenge. He joined the business as Business Development Manager, bringing with him decades of industry knowledge and a strong belief in partnership.

Through his role at Guardsman and his close collaboration with Safeclean franchisees, John continues to support a network built on quality, trust, and long-term partnerships, the same principles he learned growing up in his father’s business.

Since joining Guardsman, John has successfully re-signed key retailers including Gillies and Sterling onto new plans in late 2025, strengthening relationships and reinforcing confidence across the network.

“What attracted me to Guardsman was the people. They didn’t just look at my CV. They saw the value of experience and relationships, and that really mattered to me.”

Giving back to the industry

John is also deeply involved in the wider furniture industry through The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers. He currently holds the role of North East Chairman and is a Freeman of the City of London, a title that grants him the traditional right to drive sheep across London Bridge.

John Conroy exercising his right as a Freeman of the City of London to drive sheep across London Bridge

In a moment that perfectly blends heritage with humour, John famously exercised this right, sharing that he was “exercising my right as a Freeman of the City of London to drive my sheep over the Thames.”

Beyond the tradition, the Furniture Makers Company plays an important role in charitable work and supporting people within the industry. John is passionate about encouraging others to become involved and give back.

“It’s about being part of something bigger than your own role. The furniture industry has given me so much, and I feel a responsibility to support it in return.”

Looking ahead

Now at 41, John remains passionate about the furniture industry and the people within it. His career reflects a journey shaped by family, resilience, relationships, and a belief in doing the right thing.

From warehouse floors in the North East to London Bridge, his story is one of continuity, community, and commitment to an industry he has always called home. Through his work with Guardsman and Safeclean, he continues to influence the next generation of professionals across the sector.

“This industry is built on trust and people. If we keep focusing on quality, relationships and doing the right thing, it has a very strong future ahead.”