What INSPIRADO LTD does

Inspirado Ltd is a privately held, UK-based small family business operating from a workshop in St Albans, founded by sisters Inna and Iryna, that designs and handcrafts replacement cushions specifically for Ercol furniture. The company covers the entire historical Ercol range — including Windsor, Cow Horn, Old Colonial, Penn, Chairmaker's, Grandfather, Easy Chairs, Jubilee, Latimer, Double Bow, Evergreen, All Purpose, and Kitchen Windsor models, as well as sofas, settees, daybeds, loveseats, and footstools — producing cushions to original specifications using fire-resistant high-density foam cores wrapped in polyester wadding (dacron) and stockinette, upholstered in fire-retardant BS5852-compliant fabrics with velcro or press-stud fastening options.

Beyond core cushions, the product portfolio includes DIY upholstery components (base studs with screws, fixing tapes with studs, silk film, and replacement foam cores) and upholstery fabrics sold by the metre and as swatches, targeting both furniture restorers and individual owners. Most products are made to order with a 20-working-day dispatch guarantee; selected Windsor chair cushions are kept in stock for 2–5 working day dispatch. Unit pricing spans £4.58–£12.80 for DIY components, £13.00–£17.07 per metre for fabrics, and £38.50–£738.00 for cushions depending on model and configuration.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with revenue derived entirely from one-time product sales (no subscriptions). The primary sales channel is the company's own e-commerce website (inspirado.uk), supported by long-standing storefronts on Amazon UK, eBay UK, and Etsy UK. Payment is processed via PayPal Checkout. Shipping reaches the UK (2–3 days), Europe (3–8 days), and worldwide (5–15 days), and customer-submitted portfolio photos document sales to the UK, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Australia. Customers are supported through email and phone consultation, including assistance identifying their specific Ercol model from photos. The company is bootstrapped, with no external funding, no parent entity, and no disclosed employee count beyond its two founders.

Name

INSPIRADO LTD

Legal name

Inspirado

Website

https://inspirado.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Inspirado Ltd is a UK family-run craft business in St Albans that handmakes made-to-order replacement cushions, DIY upholstery components, and fire-retardant fabrics specifically for Ercol furniture, sold direct-to-consumer online and on Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Replacement Furniture Cushions

NAICS

Upholstered Household Furniture Manufacturing (337121), Reupholstery and Furniture Repair (81142)

SIC

Household Furniture (2510), Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700)

akta.pro primary industry

Furniture Repair & Minor Restoration (HSAGAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Upholstery & Drapery Fabric Retail (CRALADAI), Pillows & Pillow Systems Retail (CRAIABAC)

Keywords

• Furniture replacement cushions
• Ercol upholstery cushions
• Fire retardant upholstery fabrics
• DIY upholstery components
• Made to order cushions

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales (Own Website): The primary revenue stream is one-time product sales through the company's own e-commerce website (inspirado.uk). Products are priced per unit (cushion, seat pad, or DIY component) and sold directly to consumers. Most cushions are made-to-order (20 working days dispatch); some Windsor chair cushions are kept in stock for immediate dispatch. Payment processed via PayPal (with credit/debit card option).
2. Marketplace Sales (Amazon, eBay, Etsy): Secondary revenue stream through third-party marketplaces where Inspirado has sold for several years. These channels provide additional sales volume and discovery, though the company now prioritises its own website for a more personal customer relationship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Inspirado Ltd designs, handcrafts, and sells made-to-order replacement cushions for the full historical and current range of Ercol furniture (Windsor, Cow Horn, Old Colonial, Penn, Chairmaker's, Grandfather, Easy Chairs, Evergreen, Jubilee, sofas, footstools and benches). The cushions are built from fire-resistant high-density foam cores wrapped in polyester wadding (dacron) and stockinette, upholstered in BS5852-compliant fabrics. The company also sells DIY upholstery components (base studs, fixing tapes, silk film, foam cores) and upholstery fabrics by the metre.

Product overview

Inspirado Ltd is a small family business specializing in high-quality handmade replacement cushions for the entire range of Ercol furniture ever produced. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: replacement cushions (the core product line, available for Windsor chairs, Cowhorn, Old Colonial, Penn, Chairmaker's, Grandfather and Easy Chairs, sofas, footstools, and armchairs), DIY components (base studs, fixing tapes, silk film, and foam cores), and fabrics (upholstery fabrics sold by the metre with fire-retardant properties). The cushions are hand-crafted in the company's family workshop using fire-resistant high-density foam cores wrapped in polyester wadding and stockinette, designed to match the proportions and character of original Ercol furniture. Selected cushions are kept in stock for immediate dispatch, while most are made to order with a 20 working day lead time.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handmade Replacement Cushions for Ercol Furniture Made-to-order replacement cushions covering the entire range of Ercol furniture ever produced, including Windsor kitchen/dining chairs, Cow Horn, Old Colonial, Penn, Chairmaker's, Grandfather, Easy Chairs, Evergreen armchairs, Jubilee 766, sofas, footstools, and benches. Cushions feature fire-resistant high-density foam cores wrapped in polyester wadding (dacron) and stockinette, upholstered in fire-retardant BS5852-compliant fabrics. Selected Windsor chair cushions are kept in stock for 2-5 working day dispatch; all other cushions are made to order with a 20-working-day dispatch guarantee. Available with velcro fixing straps or press-stud fastening mechanisms to suit different chair designs.
• DIY Upholstery Components Hardware components for DIY upholstery repairs on Ercol chairs, including 4 base studs with screws, 4x fixing tapes with studs, and silk film sold per metre. Priced from approximately £4.58 to £12.80 per item.
• Fire-Retardant Upholstery Fabrics Fire-retardant upholstery fabrics sold by the metre (approximately £13.00 to £17.07 per metre) along with fabric swatches (£0.10 each) from the Harmony Collection and Colours of Nature collections. Fabrics meet UK BS5852 domestic fire safety standards and are dry-cleanable.
• Replacement Foam Core Standalone replacement foam core made to order for DIY upholstery projects, with 5 working day dispatch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cushions reportedly dispatched ahead of the stated 20-working-day deadline in multiple customer reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amazon UKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInspirado has sold through Amazon UK for several years prior to launching its own website. Amazon serves as a discovery and fulfilment channel, providing access to Amazon's customer base, review infrastructure, and potentially Prime delivery. Listing URL: amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HGL5V8Y
• eBay UKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecondary marketplace channel. Inspirado maintains an eBay UK storefront (ebay.co.uk/str/inspiradoltd) for additional reach and discoverability among eBay's furniture and home improvement buyer base.
• Etsy UKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarketplace presence on Etsy (etsy.com/uk/shop/InspiradoUK) targeting the handmade/artisan buyer community, aligning with Inspirado's positioning as a small family business producing handcrafted cushions.
• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processor for the e-commerce website. Customers are redirected to a secure PayPal payment page at checkout, with the option to pay by debit or credit card without having a PayPal account. PayPal Checkout is the sole payment gateway visible on the website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DFS: The UK's largest sofa retailer, offering a broad range of upholstered seating and cushions at multiple price points. Serves the same household upholstery category but at scale through showroom-based mass retail rather than specialist replacement.
• Feather & Black: UK bedroom and upholstery furniture retailer with a craft-quality brand positioning similar to Inspirado's aesthetic. Sells new beds, sofas, and chairs rather than replacement components but shares the heritage-quality customer target.
• Loaf: UK direct-to-consumer sofa, armchair, and cushion retailer with a strong mid-century and craft-led brand identity. Operates broadly in the same household cushion and upholstery space but sells new furniture rather than replacement parts.
• Sofa.com: UK custom-made sofa manufacturer and retailer offering made-to-order seating with a wide fabric selection. Operates in the same broad household upholstery space with a comparable custom-craft positioning, though selling new furniture.
• ScS: UK sofa and carpet retailer with a strong household upholstery offering. Competes for the same household furnishing wallet but through mass-market new furniture rather than specialist replacement cushions.

Others

• ercol: The original UK furniture manufacturer whose products Inspirado services. Not a competitor but a critical ecosystem participant — Ercol's brand strength, model continuity, and absence of an in-house cushion replacement programme underpin Inspirado's entire addressable market.
• Vitafoam Products UK: UK foam and bedding component manufacturer supplying foam cores, fillings, and upholstery materials to furniture makers and DIY upholsterers. Functions as a potential upstream supplier to Inspirado rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• Comfort Works: Specialist in custom-made replacement slipcovers and cushion fills for sofas and armchairs from multiple furniture brands, operating a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model with made-to-order production. Highly comparable business model to Inspirado, though focused on slipcovers and serving multiple brands globally.
• Plumbs: Long-established UK furniture reupholstery and replacement cover specialist serving customers with made-to-order fabric and cushion solutions for sofas and chairs. Most directly comparable to Inspirado's restoration-first service model, though at much larger scale and broader brand coverage.

Emerging players

• The Foam Shop: UK online and physical retailer selling custom-cut foam, cushion pads, and upholstery components to both trade and DIY customers. Partial overlap with Inspirado's DIY foam core and upholstery component lines, though lacking Inspirado's Ercol-specific specialisation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INSPIRADO LTD