A Journey Of Excellence With Dillon Amber Dane
Dillon Amber Dane Inc. stands tall as a beacon of excellence and innovation in Barbadian furniture retail. Established in 1998 by husband and wife Angela and Jerry Clarke, the company began with a fervent desire to infuse the market with unparalleled quality and style.
Angela explains, “When Jerry and I moved to Barbados with our young family, we were struck by the lack of exciting and innovative residential and commercial furnishings. We saw a gap in the market, and we were determined to fill it.”
Angela had a background in sales and marketing, while Jerry was a mechanical engineer with a background in finance. Together, they had the skill set to create a business that would offer Barbadians something new. With their young children, Dane, Amber and Dillon in tow (Jerry suggested they name the company after the kids), “we took a leap of faith and started our business out of the back of our home,” says Angela. In those first years, the company mainly represented two manufacturers, Global and Teknion. These commercial furniture lines brought sophistication and opportunities for more individual-looking office spaces.
“Local companies were some of the first to work with us. Large companies like Shell and others,” says Jerry. Many Offshore companies followed suit, each one happy to utilize Dillon Amber Dane as they provided a different level of service and product.
Banks and insurance companies especially needed the level of service we could bring because they are constantly upgrading their look, facilities, and everything else. And we spoke their language. We knew where they were coming from.” Jerry and Angela’s strong work drive and commitment to ethical business practice earned them a good reputation in Barbados and beyond. Soon, they were outfitting government offices, financial businesses, and medical facilities across the Caribbean.
Commercial clients like Planned Maintenance, a property management company established a firm relationship. “Working with Dillon Amber Dane over the past decade we’ve come to know, respect and truly appreciate their entire staff,” they told us. “At Planned Maintenance we oversee many residential and commercial projects which at some point in time all require a facelift; Dillon Amber Dane are always ready and willing to answer the call, and no matter the size of the job, we can rely on them to carry out any service that’s required in a timely, professional manner to the highest degree.”
Their early success laid the foundation for expansion, prompting the company to venture into the residential sphere in 2003. The company’s trajectory took a significant leap forward by introducing esteemed Italian brands such as Scavolini Kitchens and Smeg Appliances. This strategic partnership expanded Dillon Amber Dane’s offerings and set new benchmarks for sophistication and elegance in Barbadian households. The inclusion of Scavolini’s diverse kitchen collection and Smeg’s upscale domestic appliances underscored the company’s unwavering commitment to staying at the forefront of design trends.
The company has also excelled in offering unique items for its customers; whatever brand they represented, they became the exclusive dealer for that brand. It gave them control over service in the future and allowed them to add more value. “Very important for the residential part of the business is that we shop the world,” says Angela. “We actually looked for products from throughout the world. [In the early days] We had beautiful hand-painted furniture from South America, which I still have a few pieces of in my own home. We added some lines to our complement that reflected the flexibility of what we did.” In addition to a broader level of personalized furniture, the company also offered a lot of consulting, adding their expertise to the customer, which was more added value.
Residential clients found themselves returning to Dillon Amber Dane each time. One such customer was Julie Hooper McNeel “As a repeat client who has completed three high-end projects with Dillon Amber Dane, I can confidently vouch for their exceptional reputation and unwavering trustworthiness,” says McNeel. “Stepping into their realm feels like entering a stylish sanctuary where warmth and impeccable service reign supreme.” She credits Dillon’s talent as adding to her confidence in the company. “With Dillon lending his talents as a designer, each project became an extraordinary experience.”
The fact that Scavolini Kitchens and Smeg Appliances were family-owned businesses appealed to the Clarkes as it mirrored their own company. “For us, family is everything”, says Amber de Silvia, who, as of 2018, became the managing director of the company. “Family is definitely a main part of our passion; we share a drive to see each other succeed and see the company succeed,” added Angela.
Armed with a degree in marketing and business, Amber brings fresh insights and strategic acumen, driving the company’s continued expansion. Meanwhile, Dillon’s background in architectural design continues to propel the company towards greater heights, ensuring a seamless fusion of aesthetics and functionality. They have been able to open Madison Taylor Design Studio, a design division of the company. “Dillon is ultra creative,” says Jerry, “he can envision so much.” This family strength extends beyond mere business transactions, transcending into enduring relationships built on trust, integrity, and mutual respect. “Now inside the business, I see how much our parents have done and continue to do for the company,” says Dillon, “and my respect for them has only grown more.”
Amber notes that Dillon’s technical architectural skills have proven to work well with his father’s engineering skills to fully realize new innovations for their customers. “Business, as we know, is dynamic; our company’s success is built on having that well-rounded approach, right? Because if it’s something that I’m lacking, then my family brings different skills and perspectives, and within that, cross-collaboration is our strength,” says Amber.
“What is also important is how much our team has contributed.” Indeed, Amber credits the success of Dillon Amber Dane not only to her family’s dedication to seeing the company grow but also to their team of 14 core employees at their showroom and business in Fontabelle. “It’s all about attitude for us. Skills can be learned, but we are not all equal in terms of what responsibility is resting on our shoulders. Still, we treat each other like equals, I respect my team’s advice and viewpoints, and we take that into consideration, and people value that sometimes, businesses don’t treat staff with the respect they should. But ultimately, it is a team effort. So we want to ensure we are on the right side and do right by them.”
The ethos of Dillon Amber Dane is deeply rooted in the principles of personalized service and uncompromising quality. Jerry maintains that this has also seen the company continue to grow. The company weathered the 2008 recession and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic shutdown by maintaining these principles and saw growth even into 2022.
As Dillon Amber Dane enters its 26th year, the company remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence. With a diverse team of passionate individuals and a legacy of innovation guiding its path, the future holds boundless opportunities for growth and continued success. Through its unwavering dedication to design, ethics, and personalized service, Dillon Amber Dane Inc. continues to redefine the landscape of furnishing excellence in Barbados and the region.
