Sandrine Zhang Ferron - Founder & CEO of Vinterior

​Quits finance. Learns to code. Builds platform.
an interview with Founder
​Sandrine Zhang Ferron 

Miron Bykov London - 13/10/2019

Today we spoke to Sandrine Zhang Ferron Founder & CEO of Vinterior
 
Vinterior, founded by Sandrine in 2015, is a platform where the world can buy and sell vintage furniture, now offering the greatest selection of vintage furniture in the UK.
 
Tell me about the day the idea was born.
Having moved to a new house I was on the hunt for new furniture. I was in the search for a  specific yellow chair to complete the perfect design at home. Having gone around antique and vintage shops in London I have found it…...in just 3 MONTHS?!
 
I have come to the realisation that there are a lot of vintage shops in London, but not online, making purchase difficult. Having recognised this gap in the market the construction of Vinterior had begun.
 
What was the biggest turning point in the life of Vinterior?
I’m going to disappoint you – I don’t think there has been a turning point. It has just been a process of grinding, one week after the next. Finding the next customer, raising the next round of funding, hiring the next employee. Repeat. 
On the other hand, each funding round has allowed to have a fresh look at what we are doing, and the welcoming of new employees gave fresh perspective on Vinterior.
 
Three top tips for aspiring entrepreneurs:

1. Be prepared – have realistic your expectations on how long it will take. There is no such thing as overnight, painless success
2. Own your technology
3. Always keep your customer front and centre

 
What gets you out of bed every morning?
Well…...my alarm? We have developed a network of 1,800 dealers across Europe, allowing Vinterior to represent a significant portion of revenue for some of them, meaning that there’s no room for sleep as we cannot let them down.
Besides from responsibility, knowing that our customers are happy and have the products they want, brings me significant joy.
 
What did you want to be when you were little?
I had many questions to the universe including its mysterious timeline and therefore was fascinated by Cosmology.
 
Favourite Disney character:
 Alice (from Alice and the Wonderland) for her curiosity, an essential quality in life that allows you to step out of your comfort zone. Moreover, she learns to enjoy the journey rather than focusing purely on the destination. 
 
What is Vinterior planning for the world next?
On the supply side, more than half of our products are outside the UK, therefore we want to make our marketplace truly global by reaching more to interior designers and consumers in overseas markets.

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