Local Business Focus – Versital

Previously we interviewed  Plantlife Garden Design as the start of our local business focus series. This week, as a follow up to the series, we interviewed the amazing Gemma Stockberger from Versital UK.

Supporting local business is something that we are extremely passionate about at Wilde Collective. Small businesses are far more likely to use local suppliers. Buying locally helps to cut carbon emissions and air pollution, creating a more sustainable brand.

Versital are a company based in Bolton. They supply beautiful and practical surfaces. We were lucky enough to get to speak to Gemma Stockberger who shared more information about who Versital are and how they do their best to contribute to a more sustainable environment. 

If you’re looking for a little inspiration or are curious to learn more about this local business and its impact, keep scrolling to read our interview with Gemma.

Q: Hi Gemma, thank you so much for talking to us today! To get started, do you mind introducing yourself?

 Gemma says Hi, yes no problem! I’m Gemma and I work with Versital. I’m actually a member of the family. We’re a third-generation family business that manufactures Versital. The generic name is a cultured marble. It’s a cast product and we manufacture it in Bolton.

 Q: We know that resin has been around since the 30’s and nowadays is being used a lot more creatively. Can you run us through what resin is and a bit more about the product?

 Gemma says There are a lot of resin products around. Ours is actually acrylic resin. There are so many different types of resin on the market, with different qualities and consistencies depending on the product you’re creating.

We’re actually a very similar composition to other resin-based products. People like Corian or Himacs are more of a household name. Which is great as they have millions of pounds and have developed products over many many years.

We have a different method of manufacturing which makes us different. Ours is a cast product, so we make moulds of what we want to make and cast out of that. Kind of like a jelly mould. It gives us the opportunity to do a lot of different colours that you wouldn’t usually get in other surfaces. I think that is where we are different to other companies, and we really try to maximise that difference in what we can offer to people compared to other businesses.

 Q: Sustainability is really important to us at Wilde Collective and we’re really passionate about it. What sustainable choices does Versital make?

 Gemma Says Everything that we make is completely handmade and bespoke made to order, which is great because there is zero waste. It’s great for two reasons. It’s environmentally fantastic and also cost-effective. We want people to choose sustainable products that are better for the environment. Our products are manufactured locally and bespoke meaning that we can keep the cost down.

We have been doing this for many years, we are very much a reuse and recycling culture. For example, when we make a one-off mould and are finished with it we take it apart and reuse it. Practically it’s great as it keeps waste to a minimum.

In terms of our carbon footprint and transport, all of our materials are sourced locally, and 50% of our vehicles are now either electric or hybrid and likewise to our partner carriers.

Q: How do Versital go about staying on top of trends and making sure that products are current?

 Gemma Says We are very much led by our client base and are fortunate that our client base is designers. We just listen very actively. We’re really excited by colours and I always think we’re not designers but we like to be involved in the design process. 

For colour trends, we follow the Pantone colour range and always ask questions to see what colour trends are coming through. Because we’re a smaller business we are more agile so we can see colour and get it developed in a couple of weeks whereas for bigger companies it can take them a lot longer and they’re just not able to do it that fast.

Q: Why would you opt for a resin over things like quartz, granite or marble?

 Gemma Says We will always try to recommend the best product for the job. So sometimes quartz or granite might be the best choice and we’re not afraid to say when it is because we want a good result. 

Times, when a resin or Versital product is better, are installation. The great thing about it is it can actually be cut and scribed on site. Whereas quartz or granite they need templating in advance which can increase the time frame and is typically more expensive. 

These are also classed as porous products so although they might be harder, they do stain so it depends where you’re using it. If it is in a kitchen or restaurant where you need a stain-proof surface, resin might be a better option as you won’t get any stains and marks can be polished out. The lifespan of the product is much more improved.

Q: Last but not least, you guys have an amazing colour range. What would you say is your favourite colour and how would you use it in your home?

 Gemma says It depends on the day of the week, I love them all! At the moment I love Rock and Rose because it’s really good fun. It’s the baby pink side of things. It’s a combination of pinks and white and even has bits of brick red in it. You can pair it with greys and blues and the great thing is you don’t have to use these colours from floor to ceiling. It can be used in a small amount to stand out. 

Your home is a reflection of your personality. You have to have fun. It’s like clothes, isn’t it. I always think if you choose what you like you’re never going to be disappointed and you won’t get bored of it.

We’d like to give a huge thanks to Gemma and Versital for making the time to chat with us. We loved hearing more about the business and what it’s all about! We hope our readers found it as intriguing as we did.

If you’d like to discover more about Versital, head to their website to see what they’ve been working on recently.