Our third week of Salvo Fair's Hats off to Women features Fiona Triplow who has been working at the The Old Radiator Company for five years. Partner of Andy Triplow, who started the business, Fiona studied engineering at university and previously worked as an aroma developer and supply chain manager. Fiona and Andy will be taking a stand at this year's Salvo Fair showcasing the best of The Old Radiator Company's radiators, and encaustic tiles from its sister business The Vintage Floor Tile Comany.
 
What first made you interested in using salvaged and reclaimed materials?
I have always loved old houses. I first lived in the old Mayor's house in Hull which had been converted into flats. My flat was the old ballroom. It had the most amazing ceiling rose filling the whole ceiling of the lounge. My friends thought I was crazy as I could have bought a three bedroomed new home for the price I paid for the flat. When I moved down south my next house in Canterbury was a Victorian terrace and I remodelled the bathroom with an original cast iron bath and radiator. This is when I met Andy and we first started going round reclamation yards together. We bought a house together and went back to buy another cast iron radiator. Andy had a light bulb moment. The Old Radiator Company was born when he bought 200 radiators saying, "How hard can it be?".
 
What did you do before you were in the trade?
I started my career working for BP in the Oil Additives division in Hull in 1989 - not very glamorous but I enjoyed working on the plant. Then "they" decided it would be a good idea for me to work in research which I hated as it was like being back at Uni so I applied for an engineering role for Unilever making fragrance chemicals in Kent. It was great learning about smells. I was involved in the development of new aroma chemicals and took me to other plants in Holland and Mexico. Then I took over a supply chain role, planning what the factories needed by the predicted sales (which of course were usually wrong). My focus was to keep stocks as low as possible which made me smile when I would come back to our radiator mountain. My final job was to outsource production when the factories didn't have enough capacity. I worked with some really good factories in the UK and fought for the production not to go overseas where possible although I worked closely with a German supplier and got very bored with German cuisine (everything was grey).
 
What made you turn to Radiators!?
I began by working part time for a year or so to check Andy and I wouldn't kill each other. I finally agreed to start full time and we celebrated with a very expensive bottle of English sparkling wine in the field. It was a big decision to leave Unilever but my heart was in The Old Radiator Company. I miss my colleagues and the buzz of working for a huge organisation but I don't regret leaving and the motivation that you get from running your own business. We have a fantastic small team here but I probably spend too much time talking to the dogs.
 
What sort of salvaged items are you most enthusiastic about?
Radiators of course - the first thing we check out when going into a pub or restaurant.
 
Has being a woman working with salvaged materials made life easier or more difficult?
I used to work in the oil industry before so this is a doddle. I am a qualified engineer so got a bit frustrated when one certain customer wanted to speak to somebody technical and insisted it wasn't me but generally we have lovely customers.
 
Highlights or down side of working with or using reclaimed/salvage?
The highlights are seeing something really rare and unusual refurbished and looking fab. The downside is everything is mega heavy.
 
Have you any tips for other women wanting to start a salvage business?
Start by finding something to specialise in and that you feel passionate about.
 
How do you feel about the eco-friendly reuse side of salvage with the idea of making the planet a greener place?
I think it is vitally important, why recreate or manufacture something using the earth's resources when a superior product already exists which just needs a specialist make-over.
 
Why do you think women in particular love reuse, reclaiming and architectural salvage?
I have met some amazing women with vision on how to use and display salvaged items to create a interesting home or public space.
 
Have you used salvaged or reclaimed items in your own home?
Of course radiators, baths, wooden flooring, interesting lighting. We have just brought panelling for our newly created dining room which will also have a slate (snooker table) floor. I'm really looking forward to seeing it all come together. We are also refurbishing a Humber Keel Barge from 1926 which will be having lots of reclaimed cupboards. The door into the utility room is from an old fridge and I am looking forward to finding a way to incorporate geometric floor tiles into the bathroom…. and radiators! I have already picked out the warehouse radiator for the lounge and church rad for the snug.
 
How you relax and unwind?
Holidays always seem to involve a salvage yard. Last year we visited a few of the brocantes and spent a lot of time driving around small villages trying to find something 'special'. It was fun remembering what we had purchased a few days later when the lorry turned up. Grande Braderie de Lille is an amazing experience both for the stalls and the moules and we will be back again this year.
 
Fiona Triplow, The Old Radiator Company, Hallmark Farm, Ashford Road (A28), St Michaels, Kent TN30 6SP Tel: 01233 850082.
 
The Salvo Fair will be held on 18-19 June at Fawley Hill in Henley-on-Thames with Trade Day on Friday 17th June. If you would like to be involved in 'Hats off to Women' answer the same questions and send your story and photos to Salvo.