Our Story

Three Counties began with a simple problem. James — our director — ran a valeting business and needed an office. Once he found one, the next challenge was furnishing it. He searched high and low and found… absolutely nothing.

One day, after leaving his local barbers in Ferndown with a fresh trim, he noticed a nearby estate agents closing down. He popped in and asked if he could buy a few items for his new office. Their reply?

“Only if you buy the whole office.”

Eight desks, eight chairs, two filing cabinets and eight sets of drawers — all for £150. A bargain in James’s eyes. He shook hands, raced home to empty the van, and returned with a screwdriver ready to dismantle everything.

When he arrived back at his office with a van packed to the roof, he called in reinforcements: his dad, Jim. Jim took one look at the load and delivered the now-famous line:

“What have you done now, Del Boy?”

To which James proudly revealed a van full of what Jim called “firewood.”

James kept what he needed and sold the rest… including his own desk! So he was back to square one.

Not long after, while sitting at a friend’s place, he spotted a listing on eBay: 33 office desks. He hit “Buy It Now,” grabbed his dad again, rented a Luton van, and headed to Bristol.

On arrival, they realised it wasn’t just 33 desks — it was 33 desks, 33 chairs and 33 drawer units. Naturally, they loaded up and brought everything home.

There was only one problem: James’s tiny office couldn’t fit it all. So, with a bit of “creative storage,” empty offices in the same building, the kitchen, and even the toilets became temporary stockrooms. When the landlord asked why rooms were suddenly full of furniture, James simply said:

“It must’ve been one of my friends putting my items in the wrong place.”

Why This Matters

This is how Three Counties started — with hustle, humour, a lot of heavy lifting, and a belief that customers deserve well-priced, good-quality office furniture.

James is a wild character with a Cheshire-cat grin and a determination that doesn’t quit. He’ll take on any challenge and never shies away from hard work… although we do wish he’d talk a little quieter on the phone.