FAQs: Ordering, Making & Delivery 

Everything you need to know about how your piece is crafted, customised, and delivered to your home. 

Your Order, Delivery & Returns 

What happens when I place an order? 
When you place an order with Gather, we review your location and match you with the most suitable maker from our national network— selecting someone within a 60-mile radius of your home. Manufacturing locally like this not only reduces the environmental impact of transportation but also supports regional craft economies and ensures a more personal, traceable production process. From the moment your commission begins, to the point of delivery, we’ll keep you updated on every step of the journey of your piece being made. We’ll introduce you to your maker, sharing their name and details so you’ll know exactly who is crafting your furniture and where it’s being made. 

How do I know how much my delivery will be?
As every piece in the Gather collection is a unique commission, we don’t apply a blanket delivery fee at checkout. Instead, once you place your order, we’ll be in touch within 5 business days to confirm the delivery cost, which is calculated based on the size of your order and your location. If you're not happy with the quoted delivery cost, no problem—we’ll issue a full refund in accordance with our Terms and Conditions. We also offer the option for you to collect the item directly from the maker, and we’re happy to discuss the details with you.

Where do you deliver to? 
At present, Gathers network of makers covers the UK mainland, specifically England and Wales. However, if you are based in Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands or any address outside of the UK, we would love to hear from you! We are eager to expand our network into these regions and would be excited to connect with makers in these areas. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any enquires outside of our current postcode network. 

Can I see it anywhere before I buy? 
We’re mainly online, which helps us keep prices competitive and avoid the overheads of high street stores. This way, we can focus on bringing you pieces without the extra cost. That said, we do love getting out and about, and you can often find us at pop-ups and fairs across the UK, so you can experience Gather Design in person. Keep an eye on our social media for where we’ll be next. We also feel so lucky to see how our pieces look in homes of our customers, and we share these regularly on our Instagram and Substack.  It’s a simple way to help you imagine how a piece might settle into your space. 

How do I know my piece will fit in my home?
Our pieces are designed to move with you- whether that’s across the room or across generations. We’ve built them to last over 400 years, so they’re made to be taken apart and rehomed with ease. Tables have removable legs, cabinets are kept light with adjustable shelves, and every detail is crafted with practicality in mind. If you’re unsure whether something will fit, just give us a shout -we’re happy to chat it through, and if needed, we can even arrange a home or virtual visit to double-check. 

How do I best look after my Gather piece? 
At Gather, we care deeply about the longevity of our furniture and want to make sure it stays in great condition for years to come. We’ve put together detailed guides for 'Naturally Oiled Ash' and 'Painted Furniture' with plenty of advice and ideas to help you look after your pieces. And if you’re ever unsure about anything, just get in touch - we’re here to help you keep your furniture looking beautiful for 400 years. 

What happens if I don’t like the piece when it’s delivered?
You may cancel your order within 24 hours of placing it, or if you do not accept the delivery costs. Because each Gather piece is made to order and crafted specifically for you, it cannot be resold - so we’re unable to offer full refunds once the making process is underway. After this point, we can offer a refund of up to 50% of the order total to cover materials and work already completed.

That said, your satisfaction is deeply important to us. If your piece arrives and is found to be faulty or not up to the standard we’ve promised, we will, of course, offer a full refund. We’re here to help and will always do our best to make things right.

How do I level my piece?
Where required our pieces are fitted with our simple but ingenious levelling corks. These protect the legs from damage, the floor from any possible marks and scratches and offer a quick and simple adjusting solution for uneven floors. Whilst most manufacturers use hard plastic feet to this end, we knew there must be a better way. Henry’s cork and penny solution is one of our proudest innovations – a simple, sustainable solution that will work forever (and is of course much more fun to replace!). 

The Gather Approach 

Why don’t you make it one factory instead of using all these makers?
At Gather, we’re all about keeping things local and personal. Instead of one big factory, we work with a network of skilled, small-scale cabinet makers - real people in real communities. This keeps craftsmanship alive, supports local economies, and means your furniture is made with care, not just churned out on an assembly line. Plus, it’s better for the planet since we cut down on unnecessary transport. Most importantly, it connects you directly with the makers in your area, turning a simple purchase into a meaningful collaboration. 

What benefits do the makers get from being in your network?
We believe in supporting small-scale production and giving makers - who might not have the resources to reach a larger audience - a chance to grow. The network is a space for sharing skills, experiences, and ideas, fostering a sense of community. Makers are paid a fair price for every piece they produce, and they also have access to the Makers Fund. This is a percentage of Gather’s profits, set aside to support the growth and development of the small-scale maker community. Whether it’s investing in new equipment or supporting a young apprentice, every purchase helps fund these efforts and ensures that makers are empowered with the support they need to regenerate British craftsmanship for the future. 

How do you check the furniture is the same quality with all those different makers?
Every piece in the Gather collection is crafted to exacting standards, following tightly defined manufacturing processes to ensure it is faithfully replicated to the original design—no matter which of our makers brings it to life. We support our makers throughout the process with detailed build plans and regular weekly check-ins, ensuring each commission meets our exceptional standards of craftsmanship. As part of your piece’s journey, you’ll receive photos of it being made, allowing you to feel truly involved in its creation. Once complete, a member of the Gather team personally visits the maker’s workshop to carry out a thorough series of quality control checks. Only when your piece has passed this inspection is it embedded with the Gather Round chip and prepared for delivery to your home. 

Do you offer bespoke design services?
Some of our designs can have small sizing modifications to better suit your space. If you have something specific in mind, get in touch - we’d love to chat about what’s possible and explore how we can make it work for your home. From small modifications to more tailored changes, we’ll help find the right fit and provide a bespoke quote based on your needs. 

Do you offer a trade account?
We’re always delighted to see our pieces being showcased by professional interior designers and want to support that wherever we can. Together, we can build a stronger alternative and mindfully disrupt the British furniture industry. If you're interested in a trade account, reach out to us - we’d love to chat. 

Can I use a Gather maker to make other things for me?
At Gather, we actively encourage makers to connect with customers, and we love seeing those relationships grow. We’re all about fostering local connections that go beyond just a one-off purchase. The same maker who crafted your table could be the perfect person for your next project - whether it’s designing a kitchen or making some shelves for the bedroom. Gather is all about connecting people, and if you stay in touch with your maker, we’ll consider that a job well done.  

How do I know it’s a Gather certified piece of furniture?
Each piece in the Gather collection carries a unique digital fingerprint -a scannable chip hidden behind a cork disc marked with our signature ‘G’. Just hold your phone near the disc, and the chip reveals the full story of your furniture: who made it, the materials used, and its journey to your home. This digital passport includes maker profiles, certifications, care instructions, and photos from its creation - secured on the super low energy 'Base' blockchain. Every item also comes with a unique NFT, which we can transfer to your wallet or securely store for you, adding an extra layer of authenticity and traceability. Find out more on our Gather Round page.