Ayo designs furniture in his workshop (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)
DAMA DESIGNS
STYLISH RESIN-INFUSED FURNITURE BY AYO DARAMOLA-MARTIN
T
hroughout a long and successful career in corporate marketing, Ayo Daramola-Martin maintained a passion for woodwork. Since turning 60 during lockdown, he has created a new company to sell his beautifully-crafted and eyecatching range of furniture and homeware. After a productive summer spent mostly in his Ifold workshop, Ayo hopes his unique products will resonate with discerning buyers...
Martin, you’ve had a dramatic change of career, then? Absolutely! My background is in marketing and business development, working with blue chip businesses in London. About ten years ago, I founded my own company to help small and medium-size businesses in the property and construction sector. I had a memorable experience working in the Olympic Village alongside the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) in 2012. That business is still going, but lockdown has given me the chance to reflect on what I
most enjoy. I reached a significant milestone in April and feel the time is right for a reinvention.
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Why woodwork? I’ve been making furniture as a hobby for years, as it helps me relax away from the pressure of work and I love the creative aspects of design. The house is full of furniture I’ve built! I realise that transforming a passion into a profitable business will be hard. However, I’ve used my marketing experience to build a website and launched social media pages to promote DAMA Designs too.
Brighton Road Lower Beeding RH13 6NQ
Proud sponsors of Southwater Royals FC
MS-180 We are an official dealership for Stihl, Viking and Honda. We stock a wide range of chain saws, strimmers, blowers, vacuum collectors and hand tools. For the perfect lawn then look no further than our huge range of Honda and Viking mowers for every garden size.
What’s behind the name? My ancestry is Nigerian, although I was born in England and raised by a white English family. The business name is a combination of my Nigerian and English surnames, Daramola and Martin. I suspect my interest in furniture is built into the fabric of my DNA, as there’s a strong craft culture in Nigeria.
01403 891580
www.ats-machinery.co.uk 29
