A HUSBAND and wife team behind an office supplies firm are sitting pretty thanks to rising demand for their chairs.

Verd, in Crook, County Durham, has developed seating to prevent bad backs and give people greater comfort.

The company’s chairs are used at the Sage Gateshead and in London theatres and hospitals, with armour-plated versions fitted in M6 toll booths.

Known as PostureSmart, the chair division runs alongside Verd’s stationery operation and accounts for about 70 per cent of overall business.

Peter and Kim Holdstock, who founded their stationery venture in 1996, said their seating endeavour, introduced in the early 2000s after advice from physios and ergonomic experts, is going from strength to strength.

Mrs Holdstock said: “Our office seating comes in all shapes and sizes, rather than one size fits all.

“We’ve made chairs for one gentleman who was 6ft 10in, and for people who are only 4ft 8in.

“Another client has curvature of the spine and we’ve made a chair he feels comfortable in, and we’ve also helped prostrate sufferers.

“We can accommodate larger people up to 40 stone too.

“The reason PostureSmart has been so successful is the individual attention to detail we provide and the personal aspect we put into each sale.

“It has grown from word-of-mouth.”

Mrs Holdstock added its chairs for the M6 toll booths were fitted with armour-plated gas lifts because of their heavy work load.

She also revealed its seating is used by car maker Nissan, energy company BP and the Adelphi and Royal Court theatres, in London, with different ranges, offering full postural and back care support, now used by the Sage Gateshead and Funding Circle, in London.

The company operates out of Crook Business Centre, and has been backed by Business Durham, the business division of Durham County Council.

Mrs Holdstock said: “They have been fantastic in finding the right accommodation for us.

“The premises are fantastically placed as they’re in the town centre and we’re among some really lovely people.”

Simon Goon, Business Durham managing director, said the firm is further proof of the region’s manufacturing prowess.

He added: “Verd is a fantastic example of how County Durham’s design and manufacturing skills, knowledge and expertise has become highly sought after across the UK.”