Made In Malton: Business Case Study - Interiors at Nine to Eleven

Business: Interiors at Nine to Eleven, Malton

Founder and Design Principal: Sarah Clark

Location: 9–11 Market Place, Malton, North Yorkshire

Sector: Interior design, soft furnishings, upholstery, homeware and lifestyle retail

Established: 2006, with the Interiors at Nine to Eleven showroom launched in 2011

Interiors at Nine to Eleven is a luxury interiors showroom and design centre in the heart of Malton. Built from the foundations of a small soft furnishings business, it has grown into a destination showroom offering bespoke interior design, curtains, blinds, upholstery, furniture, lighting, accessories and lifestyle gifts. Today, the business combines creative design expertise with practical project management, serving both domestic and commercial clients locally and nationally.

The founder’s journey

Sarah Clark’s career began in interior design after college, when she secured an apprenticeship in a private practice and was mentored by an experienced interior designer. She went on to complete university studies in Interior Design and built her skills across different departments, developing the technical knowledge, creative eye and client focus that would later shape her own business.

Family commitments temporarily changed the direction of her career, but they also strengthened her business capabilities. For several years, Sarah supported the family contracting business, helping with the operational detail needed to establish and grow a company. Combining motherhood with business management sharpened her organisational skills and reinforced the resilience required to run an ambitious independent enterprise.

"Reaching our 20th year in business is something I'm incredibly proud of. When I first had my vision for the business, I simply hoped people would love what we created. Twenty years later, we've had the privilege of transforming hundreds of homes, working with wonderful clients, and building an amazing team along the way. I'm immensely grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years, and whilst it's lovely to reflect on how far we've come, I'm even more excited about what's ahead. We have so many exciting ideas, collaborations and projects planned, and I can't wait to continue creating beautiful homes for many years to come."– Sarah Clark, Founder, Interiors at Nine to Eleven

The opportunity

In July 2006, Sarah identified an opportunity to buy the remaining assets of a small soft furnishings company in her home town. She saw that the business had the relationships, skills and local platform needed to become the interior design company she wanted to build. In September 2006, she launched Stitches Interiors Ltd from a modest fabric library with one full-time member of staff, one part-time member of staff and a workroom ready to support orders.

The response was immediate. Customers came through the door, engaged with the offer and began booking appointments. From the outset, the business had traction: a clear local need, a distinctive creative proposition and a founder with the drive to turn interest into momentum.

Growth and development

Over the following years, Sarah expanded the workforce, developed manufacturing and fitting capacity, and built long-term client relationships that continue today. The business secured high-profile contracts across the country such as Hever Castle, while maintaining its roots in Malton and its commitment to individual, client-led design.

By 2011, demand had grown to the point where the business needed a stronger public-facing platform. Sarah launched Interiors at Nine to Eleven a few doors away from the original Stitches showroom, creating a luxury interior design showroom and lifestyle store. The new showroom gave customers a visual experience of the team’s design quality while also offering home accessories, gifts and inspiration. After two years, the original fabric library was merged into the showroom, creating a creative design studio environment under one roof.

The challenge

Success created its own pressure. As the showroom became established and demand increased, Sarah recognised that the business needed more structure, clearer delegation and a stronger team around her. The challenge was not a lack of customers or creativity, but the need to support growth without overwhelming the founder or compromising the quality of service.

The response

Over the years, Sarah has embraced change and invested in advice, systems and people. She focused on building what she describes as a “team of superstars”, creating a culture based on teamwork, trust, positivity and shared standards. Her leadership style is hands-on and values-led: she leads by example, encourages continuous learning and places attention to detail at the centre of the business.

The business now directly employs seven members of staff in the Interiors showroom, supported by four subcontract soft furnishing outworkers, two upholsterers and two fitters. This combination of in-house design expertise and specialist craft support enables the team to offer a complete service, from fabric selection, bespoke furnishings and upholstery through to full interior schemes, practical installation and project-managed delivery.

What makes the business distinctive

Interiors at Nine to Eleven is distinctive in combining a luxury retail experience with bespoke design expertise and a strong local identity. The showroom is not simply a shop; it is a destination where customers can see, touch and imagine how colour, pattern, texture and craft can transform a home or commercial space.

The business is driven by individuality. Sarah’s passion for design, colour and character shapes a style that is confident, personal and full of energy. The team works closely with clients to create interiors that reflect their wishes while bringing professional creativity, technical knowledge and practical project management to every brief.

Impact

Since 2006, the business has grown from a small fabric library into a multi-service interiors company and showroom. It has created skilled local employment, supported subcontract makers and upholsterers, attracted clients from beyond the town and contributed to Malton’s independent retail offer. Its projects range from family homes to heritage suites and commercial interiors, demonstrating how a local creative business can build national reach while remaining rooted in place.

At the heart of this growth is teamwork and trust. Over the last decade, the Interiors at Nine to Eleven team has grown together, learned together and created interiors that are full of colour, character and soul. As the business approaches its 20th year in 2026, that shared culture is central to its next chapter.

Made in Malton Connection and Future plans

Sarah’s ambition is to build on the business’s creative reputation by continuing to invest in people and strengthen the team developing a highly experienced, knowledgeable and confident workforce. Her focus is on creating opportunities for the team to grow their skills, share expertise and contribute to the next stage of the business with pride and purpose.

Looking ahead, Sarah is also interested in using her experience to contribute to wider conversations about women-led businesses and the realities faced by female entrepreneurs.

In particular, she would like to explore the challenges of building and leading a business while balancing full-time work, motherhood and the changing demands of family life — from childcare and school runs to later life transitions such as menopause. For Sarah, these experiences are part of the leadership journey, reflecting the resilience, adaptability and ambition required to grow a business through different phases of life.

Speak to us if you're interested in finding out more about making your business in Malton: office@maltonestate.co.uk