EDITOR´S NOTE

Dan Squires Managing Editor

Welcome to March’s Big Furniture Group Magazine

This month is packed with topical articles, special interviews and some introductions into our magazine. There’s no better place to start than our Cover Star this month, being RESTED, where they talk about their exclusive distribution partnership with Royal Auping – a brand that is looking to establish itself firmly in the UK market. Another BIG feature this month sees our attention turn to Gallery Direct as they celebrate their 50th anniversary milestone year. We got the chance to catch up with Peter Delaney, MD, and find out just how special the occasion is – although I did miss out on some birthday cake!

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Print: Buxton Press

ISSN No: 2753-3387

Copyright © Big Furniture Group 2022

Issue No: 7

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In the BFG hotseat this month is Susie Harding, new Finance Director at Macclesfieldbased furniture and furnishings retailer Arighi Bianchi, who talks about the company’s ecommerce focus, her favourite sofa, thoughts on sustainability and Waldo. Who’s Waldo, I hear you ask? Flip to page 18 to find out! As for the other regular, Sleep.8 goes under the Retail Focus spotlight. We’ve also been busy interviewing a number of sleep-related businesses as March is officially National Bed Month after all. There’s a handy toolkit from the NBF to take full advantage of the month, while we spoke to the Sleep Geek following his recent partnership with Mattress Online, Dreams on the cost-of-living crisis and Vic Smith, who provides an expert insight into the world of beds. There is also another March special feature, celebrating women in the furnishing industry as part of International Women’s Day. We spoke to six women in the industry to learn more about this year’s theme - #EmbraceEquity.

Meanwhile, in our Green Retail sustainability-focused feature, we concentrate on JYSK’s green credentials, and also get the latest insights from Wiemann, Kettle Interiors, GNG and Jaipur Furniture, as well as reviews of the recent JFS and INDX Furniture trade shows. And we haven’t finished there. With design in mind, we spoke to John Evans on why a good store design is key, while Spaceworks reflects on a milestone year for the business. Furthermore, Swan Systems Furniture talks UK growth plans as it seeks new retail partners, Stressless trend experts provide their forecast into future colour trends and our Letter from China returns with some more helpful tips. To wrap things up, SVL talks about their contact centre services they offer and their recent furniture case study, while Furniture Sales Solutions asks the question: Would you credit it?

That’s enough from me, so enjoy our latest magazine. Oh, and if you have any news you want to shout about or keen to get involved in our Retail Focus and Big Interview features, drop me an email on dan@bigfurnituregroup.com. We’d love to share your story.

NEWS

16. Big on Social

Features

18. The Big Interview with Susie Harding, new Finance Director at Arighi Bianchi

24. Why a good store design is key with John Evans

26. Review: INDX Furniture

28. International Women’s Day

32. Retail Focus with Sleep.8

34. Interview: Royal Auping set for UK expansion

36. The Big Fat Furniture Quiz winner

38. Review: JFS

40. Gallery Direct celebrates 50 years

44. Kettle’s new EA collection

46. Wiemann unveiled new ranges at JFS

48. GNG celebrates being Best of British

50. National Bed Month toolkit

52. How Dreams is combatting the cost-of-living crisis