THE BIG QUESTION

Huw Williams – Toon Furnishers

I attended both shows and it was fantastic to see things starting to return to something like normal in the industry. The INDX show was only slightly smaller than it traditionally was with some great new products on display and we have all been desperate to get some newness into our ranges after the stagnation during covid. The January show was a lot smaller than it traditionally is and some major brands were not exhibiting, but we still managed to find some great new ranges which will give a major refresh and a new look to the store displays. Talking to a lot of the suppliers they seem to have had a great show.

Martin Lukehurst - Lukehurst

The NEC was a sad representation, of what was once a very comprehensive furniture and accessories show, of six halls, that has now shrunk to a rather pathetic level of exhibitors and to be perfectly frank, if it reduces any more in size, I cannot see it surviving. Sadly, the AIS show has more significance with the suppliers, for our business, that exhibit there but it is very frustrating that it is not all under one roof and that there is not a show that combines the majority of exhibitors. For our business the two Minerva shows in spring and autumn now take on much more significance and I would recommend any meaningful retailer to put the dates of the Minerva show in their diary.

Sohail Khan - CFS

JFS is one show we never miss. We get to meet our suppliers and discuss previous year sales and any improvements that we can implement to make our business partnership better. Plus, take a peek of new design launches and trends. JFS 2023, what we noticed that a large number of exhibitors were not taking part and the show has shrunk in size substantially. The effort from exhibitors was commendable, in these challenging times many of our suppliers were full of positive spirit. Many suppliers who historically had huge stands were exhibiting in smaller spaces. On the trend side, clearly the popularity of colour grey was fading and there were new fresh colours on offer. We hope that 2024 JFS is back to usual capacity.

Nigel Lomas - Harvest Moon Interiors

I went to JFS show on the Monday (23 Years and counting). A lot of big names were missing, to be honest it was a bit disappointing. Distinct lack of excitement. Nothing very new to see. No proper cabinet, just a lot of cheap import. A lot of exhibition space was free in all the halls and it was not busy. I did have a nice fish & chips for £18, guess that’s the problem. A lot of manufacturers have obviously pulled out on cost to be there and exhibit.

Mark Reynolds - Furniture Village

I really enjoyed JFS, it was good to get back to some sort of normality and it was clear that manufacturers are now looking to the future again rather than fulfilling their order books and lead times are also shortening. However, it was sad to see a few less major manufacturers on display again. I saw several people not showing but networking and trying to get meetings. I get this in this environment, but perhaps the price for showing and the return on investment requirements by both manufacturers and the show needs to be reviewed. ‘Efficiency’ was a word banded around by many people I spoke to and getting more with less will play a big part of 2023 in every part of everyone’s lives, BUT and it’s a big BUT they’ll always be room for innovation, dynamism and pioneering in unpredictable times. Future favours the brave, to dare is to do!

Suzanne Skinner – Sussex Beds

We went to both shows. They are both very different types of shows. We visited the AIS INDX on the Sunday and it was a good warm up for the January Furniture show. It was good to see some different suppliers that we would not have seen before. Although not as large as the January Furniture show there were still some things of interest for us. We visited the January Furniture show on the Monday and Tuesday. The first impression was that it is getting so much smaller than it used to be. I remember getting blisters from walking around wearing silly shoes! I thought we would be finished by lunchtime on Tuesday but I was very wrong! We didn’t leave right up until the close of the day. It was great to catch up with old and new suppliers, see new trends and new products. I feel this is still an important show to visit for our industry for touching base with suppliers and seeing new trends coming through. This allows us to plan and look ahead for the coming year and keep up to date.

Vic Smith – Vic Smith Beds

With regards to the AIS show, I no longer attend. And the bed manufacturers I need to see, (and manufacturers are going to hate me for saying this), I find a factory visit from the retailers view far more productive. Now, the January Furniture Show is a whole new level. You can get to see more of the trade from the UK, Europe & afar. You can make some great new contacts and see where the next new trends are taking us. I’ve been going to the furniture show for over 30 years and of course you can have a good show and a bad show when, and you wonder why you wasted your time. This year the organisers I think should apologise, the reductions in the hall space / fake hoardings, the closure of hall 3, all added up to very little new on show and definitely made it an uninteresting show. The show has always done deals to fill empty stands but this year, the amount of extra stands that manufactures could have for a token fee, on the condition they fill the space. In all honesty, this year’s show was a disgrace. I felt sorry for the manufacturers having been hoodwinked and misled and I am sure that a lot of them, as I have been told, felt robbed. And I’m quite sure a few won’t show next year. Some out of principle, some out of lack of interest. The NBF Bed Show I think this year will go from strength to strength because of this.

George Sinclair – Nimbus Beds

We did attend the January Furniture Show and, to be honest, we were quite disappointed. The show feels so much smaller now & less impressive than it did years ago. Maybe Nimbus need to attend next year to shake it up a bit! But in all seriousness, I’m not sure what it was lacking, but everyone we spoke to felt the same way.