Cabinet Maker August 2019 by Cabinet Maker

DAN SQUIRES

CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK 01623 372 213 PUBLISHER Stewart Rickersey stewart@cabinet-maker.co.uk 01623 372218 EDITOR Dan Squires dan@cabinet-maker.co.uk 01623 372215 FEATURE WRITER Wayne Swiffin wayne@cabinet-maker.co.uk 01623 372215 SALES & SUBSCRIPTIONS Sharon Rickersey Operations & Sales Manager sharon@cabinet-maker.co.uk 01623 372213 Siobhan Foster subscriptions@cabinet-maker.co.uk 01623 372216 PRE-PRESS PRODUCTION Tim Morriss tim@cabinet-maker.co.uk 01623 372158 DIGITAL Jakub Krzyzanowski jakub@cabinet-maker.co.uk 01623 372157 Subscription prices Cover price for a single print copy £9.99 Published daily online at www.cabinet-maker.co.uk and monthly in print Subscribe online at www.cabinet-maker.co.uk P&P extra. VAT will be charged where applicable. Refunds on prepaid subscriptions will only be provided at the publisher’s discretion. Issue no 6127 published by Information Publications Ltd, Suite 15 Brunts Business Centre, Samuel Brunts Way, Mansfield, NG18 2AH VAT No: GB 945225521

All of that will be supported now by a monthly publication... And here is the first edition. Another piece in the jigsaw of our evolution has been completed and it has given Cabinet Maker a solid base to build on its illustrious history. So what is inside this milestone issue? I can assure you that no pages or regular features have been lost, as you will see for yourself as you start the journey through our new venture. The monthly sections continue and in August include Beds, Flooring and Upholstery, as well as two — yes, two — instalments of our People Behind The Products series. We met Carl Drake from Rise Furniture and Mobility and Faye Armstrong from Designer Contracts. We take a look at next month’s Bed Show, as well as preview the upcoming Irish Homewares and Furniture Show, Celebration of Craftsmanship event, the Flooring Show, and the Autumn Fair. At the other end of the scale, we recap the recent Manchester Furniture Show and all the goals from the Herman Miller Cup.

rumours had it I was off to Barca with Messi and co! Back to business, and the BFM has exclusively revealed its latest trade data that focuses on each main sector across the industry. Protect-A-Bed also shared an insight in how the business has continued to grow, despite operating in tough times, whilst new mattress business JT Lewis has given us another exclusive, on its future plans. Breasley and Radium Foam complete the Beds line-up with their own respective updates, with the latter highlighting the importance of sustainability. Another important message that we keep highlighting ourselves is apprenticeships. We got the low down from Westbridge Furniture on what it is doing to help bridge the skills gap, which is proving to deliver positive results. Staying with upholstery, La-Z-Boy talks about its recent MFS success — its stand was absolutely stunning, by the way, as were the products on show. We round off the issue with another Last Word from Dids Macdonald OBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, who talks about the many different ways of supporting a diverse industry. Until next month, make sure you keep up-todate with all the latest news by visiting our website for your daily news briefing. Dan Squires Editor

Unfortunately I was unable to play this year due to recovering from a broken ankle. I thought it was best to clear that up as DESIGN Briion.

BEDS

MD of JT Lewis, Paul Vinnicombe, of continued growth talks about the making division. their mattress

August 2019

FLOORING CARPETS AND Designer

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first issue: 1

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Carpets & Flooring Countdown to The Flooring Show 2019 | Pages 46-48

from Faye Armstrong, part in our People Contracts, takes series. Behind the Products

July 1880

CARPETS AND FLOORING

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Our transition from a weekly to a monthly print magazine has meant a busy time on the editorial desk. In fact, the transition has actually been from a weekly to a daily. This explanation has been met with some puzzled looks but our online output is daily — and the best in the industry. And our digital platform and offering will continue to grow in the coming months and beyond.

UPHOLSTERY

recent reflects on its La-Z-Boy UK MFS, boasting appearance during stands on show. one of the best

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The opinions and views expressed in Cabinet Maker are not necessarily those of Information Publications Ltd. Being subject to the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines in place at the time of going to press, all data submitted by advertisers and contained in their advertising copy is accepted by Information Publications Ltd in good faith. ISSN: 0964-4199 Registered as a Newspaper at the Post Office.

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ON THE COVER AVILES LIVING & DINING FROM FURNITURE TO GO

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THIS MONTH INSIDE OUR AUGUST ISSUE NEWS 6

LAST WORD 114 BEDS & MATTRESSES

FEATURES

BFM TRADE DATA

News Special: The BFM reveals the latest furniture industry trade data from the past year.

SUMMER’S HOTTEST SHOW

A look back on last month’s successful Manchester Furniture Show — and what is already planned for 2020.

DRILL TO VICTORY

PRODUCT PAGES

RIGHT DIRECTION

Furniture To Go 106 Sherborne Upholstery 107

Paul Vinnicombe, managing director of JT Lewis, talks about the continued growth of its mattress making division.

IRISH LED

Organisers of the Irish Furniture and Homewares Show talk about this year’s event in Dublin.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

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More than 70 small designer-maker workshops from across Britain will be exhibiting at Cheltenham’s contemporary furniture exhibition.

Vita Talalay, a brand part of Radium Foam, explains the importance of sustainability in a quick-fire Q&A with Cabinet Maker.

Mike Crowshaw, joint managing director at Breasley, talks about the evolution of the rolled and boxed mattress.

CARPETS & FLOORING MEET FAYE

NBF reveals the results from its first round of Due Diligence random testing programme.

SUSTAINABLE FOCUS

INNOVATE TO EVOLVE

Autumn Fair launches for 2019 with a bold new direction. Cabinet Maker finds out more.

RAISING AWARENESS

Award-winning Protect-A-Bed shares an insight into continued success at the business.

Carl Drake, owner and managing director at Rise Furniture and Mobility, sits in the CM People Behind The Products hot seat.

BOLD NEW DIRECTION

CONTINUED SUCCESS

Cabinet Maker recaps on the recent football industry tournament, the Herman Miller Cup.

MEET CARL

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BED SHOW PREVIEW

Find out more about Faye Armstrong, from Designer Contracts, in our People Behind The Products series.

SETTING STANDARDS

Reece Johnson, from SATRA, examines the implications of the EN 13845:2017 standard.

FOCUS ON FLOORING Cabinet Maker takes a look at what to expect to see at next month’s Flooring Show.

Another look ahead to next month’s Bed Show.

UPHOLSTERY & CABINET HIGHLY SKILLED

Nick Arundell, Westbridge HR Manager, talks about the company’s ongoing apprenticeship success.

BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE

La-Z-Boy UK reflects on its recent appearance during MFS, boasting one of the best stands on show.

NEWS

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES:

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NEWS IN BRIEF NEW APPOINTMENTS

Winner is...

Acres Consultancy has added to its talent acquisition team with two new appointments. James Slater and Sophie Paton have joined the company as it expands to service a growing client base of UK-wide KBB retailers and merchants. James previously worked in retail sales, while Sophie has a strong background in recruitment and has experience with face-toface sales, as well as business development.

Eight crews came together to compete for the annual LIA Challenge Cup at the 2019 Lighting Industry Sailing Regatta, held at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. Teams included Lightmongers, The EDA, The LIA, Lumicom, Lutron, MPA Group and Signify. Three races took place over the day and after a hard day of sailing, Signify were crowned champions at the evening’s prizegiving.

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Register for the Autumn Furniture Show The Autumn Furniture Show is set to continue its success story when it takes place this year on 1st and 2nd October. The show venue is the NAEC showground at Stoneleigh Park, near Kenilworth. Halls 1 and 2. The magnificent country setting, with its convenient location, close to Birmingham, provides a professional and well-equipped exhibition centre. More than 80 top suppliers will be exhibiting, many showcasing new products. All furniture trade buyers are welcome over the two days with a complimentary lunch.

New contract

NEW COLLECTION

Fit-out specialist Mace Interiors has been appointed by HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) to deliver 275,000sqft of Category B fit-out for a new Government hub in Nottingham, Unity Square. The new hub is set to open in summer 2021 and the first phase will eventually host around 4,000 HMRC employees. Work on the fitout will begin in 2020.

Flooring contractor Designer Contracts has announced the launch of its new 100% polypropylene carpet collection. Aimed at the care, nursing home and hospitality sectors, Duracare Twist features a number of practical benefits, most notably an impervious backing, as well as being available with an extensive colour bank of 20 shades.

Furniture project Factory status Flooring manufacturer Formica Group has announced a new partnership with contemporary French designers Maud Vantours and Pierre-Henri Devineau on a new furniture project, FLOWA. Inspired by Vantours, Devineau took a strong interest in the manufacturing of plywood panels for furniture and design.

August 2019 | 06

Beaulieu International Group (BIG) has won its fourth ‘Highly Protected Risk’ status at its French parquet factory. The factory, which is located in Meaulne and is part of the Beaulieu Flooring Solutions division, was awarded ‘Highly Protected Risk’ (HPR) status by insurer FM Global. This means the plant meets the most stringent fire prevention and protection demands there can be.

To register for your free entrance pass, visit the dedicated website:

w www.theautumnfurnitureshow.co.uk

MANUFACTURE

FIRM CONFIRMS SENIOR RESTRUCTURE Home furnishings business Arper has announced changes to its senior management team and corporate structure. After many years of solid growth at an international level, under the leadership of president Claudio Feltrin, Marco’s S.r.l. — Holding of the Feltrin family and parent company of Arper S.p.A. — launched the reorganisation of the control chain and the governance of the group: the equity investments in companies active in industrial business areas other than in the design furnishings, which is the core business of Arper S.p.A. and is represented by the assets connected to the brand Arper, have been allocated under the direct supervision of Marco’s Group. Vincenzo Rivizzigno — after a 15-year cooperation with the president that led to the success, growth and internationalisation of Arper — ended his appointment as chief executive of Arper S.p.A. He will continue to work with the Feltrin family within the context of Marco’s Group, where he will be in charge of the development of industrial activities not connected to the Arper brand.

w www.arper.com

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Panel supplier launches competition Timber and panel products supplier James Latham has launched a competition across its social media platforms to celebrate the best projects and examples of design that have been created using their high-quality timber or decorative products. Using the hashtag #LathamsDesign2019, the competition is inviting designers, architects, joiners, furniture makers — anyone who uses their products — to share their images. The competition, which runs throughout the UK and Ireland, launched in early July and will continue until 30th September. Selected images will be showcased across Latham’s various social media platforms and the winning entry will receive a £500 voucher for Artist Residence, the eccentric boutique hotel group, which has venues in Brighton, London, Oxfordshire, Penzance and Bristol. Group head of marketing Stuart Devoil said: “We are constantly amazed by the high-quality, end-products created by our customers who are designers, joiners, woodworkers, landscape designers, architects, and much more. We know there are some world-class design and craft skills out there but, too often, we don’t get to see where our products and materials end up and what they turn into. “We want to encourage people to share more pictures of their work which showcase their skills, so creating a summer photo competition was the perfect opportunity to do this.” Using the hashtag #LathamsDesign2019 and tagging Latham’s, anyone wishing to enter can post images on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook using @lathamsltd or via LinkedIn using @jameslatham.

w www.lathamtimber.co.uk

MANUFACTURE

IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES DRIVES GROWTH Nottingham-based soft furnishings supplier Leisure Furnishings has reported a growth in profit, despite sales declining. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 30th September, 2018, total sales fell by 4.9% to £15.5m from £16.3m in 2017, marking an end of four straight years of turnover growth. Gross profit experienced an uptick of 3.8% to £2.7m from £2.6m, whilst pre-tax profit returned to growth, up by 283% to £445,616 from £116,977 reported last year.

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Detailed within its report, the company said that profit growth has been achieved by continued focus on efficiencies throughout the business and the ongoing implementation of business improvement practices. Furthermore, the impact of savings in administrative expenses has improved net margin back in line with business expectations.

w www.leisure-furnishings.co.uk

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NEWS NEWS

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Kitchen retailer receives international recognition Kitchen retailer Wren Kitchens has been internationally commended for its manufacturing facilities in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Wren’s state-of-the-art factories make more than 2,000 kitchens every week and it has recently achieved an official stamp of approval by the worldwide standard-setting body - International Standards Organisation (ISO). Wren’s factories in Barton-upon-Humber and Howden have been awarded with ISO 9001. It recognises the kitchen retailers’ efforts to continually improve and streamline the performance of the business. Howden has been certified with one of the newest and most highly commended ISO 45001, which focuses on employees’ health, safety and welfare. It has also achieved ISO 14001, for proactively minimising its environmental impact. Voted the best place to work, Wren is confident of replicating its success of ISO 45001, 9001 and 14001 at its remaining sites with an eight-day audit planned in the next few months. Supporting the recognition, Wren’s environmental policies are designed to minimise the impact on the environment and that’s why it recycles all waste and materials where possible — nothing goes to landfill unless it has to.

MANUFACTURE

FURNITURE MAKER SEES ONLINE SALES BOOST A UK-wide bespoke furniture manufacturer based in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, has seen a major sales boost after teaming up with a digital marketing agency. After investing in a new e-commerce website that has enabled the company to sell its furniture online for the first time since it was established in 2012, Parker Howley & Co partnered with Vizulate Digital for the implementation of a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Google Ads strategy that has helped generate an additional £70,000 in sales in the three months since the website went live. Established in 2012, Parker Howley & Co employs a small team of designers, carpenters and craftsmen and prides itself on using 100% raw materials to craft bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room furniture. The business had built up a large and loyal following on social media, which was further helped by some organic mentions from several influencers and celebrities. Scott Brant, operations director at Vizulate Digital, said: “The fact that Parker Howley & Co has grown its audience organically and without a website to date is testament to the reputation it has created for itself using social media. “Customers now have a dedicated website where they can place their orders, and the search engine marketing campaign will enable Parker Howley & Co to reach new audiences.”

So far this year 2,000 tonnes of wood shavings have been recycled into animal bedding, and all pallets are recycled and reused by nearby pallet companies in Goole and Rotherham. Also, more than 1,700 tonnes of scrap wood and metal has been recycled and reused.

Mike Howley, co-director at Parker Howley & Co, said: “Launching our website was a major step for the brand, as until recently we had grown our audience organically by establishing our reputation with a strong social media presence.

Wren Kitchens Manufacturing and Logistics director, Rafal Klimek, said: “These recognitions further cement our name as an industry-leading kitchen manufacturer, and it’s thanks to the tremendous efforts of our Wren family for making this possible.”

“We were confident that the team at Vizulate would help drive sales and grow the business further through the e-commerce site, and they have certainly helped us to achieve that. The results we have achieved so far have been brilliant.”

w www.wrenkitchens.com

w www.parkerhowleynco.co.uk

MANUFACTURE

RETAIL

BFM RELOCATE TO NEW OFFICE

Cost controls deliver profit

The British Furniture Manufacturers Association (BFM) has confirmed it has moved its office to Banbury.

Independent furniture retailer Fishpools has reported a slight decline in turnover as profit remained consistent.

The BFM is located at the Bloxham Mill Business Centre on Barford Road in Bloxham, Banbury.

According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 3rd February, total sales fell 0.6% to £29.8m from £30m in 2018. Gross profit remained at £13.7m, as did pre-tax profit, which resulted at £1.6m, the same as the previous year.

Commenting on the move, Nick Garrett, managing director of the BFM, said: “Our new office has the benefit of personal call handling during office hours and answerphone service outside of office hours. “Meeting rooms are available on site and the new location is very accessible, 10 minutes from Banbury, with fast trains to Birmingham and London, and is a good central base to access members and suppliers across the UK. You are very welcome to come and see us in our new office and if you would like to visit please get in touch.”

w www.bfm.org.uk August 2019 | 08

Stated within its report, the company said that the impact of consumer confidence, the housing market and big ticket purchases from Brexit has continued to have a significant effect on the retail sector. That being said, the business managed to control costs over the period, despite increasing product cost inflation due to sustained sterling weakness.

w www.fishpools.co.uk

Now with more to love

The La-Z-Boy 2019 collection is packed with contemporary chic.

Brand new styles with elegant, hand-finished detailing.

Our expanded product range simply gives you and your customers more La-Z-Boy to love.

NEWS NEWS

RETAIL

Homewares retailer relocates following funding deal

Store solution specialist confirms acquisition

Independent furniture and homewares retailer Seymour’s Home has secured bank funding from HSBC UK.

Following many months of discussion and hard work, Swan Retail has announced the recent acquisition of Touchretail.

Darlington-based Seymour’s Home has agreed a six figurefunding package from HSBC UK that has supported its fit out project on a new 2,400sq ft showroom on Grange Road — just down the road from its previous store.

Touchretail is a provider of retail systems that will further extend the scope and range of solutions provided by Swan’s group of businesses and grows its customer base beyond 500 companies.

Following the move, Seymour’s Home also expects to create two new jobs in its sales team in the year ahead. Commenting on the expansion, the company said that its bricks and mortar store is key to its business with the new investment reflecting this.

Employing a team of 16, Touchretail adds an established and innovative cloud-based retail management and EPoS solution that includes a suite of add-on functionality, including warehouse management, loyalty and third-party system integration with mainstream accounts packages, and web providers.

Founded in 1957, Seymour’s Home supplies a range of homeware, furniture and lighting across the UK, as well as exporting to China, the US and Australia.

The business will continue to operate from its Staffordshire headquarters, giving Swan a fifth UK office and 93 employees, in addition to the first US office set up earlier in 2019.

w www.seymourshome.com

MANUFACTURE

FURNITURE FIRM APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR Contract furniture specialist Humanscale has announced the appointment of Andre Loosemore to A&D director, Humanscale International. Andre will take responsibility for the planning, implementation and monitoring of the furniture manufacturer’s A&D programme in international markets. He has more than 18 years of extensive experience throughout the commercial sector. He has held key positions with a number of high-profile manufacturers, led business development for a global architecture and design practices, and consulted with furniture and building consultancies. The appointment underpins Humanscale’s strategy to grow the international business through the expansion in the global architectural and design community, ensuring the company continues to inspire and educate existing and new markets with its unique approach to responsible manufacturing and design excellence. Reporting to Tim Hutchings, president, Humanscale International, André will continue to work closely with the North American A&D senior management team to ensure both programmes are complimentary and consistent. Andre Loosemore, A&D director, Humanscale International, said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Humanscale’s A&D programme internationally. I look forward to working with the team to grow Humanscale’s presence amongst the A&D community, both in our more established and emerging international markets. The A&D community is a flexible and dynamic one, and with globalisation and the introduction of new technologies, design has fewer boundaries. It is crucial that Humanscale’s A&D programme is consistent and cohesive in its delivery, and that we continue to grow and leverage our network and remain at the forefront of our clients thinking.”

w www.humanscale.com August 2019 | 12

Touchretail will also integrate to Swan’s new Cygnus EPoS platform, which is due for launch in September and will provide retailers with a truly agnostic POS solution. By adding Touchretail to the growing group, Swan has ensured it has a solution for every size of retailer across almost every sector, whilst increasing group annual turnover to £6 million. “We’re extremely excited about this acquisition,” said David Thompson, Swan Retail group managing director. “Every acquisition or business decision is a strategic one and the strategy behind this deal was to add a like-minded and forwardthinking organisation that had a significant foothold within cloudbased retail solutions. “Touchretail has a broad range of users within fashion and leisure and our overall group offer will only become stronger with Touchretail on board.” “We’ve grown this business from the ground up and have an enormous amount of pride in what we have achieved,” said Stuart Francis, Touchretail managing director. “We have always known about and respected Swan Retail as a leading player within the retail systems market, so the acquisition was not a difficult one to consider and commit to. “We’re excited about the next stage of our journey and what we can achieve together as part of a larger entity.” The acquisition of Touchretail follows the 2018 acquisition of Creative Marketing Ltd, a full-service creative agency that provides digital and eCommerce solutions for the Swan Group, as well as traditional offline marketing services such as brand and marketing strategy, print advertising design, brochure creation, point-of-sale, packaging design, and art direction. The acquisitions are part of a longer-term strategic plan to position Swan Retail as the UK’s leading omni-channel solution for retailers, who will be able to manage their entire business both online and offline utilising Swan’s solutions and services.

w www.swanretail.co.uk

aQO RETAIL

Homewares retailer confirms director appointment Homewares retailer Dunelm has announced that Ian Bull has been appointed as a non-executive director, with immediate effect. He will be a member of the Audit and Risk, Remuneration and Nominations committees. Ian has more than 20 years’ business and financial experience with a range of leading consumer-facing businesses.

OFFICE FURNITURE FIRM INVESTS IN FACTORY Office furniture manufacturer Flexiform has announced a £3m investment at its manufacturing plant in Thornbury, Bradford.

Ian is currently the senior independent director and chair of the Audit Committee of St Modwen Properties plc, and nonexecutive director and chair of the Audit Committee at Domino’s Pizza Group plc. He was formerly a non-executive director of Paypoint Ltd.

Over the last decade, the business has grown to a £29m turnover company, manufacturing office furniture for government organisations, major Blue-Chip companies, the education market and private businesses.

Chairman of Dunelm, Andy Harrison said: “I am delighted to welcome Ian to the Board. Given his broad business and financial leadership background, and Board and committee experience, he will be a valuable addition to Dunelm.”

Managing director Nick Hewitt, with the help of MTC (Manufacturing Technology Centre), carried out a valued mapping exercise that identified all the current issues within its factory and any site constraints or bottlenecks.

w www.dunelm.com

Recently the paint booth was updated to a Gama Paint Booth, making it highly efficient. As part of the £3m investment, it has purchased a Bystronic Laser Cutter and a Salvagnini Panel Bender. These machines are currently being installed in the warehouse, with employees receiving training, and in the next three to four years it will be working on transforming the production facility and systems within the warehouse, increasing production capacity by 40% and an additional surge capacity of 20% without increasing the site footprint. Nick Hewitt, managing director of Flexiform Business Furniture, said: “Investing in up-to-date technology and reconfiguring the current space that we have will help Flexiform and Asgard grow considerably while staying in our West Yorkshire roots. The business will embrace the latest production technology to deliver a lean, modern and high-production facility.”

w www.flexiform.co.uk

DESIGN

Architect wins award Architect firm Stone + Associates has been recognised with the Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence award for its work refurbishing Monks Cross furniture store, Rodgers of York. The Rodgers of York project included an entrance extension and a new tearoom, with the owners stating that the expansion has already had a significant positive impact on the business. THE LABC awards were presented by property show presenter, Martin Roberts, at a ceremony at the Principal Hotel in York.

w www.stoneassociates.co.uk

VIRGINIA By popular demand, the recently-introduced

Virginia range is also now available in leather. Suiting both traditional and contemporaryt homes, it features soft, fibre-filled backs and soft ‘pillow’ arms. New Queensbury Slate colour (see inset) also now available.

NEWS

MANUFACTURE

NEWS NEWS

RETAIL

MANUFACTURE

Former furniture director handed six-year ban Former furniture director Altaf Dawood Patel has been banned for six years following the collapse of Factory Clearance Ltd. Appearing before the High Court, he was alleged to have allowed the company to continue to trade while insolvent and to the determent of its creditors between February and April 2016. Following an investigation by the Insolvency Service, during this time the business racked up debts totalling £67,460, which could not be satisfied. Despite a liability notice being served, Patel secured a £65,000 loan into the business bank account, even though there was a high risk the business could potential collapse.

KITCHEN MAKER OPENS NEW SHOWROOM Bespoke kitchen cabinet maker Tom Howley has announced the launch of a new showroom in Cheltenham.

The court heard that following the loan and between the period of the aforementioned dates, he withdrew £59,300 from Factory Clearance’s accounts and moved it into his own personal account via a combination of payments.

Tom Howley has added to its 16-strong stable of exquisite showrooms across the UK. The new Cheltenham showroom can be found at 1-2 Montpellier Walk and is set within a classical frontage featuring the famous Caryatids of Montpellier.

The company, which specialised in discount furniture and operated from two stores on Corporation Street in Bolton and on Market Street in Bury, ceased trading in April 2016 and was wound up on the petition of Preston City Council over an unspecified unpaid debt.

Commenting on the launch, the company said: “Every Tom Howley kitchen is designed and built specifically for each client, tailored to individual lifestyles and personal tastes. The new showroom in Cheltenham showcases the enduring style of the country kitchen via the five collections on display.

w www.gov.uk

“From the intricately bevelled silhouettes of the Summerville and Devine collections to the sweeping modernity of the Butler and the new Kavanagh designs, the showroom also features the most popular Tom Howley collection, the Hartford, in brand new, exclusive paint colour, Periwinkle.”

MANUFACTURE

COMPONENTS FIRM CELEBRATES 20 YEARS The Finesse range of genuine solid pewter cabinet and door hardware is celebrating its 20th anniversary of being ‘Handmade in the UK’ this year as the award-winning brand continues to go from strength to strength. From its modern 32,000sq ft factory premises in County Durham, the Finesse range is manufactured using a blend of modern production techniques and processes, combined with a unique handcrafted finish, highlighting the natural beauty of pewter. Ian Smith, design and brand Manager at DJH Group, owners of Finesse, explained the origins of the brand: “I trained as a silversmith for five years and gained my own hallmark when I was 16. I found that I had a passion for designing pewter door hardware and in 1998 I formed the Ocean Group company.

Tom Howley has showrooms in Alderley Edge, Altrincham, Beaconsfield, Brentwood, Bristol, Cambridge, Chelsea, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Esher, Guildford, Harrogate, Islington, Leamington Spa, Tunbirdge Wells, and Wigmore Street, as well as confirming that another will open soon in Winchester by Winter 2019.

w www.tomhowley.co.uk

RETAIL

Homewares business opens new Hull store Furniture and homewares business Plant & Paint has rebranded and opened a new store in Hull.

“In 2005 I sold the firm to DJH and together we launched the premium Finesse hardware brand, going on to set the benchmark for design and quality in the industry.

Plant & Paint, which has launched the new outlet on Humber Street, said it marked the beginning of its new brand identity, transitioning from its previous name of Vintage Home.

“We use only the finest lead-free pewter and each piece is made in our UK foundry using the most up-to-date methods, alongside some highly skilled hands.

Lara Roberts, company owner, said the move has been overwhelming positive with the business now stocking a range of plants, paints and accessories alongside furniture products.

“Pewter is an ideal material for the home. It has a distinctive warm, tactile feel and its natural finish doesn’t corrode, making it a robust yet environmentally-kind product. Because Finesse is solid pewter, every product is 100% recyclable, which is unique in our industry.”

The company is an official stockist of paint supplier Annie Sloan, with the store also stocking items including planter hangers by Macrame Mama, embroidery hoops by Sew Botanical and lighting by Yormake.

w www.finessefurnishings.co.uk August 2019 | 14

w www.facebook.com/plantandpaint

Madrid The Madrid round dining table is made using the finest European Oak and is ideal for smaller homes who still want quality and style - its softened edges and elegant style make it stand out as a master piece in design.

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Suspected arson attack destroys carpet store Independent carpet and flooring retailer LB Carpets has suffered a huge fire at its store in North Staffordshire. The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene around 1.30am on 5th July after the fire broke out at the store situated on London Road in Chesterton. Staffordshire Police also attended and has a launched an investigation to determine the cause, which is understood to be arson. The owner of LB Carpets, Lee Braxton, said he was devastated after the fire damaged all stock and completely gutted the store. Speaking to local media, Lee said the fire looked like it was ignited by a “liquid, like petrol” and had caused around £20,000-worth of damage. He added that trading was going “absolutely brilliantly” and he was left heartbroken following the deliberate attack. Commenting in a statement, the business said: “Just to let you all know sadly the shop was set on fire and the whole place has been wiped out so it won’t be in action for a while. Meanwhile I can still bring samples to your homes and measure and quote and fit as normal. It’s just the shop that will be closed for a while. Thank you.” Staffordshire Police confirmed the fire may have been started deliberately and said it had launched an investigation in the case of suspected arson, whilst examining nearby CCTV footage. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident 35 of July. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

w www.staffordshire.police.uk

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RETURN TO PROFIT AT FURNITURE WHOLESALER Furniture wholesale and supply business Bentley Designs UK has reported a third straight year of declining sales. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 30th September, 2018, total sales fell 13.3% to £22.7m from £26.2m in 2017. Total UK sales stood at £19.2m, down 17.9% from £23.4m last year. However, sales from the EU rose 30.7% to £3.4m from £2.6m. Pre-tax profit resulted at £ 97,044, marking an improvement from its loss of £450,563 recorded last year.

w www.bentleydesigns.com August 2019 | 16

CHILDREN’S FURNITURE BRAND EYES UP UK MARKET Norwegian children’s furniture brand Stokke has announced the appointment of Rooster PR to deliver its social campaign in the UK. Rooster will deliver an integrated PR, social media and influencer programme in the UK and will initial focus on building media and consumer awareness of the Stokke brand. Under the partnership, the awareness drive will work alongside Stokke’s outreach programme, as well as using events and ambassadorships to further promote the business in the UK, which has one retail showroom in Westfield London. Calum MacGregor, Stokke sales director North-West Europe, said that it has handed over all PR and social media responsibilities to Rooster for a more joined-up communications campaign.

w www.stokke.com

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Compensation order Directors and staff of former Peterborough-based specialist furniture business Life Comfort Products Ltd have been ordered to pay compensation or receive another prison sentence. In a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on 3rd July, husband and wife Geoffrey and Jaqueline Turner, former directors of the business, were ordered to pay a total of £172,879.50 each, of which £15,329.50 (each) will be compensation to victims, as well as £12,130 each in costs. They were given a deadline of three months to pay or to face another two years in jail. Sales manager David Turner was given 28 days to pay £5,000 or face another three months in jail, while national marketing manager Tim Clark was given a £1,000 order, which needed to be paid in 28 days or he would face an additional one month sentence. Last year Cambridge Crown Court sentenced Geoffrey and Jacqueline Turner to 12 months and nine months in prison respectively. Geoffrey Turner was also banned from being a director for 10 years and Jackie for seven years. David Turner was sentenced to nine months, whilst national marketing manager Tim Clark received six months. The business was found guilty of aggressive selling tactics after an 18-month investigation conducted by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trading Standards, with support from the National Trading Standards Tri Region Investigation Team. The investigation followed hundreds of complaints to Citizens Advice concerning aggressive and misleading practices by their sales and door canvassing teams all over England.

w www.gov.uk

BRUSSELS FURNITURE FAIR www.modulo.be | 320307

3 - 6 NOV 2019

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SUN - TUE 9AM - 7PM & WED 9AM - 6PM BRUSSELS EXPO - WWW.FURNITUREFAIRBRUSSELS.BE

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THE

AUTUMN

FURNITURE SHOW 2019

NAEC, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire ● ● ● ●

2 day trade event Over 80 Exhibitors Global portfolio of suppliers Complimentary lunch

Registration is now open www.theautumnfurnitureshow.co.uk

Make a date for October! Tuesday 1st 9am - 5pm Wednesday 2nd 9am - 4.30pm

Exhibitors include:

For show details, full exhibitor listing and to register for fast track entry please visit our website: www.theautumnfurnitureshow.co.uk

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Retailer opens new store Kitchen retailer Wren Kitchens has announced the opening of its 80th state-of-the-art showroom at Stone Lane Retail Park in Exeter. The kitchen retailer has invested around £1m in transforming the former Currys store, which now contains the county’s largest kitchen range on display from industrial style, to country and ultra-modern. It’s created 27 local jobs from kitchen designers to showroom managers and this recent investment is part of Wren’s wider expansion plans, opening 14 showrooms across the UK this year. The 16,000sq ft kitchen showroom was set to open on 2nd August. “It has taken three months to completely transform the retail unit and the substantial amount we’ve invested demonstrates our commitment to the local area,” said Wren Kitchens Exeter showroom manager, Alison Hawkins. “The new showroom will showcase more than 50 kitchen displays and top of the range technology to help you build your dream kitchen including virtual reality.”

w www.wrenkitchens.com

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SAVE THE DATE Dates for the BFM London Fabric Show 2020 have been announced as Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th, February 2020 (changing from a Monday and Tuesday, to a Tuesday and Wednesday). Organised by the BFM (British Furniture Manufacturers Association), the 2020 event will feature a fresh look and new branding — aligning it more closely with the BFM, while retaining its admired and unique character.

David Elderkin, director at I for Design, left, and SWIG managing director John Peters

ETHICAL HOMEWARE DESIGNER SECURES LOAN A manufacturer and distributor of ethical and environmentally responsible homeware products is the latest business to receive funding support from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF), with an £80,000 loan made up of £35,000 from CIOSIF and £45,000 from SWIG Finance. Truro based I for Design Limited produces a range of cork products that is proving increasingly popular with retailers from across the region and beyond, with an existing client list that includes Rick Stein, The Eden Project and RSPB. The business has achieved significant growth since establishing its LIGA brand in 2017; the number of stores stocking its designs has increased from 25 just last year to more than 200 currently. David Elderkin, director at I for Design, said: “As consumers continue to seek more sustainable, ethical products, demand grows for our designs, which are created in-house at our design studio here in Cornwall. “We place a strong focus on our environmental credentials, with products made from recyclable materials wherever possible. With this funding we are able to fulfil these growing orders and take on new bespoke design contracts such as one we have recently secured with RNLI.”

Returning to the favoured Chelsea FC venue at Stamford Bridge in Fulham, the show will include prestigious returning exhibitors from the UK, Belgium, Spain, Turkey and Italy in the 35+ line-up. The full list of exhibitors will be announced nearer to the event. It will include specialist companies in a variety of upholstery and soft furnishing fabrics, together with specialists in fabric treatments.

The CIOSIF investment will be used to introduce a new pottery range and expand the wholesale operation across I for Design’s product offering, as well as help it increase the number of stores it stocks to 300-plus in the next three years.

Announcing the dates, BFM managing director Nick Garratt said: “Planning for the BFM London Fabric Show 2020 is in full swing and we are delighted to announce the dates for February next year. The timing is perfect — neatly positioned after JFS and before other fabric shows in Europe. This show provides upholstery manufacturers — both BFM and non-BFM members — with an unsurpassed opportunity to view new fabric selections from choice producers and suppliers in one hit, without leaving the UK.

The deal was led by The FSE Group, with SWIG Finance managing the process as they deliver the smaller business loans part of CIOSIF.

“Growing in stature year on year, this premier event will have a have a small refresh in 2020 bringing it closer together with the other multi-faceted services of the BFM. We look forward to welcoming our exhibitors and visitors to Chelsea in February next year.”

John Acornley, non-executive director of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, who chairs the CIOSIF Advisory Board, said: “It’s so important that entrepreneurs like David can access the finance they need to grow, and I’m delighted the fund has been able to support I for Design’s continued growth across the region.”

w www.londonfabricshow.uk August 2019 | 20

Another of the company’s long-term goals is to increase its export activity and it is building this into its business plan.

SWIG’s managing director John Peters added: “I for Design has created a unique product range that connects with its target market, as proven by its rapidly growing client base. This is a team primed for growth and we are delighted to be working with them to help achieve their goals both now and in the future.”

w www.idesigns.ltd.uk

To all our customers.....

Thank you for visiting us at

the Manchester show!

New products on our website! www.westbridgefurniture.com

CMY

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Wren launches talent academy

COMPONENTS FIRM HOSTS FIFTH ANNUAL AWARDS

Kitchens retailer Wren Kitchens has announced the launch of its new academy to invest in local talent.

Furniture fittings specialist Häfele has hosted its fifth annual Studio Partner Awards, celebrating the achievements of some of the UK’s very best kitchen and bathroom specialists.

The IT team at Wren Kitchens headquarters — The Nest — at Barton-upon-Humber, is seeking new developers to join its team. Based at Barton-upon-Humber, Wren has recently been crowned the best place to work and aims to continue to be at the forefront of the industry with innovative software and technology, focusing on almost doubling its IT capacity over the next year. The 12-week initiative is aimed at talented graduates with IT degrees or motivated individuals looking to diversify into the industry. The role will support a whole host of ground-breaking projects from state-of-the-art virtual reality to the industryleading CAD-based planner system and mobile applications. The first-phase of the quarterly programme will see 12 graduates (six PHP Developers and six JavaScript Developers) start on 5th August, based at The Nest. To further enhance the team, Wren is also looking to recruit 10 new senior PHP and JavaScript developers with at least three years’ experience in either field. “Our IT developers are at the heart of the business and we recognise that their innovative skills are critical to our continued success,” said Wren Kitchens IT director, Craig Douglas. “Investing in the future of our employees through development and training is something we have always done here at Wren, so this new initiative will further strengthen our focus on new talent. “It’s the most exciting time in Wren’s history for people to join the team, as we continue to expand at a fast pace, with the increased need for the most advanced technology to continually support our employees and customers.”

w www.wrencareers.com

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SALES UP AGAIN AT WHOLESALER DESPITE UK LULL Furniture wholesale business Coach House has reported a sixth straight year of turnover growth. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 30th September, 2018, total sales rose 0.1% to £53.8m from £53.7m in 2017. UK sales declined by 2% to £47.6m from £48.6m, while EU sales increased 27.4% to £5.1m from £4m. Outside the EU, sales remained consistent at £1m. Gross profit increased 8.4% to £21.7m from £20m, while pre-tax profit reduced £3.1m from £10.6m the previous year.

The prestigious event, which took place on 27th June, was held at Scotland’s Gleneagles Hotel. Awards were presented across six categories, with each winning studio receiving a trophy, alongside two places on an all-expenses paid trip next year. Häfele’s innovative Studio Partner scheme offers exclusive products, extensive marketing, showroom display and customer lead generation to a network of hand-picked independent kitchen and bathroom studios across the UK. Robyn Berry, marketing manager, Häfele UK, said: “Our annual Studio Partner Awards are the perfect opportunity to show our appreciation for our outstanding Studio Partner network. “Hand-picked based on their commitment to quality, service and innovation, each and every one of our Studio Partners ensures our company values are reflected in the customer experience. We would like to offer our congratulations to all the award winners, as well as those who made the shortlists.” The winners of each category were: lBest Use of Digital Media: Regal Kitchens lBest Customer Service: Kitchen Living lBest Showroom Experience: KF Kitchens and Duncans of Grantown lKitchen Design of the Year: Studio 10 Kitchens lBest Success Story: Victoria Robert lStudio Partner of the Year: Hugo & Co

w www.hafele.co.uk

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Furniture and homewares retailer delivers strong Q4 Furniture and homewares retailer Dunelm has a strong fourth quarter with double-digit growth. According to its latest trading update for the 13-week period ended 29th June, total like-for-like sales rose 15.4% to £244.5m with both in store and online sales also registering double-digit growth. In-store sales rose 12.1% to £205.5m, while online sales surged 37% to £39m in the period. Nick Wilkinson, Dunelm chief executive, said: “Looking forward, as the UK’s leading homewares specialist, we see significant opportunity for continued growth both from our stores and online, whilst maintaining our improved operational discipline.

Stated within its report, the company said that gross margin increased from 37.5% to 40.5% and that the level of business for the year was in line with expectations.

“In the short-term, we remain cautious about the uncertain political climate and the impact it may have on consumer spending, but expect to make further progress in the year ahead and are confident about the group’s longer-term prospects.”

w www.coachhouse.com

w www.dunelm.com

August 2019 | 22

aQO RETAIL

Polipol and Lectra expand 20-year partnership

Retailer confirms senior departure

After more than 20 years of collaboration, Lectra and Polipol have expanded their partnership into Industry 4.0 fabric cutting. Polipol has chosen to implement Lectra’s Cutting Room 4.0 for Made to Order solution as part of its cutting room. Polipol was an important R&D partner during the development phase of the Cutting Room 4.0 for Made to Order solution, ensuring that the new solution would meet the needs of furniture manufacturers. Cutting Room 4.0 for Made to Order consists of Lectra’s digital cutting platform and the Virga® single-ply fabric cutting solution. “To support Polipol’s future growth, we need a solid foundation of innovation and state-of-the-art technology. Lectra is one of the key partners for our forward-looking Industry 4.0 cutting room,” said Gerd Hemmerling, founder and managing director, Polipol. “Polipol and Lectra share the same philosophy of innovation: we are both committed to being industry pioneers. The implementation of Cutting Room 4.0 for Made to Order at Polipol is a showcase project for digital transformation in the upholstered furniture industry and another milestone in our Industry 4.0 strategy,” said Daniel Harari, chairman and chief executive officer, Lectra.

w www.lectra.com

High street retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has announced that Jill McDonald is leaving the business nearly two years after taking over as managing director of Clothing and Home. Steve Rowe will be taking over the leadership of the business directly in the near term. Commenting on the senior change, Steve Rowe, chief executive Marks & Spencer, said: “Jill was brought in to establish a strong platform for the transformation of the Clothing and Home business. She has achieved that; she leaves with my thanks and good wishes for the future. She has recruited a talented team, improved the quality and style of product and set a clear direction for the business to attract a younger family age customer. “The business now needs to move on at pace to address longstanding issues in our clothing and home supply chain around availability and flow of product. Given the importance of this task to M&S, I will be overseeing this programme directly.”

w www.marksandspencer.com

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Business pledges ocean support Furniture business IKEA has announced a new collaboration with World Surf League as it plans to use only recycled polyester in textile products by 2020. IKEA is teaming up with World Surf League (WSL) to better understand the everyday life of people that have a mobile and active way of living in close rhythm with the ocean. There are 370 million people across the world interested in surfing and more than 40 million active surfers. No sport relies on the ocean as much as surfing, which is why sustainability and protecting the ocean are naturally important to surfers. Through this partnership, IKEA and WSL will team up for a project to raise awareness about the climate challenge and inspire action to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. IKEA and WSL will also collaborate on a jointly designed surf-centric range of products, using recovered ocean-bound plastic where possible. James Futcher, Creative Leader at IKEA of Sweden, said: “At IKEA we’re excited to start a collaboration with the World Surf League and engage with the surf community on life around water. We’re curious to learn what it takes in areas such as organisation, mobility and humidity when you are constantly on the go. And we both share the ambition and passion around sustainability, so we want to keep the wellbeing of our ocean at the heart of it all.” Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO, added: “We are very excited to collaborate with IKEA and look forward to working together on a product collaboration around surfing that is using ocean-bound plastic. IKEA’s sustainability initiatives really align with our own and we’re both dedicated to protecting the ocean.” IKEA wants to have a positive impact on the ocean, engage in projects to clean plastic pollutants from the ocean and proactively prevent ocean plastic pollution. As one step on the way towards becoming a circular business IKEA aims at replacing all virgin polyester textile products with recycled polyester by 2020, with further ambitions to use only renewable or recycled materials by 2030.

www.ikea.com

MANUFACTURE

LIGHTING BUSINESS APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN Birmingham-based lighting business Lighting Reality has announced the appointment of Julian Hare as its new chairman. Julian has previously been a director of Lighting Reality, representing an investor, and has extensive industry experience after holding a number of senior roles throughout his career. Commenting on the appointment, Tim Bosher, managing director and majority shareholder in Lighting Reality, said that Julian joins the business at a crucial time as it continues to expand rapidly. Julian added that he was delighted to join the business because it is “poised for significant global growth in the coming years.”

w www.lightingreality.com August 2019 | 24

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES:

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GERMAN FURNITURE MAKERS TO BUILD CHINESE BASE Two German-based furniture businesses have teamed up to build a new manufacturing facility in China. Kitchen cabinet maker Nobilia and sliding door specialist Raumplus have agreed to build a state-of-the-art factory in Wuxi, eastern China’s Jiangsu Province, which will focus on wardrobe manufacturing. According to sources in China, the joint venture, which will be their largest manufacturing base in the Asia-Pacific region, covers an area of 20 hectares in Wuxi High-tech Zone, with the new facility to include flexible automated production lines. It is understood that the new factory will see annual income reach €386.8m by 2026 and looks to respond to China’s rapid growth in demand for high-end customised furniture.

w www.nobilia.de

RETAIL

UK the largest online market at Danish group; new store opens Danish furniture brand JYSK has reached 1 billion DKK (£120m) in online turnover within one financial year, with the UK taking the lion’s share. Even though there are still two months left of the financial year, JYSK has already reached a historic milestone concerning online sales, which was achieved at the beginning of July in week 27. Sarah Melgaard Johansen, e-commerce sales manager, said: “We have seen a very nice growth in online sales on all markets, so everybody has really contributed to this achievement. “We see a big difference from stores to online, when it comes to product mix. Furniture and mattresses have a much bigger share online. “However, the stores also play an important role in online sales, as many people will visit a store to see or test products during the customer journey, and then finish the order online.” But even though all countries can check off on increased online sales, there is still a big difference in the online share of sales, with JYSK in the UK having the biggest share, JYSK in the Netherlands in second place, while the newest member of our team, JYSK Ireland, has the third biggest share in online sales. JYSK has confirmed that it plans to open a new store in Wakefield, bringing its UK estate to 19 outlets. Situated at the Wakefield Retail Park, the new store will also create around 10 jobs for the area, as it launches on 3rd August.

w www.jysk.co.uk

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The Marketing Award is given to the student who creates the best portfolio of marketing materials, and this year’s winner was Heather Jones, from Los Angeles, US.

CABINET

Each year, students show off their pieces at a public exhibition in Edinburgh, with the public invited to vote for their favourite designer. This year’s Public’s Choice Award went to Paul Hartman, from Alberta, Canada, whose signature piece was a rocking chair inspired by the late Sam Maloof whose rockers are in national collections, and have been owned by US presidents.

CABINET

The Best Design Award went to Ross Cunnison. His portfolio included a sideboard made from olive ash, a coffee table in walnut and oak, and a hall table in solid oak.

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The complexity involved in Grant’s drinks cabinet is that the external tambour doors also attach to an inner tambour mechanism, giving a real sense of motion as the tambour doors move in opposite directions.

Cabinet Repairs e.g. scratches, heat marks, water marks and structural repairs for solid wood, veneers, foil and laminated surfaces.

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The Students’ Choice Award, chosen by the students themselves, went to Grant Anderson, originally from Zimbabwe but now living in Scotland. His signature piece was a drinks cabinet with some 1.8 metres of tambour door.

UPHOLSTERY

Student of the Year was Christian Burt, from Portland, Oregon, US. His Japanese-inspired tea cabinet, made in sycamore and beech, showed off his high level of accuracy and craftsmanship.

CABINET REPAIRS EXPERT CRAFTSMEN

Each year The Chippendale International School of Furniture takes 26 students from around the world for its 30-week professional course, which is a pathway to a career in fine furniture design and making. The school, near Edinburgh, this year welcomed students from the USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Poland, Germany and Iceland.

BEDS & MATTRESSES

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The Chippendale International School of Furniture has announced its prize-winning student graduates for 2019.

EXPERT CRAFTSMEN

Chippendale prize winners revealed

BEDS & MATTRESSES

UPHOLSTERY

Leather & Upholstered Furniture Repairs e.g. scratches, scuffs, tears, holes, seam issues, discolouration and colour loss, in home or workshop repair, replacement of broken arms, collapsed surfaces, recliner mechanisms, frames and replacement of full or partial covers.

• Very easy to use and navigate to ensure complete transparency • Craftsmen contact number and address details provided on every job submitted • Can be customised to meet your specific needs e.g. you can use your own fault codes, ISM fault codes or both • Allows you to upload images/specification documents for our craftsmen to access • Email notifications will update you as the status of each job progresses • System access 24/7

The Richard Demarco Prize 2019 was awarded to a Northern Irish student who used the Brexit debate to create a humorous, yet pointed, piece of furniture. The annual prize is awarded by Professor Richard Demarco CBE, one of the UK’s leading arts commentators, to the student whose work not only displays design and woodworking skill but exceptional artistic talent. Stephen Barr’s “trong and Stable Brexit Cabinet, in walnut and Japanese ash, depicts the Union Jack on one door, and the EU’s stars on the other.

w www.chippendaleschool.com

For further information please contact Stephen Black, Managing Director Mob: 07860 928017 Email: stephen.black@ism-networks.co.uk

www.ism-networks.co.uk

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Value homewares retailer opens new store Discount homewares retailer Home Bargains has opened a new store in Milngavie. Situated on West Retail Park, Home Bargains opened the unit on the site of a former Homebase outlet. It is understood that the retailer has invested around £800,000 in the new store, which features its traditional product categories including homewares. Home Bargains operates from more than 500 stores across the UK and is currently expanding at a rate of 50 stores a year.

w www.homebargains.co.uk

MANUFACTURE

FURNITURE MAKERS OPTIMISTIC The British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) has published its June state of trade report — and the most striking feature is the number of manufacturers reporting a fall in output over the last four months. For this period 45% reported reduced output compared with 14% reporting increased output, a balance of 31%. This represents the worst industry performance for eight years and is in stark contrast to the positive output figures reported in the last two surveys. As a result of the fall in output, 16% introduced short-time working, with 26% making redundancies. New orders in the period were flat. The BFM said looking forward expectations were that both orders and output would improve significantly, as well as employment levels. The survey also looked at prices and price trends and, despite foam chemical prices reducing over the last year, there is a strong balance (45%) of manufacturers reporting overall increases in material costs, with most categories continuing to show increases. Labour costs continue to rise with a strong balance (53%) of survey respondents reporting increases in wages. Increases in the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage were introduced during the period being surveyed. Wages are also under pressure due to skills shortages and the BFM is actively involved though FIESTA in improving the availability and levels of skilled people in the industry. The June survey also hosted the annual examination of company financial ratios and a matched sample suggested that there had been a concerted effort to reduce overheads as a means to offset the increased cost of manufacturing. Results are generally reported as percentage balances, as results from qualitative surveys traditionally are. This is the difference between the percentage of respondents stating ‘higher’ and those replying ‘lower’ to questions.

w www.bfm.org.uk August 2019 | 26

MANUFACTURE

COMPONENTS FIRM CONTINUES TO DELIVER GROWTH County Durham-based furniture manufacturer BHK (UK) Limited has reported a third straight year of turnover growth as sales reached an eight-year high. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31st December, 2018, total sales rose by 3.6% to £11.5m from £11.1m in 2017, the second consecutive year sales had surpassed £11m since 2010. Total UK sales rose 4.8% to £10.8m from £10.3m, whilst overseas sales declined by 14.1% to £662,604 from £771,756 last year. The Peterlee-based company, which specialises in the manufacture of chipboard, MDF and plywood drawers and bases, reported a pre-tax profit of £113,101, up by 9.7% from its profit of £103,064, marking a second year of back-to-back bottom line growth. BHK stated within its report that it had continued to invest to increase production capacity with new machinery and staff, as well as growing its engineering resource and automation technology training to provide the service in-house. The company added that it has continued to grow and maintain its significant asset base, which has put it in place to further grow revenues and profits in the year ahead.

w www.bhk.uk.com

RETAIL

Fraudster granted extension to pay back customers A fake outdoor furniture businessman who went to prison after pleading guilty to fraud has been granted an extension to pay back conned customers. Returning to Norwich Crown Court on 26th June, Nathan Jolly asked for an extension of an extra three months to come up with the £37,000 owed to victims of his scams. On 6th June, 2017, Jolly pleaded guilty to charges of fraud after creating multiple garden furniture firms and selling products to customers without delivering items. In total, Mr Jolly conned 64 consumers over separate periods from 2015 to mid-2016 using three companies, Bargain Basement and Bargains UK, Always Bargains and Stock Clearance UK, selling discounted garden furniture, courts were told. Mr Jolly was jailed for 20 months in June 2017 after admitting fraud, and at a confiscation hearing in March this year was ordered to pay back £37,000. He was given three months to pay, which has now been extended by a further three months. The court heard that the funds would be raised from Jolly’s assets, which include savings, shares and items to be sold.

w www.gov.uk

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Kitchen retailer recognised with award Kitchen retailer Wren Kitchens has been recognised for its industry leading transport operations. Up against tough competition, Wren took home the Operational Excellence Award at the renowned Motor Transport Awards 2019. Wren was also shortlisted for the Home Delivery Operator of the Year, Safety in Operation and Technical Excellence Award. Wren Kitchens head of transport operations, Lee Holmes, said: “We are delighted to be acknowledged for our innovative transport operations with the 2019 Operational Excellence Award. “Delivering over 2,000 kitchens a week nationwide to our valued customers is a complex operation, relying on a fleet of more than 150 vehicles to ensure 99.5% of orders are delivered in full and on time. “Not only that, but we’re continually striving to be at the forefront of safe innovations with pedestrians and cyclists in mind, as well as reducing our fuel emissions with the latest technology.”

w www.wrenkitchens.com

MANUFACTURE

EU FLOORING FIRM ‘FORCED’ TO CLOSE FRENCH FACTORY Austrian hardwood timber and flooring supplier Danzer has confirmed the closure of its Souvans Plant in France. The production site, which specialises in sliced oak wear layers for engineered hardwood flooring, faces a decline in demand for veneer and a challenging raw material supply. Due to these specific circumstances, the company said it was ‘forced to close the plant’. The announcement came only two years after the factory’s modernisation that saw a €15m euro investment in the facility. The ambitious plan to increase the plant’s capacity and to specialise in the production of sliced thick-cut wear layers could not be realised. Commenting on the closure, Hans-Joachim Danzer, chief executive, said: “The decreasing demand for PEFC-certified veneer and the limited availability of suitable raw materials in the region made this step inevitable. “The ambitious goals of our investment plan could not be realised. After several attempts, we now understand that the Souvans plant cannot operate economically at this location. “The 95 employees of Danzer France will, of course, be supported by the company in cooperation with the local administration.”

w www.danzer.com August 2019 | 28

MANUFACTURE

HOMEWARES WHOLESALER GROWS SALES TOWARDS £120M Wholesaler of homewares, kitchen furniture and trade supplies, Stax Trade Centres, has reported an increase in both sales and profit. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 1st September, 2018, total sales rose 2.9% to £118.6m from £115.2m in 2017, marking a fifth straight year of turnover growth. All markets experienced growth with UK sales up 2.6% to £117.2m from £114.2m. EU sales rose 31% to £1.2m from £915,186, as did sales from outside the EU, up by 8.4% to £154,886 from £142,553. Gross profit dipped by 0.7% to £27.8m from £28m, whilst pre-tax profit resulted at £836,422, representing an increase of 10.7% compared to its profit of £755,700 the previous year. Stated within its report, Stax said: “Despite the economic climate, sales growth was achieved through tremendous team effort, through continued expansion of the product range, speciﬁcally own brand lines and through investment in key management to drive the business forward. Tight control was maintained over all overhead costs. “Credit customer business continues to grow year on year, however, with the centralisation and restructure of the credit control function during the year, management of trade debtors and the associated customer service has been a focus area.”

w www.staxtradecentres.co.uk

RETAIL

Sales down at kitchen furniture retailer Kitchen and bedroom furniture retailer Roundhouse Design has reported a decline in sales. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31st December, 2018, total sales fell 4% to £12.2m from £19.1m, although this was over an 18-month comparable period. Gross profit also reduced to £4.9m from £7.3m, whilst pre-tax profit resulted at £636,293 compared to its profit of £1.4m over the 18-month period. Stated within its report, the group said it has continued to invest in brand awareness, factory improvements, staff training and product development. Roundhouse Design specialises in the design, manufacture and retail of fitted kitchens and bedroom furniture from its HQ in London. The company operates from six showrooms including locations in Wigmore Street, Richmond, Fulham, Clapham, Guildford and Cheltenham, as well as its factory in Malvern, Worcestershire.

w www.roundhousedesign.com

BRITISH FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS EXCLUSIVE

British Furniture Manufacturers

The BFM publishes trade data to its members on a regular basis through TRADE ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATE MEMBER its regular bulletins and access through the members area of the website. Nick Garratt, managing director of the BFM, has agreed to make one of its reports available to Cabinet Maker TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRY to share its latest data and illustrate the new format using the infographic style. More detailed information on a regular basis can be obtained through membership of the BFM.

British Furniture Manufacturers

NEWS

TRADE ASSOCIATION MEMBER

British Furniture Manufacturers

THE UK FURNITURE MARKET 2018 A BFM TRADE INFOGRAPHIC The BFM regularly publishes furniture trade data, from official sources and from its own surveys. This information is available to all members companies. The BFM has now taken the initiative to report the data in the form of infographics, which allows for a quick understanding of the situation. The first of these new infographic reports looks at the UK furniture market for 2018 and covers: • How the market has changed over the last full calendar year • The value of UK manufactured sales • The value of imports and exports • The size of the UK market • The percentage of the UK market attributable to UK production • The unit price of UK produced items Of the 27 furniture product groups covered by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), BFM has chosen 10 sub sectors which represent the typical manufacturing areas within BFM membership, and has termed this as the ‘General Furniture Sector’. The UK production data from the ONS has been combined with import and export data from HMRC, using exactly the same product codes. The sub sectors covered by an infographic are: • The General Furniture Sector • Upholstery • Bedroom furniture • Dining & living room furniture • Office furniture • Kitchen units • Mattress supports for bed frames • Mattresses with spring interiors shows a positive result shows a negative result Although not the subject of an infographic, BFM has also published the same data on the market for: • Sofa beds • Mattresses of cellular plastics • Shop furniture The sales figures shown for UK made furniture represent the “net selling value” which means the amount charged to customers whether “ex-works” or delivered, excluding VAT.

» August 2019 | 29

BRITISH FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS EXCLUSIVE NEWS

The General Furniture Sector: There was, as you might expect, a mix of performances between the sub sectors, with some dominated by UK makers and others where importers hold sway. UK manufactured sales for the 10 sub sectors combined grew by 3.6% over the year to nearly £4.7 billion (‘net sales value’). Imports fell by 1.1% to less than £2 ¼ billion. Export values improved by 8.4% to £387 million. The UK market value, including imports, rose by 1.7% to £6 ½ billion. A main driver for this growth however, was wooden kitchens furniture, with UK producers holding 95% of a £1.8 billion UK market.

Market – The General Furniture Sector -‐ 2018 Market – The General Furniture Sector -‐ 2018

Total UK Production: Total UK Production: Of which Exported: Of which Exported:

million £4,682,601 £4,682,601 million million £386,834 £386,834 million

+ 3.6% + 3.6%

+ 8.4% + 8.4% + 1.7% million + 1S.7% -‐ 2018 £6,527,371 Market – The General Furniture ector £6,527,371 million % change in 12 months Total UK Production: UK made UK: + 3.2% + 3.6% Imported £4,682,601 million UK m ade UK: Imported + 3.2% £4,295,767 £2,231,604 Of which Exported: £4,295,767 £2,231,604 million + 8.4% million million £386,834 million Imported: -‐ 1.1% million Imported: -‐ 1 .1% Total Size of UK

Total Size of UK Total Size of UK Market: Market:

Origin for UK market: Origin for UK market: Average price of UK Average price of UK Made Seat 2018: Made Seat 2018:

August 2019

% change in 12 months % change in 12 months % Change in 12 Months

Market: Origin for UK market: 2017 2017 Average price of UK UK UK Made as % of Net Supply Made Seat 2018: UK UK Made as % of Net Supply

to UK market to UK market

£6,527,371 million

UK: + 3.2%

Imported: -‐ 1.1%

UK Made as % of Net Supply UK Made oarket f Net Supply to aUs K %m to UK market 2018

UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

34% 34%

65% 65%

2018

UK UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

35%

+ 1.7%

Imported £4,295,767 £2,231,604 2018 million million

2017

UK made

35% 35%

34%

66% 66%

65%

66%

UK Made UK Made

Imported Imported

| 30

UK Made

Imported

UK Made

UK Made UK Made

Imported

Imported Imported

aQO Upholstery:

NEWS

Seven of the 10 sub sectors forming ‘General Furniture’ are shown separately as infographics.

Market -‐ Upholstered Wooden Framed Seats -‐ 2018 Market -‐ Upholstered Wooden Framed Seats -‐ m2onths 018 % change in 12

a decline of 8.7% in the year. Imports fell too and by 0.7% to £730 million. Exports were up UK manufacturers’ sales were just short of £910 million, by 7.2% to £94 million. UK manufactured sales as a Copyright percentage of net supply to 53%, its lowest when was o also ©UK 2019 BFM declined Ltd All r2% ights reserved. point since 2010 Source: Oitffice f National Statist at 53%. The UK market value, including imports, was just over £1.5 billion.

% Change in 12 Months Copyright © 2019 BFM Ltd All rights reserved. Source: Office of National Statist Total UK Production: % change in 12 months -‐ 8.7% £909,710 million Total UK Production: -‐ 8.7% million £909,710 Of w hich E xported: + 7.2% Of which Exported: £93,932 million + 7.2% Total S ize o f U K million £93,932 Market: -‐ 6.0% Total Size of UK million £1,545,713 Market: -‐ 6.0% Market – The General Furniture Sector -‐ 2018 million £1,545,713 % change in 12 months UK made Imported UK: -‐ 10.3% Total UK Production: Origin f or U K m arket: + 3 .6 % £729,935 £815,778 £4,682,601 m illion UK made UK: -‐ 10.3% Imported million million for UK market: Of Origin which Exported: £729,935 Imports: -‐ 0.7% £815,778 + 8.4% £386,834 million K million Average price of U million Imports: -‐ 0.7% Total Size of UK Made S eat 2 018: -‐ 1.9% Market: + 1.7% £274.58 Average price of UK £6,527,371 m illion Made Seat 2018: -‐ 1.9% £274.58 2017 UK made UK: + 3.2% Imported for UK market: 2018 Origin £4,295,767 £2,231,604 million million Imported: -‐ 1.1% UK UK Made 2017 a s % of Net Supply UK Made as 2018 % of Net Supply Average price of UK to U K m arket Seat to UK market Made 2018: UK UK Made a s % of Net Supply UK M ade as % of Net Supply to U K m arket 2017 2018 to UK market UK UK Made as % of Net Supply UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market to UK market 45% 47% 53% 55% 35% 45% 34% 47% 53% 55% 65% 66% UK M ade Imported UK Made Imported UK Made Imported UK Made Imported UK M ade Imported UK M ade Imported » Copyright © 2019 BFM Ltd All rights reserved. Source: Office of National Statistics & HMRC August 2019 | 31

BRITISH FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS EXCLUSIVE NEWS

Bedroom furniture:

The UK market for wooden bedroom furniture was just under £912 million in 2018, which represents a fall of 6% on 2017. The total sales value of home-produced products fell by 5.5% to £481 million and imports by a similar percentage amount. Exports grew by 15.5% to £34 million. UK manufactured sales as a percentage of UK net supply remained the same at 49%.

% Change in 12 Months

Copyright © 2019 BFM Ltd All rights reserved. Source: Office of National Statist Total UK Production: % change in 1-‐ 2 onths 5m .5% £480,702 m illion Total UK Production: -‐ 5.5% Of w hich E xported: £480,702 m illion + 15.5% £33,910 million Of which Exported: + 15.5% Total Size of UK £33,910 million Market: -‐ 6.0% £991, 5 61 Total Size of UK million Market: -‐ 6.0% £991, 5 61 million UK made Market Imported UK: S-‐ector 6.9% -‐ 2018 – The General Furniture Origin for UK market: £464,769 % change in 12 months £446,792 UK mTotal ade U K Production: Imported UK: -‐ 6.9% million million Origin for UK market: Imports: -‐ 5+ .3% 3.6% £464,769 £4,682,601 million £446,792 million Average price of UK million Of which Exported: Imports: -‐ 5 .3% + 8.4% Made Unit 2018: + 2.6% £386,834 million £97.11 Average price of UK Total Size of UK Made Unit 2018: 2017 Market: + 1.7% + 2.6% £97.11 £6,527,371 m illion 2018 UK made UK: + 3.2% Imported UK UK Made 2017 as % of Net Supply 2018 UK M ade a s % o f N et S upply Origin for UK market: £4,295,767 £2,231,604 to UK market million million to U K m arket Imported: -‐ 1.1% UK UK Made as % of Net Supply ade as % of Net Supply UK M Average price of UK to UK market Made Seat 2018: to UK market 2017 2018 49% 49% UK UK Made as % of Net Supply UK Made as % of Net Supply 51% to UK market 51% to UK market 49% 49% 51% 51% 35% 34% 65% 66% UK Made Imported UK Made Imported UK Made Imported Imported UK Made Imported UK Made UK Made Imported

August 2019 | 32

aQO NEWS

Dining & living room furniture:

Market – Wooden Dining/Living Room -‐ 2018

The BFM has a difficulty with these figures as they would seem to under-represent the value of products made in the UK. Official figures show that while UK makers produced near £96 million of furniture, only £19 million is attributable to sales in the home market and this represents only 3% of that market, which itself fell by 2% to £692 million. The only good news for UK makers is that exports grew to £77 million, an improvement on the year of 11%.

Total UK Production:

£95,907 million

Of which Exported:

Origin for UK market:

-‐ 1.9 %

UK: -‐ 56.4%

% change in 12 months

million £4,682,601 million

2017

Average price of U£386,834 K million

£673,063 + 3.6% million

£18,901B

Total SMade ize of UK Unit 2018: Market: £6,527,371 million

+ 8.4%

Seat 2018: Made

6% 2017

97% 34%

65%

UK Made UK Made

66%

Imported

UK Made

Imported

UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

35%

to UK market

94%

Imported: -‐ UK 1.1% Made as % of Net Supply

2018

UK: + 3.2%

UK UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

+ 22.0 %

to UK market Average price of UK

+ 1.7%

UK made

Imports: + 1.6%

£139.57

Imported for UK market: Origin £4,295,767 £2,231,604 UK UK Made as % of N million et Supply million

£691,964 million

Of w hich Exported:

+10.9 %

Market – The General Furniture ector -‐ 2018 mSade Imported UK

Total UK Production:

-‐ 14.9 %

£ 77,006 million

Total Size of UK Market:

% Change in 12 Months

% change in 12 months

August 2019 | 33

BRITISH FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS EXCLUSIVE NEWS

Office furniture:

The UK market for wooden office furniture is dominated by home producers and they hold 81% of a market worth more than £471 million, which hardly changed compared to 2017. Exports grew by 7.8% to reach £44 million. Imports account for £92 million if sales, a rise of 2.6% on the year.

Market – Wooden Office Furniture -‐ 2018

Total UK Production:

Of which Exported:

Total Size of UK Market:

£471,156 million

-‐ 0.4%

£91,629 Total UK Production: million million

Average price of UK Made Unit 2018:

2017

Of which Exported:

£101.30 Total Size of UK Market:

81%

August 2019 | 34

+ 1.7%

2018

2017

2018

19%

UK UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

81%

35%

34%

to UK market

+ 8.4%

UK made UK: + 3.2% Imported £4,295,767 £2,231,604 UK Made as % of Net Supply million million Imported: -‐ 1.1%

+ 6.5%

£386,834 million

£6,527,371 million

Average price of UK Made Seat 2018:

19%

% change in 12 months

.6% Imports: + + 23.6% £4,682,601 million

UK UK Made as % of Net Supply Origin for UK market: to UK market

£379,527

+ 7.8 %

M The General Furniture Sector -‐ 2018 UK made UK: -‐1.2% arket –Imported

Origin for UK market:

£43,797 million

UK Made

Imported

65%

UK Made

66%

Imported

UK Made

Imported

UK Made

Imported

aQO NEWS

Kitchen units:

UK manufacturers of wooden fitted kitchen units produce more sales value than any of the other General Furniture Sector. The UK market stood at over £1.8 billion in 2018 with UK manufacturers achieving 95% of net supply, up 3% in the year, with the value of imported products falling by near 23%.The UK market rose by 17.3% over the year and the value of UK-made produced products by 20%. Exports improved by a value of 7.9% to £40 million.

Market -‐ Wooden Fitted Kitchen Units -‐ 2018

Total UK Production:

Of which Exported:

Total Size of UK Market:

£40,275 million

£1,841,048 million

Origin for UK market:

million £4,682,601 million

Total Size of UK Market:

£6,527,371 million

million to UK market

Average price of UK Made Seat 2018:

2017

8% 2018

UK UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

95%

35%

UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market 5% 5%

92%

2018

Imported: -‐ 1.1%

+ 15.5%

UK: + 3.2%

million

+ 1.7%

UK made Imported for UK market: Origin UK UK Made £4,295,767 as % of Net £2,231,604 S upply

34% 65%

UK Made UK Made

Imported

95%

66%

UK Made

Imported

Imports: -‐ 22.7%

£50.95

2017

+ 8.4%

+ 3.6% million

£386,834 million

Made Unit 2018:

UK: + 20.6%

% change £1,748,362B in 12 months £92,686

Of w hich Exported: Average price of UK

+ 17.3%

Market – The General Furniture ector UK mSade -‐ 2018 Imported

Total UK Production:

+ 7.9%

» August 2019 | 35

B R I T I S H F U R N I T U R E M A N U F A C TMUarket R E –R MSattresses E X C LwUith S SIpring V E Interiors -‐ 2018

NEWS

Total UK Production:

Of which Exported:

Mattresses with spring interiors:

Total Size of UK Market: The total UK market for spring mattresses is over £501 million. The value of the UK market improved by 11.8% compared to 2017, with sales values for home-made producers rising by 12%. Exports grew by 29% and imports by 21% but the value of imported products equates to only 8% of the total UK market share.

£501,140 million

Average price of UK Made Mattress 2018:

million

2018

UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

Imports: + 20.7% + 9.6%

UK UK Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

UK: + 11.1%

£130.67

2017

+ 11.8%

Imported £42,220 million

£458,920B

+ 29.0 %

UK made

Origin for UK market:

£29,036 million

[VALU E]

Market – The General Furniture Sector -‐ 2018

92%

Total UK Production:

% change in 12 months 92%

+ 3.6% illion £4,682,601 m UK Made Imported Made -‐ Imported Market – Mattress Supports Frames 2018 for Bed UK Of which Exported: BFM Ltd All rights reserved. + of National 8 .4% Source: Office Copyright © 2 019 % change in 12 inm12 onths % Change Months £386,834 m illion Total UK oPf roduction: Total Size UK -‐ 2 0.6 % million £208,123 Market: + 1.7% million £6,527,371 Of which Exported: + 19.5% £19,473 million UK UK: + 3.2% Imported made Origin f or U K m arket: Total Size of UK £4,295,767 £2,231,604 Market: -‐ 22.1% -‐ 1.1% million million Imported: £210,738 million Average price of UK Made Seat 2018: UK made Imported UK: -‐ 23.3% Origin for UK market: £188,650B £22,088

Mattress supports for bed frames: The UK market for mattress supports for bed frames stood at more than £210 million in 2018, down from over £270 million in 2017. The value of sales for UK makers was £208 million and this represents a fall in the year of 20%. However, home producers still dominate UK sales at 90% of market share, although the total UK market shrank by 22%.

million

Average price K of Net S upply UK UK M ade oaf s U% Made S upport 2 018: to UK market

August 2019 | 36

2017

£107.19

UK UK 35% Made as % of Net Supply to UK market

2018

10% 66%

UK Made 91% Imported

Imported

UK Made as % of Net Supply + 6.9% to UK market

UK Made as % of Net Supply 34% to UK market

9% 65%

UK Made

2018 Imports: -‐ 10.4%

UK Made 90% Imported

UK Made

Imported

MANUFACTURE SATRA, examines the implications of the EN 13845:2017 standard.

RETAIL Cabinet Maker takes a look at what to expect to see at next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flooring Show.

Carpets & Flooring Countdown to The Flooring Show 2019 | Pages 46-48

August 2019 | 37

CARPETS AND FLOORING

DESIGN Faye Armstrong takes part in our People Behind The Products series.

CARPETS AND FLOORING NEWS CARPETS AND FLOORING

MANUFACTURE

NEW DISTRIBUTION HUB LEADS TO GROWTH Bury-based flooring firm Cormar Carpets has reported a consecutive year of sales growth. According to Greenwood & Coope Limited’s latest filed accounts for the year ended 30th September, 2018, total sales rose 8.2% to £129m from £119.2m in 2017. UK sales, its core market, registered an increase of 8% to £124.2m from £115m, as did sales from the EU, up by 12% to £4.6m from £4.1m. Gross profit increased by 17% to £38.3m from £32.7m, whilst pre-tax profit also rose by 24% to £7.2m from £5.8m the previous year. Stated within its report, the company said that its new distribution centre in Hemel Hempstead played a major part in its continued growth. Cormar also added that due to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, a downward pressure on sterling continued. However, this was partially mitigated through a hedging strategy alongside cost control management.

w www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

RETAIL

Independent expands Independent flooring and furniture retailer Ashley Cooke Carpets and Furniture has announced the opening of its second store in Malton. Situated in Wheelgate, the new store focuses on interiors after the owner, Ashley Cooke and his partner Sophie Marwood thought there was a gap in the market in the area. The new store features items including curtains, bedding, lighting and home accessories. Commenting on the launch, Ashley told local media that as the town keeps growing, they wanted to provide something different to encourage people to shop.

w www.ashleycooke.co.uk

MANUFACTURE

CARPET MAKER CONTINUES TO INVEST IN TECH Carpet tiles manufacturer Burmatex has reported a decline in turnover. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31st December ,2018, total sales were down 28% to £19.2m from £26.8m, although this was compared to an 18-month period. Over the same period, pre-tax profit resulted at £2.5m, down by 26% from £3.4m. Stated within its report, Burmatex, which is part of the Airea group, said that it invested in new technology and product development, which generated sales growth in both the UK and internationally.

w www.burmatex.co.uk August 2019 | 38

MANUFACTURE

INTERIORS GROUP SELLS GERMAN FLOORING DIVISION Interiors group SIG plc has announced the sale of its flooring division WeGo FloorTec to Kingspan Group for £12m. WeGo FloorTec GmbH, a German manufacturer of raised access flooring, contributed about £2m operating profit in Germany in 2018. The transaction is expected to complete shortly and the resulting proceeds of £12m should reduce headline financial leverage. SIG added that there remains one further peripheral business under review. The announcement was made in its latest trading update for the six months ended 30th June, where the Group saw a 3.8% decline in its like-for-like revenues over the period. Group revenues from continuing operations were 5.7% lower in the period, including an adverse 1.3% currency movement and a 0.6% impact from fewer working days. SIG added: “Trading conditions remain challenging in many of the Group’s end markets and there has been a marked deterioration in the level of construction activity in the UK as the year has progressed. “However, the continuing transformation of the group’s businesses, coupled with the group’s normal seasonality, should enable delivery of a stronger second half to the year. “As such, the Board continues to believe that underlying profitability for the full year will be delivered in line with its expectations, but will continue to monitor how trading conditions develop.”

w www.sigplc.com

MANUFACTURE

WHOLESALER GROWS SALES IN ‘COMPETITIVE’ MARKET Flooring wholesale business Valley Carpets has reported another year of turnover growth as profit remained consistent at £2m. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 30 September 2018, total sales rose 8% to £34m from £31.5m in 2017, adding to its previous years growth of 7.5%. Gross profit increased by 5% to £8m from £7.6m, whilst pre-tax profit resulted at £2m, in line with last years figure of £2.1m. The company stated that it remains focused on its expansion through its Derby based warehouse, which is now fully operational, and said that gross margin had reduced to 23.5% from 24.2% due to tightening margins on carpets and refinement of systems. Valley added that the market continues to be ‘very competitive’ with ‘aggressive pricing’ being offered by competitors.

w www.carpetwarehousewilmslow.co.uk

FLOORCOVERINGS TESTING SATRA is an international centre of excellence for floorcoverings testing, training, consultancy and innovation. Working to ISO 17025 and offering expert technical advice on UK and European standards, SATRA is the premier technical partner for suppliers, manufacturers and retailers of floorcoverings. SATRA conducts a wide range of floorcoverings testing and evaluation, including physical, light reflectance, UV, flammability, chemical and slip resistance testing, to ensure products are safe to use, fit for purpose and meet appropriate industry specifications. A comprehensive floorcoverings testing and performance evaluation service is available for a wide range of flooring in both the domestic and commercial sectors, including LVT, modular multilayer and textile floor coverings.

SATRA conducts a wide range of testing and evaluation ensuring products are safe, fit for purpose and meet industry standards Book now 30th October 2019 Slip Seminar Kettering, UK

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C A R P E T S A N D F L O O R I N G F E A T U R E |P E O P L E B E H I N D T H E P R O D U C T S

Faye Armstrong is a design sales consultant at Designer Contracts

In the latest in our series of features on the people working in the furniture and beds industry, Cabinet Maker meets design sales consultant Faye Armstrong, from Designer Contracts, who shares an insight into her role.

B ple eh

August 2019 | 40

rodu

ind

ong Name... Faye Armstr sales consultant Job role... Design Contracts Company... Designer Email... faye.armstrong om @DesignerContracts.c

Peo

CARPETS AND FLOORING

Meet Faye

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

aQO “I HAVE AN

ECLECTIC TASTE

Smart fixtures and fittings are at the height of popularity in new properties. Homes by Esh

Can you describe your current job role and responsibilities? I work within Designer Contracts’ show home interior design team as a design sales consultant. I travel throughout the UK, visiting clients and developers promoting our interior design service.

What is the best thing about your role? It’s incredibly diverse. One day I could be in the office briefing the team on a new show home scheme, the next I could be on the road visiting one of our sites, ensuring the installation is running smoothly, or handing over a completed show home to our client.

How long have you been in your current role? Just over two years.

What is the most challenging thing about your job? Ensuring we are ahead of the times in terms of what’s hot and what’s not in the design world. So making sure we are knowledgeable on the latest trends, taking environmental factors into consideration and being able to translate everything into a target-driven show home interior scheme. »

Can you give a brief background on yourself? I graduated from Huddersfield University with a degree in interior design. I’ve always been a creative person and interiors have always been a passion of mine.

WHEN IT COMES TO FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS. WHETHER IT’S ULTRA-MODERN OR VINTAGE STYLE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INFLUENTIAL DESIGNERS THAT I APPRECIATE AND COULDN’T POSSIBLY NARROW IT DOWN TO ONE.” — Faye Armstrong, design sales consultant at Designer Contracts

August 2019 | 41

CARPETS AND FLOORING

A targeted approach to interior design by Designer Contracts for Homes by Esh

C A R P E T S A N D F L O O R I N G F E A T U R E |P E O P L E B E H I N D T H E P R O D U C T S CARPETS AND FLOORING

Show home design created by Designer Contracts for Homes By Esh

Faye Armstrong

Can you describe your typical working day? A lot of travelling — we have clients throughout the UK — creating briefs for our design team, and ensuring our clients are happy. What would you say pulled you into wanting a career in the furnishing industry? I love interior design and being creative, and the fact that no two days are ever the same. Can you share something that your coworkers may not know about you? I grow a variety of vegetables in my garden, which I absolutely love! But on the whole, I am an open book. What are your favourite things in life? The simple things. There is nothing better than harvesting my home-grown veg and cooking a delicious meal with the results! What are your future ambitions? To continue pleasing our clients. Nothing drives me more than seeing a happy client once the show house interior has been revealed. Do you have an icon? I have an eclectic taste when it comes to furniture and furnishings. Whether it’s ultramodern or vintage style, there are a number of influential designers who I appreciate and couldn’t possibly narrow it down to one. August 2019 | 42

Do you have any career highlights that spring to mind? Landing my first client and revealing the completed design. What is your favourite piece of furniture you own? And why? My favourite has got to be a nursing chair that has been handed down through three generations of my family. It needs some TLC but one day I’ll have it reupholstered and hopefully use it for myself.

What do you love about the furnishing industry? The constant evolution of fashion and the fact that many iconic trends are reintroduced to the market place with a modern twist. What could be improved to make the industry better in your opinion? We are becoming more aware of the origins of products in all aspects of life, not least the furniture and furnishings sector. Companies are becoming more considerate of this and are steering towards s for Homes By Esh

Interior design by Designer Contract

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aQO CARPETS AND FLOORING

In addition to its show home design service, Designer Contracts is the UK’s largest flooring contractor with 15 regional depots across the UK.

Natural materials and textures are at the top of the agenda for deve lopers. Show home designed by Designer Contracts for Homes by Esh

making a more conscious choice. More can be done though and this is something that can be improved going forward. What industry trends are you seeing at the moment? There’s a demand for more environmentally friendly products with wood and natural stone proving popular. We’re also seeing a demand for multi-functional items, which can be used for more than one thing. Finer details are important to house buyers too, such as chrome light switches and plug sockets, along with tech options such as integrated Wi-Fi plugs and built-in speakers.

w www.DesignerContracts.com

B ple eh

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If you would like to feature your staff members in our People Behind The Products features, email editor Dan Squires at dan@cabinet-maker.co.uk or go to www.cabinet-maker.co.uk and follow the link at the bottom of the home page to fill in our questionnaire form.

rodu

And finally, if you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be? I asked my colleagues for their opinions and here’s what they had to say; creative,

enthusiastic and a perfectionist. That’s good to know!

Did you know that Cabinet Maker has been established since 1880? How long have you been reading the magazine? No, I didn’t realise that it had been around for so long! It’s a great magazine that we do receive here at Designer Contracts. I always enjoy your interesting and thought-provoking articles that surround the furniture and interiors sector.

If you weren’t working in the industry, what would you be doing? Property developing or running my own B&B.

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Can you predict any future trends that may emerge? In contrast to the natural approach we’re seeing, colour popping will make a comeback. Bold furniture and accessories against muted walls, or floral wallpaper and neutral furnishings.

August 2019 | 43

C A R P E T S A N D F L O O R I N G F E A T U R E |S A T R A CARPETS AND FLOORING

Setting

Standards Reece Johnson, from SATRA’s floorcoverings team, examines the implications of the EN 13845:2017 standard.

European requirements for PVC flooring with enhanced slip resistance Slips, trips and falls are some of the most common causes of injury within the workplace. In areas accessible to the public and members of staff, it is important to install appropriate safety flooring where there is a risk of spillage, a high probability of the surface being wet, or to protect against some other slip hazard. Such safety flooring should demonstrate ‘sustained slip resistance’, to protect against slips for the lifetime of the flooring. One method of increasing and sustaining the slip resistance of a floor covering is by adding various coarse particles (or particulates) throughout the wear layer. Such even distribution can help to ensure that for the lifetime of the flooring, it can continue to deliver the same level of slip resistance. EU requirements The European Union’s demands for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring with particle-based enhanced slip resistance are covered for the most part by EN 13845:2017, which supersedes the previous version of this standard (EN 13845:2005). These products must also comply with the Construction Products Regulation EU 305/2011 and the associated harmonised standard, which in this case is EN 14041. Additional information is available in the SATRA Spotlight article ‘Floor coverings and the Construction Products Regulation’. EN 13845 aims to ensure the quality of these flooring products, and therefore includes general requirements for various characteristics of the floor covering – including slip resistance and residual indentation (see table 1). The standard also covers requirements for labelling of the floor covering. It also outlines a classification system based on the intensity of use, and so shows where the floor covering should give satisfactory service. August 2019 | 44

Table 1: General requirements for PVC floor coverings with particlebased enhanced slip resistance Characteristic

Requirement

Test method

Products in roll form: Length (m) Width (mm)

Not less than the nominal values

EN ISO 24341

Products in tile form: Side length

Deviation ≤ 0.13 per cent of nominal length, up to 0.5mm maximum

EN ISO 24342

Squareness and straightness for side length of ≤ 400mm > 400mm > 400mm (intended for welding)

Deviation allowed at any point

Total mass per unit area (g/ m2) – average

Maximum deviation from nominal value of +13 per cent or -10 per cent

EN ISO 23997

Overall thickness – average value when tested Individual values when tested Slip classification: Class ESf (footwear):

Between +0.13mm and -0.10mm of the nominal value Average value ± 5mm

EN ISO 24346

≥ 20º (ramp test) ≥ 36 (pendulum friction test)

EN 13845 Annex C (ramp test)

Class ESb (barefoot):

≥ 15º (ramp test) ≥ 36 (pendulum friction test)

CEN/TS 16165:2016 Annex C (pendulum friction test)

Residual indentation – average

≤ 0.1mm

EN ISO 24343-1

Dimensional stability (per cent) Sheets and tiles (intended for welding) Tiles (intended for dry-joint laying)

Variation in each direction

EN ISO 23999

Curling: Sheets and tiles to be bonded Sheets and tiles to be unbonded

(see footnote a)

Flexibility

Test using a 20mm mandrel

EN ISO 24344 Method A

6 minimum

EN ISO 105-B02, Method 3 (footnote b)

Colour fastness to artificial light

≤ 0.25mm ≤ 0.35mm ≤ 0.50mm

≤ 0.4 per cent ≤ 0.25 per cent EN ISO 23999

≤ 2mm

a The test need not be carried out for fully bonded and welded materials. If supplied in tile form and dry-joint laid, the material shall meet the requirement (2mm). b Expose a full size test specimen. Store a further test specimen in the dark, which will constitute the reference standard for assessment of change in colour.

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Reece Johnson

The classification requirements for level of use (shown in table 2) sets out the minimum requirements for products under each class. Therefore, any of this type of flooring that meets the requirements of a certain class should provide a satisfactory service to the level of use specified.

Minimum overall thickness (see a) Nominal value

Effect of wear resistance (see b,c)

EN ISO 24346

EN 13845 Annex D EN 425

EN 684

20,000 cycles

No requirement

When welded in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions

Domestic moderate/light 1.0

Domestic general/ moderate

22+

Domestic general

Domestic heavy

1.5

Commercial moderate

1.5

20,000 cycles

No requirement

Commercial general

2.0

30,000 cycles

Industrial moderate

Commercial heavy

2.0

40,000 cycles

Industrial general

Commercial very heavy

If tested for verification, no disturbance to the surface other than slight change due to flatter appearance and no delamination shall occur

Industrial heavy

1.5

2.0

Secondly, the ‘castor chair’ test required for level of use classification represents the effect of a chair and/or other objects on castor wheels rolling over the flooring product. To gain a ‘class 32’ rating or above, the floor covering when tested must show no damage to the surface (other than slight change due to a flatter appearance), and no delamination.

50,000 cycles

Average value after testing: ≥ 240 Individual test result: ≥ 180

a The average value shall be the nominal value +0.13/-0.10mm. No individual value shall vary more than ± 0.15mm from the average value. b After testing to the required number of cycles, the reduction in identifiable particles should be ≤ 10 per cent. c Floor coverings for barefoot use need not be tested, and are automatically awarded a ‘21/31’ classification.

Testing the product EN 13845 uses the classification system from EN ISO 10874 – ‘Resilient and textile floor coverings – Classification’. This highlights the levels of use in which resilient floor coverings should give satisfactory service. These classifications are based on the nominal minimum overall thickness, as well as three ‘lifetime-based’ tests. Firstly, EN 13845 Annex D assesses the effect of abrasive wearing of the floor covering. This test involves counting the number of particulates visible on the surface of the product, both before and at various numbers of cycles of testing. During this assessment, the surface is worn by a combination of leather wheels and an abrasive grit on a rotating platform. The requirements for this test are based on the number of cycles the flooring product can withstand without losing more than 10 per cent of the particles counted before testing. Such a result would suggest that the flooring would still demonstrate a good slip resistance over the duration of its use.

Effect of a castor Seam strength chair N per 50mm

If, for example, a product i) meets the general requirements described in table 1, ii) has a nominal thickness of 2.2mm, iii) shows no disturbance to the surface and no delamination when tested with the castor chair test, iv) demonstrates an average seam strength of 250N per 50mm, and a minimum seam strength of 210N per 50mm, and v) loses 9 per cent of its particulates when tested to EN 13845 Annex D for 50,000 cycles, it can be classified as ‘Class 34/43’. This represents suitability for use in very heavy commercial and heavy industrial areas. Where relevant testing is carried out against EN 13845:2017, the results of testing and the classification are often used by flooring manufacturers to help with the promotion of their products. Consumers can then purchase flooring that is deemed suitable for their required end use. Finally, the ‘seam strength’ test, which is required for classes above class 31, assesses the strength of the product when a joint is welded together to form a seam (in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions). The tested specimen is clamped between two pneumatic jaws, which are pulled apart at a rate of 100mm/min, and the maximum load on the product is measured. To gain a class 31 rating and above, the product must demonstrate an average seam strength of ≥ 240N per 50mm, with a minimum individual seam strength of 180N per 50mm.

w www.satra.com

How can SATRA help?

ng and SATRA is able to conduct full testi 17. 5:20 1384 EN nst classification agai tra.com for Please email floorcoverings@sa . assistance with these assessments Join them for a seminar on slip on RA’s Wednesday, 30th October, at SAT office in Kettering. August 2019 | 45

CARPETS AND FLOORING

Table 2: Classification requirements for level of use Class Level of use

C A R P E T S A N D F L O O R I N G F E A T U R E |T H E F L O O R I N G S H O W CARPETS AND FLOORING

The Flooring Show will be held in Harrogate from 15th to 17th September

FOCUS

FLOORING

Cabinet Maker takes a look at what to expect to see at The Flooring Show in September.

August 2019 | 46

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THOUGHTPROVOKING TREND HUB AREA FOR RETAILERS.”

Customer appeal, colour and texture, performance and getting the fit right first time? You’ll find information on all these points and much more at this year’s Flooring Show, which takes place from 15th to 17th September in Harrogate.

Visit the show and be the first to see…

Widely recognised as the UK’s National Flooring Event, 2019 marks the 57th edition, a record performance for a b2b sector trade show, and a not-to-be-missed event for any supplier or retailer in the sector.

Meet the teams behind this year’s new and returning exhibitors... With more than 50 exhibitors new to the show for 2019 or returning after a short break having already signed up, visitors should allow enough time to meet some new faces and review their ranges and flooring offers.

This is where the industry’s leading brands and suppliers from the UK and beyond turn out to support the three-day show, using the occasion to showcase new ranges across all types of flooring, including carpet, laminate, LVT, wood, vinyl plus cork and grass for both the contract and retail markets. So, whatever your interest in flooring, a trip to The Flooring Show will be time well spent!

Caption

All the big names will be at the show, so you’ll cover the ground, and all the flooring choices from the UK, Europe and internationally, in just one visit.

Look out for Abingdon Flooring, a2zrug, Cormar Carpets, Carpetfitters.com, Fells Carpets, Kellars Limited, Lifestyle Floors, Green & Brown, Ultimate Display, Oriental Weavers, Mastercraft Rugs and Visualmine to name a few. Head over to Hall C where some exhibitors will once again be managing a soft takeover to champion the benefits of »

The Flooring Show will include demonstrations August 2019 | 47

CARPETS AND FLOORING

“THE SHOW IS DELIGHTED TO CONFIRM IT WILL BE PROVIDING A

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C A R P E T S A N D F L O O R I N G F E A T U R E |T H E F L O O R I N G S H O W CARPETS AND FLOORING

The industry’s leading brands will be represented at Harrogate

wool products in the flooring industry. Take a look at our exhibitors striking new ranges of merchandising and interior displays, as well as the opportunity to learn more about wool in the Wool Trends Centre. For the more practically minded, The

Flooring Show is also supported by a full demonstration programme suitable for contractors and fitters hosted by the Flooring Industry Training Association FITA (itself co-founded by the Carpet Fitters Association CFA, and the National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers NICF). Their full product

demonstration timetable will be published shortly on the show’s new website. Plus, don’t forget to head over to the Kings Suite to catch up on the latest trends in a new and improved Trends Hub. Make sure you visit the forecasting team at Scarlet Opus during the show. The show is delighted to confirm it will be providing a thought-provoking trend hub area for retailers to visit whilst at the show, with some ideas on product merchandising, colour trends and finishes to attract new customers.

w www.theflooringshow.com

Show Essentials

Dates: 15th-17th September, 2019 Venue: Harrogate Convention Cent re, Harrogate Register: via the show website www. theflooringshow.com Travel: Free parking at venue plus 25% discount off train travel — see show website for more details

August 2019 | 48

MANUFACTURE La-Z-Boy UK reflects on its recent appearance during MFS, boasting one of the best stands on show.

RETAIL Stressless® has announced the opening of its first UK brand store.

Upholstery and Cabinet

La-Z-Boy reflects on a successful MFS | Pages 54-56 August 2019 | 49

UPHOLSTERY

DESIGN Westbridge talks about the company’s ongoing apprenticeship success.

UPHOLSTERY AND CABINET NEWS UPHOLSTERY AND CABINET

RETAIL

MANUFACTURE

Sofa retailer appoints new CFO as sales grow Sofa retailer DFS has revealed the appointment of a new finance chief as sales continue to grow. According to its latest trading update for the 52-week period to 30th June, underlying Group gross sales rose by 7%, whilst like-for-like gross sales grew across all brands with strong online growth of 17%. DFS said that underlying profit before tax is expected to be slightly above £50m, relative to £38.3m in the prior year. DFS announced the appointment of Mike Schmidt, formerly interim chief financial officer, as chief financial officer and as an executive director with immediate effect, following a rigorous selection process. Looking ahead, DFS said in a statement: “Whilst weak trading environments make it harder to achieve significant levels of revenue growth, our omni-channel consumer offer, showroom sales densities, scale of operations and portfolio of wellrecognised brands provide some resilience. We also believe that we can continue to drive profit benefits and synergies from our previous capital investments and acquisitions. “We are executing our strategy of transforming our business to lead sofa retailing in the digital age. We believe the market will return to historical long-term growth rates in due course and that as clear market leader we are well-positioned to benefit, delivering strong levels of cash generation and attractive shareholder returns in the long term.”

NORWEGIAN FURNITURE BRAND OPENS DEBUT UK STORE Norwegian furniture brand Stressless® has announced the opening of its first UK brand store. Offering the very best in contemporary Norwegian furniture design, Stressless®, which handcrafts comfortable and stylish seating for the home, opened the doors of its first UK showroom in July. Situated on Tottenham Court Road, the new 3,600sq ft store is over two floors and is designed with the brand’s Norwegian and Scandinavian roots at its heart.

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DESIGN

Design brand extends sofa range Stockholm-based design brand Hem has launched a new colourway to its popular Kumo sofa range. Following the successful launch of the Kumo sofa in 2018, Swedish design brand Hem has introduced the award-winning sofa in a new colourway, Sera Canyon. Japanese for cloud, the Kumo has been designed by Norwegian studio Anderssen & Voll as a single module, and can be configured as a one, two, three, four-seater and beyond. The sofa offers flexibility with an innovative frame and cushion construction, allowing components to be easily added, removed or rearranged as your living circumstances change. The product is finished with a premium fabric created exclusively for Hem by textile pioneers Rohi.

The business said: “Offering the perfect antidote to our modern and busy lives, the new showroom is a haven of peace and tranquillity in London.

Svenja Diekmann, head of design, said: “The Sera Canyon textile has been developed by Rohi exclusively for Hem and is not available as a part of Rohi’s standard colour range.

“The store’s natural flow and pared-back contemporary interior has been designed to evoke a calm and inspiring environment, enabling shoppers to browse multiple room layouts, try out the products at their leisure and easily visualise items in their own homes.”

“Spanning from rust reds to deep fiery oranges, Canyon perfectly integrates into Hem’s existing colour portfolio, from the recently launched Rope Rug Terracotta by Pauline Deltour to the Hide Tables in Rust Red by Karoline Fesser.”

Stressless® has sold more than 10 million seats worldwide but the new store will showcase the entire UK collection of innovative recliner chairs, sofas, dining ranges and accessories under one roof for the very first time.

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MANUFACTURE

BREXIT UNCERTAINTIES CONTINUE TO IMPACT Furniture wholesaler Scan-Thors (UK) has reported a significant decline in turnover and profit. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 30th September ,2018, total sales fell 35% to £18.7m from £28.8m in 2017. Pre-tax profit resulted at £617,546, down from its £4m profit recorded the previous year. Stated within its report, the company said Brexit uncertainties and sterling remained the major influences on trading, resulting in subdued demand at customer level. The business added that like-for-like sales were down 26%, although it confirmed that significant focus has been implemented on strengthening its supply chain orders to address the issue and secure further growth.

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MANUFACTURE

UPHOLSTERY MAKER NAMES A NEW INTERNATIONAL BOSS Global upholstery manufacturer La-Z-Boy Incorporated has named Keith Wilson as president international. He will be responsible for all international sales, merchandising and marketing. He succeeds Doug Collier, who recently retired from La-Z-Boy. Kurt L. Darrow, chairman, president and chief executive officer, of La-Z-Boy Incorporated, said: “Keith has been integral to the successful expansion of our business in the UK and Ireland. With proven leadership skills, he seamlessly transitioned the UK business from our previous distribution partner and built a strong team across the La-Z-Boy UK organisation. “As the company looks to grow in existing and new markets outside of North America, we will capitalise on Keith’s significant commercial experience in managing European businesses and work with our other long-time partners in Asia, Australia and New Zealand to help drive growth across various regions.” Wilson joined La-Z-Boy in 2016 in an interim capacity before being named Managing Director, La-Z-Boy UK. In 2018, he was promoted to managing director, La-Z-Boy EMEA, with responsibility for the entire Europe, Middle East and Africa region, including La-Z-Boy UK. Prior to joining La-Z-Boy, he was the UK director and general manager for Calligaris, an Italian contemporary furniture brand. Before joining Calligaris, Keith held various UK and European leadership roles with companies such as Techtronic Industries, Moulinex and Whirlpool. Commenting on the promotion, he said: “With global appeal, the La-Z-Boy brand is now sold in some 60 countries. I look forward to further building on this solid foundation and to leveraging the strength of the La-Z-Boy brand to both grow our existing international businesses and to enter new markets.”

MANUFACTURER CONTINUES TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS British soft-seating manufacturer Bazaar Group has shown a 12th consecutive year of growth in its just-released end-of-year figures. The self-financed Northumberland company recorded 19% growth for its financial year May 2018 to April 2019, as well as maintaining a solid profit line and keeping within budgets. With strong performance across its business, particularly its online and wholesale markets, Bazaar Group is now making significant investment to increase its manufacturing capability, including doubling its production staff numbers. The move will include additional support for its instore brand, Ayla, launched at the January Furniture Show this year, with a new dedicated frame-making facility and additional upholstery machinery. The company is also expanding its business sales and e-commerce teams. Mark Dolder, managing director, said: “We are continuing to grow year-on-year and are pleased with the progress of the business. Despite the current economic climate, we’re very optimistic about the future. “So by upscaling our manufacturing capability now, it puts us in a strong position to keep progressing as a business.” Bazaar Group’s different routes to market have been one of the keys to its success and, despite the rise of online sales in the furniture industry, it believes the bricks and mortar market still has a lot to offer. Added Mark: “Our research has shown us that instore retail still accounts for around 80% of furniture purchases, despite the rise of online sales. “There are real opportunities right now in the retail market for stores that can give customers what they’re looking for. There’s no replacement for physically seeing, touching and trying out a piece of furniture, so we think it’s the right time to invest in our inhouse capabilities to put us in the best position to give retailers what they need.” As well as Ayla, Bazaar Group’s brands include Bean Bag Bazaar, Icon, Eden Learning Spaces and Bambeano.

w www.bazaar-group.uk

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F E A T U R E |W E S T B R I D G E F U R N I T U R E UPHOLSTERY AND CABINET

Westbridge Furniture’s apprenticeship programme continues to be a big success

Nick Arundell, Westbridge’s HR Manager, talks about the company’s ongoing apprenticeship success. Furniture manufacturer Westbridge Furniture has continued its ongoing apprenticeship success and is encouraging any future students to get involved. Potential apprentices commence an initial two-month taster. If successful applicants aged 16 to 18 then progress on to the full two-year Upholstery Apprenticeship Programme (Level 2) run with the support of Coleg Cambria and North Lancs Training Group; with a guaranteed job with the company from day one.

build future careers. Dion, whose father has worked in furniture repairs for more than 15 years, says the opportunity to follow in his footsteps was one he could not pass up. “I used to help my dad when I was younger and always really enjoyed it, so when the chance to work with furniture while earning a wage and getting an education was put to me, it was an easy decision,” said the 17-yearold, a former pupil at Mold Alun School.

helped me settle when I arrived. I’ve really enjoyed the academic side but also getting hands-on and helping to make the furniture. “It’s hard work but that’s good because it’s given us a taste of what it’s like to have a proper job and is a stepping stone to a future career in this industry or something similar. “The apprenticeship with Westbridge Furniture has certainly been a good base and I’ve already encouraged other people to enrol.”

Among the students to join the business were Kieron Lockett, Connor Wilks and Dion Evans, who have been helping to make chairs, beds and sofas for global names, including IKEA, John Lewis and M&S.

“I am enjoying the job and the academic side, and would encourage others to do an apprenticeship with Westbridge. It gives you independence and helps you stand on your own two feet.”

Learners spend up to eight weeks at Cambria’s Deeside site as part of the traineeship scheme, where they are taught basic employability skills such as timekeeping, teamwork and health and safety.

They say the apprenticeship programme has given them a firm foundation on which to

Kyle, 18, a former pupil at Flint High School, added: “I have family working here so that

The following four weeks are spent on work placement at the Deeside factory, one of

August 2019 | 52

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HIGHLY-SKILLED UPHOLSTERERS Kieron Lockett

Westbridge Furniture’s three UK production sites, manufacturing in excess of 10,000 pieces of upholstery per week. Nicola Gaughran, deputy director of employability and foundation skills at Coleg Cambria, said: “Westbridge Furniture is a brilliant local company operating on the national stage, and that’s a big selling point for future apprentices,” she said. “The pay is also above the average for an apprenticeship and more than the minimum wage, so I would urge more teenagers in the region to explore this opportunity via Coleg Cambria.” Nick Arundell, Westbridge’s HR manager, hopes to see more students on the production line in the coming months and says there is demand for workers in the sector. “The apprentices from Cambria have done very well and become important members of the team at Deeside,” he said. “Our current apprentices have grown as

Milton

WITH KNOWLEDGE AND A PRACTICAL INSIGHT INTO THE WORKINGS OF OUR COMPANY.”

knowledge and a practical insight into the workings of our company. “As Westbridge Furniture continues to go from strength to strength, that’s exactly the kind of staff we need. “With the uncertainty of Brexit and near full employment in the local labour market, we are looking to young local people to be our next generation of highly-skilled upholsterers as our business continues to grow, so it’s an ideal time to join us.” For more on the range of traineeships, apprenticeships and courses at Coleg Cambria, email traineeships@cambria.ac.uk or call 01978 267472.

w www.westbridgefurniture.com

individuals as well as on the practical side, and within the first six months one of them was even going out to local schools to demonstrate upholstery to pupils — and donated to them the furniture they made together. “As well as the hands-on work, the apprentices have visited our other manufacturing facilities to learn more about other parts of the process, from production design and development to automated processes.” Nick added: “By the end of the programme they will be highly-skilled upholsterers with

Cabinet Maker is dedicated to supporting, encouraging and championing apprenticeships within the furnishing industry by working with businesses and organisations to continually highlight the importance of apprenticeships and the benefits they offer — not only to a business, but to the industry and future generations of furniture making. Cabinet Maker welcomes your thoughts and also invites your business to share your story on your apprenticeship success so far and plans for the future — email editor Dan Squires at dan@cabinet-maker.co.uk or call 01623 372215. August 2019 | 53

UPHOLSTERY AND CABINET

“BY THE END OF THE PROGRAMME THEY WILL BE

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F E A T U R E |L A - Z - B O Y UPHOLSTERY AND CABINET

Mark Draper, marketing director at La-Z-Boy UK, reflected on its recent appearance during the Manchester Furniture Show, boasting one of the best stands on show. August 2019 | 54

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Visitors to La-Z-Boy UK’s stand at the Manchester Furniture Show were welcomed by a giant screen showing festival crowds cheering on ‘the best seats in the house’. This nod to a younger demographic was continued throughout the stand, with buyers being offered a flavour of the world-famous recliner brand’s expanded product collection. This was La-Z-Boy’s largest-ever stand at the event, and with 15 new products to introduce, visitors were given plenty of food for thought. Marketing director Mark Draper gave Cabinet Maker a personal tour of the new models and explained the planning and decisions behind the designs on display. s collection “One of our key focuses for Cassia from the Urban Attitude Manchester was to expand our current product lines to attract new This collection was our focus for January and stockists, as well as to allow current the popularity of these products is still as retailers to reach additional consumer groups strong as ever. with their La-Z-Boy product ranges,” he said.

“Our classic Comfort Studio collection styles are what spring to mind for most people when they think of La-Z-Boy — on-the-rail recliners packed with comfort and support.

“So, our Manchester products were designed to complement and add to our current offering, rather than replace it, which is why there were such a large number of new

designs on show.” La-Z-Boy UK has been working with new designers on this latest collection, which features a selection of on-leg models, European-inspired design trends and contemporary features. »

The La-Z-Boy UK Manchester Furniture Show stand featured 15 new models

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F E A T U R E |L A - Z - B O Y UPHOLSTERY AND CABINET

Moore, ottoman footstool and guest seat

Above: Connor from the Urban Attitudes collection Below: Ari pedestal chair A new pedestal chair collection also boasted a distinctive modern look.

group is designed to inject contemporary style into almost any room of the house.

“We had fantastic feedback on the new products,” Mark continued.

A manual recline chair with footstool and power recline pedestal with inbuilt foot rest are completed with the Ari — the top of the range option featuring a rechargeable battery pack so that the smooth power recline functionality can be enjoyed anywhere in the home, and an ergonomic remote control that attaches conveniently with a magnetised connection.

“Visitors to the stand agreed that they may never have guessed they were looking at La-Z-Boy designs, but when they saw the models first-hand they could appreciate the evolution of the product line to include these contemporary new looks.” The La-Z-Boy UK stand featured a spectrum of designs, from the more traditional Everett corner group, the latest Comfort Studio addition, at one end, to the Italian inspired Cassia at the other — featuring a low silhouette, clean lines and power head tilt to offer support while reclined. Mark commented: “Cassia really captured people’s imaginations. The idea of having branded La-Z-Boy comfort but with a continental European-style design proved very appealing and certainly achieved the intended result of attracting new retailers to La-Z-Boy. “Lots of retailers commented that it would make a statement piece to create a wowfactor when customers walked into their showrooms, and we couldn’t agree more.”

The first La-Z-Boy UK sofa bed was also introduced — Askey — boasting sharp styling and an attractive look plus an easy-touse mechanism, which revealed a queen-size bed with memory foam mattress. The Manchester Furniture Show followed shortly after the second AIS show of the year, where La-Z-Boy again introduced a selection of new products, with the offer of exclusive point of sale materials for AIS members. Mark said the decision to rejoin the buying group had been a wise one, helping to bring in a range of new accounts.

Other popular show models included the compact and stylish Julia, ideal for apartmentdwellers, and the Ember and Rogue, which feature contemporary looks along with inbuilt lumbar support, high backs and full chaise leg rests for sumptuous support.

And there is plenty to look forward to in the year ahead. La-Z-Boy UK’s consumer marketing campaign continues and this will be tailored further to incorporate target markets for the expanded product range.

The brand new pedestal chair range was a hit, too. Consistently one of La-Z-Boy’s most searched-for products online, this swivel chair

w www.la-z-boy.co.uk

August 2019 | 56

“ONE OF OUR KEY FOCUSES FOR MANCHESTER WAS TO EXPAND OUR CURRENT PRODUCT LINES TO ATTRACT NEW STOCKISTS, AS WELL AS TO ALLOW CURRENT RETAILERS TO REACH ADDITIONAL CONSUMER GROUPS WITH THEIR LA-Z-BOY PRODUCT RANGES.”

CHARITY UPDATE NEWSLETTER

JULY 2019

One Step at a Time campaign launched to raise awareness of welfare support The Furniture Makers’ Company has launched a new campaign, ‘One Step at a Time’, challenging companies in the furnishing sector to raise awareness of the charity’s welfare support so every industry colleague knows where to turn in times of financial need. The campaign asks companies to sign up as One Step Champions and commit to communicating the charity’s welfare provision among their employees. On signing up, One Step Champions are given a suite of tools to help promote the message, including a certificate of involvement, posters, flyers, case studies and social media content, and be kept up-to-date with news on how the Company can support their employees. The charity wants to sign up 100 companies as One Step Champions in the first year to start it on the road to ensuring all 338,000 people working in the wider industry, as well as retirees and former workers, know the charity can be a lifeline in hard times. The initiative has been spearheaded by newly installed Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company Dids Macdonald OBE, who has made it her Master’s Challenge and focus for the year and beyond. Dids said: “One Step at a Time’ isn’t about reinventing the wheel: it’s about reminding individuals and businesses that for more than a century The Furniture Makers’

Retired salesman David received support from The Furniture Makers’ Company Company has cared for the people who work and who have worked in the industry. “I hope that the campaign will gather momentum year on year so that everyone in the industry will know about our welfare support, which is there for anything life throws at you, from a minor bump in the road to a major crisis.

supporting industry workers, past and present, since 1903. Today it continues to provide financial assistance to workers within the industry through grants. To sign up as a One Step Champion today, go to www.furnituremakers.org.uk/one-stepat-a-time/

“The hard fact of the matter is that the majority of people in the industry don’t even know our help exists. We want to help every single eligible family, but we need your help to make sure our welfare support is no longer the best kept secret in the industry.” The Furniture Makers’ Company has been

Upcoming events 14 August 2019 Teesside Golf Day at Catterick Golf Club, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire

26 September 2019 National Golf Day at Warwickshire Golf Club, Warwickshire

8 September 2019 Indian Summer Party Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

9 October 2019 Young Furniture Makers Exhibition at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London

FURNITUREMAKERS.ORG.UK

7 November 2019 Royal Charter Dinner at Apothecaries’ Hall, London For more information, please contact events manager Sally Kent at events@ furnituremakers.org.uk. JULY 2019

Message from Jonny Westbrooke, CEO

One Step at a Time, our new welfare campaign, reaffirms a message that we’ve long been promoting - that The Furniture Makers’ Company is here for all who work or who have worked in the industry and are going through tough times financially.

Details on how you can sign up to One Step at a Time and what you’ll get on signing up are in the story on the front page.

The case studies immediately below show why this campaign is so important. There are plenty of people out there who may have hit a bump in the road and need a lifeline to help them get back on track.

I would like to say thank you to those companies that have signed up so far, including Axminster Tools & Machinery, Camira, Celtheath, Crofts & Assinder, Harrison Spinks, Ocee Design, Panaz, Parker Knoll, Tempur, Vitafoam, Whitemeadow and many more.

We can be that lifeline, but we need industry’s support to help us communicate this message to their employees so everyone knows where to turn in times of financial crisis.

If you have any questions about how we can help, please contact Robin Lomas, welfare officer at The Furniture Makers’ Company, on 020 7256 5558, or email welfareofficer@furnituremakers.org.uk.

How we help Our charity was set up over 100 years ago to help people from the furnishing industry in times of hardship. We are here to help anyone from our industry when times are tough with one-off grants, services, time and support. Your support helps our charity and ensures we will always be here to assist people like Thomas, Julie and Greg. Thomas, a self-employed kitchen fitter, was fearful of defaulting on his mortgage when he was diagnosed with throat cancer and unable to work. Thomas had to undergo many weeks of exhaustive, intensive treatment to fight the disease, and has been unable to return to employment. His wife works part time as a retail assistant, but since Thomas’s diagnosis the couple had been struggling to manage without his income and have been existing solely on her wage.

Greg has been working as a joiner and cabinet maker for the last 18 years and now runs his own business making bespoke furniture and fitted kitchens. Following a relationship breakdown nearly six years ago, he was struggling to manage to support himself and his daughter, who was living with her mother. Despite health problems and stress, he continued to work but fell into substantial debt and eventually realised he required some expert advice in order to get back on the right path. The debt advisor helped him to establish a sustainable plan going forward but suggested that he contact The Furniture Makers’ Company with his most urgent issue, which was paying off his rent arrears to avoid losing his home. FURNITUREMAKERS.ORG.UK

With mounting bills and no feasible way of paying Julie is self-employed and has been running her for them, they were in danger of falling behind with own soft furnishing business for five years. She is their mortgage as well as paying essential monthly a single parent with three children, one of whom suffers with epilepsy. outgoings. Thomas found out about The Furniture Makers’ Company from our corporate supporter The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BIKBBI), of which he is a member. With assistance from our welfare officer, we were quickly able to assess Thomas’s application and contribute money to cover three months’ of mortgage payments, as well as providing a regular grant to help with other essential bills going forward. When Thomas heard the good news, he replied: “Oh my goodness, I did not expect as much help. We are both very grateful for your assistance. It has taken a worry off from our shoulders.” Julie was on the brink of losing everything until The Furniture Makers’ Company stepped in.

In 2018 Julie had to take time off work, as she was suffering from depression and anxiety following two family bereavements. Unfortunately, during this period Julie fell into arrears with rent, utilities and childcare costs, and nearly lost her home. Julie’s support worker suggested that she contact The Furniture Makers’ Company as she needed help to reduce her priority debts for electricity, rent and Council Tax. As well as this, the support worker helped her to claim the appropriate benefits. We were able to help Julie get back in control and she is now back at work. Julie was very grateful for our support, saying: “Thank you so much. You have made me so happy. I feel really excited to get back to work without all kinds of debt hanging over my head.”

Our welfare officer quickly assessed Greg’s needs and marked his case as a priority so we could immediately help him with a grant to get his rent up to date and prevent him becoming homeless. Greg was very relieved and told us: “The grant came as wonderful news at a moment when I was in dire straits. “I was really struggling to meet my monthly outgoings and the support came at just the right time. I cannot thank you enough.” If you know anyone who works or has worked in any sector of the furnishing industry who could benefit from our support, please contact Robin Lomas by emailing welfareofficer@furnituremakers.org.uk.

Greg received support to pay his rent

JULY 2019

Charity fundraiser offers spicy food for thought A mouth-watering curry was on the menu at The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Yorkshire region fundraising event in June. The fourth annual curry night, which took place on Thursday 13 June, was held at the famous Aakash restaurant in West Yorkshire, raising in excess of £3,000 for the industry’s charity. Around 100 people, including industry colleagues, friends and family attended the drinks reception followed by a three-course meal at Britain’s biggest Indian restaurant. This year’s theme ‘Making sense of uncertain times: Northern grit and commerce – a political and commercial perspective’ offered plenty of food for thought.

Guest speakers included Tracy Brabin the Labour Co-operative MP for Batley and Spen, Paula Sherriff MP for Dewsbury, Mirfield, Denby Dale and Kirkburton and key note speaker Kate Hardcastle MBE – The Customer Whisperer. Fara Butt, marketing director at the Shire Bed Company and one of the organisers, said: “On behalf of the Yorkshire region committee and The Furniture Makers’ Company, I want to thank everyone who attended and made this event a tremendous success.” For more information about any events, contact Laura Garnett, head of fundraising and development, at 020 7256 5558 or email laura@furnituremakers.org.uk.

Guests at the Curry Night

Axminster Tools drill their way to victory at the Herman Miller Cup Axminster Tools & Machinery were crowned champions of the Herman Miller Cup five-a-side football tournament on 30 June following a tense and animated final with Hypnos Beds that culminated in a sudden death victory for the tools manufacturer.

scorching heat, Ax Tools and Hypnos FC were the final teams standing, with two-time champions Whitemeadow knocked out. The final was a game of two halves and one for the ages, with neither team backing down. When the final whistle was blown a draw of 2 - 2 meant the match had to be decided by a penalty shootout.

Fourteen teams took part in the competition at the Lucozade Powerleague Football The tension mounted as both teams were Centre, Coventry. Now in its seventh year, the given three penalties to knock the other team tournament was sponsored by Herman Miller out. The result came down to the wire with and supported by Cabinet Maker. the final save from Ax Tools’s goalkeeper Joe Kick off was at 1.00pm and the games were Berry resulting in the team winning the game 3 - 2 on penalties. fast and goal heavy with each team leaving everything on the field in the hope of raising Dids Macdonald OBE, Master of The the coveted trophy. Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The Herman Miller Cup was fabulous, with over After three and half hours of play in the

100 keen footballers taking part, and what an amazing final between Axminster and Hypnos. However, where were all the women players? Next year, I hope! We’d like to thank our sponsor, Herman Miller, for their tremendous support in helping make this wonderful event possible.” Josh Chadwick, sales manager at Herman Miller, said: “It was a great day of football and fun which was competitive and well-spirited. Thank you to The Furniture Makers’ Company for bringing together organisations from within the furniture industry to make it a great event.” The event raised a record £4,500 for the charity.

Big Shots turns 25 with a bang Nearly 200 people came out in support of the 25th anniversary edition of Big Shots, The Furniture Makers’ Company’s clay pigeon shoot, raising more than £34,000 for the charity.

his career. The event finished with a bang as Daniel Spicer of Ideal Furniture made the winning bid to fire Holland and Holland’s antique cannon to bring the special day to a close.

The fundraiser, which is supported by Furniture Village, took place on Wednesday 12 June and was held at Holland and Holland in Northwood, Middlesex, one of the UK’s premier shooting destinations.

Dids Macdonald OBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “Even a slightly wet day could not dampen the spirits of what was a cracking event, raising a staggering £34,000.”

Forty-four teams competed in the shooting contest with companies from across the wider furnishing sector coming together in support of their industry charity.

Charlie Harrison, director of multichannel at Furniture Village, said: “With this being our 25th anniversary of Big Shots, we had pretty high hopes and it didn’t disappoint! Having been involved with Big Shots for the past eight years, Furniture Village is proud to have supported this event and here’s to the next 25 years.”

Once the final shots were fired, guests sat down to a delicious three-course meal with more money raised through a raffle, auction and wine pull. The silver anniversary celebrations were complemented by an after lunch talk from Victor Ubogu, former Bath and England rugby player, who delighted guests with tales from FURNITUREMAKERS.ORG.UK

Charlie Harrison, Victor Ubogu, Peter Harrison, Dids Macdonald OBE and Jonny Westbrooke

The 26th anniversary event of Big Shots will take place on Wednesday 10 June 2020.

JULY 2019

Register now to attend the 2019 Young Furniture Makers Exhibition The Young Furniture Makers Exhibition returns to the City of London for one day only this October, offering industry the opportunity to connect with young designer-makers, who are looking to make an impact on the sector.

Dids Macdonald OBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, will welcome guests from the furniture and design community at 7.00pm before a prize giving with a special to-beannounced guest.

Organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the event showcases the very best furniture and furnishing design talent from GCSE students to young professionals.

Jonny Westbrooke, CEO of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The Young Furniture Makers Exhibition is an extraordinary and unmissable celebration of talented young designer-makers, many of whom are still studying or in the early stages of their career.

Up to 100 young designers from schools, colleges and universities from across the UK will be showcasing their designs. The event is sponsored by Axminster Tools & Machinery and will take place on Wednesday 9 October (12.00pm-9.00pm) at Furniture Makers’ Hall and the Dutch Church in Austin Friars, London.

“We look forward to meeting the Thomas Heatherwicks and Sir Terence Conrans of the future at the exhibition.” To register for free, go to bit.ly/ YFMexhibition2019

Beatrix Bray, winner of the 2018 Young Furniture Makers’ Bespoke Award

A hole in one could get you £5,000 for yourself and the charity Fancy trying your luck for £5,000? Golfers in attendance at this year’s National Charity Golf Day, organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, will be in with a chance of winning £5,000 for themselves and the charity if they get a hole in one.

193 yards from the white tee, and to reach the green you must fly the ball all the way to avoid the lake in between.

One of the industry’s most high profile events of the year, the day tees off with bacon rolls and coffee followed by an 18 hole Stableford The National Charity Golf Day will take place on competition with a shotgun start. Competitors Wednesday 26 September 2019 at the will later sit down to a two-course lunch, prize world-renowned Warwickshire Golf Club. giving ceremony and charity raffle. Participants will be playing on the Kings course, an American style golf course with some great views, as well as wide fairways, large undulating greens, and plenty of lakes and water hazards to catch out even seasoned professionals.

An array of trophies and prizes will be on offer, including awards for the longest drive and nearest the pin. There are sponsorship opportunities available for companies wishing to support.

Some extra fun items have been planned for The course’s signature hole, the 8th, measures players for 2019, including the hole in one

competition and a ‘beat the pro’ game. Jonny Westbrooke, CEO of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “Our summer events programme would not be complete without the National Charity Golf Day, our longest running fundraiser and a day not to be missed. “As well as a great day out on a stunning course, our National Charity Golf Day is a brilliant way to support our charity, enabling us to do even more to support those in need from our industry and educate young talent.” For more information or to book a place on the National Golf Day, contact events manager Sally Kent on 020 7256 5558 or email events@furnituremakers.org.uk.

Successful Student Industry Tour educates young people on the furnishing sector More than 30 college and university students studying furnishing related courses at institutions around the UK enjoyed a four-day tour around six leading furnishing businesses in March (25-29). The annual Student Industry Tour, sponsored by Festool and organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, gives young people who are interested in pursuing a career in the furnishing sector a broad understanding of how it operates. This year the students visited Corian distributor CD (UK) Ltd, tool manufacturer Festool, retailer Furniture Village, bed manufacturer Harrison Spinks, contract furniture maker Knightsbridge and foam manufacturer Vitafoam. The students got to see inside factories, design offices and stores of some of the UK’s leading furnishing businesses, getting an understanding of sales, marketing, manufacturing and design.

David Woodward, senior warden at The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The students were impressive and clearly got a lot out of the experience. Thank you to our hosts who were brilliant and if this doesn’t convince the students that the furniture industry is the place to be I don’t know what will.” One student who attended the tour said: “It is really nice to have a platform to meet other creatives, makers and people on the same page as you, because a furniture design course is quite niche so it’s a great opportunity to meet a lot of other people with similar mind-sets.” Phil Beckley of tour sponsor Festool said: “Supporting The Furniture Makers’ Company with the student tour is one of the highlights of the year for me. Being in a position to pass on as much knowledge as I can to the next generation of artisans is a privilege and I wish them every success in their chosen specialism.”

Phil Beckley of Festool gives a demonstration to the Student Industry Tour group

The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers’ Charitable Funds incorporating the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1015519) and is a registered company in England and Wales (no. 02759359).

MANUFACTURE Vita Talalay explains the importance of sustainability in a quick-fire Q&A with Cabinet Maker.

RETAIL Another look ahead to next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eagerly-anticipated Bed Show.

Beds August 2019

Who will be the Bed Industry Awards winners for 2019? See page 78 for preview of the awards and the NBF Bed Show in September August 2019 | 61

BEDS

DESIGN Protect-A-Bed shares an insight in continued success at the business.

BEDS NEWS BEDS

MANUFACTURE

BREASLEY APPOINTS NEW PR FIRM

SEALY WINS ANOTHER WHICH? AWARD

Skipton-based agency AKA PR has been appointed by leading bed manufacturer, Breasley, to handle its trade public relations and to promote its bedmaking activities, including its bestselling Salus and Uno mattress ranges.

Sealy UK’s Posturepedic Pocket Teramo 1400 has preserved its Which? Best Buy status for a fourth year.

Jan Turner, director at AKA PR, said: “We are delighted to work with the business and look forward to telling its continued success story.”

The consumer champion first awarded the accolade to Sealy’s Teramo 1400 in 2015, with the mattress maintaining the prestigious title ever since.

w www.breasley.co.uk

Which? explained its decision by saying: “We’re still yet to test a pocket sprung mattress that can match this Best Buy. This is one of the most durable mattresses we’ve tested — it’ll still be in great condition and able to support your body well even after years of use. Unlike some mattresses, it doesn’t sag or become less firm over time. The breathable material should also help you avoid getting sweaty during the night.”

MANUFACTURE

The report also commended how “it’s very easy to turn over on this mattress and it’s stable enough that you won’t disturb your partner when you do.”

Breasley head of marketing Clare Taylor said: “We are pleased to have appointed AKA and are looking forward to working with them to share more information about the work we do here.”

HS UNVEILS FOAM AND GLUE-FREE MATTRESS Bed maker Harrison Spinks has committed to a foam and gluefree future for all mattresses going into development.

w www.sealy.co.uk

RETAIL

The pledge is a significant milestone for the 179-year-old familyrun business, and comes at a time when the dangers of foam and use of chemicals within the furniture industry has never been more relevant. The innovative manufacturer, which holds three Queen’s Awards, including one for Sustainable Development, has its own farm where it rears sheep and grows hemp to create natural mattress fillings — and owns a sustainable forest that provides wood for its divans. The Leeds-based company, which employs more than 600 people, makes its own spring wire as well as constructing the machines that produce the springs. Now with seven weaving looms at its Leeds headquarters, the company produces its own mattress tick for the sleeping surface, using botanically-sourced viscose; the tick is inherently fire retardant and requires no chemical treatment to meet UK flame retardant regulations. Simon Spinks, managing director at Harrison Spinks, said: “For the last 10 years our core business objective has been trying to change the way the world sleeps. We’ve been relentless in looking for more sustainable ways of working so we can look after our planet for future generations. It is for this reason we have made the pledge to not develop any new mattresses containing foam or glue, and to eliminate foam from any existing product by 2020. “Because of the dangers of foam and the negative effect it has on the environment, we use sustainable fillings and grow nearly 800 tonnes of natural fibre fillings for our mattresses each year. By farming our own materials and manufacturing our own components we have been able to save more than 1,300 tonnes of CO2 every year. “Later this year we will launch a fully sustainable, glue-free spring system that will be a global first. What this means is that we can produce a mattress that is 100% recyclable and we can help reduce some of the 7.5 million beds that end up in landfill every year. This will revolutionise the industry as we know it. We’re committed to doing the right thing for a healthy lifestyle and a sustainable future so we can all rest easy at night.”

www.harrisonspinks.co.uk

August 2019 | 62

Land of Beds completes three peaks Independent beds retailer Land of Beds has completed its three peaks challenge, raising more than £4,000. The team of nine (above), including managing director Mike Murray, took on the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent (694m), Whernside (736m) and Ingleborough (723m) which form part of the Pennine Range. The walk was around 25 miles and the challenge was to complete it within 12 hours. Land of Beds completed the trek for the Platform for Life charity, which offers free counselling for families going through very difficult and traumatic times in their life. Mike said: “We are happy to report that we completed our mission. It was incredibly tough, but so worthwhile. The charity has been overwhelmed by your support and can provide 100 counselling/play therapy sessions for families — parents, children and young people struggling with mental health and poverty. “Your support really does make a big difference to the families they work with. Again, on behalf of Land of Beds and Platform for Life, we are incredible thankful and grateful for all your support.”

w www.landofbeds.co.uk

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Bed retailer reveals sustainability success Bensons for Beds is celebrating a breakthrough in its sustainability practices, with recycling rates and sales of its ecofriendly Silentnight Choices range at an all-time high. The UK sees around 7.5 million mattresses thrown away each year — this equates to 247,500 tonnes, which in turn is the equivalent of around 40,500 double decker buses or nearly 14,000 swimming pools. In fact, around 12,000 mattresses are illegally dumped each year, with mattresses accounting for 13% of all fly-tipping. Waste levels in the UK are generally at an all-time high, with 45.4 million tonnes of waste dumped each year, and England’s landfill sites are set to reach maximum capacity by 2022. With such monumental figures of waste apparent, Bensons saw an opportunity to offer a quick and easy recycling solution to customers through the introduction of its recycling scheme in August, where customers can recycle their old mattresses and beds when they have their new item delivered. Bensons has seen around 40,000 beds taken for recycling in the past 10 months — meaning the brand has saved around 1,800 tonnes of mattresses from going into landfill. In addition, sales of Bensons’ revolutionary Silentnight Choices range — featuring mattresses made from recycled plastic bottles — has seen a huge uplift of 96% in the past year. Since the Silentnight Choices range launched in 2018, Bensons has saved over 48.7 million plastic bottles from entering the oceans and landfill — the equivalent distance (with bottles placed end to end) of London to Thailand. “Customers are actively seeking out more sustainable options from retailers”, commented Pam Johnson, head of buying at Bensons for Beds. “We’ve seen a huge increase in the number of eco-conscious customers. As a business, we are committed to being even more environmentally-friendly and are constantly looking at how we can be kinder to the environment with every new product we introduce.” Building on its existing sustainability credentials, Bensons for Beds is set to extend its range of environmentally-friendly products in the coming months and years. Pam added: “We not only look at the product components themselves in terms of sustainability, recycling etc, but also how they are produced — for example, by incorporating chemical treatment-free fabrics, which stop harmful chemicals going into our waterways. There are also innovative new filings which, in their production, reduce CO2 emissions, water and land use. We’re excited to be incorporating these into our new ranges in the Autumn this year.

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TOUGH START TO THE YEAR, SAY NBF MEMBERS The latest results from the National Bed Federation’s (NBF) State of Trade report are in for the first quarter of 2019 — and reveal a tough start to the year. The report shows that estimated like-for-like sales revenue fell by more than 5% to just over £224m compared to the same period in 2018, and business optimism was 11% lower. “The sales data from our members show that it is tough at the moment — and this doesn’t come as a surprise,” said Jessica Alexander, executive director of the NBF. “Optimism is low — in fact, optimism has fallen by a whopping 18 percentage points since quarter three of 2018 when it peaked at 33%. “On the plus side, it has remained stable at 15% for the last two reports, covering the periods October-December 2018 and January-March 2019.” Estimated unit sales in the first quarter of 2019 also declined on a like-for-like basis, down by 3.5% to £1.86million. Other findings included a 3% increase in those reporting a more significant rise (more than five per cent) in costs, for example materials and fuels. Added Jessica: “It was interesting to see from the data that one of the main factors likely to limit output over the next three months is going to be a shortage of skilled labour. One in five companies (19%) listed it as problem compared with just 6% in the last quarter of 2018.”

w www.bedfed.org.uk

MANUFACTURE

FOAM MANUFACTURER APPOINTS NEW CEO Manufacturer of latex foam components, PU-foams and pocket springs for the bedding industry, Latexco has announced the appointment of Lieven Vandendriessche as its new chief executive. Lieven has a master’s degree in business economics and more than 25 years of experience in different management positions in industrial companies. He started his career with 15 years at Deceuninck, where he took, amongst others, the roles of business development director and VP of operations. He entered the bedding sector for the first time as general manager Europe at Bekaert Deslee. Until July he was managing director of the carpets and tiles division at Balta Group.

“Overall, our sustainability practices are performing incredibly well so far, helping us contribute to reducing unnecessary waste in the UK.

Lieven said: “Latexco is a family business, which allows us to really go for the long-term. I see a lot of potential for growth, enabled by recent investments. The bedding sector is in full transition, and I am convinced that Latexco holds a unique position.”

“We are committed to making a real change, and will continue investigating new sustainable products and practices in the coming years, to help our business evolve and adapt to an increasingly environmentally-conscious nation.”

Carole Maes: “As my father is taking a step back, Lieven and I will work together closely to lead Latexco towards further growth, diversification and internationalisation.”

w www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk

w www.latexco.com

August 2019 | 64

We are Beds See the latest products, collections and innovations in the bed industry at the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest and best bed show.

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NEW SPRING SYSTEM INNOVATION LAUNCHES Furniture components supplier Spinks has launched a groundbreaking 100% recyclable glue-free pocket spring system, which aims to set new standards in sustainable comfort innovation and raise the bar on a global scale. The fully-sustainable glue-free spring system, Cortec, uses Spinks’ unique patented design and technology, which has been five years in the making. By developing the finest high-tensile wire ever to be used in a core unit, and welding each spring pocket rather than using glue, Cortec said it delivers a new dawn for comfort technology. The individually-pocketed springs are extremely durable, providing ultimate support, and are distributed at a high density to create more points of contact, providing greater body contouring accuracy for superior comfort. Cortec also replaces the need for additional comfort layers such as foam, latex or other fillings. Cortec will form part of the Harrison Spinks mattress offering in the UK and sold as a component to other non-mattress manufacturers in the UK, as well as to furniture and bedding manufacturers worldwide. Darren Marcangelo, commercial director at Spinks, commented: “Cortec is the most comfortable and supportive pocket spring we believe has ever been made. When compared with a standard pocket spring, it has many more individual points of contact, allowing it to contour with much greater accuracy and precision. Combining the comfort with Cortec’s sustainability credentials enables the product to speak for itself. No glue is used within the construction of the spring unit, meaning it can be 100% recycled at the end of its life, which is a common problem for all existing pocket springs as the glue contaminates the pocket cloth, making it difficult to recycle. “We’re excited about the potential Cortec has to impact both the furniture and mattress market. In the UK alone, 7.5million mattresses end up in landfill every year (that’s more than 1,000 a week) and we now have a product to help tackle the ongoing environmental issues we’re facing — and we know that fellow manufacturers will be keen to embrace this and show their support.”

w www.spinks.co.uk

Mike and Caroline Murray with the award won by Land of Beds

Independent recognised with family business award Independent beds retailer Land of Beds flew the flag for the furniture industry at the National Family Business of The Year Awards at Wembley Stadium in London. The awards recognise best in class family businesses from all over the UK, including Northern Ireland, in sectors ranging from technology to manufacturing. Land of Beds was awarded the silver award in the retail category. The judging panel praised the third generation family business for its impressive sales and profit growth over the last few years and its ability to transition into a leading multi-channel retailer. Mike Murray, managing director at Land of Beds, said: “I am proud of what we have achieved over the last few years. “I would like to dedicate this award to all our incredibly hardworking and dedicated team, who consistently go above and beyond. They’re our extended family and without them we wouldn’t be where we are today. “Being in a family business gives you the confidence and freedom to constantly try out new ideas. It allows you to innovate and take measured risks, because you know you can rely 100% on the team around you. “We are a third generation family business and I am extremely excited to see what the future holds for this great company as we transition into our next phase of growth.”

w www.landofbeds.co.uk August 2019 | 66

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SLEEP BRAND LAUNCHES NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WITH SPORTS STAR Sleep tech firm Simba is encouraging the nation to shift its perception on approaching rest through the launch of its new brand campaign. Simba has signed elite athlete and international rugby star Maro Itoje as its brand ambassador to lead the integrated digital-first #TRYFOR8 campaign, in a bid to get Brits to aim for eight hours a night. As part of the campaign, the rugby star will take a workout-like approach to coach the nation via Simba’s newly-developed Simba Sleep App to train themselves into better sleep habits. #TRYFOR8 is a call to action to make a better effort at bed time. Simba has also debuted its pro-sleep trainer team, made up of Maro Itoje, rugby legend Dr Jamie Roberts and health and wellbeing expert Peta Bee, who have created personalised video coaching sessions, tips and advice, to encourage Brits to just try to get eight hours in bed every night, accessed through the new App. Commenting on the partnership, Maro said: “Sleep is directly linked to how much energy I have, my overall performance, my output in the gym and on the field. “The more you sleep, the more ability you have to train harder, be more alert, and attentive. Sleep really is a game-changer for me, without a good night’s sleep I really struggle to perform at my best.”

Two Wycombe Wanderers players

Mattress specialist secures two-season sponsorship High Wycombe-based mattress specialists Dormeo has signed a new sponsorship deal with Wycombe Wanderers Football Club.

Steve Reid, co-founder and chief executive of Simba, said: “With busier and more chaotic lives than ever before, sleep has become just an afterthought. The simple truth is that even with all the great advice out there, Brits are still sleeping badly. In fact a third of us get by on five to six hours sleep a night.

Dormeo developed a partnership with the Chairboys during the 2018/19 season, sponsoring a family pantomime at Adams Park just before Christmas, as well as becoming members of the 1887 Business Club networking facility and providing club captain Matt Bloomfield with a state-of-the-art Octaspring® mattress following his 500th appearance for the Blues in March.

“As a nation, whilst we know that sleep is important, we just don’t see the value of it, beyond being less tired. We’re happy to take the time to sharpen our minds for work… and train our bodies at the gym. So why don’t we do the same for sleep?

Now Dormeo has stepped up its affiliation by sponsoring the front of the new shirt, which was revealed to supporters last month, with the partnership to also continue into the season beyond the current 2019/20 campaign.

“The #TryFor8 campaign and the new Simba Sleep app have been created and developed to give everybody the tools they need to try and get eight hours in bed every night and give sleep a chance.”

Michael Davies, general manager of Wycombe Wanderers, said: “We’re excited to be working alongside Dormeo for the next two seasons and beyond.

w www.simbasleep.com

“Despite being the fastest-growing mattress company worldwide, Dormeo has strong local roots here in the traditional furniture-making town of High Wycombe. They’ve been terrific supporters of the club over the past few months.” Mike Pitt, managing director of Dormeo, said: “Partnering with Wycombe Wanderers has been an ambition of ours for many years. We have a strong fan base in the company and are proud to know that our name will be associated with the club as they embark on this season’s League One campaign. “We’ve been growing our brand nationally and overseas for almost 18 years, and now look forward to engaging with as many local Chairboys fans as possible. We’d be delighted to get involved in the season ticket holder’s benefits scheme, making sure fans are well looked after when visiting our showroom. “Everyone at the club has made us feel very welcome ever since we stepped foot in Adams Park.”

w www.dormeo.co.uk August 2019 | 67

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OTTY CEO shortlisted for award The chief executive of Leedsbased online bed-in-a-box retailer OTTY Sleep, Michal Szlas, has been shortlisted for the 2019 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year category. Michal Szlas (left) and OTTY Sleep fended off tough competition to make the regional shortlist, with a record number of businesses entering the awards across the wide range of categories. OTTY Sleep, which won the NBF Small Online Retailer of the Year award in 2018, combines tried-and-tested products with innovative materials, giving people from all walks of life the chance to enjoy the best in sleep comfort. The last 12 months has seen OTTY expand its product range following increased demand, as well as almost doubling the number of employees working at the company’s Leeds offices. Michal, also founder of OTTY Sleep, said: “It’s been a year of growth for OTTY. Internally, we’ve expanded the office space at our Leeds-based headquarters following an increase in staff, while we’ve been working hard to bring a new range of products to the market, helping customers and retailers get complete sleep solutions. Ultimately, this has led to an increasing market share, and shows the team’s hard work is being recognised.” “The Start-Up of the Year category is competitive and includes a range of diverse and varied companies. I feel privileged to be able to stand alongside the other exciting leaders as one of the North’s best start-up entrepreneurs.”

w www.otty.com

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eve expands retail partnerships Boxed mattress brand eve Sleep has confirmed it plans to enter new retail partnerships. According to its latest trading update for the six months ended 30th June, eve said retail partnerships remain an important element of the strategy, raising brand awareness and increasing the number of places for customers to experience and purchase eve products. Since the period end, new partnerships have been signed with Argos, Dunelm and Homebase to sell eve products through their online sites. The Argos partnership is expected to commence around the end of this month, with Dunelm and Homebase launching later this summer. James Sturrock, chief executive of eve Sleep, said: “We have some exciting plans and partnerships launching and I look forward to seeing more progress against our strategy in some of the biggest peak trading periods for the business in the second half of the year.”

w www.evesleep.co.uk August 2019 | 68

John Tuton, founder and chief executive of Mammoth Group, (left) and Tony Lisanti, group chief executive, Airsprung

MAMMOTH PARTNERS WITH AIRSPRUNG Mammoth, experts in sleep, health and wellbeing, has teamed up with leading manufacturer Airsprung, in order to meet the demand of the growing health and wellbeing e-tail market. The deal has enabled Mammoth to complete its 2019 collection by launching the Wake® mattress to sit alongside Rise® and Shine®. The Wake® uses healthcare technology to ease aches and improve sleep. Each Wake mattress contains Mammoth’s naturally cooling Medical Grade™ foam — scientifically tested and shown to improve sleep; it won’t overheat. Mammoth has developed Wake® as it believes health and wellbeing products should be affordable for everyone, so people can become the best version of themselves for longer. John Tuton, founder and chief executive of Mammoth, said: “Some of our competitors offer products at premium prices and we don’t think this is fair. That’s why we decided to develop Wake, as we wanted to make our health technologies accessible to more people by selling an affordable, online product. “Airsprung is the ideal partner as it has the capability to adapt our technologies in order to hit a more attainable price point, and we’re delighted to be able to help everyone sleep better, feel better and make the most of every day. “Our partnership with Airsprung is enabling Mammoth to fulfil its potential, which complements our already successful bricks and mortar strategy with the Foam Company, and is making our brand and products more widely available, whilst helping Airsprung make the most of its capabilities.” An Airsprung spokesperson said: “We’re very pleased to be working with Mammoth to help it expand into the e-tail sector and make its health technologies more easily attainable to the wider consumer market. “Airsprung is a trusted supplier to the key UK retailers with unrivalled expertise in supplying to the digital space. Therefore, we are able to help Mammoth access the mass market as we have the ability to produce its products on a scalable level and meet the growing demand in both service and capacity in volume. We also have a shared enthusiasm to help drive Mammoth’s belief that health and wellbeing products should be available to all.”

w www.mammothcomfort.com

aQO RETAIL

Mattress brand makes progress

Large revenue growth reported

Boxed mattress brand eve Sleep has reported good progress in its rebuild strategy.

Bed-in-a-box brand Emma Mattress has reported its largest ever revenue for the first half of 2019 in the UK, drawing in £19m between 1st January and 30th June.

According to its latest trading update for the six months ended 30th 2019, eve said that Underlying EBITDA loss reduced by 50% to £5.9m (H1 2018: -£11.9m), driven by a ‘refocus on just three markets, greater marketing efficiency and a reduction in overheads’. Net cash at the end of the period was £12.5m. UK&I revenues for the period were broadly flat at 0.9% below last year, owing to the planned reduction in H1 marketing investment. France revenues decreased 29%, reflecting the Board’s decision to prioritise margin contribution over revenue growth, as well as the additional work to localise and reposition the eve brand. Group underlying revenue for the period decreased by 8% to £12.9m (H1 2018: £14.1m). James Sturrock, chief executive of eve Sleep, commented: “I am pleased with the financial and strategic progress made in H1, against a backdrop of substantial retail headwinds and the current competitive nature of the category. We have a strong new team in place, and there are early signs that the rebuild strategy is driving meaningful improvements in our key metrics in both the UK&I and France. Our focus on reducing losses, whilst creating a differentiated proposition as a sleep wellness brand, will underpin the business and lay the path to long-term profitability.”

w www.evesleep.co.uk

British co-founder of Emma Mattress, Benjamin Quiroga-Rivera, noted: “Emma’s 305% year-on-year growth is a testament to our profitable and sustainable business model, which focuses on product quality and clearly communicating product differentiation and function. “We’re sceptical of adopting unsustainable strategies and believe we have found the right recipe for long-term success. Our strong H1 2019 results are further evidence that we’re on the right track and put Emma Mattress on course to solidify its position as the UK’s leading bed-in-box-brand.” Emma Mattress continues to show fierce growth in the European market. As of 19th July, the company had sold more than 400k mattresses on a profitable basis via its worldwide online channels. In the UK, Emma mattress is expecting a turnover of £45m for 2019, a growth of 173% from 2018. At the end of July, the bed-in-a-box brand was set to reveal a new partnership with one of the UK’s leading retailers. This collaboration would increase Emma Mattress’ retail presence to more than 200 stores across the country.

w www.emma-mattress.co.uk

N E W FO R 2020

NATURE REINVENTED

R O S A L I A COLLECTION

Come and experience the Duvalay quality for yourself and take an exclusive look at our brand new Wooltec collection.

See us at The Bed Show 2019, Stand F40

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Cloud, Cool and Cotton

CONTINUED

SUCCESS Simon Zamet, Chief Executive, and Paul Lake, National Sales Manager, at Protect-A-Bed, share an insight into continued success at the business.

To continuingly build success, takes focus, hard work and drive. These are qualities Protect-A-Bed has continuously demonstrated in its well-documented success to help retail partners significantly grow sales. Protect-A-Bed, award-winning specialists in mattress protection, has reported strong sales at the mid-point of 2019, documenting positive year-on-year growth. This is highly impressive when considering the market’s unpredictable economic and political outlook. It is also an encouraging sign that businesses which focus, work hard and are continually driven, will have a high chance of reaping the rewards — no matter what climate it is operating in. August 2019 | 70

Simon Zamet, Protect-A-Bed Chief Executive, explains: “Protect-A-Bed are specialists in the mattress-protection category. Nobody else in the category has the same passion, drive and focus to grow sales and that’s why we are the leading global brand in healthy sleep. We continuously build frameworks that are simple for retailers to implement in order to achieve extremely high attachment rates. Focus is key; lots of small improvements often lead to significant improvement in performance once compounded. Therefore, we know we can instantly increase sales within this category.” Paul Lake, Protect-A-Bed’s National Sales Manager, comments: “In a year where volume of customers has declined, focus has never been more important on each

customer who walks through the shop door. We know we can help any store reach a 50% attachment rate or higher. As a business we are constantly looking to help drive sales for all of our retail partners. But specialist training is vital to unlock the sales potential and our Protect-A-Bed team is incredibly adaptive to support this in any retail environment.” Paul continued, “We support this training through a bespoke reward system through the Protect-A-Bed Platinum Club. Since launching the Platinum Club, the results have been excellent. Both existing and new partners have joined and are benefiting from the focused approach to growing sales.’” Officially unveiled earlier this year, ProtectA-Bed has taken the values of being part of

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“Protect-A-Bed has developed a world-class programme, honed over years of experience, built on a singular focus. This includes a unique sales training and motivational programme, our best-in-class mattress protection collection and bundled guarantees, new state-of-the-art display bays, awardwinning customer services and claims resolution, and a next day delivery service where required.”

the club, which offers a sense of belonging, unity and exclusivity, to match its own values of high customer service. Following the successful launch of its new collections, the company aims to reward those who are loyal to the brand with the Platinum Club doing just that, offering members special incentives. Simon explains:“The Platinum Club has been designed to build, recognise and

Protect-A-Bed has also built on its earlier launch of new retail TV displays, which have proved to be extremely popular and continue to receive great success since making its debut back at the January Furniture Show. The displays were once again on show during the Manchester Furniture Show, which certainly caught the eye. On the global scale, it has invested heavily in high-quality videography for displaying on TV screens, as well as formulating a sustainable ‘blueprint’ for ongoing growth. Paul said: “We have developed more models for training and producing more dynamic video footage to supplement existing resources, whilst focusing on continuous improvement.

“IN A YEAR WHERE VOLUME OF CUSTOMERS HAS DECLINED, FOCUS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT ON EACH CUSTOMER WHO WALKS THROUGH THE SHOP DOOR.” — Paul Lake, Protect-A-Bed National Sales Manager

“We have several blueprints that instantly

increase sales revenue and profitability. Every customer who walks through the door if buying a mattress, needs to buy a mattress protector. It’s in their interest to do so for many reasons. Therefore we continuously build frameworks that are simple for retailers to implement in order to achieve extremely high attachment rates. “Focus is key, lots of small improvements often lead to significant improvement in performance once compounded. Often these areas are overlooked, but through analysing every detail, how it’s displayed, how it’s introduced, how sales people feel when pitching, for example, will significantly increase sales in store. Therefore, we know we can instantly increase sales within this category, for new and existing retail partners.” Paul concludes: “Protect-A-Bed’s ability to upskill your team and increase your sales revenue by maximising every sales opportunity has been well documented. We can manage every step of the process for you and build a reward scheme through The Protect-A-Bed Platinum Club. There is nothing to be lost and everything to be gained. Why would you not act now?”

w www.protectabed.co.uk New displays have continued to deliver results

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reward success with unique promotional and discount opportunities, sponsored incentives, and tailored POS solutions as well as membership rewards.

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B E D S F E A T U R E |J T L E W I S BEDS

From L-R, Zoe Fannan, Lawrence Swallow and John Devine

Paul Vinnicombe, managing director of JT Lewis, talks about the continued growth of its mattress making division.

Right

Direction Just over two years ago a business that specialises in the manufacture of mattresses and bed bases was launched, selling directly to retailers. Since its inception back in May 2017, JT Lewis has continued to grow rapidly and revealed to Cabinet Maker that 2019 has been a year of further investment to support its ongoing success. Based in the North East in Peterlee, JT Lewis takes immense pride of being a British based — and British made — company that conforms to British standards in both manufacturing techniques, customer service and employment. August 2019 | 72

Paul Vinnicombe, managing director of JT Lewis, spoke to us about its ethos: “As a British-run company we believe in supporting the local community and have offered full training programmes to non-skilled people, some of whom have been unemployed for many years. “We have an enormous amount of experience in this and believe we offer high-quality products at reasonable prices. We are a growing company, which has retained family values and which believes customer service is a top priority. By giving staff such skills we believe we are securing their futures as well as securing manufacturing within the local

area. We are committed to producing quality products while contributing to the local community and investing in people.” On that note, JT Lewis has further committed itself to offer more jobs by launching a recruitment drive for a number of positions as the business expands. Alongside this, the business works consistently with local agencies to allow opportunities for people under a trial basis, which, as Paul revealed, usually leads to employment. “It is important to train staff and give them skills as the area we are in is an area with higher than average unemployment. By

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giving employees these skills it is assisting them in getting back into work and staying in employment,” Paul said, continuing: “In addition, it is important to train staff to ensure everyone is working to the same standards and quality. We have given many people the chance of a work trial through local agencies and have employed several of these staff. “Currently, we are looking for sales agents and tape edge operatives. It’s exciting times ahead for us and if anyone would like to join us on our journey, I encourage them to contact us. It is important for us to continue to invest in our team.” JT Lewis’ key team includes Paul, Lawrence Swallow in sales, Kay Turner in accounts and Craig Rudd as production manager. And it’s not just people the business has invested in of late. “We have invested heavily over the last 18 months and have purchased new machinery, including tape edge machines, and are currently looking into more modern technology for these machines. This is the machine that makes the mattress a mattress! We have also taken on and made vast improvements to a warehouse in Peterlee,” Paul said. Whilst continuous investment in staff and operations remains a fundamental practice for the business, JT Lewis also outlined that sustainability is a key factor moving forward. So much so, the company has recently signed up to Durham Council’s pledge to reduce the use of single-use plastics. “We also have relationships in place where we can recycle old mattresses that our customers need removed in order to receive their new mattress,” Paul added.

The Hampton Mattress: 2000 count pocket. Natural fillings covered in Luxurious Damask

“Everyone is looking at sustainability and recycling. We are currently looking at developing a new mattress covered in a fabric that is made completely out of recycled plastics. We are also happy to manufacture customers’ own-brand mattresses, and can also assist in developing a mattress specification, which is exclusive to a particular customer.”

“The fact that we are hearing that the market is slow for our suppliers is a challenge in itself and we need to ensure we do not become complacent. We must continue to drive forward to maintain the growth we are seeing at the moment.”

w facebook.com/JTLewismattress

It is clear to see that JT Lewis is thriving, especially in what have been described by many as ‘challenging times’, largely due to Brexit. In keeping with the British mantra of ‘keeping calm and carrying on’, JT Lewis has seen sales continue to grow on last year with everything moving in the right direction. “Our raw material suppliers have advised us that the market in general is quiet, however our sales are growing so we are happy we have not been affected by a lower-moving market,” Paul explained.

“WE ARE A GROWING COMPANY WHICH HAS RETAINED FAMILY VALUES AND WHICH BELIEVES CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A TOP PRIORITY .”

All mattresses are manufactured in the UK August 2019 | 73

B E D S F E A T U R E |V I T A T A L A L A Y BEDS

SUSTAINABLE

Below: Cradle to Cradle with Gold level latex

FOCUS

Ila Farshad, commercial director at Vita Talalay, a brand part of Radium Foam, explains the importance of sustainability in a quick-fire Q&A with Cabinet Maker. Why is being a sustainable business important? In 2008 Radium introduced its 100% Natural Vita Talalay latex to the bedding industry. The objective was to meet increasing demand from consumers for natural products. Natural products are considered healthier options and in the last 10 years we invested heavily to ‘meet’ those expectations.

nutrient for yet another circle — the circle of life. In the industrial era products were not made to be recycled, they were made to be produced — and as many as possible — at the lowest possible price. All those ended up as waste. That is what Cradle to Cradle wants to end because it is bad for the environment, as well as being directly and indirectly bad for you.

In 2010 Vita Talalay embarked on a mission to have all of its products Cradle to Cradle, nowadays referred to as circular. This can be explained in a simple manner.

So what does Cradle to Cradle, or circular, mean? Circular means you design products in such a way that they are as ‘clean’ as possible for both humans and the environment. At the same time they should be designed in such a way that they can be a nutrient for something else — meaning they can be recycled, or even better, upcycled!

In the pre-industrial area there was no waste. Farmers had cattle and crop on their land, they used what came from the land, and the waste was put back on the land with a August 2019 | 74

We were helped by the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency to get Cradle to Cradle silver certified in 2013 and upgraded to Gold in 2016. For that, amongst others, we reformulated our recipe, not only looking at sustainable latex, but also all process-related additives. This recipe was patented. Why do you think it is important to know exactly what is in a mattress? This is actually for both the health of you as an individual as well as the health of your children and grandchildren. A lot of focus is

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This is also good for the environment. Currently in the UK about 85% of the mattresses end up in landfill or are incinerated. Both lead to pollution and climate change. Practice has shown that if we as an industry take back the mattress from the consumer, hotel or hospital, in the best case we are able to dismantle it into monomaterials and 98% of the mattress can be reused. However, because there is no transparency on what is in the mattress, in its afterlife it is very difficult to assess the health and technical aspects of the mattress. That leads to low-value recycling solutions instead of reusing it again as a virgin latex material, similar to paper turning into new paper, or glass turning into new glass. The recipe? The Natural Vita Talalay recipe is completely assessed to be safe. In 2018 we added Natural Vita Talalay FR for the UK, again having natural materials only in the talalay latex, also designed to be completely clean, and also labelled Cradle to Cradle Gold to be free of problematic content and zero toxins. This is better for in the bedroom, and better for reuse — when all actors in the industry can cooperate we can make the mattress very transparent, and decide what we do with it in its afterlife. What sustainable practices does Radium Foam implement? Again we use Cradle to Cradle as a third party assessor. Cradle to Cradle looks at five different factors. These include: Material Health The first category entails the knowing of each chemical component of the product while ensuring the optimisation towards safer components. In this stage, each component of the tested product will be categorised as being either a biological (can safely return to nature) or technical (can safely return to industry) nutrient. Also, this quality category cross references the effects of hazardous components with the likelihood of human exposure, determining the level of risk involved to human health and the environment. Natural Vita Talalay proves to be the most healthy and pure natural comfort material in the world. Material Reutilisation This category ensures that the materials used to design the product come from and are able to return to nature or industry. This allows manufacturers to focus on maximising the percentage of recycled materials or content, as well as rapidly renewable materials used

to manufacture the product. In turn, these materials should also be safely reusable, recyclable or compostable. Just as in the first step, the materials will also be categorised in either being technical (can safely return to industry) or biological (can safely return to nature). Our Natural Vita Talalay is 100% recyclable. Renewable Energy and Carbon Management This quality category directs manufacturers to plan ahead and envision a future where the whole manufacturing process will be powered by 100% clean and renewable energy. Natural Vita Talalay meets the Gold level requirements. Water stewardship Ensuring the management of clean water and not only seeing it as a precious resource, but also an essential human right — that is what this quality category is all about. Important here is identifying and addressing the impact of each manufacturing facility, not only on a local geographical level, but also on an industrial level. In addition, all industrial chemicals used in a facilities effluent should be identified, assessed and optimised. In 2015, Radium Foam has installed a completely new wasted water installation that filters the water that has been used during the production process. Again the product Natural Vita Talalay meets to Gold level requirement in the programme category Water Stewardship. Social Responsibility The last quality category is made to ensure that all operational designs honour all people, as well as natural systems affected by the product, whether it be during the creation, use, disposal or even reuse. This means that manufacturers must conduct regular selfassessments based on globally-recognised resources, as well as conduct third party audits to clear supply chain issues and assure optimal conditions. Radium Foam is sponsoring the Co2OL reforestation of mixed forest project. Has the business made any further investments on sustainability? On material health we changed the recipe, and for the UK we removed a doubtful FR

additive and replaced it with natural graphite. On material reutilisation we are working on several projects to get latex to not only be recycled, but instead upcycled. That means we should be able to use it in a second, third, fourth life. For a product that has been made to last this is not so easy. On renewable energy we source all our electricity from renewable sources. In the last few years all our electricity came from a windmill park. Our gas consumption we keep minimising, changing parts of our process over from gas to electricity. Also we try to keep as much of the heat we use in our company. At the same time we offset our current gas consumption by not only increasing our share of Natural latex that is sourced from carbondioxide reducing trees, we also offset our carbon by buying carbon credits, having planted and protected more than 5,000 trees in the last few years. On water stewardship, we use well water instead of drinking water, and all our waste water is recycled to finally end up back to well water. We invested in a state-of-the-art water treatment installation. On social responsibility, two years ago we were the first to combine Cradle to Cradle with FSC (the most stringent forestry standard, preserving forests, protecting wildlife) certified latex as accredited by Rainforest Alliance. Latex can be traced back to its origins, the plantation it came from. And it ensures that the plantation did not suffer from deforestation, whilst honouring the living circumstances of workers. Final thought? Natural latex is a big source of carbon sequestration. Actually buying natural Vita Talalay has a negative footprint, meaning it takes up more CO2 than it produces throughout its life. If we can add responsible recycling to this latex, it is an excellent material for sustainable mattresses and pillows. We have been able to get all on the Gold level, and we are now aiming for Platinum.

w www.vitalalay.com

The jury from Red Dot Awards awarded Radium Foam’s Vita Talalay (part of the Vita Group) and Veldeman Bedding with an interzum ‘Best of the Best Award’ for its mattress that combines circularity with comfort. August 2019 | 75

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going on to labelling food with the appropriate information. But since you sleep close to your mattress and pillow without proper control, a mattress can be unhealthy too. Eco-Institute assessed our product by an ‘off-gassing’ test and gave us a 0 score on toxicity, which is good for the end user.

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B E D S F E A T U R E |B R E A S L E Y BEDS

Mike Crowshaw, joint managing director at Breasley, talks about the evolution of the rolled and boxed mattress.

Uno by Breasley

INNOVATE EVOLVE to

Pioneer bedmaker Breasley has long been at the forefront of innovation in the industry. From its early days manufacturing pillows, it has grown to become one of the UK’s most successful foam conversion operations. It started making mattresses in 2005 and now leads the way in the revolutionary rolled and boxed mattress sector. Breasley prides itself on its innovative approach to manufacturing beds and mattresses, often pioneering at the cutting edge of new ideas and techniques. The Ilkeston-based company was one of the first to produce a range of British-made, vacuum-packed mattresses and, in recent years, has been a major player in the ongoing evolution of the rolled and boxed mattress. August 2019 | 76

Joint managing director Mike Crowshaw said: “The emergence of the internet and its importance for sales meant that we had to find quicker ways to manufacture and distribute products like mattresses. There was also a rise in demand for a simpler, quicker delivery solution for bricks and mortar sales.

brands, Breasley’s output is sophisticated and vast, producing up to 5,500 rolled and boxed mattresses per week.

“Breasley recognised this opportunity early on and pioneered the introduction of the boxed mattress product in the UK market.”

Mike explained: “Today’s rolled and boxed mattress has a much more intricate specification as demand for varying degrees of comfort level, price points and functionality has evolved — boxed products need to meet the requirements of consumers for comfort and luxury as well as quick delivery and easy access.”

The company, which employs nearly 200 people, has continued to develop the rolled and boxed mattress, quickly moving on from the original, simple, foam-based product. Today, across its own Uno range and white label manufacturing on behalf of various other

Boxed products now include multiple layers with pocket springs and even natural fillings. For example, Breasley’s Natural Affinity range includes three models all with a sleep surface containing natural wool, silk and cashmere and up to 3,000 pocket springs.

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“When you consider all these elements, it is easy to see the justification for a ‘luxury’ tag for today’s top end boxed product. These mattresses take the bed in a box offering to the next level,” added Mike. External independent endorsement has also come with Which? Best Buy awards won by six different brands, whose boxed product has been designed and manufactured by Breasley, itself an AIS Gold Standard Award winner. Innovation also represents significant investment and an element of risk taking. Has it been worth it? Mike said: “Definitely. According to research by the National Bed Federation (NBF), of which we are a member, rolled and boxed is the fastest growing sector in the industry and we are certainly seeing that reflected in our sales. It is also incredibly satisfying to see our ideas come to fruition.” The NBF surveyed 500 people who had bought a mattress in the six months to February 2019 and found that roll up

mattresses accounted for 23 per cent of purchases — up from 17 per cent the previous year. Breasley’s own Uno boxed range now includes four models, all of which are available in four sizes. Uno mattresses, named for being the first of its kind, all have 10-year warranties and are available on next day delivery. With direct to consumer sales across flat and rolled mattress also continuing to grow — the NBF says this has grown from four per cent in 2015 to 11 per cent in 2018 — Breasley is continuing to lead innovation as it continues to work on new product development. This shift in shopping habits goes hand in hand with increased consumer confidence in products bought online. That is reflected in Breasley’s return rates, which have been maintained at less than one per cent since they entered the market. Meanwhile, the company continues to innovate across its mattress production, investing in flat as well as rolled and boxed products. It is due to unveil the latest version of its premier non-vacuum packed Salus brand at the NBF Bed Show at Telford in September, to tie in with the 10th anniversary of the range. Expect to see the most being made of a range of technologies and comfort options, plus cleverly-designed bases, including Breasley’s innovative ottoman.

w www.breasley.co.uk

BEDS

Additionally, the Brook + Wilde Elite range products consist of eight layers that work together to provide outstanding levels of functionality, comfort and support. These include a removable, washable cover and a thermo-regulating top layer, which provides a higher level of moisture evaporation to keep the sleeper cool and comfortable. There is also advanced wave technology to support shoulder and hip alignment, and pocket springs to support the individual movement of the sleeper.

aQO

“ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY THE NATIONAL BED FEDERATION (NBF), OF WHICH WE ARE A MEMBER, ROLLED AND BOXED IS THE FASTEST-

GROWING SECTOR

IN THE INDUSTRY AND WE ARE CERTAINLY SEEING THAT REFLECTED IN OUR SALES.”

Up to 5,500 boxed mattresses are made per week August 2019 | 77

B E D S F E A T U R E |T H E B E D S H O W BEDS

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to another 10 years!

Decade of

BEDS Hundreds of bed buyers and specifiers will head to Telford for two days as the Bed Show returns for a milestone anniversary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; its 10th year. August 2019 | 78

UNO

Natural Affinity

Collection from Breasley

MADE IN THE UK

The UNO boxed mattress collection T: 01629 823680 | E: customerservices@breasley.co.uk | www.breasley.co.uk

Uno FP CM April 19.indd 1

11/04/2019 15:02

B E D S F E A T U R E |T H E B E D S H O W BEDS

Exhibitors will showcase new products

free for visitors — and once again there will be complimentary refreshment vouchers, courtesy of John Cotton.

Organised by the National Bed Federation (NBF), the Bed Show returns to the Telford International Centre, on 17th and 18th September — and it is an exhibition not to be missed as it celebrates the coming together of the very best in British and Irish bed manufacturing, their component suppliers and retail customers all under one roof. Jessica Alexander, executive director of the NBF, told Cabinet Maker: “To be celebrating our 10th year is unbelievable. Back in 2010, we felt there was a niche in the trade show calendar for an event that was devoted to beds at a time of year favoured by the trade. “To be supported year-on-year by both exhibitors and visitors shows we were right to launch such an exhibition. 2019 is already looking like a fantastic show. Bed Show takes place from 17th

“It really is a one-of-a-kind show. It’s deliberately not too big or too fancy and specifically supports NBF members. The decision to limit the show to NBF membership means we can be certain that visitors come in the knowledge that the companies exhibiting are all part of a reputable trade association, complying to a stringent Code of Practice.” More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the show where parking and entry are

to 18th September

Registration is open online at www.bedshow. co.uk so now’s the time to get the dates in the diary and ensure you join the many visitors who will make their way to Telford to see some of the biggest names

“TO BE SUPPORTED YEAR-ON-YEAR BY BOTH EXHIBITORS AND VISITORS SHOWS WE WERE RIGHT TO LAUNCH SUCH AN EXHIBITION. 2019 IS ALREADY LOOKING LIKE A FANTASTIC SHOW.” — Jessica Alexander, executive director of the National Bed Federation

August 2019 | 80

B E D S F E A T U R E |T H E B E D S H O W BEDS

in beds. Lined up for 2019 are brands such as Airsprung, Breasley, Duvalay, Gallery Direct, Harrison Spinks, Highgate, Highgrove Beds, Millbrook, Relyon, Sweet Dreams and Vispring, plus lots of smaller, niche players and a selection of key component suppliers. “Over the last decade, the Bed Show has been a crucial part of our yearly plans, as it brings the whole industry together in one place and gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase our latest products and innovations,” said Ross Thurston, sales and marketing director at Millbrook Beds. “We are particularly looking forward to this year’s show and being part of its welldeserved 10-year anniversary celebrations. Receiving one of the Bed Manufacturer of the Year Awards last year is pushing us to showcase ourselves in an even more spectacular way and we can’t wait to reveal all!” Said James Appleyard, sales director at Deluxe Beds: “This is simply the most important trade show of the year for Deluxe Beds because of the quality of retailers and buyers that visit. While we never hold back in launching new products throughout the year, we always look forward to showcasing the majority of them at the NBF event — especially this year as it’s the 10th Bed Show!” Added Ruairi Giles, commercial director at Harrison Spinks: “The Bed Show at Telford is the premier trade exhibition for our industry. It is the number one opportunity to launch new products and collections to the market, as all key decision makers are present. The show is very well attended by retailers, manufacturers and suppliers and so it is also a great opportunity for meetings and to catch up with industry colleagues. We are looking forward to the 10th anniversary celebrations.” Supplier, Mark Laithwaite, national sales manager at MPT Group, said: “Over the last seven years, the NBF show has been an important part of our marketing strategy. It has allowed us to bring new products to market such as our Euromax and VersoQuilt multifunction border systems. Obviously it is not a machine show, but we are there to support our UK customers in their efforts to sell the new and exciting products that we have often been instrumental in developing.” August 2019 | 82

A one-of-a-kind show

Get set to celebrate Visitors are encouraged to make a date in the diary to attend the Gala Dinner and Awards on the night of 17th September. There are plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary in style! Having received a rapturous reception as the host of the Gala Dinner in 2012, 2013 and 2015, Gyles Brandreth is no stranger to the bed industry and will once again be welcoming and entertaining guests at the sparkling evening event.

As well as Gyles, there will also be chance for guests to get their dancing shoes on, as for the first time there will be live entertainment, from Queen tribute band, Flash.

w www.bedshow.co.uk »

B E D S F E A T U R E |T H E B E D S H O W BEDS

Bed Show Awards night

Still time for manufacturers and suppliers to enter the Bed Industry Awards The Bed Industry Awards, integral to the Bed Show, are back for 2019 but with six brand new categories. This year there are three new awards, which are free to enter, for NBF manufacturers/ suppliers exhibiting at the show — Bed of the Year, Accessory Product or Component of the Year and Innovation of the Year. From the entrants, a shortlist of finalists will be published in advance, and judging by an independent panel will take place on the afternoon of Monday, 16th September before the show opens and the deadline for entries is 28th August. The award categories for retailers have now closed. Judging takes place in August and a shortlist will be published prior to the Gala Dinner.

The awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner on Tuesday, 17th September at Telford International Centre. Tickets are now available to book on the Bed Show website. Jessica Alexander, executive director of the NBF, said: “This year we are shaking things up. We’ve got a new format, different award categories, live music and we’re bringing back our most popular host, Gyles Brandreth, to entertain you. “We’re hoping to see as many people as possible in their glad rags and dancing shoes as we make the 10th Gala Dinner a night to remember!”

w www.bedshow.co.uk

“THIS YEAR WE ARE SHAKING THINGS UP. WE’VE GOT A

NEW FORMAT, DIFFERENT AWARD CATEGORIES,

LIVE MUSIC AND WE’RE BRINGING BACK OUR MOST POPULAR HOST, GYLES BRANDRETH.”

— Jessica Alexander, executive director of the National Bed Federation

August 2019 | 84

SUMMER’S manchesterfurnitureshow.com

MANCHESTER FURNITURE SHOW 16th November 2018 | 22

F E A T U R E |M F S 2 0 1 9

HOTTEST

SHOW

» August 2019 | 87

F E A T U R E |M A N C H E S T E R F U R N I T U R E S H O W FEATURES

Cleere Scamell, event director of the Manchester Furniture Show (MFS), reflects on last month’s show as well as revealing plans for 2020.

Manchester Furniture Show (MFS) 2019 came to a close on 16th July with exhibitors reporting positive reactions to new launches and significant sales interest. Retailers from all over the UK attended the three-day event and saw new collections in upholstery, cabinet, beds and accessories at every price point. Against a widely-acknowledged background of difficult retail conditions, many exhibitors arrived at the show with realistic expectations. However, despite the footfall being slightly down (2% on the previous year), exhibitors, including La-Z-Boy, VIDA Living, UK Agency, Heartlands and ALF, said the quality of the buyers attending the show was very impressive and they had taken good orders and had excellent leads to follow up. Before the 2019 event had closed, more than 50% of exhibitors had already committed to take part in MFS 2020, with many citing the importance of supporting their customers by showing at two large-scale events during the year. The short-term challenges in the High Street and longer-term changes to retail overall have prompted the show organisers to review, grow and increase investment in the show’s VIP buyer scheme for the 2020 event, broadening its reach across the UK and Europe. Speaking about the plans for fresh investment, new features and a refined layout next year, event director Cleere Scamell said: “We have big plans for 2020. Although times are uncertain, to me now is the perfect time for us to invest significantly and build on the solid foundation of Manchester August 2019 | 88

Furniture Show’s decades-long reputation. We will be spreading the net wider than ever, reminding busy retailers about the incredible range of products on show and encouraging participation from even more key suppliers. “This year the halls were packed with ingenuity and inspiration, as well as accessible products at every price point — all crucial factors in making a real difference to the bottom line of the most creative and forward-thinking retailers. “We are committed to getting that message out to a widest audience of buyers and welcome them to this much-loved and impressive event. “We will help them find those game-changing product lines and — in true MFS style — make sure they go home with a smile on their face as well! The famous atmosphere here is key to what makes this event work; we want to make sure that there is more of it! “We will be spending the coming months planning creative ways to ensure that the 2020 event will offer the very best that the UK furniture industry has to offer. We will keep everyone informed about the exciting new developments and look forward to welcoming everybody to MFS next year.”

www.manchesterfurnitureshow. com

“THIS YEAR THE HALLS WERE PACKED WITH

INGENUITY AND INSPIRATION , AS

WELL AS ACCESSIBLE PRODUCTS AT EVERY PRICE POINT — ALL CRUCIAL FACTORS IN MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE TO THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE MOST CREATIVE AND FORWARD-THINKING RETAILERS.”

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

“

biting With this being our first time exhi to be ted exci very were at the show, we ing meeting furniture retailers and help and s, shop rce mme e-co them with their they can offering our expert advice on how event itself The e. onlin ness busi their grow -quality had a great turnout with lots of high variety attendees. It was great to see the e had of suppliers also exhibiting and som even saw a some very unique pieces — we .” few of our own customers there s — Mark Gilbertson, busines development manager, EKM

“

MFS

The Manchester Furniture show is a great platform to meet customers and interact with potential retailers, and this year was no different. We had a specific goal to speak to key retailers and get reactions on our new ranges. Not only did we get great feedback around the Alba and Sunbury range, on how different it is, we spoke to some great retailers and look forward to working with them in the future.” — Samir Sayed, marketing manager at Heritage Furniture

Prior to last week, we’d never exhibited at a trade event, and I was personally advised that the Manchester Furniture Show was the perfect exhibition to dip our toe into the water. Early indications suggest that the event was a huge success for us, with buyers from many big retailers and contract furniture suppliers visiting the OTTY stand and enjoying what we had to offer. The Manchester Furniture Show was a great way of introducing the OTTY brand to a new audience, and it has hopefully allowed us to partner with new retailers and contract suppliers — a move that will help us to bring OTTY to more people across the UK and Ireland.” — Michal Szlas, chief executive of OTTY Sleep

“

Presenting our largest ever stand at the Manchester Furniture Show was an exciting challenge and we are delig hted at the result. We had so many fanta stic comments about the look of the stand, as well as the quality of the contemporary designs of the products on display. It was pleasing to receive a significant number of high -quality orders and secure new accounts throughout the country, as well as boosting shop floor models for existing high street cust omers.” — Mark Draper, marketing dire ctor, La-Z-Boy UK

“

We found the show an interesting exhibition as we returned for the first time for some years, and while overall it was perhaps a bit quiet — an amazing day of sport on the Sunday perhaps accounting in part for that — we welcomed plenty of customers to our stand. We were very pleased with the interest shown in our products. We opened several new accounts and achieved a good number of new floor placements. Undoubtedly, the Pixton range was the star of our show; however, all our new upholstery ranges were placed at retailers.” — Nick Williams, Sweet Dreams sales manager

JOSH’S HOLIDAY PRIZE The winner of a free holiday in Spain courtesy of a competition on the Cabinet Maker stand at MFS was Josh Stancer (above), from Mundy Veneer. He said: “I am delighted to win the prize, it was very unexpected. Can’t wait to have a week in the sun and dust the golf clubs off!”

August 2019 | 89

FEATURES

WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT

aQO

F E A T U R E |P E O P L E B E H I N D T H E P R O D U C T S

Carl Drake, owner and MD at Rise Furniture and Mobility, sits in the Cabinet Maker People Behind the Products hot seat and shares an insight into his role, a love for Spain and a decent G&T. Carl and Angel Drake outside their Harrogate showroom

I’m a founding partner of a North Yorkshire initiative to promote Independent Living. It’s a voluntary scheme offering support and advice for those in later years. I also give presentations to healthcare professionals, charity action groups and local August 2019 | 90

retired communities, donating my fees to nominated charities — MacMillan Cancer Support and Dementia Forward. How long have you been in your current role? My wife and I launched the business in October 2017. Can you give a brief background on yourself? I studied Furniture and Interior Design at Leeds. My previous roles have taken me

B ple eh

rodu

Email... o.uk sales@risemobility.c

From our Harrogate showroom, I devise our marketing strategy, including managing the website; adding new product lines (which I source myself), through meeting new suppliers and managing those key supply partnerships.

Name... Carl Drake d managing director Job role... Owner an iture and Mobility Company... Rise Furn

ind

Can you describe your current job role and responsibilities? I am responsible for every aspect of running the business. From greeting and serving customers in the showroom; responding to any questions and orders online; attending home visit assessments to discuss customers’ needs... I’ve even been known to deliver furniture.

Peo

FEATURES

Meet Carl

all over the world, from boardroom to showroom, manufacturing and marketing, to retailing. I have worked in all aspects of the furniture industry, including luxury fitted furniture, shop fitting to supplying furniture for super yachts. I also ran my own advertising agency and

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

aQO FEATURES

Carl Drake (below) is proud that Rise Furniture and Mobility was named National Retail Business of the Year in 2018

design consultancy. Until 2017, I was managing director of one of the UK’s largest mobility furniture companies. I now own a multi-award winning mobility business.

Can you share something that your coworkers may not know about you? In the 1980s I had a small part in a British film called ‘The Dresser’.

What is the best thing about your role? It’s very satisfying to know that our products are changing people’s lives, helping them maintain their independence, to enjoy life at home for longer.

The film was nominated for an Oscar, several BAFTAs and Golden Globes. Set in World War II, it featured an all-star cast, including the late Albert Finney. What are your favourite things in life? Some say, my life and business has always been rather ‘full on,’ so spending quality time around my wife, dog and cat means a lot to me — they are my panacea.

What is the most challenging thing about your job? Overcoming the stigma associated with mobility in the UK. Most of my customers are not disabled nor require specialist medical devices; they’re struggling with their mobility in later life. Our showroom is far more lifestyle based, so customers can buy furniture and products that enable them to lead a more independent life at home. We think ‘mobility not disability’ and our customers seem to like that. Can you describe your typical working day? My customers are not early risers; they avoid the rush hour traffic, which means I can too. After a leisurely, stress-free commute, my working day usually starts just before 10am.

What would you say pulled you into wanting a career in the furnishing industry? When I was at school, I thought I wanted to be an architect. But a conversation with a colleague of my father convinced me that interior design was more appealing. At the time, it involved studying furniture design for three years first.

We spend time relaxing at our bothy (a small cottage) in a very remote area of the Scottish Highlands (accessible only by 4x4) whenever we can. With no wifi or TV reception, it’s idyllic. If it was not for work, my wife and I would spend every chance we could in Spain. The lifestyle and climate suits us. Also... a decent, gin and tonic.

Once I’ve opened up the showroom and grabbed a coffee, I read the post; check my emails and the phones; before processing any online orders. Most days, I’m around the showroom, greeting and serving customers, unless attending home visit assessments. Closing at 4.30pm means I beat the traffic going home too. I have a better work/life balance these days.

August 2019 | 91

F E A T U R E |P E O P L E B E H I N D T H E P R O D U C T S FEATURES

Carl Drake (centre) receives his Best Customer Service Award from BBC presenter Harry Gration MBE DL (left) to add to the company’s growing collection. Faye Armstrong

What are your future ambitions? We’ve literally outgrown our Harrogate showroom, but it’s in a prime location. So we’re looking for a larger, second showroom, somewhere with storage. With my background in manufacturing, I do miss being involved with manufacturing, so I am keen to cultivate our own products. With 35yrs experience in the industry, I would like to develop more consultancy work too. Do you have any furnishing industry icons you admire? Ironically, I was influenced by architects who went on to become furniture designers, namely Charles Rennie Makintosh and Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier. Do you have any career highlights that spring to mind? As a young designer, I designed kitchens for celebrities and royalty; by the age of 25, I became chief designer for the largest shopfitting company in the world. But the biggest highlight has to be being named National Retail Business of the Year, last year. To beat more established businesses from all aspects of retail, really put mobility retail in the spotlight. We are the first and only mobility business ever to achieve that accolade, something I’m very proud of. August 2019 | 92

“HELPING ONE PERSON MIGHT NOT CHANGE THE WORLD... BUT IT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD FOR ONE PERSON.” — Carl Drake, owner and MD at Rise Furniture and Mobility What is your favourite piece of furniture you own? And why? le Corbusier LC4 Chaise Longue. It is one of the most iconic pieces of furniture in the world. It’s as comfortable as it looks. What do you love about the furnishing industry? How diverse it is. I have been fortunate

that my qualifications and experience have stood me in good stead. I have been able to successfully apply different aspects of my skillset to every role I have had. What could be improved to make the industry better in your opinion? With credit card and online fraud worth in excess of £20 billion a year, I would welcome a change in legislation that protects the retailer and not just the consumer. For every business, the importance of online customer reviews can influence a consumer’s decision to buy. But it can also have an adverse effect on any business. Google should reconsider how it might protect the very businesses that provide it with a lucrative revenue stream, from becoming victims of harmful, bogus and malicious reviews. What industry trends are you seeing at the moment? Our target audience is very much the older market, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have taste. The days of chintz are long gone. Don’t be fooled into thinking everything is beige, it’s not. Our best selling fabrics are muted greys, stones and putty colours.

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

aQO FEATURES

Carl and Angel Drake inside the showroom

Rise Mobility Bedale chair

Can you predict any future trends that may emerge? Whilst low-slung Italian style furniture is very much en vogue, people are living longer. There are now more over-60s than under16s; the number of 90 year-olds is also set to double in the next 25 years.

And finally, if you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Tenacious, Competitive, Loyal.

w www.risemobility.co.uk

Older people often find it difficult getting into and out of low seated furniture. I expect more modern looking, stylish rise and recline furniture to emerge and become popular.

B ple eh

rodu

ind

If you weren’t working in the industry, what would you be doing? I would probably be involved in animal conservation and the preservation of endangered species. This is something very close to my heart. In the 1990’s I got involved with Channel 4’s Nature Watch Trust programme, raising awareness of the plight of

the Black Rhino. I’ve a small stake in a Borneo rain forest, to help protect the habitat of the Orangutan and since acquired some land in South America in order to protect the Jaguar.

Peo

Did you know that Cabinet Maker has been established since 1880? How long have you been reading the magazine? I had no idea it had been around so long. I didn’t pick up a copy of Cabinet Maker until 100 years later! It was, and probably still is, the ‘go to publication’ for the young jobhunting furniture designer.

August 2019 | 93

F E A T U R E |A U T U M N F A I R FEATURES

ABOVE: Nkuku TOP RIGHT:One World RIGHT: Chic Antique

NEW

Direction

Autumn Fair is launching for 2019 with a bold new direction. Cabinet Maker finds out more. Autumn Fair, the season’s most important marketplace for home and gift retail, is set to launch its new direction for 2019 and beyond this September at the Birmingham NEC. With plenty of new and bellwether exhibitors showcasing exclusive products, and new theatres and areas debuting for 2019, Autumn Fair will offer unrivalled sourcing and dealmaking opportunities for retail’s boldest buyers. More than 22,000 visitors, and 1,300 August 2019 | 94

exhibitors are expected to descend on the NEC for the show, representing the industry’s best opportunity for last-minute stocking-up before the all-important Golden Quarter sales period and beyond for key buying points in 2020. For 2019, Autumn Fair will occupy a new venue within the NEC, moving to the Atrium as part of a re-edited offering, designed specifically to facilitate connections between suppliers and retailers, and make it as easy as possible for visitors to get to grips with

the products that will drive profits. Across 11 carefully-curated show sectors, visitors will be able to explore the latest products driving sales throughout the busy Christmas period and on into key selling periods for 2020. All gifting categories have been brought together into one spectacular Gift sector, in turn creating the UK’s largest gathering of gift inspiration under one roof. Likewise, the 2019 re-edit will bring together the show’s home and interiors sectors, creating an allnew sourcing and exhibiting destination for

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

aQO FEATURES

UK and international buyers and suppliers respectively. The new show sectors are: •Beauty & Wellbeing •Living •Gift (Contemporary Edit) •Gift (General) •Greetings & Stationary •Accents & Décor •Everyday •Retail Solution •Fashion •The Summerhouse •Play & Tech •Sourcing New sourcing zone With the global retail sourcing and procurement market expected to grow by nearly 12% in the period up to 2024, Autumn Fair 2019 will look to support retailers in sourcing the very best goods internationally. Sourcing at Autumn Fair is a brand-new sector that will enable manufacturers from key sourcing regions around the world to exhibit new products and showcase techniques to a new and relevant retail market. Throughout hall 10 international manufacturers coming to Autumn Fair, from Portugal, Indonesia, China and India, amongst other nations, will be bringing products relevant for buyers for gift, home, toys, fashion and kitchen and dining. Julie Driscoll, managing director at Autumn Fair, said: “The new sourcing hall will bring the best of the world to our door, ensuring that buyers who ordinarily wouldn’t have the resource to commit to costly trips abroad to visit potential suppliers, can make connections here at Autumn Fair. Not only that, but we’ll be pushing to attract more international retailers to buy from the UKbased suppliers that are the foundation of our show. “We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that we share the latest trend intelligence for international vendors to ensure that they’re bringing the most-relevant products for the UK market.” Trendworthy products Each of the 11 sectors will be welcoming exciting new exhibitors as well as the usual visitor favourites. Across the show exhibitors will be committed to showcasing the most relevant trends for Q4 2019 and 2020. As the season’s largest giftware showcase, both the general and contemporary edits of the Gift sector will deliver a focus on trend-led products, including wellbeing gifts and scented candles and diffusers, making

Autumn Fair 2019 is expected to attract more than 22,000 visitors

for plenty of opportunities for cross-buying with the Living sector. Exhibitors such as Eclectic Lifestyle, Bubblegum and Zakka Europe will be joining the show as part of the Contemporary edit, whilst the likes of Yankee Candle, Pukator and Widdop & Co will be key features in the General edit. Flowing seamlessly from the Gift halls will be the Greetings area, which will support many exhibitors’ embrace of both giftable and greetings items, as more suppliers bring stationary and novelty products to the table. Key exhibitor Cardology will be at the show, hoping to build on their success from last year. David Falkner, director at Cardology, said: “Last year at Autumn Fair was incredible, everything seemed to come together and we generated more business than from any other show.” In the Living and Accents & Décor showcase, visitors will see a real variety of products on display with exhibitors such as Sabirian, an ethical wholesale business with a commendable goal of bringing the largest selection of top-quality, hand-crafted fairly traded unique products available on the market. The Summerhouse is the home of trend-led products, showcasing a range of well-loved brands from Britain, Scandinavia and other global design hotspots. This is where you’ll

find interior accessories, lighting, outdoor accessories, furniture and design-led gifts from top brands, including Libra, Morgan Wright, Nkuku, Jellycat Ltd and India Jane. Elsewhere, across the Beauty & Wellbeing visitors can expect to see a greater focus on organic products and ethical sourcing, with key exhibitors such as Luminara and Matthew Williamson Fragrances. Sevin will also be bringing its unique spa-like stand for 2019 offering an environment that promotes a positive sense of wellbeing. Power of One Following the encouraging visitor and exhibitor response at Spring Fair, the Power of One campaign will continue for Autumn Fair 2019. Energising the retail industry to take action against plastic waste and unsustainable practices, the campaign is to champion the UN’s sustainable development goal for more responsible production and consumption by driving small individual, yet powerful steps towards a more sustainable future. Autumn Fair runs from 1st to 4th September at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. Register to attend for free at:

w www.autumnfair.com/ticket

August 2019 | 95

F E A T U R E |N A T I O N A L B E D F E D E R A T I O N FEATURES

Crib 5 test – failure on top surface and side ignition test, advertised as contract mattress and tested to crib 5 (medium hazard BS 7177)

The National Bed Federation (NBF) has revealed the results of the first round of Due Diligence random testing programme — with NBF members faring far better than non-members.

RAISING Awareness

Introduced in 2018 after an initial pilot and now forming part of the NBF’s Code of Practice, which has received ‘assured’ advice status from Primary Authority West Yorkshire Trading Standards, the Due Diligence programme was implemented to test the August 2019 | 96

effectiveness of the NBF’s programme of factory audits with random purchases and to investigate allegations of non-compliance. In the first round, 49 products were purchased — 24 from members and 25

from non-members. They were a mixture of mattresses, headboards, divan sets and upholstered bed frames. Each product was subject to relevant flammability tests, then cut open and specifications checked against marketing claims.

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

REPORTED

THESE AND ALL OUR FINDINGS TO TRADING STANDARDS.”

FEATURES

“THESE SIGNIFICANT FLAMMABILITY FAILURES DO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THOSE PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET AND WE HAVE, OF COURSE,

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LEFT: Image of match test failure to BS 7177 on tape edge. RIGHT: Image of match test failure to BS 7177 on top surface. On flammability, 19 NBF member products passed with no issues, compared with just 14 from non-members. The remaining five NBF products were classed as borderline, with fail tests on mattresses not able to be repeated, while those on headboards had used compliant production materials along with test histories and evidence of purchasing the correct materials from suppliers. All 11 failures from non-members were clear cut and absolute with issues such as match test failure on non-sleeping surface, fillings that failed the relevant tests, and a contract mattress failing crib 5 testing. “These significant flammability failures do raise concerns about the safety of those products on the market and we have, of course, reported these and all our findings to trading standards,” said Tristine Hargreaves, NBF technical manager in charge of the Due Diligence Programme. All results — good and bad — were also shared with the companies involved, and in some cases via the retailer or online platform

from which products were purchased. On trade descriptions, major issues were identified on 11 non-members’ products, compared with just four from members. These ranged from overstating spring counts, claiming the presence of fillings materials that were not present at all and, in one case, evidence of a used spring unit where none was identified in labelling or marketing materials. In several cases, there were multiple failings on flammability and trade descriptions. Where major (and some minor) issues were identified with members’ products, further investigations and site visits pointed to the reasons being mistakes rather than deliberate. Further checks and purchases will be made to ensure they are resolved. In some cases, the issues identified were due to incorrect product details being advertised by the retailer rather than the manufacturer. Said Jessica Alexander, executive director of the NBF: “All along, our Code of Practice has been about reassuring customers that what they are buying from NBF members is safe, clean and honest. People can’t look inside a mattress to see what’s there, or set light to it to see if it burns — they have to take on trust what they are told. The Due Diligence programme is a further check to try to ensure compliance beyond audit day is being met. “It’s gratifying to see members’ performing so much better than non-members, particularly on safety issues, but there is still work to be done. We will continue to work with our members where improvements are needed and investigate further if we are led to believe there could be any issues with a member’s products. At the same time, the audit process that underpins our Code of Practice becomes more demanding — this time around all audits are semi-unannounced, with any follow-up audits found necessary fully unannounced.”

Pocket 3000 spring memory, advertised as 4cm memory foam on top. was all polyester

The Due Diligence programme is ongoing, with a further 50 products being selected for random testing during 2019.

w www.bedfed.org.uk August 2019 | 97

F E A T U R E |I R I S H F U R N I T U R E S H O W FEATURES

Irish led

Organisers of the Irish Furniture and Homewares Show talk about this year’s event in Dublin. The Irish Furniture and Homewares Show is a successful, Irish-led furniture tradeshow for the Irish market and is the only one of its kind in Ireland, attended by many of the country’s top furniture suppliers and businesses. Now in its sixth year, the IFHS has grown steadily since its inception. Originally conceived from a need to boost Ireland’s furniture industry, the exhibition quickly August 2019 | 98

became an essential trade show for the national market, seeing an increase in both exhibitors and attendees each year. In 2016, the show saw the launch of the Irish Furniture and Home Awards, giving industry suppliers an opportunity to promote their best products, and reflecting the innovation and efforts taking place in the Irish market.

“YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE IFHS RECEIVES HIGH PRAISE FOR THE EXTENSIVE VARIETY OF HOMEWARE AND FURNITURE PRODUCTS SHOWCASED IN DUBLIN EACH YEAR.”

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

Show The Irish Furniture & Homewares rs. ome cust trade all to 2019 is free ter; www. Simply visit the website to regis .ie show ifhs-trade

FEATURES

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Major suppliers will be showcasing new products

Where & When? Dublin The National Show Centre, Swords, pm Saturday, 24th August: 12noon-6 Sunday, 25th August: 10am-6pm Monday, 26th August: 10am-6pm Tuesday, 27th August: 10am-4pm

This year, the Irish Furniture and Homewares Show have added a new category to its coveted industry awards. Irish retailers in attendance will have the opportunity to vote for the ‘Retailers Choice; Best Sales Rep’ award. This award will pay tribute to the very best sales professionals in the industry today. The award will celebrate and acknowledge the top individuals for their competitive spirit, superior sales and marketing achievements whilst on the front line. The Best Sales Rep Award will be voted for by retailers attending the show during the registration process. — The winners of this year’s edition will be announced at the show.

Year after year, the IFHS receives high praise for the extensive variety of homeware and furniture products showcased in Dublin each year. The event houses all the major suppliers of upholstery, dining, bedding, cabinet and accessories, with all the key players in the furniture supply chain exhibiting.

IFHS 2019 is set to offer trade visitors an extensive insight into furniture design and innovation, the top trends of 2019 and to plan and place orders for the year ahead. The trade-only event will be packed full with the biggest brands in the Irish market.

w www.ifhs-tradeshow.ie

IFHS takes place from 24th to 27th August

August 2019 | 99

F E A T U R E |C E L E B R A T I O N O F C R A F T S M A N S H I P & D E S I G N FEATURES

Time to Celebrate

Adrian McCurdy - Cleft oak table

More than 70 small designer-maker workshops from across Britain will be exhibiting around 300 pieces of their newest work at the Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design in August, a contemporary designer-maker furniture exhibition in Cheltenham. Furniture aficionados and those who appreciate fine craftsmanship in decorative arts will have their appetites amply served once again this August at the largest and most eclectic exhibition of contemporary, bespoke, designer-maker furniture in the UK. The Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design Exhibition enables you to meet renowned craftsmen face to face and learn about the intricacies of their trade. The exceptional exhibition also includes selected works from leading artisans in disciplines such as sculpture, jewellery and silver that beautifully complement the furniture. In this special 25th anniversary year, a new initiative will shine a light on the very best emerging designers as a number of furniture schools will be showcasing the work of their students, alongside a solid core of wellestablished and respected makers within the field. This combination of new and old is set to create an exciting and unique display. Exhibition director Jason Heap has always August 2019 | 100

been keen to offer opportunities to help the next generation to establish themselves and believes that: “The quality of training being offered today is exceptional and I am confident that visitors will be blown away by the standards at which these new designermakers are already working.” The exhibition boasts a fantastic array of unique, diverse pieces and, with styles ranging from simple and sleek to flourishing and fancy, there is plenty to suit all tastes. This year sees the inclusion of work by established makers Marc Fish, Matthew Burt, and Waywood as well as the last pieces completed by the late David Savage. Meanwhile, new exhibitors, such as Jonathan Vaiksaar, Richard Frost and Hyde and Gallagher, will certainly not disappoint. Stewards and a selection of exhibitors will be on hand to advise visitors each day, discuss the work exhibited and possible commissions.

Several fantastic awards return again to help promote and support all areas of the bespoke furniture movement, from students and new makers to British timber and design excellence. There are some stunning entries as usual across the award categories, which includes: The Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design New Talent Award – Sponsored by Design-Nation The award aims to encourage and support the next generation of furniture designermakers at the start of their careers. The experience for new craftsmen and women in exhibiting their work alongside established makers in their field is a vital part of the process in which they establish their fledgling reputations. Testament to this fact is the enthusiasm of Design-Nation, which has generously agreed to sponsor a New Talent Award offering full membership and inclusion within their own winter exhibition at the National Centre for Craft & Design for the winner.

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

aQO FEATURES

FAR LEFT: Jason Heap - ‘Watul’ mirror in ripple and dyed sycamore CENTRE: Waters & Acland Furniture School - ‘14-12 mk2’ chair ABOVE: Christine Meyer-Eaglestone ‘Blue’ hand-cut marquetry box

Best Use of British Timber Award Sponsored by Woodland Heritage Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design is delighted to be working with Woodland Heritage to promote the best of British. The charity will be awarding £500 for the Best Use of British Timber at the exhibition, along with a highly commended prize of £250. The award will be judged by a panel during the show, with the criteria including design, species selection and use of timber, craftsmanship and provenance of the wood used. Points will be awarded to entrants who go out of their way to source timber locally and/or find out where their timber comes from. The Future Icons Award at Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design is about more than just furniture and this award, sponsored by Future Icons, highlights the superb quality of our exhibitors from other disciplines such as lighting, ceramics, jewellery and art. These other disciplines form an important part of the exhibition each

Peter Sefton Furniture School - ‘Toro’ hallway chairs in wych elm by Dave Taylor

year, helping to give context to the furniture on display and bringing a little diversity to the exhibition as a whole. The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers (WCFM) Design Prize The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers has again offered a prize of £500 to the designer-maker who produces the most outstanding exhibit at the Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design exhibition this year. They will also highly commend two other exhibits. The company has awarded Guild Marks for many years for exceptional bespoke furniture made by this country’s superb designer/makers, so to make an award at their most important annual show is an excellent development from this. Free Visitor Prize Draw This year’s free prize draw offers every visitor the chance to win a voucher worth £500. Anyone who buys an entry ticket to the exhibition will be able to fill in their details on the reverse and drop it into a box on their way

Save the date

Venue: Thirlestaine Long Gallery, Bath Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestersh ire, GL53 7LD Date: 17th to 26th August Open: Daily from 10am until 4pm (incl Bank Holiday Monday and Sund ays). Email: info@celebrationofcraftsma nship. com Website: www. celebrationofcraftsmanship.com Telephone: 01983 532 365

Exhibition Entry Price: Adults £7, U-16s £3.50 Exhibition Catalogue Price: £5 (£7 in advance by post)

out to be in with a chance of winning. The voucher can be used as full or part payment to one or several of the exhibitors listed in this year’s catalogue, and is valid for one year from the end of this year’s exhibition. The magnificent neoclassical exhibition venue of Thirlestaine Long Gallery is set in the elegant surroundings of Cheltenham Spa and the Cotswolds, making a visit to Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, which takes place from 17th to 26th August, the perfect excuse for a few days away in this unique and picturesque area.

w www.celebrationofcraftsmanship.com

August 2019 | 101

F E A T U R E |H E R M A N M I L L E R C U P FEATURES

Axminster Tools & Machinery celebrate winning the Herman Miller Cup

Cabinet Maker recaps on the recent football industry tournament, where 14 teams battled it out for one to become champions of the Herman Miller Cup.

Drilling to August 2019 | 102

Axminster Tools & Machinery keeper Joe Berry, right, who received the player of the tournament award

Victory

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

— Dids MacDonald OBE (below), Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company

FEATURES

“THE HERMAN MILLER CUP WAS FABULOUS, WITH MORE THAN 100 KEEN FOOTBALLERS TAKING PART, AND WHAT AN AMAZING FINAL BETWEEN AXMINSTER AND HYPNOS. HOWEVER, WHERE WERE ALL THE WOMEN PLAYERS? NEXT YEAR, I HOPE!”

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The team from Herman Miller

Now in its seventh year, the Herman Miller Cup football tournament, which was sponsored by Herman Miller and supported by Cabinet Maker, has become a favourite among production and shop floor staff — who all want bragging rights of being the champions of the UK furnishing industry. Fourteen teams took part in the competition, organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, at the Lucozade Powerleague Football Centre, Coventry, on Sunday, 30th June. Axminster Tools & Machinery were crowned champions of the five-a-side tournament

Herman Miller Cup round-up after a tense final with Hypnos Beds, which culminated in a sudden death penalty shootout victory for the tools manufacturer. Kick-off for the event was at 1pm and the games were fast and goal heavy, with each team leaving everything on the field in the hope of raising the coveted trophy. After three-and-a-half hours of play in the scorching heat, Ax Tools and Hypnos FC

Winning players from Axminster Tools & Machinery receive their medals

August 2019 | 103

F E A T U R E |H E R M A N M I L L E R C U P FEATURES

Action from the Herman Miller Cup competition, organised by The Furniture Makersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Company and supported by Cabinet Maker

Herman Miller Cup round-up

August 2019 | 104

FOR FULL STORIES AND DAILY NEWS UPDATES: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

aQO FEATURES

All the teams that took part in the Herman Miller Cup competition

The Teams

were the final teams standing, after two-time champions Whitemeadow were knocked out. The final was a game of two halves and one for all ages, with neither team backing down. When the final whistle was blown a 2-2 draw meant the cup had to be decided by a sudden death penalty shoot-out. The tension mounted as both teams were given three penalties. The result went down to the wire with the final save from Ax Tools’s goalkeeper, Joe Berry, who received the man of the match award, resulting in his team winning the trophy 3-2 on penalties. Dids Macdonald OBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The Herman Miller Cup was fabulous, with more than 100 keen footballers taking part, and what an amazing final between Axminster and Hypnos. “However, where were all the women players? Next year, I hope!

Josh Chadwick, sales manager at tournament sponsor Herman Miller, said: “It was a great day of football and fun, which was competitive and well-spirited. “Thank you to The Furniture Makers’ Company for bringing together organisations from within the furniture industry to make it a great event.” Phil Crabb, warehouse and engineering manager at Axminster Tools & Machinery, said: “The Axminster team really enjoyed the Furniture Makers’ Herman Miller Cup tournament. “It was great to meet others, bond with colleagues. Winning by putting Hypnos to bed in the final was a real bonus.

The full list of teams that took part in the Herman Miller Cup: •Axminster Tools & Machinery Tool s •Designer Contracts •The Long Eaton Warriors (Celtheat h Contract Furniture) •Florco •Hafele Team 1 •Hafele Team 2 •Herman Miller FC •Hypnos FC •Lee Longlands A •Lee Longlands B •Sealy FC •Whitemeadow Wanderers •Whitemeadow Wizards •Whitemeadow Warriors

“Thanks to everyone who made it an unforgettable day for Axminster.” The event itself raised a record £4,500 for the charity.

“ We’d like to thank our sponsor, Herman Miller, for their tremendous support in helping make this wonderful event possible.”

For more information about competing in next year’s tournament, contact Sally Kent, events manager, by calling 020 7562 8526 or emailing events@furnituremakers.org.uk

w www.furnituremakers.org.uk

Handshakes at the end of the Herman Miller Cup final August 2019 | 105

PRODUCT PROMOTION|FURNITURE TO GO All Nova drawers and chests feature a modern handle-less door and drawer solution for a clean, linear design.

Nova â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Elegant and streamlined storage, optimised for your home Nova is a modern and fresh furniture collection of nightstands, chests, double dressers and sideboards for your living or bedroom space. Every storage option in the Nova collection is available in dark walnut, light oak, truffle oak and white finishes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; making it easy to match with existing interiors. Finished in a fade-resistant easy clean surface, Nova is also adorned with sturdy and smooth metal drawer runners for ease of use. All easy to assemble and kept in stock, ready for next day direct home delivery.

w Visit www.furniture-to-go.co.uk to explore the full range.

August 2019 | 106

Every one of the nine units is available in dark walnut, light oak, truffle oak and white finishes.

PRODUCT PROMOTION|SHERBORNE

Virginia

Virginia and Albany by Sherborne The recently-introduced Virginia range is, by popular demand, also now available in leather. Offered in two sizes throughout, this wonderfully comfortable design suits both traditional and contemporary settings. The three-pillow-back Albany has proved to be so successful as a riser recliner that we are now extending this range into a full suite. So the Albany Standard fixed chair, recliner and fixed 2-seater are all available now. A new Aquaclean fabric, the Sargasso in three colours, and the new Queensbury Slate leather were also introduced at the recent Manchester Show to much acclaim. Sherborne Upholstery Ltd Tel: 01274 882633 Email: sales@sherborne-uph.co.uk w www.sherborneupholstery.co.uk Virginia

Virginia Albany August 2019 | 107

TO ADVERTISE A JOB PLEASE CONTACT SHARON RICKERSEY Q 01623 372213 m SHARON@CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

CLASSIFIED

AND FINALLY

North West South East South West North East

The Furniture Makers’ Company the furnishing industry’s charity

WE CAN HELP YOU

Things don’t always follow the design

Life

There may be times you need

have in mind

often throw some curve balls

We will always be there for

The Furniture Makers’ Company has been supporting the welfare of employees in the interiors and furnishing industry for more than 100 years. If you or someone you know is in need of financial support, let us help. Visit our website www.furnituremakers.org.uk/assistance or contact 020 7256 5558

This advertising space was generously donated by Cabinet Maker magazine in support of The Furniture Makers’ Company’s welfare campaign. The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers’ Charitable Funds incorporating the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1015519) and a registered company (no. 02759359) in England and Wales

August 2019 | 108

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F U R N I T U R E

sales@iainjamesfurniture.co.uk

0115 9734481

www.iainjamesfurniture.co.uk

A L P H A A D S |C O N N E C T I N G BUYERS A N D S E L L E R S BoConcept

Norfolk, NR17 1N3 www.boconcept.com

A By Andre

Bodyease

www.abyandre.com

Dewsbury, WF12 9AH www.bodyease.co.uk

ACID

Malvern, WR14 1GP www.acid.uk.com

0845 6443617

ADVANSA

Hamm (Germany), 59071 www.advansa.com

+49 23888402207

AHF

Peterborough, PE3 7PR www.ahf.co.uk

0800 046 99 01

Bolia.com

Aarhus (Denmark) www.bolia.com

+45 51502110

Boss Design Group

Dudley, DY2 8SZ www.bossdesign.com

01384 455570

01733 336200

Airsprung

Staverton, BA14 8RQ www.airsprungbeds.co.uk

01225 754411 +90 352 322 05 88 www.boyteks.com OSB. 8. Cad. No: 60, 38070, Kayseri, Turkey

Alpha Designs Upholstery Bilston, WV14 7HZ

01902 492937

Alstons Upholstery

Colchester, CO2 9JU www.alstons.co.uk

01206 733300

Cheltenham, GL50 1TY www.amaresearch.co.uk

01242 235724

Aquaclean Fabrics

www.aquaclean.com

07779 597040

Arc Lighting & Design

Swindon, SN1 3BH www.arc-lighting.co.uk

01793 612660

Archers Sleepcentre

Glasgow, G52 4BN www.archerssleepcentre.co.uk

0141 892 0308

Ashley Manor

Dudley, DY2 0RL www.ashleymanor.co.uk

01384 486800

Association of Independent Stores

Solihull, B90 4LF www.aistores.co.uk

+90 (212) 549 20 60

London, SW10 0XE www.bakerfurniture.com Northallerton, DL7 8UB www.barkershome.co.uk Dewsbury, WF13 3RD www.thefurniturebazaar.com

Melbourne (Australia) www.bunnings.com.au

(03) 8831 9777

C Calia Trade SPA

Matera (Italy) www.caliaitalia.com

01457 861141

Carpetright

Purﬂeet, RM19 1TT www.carpetright.co.uk

Charltons Furniture

01609 776 667

Cleland McIver

Midsomer Norton, BA3 4BS www.charltonsfurniture.co.uk Rochdale, OL16 4NG www.clelandmciver.co.uk

0333 7721242

0330 333 3444

01202 552022

01159 071700

Bensons for Beds

0333 222 6800

Betta Living

0800 083 1127

BFM

01332 321 827

020 3058 2751

01706 374431

020 8874 6484

Cookes Furniture

Birmingham, B23 5PN www.cookesfurniture.co.uk

Belfield Furnishings

0116 287 5288

Colefax

London, W1K 3QD www.colefax.com

Beales

0121 2505050

D Daniel Stores

Windsor, SL4 1DP www.danielstores.co.uk

01753 801000

Decorative Panels

Elland, HX5 9HF www.decorativepanels.co.uk

01484 658341

Decorex International

BIID

London, EC2A 4PE www.biid.org.uk

01244 812628

Bunnings

020 7823 3612

Bazaar

Long Eaton, NG10 4QD www.bfm.org.uk

Connah’s Quay, CH5 4DP www.brownsfurniture.co

Leicester, LE3 1TH www.cimchome.com

Barkers Home

Oldham, OL9 7TH www.bettaliving.co.uk

01629 823680

Browns

Ceramic Import and Manufacturing Company

Baker Furniture

Mansfield, NG18 1HA www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk

Ilkeston, DE7 5EP www.breasley.co.uk

Glossop, SK13 6LE https://carpenter.com/uk/en

Ilkeston, DE7 5EP www.thebelfieldgroup.com

0905 873 8509

Carpenter Ltd

Aydin Tekstil Ticaret

Bournemouth, BH1 1LJ www.beales.co.uk

Halton Hills, ON L7G 4R9 www.brc.group

Breasley

AMA Research

Istanbul (Turkey) www.aydintekstil.com

BRC

0207 6280255

London www.decorex.com

020 7921 8275

EVERY DAY

TO ADVERTISE ON THESE PAGES AND ONLINE CALL 01623 372213 OR GO TO: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

London, EC2N 2HE www.designguildmark.org.uk

020 7562 8520

Housing Units

Failsworth, M35 9BA www.housingunits.co.uk

DFS

Doncaster, DN6 7NA www.dfs.co.uk

HSL

01302 573 200

www.hslchairs.com

Dickinsons Furnishers

Chorley, PR7 2ST www.dickinsonschorley.com

01257 262141

0800 652 5090

Dura Beds

Batley, WF17 6PB www.durabeds.co.uk

01924 422 537

Duvalay

Gomersal, BD19 4HX www.duvalay.co.uk

01795 439159

Schlangen, Germany www.mygermania.com +447950 379823 Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3TU www.glasswells.co.uk

0345 675 9090

Knutsford, WA16 6EN www.greenwoodretail.com

Princes Risborough, HP27 9PX www.ercol.com

01844 271800

0333 344 2855

Habitat

ercol

Espoke Living

Eve Sleep

0800 808 5766

F Findel Education Ltd

03451 203 603

FIRA International Stevenage, SG1 2EW www.fira.co.uk

01438 777 700

Forte Furniture

Warsaw ww2.forte.com.pl

+48 29 64 42 222

01384 408844

020 3348 9829

Furniture Choice

Mirfield, WF14 9DQ www.furniturechoice.co.uk

Telford, TF1 7AD www.furniturelinkuk.co.uk 01952 604960 Furniture Makers

020 72565558

Furniture to Go

Portsmouth, PO3 5QD www.furniture-to-go.co.uk

02380 517067

Furniture Village

Slough, SL1 4DX www.furniturevillage.co.uk

0800 804 8879

Furniture World

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Iconography

Gresham

Bolton, BL6 4SA www.officefurnitureonline.co.uk

0333 7777 575

Ilminster, TA19 9DN www.iconography.co.uk

Ikea International

www.ikea.com/gb/en

Indus Valley Furniture Ltd

London, W1T 7PJ www.habitat.co.uk/furniture

0344 499 4686

Nottingham, NG2 4BN www.indusvalley.co.uk

Hammonds www.hammonds-uk.com

0800 021 4363

Leigh, WN7 2RR www.ism.furniture

Harrison Spinks Leeds, LS11 5SB www.harrisonspinks.co.uk

0113 205 5200

Harry Corry

Belfast, BT17 9GX www.harrycorry.com

028 9060 6801

Harvey Norman

ISM Networks Furniture 0300 030 9915

J January Furniture Show

London, SW6 3JW januaryfurnitureshow.com

020 7384 8211

Jarrold & Son

www.harveynorman.com www.harveysfurniture.co.uk

0344 372 1000

Norwich, NR2 1JF www.jarrold.co.uk

01603 660661

Headlam

Birmingham, B46 1LW www.headlam.com

01675 433000

Rotherham, S66 9HU www.healthbeds.co.uk

01709 559977

Heico 0800 035 0070

Furniture Link

London, EC2N 2HE www.furnituremakers.org.uk

01343 813271

Health Beds

Furnico

London, E12 6SJ www.furnico.co.uk

01565 650101

Harveys

Furmanac

Kingswinford, DY6 7FF www.furmanac.com

01844 348200

01291 645080

Elgin, IV30 8QN www.grampianfurnishers.com

020 7462 0440

Accrington, BB5 4EE www.findel-education.co.uk

01284 752804

Chepstow, NP16 6UN www.gfa.uk.com

London, EC1N 6TE www.ekornes.co.uk

London, N5 1XL www.evesleep.co.uk

Hypnos

Greenwood Retail

Ekornes

Chester, CH4 8BU www.espokeliving.com

Dewsbury, WF13 1EN www.hyderbedsltd.com Princes Risborough, HP27 9RS www.hypnosbeds.com

Glasswells

Grampian Furnishers

01908 968228

Hyder Beds

GERMANIA

Global Furniture Alliance

Milton Keynes, MK12 6HS www.hydeline.co.uk

www.gallerydirect.co.uk

01274 877200

Dwell

London, SE1 0SW www.dwell.co.uk

01924 486902

Hydeline Furniture

Dreams

Mansfield, NG18 1HA www.dreams.co.uk

0161 681 5678

01209 210080

JJOplc

Hockley, SS5 4AD www.heico-fasteners.co.uk

01268 745421

Heimtextil

Rotherham, S66 9HU www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

01254 660777

0845 226 9776

01924 406600

K Dublin www.kaymed.co.uk

+353 45 484 300

Mansfield, NG19 8R www.kbsa.org.uk

01623 818808

Kelston House

Home24

Berlin (Germany) www.home24.com

03300 883818

KBSA

Highgrove

Liversedge, WF15 6QA www.highgrovebeds.co.uk

Hazel Grove, SK7 5BW www.jysk.co.uk

Kaymed

Herman Miller

Melksham, SN12 6GN www.hermanmiller.com

01706 877877

JYSK 069 7575-0

Heritage Furniture

Blackburn, BB1 1TJ www.heritagefurnitureuk.com

Bacup, OL13 0EA www.jjoplc.com

+49 30 20 38 99 66

Foxrock www.kelstonhouse.com

353 404 80068

August 2019 | 111

AND FINALLY

Design Guild Mark

A L P H A A D S |CONNECTING BUYERS AND SELLERS Mathias Wiemann GmbH & Co KG

Germany www.wiemann-online.com/en

Kettle Interiors

Corby, NN17 4JN www.kettleinteriorsagencies.com

01536 444960

Kobe UK

Crowthorne, RG45 6LS www.en.kobe.eu

01344 771653

0333 577 5773

Mattresstek

Lancashire, BB4 5JT www.mattresstek.co.uk

07891 506241

Dewsbury www.matza.co.uk 01254 265883

Laura Ashley

Newtown, SY16 1DZ www.lauraashley.com

Norfolk, NR14 8SQ www.mattressman.co.uk

Matza

Lanzet

Blackburn, BB1 2BX www.lanzet.co.uk

49 5401 852-0

Mattressman

03332 008 009

01924 458699

Metro Wardrobes and Kitchens London, HA9 0LB www.metrowardrobes.co.uk

0203 4883347

Millbrook Beds 023 8086 6111 www.millbrook-beds.co.uk

Lebus Upholstery

Scunthorpe, DN16 3RN www.lebus.co.uk

01724 281381

www.minervafurnituregroup.co.uk

Lectra

Greengates, BD10 9TQ www.lectra.com/en

MPT Group

Bacup, OL13 9RW www.mptgroup.com

Leekes

Bilston, WV14 8LB www.leekes.co.uk

0333 222 4120

LIA

Telford, TF3 3BQ www.thelia.org.uk

Myakka

Wincanton, BA9 9EQ www.myakka.co.uk

0345 460 3122

N Brown Group 020 7739 5561

London Fabric Show

Long Eaton, NG10 4QD www.londonfabricshow.uk

01706 878 558

London Design Fair

London, E1 6QR www.londondesignfair.co.uk

An independent buying group for the independent retailer

Manchester, M60 6ES www.nbrown.co.uk

0161 236 8256

Nathan Furniture Group 01332 321827

Wensley, DL8 4HS www.nathanfurniture.co.uk

Long Eaton Guild

Skipton, BD23 1NL

Luxury Furniture Manufacturers www.longeatonguild.co.uk

www.bedfed.org.uk 01756 799 950

Natuzzi

Italy www.natuzzi.co.uk

07974 209761 www.lynchsales.co.uk

NCF Furnishings

Guildford, GU1 3DU www.natuzzi.co.uk

Stretford, M17 1RW www.nevillejohnson.co.uk

London, WC2H 0JG www.made.com

www.maisonsdumonde.com

Bury, BL9 8RN www.nolte-mobel.co.uk +39 057451011 0808 234 21 72

Mammoth

0161 767 8244

O Oak Furniture Land

www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk

0800 440 2254

Oldrids and Downtown

Wallsend, NE28 9NZ www.mammothcomfort.com

Scunthorpe, DN15 6SU www.oldrids.co.uk

Mason and Pearl

Dudley, DY2 8NT www.masonandpearl.co.uk

0161 873 8333

Nolte Möebel

Magniﬂex

Maisons du Monde

01483 306 280

Neville Johnson

Made.com

Italy www.magniﬂex.com

0039 080 8820488

0116 4422363

Oliver & Sons

www.oliverandsonsuk.com

01724 281888 0800 083 0683

EVERY DAY

TO ADVERTISE ON THESE PAGES AND ONLINE CALL 01623 372213 OR GO TO: WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

www.oliverbonas.com

The Furniture Ombudsman (TFO)

020 8974 3332

Stevenage, SG1 2AD thefurnitureombudsman.org

Banff, Aberdeenshire www.goodsleepcompany.co.uk

01274 882633 www.sherborneupholstery.co.uk

Paragon Interiors

Nottingham, NG8 6PX www.paragonplc.com

Shire Beds

0115 951 9512

Park Lane Bedding

Birmingham, B8 1AG www.parklanebeds.co.uk Huthwaite, NG17 2HW www.perfecthome.co.uk

01623 441886

Pickworth Furnishings

Loughborough, LE11 3HB www.pickworthfurnishing.co.uk

01509 235236

Pike Textiles

Wisbech, PE13 2RS www.pike-textiles.com

01945 461361

Protect-A-Bed

London, NW2 1LJ www.protectabed.co.uk

020 8731 0020

01924 439898 www.shirebeds.co.uk

0116 284 9063

01249 821 748

0800 14 13 786

Sassy Home

0115 943 8980

01536 410000

0208 8384838

Nottingham, NG2 3GZ www.scs.co.uk

0115 943 8980

016973 20342

Sharps

www.sharps.co.uk

0121 505 0270 0800 789 789

Treske

Thirsk, YO7 4LX www.treske.co.uk

01845 522770

Turnaround Bishop Wilton, York

07711 743531

U Mansfield Woodhouse, NG19 9AL www.unitedcarpetsandbeds.com 01623 428481

V Vi Spring

353 42 935 1950

Plymouth, PL5 2TT www.vispring.com/en-uk

01752 366311

Victoria Plc 01278 557755

Kidderminster, DY10 1JR www.victoriaplc.com

01562 749610

VIDA Living 01244 888658

Stockport, SK3 0XT www.vidaliving.com

353 (0) 42 933 7044

Steinhoff (International) 27218080700

Swaffer

Hampshire, PO7 7XY www.swanretail.co.uk

01733 371727

Burnley, BB10 1SH www.sweetdreamsuk.com

vitatalalay.com

Vitsoe 02393 873 170

Sweet Dreams

London, W1U 3ED www.vitsoe.com

Vogue Beds 01282 830033

Barwell, LE9 8GZ www.voguebeds.co.uk

01455 841257

Tapi Carpets

Walker Greenbank

01689 886888

Denham, UB9 4DX www.walkergreenbank.com

0203 457 5862

TCS Imports

00353 42 935 1351

Tempur Sealy

Woods Furniture 01772 792936

The Cotswold Company Norwich, NR1 3PA www.cotswoldco.com

01352 746269 www.westbridgefurniture.com

800.805.3635

Tetrad

Preston, PR1 5PQ www.tetrad.co.uk

Serene

West Bromwich, B70 0TX www.serene.co.uk

0345 400 2222

Staingard

Lexington (USA) www.tempursealy.com

Sealy UK

Aspatria, CA7 2AS www.sealy.co.uk

0808 159 9679

Sofahouse Importers Ltd

Louth, BT35 8PX www.tcsimports.com

SCS

01204 368413

United Carpets

Godalming, GU7 1EY www.sofaworkshop.com

Orpington, BR6 0PH www.tapi.co.uk

Savoir

London, NW10 6UD www.savoirbeds.com

01204 368413

SATRA

Bolton, BL3 2NZ www.timelesschesterfields.com

0121 773 6669

Swan Retail

Sareer

01225 792429

Timeless Chesterfields

pjrex@hotmail.co.uk

Birmingham, B11 2NR www.slumberdream.co.uk

Peterborough, PE2 6WQ www.swaffer.co.uk

www.theloungeco.com

Peter Rex

Slumberdream

Stellenbosch, (South Africa) www.steinhoffinternational.co.uk 01254 665228

Cheltenham, GL52 6NZ www.thegreatchaircompany.com

45 87 54 55 00

Waverton, CH3 7PD www.staingard.co.uk

Royams Upholstery

Kettering, NN16 8SD www.satra.com/furniture

Denmark www.skovby.com

Highbridge, TA9 3AE www.sopha.co.uk +32 87 59 59 59

The Great Chair Company

Skovby Mobelfabrik A/S

Sopha

Rowico

Cwmtillery, Abertillery, NP13 1LZ www.sassyhome.co.uk

0177 0512 7700

Co. Louth, Ireland www.sofahouse.ie

ROM Sofas

Dewsbury, WF12 9AH www.sareerfurniture.co.uk

www.simmons.com

www.sofa.com/gb 017738 38800

Wellington, TA21 8NN https://relyon.co.uk

Lancashire, BB1 5JJ www.royams.net

Simmons Bedding Group

Sofa.com

Relyon

Calne, SN11 9BN www.rowico.co.uk

0333 123 0892

Sofa Workshop

Recticel

Belgium www.romsofas.co.uk

Barnoldswick, BB18 6BJ www.silentnight.co.uk

Bolton, BL3 2NZ www.sofasbysaxon.com

RJ Binnie

Somercotes, DE55 4RD www.recticel.com

Silentnight

Sofa by Saxon

Radium Foam (see Vita Talalay)

01261 819984

The Lounge Co

0121 389 4262

Perfect Home

Leicester, LE8 6LH www.rjbinnie.co.uk

0333 241 3209

The Good Sleep Company

Dorset, DT1 1HN www.woods-furniture.co.uk

01305 262666

W.S. Dennison 0333 200 1725

Antrim, BT41 2SJ www.wsdennison.com

028 9446 5108 August 2019 | 113

AND FINALLY

Oliver Bonas

AND FINALLY

LAST WORD DIDS MACDONALD OBE, MASTER OF THE FURNITURE MAKERS’ COMPANY

“WE WANT ALL 338,000 PEOPLE IN OUR INDUSTRY TO KNOW THEY CAN CALL ON US IN TIMES OF NEED.“

Diverse ways of supporting a diverse industry

workers from all over the UK to know that we can support them in times of need.

From clay pigeon shooting to savouring Eastern delicacies to five-a-side football, The Furniture Makers’ Company fundraising events programme had something for everyone and helped us spread the word of our One Step at a Time campaign to the furnishing industry during June.

Our industry has served most of us well but you never know when a curve ball could strike. We want all 338,000 people in our industry to know they can call on us in times of need.

Big Shots A drizzly day didn’t prove a damp squib for our clay shoot Big Shots when enthusiastic shooters aimed high, raising a staggering £34,000 for our charity. A golden moment in its 25th anniversary as a fundraising event! Northern Curry Event If you are a curry lover, there was no better place to savour Eastern delights than at our Yorkshire region’s annual Curry Night in Bradford. Around 100 people attended and we heard from a couple of Labour MPs, plus Kate Hardcastle, MBE, also known as ‘the customer whisperer’. The event raised in excess of £3,000 — a fabulous achievement!

We have hit the deck running with the One Step at a Time campaign with 11 companies already having signed up, reaching a potential 4,000 people with our welfare message — so thank you all so much. Don’t delay, watch our very short video and sign up to One Step at a Time at:

www.furnituremakers.org.uk/ one-step-at-a-time/

The Herman Miller Cup Our annual five-a-side football tournament, the Herman Miller Cup, returned to Coventry on 30th June, with 14 teams from companies across the UK competing in the blazing sunshine. It was thrilling to watch and I was delighted to present Axminster Tools & Machinery with the coveted cup.

TO HAVE YOUR LAST WORD OR OPINION PLEASE CONTACT DAN@CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

What is the Furniture Makers’ One Step at a Time campaign? Why do we have such a diverse schedule of fundraising events? Well, we are an amazingly diverse sector, and we want

DON’T MISS OUR BEDS SEPTEMBER BED SHOW ISSUE COMPONENTS IN THE MEANTIME CHECK OUT THE DAILY NEWS ONLINE AT

WWW.CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK AND SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH US, EMAIL DAN@CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

August 2019 | 114

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