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Find out more on the different ways to protect a mattress from protection specialist Staingard.
Heritage Furniture looks back on a year of success and ahead to the January Furniture Show and 2019.
Bernard Eaton returns with his latest slice of Retail Intelligence, looking at time management.
7th DECEMBER 2018 £3.75 ●
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CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK 01223 846 825 PUBLISHER Stewart Rickersey stewart@cabinet-maker.co.uk EDITOR Dan Squires dan@cabinet-maker.co.uk PRE-PRESS PRODUCTION Tim Morriss tim@cabinet-maker.co.uk SALES Sharon Rickersey Operations & Sales Manager sharon@cabinet-maker.co.uk
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Just What the Doctor ordered. Mammoth has been helping people ease aches and pains and get a great night’s sleep for years. With its roots in the health sector, Mammoth understands the unrivalled healing potential of leading comfort technology which is scientifically tested, developed in partnership with, and endorsed by experts. Being well rested and comfortable optimises health and wellbeing and is scientifically proven to extend life, and we know first-hand how life changing it can be.
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The Christmas countdown has begun. Retailers up and down the country will be hoping to see an uplift in sales during the festive period, as well as preparing promotions for the eagerly anticipated January sales. But are retailers really in the festive mood or baring the face of Scrooge? If the latest consumer confidence data is anything to go by, it unfortunately makes grim reading that would only please the Grinch. GfK’s consumer confidence survey recorded a decline in all five measures with overall confidence down by three points to -13 in November 2018. The index that relates more to the furniture industry is big-ticket purchases, which suffered a sharp seven-point fall to -3, recording the same negative figure as seen in November last year. Despite the constant cloud of uncertainty still looming, however, there is cause for positivity. A number of businesses throughout our industry have continued to expand, invest and look to the future regardless of what the ‘stats say’. Bed manufacturer Shire Beds has recently invested £750,000 in new machinery, whilst independent furniture retailer Grampian Furnishers has relocated to a much larger store, which has been a thriving success so far. New to the industry is sofa retailer Sopha, which will officially open in January, while homewares brand Libra and Italian upholstery maker Natuzzi have both expanded their respective retail arms through new openings. And from outside the UK comes a new arrival from Danish brand Fredericia, which has
opened its debut showroom in London. Yes, uncertainty still grabs the mainstream headlines, but reading further into what else is happening, there are plenty of positive stories to encourage ambition, growth and, perhaps, some festive cheer! In keeping with this notion, Cabinet Maker spent some time with mattress protection specialist Staingard on its latest developments, as well as sitting down with Heritage Furniture, which gave an insight on how 2018 has been for the business. Bernard Eaton returns to give his latest slice of Retail Intelligence with a focus on the four key essentials of time management and how best to keep on top of things in today’s fast-paced world. Reverting back to GfK’s data, it is worth pointing out that the savings index rose by four points compared to last year at +12, indicating that perhaps consumers are keeping the purse strings tighter as they search for the best bargain. And with the festive period upon us, consumers may begin to loosen up those strings in the season of goodwill. Perhaps it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas after all. Dan Squires Editor
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.
Whether you are sitting, sleeping or relaxing, when you are at rest Mammoth is working hard. TRADE ASSOCIATION MEMBER
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a year of looks back on Heritage Furniture January Furniture ahead to the success and Show and 2019.
on the different Find out more a mattress from ways to protect Staingard. protection specialist
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GATHER ROUND - AND GET SET FOR STYLISH FAMILY DINING
The dream dining area is where families get together – to share a meal, tell stories and make grand plans. It’s important to get it just the way our customers want it – the atmosphere helps create these moment – big and small. Let’s remember that dining tables have also become multi-functional spaces for eating, working, socialising, and playing.
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FEATURES DOWN TO BUSINESS
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New Feather & Black managing director, Jason Wilary-Attew, answers a quick-fire Q&A.
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OUR DINING SETS ARE BANG ON TREND! WITH GREAT PACKAGE PRICES Furniture To Go offer all of our tables in a packages of 4 or 6, with the stylish Milan High back faux leather chairs. You can choose between 4 colours – White, Dark Brown, Black, or Grey. See below – all variations can be found on our website.
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LASTING HERITAGE
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Heritage Furniture looks back on a year of success and ahead to the January Furniture Show and 2019.
THE RIGHT CHOICE
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Cabinet Maker finds out more on the different ways to protect a mattress from protection specialist Staingard.
RETAIL INTELLIGENCE
22
Bernard Eaton, MD of Greenwood Retail, returns with his latest slice of Retail Intelligence, looking at time management.
PRODUCTS
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Sherborne Upholstery.
LAST WORD
26
Matt Phillips, head of UK operations at German kitchen furniture supplier Rotpunkt, has the Last Word.
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LYON Furniture To Go, 3 Keel Close, Interchange Park, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO3 5QD - T: 02380 517067 E: sales@furniture-to-go.co.uk - www.furniture-to-go.co.uk
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NEWS IN BRIEF Welsh wonder
The owner of a furniture store in Wales is learning how to speak the country’s language to help him chat with customers. Huw Edwards, director of Tidal’s Store Limited in Blackwood, South Wales, who was encouraged to learn the language by Welsh-speaking members of his family, can now converse with his customers in Welsh. Huw said: ‘‘When I was growing up, Welsh wasn’t as prominent as it is today in south east Wales.”
Sports winner
The Shire Bed Company has launched a Leeds Rhinosthemed bed for supporters of the rugby league team. It features the club’s familiar blue and yellow Rhinos logo on the bed headboard, with more logos around the base. Fara Butt, marketing director of The Shire Bed Company, said: “We think this will really appeal to supporters of the club who want to ‘live and dream’ their team.”
PRICE RISES
Belgian floorcoverings and fabrics business Beaulieu International Group (BIG) has announced it will increase its prices from next year. BIG said it will increase global prices in its fibres, yarns and technical textiles divisions, effective as of 1 January 2019, or ‘as contract terms allow’. The move follows on-going significant increases in energy, raw material and delivery costs.
INTO LIQUIDATION
Lighting business PhotonStar LED Group has placed one of its subsidiaries into liquidation as the other continues to trade. John Cullen, of Menzies LLP, was appointed liquidator to PhotonStar LED Limited. The liquidator is now seeking to realise value in PhotonStar LED’s assets for the benefit of its creditors. The group’s other subsidiary, PhotonStar Technology Limited, remains under review.
BUSINESS PARK COMPLETE
Property developer St Modwen has confirmed the completion of the Gateway 12 Business Park in Gloucestershire. Its completion concludes the final development phase, which now provides a total of 285,000sq ft of logistics and production space. The projectd already houses home furnishings supplier Warwick Fabrics and kitchen firm ProCook.
New CEO
Global group Steinhoff International Holdings NV has announced Louis du Preez as its new chief executive officer. Commercial director Du Preez replaces Danie van der Merwe, a Steinhoff director for almost 20 years. Heather Sonn, chairperson of Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. said: “Louis du Preez brings a wealth of commercial and corporate experience from his successful legal career.”
RETAIL
DESIGN
Retirement leads to closure
New bespoke furniture business launched after holiday inspiration
Heritage furniture retailer Swannacks has confirmed it will close due to the owner entering retirement, ending a run of 143 years. Situated on Bridgegate in Retford, Swannacks has been trading since 1875 and was founded by Charles Swannack and his brother. Today, Richard Swannack, Charles’ great grandson, has been in the business for almost 50 years and decided the time was right to retire, having already sold the property. Swannacks is currently holding a closing down sale ahead of closing for the final time. Commenting on the state of the high street, Richard said that it is ‘a whole lot different’ to what it used to be and his store is the last of many furniture shops that had previously closed down in the area, adding ‘the days are probably numbered’ for independents.
w www.swannacks.co.uk
MANUFACTURE
SUPPLIER GROWS SALES TOWARDS £30M
A former civil engineer has launched a new independent bespoke furniture company. Richard Frost Design was created by Richard Frost after taking inspiration from a conversation he had with friends during a short break in the Lakes. After gaining advice from Explore Wealth Management, Richard decided the time was right to end his three-decade association with engineering (mainly in the rail industry) to explore the ‘exciting design world’. Richard used some of the money from his redundancy to fund a year’s woodwork course at the prestigious Waters and Acland Furniture School based in Staveley in Cumbria. Commenting on the launch, Richard said: “I just thought to myself, why wait? Why wait until I’m retired to pursue my dreams. “When it comes to making big judgements about your finances it’s always worth getting advice. In my case it was Explore Wealth, who helped me towards making the right decisions. Their guidance has ensured the pressure has been lifted from my shoulders and I can pursue my dream job!”
Furniture manufacturer and wholesaler Oakwood Door Designs has reported a seventh year of successive turnover growth.
w www.richardfrostdesign.co.uk
The company, which trades under the name Uform and specialises in kitchens, furnishings and accessories, posted a rise in total sales by 29% to £29.3m from £22.7m for the year ended 30 April 2018.
MANUFACTURE
US INVESTOR SAVES LUXURY FURNITURE BRAND
Gross profit also rose by 38.2% to £9.4m from £6.8m, whilst pretax profit resulted at £3.5m, up by 52% from £2.3m, marking a sixth straight year of bottom line growth.
US investor Sapphire 700 has announced the acquisition of bespoke furniture manufacturer Canburg, saving around 260 jobs.
The Northern Ireland-based company posted an increase in gross profit margin by 2% to 32% due to continued product and process innovation. During the year, the company, located in Toomebridge, County Antrim, invested £1.8m in fixed assets.
It had been revealed that Canburg, which owns luxury furniture brand Smallbone of Devizes, Mark Wilkinson Furniture and Brookmans, was on the brink of collapse before Sapphire came in to acquire the business.
Uform has appointed Gary Hutton as its new operations director and Derek Douglas as its new plant manager.
It is understood that production in Devizes, Wiltshire, will remain operational, with customers to ‘still expect to get their orders’.
w www.oakwooddoors.co.uk
RETAIL
First physical store A US-based e-commerce mattress company, Nectar Sleep, which also sells in the UK, is opening its first physical store. It is one of six former digital-only brands to have a presence in a new retail concept, BrandBox, in Tysons, Virginia. Nectar Sleep co-founder Ran Reske said: “After just over a year of exponential success with Nectar Sleep as an e-commerce only brand, we’re dipping our toes into offline retail as an essential component to future growth and success.”
w www.nectarsleep.co.uk
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w www.canburg.com
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LOCAL AUTHORITY CUTS IMPACT ON SALES
New jobs and redundancies as part of global revamp at IKEA
Free registration for product design award hopefuls
SUPPLIER AND STUDIO COMBINE FOR WORKSHOP
Swedish furniture giant IKEA is planning new job opportunities and redundancies as part of a revamp of the global business.
Young design professionals have the chance to enter a worldwide competition.
It plans to add a total of 4,000 staff to its workforce over the next two years as 11,500 new posts are created and 7,500 jobs made redundant.
Red Dot this week offered 50 free registrations for the 2019 Red Dot Award: Product Design for designers who have graduated within the past five years.
Ikea said it was adapting to changing shopping habits and planned new town centre stores as well as a focus on online sales.
Entrants can choose from 48 different categories to enter their products, including living room furniture and seats.
Furniture manufacturer Be Modern has reported a slight decline in turnover as profit fell into the red. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 12 May 2018, total sales fell 1.4% to £20.6m from £20.9m in 2017. The decline in sales marked a fourth year of falling turnover, with its highest generated coming in 2004 when sales reached over £30m. Gross profit was also down by 6% to £9.9m from £10.6m, whilst its pre-tax profit of £208,596 recorded last year fell to a loss of £22,051. Stated within its report, Be Modern said that turnover was down as a result of anticipated cutbacks in local authority spending in the social housing market, which resulted in lower orders. To counter this, the company plans to diversify its operations into new range of household furniture and markets. Looking ahead, the business said that it expects 2019 to be another challenging year although turnover for the first half of 2019 has increased on last year and is likely to continue in the coming months.
w www.bemodern.com
RETAIL
UK trademark rejected at Swiss furniture business
A new store due to open next year in Greenwich would create 500 new jobs. Further jobs would be created at smaller Touchpoint stores. Up to 350 roles, mainly in the head office, could go in the UK. Ikea employs 160,000 people in 30 countries. Chief executive Jesper Brodin said: “The retail landscape is transforming at a scale and pace we’ve never seen before. As customer behaviours change rapidly, we are investing and developing our business to meet their needs in better and new ways.” Javier Quiñones, Ikea UK and Ireland retail manager, added: “While the opportunities ahead of us are exciting, we know that some of the changes won’t always be easy and in some cases. We will have to make difficult decisions.”
The trademark application for LIVINGDREAMS covered a large range of bedroom furniture and bedding, and also included items such as desks and mirrors.
An important signing for a new section at JFS has been announced.
w www.red-dot.org
Experts from both Häfele and Vauth Sagel were in attendance and gave talks about the importance of maximising kitchen space and the space-saving solutions available when designing a new kitchen. The students were then challenged to design a kitchen incorporating storage solutions. Matt Lissaman, regional sales manager (London) at Häfele UK, comments: “I enjoyed meeting the students and talking to them about the different aspects of kitchen design. Their enthusiasm and ideas were truly refreshing.”
w www.decorativepanels.co.uk
Dutch LED lighting specialists CALEX Holland will show in LIGHT, the new lighting section at the January Furniture Show in January. CALEX, one the leading suppliers of LED lighting for contract and domestic use, will show through their UK distributors, Multi-lite UK.
Heather Harrison delivered the decision on behalf of the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
LIGHT at JFS will feature more than 25 UK and International lighting companies, with everything from simple table lamps to futuristic LED lighting installations.
Commenting on the case, intellectual property law partner at Fox Williams, Simon Bennett, said: “This case shows that a mark which combines two words that would not normally be placed together is not necessarily enough to prevent confusion when compared to a pre-existing mark which contains only one word.
Martin Carnell, of Multi-lite UK, said: “When considering events to showcase the new range of fully dimmable, decorative designer LED filament lamps from CALEX, I was really pleased to hear about the growth of the lighting section of the January Furniture Show.
“More importantly, the effect of this decision is that Livingdreams may have difficulty entering the UK market because of Dreams’ pre-existing rights. Dreams’ trademarks are also EU wide and there is a risk that they could be used to prevent Livingdreams from trading in Europe on a wider scale. Such action on an EU scale would be a living nightmare rather than a Livingdream.”
”Multi-lite have committed to a large stand at the event to make sure we have all of the new CALEX lines on show. As the main distributor for CALEX lamps, Multi-lite UK will be showcasing all of the new product lines, including the stunning XXL series in antique and titanium finish.
7th December 2018 | 08
“The first thing I notice is the huge variety of categories and the growing quality of products,” said Red Dot jury member and UK design strategist Michael Thomson during the judging in 2018.
It was held to give the students, who have recently begun a threeyear Interior Design course, an insight into kitchen design and to help them decide whether to specialise in the field.
MANUFACTURE
NEW JFS SIGNING TO LIGHT UP SHOW
w www.livingdreams.ch
Designers and companies from around the world can put forward their products.
The event, which took place last month, was hosted by Regal Kitchens, one of Häfele’s award winning Studio Partners, in the company’s Chelmsford showroom.
w www.ikea.com
Swiss furniture business Livingdreams has seen its attempt to register a UK trademark blocked.
Bed retailer Dreams Limited, owner of a EU trade mark for DREAMS, opposed the application and succeeded on the basis that DREAMS enjoyed a medium level of distinctiveness for beds and bedroom furniture and there would be a likelihood of confusion between the two marks.
Red Dot said the award, which is open for submissions until February 1, was aimed at those who would like to distinguish their business activities through design.
Furniture fittings and architectural hardware specialist Häfele recently teamed up with Chelmsford-based kitchen studio Regal Kitchens and German manufacturer Vauth Sagel to host a kitchen design workshop for Southend University Interior Design students.
”Over the last couple of years, CALEX have firmly focused on decorative lamps in a wide variety of options.”
w www.calex.nl 7th December 2018 | 09
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Wood Awards 2018 winners are revealed
Continued growth reported
Reduced costs help contract firm grow profit
Discount homewares retailer eyes Scottish Borders store
Northern Irish contract furniture manufacturer 3Y Group has reported another year of declining sales, despite profits rising.
Discount homewares chain Home Bargains has revealed plans to take over a Homebase store in Hawick.
According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 May 2018, total sales fell 5% to £6.1m from £6.5m in 2017.
According to a planning application to Scottish Borders Council, Home Bargains intends to spend £5m on redeveloping a Homebase unit on Galalaw Retail Park once the home improvement retailer closes.
A community centre hall, including a spiral stair, won the winner of winners accolade at the Wood Awards 2018. Storey’s Field Centre & Eddington Nursery in Cambridge, designed by MUMA, was presented with the Mears Group Gold Award after being named the commercial and leisure winner. Stephen Corbett, chair of the buildings judging panel, said: “The best building rose to the top, for its winning combination of architectural merit, structural ingenuity and flawless execution.” The principle rooms in the community centre are lined in oak panelling. The main hall, influenced by the dining halls and chapels of Cambridge colleges, uses an exposed timber structure. An ash spiral stair is wrapped by a curved veneered ash plywood balustrade. American white ash, Canadian western red cedar, European oak and spruce were used in the project. The winners of the annual Wood Awards were announced at a ceremony at Carpenters’ Hall in London, hosted by David Hopkins, director of the Timber Trade Federation. Established in 1971, the awards aim to recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation using wood..
w www.woodawards.com
RETAIL
DIY retailer continued to struggle in third quarter Home improvement retailer B&Q has reported a decline in third quarter sales as transformation plan continues to progress. According to Kingfisher Plc’s latest trading update to 31 October 2018, total B&Q sales fell 2.8% to £850m, with like-for-like sales down by 2.9% during the period. Kingfisher, which owns both the B&Q and Screwfix brands under its UK and Ireland division, saw total UK sales rise 1.4% to £1.2bn, driven by Screwfix growth of 10.6%. Véronique Laury, CEO, said: “We continue to make progress on our ONE Kingfisher transformation. We remain on track to achieve our key strategic milestones for the third year in a row, and increased our gross margin in the quarter. “We have accelerated our move to an everyday low-price strategy and have launched a new marketing campaign to make it visible to our customers, however, there is no quick fix. “We are committed to our plan and to building a strong business for the long-term. As part of this commitment, we have taken the decision to exit Russia, Spain and Portugal. This will allow us to apply our strategy with more focus and efficiency in our main markets.”
w www.diy.com 7th December 2018 | 10
Upholstered furniture and floorings retailer ScS has reported continued growth as it confirms a concessions exit date. For the 16 weeks ended 17 November 2018, total like-for-like order intake rose by 3.5%, whilst on a two year comparison, order intake has increased by 7.1%. As previously announced, the group will cease trading from its 27 concessions within House of Fraser by the end of January 2019. During the period, the concessions accounted for only 2.9% of the group’s order intake and have seen a decline in like-for-like orders of 53.4%. In a statement, ScS said: “Strong core ScS performance has offset declining orders in the House of Fraser concessions, resulting in the group, as a whole, trading in line with the prior year. Two year like-for-like order intake has grown 2.6%. “Whilst it is still early in the current financial year, the group continues to trade in line with the Board’s expectations. We believe the group’s increasing resilience and value proposition will enable us to manage the continued economic uncertainty and take advantage of opportunities.”
The decline marked a third straight year of falling revenues and was the lowest since 2014, when sales stood at £5.7m. Despite the decline, gross profit remained consistent at £1m, whilst pre-tax profit increased 21% to £309,062 from £255,018, which represented a return to bottom line growth. 3Y Group, which produces cabinets and contract furniture, said in its report it had made further improvements in buying stock management and overhead cost savings. Looking ahead, the business added that it expects the incoming year to be ‘challenging’ although early results have proved to be successful, allowing a forecast of ‘another year of good progress’.
w www.3ygroup.com
Homebase is set to close on 10 November, with Home Bargains, owned by TJ Morris, outlining plans to move into the space by spring next year, creating 50 jobs. The move would expand its Scottish Borders presence to two stores following the previous opening in Galashiels back in July. Home Bargains, which operates from over 480 stores across the UK, invested £4m into the Galashiels store on Stirling Street after relocating it from a smaller unit in Channel Street. It is understood that local authorities are backing the Hawick proposals, stating that the application should be pushed through ‘as soon as is reasonably possible’ to try to ‘minimise the amount of time the unit is empty’.
w www.scs.co.uk
DESIGN
w www.homebargains.co.uk
RETAIL
Fit-out firm expands
RETAIL
Fit-out specialist Butler & Willow has announced the appointment of Richard Woodward as its first head of business and client services.
Sofa comparison website considers crowdfunding to grow business
More shops were opened by independent retailers in the first six months of 2018 compared to the previous year.
Richard joins the business with more than 20 years of experience in commercial business development and will support the sales and marketing teams in the newly-created role.
FINDaSOFA.com, the sofa comparison website launched earlier this year, is seeking funding to develop the site, build the business in the UK and expand internationally.
But the news was offset by a record number of shop closures, according to figures from the British Independent Retailers Association (bira) and the Local Data Company (LDC).
The appointment follows an increase in demand with managing director James Willow stating that they have seen ‘a boom in business’ of late.
One of the options it is considering is crowdfunding.
There was an overall loss of 1,554 independent shops in the period.
Butler & Willow provide workplace solutions through tailored interior design, fit-out, refurbishment, workplace furniture, mezzanine floors, shelving systems and storage solutions.
The number of shops across all sectors opened in the first half of 2018 was 15,340, up from 14,419 in the same period in 2017. However, 16,894 shops closed, a rise from 13,657 in the previous year.
w www.bedfed.org.uk
Rise in independent shop openings and closures
While high streets and shopping centres saw a decline in units, retail parks saw a growth of 1.48%. Andrew Goodacre, CEO of bira, said: “This report perfectly illustrates the problems for independent retail businesses. Despite more businesses opening, we have seen more closing resulting in a net loss from the high street. “bira have been saying for a long time that independent retailers need support from local and national governments. “The recent budget announcements regarding a rates reduction and the setting up of a high street fund are very welcome and we hope it is not too late to provide a lifeline to these important businesses.”
w http://bira.co.uk
RETAIL
Turnover back towards record level Carpet supplier Desso has reported a return to sales growth as turnover climbed back towards record levels. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017, total sales rose by 7% to £25.8m from £24.1m in 2016. The top line figure returned to growth following its previous year’s decline of 8.7% from £26.4m.
Now it wants to see if there is an appetite for crowdfunding the business within the furniture industry. Philip Price, founder of FINDaSOFA.com, explained: ”We’ve proven ourselves as a useful channel for retailers and consumers alike, however, this has been on a small scale until now. “Just like many other dotcom ventures, we’ve created the brand, developed the business model and now need investment to grow. Crowdfunding is potentially a great way for interested parties to play a real part in the growth of the project. “This industry is full of smaller independent retailers and manufacturers who struggle to reach the mass market. The success of FINDaSOFA.com helps level the playing field a little, so it’s in the retailers’ best interests for it to grow.” To gauge interest before making a decision on crowdfunding, FINDaSOFA.com has created a short survey, which retailers and industry players are being asked to complete. Philip said: “This survey will allow us to include or exclude industry crowdfunding in our decison-making process.”
Gross profit also increased by 13.8% to £8.2m from £7.2m, whilst pre-tax profit resulted at £784,410, an uptick of 10.7% from its profit of £708,704 recorded last year.
The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/ r/6BZYWVW
w www.desso.co.uk
w www.findasofa.com 7th December 2018 | 11
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Free calendar to mark milestone
England first for Danish company
EXPANDING PRESENCE IN THE UK
Sales rise reported
A family-run furniture business is marking its 40th anniversary in an unusual way.
A Danish furniture company has moved into England — its first venture outside its native country.
A German company that manufactures beds and furniture in the health care sector is expanding its presence in the UK.
TJX Companies — the parent of TJX UK, the group that houses TK Maxx and Homesense — has reported an increase in third-quarter sales.
Scott’s Home Furnishings, of Burnham-On-Sea, is giving away a free calendar to every home in the town and neighbouring Highbridge. The calendar features pictures of Burnham-On-Sea.
Fredericia has opened a showroom in Clerkenwell, London, which CEO Kaja Møller said was a statement to its future aspirations.
Völker has partnered with Innova Care Concepts, in Wetherby, which will exclusively deal with the Volker hospital bed range for the UK.
The US company had net sales of $9.83 billion for the period up to 3 November, up from $8.76 billion for the same period a year ago.
Owner Steve Scott hopes the calendar will bring local people into the shop for the first time, as well as thanking current customers for their support.
w www.scottsfurnishings.com
MANUFACTURE
MAKING FURNITURE FROM WHISKY BARRELS A company that aims to provide bespoke furniture to last people a lifetime has made an encouraging start to life in business. Golden Oak Restoration was set up in Greenock, Scotland, in September. Specialising in creating household items from used whisky barrels, it employs three specialist woodcrafters. Founder Rory MacDonald said: “Having the opportunity to start my own business, delivering items that I am passionate, about is fantastic. “We’ve been inundated with interest from all over the UK and our aim is to get the business to the level where we are exporting to the US and Europe. “The offer to provide bespoke furniture that lasts for a lifetime is something people want to cherish.”
w www.goldenoakrestoration.com
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New retail concession Homewares brand Libra has opened a new retail concession. The 2,905sq ft unit, in Bentalls Kingston, showcases more than 1,000 pieces, arranged into six of Libra’s signature themes — Pearl, Halcyon, Savoy, Luxe, Homestead and Loft. The concession also features standalone displays for clocks, mirrors and chandeliers. Lee Taylor, store director, said: ‘We are thrilled to be launching Libra in Bentalls. The styles and design ethos of the Libra brand fits perfectly with our customers’ desired aesthetic and further enhances our ever-evolving collection of interiors brands.” Libra has been designing furniture and interiors collections since 1972.
w www.thelibracompany.co.uk 7th December 2018 | 12
The London base — a 1,000sq ft space in a former Victorian warehouse — is not on the scale of Fredericia’s 11,000sq ft showroom in Copenhagen that opened in 2016, but Kaja said: “Business is booming, particularly in the hospitality and office sectors, and London is a hub for a global audience (of architects and interior designers). ”We want to communicate that we are an international company that wants to expand worldwide.” Fredericia, which was formed 107 years ago, said the London showroom would stock the Modern Originals collection, designed by the likes of Børge Mogensen, Jasper Morrison and Space Copenhagen. Its bestselling polypropylene chair, Pato, designed by Welling/ Ludvik, will feature as a window display.
Managing director of Innova, Tom Hulbert, said: “Volker has designed a range of cutting-edge beds where the design fits into any healthcare environment without it feeling too clinical. “That’s exactly what we want to offer to patients — we don’t want them to be intimidated by the equipment. “Becoming exclusive UK distributors of Volker hospital beds helps us to achieve our vision of becoming the most sought-after brand in the healthcare sector.” Innova supplies both NHS and private hospitals all over the UK and is trialling the Völker range at hospices and other healthcare facilities.
w www.fredericia.com
Joe Hulbert, sales director at Innova, said: “It seems like the perfect fit for Innova to partner with Volker. We pride ourselves in finding and supplying the most innovative healthcare equipment in the world – and Volker creates some of the most innovative hospital beds.”
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w www.volker.co.uk
Record annual results and investment plans revealed
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Danish furniture brand JYSK Group has reported another record year, with a turnover of €3.577 billion and an EBIT result of €474m.
US beds retailer confirms reorganisation plan
The company said after revealing its results for 2017/18 that it would continue to invest in new stores, expand its distribution network and develop e-commerce solutions.
US beds retailer Mattress Firm has announced that the US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware has confirmed the Company’s Plan of Reorganisation.
Founder and chairman Lars Larsen said: “It is very satisfying that we once again manage to break records in Jysk.
Mattress Firm, which is owned by Steinhoff International, said it expects to complete its restructuring and emerge from Chapter 11 ‘in the coming days’.
“This confirms that it is still the right strategy to invest in physical stores and continue to get closer to customers.” At the end of the financial year, 31 August, JYSK Group operated 2,668 stores and had a workforce of 23,000 people across 50 countries. Lars said: “It is the employees who meet our customers every day, and without their great work, we would not be celebrating yet another record result. Therefore, they deserve a big thank you for their efforts.” During the financial year, JYSK Group expanded into its 50th country when a franchise partner opened the first store in Dubai. It expects to open a first store in Ireland in April, when the company will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first JYSK store in Denmark. In the last year it also invested in the expansion of the company’s distribution centre in Uldum, Denmark, and a new distribution centre will be launched in Bulgaria in June.
w www.jysk.co.uk
The retailer and its subsidiaries filed voluntary Chapter 11 restructuring last month, with the plan intended to enable the retailer to implement a pre-packaged plan of reorganisation, as well as offering new financing opportunities. Upon emergence, the Mattress Firm will have a strengthened balance sheet, strong liquidity position and an optimised store footprint of approximately 2,600 stores across the country. Steinhoff previously announced that 200 stores would close imminently from its network of 3,300 locations across the United States, with a total of 700 to be affected. A&G Realty Partners is assisting the company with its store closing and lease restructuring program. Steve Stagner, executive chairman, president and CEO of Mattress Firm, said: “Our significantly improved financial and operating position will enable us to strategically expand our business in new as well as existing markets, while continuing to focus on enhancing our omni-channel capabilities and products.”
There was a 7% increase for home goods, a division that includes the retailer’s Homesense banner. Recently TJX UK reported a 21% rise in sales for its Homesense division as it continues to grow its UK presence. TJX Companies president and chief executive officer, Ernie Herrman, said the third-quarter results exceeded expectations. “Across our geographies, customers responded to our great merchandise and great values as we believe we continued to capture market share,” he said. “The fourth quarter is off to a solid start, and we have many initiatives planned to keep driving traffic and sales this holiday season and beyond.”
w www.tjx.com
MANUFACTURE
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR FABRIC SHOW Organisers of the BFM-organised London Fabric Show are reminding exhibitors and visitors that registration is open for the event. The show is returning to Chelsea Football Club’s ground, Stamford Bridge, on Monday, 4th March and Tuesday, 5th March 2019, a week later than originally planned. Over 35 prestigious fabric producers and suppliers from Belgium, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Germany and the UK will show their new designs and colours in a variety of fabrics, including tweeds, velvets and jacquards. New patterns and fabric mixes will be on display as well as the latest fire and stain retardant treatments. Jackie Bazeley, managing director of the British Furniture Manufacturers Association, said: “The London Fabric Show is now a firm fixture in the diary for our upholstery and bed manufacturers. ”It is the perfect opportunity to see a varied and rich collection of fabrics from expert fabric producers in one hit, with the added bonus of a first class venue.” Attendance is free and registration is now open at www. londonfabricshow.uk.
w www.londonfabricshow.uk
w www.mattressfirm.com 7th December 2018 | 13
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MANUFACTURE
HIGH NOTE FOR BED FACTORY
Firms back Christmas toy appeal
£750,000 INVESTMENT IN MACHINERY
Bed manufacturer Silentnight has worked with musician Martyn Ware on an unusual project to create a soundtrack and video of the rhythmic and interesting sounds from its factory in Barnoldswick, Lancashire.
Furniture and bed businesses have joined together with a radio station to provide Christmas presents for disadvantaged children.
The Shire Bed Company has invested nearly £750,000 in new machinery for its dedicated roll and rest production facility.
Degree aims to tackle skills gap in higher education
Bensons for Beds and Harveys will work with Magic Radio’s Cash For Kids charity and its Mission Christmas toy appeal.
The Dewbury-based company said roll and rest accounted for more than 10% of its turnover.
Magic is asking listeners to buy one extra gift this Christmas and drop it off at their local Bensons for Beds or Harveys stores.
It has bought a wrapping and rolling machine, as well as a glue line, to help make its systems as automated as possible.
Helen Nunn, head of media and planning at Harveys and Bensons for Beds, said: “Christmas is a time for giving, so we’re delighted to be part of an initiative that encourages the community to come together and help make a difference.
The high spec Dueffe SM 205E packing machine features touchscreen technology, smart automatic adjustments and conveyor belts and safety fences.
The idea came from Silentnight and Martyn working at the National Festival of Making in Blackburn last year. Martyn said: “The project with Silentnight is fascinating and I’m thrilled to be involved in producing the soundtrack. I’ve always been passionate about the manufacturing industry and there is something extremely profound about bringing sounds together to create a niche piece of music. “Following a visit to the test lab last year, it struck me how stimulating the various components and sounds to the factory are. The soundtrack we have produced celebrates the quality manufacturing by Silentnight and the video allowed us to create choreography to accompany it — showcasing the teamwork and coordination of the staff and machinery.” Nick Booth, marketing director at Silentnight, added: “Martyn’s musical expertise, aligned with our manufacturing expertise, has allowed us to create a unique and modern soundtrack, which brings to life, what we do here in the factory, and celebrates how we work in rhythm.” The video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i94Vg-nis_w.
”Every child should have a special Christmas, and Mission Christmas inspires us all to dig a little deeper this festive season for children who might not otherwise receive a gift.” Sally Aitchison, managing director of Cash for Kids, said: “This Christmas one in four children will be living in poverty. For these families, Christmas is a luxury they cannot afford. ”We are thrilled to have the support of Bensons for Beds, which is enabling supporters to drop off a new and unwrapped gift in any of its stores across the UK up to 18th December.”
w www.cashforkids.uk.com/mission
w www.silentnight.co.uk
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FIESTA APPOINTS SKILLS PLUS OPERATIONS MANAGER
Hotel transformed into furniture store and coffee shop A third generation family furniture retailer and his partner have opened a furniture store and coffee shop in a former hotel. Matt and Emily Scott launched Sopha after more than two years working on the project. It sells handmade beds and sofas; dining, living and bedroom furniture; as well as lighting, bedding, clocks, cushions and pillows. Sopha, in the former George Hotel, has been given a ‘soft’ opening and will be officially launched in January. The project has created 12 jobs so far, with three more planned. An online store will go live in January. Matt said: “Sopha is offering something very different to the rest of the furniture industry — we will offer best prices all year-round rather than yo-yo pricing of sales and artificial discounts.” “And we aim to make everything in the store bespoke to us wherever possible — we have shied away from stocking generic brands and instead have created quality products that we can be confident in the quality.”
The Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills and Training Alliance (FIESTA) has announced the appointment of Louise Sugars as its new furniture and interiors Skills Plus operations manager. In July, the Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills and Training Alliance (FIESTA) entered into an agreement with the Apprenticeship Management Group to launch Skills Plus to support furnishing businesses of all sizes to recruit and manage apprentices.
The manufacturer has also bought a new foam cutting machine. Its new Gateway GS19 Glue Line Series technology provides Shire with an ergonomic solution to assembling mattress units. It means that in the past 12 months, the Shire Bed Company has invested nearly £2.5m expanding and upgrading its facilities.
w www.shirebeds.co.uk
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Black Friday winner for mattresses Bed-in-a-box brand Emma Mattress sold one mattress every 30 seconds across Europe on Black Friday. It said it posted order volumes of over €5m over the Black Friday weekend. British co-founder of Emma Mattress, Benjamin Quiroga-Rivera, said: “Our results are indicative not just of the evolution of Black Friday, which is moving away from the traditional focus on electrical and technology goods to driving customer purchasing across the retail spectrum, but also of our sustainable business model which focuses on product quality and marketing efficiency.
European partner project IM-Futures, which includes the British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM), wants to develop content for an International Masters’ Degree in the furniture sector. Training would cover enabling technologies, production engineering, scheduling and planning as well as product innovation and process improvement systems. The degree would also offer options for specialisation, including modules covering operations management, design, materials and logistics. According to Open University research, the skills shortage has worsened and the IM-Futures project aims to fill the gap to recreate a new generation of manufacturers, expanding the knowledge of current workers in the furniture industry across Europe. The BFM said the change needed to generate the new skills should come through education. It has coordinated research that found most universities only offered design degrees that related to furniture, and that there wasn’t a single Masters degree for the sector across the UK and much of Europe. The BFM said: ”If workers become more skilled with the relevant training, labour productivity can increase, meaning more open doors for labourers and a wider workforce for employees. While we are about to be faced with an even more limited skills pool, the industry is going to need managers with skills such as production engineering.” Mike Dimond, BFM representative for IM-Futures, said: ”Our research identified this major gap in training in the furniture sector, much of which is currently directed at design and this is a common theme across the EU. By developing the Masters’ Degree, we will plug that gap and give mangers the necessary training to move their businesses forward.”
w www.bfm.org.uk
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Skills Plus offers businesses a specialist apprentice recruitment service, Apprentice Training Agency (ATA) and Levy Management Company.
“Naturally, consumers now expect to pick up great deals over Black Friday and other discounting events, but we’ve been mindful to provide great deals, whilst ensuring we achieve consistent, sustainable and profitable growth.”
Louise, an experienced manager with 12 years working in training and five years as a specialist recruitment manager, has been appointed to support companies to fulfil their training requirements for all manner of disciplines, from traditional making to retail, sales, marketing and other business areas, through Skills Plus.
w www.emmamattress.co.uk
Flooring franchise business Carpets 4 Less has reported a return to top line growth as profit remains consistent.
MANUFACTURE
According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 January 2018, total sales including network retail sales for its franchisees stood at £12.1m, in line with last year’s figure.
Louise said: “I am looking forward to working with companies from industry and recruiting new starters to help build your organisations and support you to pinpoint the best training for your existing workforce.”
“It’s all part of our plan to be an ethical retailer, trying to change the industry for the long term.”
Gary Baker, chairman of FIESTA, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Apprentice Management Group to provide Skills Plus as a service, and very pleased to have Louise in place.”
w www.sopha.co.uk
w www.fiestalearning.com
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Shire’s new Dueffe SM 215H hydraulic mattress press machine includes temperature and time controls, and a capacity press of 30 tons. It works in union with the SM 320 rolling technology.
A new initiative aims to meet a furniture sector skills gap in higher education.
TUSCANY FIRM’S UK APPOINTMENT A new UK main agent has been appointed by Tuscany artisan upholstery manufacturer Gradi Living. Malcolm Nix, who succeeded Graham Bilton, has spent all his working life in the furniture industry, with over 25 years’ experience at board level with Sleepeezee, Michael Tyler Upholstery and, most recently, Wood Bros.
w www.gradisalotti.com
Flooring retailer in line with last year
Group turnover increased by 1.1% to £8.6m from £8.5m, whilst gross profit remained flat at £3m. Pre-tax profit also remained consistent at over £106,573, registering a slight decline from its profit of £152,000 recorded last year. Bedford-based Carpets 4 Less operates from 24 stores across the UK, including 14 of which are franchise business outlets.
w www.carpets4less.com 7th December 2018 | 15
F E A T U R E |F E A T H E R & B L A C K
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Down to
Business
What plans do you have for the business? “The focus has to be on product and how we deliver excellent customer service across all the points we engage with our customers. Building on the great product offer we currently have, we’ll be expanding the choice of styles we offer, ensuring Feather & Black is a distinctive brand with a recognised style. “We’ll be looking at investing in a new physical store concept, with a plan to roll this out to our existing estate, whilst also ensuring we’re bold in how we approach on-line. “Customers see retailers as a brand, rather than only a physical or on-line location, and therefore this is how we will structure the business. “I’m lucky enough to have joined a really strong team at Feather & Black, with a fantastic combination of longer term experience with the brand and new faces too. Combined, this is going to provide a dynamic approach to moving Feather & Black on.” Can you provide an insight of F&B’s store portfolio strategy? “Our store strategy is to redesign and refurb the existing store estate, which includes a refresh of our website. It’s great to be in a business where we have the headroom to expand.”
Following the acquisition by Hilding Anders, how will this benefit the business? “One of the clear benefits of joining the Hilding Anders group of businesses is their expertise in bedroom, both recognised brands and production facilities. We’ll be working closely with the group to see where we can bring exciting new product to our customers, whilst also recognising we have a great heritage in our own brand.” What is your view on the current furniture market? “The retail market in the UK is a challenging environment, with customers less willing to invest in big tickets items such as furniture. You therefore have to be more inventive, exciting and new in your approach to gain their attention. Doing the same thing over isn’t going to drive interest for customers. “When times are difficult, retailers and brands have a tendency to play safe, but this leads to long term disinterest for customers, and can result in categories becoming overly promotionally led – something I want to help avoid by delivering newness and excitement for our customers.” What is your view on the online vs instore battle? “I passionately don’t see this as a battle – as I mentioned earlier, customers engage with the brand and want to be able to shop and interact with the brand whenever and where
Feather & Black looks to expand
Cabinet Maker sat down with new Feather & Black managing director, Jason Wilary-Attew, six months after joining the business, to find out more in a quickfire Q&A.
When did you officially take on the new role as MD of Feather & Black? “I joined the business on 25 June 2018, and was lucky enough to spend my first week split between the new Feather & Black offices, and attending a bimonthly Hilding Anders managers meeting, held in Croatia.” What attracted you to the position? “The opportunity to work with a great team on rebuilding a loved British brand, under the support and guidance of Hilding Anders, was
impossible to turn down.”
“THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A GREAT TEAM ON REBUILDING A LOVED BRITISH BRAND, UNDER THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE OF HILDING ANDERS, WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN DOWN.” they choose. We therefore need to provide a great platform that allows them to do this, ensuring there’s a common thread to everything that we do, whilst understanding that each format has clear roles in their shopping journey.” Which leads into technology, are there any platforms that you think will benefit the furniture industry? “I was certainly looking at augmented reality in previous roles, and believe that it can have a place in helping customers envision furniture in their homes. I believe there are websites in other industries that are showing what more can be done within this space and can teach traditional retail how to move things on. Technology works best where it brings new solutions, potentially to problems we didn’t even realise existed.”
Can you give a brief insight into your previous background? “I studied for a BA Hons in Product Design at Coventry University, but quickly realised I wanted to combine my passion for product with my love of retail, and hence pursued a career in buying. “I started my retail career at Harrods on the shop floor, moving to the Graduate Training Scheme at Homebase (then owned by Sainsbury’s). I then moved to Woolworths, progressing to senior buyer across their Home categories.
What do you think will play as an important driver to achieve growth? “Focus for the Feather & Black brand is across product offer, social and marketing, customer interaction, stores, website and customer service. The brand is a really strong and loved brand, but how we look and communicate will develop it for the better.”
“From there I moved to HEALS, focusing on the non-furniture categories. I subsequently worked at John Lewis for almost nine years, from being a business development manager, to running their branding department, and culminating in the head of buying role for furniture.
What challenges do you expect to face? “The biggest challenge is going to be keeping up with our huge ambitions, without tripping up!”
“I briefly moved to the Fenwick group, as the director of buying for their Bentalls Department store, covering all of home, nursery, toys and beauty. “Before joining Feather & Black I was the buying & merchandising director for The Conran Shop, across all product categories.”
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w www.featherandblack.com Feather & Black has ‘huge ambitions’ 7th December 2018 | 17
F E A T U R E |H E R I T A G E F U R N I T U R E
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2018 was a terrific year of growth right from the start. In January it launched four new ranges and Heritage has made significant strides in generating greater awareness of the brand through effective marketing and PR. “More retailers are aware of our differentiation within the crowded market of oak suppliers,” said Saeed. “Clients are appreciating the fresh new designs and flexibility in pricing, and enjoy the peace of mind that there is always stock in our 100,000 sq ft warehouse.” Heritage also became a member of the Minerva Furniture Group this year as well as investing in a new bespoke business system that will improve the way it looks after its customers. Saeed said: “The system will make it really easy for customers to work with us. From orders, tracking, delivery and additional marketing, everything will be available at a touch of a button.”
Colmar Dining
“The uptake for our Colmar living and dining range was initially slow in the first quarter. However, this has picked up significantly with specific types of retailers who are selling more upmarket furniture. This Frenchinfluenced range is stylish, appealing and grandiose, making it a hit to consumers who wish to make a statement.”
Heritage Furniture looks back on a year of success and ahead to the January Furniture Show and 2019.
Despite its success and growth, Heritage, like all retailers, has had to work hard to overcome many challenges over the past 12 months. Brexit has had an impact on sales and that political uncertainty is expected to continue in the forthcoming year.
The past 12 months have been a year to remember for family-run Heritage Furniture as it continues to put its own design on the industry. It aims to “transform beautiful wood into extraordinary furniture” – and 2018 has not disappointed as more customers and more retailers have discovered its meticulously designed collections. Now Heritage is preparing to spread the word even further at the January Furniture Show – the highlight of the year for the industry and a chance for the business to showcase its continuing development. It first exhibited there almost four years ago and is ready to illustrate how far it has come since then at Hall 5, Stand C55 next month. Managing director Saeed Mohmed said preparations for the showpiece event were going well and they had learned from their experience at previous shows about what was required. “Our preparation is going pretty good. Having exhibited for almost four years now, we know what we need to do and to get better in our preparations,” he explained. “The only challenging part is to ensure all your new product launches are ready in time for the show.” 7th December 2018 | 18
The newest range, the Scandinavian-inspired Skien Living and Dining range, was a great success in 2018. “The clean modern look is in line with current fashion trends and is versatile to fit in a number of different living rooms styles and décor,” said Saeed.
Sedona
“Retailers have had a particularly challenging year. From an over-extending summer period and reduced footfall in shops to continuing ambiguity over issues like Brexit, sales have been affected. This lack of confidence impacts all suppliers, including us,” said Saeed. “However, we took these challenges to push us to become more innovative in our approach, pricing and propositions. We have come up with some amazing initiatives, including a programme that competes with retailers buying containers from the Far East. All the benefits without any of the headaches and all from the UK too!
“We predict there will be even more uncertainty, especially with Brexit. Our strategy is to continue adopting a flexible approach that is supportive of retailers needs. Having great products is one thing but, more importantly, we need to be able to provide offerings and support that will ultimately increase margins for retailers.” Heritage Furniture will be at Hall 5, Stand C55 at the January Furniture Show.
w www.heritagefurniture.com
Harkuta Skien Living and Dining Heritage is keeping those new products under wraps for now, but visitors to the show in Birmingham, from 20th to 23rd January, will see two new ranges launched and should get ready for something very different. Saeed said: “All I can say is that our designers have really pushed the bar. We are confident retailers will be pleasantly surprised.” These new designs will feature prominently on the Heritage stand at the NEC, which the company promised would include a new look to try to highlight its success. “I am happy to announce that this year our stand will look significantly different from last year,” said Saeed. “We have put a lot more investment into it to help make it stand out. “We use JFS like a significant milestone in showing the growth of our company, designs and standing within the industry.
The way we were four years ago, compared to now, shows there has been a massive development of the company. “JFS is recognisably the most important event in the furniture industry. Being able to continually exhibit and launch new ranges demonstrates our commitment to existing and potential new retailers that we mean business and we are here to stay.” Like the oaks Heritage uses to create unique furniture from at its Blackburn base, the business has grown from a tiny acorn in 2008 when it was launched by brothers Mo and Sid Mohmed thanks to an entrepreneurial spirit. That spirit and drive is set to continue in 2019 as the business plans for an exciting year ahead, creating stylish, affordable furniture, as well as reflecting on its achievements over the previous year.
Alstead 7th December 2018 | 19
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CleanRest Mattressgard products
Staingard offers a number of mattress protection solutions
THE RIGHT CHOICE Cabinet Maker finds out more on the different ways to protect a mattress from protection specialist Staingard. SleepCool and Essential by Mattressgard
Which mattress protector do I choose? The search for the perfect mattress is a difficult enough task as there is a massive choice available to suit every budget, comfort and performance expectations. Stunning fabrics and innovative technology from bed manufacturers have invigorated the bed market no end over the recent past and continued innovation leaves the consumer with plenty of options. However, the search for mattress protection is becoming more and more confusing; you can choose from mini toppers, quilted pads, quilted covers, cotton or polyester terry sleep surfaces, fitted sheet style sleep surface protectors, zippered encasements — some are waterproof, block bed bugs and allergens, and some do not. Some are luxurious natural materials and some are technologically advanced thermoregulating materials, such as Mattressgard™’s Sleep Cool Tencel product that combines the silky smoothness of Tencel with Thermic, the revolutionary phase change management technology. The one common thread here is that we have become increasingly more aware of the things that can disturb our sleep, spoil
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our mattresses and be detrimental to our health. We also know that unprotected mattresses have a shorter life span as they become soiled and infested with dust mites and bed bugs, as well as a multitude of other microorganisms leading to increased costs as you replace your mattress sooner. The correct mattress protector can also provide moisture and temperature regulation, and safeguard the manufacturer’s warranty. The UK market is still dominated by products masquerading as mattress protectors, which seem to offer all the benefits the consumer is looking for, for very little money. But in reality, these low cost items do little to live up to consumer expectations. The lack of clarity in this sector and its unregulated nature still does not prevent the less scrupulous or uneducated from making claims that cannot be substantiated. Mattressgard™ have been working hard in this market for a number or years and have developed the UK’s best range of mattress protection products available, something that has contributed to its growing influence and market penetration. Since it is extremely unlikely that you will be able to put your mattress in the washing machine, and most mattresses do not have removable covers, it is vital that the correct choice is made. Those suffering from allergies and respiratory conditions, such as asthma, recognise the importance of creating a healthy sleeping environment by blocking dust mites, pet dander, and other household allergens that naturally infest your mattress over time. And those that simply wish to maintain the
appearance of a mattress can find the perfect solution in a Mattressgard™ product. So how do you make the choice? To some extent this will be driven by the type of mattress you are buying and your personal preference on the fabric type, and whether you prefer a quilted protector or a flat-fitted sheet style. Memory foam customers, for example, prefer the flat sheet style such as Mattressgard’s Sleep Cool or Superior, both made from silky smooth natural Tencel. For those with a more conventional mattress, especially where a firm mattress is preferred, then Mattressgard’s Grand Quilted fits the bill. Complementing this superb range, Mattressgard has recently introduced the CleanRest range, which features the unique MicronOne® Technology, taking protection and hygiene to another level. This new range also features world-leading mattress encasement products, further strengthening Mattressgard™’s position as the UK’s leading supplier. Mattressgard have led the way for many years now in the development of innovative products that both protect your mattress and provide a healthy and hygienic sleep surface. It provides the most comprehensive range of mattress protectors available in the UK, providing consumers with the best protection for their mattress and retailers a great opportunity to offer the very best products to their customers. All their products have been created based on the experience and knowledge gained over many years by the Staingard team. By harnessing the most natural products, such as Tencel™, Cotton and Bamboo, and combining them with polyester and the most technologically advanced impermeable yet breathable
polyurethane membranes, a union between nature and science has been created to provide the best protection products available. Mattressgard products are perfect for all the family and the extensive range offers products in sizes that are designed to be used in the smallest cot to the largest bed. As well as the range, it has the facility to provide alternative products to the hospitality and care industries where large quantities may be required and there is budget sensitivity. All Mattressgard products meet very exacting production and quality standards, are guaranteed for 10 years and all feature the following benefits: •Hypoallergenic and Anti Dust Mite •100% Impermeable HPU Membrane •Breathable •Heat and Moisture Regulating •Machine Washable •Sizes from Cot to SuperKing •Extra Deep Elasticated Sides Retailers can be assured of the best products, support, training and commercial terms plus eye-catching display systems. For more information contact info@staingard.co.uk
w www.mattressgard.co.uk
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PRODUCT PROMOTION|SHERBORNE
THE FOUR ESSENTIALS OF TIME MANAGEMENT - Bernard Eaton, managing director of Greenwood Retail Ltd
How many times have you reached the end of your working day to find that you haven’t even completed half of your intended tasks? It’s funny how we always start with such clear intentions but, because of the unexpected, yet somehow inevitable series of daily problems and distractions, we just run out of time. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This is the daily experience for perhaps the majority of people trying to run or manage any kind of enterprise or organisation. Have you ever wondered how the ubersuccessful find the energy and the time to handle so very many different aspects, problems and decisions of their business lives? Why do they seem to get so very much further ahead in the rat race than the vast majority? What exactly is it that the high flyers and top achievers are doing differently, to make the difference? Over the last 30 years I’ve absorbed countless gems of wisdom and advice from a wide range of successful people, including entrepreneurs, business coaches, professionals and even philosophers. During this time, I’ve worked with literally hundreds of business owners across many sectors of retail and I’ve been in the advantageous position to discover the two most important things about what we generally refer to as ‘time management’ — how to do it and, just as importantly, how not to do it. In recent years, time management has mushroomed into a neo-industry for self-help authors and business coaches all over the world. Studies have shown that thousands of us spend less than half of our working day actually working. But you don’t need to employ a business coach to make a big difference. As ever, the answer is fairly simple in theory. 7th December 2018 | 22
It’s all about working smarter, rather than working harder. Here follows the practical methods and tips that help my team and I to make the most of our time every day. First, at the start of every working day (or even better, the evening before), it is essential to list all the tasks and goals that, at this stage, you believe need to be completed before the close of business. Next, prioritise the list of tasks and goals by importance — not by ease. Resist the temptation to start with the nice and easy tasks — this first hurdle is where most of us fall. This is the definition of poor timemanagement — and we’ve all done it. The trick is to actually place the most unpleasant job first. Some say the secret of a happiness is making sure you always have something to look forward to. Start with the Brussels sprouts. Save the meat and gravy for last. Once you’ve got the toughest job out of the way early in the day, you’ll feel better and you’ll be ready to tackle anything. But then, the day’s series of uninvited, timeconsuming distractions begin. The difficult customer service issue that’s escalated to you. The reminder that you’re on deadline for some advertising copy. The sales rep with the must-see offer, And so on. There are two basic angles of attack. One way is to review your list of tasks using the ‘Essential Four D’s Of Time Management’. They are – in order of importance – DO, DELAY, DELEGATE … and everyone’s favourite… DISREGARD. I could have started the list with Delegate. For too many people in management, delegation only becomes an option as the pressure mounts. When push comes to shove, they finally concede and, in
desperation, they cautiously entrust their next in command with the task. However, when you delegate, you are likely to be pleasantly surprised. It’s amazing what people can achieve when they are empowered with responsibility. People generally rise to the challenge and they see it as a great compliment and so give the task their all. Learning to delegate is possibly the number one secret of time management, if not success itself, and possibly one of the most difficult things for principals to do. After all, the kind of person who becomes the principal is most likely to be the type who believes they can do it better themselves! Plus, try to avoid making the classic mistake of accepting unqualified phone calls and visitors. If the organisation can afford it, have someone act as ‘Reception’ (even if only on a part-time basis) to be the organisation’s frontline defence against time-wasters.
Keswick
Nevada
And beware perhaps the greatest timewasting trap of them all — solving problems for your staff. Remember that you have employed your people to help you — not to hinder you. You really don’t want to position yourself as your firm’s routine problem solver. It’s really just another example of delegation — if you can train and entrust your people to solve the constant flow of day-to-day issues themselves, rather than let them think that their role is to inform you of problems, you will free yourself to actually run your business rather than just work in it.
Olivia
The above tactics can make a big difference to your effectiveness as a principal or manager and, in turn, to your bottom line.
Sherborne are delighted with the recent successful introduction of the Albany Riser Recliner, offering exceptional comfort in a choice of four sizes. This follows previous successes with the Nevada range, now available in leather in addition to the extensive fabric selection of over 150 choices, the generously-sized Olivia range and the ever-popular Keswick Recliner/Suite range, including fixed and reclining corner groups.
Contact 01565 650 101 or visit greenwoodretail.com Albany
w www.sherborneupholstery.co.uk 7th December 2018 | 23
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LAST WORD MATT PHILLIPS, HEAD OF UK OPERATIONS AT GERMAN KITCHEN FURNITURE SUPPLIER ROTPUNKT I strongly believe as we move into 2019 that furniture will be ‘defined by difference’, and by this I mean, a brave mix of stand-out finishes and materials being used to identify different pieces of furniture and create zonal kitchen schemes that are not restricted by four walls or customary layouts. Take a look at the latest interior trends set to ‘wow’ the kitchen market in 2019. Asymmetrical Design Broken-plan furniture schemes are dictating the kitchen market and these influences are a welcome preference to the outdated uniform kitchen design in terms of construction, material, finish and space planning. This has opened up the kitchen market to new and exciting design concepts which are driving trends towards hardworking furniture like room dividers, multi-purpose workstations and display cabinetry through to asymmetrical layouts and wall-hung solutions. By playing with different eye-lines, visual weights and modular arrangements, modern kitchen furniture will focus on freethinking in 2019: creating a feeling of eclectic balance that is dynamically unrestricted. Utilitarian Style In terms of style, next year will pay focus to the ‘jewellery’ of a kitchen, making a feature of exclusive handles and knobs that offer new surface textures for better grip, convenient push-to-open fittings for the height of utility and user-friendly shaped handles for extra comfort or overall design impact. Storage systems will also be top priority, with new drawer boxes, pull-outs and integrated larder systems being introduced for a heightened level of uniformity and aesthetic appeal.
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“THE NEED FOR QUALITY FURNITURE THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR MANY OF US.“
Dark Colours 2019 interior colour trends will embrace the darker colour palette, showing fewer primary colours and a greater emphasis on black, which is contrasted by rich coffee browns, shades of grey, taupe and biscuit beige. I believe this change in colour story stems from developments in other areas of the kitchen that are also embracing black. For example, you can now purchase a black PVD coated kitchen tap to match your furniture, with striking work surfaces and built-in appliances, and no longer available in just white. In fact, black remains the most loved colour in fashion, with any new colour trend coined as ‘the new black’! Known for its expensive façade, online searches for black and dark colours are up 93% in the last six months and I am confident that black kitchen furniture will continue to rise in popularity throughout 2019. High Texture Atypical door finishes will be massive in the kitchen next year, with unique glass, metal and marble effect doors, laminate solutions with innovative surface treatments, pioneering colour-matched worktops, fine black edging techniques and a refreshing approach to modular space planning for the creation of ergonomic kitchen environments that are modern and long-lasting. Rich wood veneers and laminate solutions can now capture masonry-style effects like marble and stone, to exude a Scandi-Noir aesthetic with industrial undertones.
design in the modern home to recognise ‘resiliency’ as the new ‘sustainability’. This is filtering down into the kitchen furniture market, where durable materials and designs continue to grow in popularity.
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Eco-materials The need for quality furniture that is environmentally friendly remains a priority for many of us and, as a result, it is reshaping how the market is approaching kitchen
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