INDUSTRY
BIG ASK
Is UK manufacturing becoming more competitive with overseas rivals? With costs of importing products from the EU and the Far East rising, how does UK manufacturing compare, and is it becoming more cost-competitive now? Should more dealers look at UK manufacturers for their products – and does sustainability play a part in people’s thinking? Simon Howarth, marketing and
challenged with creating a work environment that is all-inclusive
design manager, Dams
for a diverse range of employees. It is, of course, impossible to
There’s no doubt that British-made
design an office to suit every individual’s personality and needs;
products are now more competitively
it’s more about offering choices to people.
priced compared to imported goods.
Modern businesses are looking for suppliers that can
Since the start of the COVID-19
offer them increased choice, enabling them to specify their
pandemic in 2020, there has been
office to suit their requirements - and genuine choice not
disruption to supply chains for imported goods,
only means having a variety of products, but also demands a
with freight costs rocketing, and shortages in available
variety of ranges and multiple options for finishes, upholstery
containers and space on container ships. All this means that
and configuration to deliver a truly tailored approach.
choosing products that have been made in the UK simply
Furniture suppliers with their own manufacturing facilities
makes more commercial and financial sense now than at any
can offer that choice - but it’s also about confidence of quality,
time in recent history.
speed of delivery, continuity of supply and accountability from
A manufacturing operation thousands of miles away, in the EU or the Far East, is also much less flexible than a factory in the UK where changes in production schedules
a manufacturer that is managing the various elements of the supply process on the ground. Years and decades of tradition and know-how go into
can adapt in response to seasonal variations, market trends
the production of furniture at Dams. Manufacturing in the UK
and spikes in demand.
also means that we are protecting and developing the skills
With regard to furniture, every office environment is
needed for the office furniture industry of the future, ensuring
different. Each employee has a unique set of needs - many
that we create a legacy of quality, British-made, products that
of which are not always apparent - and businesses are now
are fully-traceable and built to last.
[22] FEBRUARY 2022
www.dealersupport.co.uk
