Furniture News #342 by Gearing Media Group Ltd

The essential guide to the UK domestic furniture and furnishings trade #342 September 2017 | www.furniturenews.net

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INFORMATION

“With new names in upholstery, cabinet, living, dining, bedroom and beds, the Manchester Furniture Show certainly spoilt visitors for choice”

Editor Victoria Noakes 01424 776105 victoria@gearingmediagroup.com Twitter @Victoria_FNmag Advertising manager Sam Horscroft 01424 776100 sam@gearingmediagroup.com Twitter @FurnitureNewsAD Production manager James Ash 01424 775304 james@gearingmediagroup.com Deputy production manager Stephanie Reading stephanie@gearingmediagroup.com Digital production assistant Nathan Khan digital@gearingmediagroup.com Copy administrator Steve Merrick 01424 776108 production@gearingmediagroup.com

COMMENT

Proofreader Keith Fitz-Hugh Editorial director John Legg 01424 776104 john@gearingmediagroup.com Publisher Nigel Gearing Accounts Wendy Williams 01424 774982 wendy@gearingmediagroup.com Subscriptions subscriptions@gearingmediagroup.com Annual Subscription Rates UK-£65 Europe-£85 RoW-£95 Repro, print and distribution Acorn Web Offset Ltd

Gearing Media Group Ltd 4 Red Barn Mews, High Street Battle, East Sussex TN33 0AG ISSN No: 1475 - 3731 © Gearing Media Group Ltd 2017 General information No part of this publication may be reproduced without the speciﬁc prior written agreement of the Publisher and may not be stored on any type of retrieval system. Furniture News/ Gearing Media Group Ltd accepts no responsibility for variations in colour reproduction. Special colours (Pantone etc) can be catered for with prior arrangement. Some elements of the editorial content in this publication are submitted by the trade, however, all e�orts are made to ensure that the editorial remains true to fact and unbiased. Monies may have been accepted to o�set the costs of colour reproduction. Gearing Media Group Ltd reserves the right to alter without prior notice any content other than customers’ advertisements. No correspondence will be entered into regarding altered or adjusted editorial content. The editor’s decision is ﬁnal. All material submitted for inclusion in Furniture News is done so entirely at the owner’s risk and no responsibility is accepted for the safekeeping or return thereof.

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he September issue of Furniture News explores one of the most vital UK furniture industry events – the Manchester Furniture Show. Held in July at Manchester Central, the event saw over 150 companies exhibit, covering the whole spectrum of the marketplace. With new names in upholstery, cabinet, living, dining, bedroom and beds, the show certainly spoilt visitors for choice. See page 72 for an extensive insight into new launches and innovations displayed. Readers of this issue will also find Furniture News’ dedicated NBF Bed Show supplement, a valuable resource for visitors to the bed industry-focused event later this month. Bringing together over 80 bed manufacturers and component suppliers under one roof, the Bed Show is a must-attend exhibition for those working within the bed market. With a busy UK show season ahead, the issue also looks forward to this month’s Long Point (page 28) and Minerva Autumn Furniture Show (page 34) exhibitions, and what to expect from a visit to these events. Elsewhere in the issue, Sarena Shetty, CEO of FindDesign – a curated platform for online furniture and homewares brands – explains how the business bridges the gap between discovery and purchase. The company partners with an array of brands in order to be a one-stop-shopping destination for furniture and furnishing products. See page 22 to find out more. As to be expected, you’ll also find Furniture News’ usual array of news, product updates, expert advice columns and unique industry insider Q&As. I hope you enjoy the issue, and the busy month ahead!

Victoria Noakes Editor T 01424 776105 E victoria@gearingmediagroup.com Twitter @Victoria_FNmag

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THIS ISSUE

News

Interview

Events

Sarena Shetty, CEO of FindDesign – a curated platform for online furniture and homewares brands – takes Furniture News through the inspiration and driving force behind the business

Including previews of the upcoming Long Point exhibition, Minerva Autumn Furniture Show and Belgrade Furniture Fair, plus a review of the Irish Furniture & Homewares Show

Resources

Update

FindDesign (22)

Featuring expert advice on the last mile of the purchasing journey, how to analyse performance and seasonal sales

Corndell illustrates the importance of the painted cabinet trend

Manchester Furniture Show review

An extended review of the innovations presented at this year’s Manchester Furniture Show

Beds & Bedroom

Manchester Furniture Show (56)

ON THE COVER

128 Living Room 142 Dining Room

Pocket Teramo 1400 by Sealy (www.sealy.co.uk)

146 Trade Services

Lectra talks Brexit, and its impact on British manufacturing

The essential guide to the UK domestic furniture and furnishings trade #342 September 2017 | www.furniturenews.net

152 Furnisher

A round-up of accessories, flooring and furnishings for the home

160 Last Word Gary Rhodes, Mammoth (160)

Pocket Teramo 1400, Sealy

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Gary Rhodes, national sales manager at Mammoth, answers Furniture News’ questions about his career history and work and life philosophy

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10 | News

Wayfair partners with Lorraine Kelly Wayfair, one of the world’s largest online destinations for furnishings and home décor, today announced a partnership with ITV television presenter, Lorraine Kelly, for its Wayfair UK brand. The popular face of breakfast TV will star in the online homeware brand’s forthcoming TV campaign, which airs on UK screens starting in mid-September. “We’re thrilled to join forces with Lorraine Kelly for our new TV campaign,” said Martin Reiter, general manager of Wayfair Europe. “Lorraine’s down-to-earth signature style makes her a perfect fit for Wayfair. We’re excited to feature Lorraine in our new TV advertisement, which will highlight Wayfair’s broad range of budget-friendly finds to highend styles as well as just how easy it is to shop for every room in the home at Wayfair.co.uk.”

New technicial manager for FIRA International Suzie Radcliffe-Hart has joined FIRA International as its new technical manager. Most recently Mothercare’s senior technologist for knowledge and standards, Suzie now heads up FIRA International’s technical services team. The team offers expert help across the whole furniture supply chain, including training (with a particular focus on domestic and flammability and the EU Timber Regulations), sustainability, flammability services, business process improvements and product risk assessment. Aside from her experience at Mothercare, Suzie has almost 20 years’ of experience across furniture, nursery, toys and consumer goods. Speaking on the appointment of Suzie, Phil Reynolds, general manager at FIRA International, says: “With a very strong background within the furniture testing, compliance and standards arena, Suzie is a strong addition to the FIRA team. “One of Suzie’s first responsibilities will be implementing the ‘FIRA Due Diligence Scheme’, which will aid manufacturers and retailers in meeting compliance for flammability in a recognised and recorded scheme. I look forward to this being introduced to the industry under Suzie’s stewardship.”

In addition to this autumn’s television campaign, Lorraine Kelly will be collaborating with Wayfair on a festive dining room makeover. Launching on-site on Wayfair.co.uk in November, Lorraine will give shoppers a look at how to style their homes for the season. Lorraine will also be sharing her top gift picks for the festive period in another shoppable sale. “I’m delighted to be teaming up with Wayfair this year,” says Lorraine. “It’s a fantastic one-stop-shop which makes it so easy for shoppers to find unique pieces for any room in their home. Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly basics for the bathroom or a striking statement piece for your living room, Wayfair’s got it covered.” UK residents can catch Lorraine in Wayfair advertisements starting this September.

Panaz scoops Furniture Makers’ Export Award The Furniture Makers’ Company, the furnishing industry’s charity, has announced that Panaz, a leading supplier of high quality decorative fabrics and wallcoverings, has won the second annual Export Award. Part of The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Manufacturing Guild Mark, the Export Award was launched in 2016 to recognise excellence in promoting and selling British manufactured furniture, bedding and furnishings to overseas markets. The award considers all aspects of how a business operates, including development initiatives, overseas’ markets penetrated, volumes, growth techniques, long term commitment, and relevant accreditations. Entries were judged by a panel of industry experts, including Dr Tony Smart MBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company; Jonny Westbrooke, CEO of The Furniture Makers’ Company; Jonathan Hindle, chairman of the British Furniture

Confederation; Jeremy Stein, managing director of the British Contract Furnishing Association; and Stephen McPartland MP, member of parliament for Stevenage and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group. The award will be presented to Panaz, which is based in Burnley, Lancashire, at the Furniture Makers’ Royal Charter Dinner at The Honourable Artillery Company, London on Tuesday 26th October 2017. Dr Tony Smart MBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, says: “We’d like to congratulate the whole team at Panaz for this great achievement. Panaz demonstrated a very clear export strategy, one that has been evidently communicated throughout the company and pursued rigorously over the years. Panaz has taken into account customers’ requirements in different and demanding markets across the world which has resulted in fantastic growth.”

New host for charity Christmas Ball Celtheath Contract Furniture is organising a Christmas Ball fundraiser in aid of The Furniture Makers’ Company, the furnishing industry’s charity. The black tie event is being held on Saturday 25th November in one of London’s leading hotels, The Royal Lancaster, fresh from a £50m refurbishment

project. The ball will consist of a champagne reception, three course meal with wine, an auction, raffle and plenty of fun to kick off the festive season in style. Tickets for the Christmas Ball cost £155 each. Those looking for more information should call Lizzie Shaw on 020 8578 9494.

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12 | News

Meera Syal to host NBF Bed Show Gala Dinner and Awards

Popular comic, dramatic performer and writer, Meera Syal, is set to headline at the 2017 NBF Bed Show Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony.Taking place on the evening of 19th September at the Telford International Centre, during the Bed Show, Meera Syal (CBE) will host the eighth Gala Dinner, welcome and entertain the 400 plus guests and present this year’s Bed Industry Awards. Starring in hit programmes such as The Kumars at No 42, Meera made her name on the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, and is an acclaimed author. As well as appearing in feature films from Sammi and Rosie Get Laid to Marvel’s Doctor Strange, Meera wrote the screenplay for the critically acclaimed Bhaji on the Beach and also adapted her novels Anita & Me (into a feature film) and Life Isn’t All Ha Ha Hee Hee (into a TV series). Meera’s lengthy list of TV credits include Doctor Who, Holby City, Absolutely Fabulous and Drop the Dead Donkey. She has hosted The Travel Show, appeared on Have I Got News For You and traced her Punjabi roots in Who Do You Think You Are? She also collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber in the West End production of Bombay Dreams. Tickets for the Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony, which includes fundraising for the industry charity, The Furniture Makers’ Company, are now available on the Bed Show website.

FIRA International invests in ergonomics FIRA International has invested significant sums in new measurement equipment in order to offer enhanced ergonomic assessment services to the furniture industry supply chain, and to complement its current equipment base. A newly purchased pressure mapping system has an active surface area of 81.28cm x 203.2cm and featuring 10,240 pressure sensors to show where products impact the body. Advanced software supplied with the equipment has the ability to provide test result images in both 2D and 3D. This helps manufacturers and designers assess pressure distribution and comfort for products such as mattresses, sofas, recliner sofas, task chairs etc. Pressure mapping can also be used in conjunction with wider furniture testing services from FIRA International, such as durability tests, where products are subjected to years of use over a short period of time in order to gauge how well they will perform long-term. Pressure mapping before and after durability testing offers a comparison

on comfort, and an indication as to how ergonomically sound the item will be after years of use. FIRA International has also invested in an upgraded spinal tracing equipment which is the method Levent Çaglar, senior ergonomist at FIRA International has developed to assess performance of mesh back task chairs. FIRA will be proposing the use of this methodology for measuring lumbar adjustability of mesh chairs to the European Standards making body, CEN, for consideration in future European Standards. According to the Office for National Statistics almost 31 million days of work were lost in 2013 due to back, neck and muscle problems, costing the UK economy £14 billion a year, so it’s vital that furniture can be ergonomically assessed and tested to ensure it provides adequate support and promotes good posture. As such, the use of spinal tracing as part of ergonomic testing allows feedback on how chairs affect posture, assisting product development.

Oak Furniture Land opens sixth Welsh store Oak Furniture Land, the UK’s largest retailer of solid hardwood furniture, donated a 4ft cake replica of a bronze dragon to the Welsh Dragon Project and Wrexham Museum at the grand opening of its first store in Wrexham on Saturday 5th August. The dragon cake is a replica of the 80ft bronze dragon planned to be erected in Wrexham as part of the Welsh Dragon Project. Oak Furniture Land commissioned the amazing confectionery creation to donate to the community and to show their support for the Welsh Dragon Project. The new 12,535ft2 showroom is located at the Border Retail Park, and features over 17 ranges - including the newly launched St Ives range – a classic country style. The showroom also features a large range of its sofas and armchairs, all with 100 per cent hardwood frames andstrong high-grade steel serpentine spring bases for support and durability. Phil Groom, Oak Furniture Land Wrexham store manager, says: “The bronze dragon cake to support the Welsh Dragon project is our way of saying a big thank you to our customers and the local community. Our

Welsh customers are important to us, which is why we are opening our sixth store in the region. The new showroom in Wrexham store will give local shoppers even more furniture choice. We know once customers shop with us they return time and time again, so we are looking forward to serving the community for many more years to come.” Paul McKenna, regional manager at Oak Furniture Land, says: “Following on from the success of our Cardiff, Swansea, Haverfordwest, Newport and Merthyr Tydfil stores we’re really excited to have opened our sixth Welsh store.”

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14 | News

Kobe UK sponsors apprentice upholsterer Student Darren Blackwell, an apprentice upholsterer, recently presented his first-class skills with a little help from luxury fabric supplier, Kobe UK. The AMUSF apprentice formed part of a team of association members who represented the Worshipful Company of Upholders at Lincoln cathedral’s Heritage Skills Festival in June. As part of the festival, Darren saw his final apprenticeship diploma piece – a chair – on show, along with other examples of upholstery and soft furnishings. He is the first trainee to complete the Livery Company Apprenticeship Scheme, launched in the summer of 2014. The Upholders sponsored the frame of

Darren’s chair and Kobe the Conure fabric, from the company’s Toucan collection. MD David Harris says: “We are delighted to see our fabric used to create such a beautiful piece of furniture. It’s a credit to Darren’s upholstery skills and I would like to congratulate him on his qualification, which recognises the hard work and commitment he has shown to his craft.” Darren was presented with his AMUSF qualification at Wendy Shorter’s Students’ Show on Saturday 29th July. Wendy Shorter Interiors is a multi-awards winning training centre that has received several craft training awards for encouraging craft skills in upholstery and soft furnishings.

BFM joins FIRA The British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) has joined the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA). The new membership will allow the BFM to provide an even higher level of technical support to its members and open up new opportunities for both organisations to work together. BFM MD Jackie Bazeley says: “We are delighted to join FIRA as we see great value in the association. The work it does for the furniture sector is critical to the industry and will help us further support the needs of our members and provide them with up to date technical support as well as standards and

regulations.” Phil Reynolds, director of the Furniture Industry Research Association, says: “It’s great to welcome the BFM, and in turn their wider membership base to our Research Association. “Over the past few years both associations have enjoyed a close relationship, and taking this next step in working together helps us extend our expertise to benefit more businesses within the furniture sector. We look forward to supporting these organisations through our research, information and knowledge.” The BFM is a trade association that has represented the interests of the British

furniture industry for more than 65 years. It has a broad based membership covering domestic, contract, office and kitchen manufacturers as well as suppliers to the industry and retailers. Members enjoy a number of benefits including access to expertise across a number of subjects including export, the EU timber regulations, health and safety, commodity pricing and the environment. In addition BFM offers advice and practical support covering many areas including legal, employment and personnel, health and safety and environment.

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J Rosenthal revamps Appletree brand J Rosenthal & Son, one of the leading suppliers of home textiles to the retail sector in the UK, has re-launched its Appletree brand for AW17 with a rebrand, new packaging and extended range of coordinating products. A British brand, Appletree has a strong heritage dating back to 1770 and has been part of Rosenthal’s bedding portfolio for a number of years. It offers contemporary bedsets and accessories that encapsulate current interior design trends and the new season’s launch coordinates with 2017/18’s most sought after colour schemes. The brand refresh and renewed focus on the Appletree collection comes on the back of its growing popularity within the independent sector.

The brand’s new look, packaging and striking new PoS (including look book and strut cards) were launched at an open showroom event held at J Rosenthal’s headquarters in Radcliffe, Manchester. Commenting on the new collection, design director Jackie McLoughlin says: “We’ve extended the choice of merchandise within the Appletree range to offer a full collection of complementary products. As well as bedding sets, each design story also features coordinating throws and cushions that can be mixed and matched to create a stunning style statement. While ideal for the bedroom, the cushions and throws look equally at home in living spaces.

“Appletree is a brand that continues to go from strength to strength, with widespread appeal to British consumers of all ages. Our new brand identity and packaging has been designed for maximum impact at point of sale and to reflect the level of quality and attention to detail associated with these products. This, coupled with our significant investment in POS and marketing support for our stockists, makes the brand a focus for the consumer in the category.” J Rosenthal & Son will be supporting the Appletree brand with a new consumer PR and social media campaign. The products will be available through major retailers nationwide and online.

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16 | News

Young professionals complete unique industry experience Four young professionals working in the kitchen, leather, cabinet and bespoke furniture sectors have been given a unique insight into the UK furnishing industry by completing The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Young Professionals Industry Experience (YPIE). Launched in 2014 and principally sponsored by the January Furniture Show, the YPIE course brings together some of the best and brightest young talent in the furnishing industry to take part in an intensive three-week learning programme. The group is given access to all areas of the industry supply chain, learning about raw materials and components, the complexity of manufacturing, buying criteria, pricing, marketing and merchandising, through to consumer law, after sales and customer service. This year’s participants were Ben Brook, customer service advisor at CD (UK) Ltd, Sean Duffin, production manager at Andrew Muirhead & Son Limited; Lisa Gould Sandall, furniture designer at Ercol; and Sam Ryan,

Which? rates Dunlopillo Best Pillow Brand 2017 Dunlopillo, a leading manufacturer of latex mattresses and pillows, has been rated by Which? members as the Best Pillow Brand 2017. Consumer champion Which? surveyed over 5000 Which? members in April 2017 about their bedding choices to find the pillow and duvet brands they trust the most at bedtime. The scores awarded to the brands were based on how satisfied Which? members were with their purchases and how likely they are to recommend their pillow or duvet to friends or relatives. Dunlopillo came out on top for Best Pillow Brand 2017 with an overall score of 77%, achieving an impressive five out of five stars in the ‘comfort’ and ‘matched product description’ categories. Made from 100% pure latex the Super Comfort and Serenity Deluxe Pillows from the Dunlopillo Signature Collection offer a natural, healthy and unique material to sleep on.

founder of Sam Ryan Furniture. Twenty leading industry companies opened their doors in May and June to give the four professionals an insight into their businesses, including: Anti Copying in Design, Axminster Tools & Machinery, Blum, Cabinet Maker, DFS, Ercol, FIRA, Fishpools, The Furniture Ombudsman, Halstock, Herman

Miller, Howdens Joinery, Hypnos, Muirhead Leather, Parker Knoll, Panaz, Purves & Purves, Silentnight and UBM. The group also attended the build-up and first day of Manchester Furniture Show, to understand what it takes to organise and prepare for a trade show. During a presentation at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London, on Thursday 27th July, the group outlined what they learned from the programme to representatives of the companies they visited, as well as other industry figures. To support the professionals’ continued development, each of them will be paired with one of the Company’s members to act as their mentor. Those interested in sending one of their employees on this unique experience in 2018 as part of their continuous professional development should contact Damilola Bamidele by emailing grantsandeducation@ furnituremakers.org.uk or by calling 020 7562 8523.

Value of UK manufactured furniture on the rise The total value of furniture produced by all UK makers is on the up, new research reveals. According to a review of UK manufacturing performance in 2016 by British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM), the amount of UK furniture, by value rose by 9.3% compared to 2015, although imports have grown by 9.6%. The UK market for all types of furniture increased to more than £11.6b at manufacturers’ prices, up 8.7% on 2015. UK exports also grew in the year by an encouraging 13.9%, however manufactured sales as a percentage net supply fell from 44% to 43%. By comparison in 2012, UK market share was 49%. Jackie Bazeley, BFM MD, says: “Our review revealed some very interesting findings, with a mix of performances between the sub sectors, some dominated by UK producers and other where importers hold sway.” The report by BFM looked at key topics such as how the market has changed over the last full calendar year, value of UK manufactured sales and imports and exports, as well as the size of the UK market. It also analysed the percentage of the UK market attributable to UK products, the unit price of UK produced items, and

a comparison of imported and exported product prices by weight. Of the 27 furniture product groups covered, 10 sub sectors were chosen which represent typical manufacturing areas within the BFM membership. These included; upholstery, sofa beds, bedroom furniture, dining, living room, office and shop furniture, kitchen units, mattress supports for bed frames, as well as mattresses with spring interiors and cellular plastics. Sales for the 10 sub sectors combined grew by 11.8% in 2016 to reach nearly £4.8b. The full report is available to BFM members only. Those wishing to access it should contact mikedimond@bfm.org.uk. British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) is a trade association that has represented the interests of the British furniture industry for more than 60 years. It is run by members for members and the wider industry. Membership is open to manufacturing companies in all sectors including upholstery, cabinet, bathroom, kitchen, office, mattress and beds.

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22 | Interview

Product sourcing simplified Established in January this year in East London, FindDesign is a curated platform for online furniture and homewares brands. Founder and CEO Sarena Shetty takes Furniture News through the history and philosophy of the business ... Words: Victoria Noakes Sarena Shetty

hat does FindDesign do? FindDesign is essentially a search engine for furniture. We partner with a large number of brands to offer a beautiful collection of design-led furniture and homeware products and each piece that’s listed on our website has been personally curated by us.

Tell us about FindDesign’s offering We want to be a one-stop shopping destination for furniture and homeware online. In order to succeed in our mission, we have a huge array of products in various categories. Our partners range from a selection of wellknown retailers and brands to lesserknown boutiques and designers – all with a commitment to quality and design.

Hairpin Desk, Hairpin Leg Co

Because we have numerous partners we are able to house a massive catalogue of beautiful design-led products at a range of price points. This means our customers not only stop wasting time browsing multiple stores, but are also able to discover products or designers that they’ve never heard and couldn’t find easily themselves.

Karla Armchair, Swoon Editions

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Interview | 23

What was the inspiration behind the business? The inspiration for FindDesign originally came whilst working at my old job. I worked for three years for an online furniture company, seeing them go through rounds of funding and investment. I gradually watched the expansion of the business and brand whilst gaining insights into an evergrowing online furniture market. During the early stages of the business I was tasked with speaking to customers on the phone. I’d spend hours with each one, listening to their feedback and suggestions about the business. It was interesting to see that shoppers were willing to part with money for furniture

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items that they had not seen in the flesh, taking a punt on a relatively unknown company. At that time we made a conscious effort to focus on the brand, product and customer service, as we knew this was needed to stand apart in a hugely fragmented market. If people had found us, we wanted them to come back rather than search for an alternative. I also learnt that people did not tend to buy all the furniture in their home from one place, but found it difficult to know where to start online. These were really the seeds for FindDesign – a one-stop shop for a customer’s furniture needs. Following this, I remember going to a friend’s house. She was moving to

an unfurnished flat and had so many browser tabs open – Pinterest, Google Shopping, Ikea, Made.com to name a few – yet she couldn’t find anything she liked and found the experience incredibly frustrating. I knew there was a better way – she needed a single place that she could go to, where she knew she could find exactly what she wanted. FindDesign was born! What makes FindDesign unique? There generally tends to be a missing link between content, curation and commerce that inevitably inhibits shopping inspiration and discovery. A key example of this is with one of our main competitors - Google Shopping. >>>

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24 | Interview

“There generally tends to be a missing link between content, curation and commerce that inevitably inhibits shopping inspiration and discovery – ultimately we bridge the gap between discovery and purchase”

Companies with the highest budgets have prominence over lesser-known brands and designers who don’t tend to get a look in. This actually narrows the view of the market, monopolising the sector and ultimately impacts customers by stifling levels of inspiration and creativity when furnishing their homes. In contrast, FindDesign is a discovery platform with a breadth of choice, prioritising partners who have welldesigned, quality products and offer excellent service on top. On the flip side, another huge competitor of ours is Pinterest – a platform that’s solely based around discovery, sharing ideas and creativity (one of my favourite websites for interiors inspiration). The massive frustration I’ve found is when you find a product you love, there are limitations on stock or shipping. Where FindDesign stands out in this respect is you can actually buy the products we list.

Ultimately we bridge the gap between discovery and purchase. What are the business’ aims? We aim to be the go-to online retail destination for design-led furniture and homeware products. This means every piece on the site needs to be carefully curated for design and quality so we can offer the best possible products to our customers. We want to close the gap between browsing and purchase in a customer journey. This involves creating a slick user experience, having the best products around and using innovative tech solutions to help smooth out the shopping experience – ultimately making a seamless shopping experience for every customer. Aside from this however, we want to be authorities in our space, having helped to showcase a breadth of design talent whilst fulfilling a need for all our

Karla Armchair, Swoon Editions

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Interview | 25 customers. What is FindDesign’s target demographic? Our target demographic is the contemporary sector, predominantly living in London or urban areas. They are more likely to have lived in their homes for at least a couple of years and are likely to update their furniture choices to reflect the trends in the market. Which products are popular with customers right now? We have a range of products on the site that fall under a distinct aesthetic, but we’ve found Etsy to be a hugely popular partner that converts well. Customers care about craftsmanship and Etsy offers some real gems that are thoughtfully designed, incredibly unique and wellmade. We list a range of categories from this partner, but accessories tend to be popular as they are an easy way to reflect current interior trends – something we know our target audience truly values. What investments has the business made recently? We’re currently investing a lot of time in making our product amazing. This means onboarding more partners, listing more products and making tweaks to the user experience so we’re ready to take on our current and potential competitors! How does FindDesign address the needs of a changing market? I think the most obvious way is how FindDesign is a pioneer in furniture e-commerce, smoothing the way by aggregating a highly fragmented market. The recent surge of companies that sell furniture exclusively online, as well as the move of established retailers to have both an online and offline presence has led to an increase in consumer choice that’s not always easy to navigate. The furniture market is constantly expanding, with predicted growth of around 8-9% by 2021 so this problem will only perpetuate. FindDesign continues to offer customers choice whilst working to aid the navigation of an ever-expanding and increasingly complex market. What are your thoughts on the current state of the market? The furniture industry tends to remain

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pretty stable in adversity and even in troubled times, our market is expanding and growing at a steady rate. The industry is still largely offline, but there’s a lot of scope to challenge traditional retailers. There’s been an evolution of pure play online retailers in the space and although furniture is behind fashion, the move to digital is in full swing. This has not only been aided by new technologies but with the implementation of legislation that offers a more generous cancellation and returns policy when buying online. These changes are empowering normally reticent consumers to make larger purchases online. There have also been massive disruptions to the traditional supply chain model with innovators like Made. com and Simba Sleep making huge swathes in the industry. With directto-consumer businesses you can strip out expensive warehouse overheads that result in mark-ups and inflated prices for consumers. You can see long-established retailers, like John Lewis stepping up to the plate with new collections and collaborations, a greater digital marketing presence and extra services to compete. It’s certainly an exciting space to be in! And what about the state of retail? Economic factors mean consumers are becoming savvier shoppers. I think this is actually incredibly exciting for the retail industry as it forces companies to become more creative and innovative with their offering. This results in consumers having more choice, convenience and pleasure in shopping. The greatest example of this has been the move to clicks and mortar, with retailers placing an importance on having both a physical and virtual shopping presence. More people are browsing in store and purchasing online at their leisure and vice versa – the gift of choice is incredibly appealing to consumers. Brands are also focusing more on representing a lifestyle that people buy into as opposed to boiling down to a single product. This idea of a third space between work and home where people experience a brand is popping up all over the retail industry, for example the Lululemon’s flagship store that houses a concierge service, offers a coffee bar, classes and snacks.

It’s this move away from the traditional trader-consumer relationship to something far greater, where people create an emotional connection with brands, which inevitably will increase the lifetime value of that customer. Overall I think there’s just been a massive shift from disposable retail. What trends are you experiencing at the moment? I mentioned a couple of points above, but the current focus on smart data for decisions is a big trend that affects us. You can see companies like Lyst (who I’m a huge fan of), using data from customers in truly inventive ways. Their first offline advertising campaign included customer data to predict trends in fashion. Data is so important (I was originally a scientist!) and it’s these smart data decisions that mean you can offer consumers the best shopping experience and constantly improve and tailor your product. Our top performing partners have a few things in common, but they tend to have a story behind the product. Whether they are an ethical brand or an Etsy retailer where you get to know the face behind the design, it seems there has been a huge shift where people are actively seeking out information on the supply chain and where a product has come from. I don’t see this ethical trend showing any signs of fading. What challenges is the business facing right now? The online furniture market is an interesting one to conquer and inherently comes with issues. There are problems ingrained in the nature of e-commerce, for example longer lead times than when you buy in store, and this can be especially prevalent in furniture manufacturing. Our business is based on the affiliate model, which means we can often lose attribution on sales too. Both of these problems have solutions so I’m not too worried. What does the future look like for FindDesign? We’ve just started out so we have lots of future plans! My current focus however is to make our product as good as it can be for our customers. W finddesign.co.uk

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COME AND BROWSE A BROAD RANGE OF PRODUCTS PERFECTLY SUITED TO THE UK MARKET Brussels Furniture Fair is an easily navigable, welcoming fair with a friendly atmosphere and a different range from the fairs in the UK. International exhibitors show their extensive collections on impressive stands.

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BRUSSELS

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FURNITURE FAIR

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SUN 5 - WED 8 NOV 2017 SUN - TUE 9AM - 7PM & WED 9AM - 6PM BRUSSELS EXPO WWW.FURNITUREFAIRBRUSSELS.BE

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28 | Events

PREVIEW

LONG EATON’S LUXURIOUS CHARM The Long Point exhibition returns to Long Eaton’s showrooms from 18th-21st September, promising new models and fabrics from guild members and guest exhibitors.

utumn Long Point provides an opportunity to discover the latest upholstery from a swathe of local manufacturers and suppliers, plus delve into the beds, cabinet and upholstery from the show’s guest exhibitors. Although the fabric upholstery output of the Long Eaton Guild of Furniture Manufacturers is at its heart, Long Point has become a focus for a good deal more over the years, with central venue Harrington Mill playing host to new bedroom, living and dining releases within a host of guest displays and permanent showrooms. Over 20 manufacturers will be showing fine high-end upholstery, with both new models and fabrics being launched at the show. In addition to the Long Eaton Guild members such as Duresta and Wade Upholstery, the September show will feature exhibitors fairly new to the event such as Westbridge Furniture, which

joined for the Spring edition. One exhibitor, Steed Upholstery (www.steedupholstery.com), has been manufacturing hand-crafted sofas for over 50 years. All of its designs are manufactured by highly-skilled craftsmen and women with attention to detail being paramount. Produced using fine materials, every piece of furniture is hand made. Steed’s frames are made in house which allows the flexibility to alter designs to suit the individual needs. Steed’s full range of both classic and contemporary models will be on display at the event. Retail visitors wishing to stay over during the Long Point exhibition can enjoy subsidised hotel accommodation if booked via the guild helpline, printed below. T 07902 032101 W longeatonguild.co.uk >>>

Ritz, Steed Upholstery

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30 | Events

ucking the trend in the reproduction cabinet market are Iain James Furniture (www. iainjamesfurniture.co.uk) which will again be exhibiting at Long Point both at Harrington Mills and also in its own showrooms in Bridge Street, Long Eaton. Despite continued difficult economic circumstances, Iain James’ sales have remained strong and the company’s core ranges have performed well – in particular the Burr Walnut collection of bespoke occasional furniture. This timeless range offers a classical but not overly traditional look as the attractive golden Burr figuring and colouring complements a majority of

Breakfront sideboard with canted sides

interiors. This helps create a striking modern-day interior aesthetic, which is a mixture of traditional and contemporary styling. An approachable and conscientious company, Iain James offers bespoke sizing on many of the pieces within the range, which offers great assistance in achieving sales for both retail and interior design partners alike. Recently the company has introduced a refreshing and innovative collection of Cluster Burr Oak furniture – further examples of this unique range, along with new and essential pieces of the successful Burr Walnut collection, will be presented at this autumn’s event.

Burr walnut six-drawer coffee table

Long Point 18th - 21st September JDP Furniture Group Showroom Wellington Street Long Eaton NG10 4HS sales@wade-upholstery.co.uk 0115 939 4500

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ward-winning bedroom manufacturer Wiemann (www. wiemannuk.co.uk) will have nine ranges on show at the Autumn Long Point exhibition. Wiemannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newlyextended showroom at its permanent space on the first floor of Harrington Mill displays collections ranging from entrylevel to top quality VIP and semi-solid

Sita, Wiemann

wood. Taking centre stage is Sita, in timber oak with glass doors in champagne, a unique range which helps to create a striking bedroom with its open plan storage feature. The German manufacturer will also have on display its bi-fold semi-solid oak collection Amato, as well as VIP ranges Boston, a versatile bi-fold range with statement angled doors; and Tokio, with its large selection of chest of drawers, combination and bedside chests to complement VIP wardrobes. On show from the core range will be Lyon, a fresh looking bi-fold design, Miami, an adaptable sliding robe option and Kansas, a new take on bestseller Loft with one-touch-auto-opening bi-fold doors. Promotional ranges Padua, a comprehensive collection of hinged and hinged-combi robe options, and Berlin, an affordable range of furniture pieces, will also be on display.

Long Point 18th - 21st September JDP Furniture Group Showroom Wellington Street Long Eaton NG10 4HS sales@cintique.co.uk 0115 939 4500

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Mia wholesale provides industrial style lighting and furniture to retailers and the contract interiors Market. Our range is being constantly tweaked to ensure that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on trend. With a range of over 1000 products and delivery throughout the UK and Ireland we look forward to partnering your business.

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SOMETHING DIFFERENT

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Mine

34 | Events

PREVIEW

AUTUMN FURNITURE SHOW RAISES THE BAR Minerva will host the Autumn Furniture Show once again from 26-27th of this month. The event has a new home at the NAEC in Stoneleigh Park – near Kenilworth – set in the striking Warwickshire countryside.

The Autumn Furniture Show has a new home this year

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he NAEC now offers three large purpose built-exhibition halls, and the Autumn Furniture Show will be utilising two of these halls – a total of 7000m2. Ample free car parking is available adjacent to the halls. Minerva has successfully used this venue for its own in-house events for the past two years. With a dedicated backup team, smooth running of the event is ensured from start to finish. This prestigious location is convenient for major road and rail links. Birmingham International airport is just 20 mins by car, and the nearest railway station is Warwick Parkway – 6.5 miles from Stoneleigh. The show itself attracts a wide range of key manufacturers with a variety of products including dining, upholstery, beds, bedroom furniture, home accessories and software systems. Sweet Dreams (01282 830033) will be presenting its exclusive bed range

for Minerva members at the event. The beds include popular Magna Silk 2000, a pillowtop bed with 1000 pocket springs to the main mattress and 1000 mini springs to the pillowtop. The tufted, luxury knit panel features silk for the ultimate in smooth softness. Another favourite is Barton Memory, containing 1000 pocket springs and a 25cm layer of memory foam. The microquilted, soft-knit panel features skin-nourishing aloe vera. Both divans offer four choices of colourway to the base. Nick Williams, sales manager with the Lancashire manufacturer, says: “We hope our show in autumn will be as exciting and as successful as our Minerva show debut earlier this year. Our range has already generated strong sales and we anticipate a high demand for floor models due to our excellent discounts, available during the show and until 23rd October.” >>>

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Minerva A4 Advert 14 Aug_Layout 1 01/08/2017 10:54 Page 1

www.theautumnfurnitureshow.com

SHOW 2017

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Open to all Furniture Buyers

Great Location Complimentary Lunch 2 Halls Featuring Key Exhibitors Free Parking

Hosted by Minerva www.minervafurnishers.co.uk

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For a full exhibitor listing and to register visit.... www.theautumnfurnitureshow.co.uk

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36 | Events With the valued support of the exhibitors, the show is now in its fourth year. Many of its suppliers attend both of Minerva’s annual furniture exhibitions and the hard work and dedication that the exhibitors have shown over the last 27 years is paramount to its success. A redesigned website has been launched containing full show information. This includes a registration area, A-Z exhibitor listing, local accommodation, picture gallery and more. The catering facilities for the event are ample, with a wide selection of hot and cold foods available. A dedicated chef for each event along with his team offers homemade meals, many produced with local ingredients. For the first time, the Autumn Furniture Show will be offering complimentary lunch to all visitors. Four-star hotel Chesford Grange hosts the group’s Gala Dinner. The evening

kicks off with a champagne reception followed by a four-course dinner and light entertainment. All exhibitors are invited to attend, providing an ideal opportunity for networking in a relaxed atmosphere. Entrance to the show is by registration only, which can be done on the event’s website. All trade buyers from the furniture sector are welcome. Significant marketing spend has been allocated to support the event and the trade has recognised this show as an important date in its calendar. For those not already signed up as an exhibitor there is still time to register interest through the show’s website. Limited spaces are still available. 2017 has been a productive year for Minerva Furnishers Guild, which has seen the introduction of two restructured websites along with a strong presence on social media. The group looks forward to continued growth. W theautumnfurnitureshow.co.uk

Magna Silk Cream, Sweet Dreams

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38 | Events

REVIEW

IRELAND UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT The IFHS’s fourth year has been the best yet. The event has received positive feedback with the majority of exhibitors planning to sign up for the next year’s show.

any new brands are interested in exhibiting at IFHS next year and a good number of current exhibitors are requesting more space. With IFHS’ marketing focused on buyers, it is not surprising that the vast majority of exhibitors at the IFHS reported strong sales at the close of the show. One exhibitor says: “This show just gets better and better – it is obvious to see that the organisers are listening to the exhibitors and visitors. Wonderful opportunity to do business in a great environment and now it’s the number one event for the Irish furniture industry. I am booking for 2018!” With thousands of product on display and 22 new product ranges launched this week, the attendees had a lot to see. The IFHS is an impressive representation of the wide variety of furniture and homewares available in Ireland.

Best Cabinet Collection – Honey B, The X range

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IFHS recognises the importance of supporting the industry in which it operates. Its Furniture & Home Awards provide an ideal opportunity for suppliers of furniture and homeware products into the Irish market to present the best of their products. The awards also recognise the great efforts made by exhibitors to present new products and new ideas to the trade buyers at the Irish Furniture & Homewares Show. Some striking signature pieces judged by an expert panel won well-deserved awards, fending off vigorous competition at the show. With over 200 entries across nine categories, this accolade is something to be proud of. Award winners included: Best Irish Manufactured Product – Washing Bay, Cooler Mattress range; Best New Homeware Product – Abbeylands, Mika Chair; Best Upholstery Product – Buoyant, Bronte Suite & Throne Chair; Best Cabinet Collection – Honey B, The X range; Best Mattress Innovation – Dreamworld Bedding, Biorythmic Mattress; Best Bedroom Collection – Classic Furniture, Paris Reclaim collection; Best Overall Product Display & Exhibition Stand – Derrys; Best New Furniture Product – Abbey Furniture, Hunter Dining/Living range; and Best Overall Product of the Show – Redtree, Genevo Dining Table. Ireland’s premier furniture and homewares trade show event gives Irish & UK businesses in the furniture trade the opportunity to do business in a relaxed environment and provides attendees with a pleasant environment to see new products, innovative ideas and exclusive deals and discounts from the companies on show. W ifhs-tradeshow.ie

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40 | Events

PREVIEW

BELGRADE FURNITURE FAIR PUTS SERBIA UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT The Belgrade Furniture Fair, held from 7-12th November, is one of the most important events in south-east Europe within furniture design and manufacturing and distribution, gathering furniture manufacturers and distributors, engineers, designers, architects and the general public together in Serbia.

ast yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of the Belgrade Furniture Fair saw the return of large global exhibitors, as well as new renowned global brands. The fair was attended for the first time by well-known design-oriented companies, amongst them the famous Italian companies Alivar and Segis, as well as Brokis from the Czech Republic. The Belgrade Furniture Fair is an opportunity to get in touch with latest furniture trends and design-oriented companies. Visitors will find indoor and outdoor products and deal directly with future partners in the efficient and comfortable setting of a modern business-oriented trade show. This year, more international exhibitors will take part, including companies from around the world, and more international buyers are expected due to the the expansion of the hosted

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buyers programme. Considering the increasing international appeal of the event, the objective of the fair is to strengthen relations with major fairs in Istanbul, Singapore and Cologne. This year, the event aims to attract 80,000 visitors. During the event, visitors will be able to see the Young Designer Exhibition, presenting young and fresh names, in order to promote and affirm them. At the end of the event, an international jury will grant the Golden Key awards to the most successful exhibitors at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fair. A special section will be Design Talks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; discussions with designers and architects, which will be held on all six days of the event and will host many speakers from around the world. A diverse and interesting programme await visitors. W sajamnamestaja.rs

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Beo_JA

Need a Competitive

Advantage? Think Serbia! Visit The Belgrade Furniture Fair November 7-12, 2017 • A highly-skilled workforce with a strong tradition of woodworking, furniture making and exporting • Labor rates among Europe’s lowest and competitive even with Asia • 2.5 million hectares of forests and woodlands with Beech, Oak and other hard and softwoods; FSC supply • Local manufacturers of particleboard, polyurethane foam anad most other important raw materials • Within 2,000 km of all major European markets and Moscow • Currency (Dinar) related to Euro which makes prices more stable • Free and favorable trade agreements with most major economies • More than 2,000 enterprises of every size, many with profound export experience and flexibility to satisfy almost any requirement.

Belgrade’s annual International Furniture Fair is the largest and most important event in Southeast Europe where you will find manufacturers from throughout the entire region. You will find suppliers of lumber and other primary materials, components and finished furniture of every style, material and price point. At the 55th annual Fair (November 7-12, 2017) you can visit more than 500 exhibitors spread over more than 55.000 m2.

At one place ... Residential Furniture for every room Office, Commercial and Facilities Furniture Specialty Furniture and Cabinetry Interior Decoration Products and Accessories Manufacturing Materials, Machinery and Supplies We are anxious to have you visit us to discover your best competitive advantage. We have attractive programs available to help you with the cost and organization of your visit to Belgrade. Please contact us early to learn how we can help you. ORGANISER BELGRADE FURNITURE FAIR Bulevar Vojvode Misica 14 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

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Tel: +381 11 2655 231 Fax: +381 11 2655 744

BUYERS & GENERAL PUBLIC DAYS: TUE - WED, November 7-8 10:00 a.m. - 07:00 p.m. THU - SUN, 9-12 November 10:00 a.m. - 08:00 p.m.

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BUYERS DAY: TUE, November 7th 10:00 a.m. - 07:00 p.m.

Exhibiton space

Exhibitors

Countries

Visitors

Professionals

55.000 m2

520

85.000

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Shown above the NEW Pimlico Large Sofa, Snuggler, Footstool and small Hex Footstool. Part of The Room Collection. To see more visit ashleymanor.co.uk FN 342 Pages.indd 42

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room by amu

a NEW sofa collection for a neat, petite lifestyle

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44 | Resources

In previous columns, Land of Beds’ Mike Murray has covered Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and social media, as well as the rules of customer engagement – both in-store and online. But how do you know whether your investment in marketing is paying off? Do more people know about and engage with you and your brand? Have you sold more of your products and services as a result? Mike explores how companies can analyse their performance, in the last column of his digital marketing series ...

How to analyse your performance This month, we’re looking at how to analyse your digital marketing performance. Being able to join the dots between the activities you are undertaking online and any upturn in revenue gives you the confidence to not only do more of what is working well, but also to adjust campaigns that are not cost-effective. Capturing and analysing data therefore helps you to both make and save money, which is not only best practice for digital marketeers – it’s essential. On the simplest level, you will know if your digital marketing campaigns are succeeding if your revenue and profits have increased – especially in terms of e-commerce sales. You may also find your telesales and customer services colleagues are taking more calls, and that footfall has gone up in store. Your web page will be ranking on the first page of free suggestions Google presents to customers searching for the products or services you sell. On social media, you may see a steady increase in the number of page ‘likes’ or followers you are getting, as well as more post reactions. Analytical tools are designed to help you see precisely what activity is converting into revenue. For example, earlier this year I wrote about Google AdWords or Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising. My top tip is to sign up for Google Analytics and link it to your AdWord account. Paste your free Google Analytics tracking code onto your webpages. This tells Google when your pages are visited and, through the reporting features, you can see what customers have done after clicking on an advert or an impression. Knowing how much customers have spent and on what products helps you to improve the content and messaging of your adverts, and to adjust your AdWords budgets to maximise your return on investment. Facebook’s Adverts Manager platform (which can be found under Business Manager on your page) is also free of charge and essential for measuring the success of your advertising campaigns.

THE AUTHOR Mike Murray (jnr) is the MD of Land of Beds, a third-generation family-run retailer based in Frodsham, Cheshire. W landofbeds.co.uk

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Data includes how many people your advert has reached, how many purchases customers have made per advertising campaign, how much you have spent on each campaign, and the number of people who took action that is attributed to your adverts. You can adjust the parameters to see how many conversions you have had over set time periods (especially useful if you have had a flash sale), and it will even capture conversions up to 28 days after the customer first clicked on the advert. Unlike Google Analytics, Facebook’s Adverts Manager does not tell you exactly which products your customers have purchased (unless they are linked with a product catalogue). However, you can calculate total revenue and crossreference this with data from Google Analytics for a more complete picture. (Twitter Ads have similar functionality through their Campaign Dashboard feature, which allows you to track your impressions, results and cost-per-result across the campaign objectives you have set). Both Facebook and Twitter have analytics tabs that allow you to look more closely about the quality of engagement you are having with your page fans. On Facebook, select the Insights tab. This dashboard details the number of clicks on your contact information or call-to-action button; the number of people who viewed your page and its sections (not just a single post); the number of new page likes and follows; the number of people who saw any of your posts; the number of times people have liked, commented on or shared your posts; and total video views. Compare this data with previous months to see overall trends, with green indicating growth and red indicating decline. The Pages to Watch feature allows you to rate your page’s performance against similar pages on Facebook – great for long-term objective setting. (Similar data sets can be harvested from Twitter if you click on your profile and select the Analytics tab). Over this series, we have seen how digital marketing can improve customer relationships, generate leads and increase conversions. This strategy has seen Land of Beds take huge steps in its mission to become Britain’s biggest bed e-tailer. I hope it’ll transform your business too.

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ILLUMINATE YOUR UNWANTED STOCK

END OF LINE SECONDS RETURNS

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 MFA.BID

EX-DISPLAY OLD STOCK PROTOTYPES

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46 | Resources

Historically summer has been one of the busiest shopping seasons across the UK. However, over recent months, retail sales have begun falling and more and more retailers are feeling the pinch. This has put unexpected pressure on stores of all kinds, particularly retailers specialising in outdoor furnishings. Ben Whitaker, director of EMEA at B-Stock Solutions, explains how these retailers can make the best of the summer months.

Surviving unseasonal sales in the outdoor furnishing marketplace Given the likelihood that summer 2017 won’t be as profitable as expected, retailers could find themselves with sizeable amounts of overstock once the summer season has passed. If not dealt with properly this leftover stock could have a considerable impact on the bottom line, making it extremely important that retailers rethink reverse logistics processes. For the merchandise that is slated for the secondary market, having a proper liquidation solution in place, especially one that recovers the best value for the merchandise, is crucial. If you have typically sold your liquidation inventory to one or two brokers, it’s likely your recovery value is low – brokers are experts at negotiating prices down in order to maximise their own profits. What’s more, time spent negotiating deals for each lot of merchandise takes you away from your core activities. A more suitable solution is to sell the inventory via

THE AUTHOR Ben Whitaker is director of EMEA at B-Stock Solutions, a technology company powering private-label B2B liquidation marketplaces. W bstock.com

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a web-based B2B marketplace. This allows thousands of buyers to access and compete for your inventory, pushing prices up, rather than a single buyer negotiating them down. There are SaaS solutions available that can be integrated, customised and tailored to your unique inventory needs. Or, look for an established businessto-business online auction marketplace that comes with thousands of qualified business buyers. Some of the world’s biggest retailers and e-tailers are using this type of automated, technologydriven sales process to increase recovery by 30% and sometimes much more. What’s more, applying technology to the process will generate a faster sales cycle and proprietary market intelligence in the form of genuine data on market prices. As buyer behaviour remains fickle, retailers must accommodate accordingly for excess inventory woes. With outdoor furniture retailers relying so heavily on positive seasonal sales, it’s essential that they have a suitable recovery option if these sales don’t come to fruition. An efficient, cost-effective, recovery-generating liquidation process is vital in today’s competitive retail landscape and could make the difference between success and failure, this summer and all year long.

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48 | Resources

More than a third of consumers will never use a retailer again if they are dissatisfied with their delivery experience, while 55% will abandon a retailer if there are problems with their delivery. But we don’t need stats, as plentiful as they are, to tell us an obvious truth – bad deliveries put customers off, as Street Stream’s James Middleton explains.

Furniture businesses losing thousands in the ‘last mile’ The effect of late, damaged or simply unclear delivery times on furniture deliveries is huge. Customers take days off work to receive packages and rely on furniture deliveries to continue life as usual. According to research, the average amount lost by retailers through bad deliveries is over £5310 per customer. When it comes to furniture purchases, that figure is likely a lot higher due to higher average order values (AoV). The ‘last mile’ is a logistics concept that ensures final delivery will be easy and efficient for customers. Speed, convenience, care and promptness – perfecting these key aspects of delivery will keep customers happy. The main challenge most retailers face is that delivery is often out of their hands. Even retail giant Amazon has only recently begun to take their logistics operations in-house. It’s just too complicated for a non-specialist business to take on. Outsourcing is often the only solution, but it means entrusting your logistics supplier with the power to make or break your business. Even after finding a trustworthy supplier, businesses face further challenges: Managing cost Do you build cost into overall product costs or pass higher delivery costs onto customers? Can you stay competitive if others are offering free delivery? What

THE AUTHOR James Middleton is founder of Street Stream, an on-demand courier service. Street Stream allows its clients to pick their own fleet of couriers. W streetstream.co.uk

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about same-day delivery? The best way to manage cost while providing an outstanding service is by selecting a courier service with great technology. Apps and APIs can make the process seamless and minimise human input, reducing costs as well as the potential for human error. Tighter delivery windows Food delivery services started the trend of allowing customers to pick the hour in which their delivery will arrive. Now consumers are beginning to expect it in other sectors. Honing delivery times to within an hour can be a logistical nightmare. At Street Stream, we have tackled this challenge by connecting clients directly to couriers through our API. This means we can be incredibly reactive, offering same-day deliveries within a one hour window. Guaranteeing quality Outsourcing the last mile means taking a chance on the care a courier will take with your packages. Damaged furniture can cost a fortune to return and replace, while thoroughly upsetting your customers. An easy way to overcome the cost implication is to always look for a courier that offers insurance as standard. But that doesn’t help with the upset customer. Make sure to read customer and client reviews of the delivery process and, if possible, individual drivers. While not a guarantee that things will always go to plan, reviews will help to highlight difficult and careless couriers, allowing you to dodge the worst offenders. At Street Stream, we ask our customers to rate and review individual couriers. In this way, we keep our couriers striving to deliver the best service while giving our customers more choice and control.

30/08/2017 14:22

YOTFC

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Our bespoke range of fabrics, faux leathers and leathers for upholstery offers a breadth and quality that will cater to even the most demanding requirements.

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52 | Update

Annecy cabinet in Charcoal

Annecy side table in Charcoal

CORNDELL EMBRACES THE PAINTED TREND Corndell’s creative director Melanie Mills explains why hand-painted cabinet is a must-have for any furniture department. We love our homes in the UK – this year Good Homes Magazine circulation increased by 45% and TV shows such as The Great Interior Design Challenge continue to prove popular, attracting 1.9m viewers. To help make the right purchase decisions for their home, consumers can access a huge amount of information and inspiration – both online and off. Furniture retailers are increasingly aware of the complex, consumer decision-making process that makes up the buying journey when it comes to large ticket items. While online continues to grow in importance, consumers still combine online research with shop visits on their way from research and consideration through to buying. According to recent research, 48% of consumers researched in-store and 49% purchased instore, while 45% researched online and 24% purchased online. A significant number of consumers buy online, in store and

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by mixing the two, so beautiful online imagery that captures the consumers’ imagination helps them on their journey, as do stunningly inspirational in-store displays – both are equally important. So why does hand-painted cabinet give photographic images and retail display the extra edge, and what differentiates Corndell’s painted ranges? Painted furniture continues to be an important trend, and this has been driven by growing consumer confidence in their ability and desire to reflect their own personality and tastes. This confidence and ability is fuelled by online information such as Pinterest and Houzz and offline magazines and TV programmes. The retailer that offers a wide colour palette enables the customer to create the home look personal to them. So why is the Corndell hand-painted furniture so special? It’s hand painted and expertly finished in the Cotswolds,

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Update | 53

Annecy dining in Charcoal

and the unique colours are carefully selected and inspired by nature, reflecting the very latest trends. By hand finishing locally in the UK, Corndell can respond to the retailer quickly and effectively, fulfilling the requirements of the customer on the shop floor – and enabling individual pieces to be bought in the colour they select – with the handles and wood detailing finish of their choice. It’s real personalisation and supplier flexibility and responsiveness in action. Interior design trends to look for We’ve identified the importance of photography and display in the customer journey, and the growing desire for budding interior designers to select specific pieces in their preferred, on-trend colour choice – so which colours and looks are key? According to Vogue Interiors, it’s anything soft and muted – it’s all about neutrals in the year ahead. Whites, beiges, pale greys, camel, and blush pink are super on-trend. Grey was a prominent colour in 2016 interiors and it will continue to reign in 2017 and through 2018. We will see different tones of grey, a lot of grey and white, and grey in deeper colours. It’s the sort of colour that complements a full spectrum of shades, from bold red to mellow ivory.

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Elle Decoration continues the theme on the colour front, with sophisticated hues poised to take centre stage. They quote Behr, which has predictions for colours to keep an eye on in 2018. The paint company has divided its selections into three palettes — Confident, Composed, and Comfortable — and if they are any indication, we’ll be drawing decor inspiration from our personalities in the year ahead. Creative, social types will be drawn to the Confident palette, defined by dusky blues, spicy reds, and lime greens, designed to captivate your attention. Then there’s the Composed palette. Its earthy greens and taupes will be a go-to for traditionalists looking to create a contemporary space. It’s all about pale pastels in the Comfortable range, characterised by light pinks, blues, and yellows that make the smallest of spaces pop. Its muted shades are ideal for introverts who want to make their first foray into accent colours. Confident: Charcoal grey The best way to kick traditional style up a notch? Lift your space with a strong colour like a dark grey called charcoal. The bold grey works well on our Nimbus bedside chest which sits as a sentinel each side of the beautiful bed and the cool >>>

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54 | Update

Annecy bedsides in Ledum

Nimbus bookcase in Chalk

texture of the wall softens the rich shade. Composed: Earthy green and soft chalk Taupe and earthy green create a calming vibe. Created by nature, they soothe the soul and surround us with a reflection of the countryside. Ledum is a creamy, green-coloured herb and we’ve used this shade as an inspiration for our new painted Nimbus pieces. The dining pieces work perfectly in this lovely natural colour which highlights the expertly crafted furniture. A further Composed shade is chalk, which works here beautifully again on Nimbus where the contemporary shade sits bold against the natural wall finish. Comfortable: Pewter grey Traditional hand painted shades – like pale pewter – feel sophisticated when grounded with wooden floors and nickel

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Nimbus dining in Ledum

accents. The stunning Cheltenham range demonstrates the beauty of mixing wood finishes with painted pieces – each creating a highlight to the other, the colour and texture of the bed dressings also cleverly act as a foil, linking the beautiful wooden bedstead to the Pewter painted elements. With our close proximity to nature at our Cotswolds base, and our expert knowledge of furniture and colour trend, the team at Corndell has developed a wide range of beautiful paint colours that appeal to the confident, interiors expert and the less confident decorator, giving guidance on colour and finish combinations. Our large workforce of finishers also means that we can respond to retailer requests providing personalised products from a UK factory – a unique, professional, skilful service. W corndell.com

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56 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Manchester meets expectations The specialist furniture trade gathered in Manchester in July as the lead summer trade event – the Manchester Furniture Show – opened its doors for its 2017 edition.

This year’s event hosted a striking feast of furniture and accessory items

he Manchester Furniture Show featured some of the finest exponents of UK and international furniture and home accents supply, with over 150 companies exhibiting. Lebus, Ashley Manor and Mark Webster Designs were among the headline UK makers displaying their wares, while multicategory supplier Wood Bros exhibited its new Oskar living and dining collection, its latest upholstery, and new designs from its flagship heritage Old Charm brand. North Wales producer Westbridge presented a selection of British upholstery, introducing new models and fabrics to its Elements, WB and Artisan ranges, while Whitemeadow expanded on the January-introduced upholstery line launched in partnership with Content by Terence Conran. Corndell, another name steeped in British history, displayed its new Cheltenham range, a bedroom collection in lacquer or white oil-finished solid and veneered oak, while Carlton Furniture and the Vintage Sofa Company previewed high-end upholstered goods, as well as beautiful dining, occasional and bedroom furniture. Gallery Direct brought over 1300 strikingly-designed ontrend furniture pieces, mirrors, textiles and home accessory lines, while Ancient Mariner offered an eclectic mix of handmade wooden, leather and metal occasional furniture and accessories. Twelve young and emerging furniture companies were part of

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this year’s line-up. Exhibiting in the Main Hall was CS Schmal and Hartmann Mobelwerke. CS Schmal brought a selection of living and bedroom collections aimed at the UK market, while Hartmann focused on sustainably-made living and dining furniture. In upholstery, Mayson and Pearl presented its Scandinavianinspired, but British-designed, sofas at Manchester for the first time. In addition, Maymun offered a wide variety of fabric and leather sofas. Bardi brought Tuscany to Manchester, adding to the Italian flavour alongside Mini Divani, and displayed a generous selection of its individual leather sofas. Cabinet companies Loma Living and ASR Interiors exhibited at Manchester after successful outings at the January Furniture Show this year. Loma Living supplies living, dining, bedroom and kitchen furniture made to its own designs in the Far East and Europe. ASR Interiors specialises in high-gloss and mirrored cabinet furniture and upholstered beds. Young bed companies Divine Sleep and Deepsleep Beds, both Yorkshire mattress and bed manufacturers, exhibited at Manchester for the first time. Bringing outdoor furniture was Charles Taylor, which also manufactures in the UK and presented a large selection of solid, outdoor furniture sets and chairs. Read on to discover more innovations exhibited at this year’s event ... W manchesterfurnitureshow.com >>>

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XYZ.ind

BODO

The Bodo is a contemporary Scandinavian influenced design with clean linea lines, the latest addition to our range. It is available from stock as shown in the Porto Charcoal fabric and also in the Porto Light Grey and Apple. The BODO is also part of our made to order range in any house plain or Customers own fabric.

First stock arrives mid September – order your floor model asap to secure yours! 3 seater 2 seater Chair Stool

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58 | Manchester Furniture Show Review Mia Wholesale (www.miawholesale. co.uk) produced an visually-arresting display at the Manchester Furniture Show, a cross between an art installation and sales platform. The company gave an insight into a problem many retailers face â&#x20AC;&#x201C; once you see a great range of occasional furniture and lighting products how do you

meaningfully integrate them into your existing store? Mia Wholesaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solution is innovative and will be of assistance to many. Not only is the company offering a striking range of industrial style lighting and furniture, it also provides a unique bespoke sales concept. This keeps retailers on trend, make

displays impressive and maintain rising sales. The business is happy to discuss individual needs and offer floor plans and CGIs of areas to be re-styled so that retailers make the most of their products. It will also help maintain the display, updating customers as new lines are launched and old ones phased out.

Mia Wholesale provides industrialMia Wholesale produces

style lighting and furniture to retailers

striking displays

and the contract interiors market

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ECO Furniture Limited, Unit 2, Main Drive, East Lane Business Park, North Wembley HA9 7NA Eco Furniture Advert.indd 1

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60 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Invictus, New Trend Concepts

On the BFM stand at the Manchester Furniture Show

The British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) (www.bfm. org.uk) enjoyed a second successful appearance at the 2017 Manchester Furniture Show where, in addition to the association’s own stand, 15 member companies were exhibiting. Jackie Bazeley, MD, says: “The show provided us with a great networking opportunity and a chance to catch up with colleagues from across the industry. There was good attendance by retailers and was also a great chance to see existing members and to talk to potential new ones about the many benefits of membership. We were also delighted to see many of our members promoting our Great British Furniture campaign.”

Life at XYZ (xyzagencies.co.uk) has been interesting over the past few years for husband and wife team, Jamie and Jane Brown. The company faced a few challenges back in 2015 with the launch of a new brand at the Ideal Home Show, and the overwhelming demand on top of the existing business proved too much in such a short space of time, resulting in the new brand launch being put on hold. The company managed to restructure itself along with a relocation of the business at the end of that year to a 21,000ft2 facility. This plays host to XYZ’s UK higher-end product production of Paulus & Brown, produced solely in

New Trend Concepts (newtrendconcepts.it) is passionate about producing sofas and chairs that look stylish, but comfort and quality are also equally important. The company sources leather from some of the finest tanneries around the world. Designed to last, the comfort and quality of New Trend’s pieces are clear to see. New Trend is committed to using high quality materials within its upholstery items, including responsiblysourced hardwood in all load-bearing areas for extra strength. Nine-gauge ‘D’ arc serpentine springs are used for durability, carefully spaced for maximum support. These are all generously covered in premium fillings to provide comfort. New Trend offers a 10-year guarantee on the frame and springs within its furniture.

the UK, alongside stock holding for its Polish arm, which celebrated its 10th anniversary at the January Furniture Show earlier this year. Following that show, the couple put their dream of completing the conversion of their World War II bunker into their home – which featured on Channels Restoration Man with George Clarke – on hold whilst they dedicated their time back solely to the business to complete the restructure. Earlier this year, XYZ employed Mark Caron to strengthen the team’s core structure. Mark is well known in the industry with his vast experience having spent over 30 years with Vita Foam and

United Fillings. XYZ’s Jamie Brown says: “The economy has been somewhat unpredictable and at times challenging, as is ever more so with the current trading of the pound against the Euro. However, we feel our efforts over the past few years have started to show signs of being worth the exhaustive hours. We had the best ever January Furniture Show this year in our history and whilst the year’s trade has been tough, it seems we’ve been constant in our productivity, maintaining overtime each and every week, now that we are running a tighter ship. We have also gained new customers and plan to enhance our collections.”

XYZ has triumphed against Helsinki in Brussels Silver Multi, XYZ

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adversity over the past few years

30/08/2017 14:23

BRANFORD ‘PAI NTE D’ B EDRO OM COLLEC TION

For sales enquiries email sales@heritagefurnitureuk.com or call 01254 660777

W W W.HERITAGEFURNITUREUK .COM

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30/08/2017 14:23

62 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Heritage hits the sweet spot Heritage Furniture enjoyed a successful Manchester Furniture Show this year, with promising feedback to take the company forward in the months ahead.

Moda table

t this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manchester Furniture Show, Heritage enjoyed around seven times more business than last year, with a good mix of higher-end customers the business aims to attract showing interest and confidence in the quality of its ranges. The feedback Heritage has received in Manchester in addition to the January Furniture Show at the start of the year regarding its unique designs and the business in general has been very positive. The company believes this is due to a mixture of

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factors, including style, price, continuity of deliveries, quality, personnel and listening to the needs of retailers. Heritageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ranges have a clear distinction in the market, which is resonating with the end consumer. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wardley, Earlswood and Alstead ranges are currently the fastest-selling in terms of both online and high street retailers, and show no sign of slowing. Heritage is confident with the expected increase of demand in the coming months, and has ordered extra stock for the

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Manchester Furniture Show Review | 63

Branford

Wardley side table

Autumn/Winter season. The company anticipates more detail entering the cabinet market, and understands that the success of its bedroom ranges is due to the designs being more refined and cleaner. The business has established better packages that support retailersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; higher margins, including a table and chair offer launched at the Manchester Furniture Show which is being continued to its popularity. Heritage is focused on supporting its retail partners, with

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Corbett

simplified pricing and dedicated account management, and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new experienced sales reps can provide impressive value to these partners. Moving forwards, Heritage will continue to focus on its design credentials, consistency in all areas of the business, and maintaining its ethos of being big enough to compete with the biggest names in the industry, but small enough to be able to care about its customers and put them first. W heritagefurnitureuk.com

30/08/2017 14:23

SPACE SAVING FURNITURE

NEW RANGES TO INSPIRE! NEW For 2017 • A new bedroom range in cream, joins our best selling ranges! • 5 new occasional pieces added to our collection. • Brand new for the show - DINING CHAIRS!

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17 11:36

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66 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Bluebone’s continued development Since its inception in 1996, Bluebone has established itself as a go-to for unique designs and quality of manufacture. The company has pulled together these elements into complete stories for dining, bedroom and living, to deliver what its customers ask for.

Bluebone’s wide repertoire offers something for everyone

ver the past years Bluebone has brought in new design elements in its two key themes, Soft Industrial and Cool Nordik. Elaine Anderson, Bluebone’s sales manager, says: “While individually these pieces are very well received, our customers have been asking more and more to complement them and develop a more comprehensive display. We have listened and to celebrate our 21 years in business we will be offering some great deals on these displays.” The Soft Industrial theme offers a raw, pared-down loft look. The theme encompasses four key displays that can be accessorised with any of the many stools, wall racks, wall art and lights. Birdcage offers fine lines with feminine shapes for living and laid-back bar and dining options. Hairpin dining is a distinct nod to mid-century modern design. It features hairpin legs

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with mango wood on top for contrast, staying true to the style’s honest, retro heritage. Re-engineered features Parisian café-style table legs, striking chairs and vintage chests. Lounge brings the popular round corners into the current trend with brushed gunmetal legs and open handles. Cool Nordik offers an understated look in cool greys and soft whites, popular in the Scandi look. Subtle shades of grey bring out the natural grain of the wood, where clean painted furniture bases set the tone. Storm grey is a new take on the classic farmhouse style, bringing it into city living. Lightly brushed-back tops are sandy coloured, to tone down the grey base. Oslo brings the midcentury tale into this theme. Natural driftwood tables, hide stools and Lumiere lights all complement the look. W bluebone.co.uk

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68 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Gallery goes for gold Gallery Direct presented new launches and popular models at the Manchester Furniture Show.

On the Gallery stand at the Manchester Furniture Show

alleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s striking Mustique furniture proved to be popular at the show, and was its top selling range. Mustique now includes a bedroom collection, which was launched at the show, to add to the dining and living furniture. All the pieces are made to the same high standards with close attention to detail, to give top quality pieces at competitive prices. Mustique features Mindy ash solids, parquet inlaid veneer work and dovetail jointing. The distinguished finish is achieved using wire brushes to bring out the grain and a matt lacquer to give protection to the timber, as well as to create the dry weathered finish popular in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interiors. Gallery also introduced two new dining chairs, Bexley and Finchley, to extend its seating range. Bexley features a fully upholstered seat and backrest with a stylish metal and wooden

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framework for the legs. Finchley, which is available in three colours, black, grey and white, has colour coordinated metal legs and an upholstered seat. Both work well with a wide range of dining tables. New additions to Galleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular Kielder and Wycombe collections were also launched at the show. A new coffee table with drawer and a supper table were added to the Kielder range, and the bedside has been reworked, so that it can now also be used as a side table. Wycombe saw the introduction of an extending rectangular dining table, a spindle bed in three sizes, and a five-drawer chest with a solid top and drawer fronts, as well as new design coffee and side tables, and sideboard with solid top and door fronts. W gallerydirect.co.uk

30/08/2017 14:23

Be one of the first to view our new home dĂŠcor offering, including brand new mirrors, lighting and accessories. We have also launched additions to some of our most popular furniture ranges. Stand 2C03-B04

This year we are debuting at Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Drawer, we look forward to welcoming you to our stand Stand H-G15 | September 10-12

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www.gallerydirect.co.uk 01795 439159

30/08/2017 14:23

70 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Rowico’s widespread appeal Synonymous throughout the trade, Rowico UK’s ethos has always been distinct. It has a dedicated focus on designing unique pieces of free-standing furniture from sustainable resources that, once launched to market, transform everyday rooms into striking social living spaces.

W w

Rustica bedroom

his year’s Manchester Furniture Show saw development to the already-popular Warwick collection, which received a positive response earlier this year at the January Furniture Show. The collection has been expanded to include a contemporary bedroom range encapsulating the true essence of Warwick’s subtle grey hues, gentle curves and limed timber accents which fuse to deliver style. The entire collection is now also available in an all-over blonde finish, accentuating the natural grain and further

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Warwick console table

enhancing its characterful exterior. As an advocate of eclectic design, Rowico also exclusively launched its new Wootton collection – a visually arresting and unusual parquetry topped dining/casual range. Inspired by the classic parquet-laid formation coupled with modern trends, Wootton ensures state-of-the art creativity in every piece. Also displayed were unique dining chair solutions, with bespoke options in both classic and quirky colours with linen and velvet finishes. W rowico.co.uk

S s a

E f

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IdealJA

Visiting the Bed Show Telford? Why not also visit one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest bedroom furniture wholesalers, just 20 minutes away in Wolverhampton? Showroom Event:

Monday 18th September - Friday 22nd September 9am - 4.30pm

See our NEW 2018 ranges, benefit from special event offers and enjoy free drinks and nibbles. Either call to book an appointment or feel free to drop in.

Bed Show Telford

Find us @

M54

A449 A41

WV1 2ES

We are here Wolverhampton

Ideal Products Ltd | Lower Walsall Street | Wolverhampton | WV1 2ES Web: www.idealproductsltd.co.uk FN 342 Pages.indd 71 IdealJA.indd 1

Email: sales@idealproductsltd.co.uk

Tel: 01902 456457 30/08/2017 16/08/2017 14:23 10:31

72 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Classic puts its best foot forward Classic Furniture’s broad portofolio and comprehensive service offering attracted the attention of new buyers at the Manchester Furniture Show this year.

Malmo

lassic has put forward its strongest offer yet this year, including Portland, the one-range-fits-all entry-level solution which now spans bedroom, dining, living, home office and kitchen, and is available in four finish and three handle options. Another update is Classic’s newly-defined Heirloom brand, a broad collection of classic, rustic, industrial and vintage ranges which feature recycled, reclaimed and painted materials in varying degrees. Within this collection is Loft, a bedroom range sporting tactile finishes and a playful mix of coloured timber drawer fronts. Classic’s contemporary offer includes the popular Malmo collection, alongside a solid variety of marble- and glasstopped dining tables, and a plethora of seating options. What’s more, Floreat is a modular living/dining oak-veneered range that puts a new spin on a popular European look, which has

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been created by British designer Rob Scarlett. The company’s contemporary glass and gloss collection and its new oak and metal collection, Fusion, garnered significant attention at the Manchester Furniture Show. Commercial and industrial, Fusion features a clean, textured finish achieved by sand-blasting, and is suitable for living and dining room applications. Classic’s glass and gloss range was launched in January and includes the Cosmic gloss table in white and cappuccino. Over its 28-year history, Classic Furniture has grown from a one-man cabinetmaking and antique furniture restoration outfit to become one of the principal wholesalers of cabinet furniture to the UK and ROI. The business has developed partnerships with a large number of retailers, which enjoy a stronger choice of product and improved support services with each passing year. Classic’s sales team now covers the entirety of Great Britain,

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Loft

Porto

and is making inroads into the Irish market. The company has recently expanded its warehouse and showroom facility in Binbrook, and has a growing vehicle fleet. Classic has launched a significantly-updated website, and is developing branding and PoS materials designed to support the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ranges right through to purchase. Classic Furniture has proven that it does not rest on its laurels, and is confident in its methods and direction, and

this confidence has led to the business inspiring trust in its customers and becoming one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading cabinet supply partners. Classic in holding an in-house event at its Binbrook-based headquarters from 29th October- 1st November where it will preview its ranges for 2018. T 01472 398280 W classicfurn.co.uk

Mason and Pearl are an exciting new wholesale supplier of modern sofas and chairs. With a design-led approach Mason and Pearl offer a contemporary range of upholstery products including Scandinavian and Retro styles. Following an excellent response to their product range launched for the ďŹ rst time at the Manchester Furniture Show, Mason and Pearl will be expanding their ranges of accent chairs and modern sofas this September. All ranges are carried in stock at their centrally located distribution centre and all products are available with a 2 man home delivery service and no minimum order requirements. More details can be found at www.masonandpearl.co.uk or by calling 0116 4422363. MasonPearl_JA.indd 1

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74 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Deepsleep’s successful debut Wakefield-based family-run bed manufacturer Deepsleep Beds exhibited at the Manchester Furniture Show for the first time this year, aiming to raise its profile in the industry after undergoing significant investment and expansion over the last 12 months.

Deluxe Orthocare

eepsleep Beds decided this year marked the ideal time for its debut at the Manchester Furniture Show, after making significant investment across all areas of the business, including staffing and production – £100,000 of which was dedicated to new machinery. The business is committed to supporting the local community, employing around 40 people from the Wakefield area, and has seen its workforce double in recent months, to around 150 in total. In addition, the size of the company’s factory has been

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increased from 40,000ft2 to an impressive 100,000ft2, showing its commitment to becoming a key player in the bed market. All of Deepsleep’s beds are produced in the UK, and the materials within are also sought largely from local suppliers. The business operates under two brands – Deepsleep, which targets the lower end of the market, and Giltedge, focused on the mid-upper end. The company currently supplies most areas of the UK and has four show vans which service the majority of the country. The company’s products incorporate a range of fillings,

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Windermesre 3000 pocket

Platinum 2000

from natural materials through to latex and memory foam, but Deepsleep is working towards a more natural approach. Giltedge beds make use of pocket springs ranging from 10003000 spring count. Deepsleep enjoyed a successful foray into the Manchester Furniture Show, with its colourful stand attracting the attention of visitors, and the business reports healthy order figures from the event. After gaining a positive response and flavour of the marketplace at the event, the company is now planning to

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exhibit at next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s January Furniture Show. Here it will launch a 4000 pocket, handstitiched collection for the upper end of the market. Deepsleep is also seeking to gain NBF accredditation in order to be a part of the NBF Bed Show in the future. Deepsleep now aims to continue to streamline all areas of its production in terms of quality and service. The company plans to build steadily in order to become a mainstay of the bed industry. T 01924 274465

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T • 01924 274465

FN 342 Pages.indd 76 Deep Sleep DPS Advert.indd 1

| F • 01924 278280 | deepsleepbedsltd@hotmail.com

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78 | Manchester Furniture Show Review

Westbridge’s winning formula Westbridge launched four new ranges at the Manchester Furniture Show this year – two from its Elements range and two from its Westbridge range – and all four were well received by visitors. The company tells Furniture News more about its recent developments and philosophy moving forward...

Cohen

ell us about Westbridge’s new ranges, styles, fabrics and colours The new Elements Jasmine is a more traditional-style scatter and standard back sofa range with a lovely turned foot feature and depth of seat often lacking in more compact furniture. Alternatively, Cohen is a more comtemporary shape with a fashionable chrome foot and integral arm pad, featured in an of-the-moment colour palette of cool grey with a splash of burnt orange and ochre. As Elements is a more fashion-led range we also had a swatch spring clean and introduced more than 20 new fabrics including some very on-trend accents with the most up-todate colours and patterns. The introduction of the Sorenson and Harlow to Westbridge were very well received due to their generous proportions, fantastic comfort and exciting new fabric offerings.

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The Harlow offers a touch of glamour with a very realistic price point and Sorensons just sits like a dream, perfect to kick ones shoes off and huddle up in the coming winter months. Have you expanded upon existing ranges? Our most popular range extension was the introduction of a sofabed into the best-selling Lilly range. This model offers a fantastic slim arm and compact proportions perfect for smaller houses and guest bedrooms. How has Westbridge helped retailers in this marketplace? As all manufacturers and retailers alike will know, the cost of raw materials is increasing virtually on a weekly basis, so we are working very hard to manage our supply chain so as not to have to pass all of these costs on just yet. The inspiration for the new models came from wanting to offer our customers good value, which has become even more

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Sorenson

Harlow

important recently.

Jasmine

West Show in September and working towards something exciting for the January Furniture Show.

What sets Westbridge apart from other top end manufacturers? For anyone who visits Westbridge it is evident that everyone works very hard and I feel we have some of the best and most dedicated employees. This, coupled with fantastic design, great fabric selections and a passion to get it right makes Westbridge unique.

What’s the most important recent development within the business? The exciting news that our group Belfied has purchased Tetrad broke at the Manchester Furniture Show. This is a great company to join our group and we look forward to working side by side with them.

What were the highlights of the Manchester Furniture Show for Westbridge, and what other shows will the company be attending? I was a little apprehensive that buyers would not come to the show due to lack of appetite in the current climate, however I was pleasantly proven wrong and we had a great show. But we can’t rest as we will be at Autumn Long Point and the South

How does Westbridge maintain good relationships with its clients? We have a fantastic team of experienced area sales managers on the road looking after our customers and a dedicated team in the office who try their best to accommodate customer requests. We don’t take anyone’s business for granted. W westbridgefurniture.com

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WestbridgeDPS.pdf

14/08/2017

15:32

Visit us at Autumn Longpoint, Harrington Mill, 18-21 September 2017

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The design, craftsmanship and attention to every last detail is what makes a Westbridge sofa so special

www.westbridgefurniture.com

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FN 342Home/Corndell Pages.indd 82Adverts.indd 1 Global

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Introducing... Cheltenham. A masterpiece. Inspired by a gently authentic vintage, Cheltenham, with its beautiful, hand carved details is a truly stunning bedroom. Finished in Oiled Oak or painted in Pewter, Chalk or a soft grey Cotton. The pale veneer, curving design features and soft, hand painted colour choices create a traditional feel but with a truly contemporary edge.

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BEDS & BEDROOM •••

Multiplus in alpine white, Wiemann

Aquarius 3000, Matza

“Quality is now essential when it comes to mattresses, thanks to an increasingly consumer-savvy market. The internet provides consumers with a world of information and reviews meaning we have to constantly be ahead of the game,” says Asif Ayub, MD of mattress manufacturer Matza (01924 458699). “Our set-up with in-house designers, upholsterers and manufacturing facilities allows us to be incredibly adaptable and capable of both innovating and responding quickly to market trends.” Matza’s range of nine mattresses has something for everyone. It uses cutting-edge technology including Outlast smart fabric and the company’s own creation – Zero Gravity foam – which takes the best features of memory foam, without the heat issues, and latex to provide a light sleeping experience with sink-in support.

The launch of Highgate Beds’ (www. highgatebeds.com) Medicpaedic label and SportLine range will take place on stand A25 at the Bed Show this month. In launching this new addition to the already-successful Zero Gravity range of products, Highgate hopes to bring its brand awareness to the retailer and consumers alike, and to show that it is proactive in its in-house developments and constantly looking forward. SportLine brings together firstgeneration zero gravity technology with the recently-developed second medical generation. New 37.5 comfort zone technology works to enhance the body’s natural cooling mechanism. The fabric uses drywicking, designed to ensure that cooling properties are working throughout the night in order to keep the body temperature regulated. In cool situations, thermal elements of the fabric technology will also help the

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Great-looking displays are key for sales success, according to Simon Hewitt, MD of Litmus Furniture, sole UK and Ireland agent for German bedroom manufacturer Wiemann (www.wiemannuk.co.uk). With more than 10 years of selling to the UK market under its belt, Wiemann has experience in meeting the expectations of both retailers and consumers. Wiemann’s range of bed frames is varied – from bedsteads on legs, under which the user can slide capacious storage drawers, to floating beds with nearinvisible support and atmospheric underbed lighting. Headboards are either solid to match the range finishes and colours, or faux leather with hidden storage, and bedside lighting. As well as wardrobe and freestanding storage options, there are mirrors and shelving. “For the UK market, our new version of the Multiplus walk-in wardrobe is a winner for displays,” says Simon. “You can create a false wall with a bed against it and two side entrances into your walk-in storage behind. Plus, you can take it with you if you move!”

Medicpaedic, Highgate Beds

sleepers to stay warm – in any event the body is always temperature regulated. This vibrant SportLine range shows not only all of the technology of the fabric and second generation medical zero gravity benefits, but also the medical advantages which have been proven to

alleviate back complaints. The inspiration for this new line came from sporty footwear and clothing options with their lively colour swatches and athletic appeal, which was incorporated into the new SportLine range under the Medicpaedic brand.

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88 | Beds & Bedroom

Buckingham Velvet, Hyder Living

Elegance 1500, The Shire Bed Company

For comfort and sophistication, The Shire Bed Company’s (www.shirebeds.co.uk) new collection of boutique-inspired pocket mattresses comprises the Elegance 1500 and Opulence 3000. The soft pocket sprung mattresses contain high quality fillings which include cashmere, silk and wool. Both mattresses have woollen tufts, air vents and handles as standard and are completed with a soft cover fabric to complement the supportive pocket sprung unit. The Shire Bed Company produces beds, mattresses and divan bases and supplies nationally and internationally to major retailers and the contract sector including education, care and hospitality.

This year, prestigious bed specialist Hästens (www.hastens.com) has revealed plans for UK expansion alongside the hotly-anticipated designer collaboration recently revealed at Salone de Milan. Recently announcing three new outlets across the UK as part of its brand expansion outside of London, the Hästens brand continues to gain popularity as the authority of craft and luxury. The brand, which offers in-store sleep consultations and supreme quality products, continues to be a wellrespected and prominent bed specialist worldwide. Oliver Bowen, UK manager at Hästens, says: “We are excited to offer our devoted UK customers the choice of seven outlets across the UK following these three new developments.

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Hyder Living (www.hyderint.com) is ensuring that quality is maintained throughout every aspect of its operations, with the implementation of an ISO 9001:2015 standard quality management system and membership of both the National Bed Federation and British Furniture Manufacturers association. ISO 9001 helps Hyder Living to ensure its customers consistently receive high quality products and services through the organisation of processes, identifying responsibilities of management, efficient management of resources, product realisation and the measurement, analysis and improvement of these activities. Along with joining the BFM, the manufacturer has also recently become a member of the NBF, adhering to the organisation’s strict code of practice. It is a code of practice that helps Hyder Living customers to be confident that the company is maintaining high standards in all of its bed and mattress products.

Hästens is expanding within the UK

“Each store reflects the exclusive and bespoke experience that is essential to the Hästens charm, and we are excited to continue to make and develop our beds that have led us to global recognition.” Plans are under way to add a further four stores to the estate during 2017. Capitalising on the brand’s success, in April Hästens announced a ground-

breaking design collaboration with the Swedish design duo, Bernadotte & Kylberg. The collection, in which the Hästens signature blue check has been completely reimagined, consists of the new Appaloosa and Marwari beds, both of which use the construction of the Hästens 2000T bed. Throughout the two-year design process, Hästens, along with the designer duo, created two completely new fabrics that bring to life the forward-thinking vision of Bernadotte & Kylberg, while also upholding the supreme comfort and construction of the world-renowned beds. This collaboration marks the first time that the Hästens’ iconic blue check has been reimagined. The collection will be available globally from January 2018.

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”MORE THAN A BED FOR CUSTOMERS, MORE THAN A BUSINESS FOR STOCKISTS” Akut Ak, Hästens Stockist, Turkey

HÄSTENS PROFERIA

We want you to join The World of Hästens. For more information on becoming a UK stockist and selling Sweden’s finest handmade beds contact: oliver.bowen@hastens.com FUL F I L L I NG DR EA M S S I NC E 18 52 HAS T E N S . COM

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90 | Beds & Bedroom

Teramo 1400

SEALY RETAINS WHICH? BEST BUY STATUS Prestigious consumer champion Which? has named Sealy’s Posturepedic Pocket Teramo 1400 its Best Buy for the third year running. Which? has named Sealy’s Posturepedic Pocket Teramo 1400 yet again as its Best Buy, claiming that “more than a year on, we’re still yet to test anything that can match it”. The continued accolade – first awarded to the Teramo in 2015 and retained by Sealy ever since – is set to make choosing a mattress a whole lot easier, providing consumers with an authoritative stamp of approval. In achieving Which? Best Buy status, the Teramo 1400 received Best in Test status – the highest score in its category when tested against 28 other products – including a host of other types of mattresses and pocket sprung models. It has retained this title since 2015, when the mattress was first awarded the accolade, with Which? naming the Teramo as “the best and most durable model it has tested in years”. The review by the iconic body goes on to state that the Teramo will “still be in great condition and able to support your body well even after years of use. Unlike some mattresses, it

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doesn’t sag or become less firm over time.” The mattress was also commended for its softness and the solid support it provides, with the tests also revealing that it is very easy to turn over on, while being stable enough to not disturb a partner. The report also highlighted the model’s breathable materials – Sealy’s Smart Fibres and Eco-friendly Tencel – make for a cool sleep environment. Neil Robinson, sales and marketing director at Sealy, says: “We’re absolutely delighted that the Teramo 1400 has retained its Which? Best Buy status. It’s certainly a hit with our customers, and its 1400 pocket springs and latex insert make it a comfortable and durable choice. “One thing’s for sure, the report will certainly make the difficult task of choosing a mattress much easier. It’s fantastic to have this endorsed by the UK’s largest and most trusted consumer body.” W sealy.co.uk

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IAFP.in

Go global Are you looking to develop business overseas? The International Alliance of Furnishing Publications (IAFP) is a 20-yearold association comprising the leading trade publications â&#x20AC;&#x201C; based on editorial quality and circulation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from 19 countries worldwide. Its aim is to assist its members, and their advertisers, to better communicate with foreign markets. When promoting or seeking information from abroad, the IAFP network is the one to trust. Furniture News has been the UK member publication since 2012, and has since helped its readers and advertisers reach high-quality foreign information, contacts and readership. Contact Samantha Horscroft on (+44)1424 776100 to find out more.

www.iafpalliance.com

Member publications

FN 342 Pages.indd 91 IAFP.indd 1

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It can only beâ&#x20AC;Ś

T E

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www.highgatebeds.com FN 342 Pages.indd 92 Highgate Beds Advert.indd 1

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94 | Beds & Bedroom

Hybed utilises natural materials from Harrison Spinks’ own farm

HARRISON SPINKS GOES HYBRID Harrison Spinks, one of Great Britain’s most established and innovative bed makers, is set to launch a unique new range of mattresses at the Bed Show. Hybed is a new range of hybrid mattresses from Harrison Spinks, which will feature a combination of mattress components. Each of these mattresses will combine a natural sleeping surface – some of which is sourced from Harrison Spinks’ own 300-acre farm in Yorkshire – with layers of the company’s leading patented pocket spring technology, latex and memory foam to offer a premium sleeping experience. This unique formula aims to transform the meaning of hybrid in the mattress industry as Harrison Spinks poises itself to disrupt hybrid beds in their current guise with a truly hybrid mattress. Simon Spinks, MD of Harrison Spinks, explains: “Our continuous innovation, quest to become ever-more vertically

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integrated and mission to change the way the world sleeps by being the leaders in sustainable mattress and comfort innovation has inspired the launch of our latest range. “The development of a truly new hybrid mattress will also allow us to establish Harrison Spinks in a very different sector of the market compared to our current Harrison and Somnus ranges. Headed up by sales director, Steve Truswell, we’ll be looking to engage with both new and existing retailers at the NBF Bed Show to establish this exciting new range with independent bed shops.” Visitors can see Hybed for themselves on stand F80 at the Bed Show. W harrisonspinks.co.uk

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FN-page

Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest Bed Show is back for 2017!

A must attend event for anyone in the industry

www.bedshow.co.uk

@BedShow

19th and 20th September | Telford International Centre

New products | New trends | New exhibitors FN 342 Pages.indd 95 FN-page-BedShow-2017-main.indd 1

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96 | Beds & Bedroom

UNO Pocket 2000

SALUS SET TO IMPRESS The 2017 Bed Show will be the launchpad for Breasley Consumer’s brand new Salus Bed collection. The eagerly-awaited Salus range is made up of nine models, which Breasley’s development team has aptly named a ‘trio of trios’. Each trio offers a unique combination of comfort fillings, pocket spring counts and specialist finishes. The i-plus range features pressure-relieving foam and Adaptive technology plus a 1500 pocket divan set, the Viscoool range features high spring counts and Scensic technology and – new to the Salus brand – is the Natural collection. With a combination of natural fillings including lambswool, bamboo, alpaca and pashmina plus a soft damask cover incorporating a Purotex probiotic finish, the Natural collection provides a luxury look and feel. The last 18 months have seen unprecedented increases in the price of foam, and Breasley has risen to the challenge of designing a new collection that not only delivers on competitive price points, but also on quality and innovation, to provide comfort.

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On stand A10 at this month’s Bed Show visitors can try out the new range for themselves, plus they will be able to take advantage of promotional offers throughout 2017-18 including free duvet and pillows, free drawers, discounts and free tradeups – 150cm for 135cm price. The new range will be delivered to store early October, ready for the autumn/winter trade. Breasley Consumer will also be exhibiting at the Bed Show on its adjacent stand, B15. The full complement of its successful UNO vacuum-packed mattress collection will be on display, mirrored by the bricks and mortar Amor range. Its YOU folded, rolled and boxed mattresses will also be a main feature. This impressive collection of mattresses offers comfort fillings including Viscoool and latex plus Breasley’s unique ConiCoil pocket springs, providing independent retailers with an opportunity to be part of the ever-increasing boxed mattress phenomenon. W breasleyconsumer.co.uk

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Sealy A

Advertorial

www.sealy.com

Sealy mattresses offer relief for hot summer nights With the great British summer well and truly here, it’s time to begin thinking about how to advise those customers who have trouble sleeping in the heat. Research from number one bed brand, Sealy UK, has revealed that 42% of us regularly experience a disturbed night’s sleep due to oppressive heat. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that so many individuals are searching for tips and tricks to help alleviate the sleeping problems that come hand in hand with a hot summer. And we think we have just that. Sealy has answered the call of many su�ering sleep deprivation in stu�y, hot conditions with a number of mattresses that contain specific technologies: • GELTEX® technology is an innovative combination of an extremely elastic gel and air-permeable foam. When combined, this creates the ideal sleeping environment: pressure relief, body support and active breathability – a perfect trio. The breathability in particular is achieved due to the air permeable foam and open cell structure of the GELTEX®. This allows air to circulate more easily, resulting in a more regulated temperature in bed. A godsend for those who experience that stifling feeling in bed. • A number of Sealy mattresses also contain Tencel ® fibres, which helps keep sleeping conditions cool and dry. Enhancing the quality of sleep, the fibrils optimise the absorption of moisture and have excellent cooling properties

FN 342Advertorial.indd Pages.indd 97 2 Sealy

- ensuring the sleeping area remains pleasantly dry. Perfect for those who find themselves sweating a lot during the night due to the heat. Of course, there are a number of general tips and tricks that you can also recommend to those looking to getting a more comfortable night’s sleep: • It may sound obvious to some, but 36% of individuals decide to spend the night in separate beds when the heat becomes unbearable, so it’s not unusual to suggest your customers break out the sofa bed for a couple of the stu�est nights. • Most people feel inclined to toss and turn in bed in order to find the coolest spot when it gets too hot, but far from having a cooling e�ect, this actually makes the situation worse. Advise your customers to limit moving around as much as possible and break up bodily contact i.e. place a small pillow between their knees. • Tap into your scientific side and recommend individuals ‘cold press’ their pulse points. This involves placing a cold flannel (or any cold compress) on their wrists and neck, which surprisingly has a cooling e�ect on the entire body and aids relaxation. Naturally, sleeping conditions are impacted by many individual matters such as: ventilation in the bedroom, weight of bedding and bed clothes worn, so it’s always advisable to question customers as to whether these deserve a rethink.

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NEW DPS FURNITURE NEWS.qxp_Layout 1 8/24/17 2:53 PM Page 4

2015

The objective, trustworthy consumer champion Which? ﬁrst hails the Sealy Teramo 1400 ‘Best in Test.’

2016

A year later, Which? describes it as ‘the best mattress we’ve tested in years.’

2017

Still 'top scoring mattress and best in test,’ Which? have heaped even more praise on this outstanding mattress, saying, “More than a year on, we’re still yet to test anything that can match this Best Buy.” What more can we say?

For more information on this top scoring mattress call Sealy on 016973 20342

www.sealy.co.uk NB: Listed spring counts are based on a king size spring unit (measuring 5ft x 6ft 6in /150cm 200cm). The number of springs will alter on a pro-rata basis dependent on mattress size and spring unit surface area.

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“More than a year on, we’re still yet to test anything that can match this Best Buy”

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Royal Britannia 10,000

SOMNUS TO UNCOVER NEW INNOVATIONS Luxury and design-led bed maker, Somnus, will be unveiling its new adjustable sleep system at the Bed Show this month, as well as presenting innovative beds from its Supremacy collection on stand C30 at the exhibition. Somnus’ adjustable sleep system has been designed specifically with today’s busy lifestyles in mind. The bed provides comfort and support and can be adapted according to a consumer’s ideal relaxing or sleeping position. This is thanks to two handmade recliner mattress options, which allow sleepers to create their own luxury sleep environment. The premium sleep system can be complemented by a large selection of design-led headboards with consumers having the option to upholster their sleep system in a selection of stylish fabric options.Tech-savvy consumers can upgrade the controls for the adjustable sleep system to a Bluetooth remote control, which is operated by a smart phone app. In addition to the sleep system, Somnus will also be displaying its Royal Britannia mattress at the Bed Show – a limited edition bed that has been created to celebrate 65 years since Somnus supplied the world-famous Royal Yacht with mattresses ahead of its maiden voyage. The Royal Britannia model boasts fine natural materials including cotton, mohair and silk, as well as British wool. Also

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found inside the mattress is plush and resilient Wensleydale Eco Wool from Harrison Spinks’ own flock of rare Wensleydale sheep, reared on its 300-acre farm in Yorkshire. These natural materials are complemented by 10,000 Sensa Intelligent pocket springs, which gently respond to the sleeper’s body, dissipating weight and providing better postural support. With the use of finer wire, drawn by its own in-house experts, the coil within each Sensa Intelligent pocket spring is 40% lighter than a standard coil, meaning more springs can be added to the product without the mattress becoming heavier. Each layer has up to 4000 small springs, resulting in reduced pressure points and increased comfort levels. This spring technology is also used across Somnus’ Supremacy collection, which will be presented at the Bed Show. The range features 12 models boasting spring counts of up to 34,500, making the mattresses in the collection some of the most high-end available on the market. W somnus.co.uk

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19379 T

What’s jo’s secret to CONQUERING the DAILY GRIND?...

...A perfect night’s sleep in a handmade Millbrook Bed.

millbrook-beds.co.uk

The Official Bed of England and GB Hockey

Free garmin smart sleep tracker with purchase of any mattress from our new Perfect Sleep collection

Partnering with Garmin wearable technology

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download the Millbrook Beds app

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102 | Beds & Bedroom

EcoComfort half ottoman with mini drawers

SILENTNIGHT’S STORAGE SOLUTIONS When it comes to an organised home, having enough storage is essential. As one of the largest – and arguably most important pieces of bedroom furniture people own – it’s no surprise that demand for beds that double up as a storage space is increasing. Leading bed manufacturer Silentnight has reported an increase in consumers looking for bed bases with storage as there is a trend for downsizing with urbanisation and the housing shortage leading to smaller homes being built. Nick Booth, marketing director at Silentnight, says: “More and more customers are looking to optimise the space in their homes by making the most of the ample space that is available under the bed. “Our beds offer space-saving storage that is easily accessible and works well even in smaller homes. For example, our

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ottomans open from the foot of the bed making the storage space easy to get to even when the bed is made.” For those homes where style is chosen over storage, Silentnight is launching its first range of upholstered bedframes. With matching occasional items including chairs and storage benches, they are sure to transform the bedroom. All bedframes have been designed with the comfort in mind. The slatted frame sits on adjustable brackets meaning you can customise your bed to the sleeping height of your preference. W silentnight.co.uk

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BRAND

NEW COLLECTION

Quality

WITHOUT QUESTION

R O S A L I A COLLECTION

Experience the HD quality for yourself and take an exclusive look at our brand new Rosalia Collection. See us at Stand C20

For more information visit hilarydeveycollection.co.uk or duvalay.co.uk

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104 | Beds & Bedroom

BED TRAINING COURSES FOR ALL With the launch of a new, shortened version of its established training programme for bed salespeople – the Express Sleep Sales Course – the NBF now believes it offers a package of online training courses to cater for everyone in the industry. Derived from its full Sleep Sales Course, the express version is for those salespeople who choose not to record their weekly sales data or for those whose primary role is not in sales - such as department managers, directors and customer service roles. The new, express course excludes the sales data capture (SCR) modules which record sales conversion rates and average order values. Simon Williams, marketing manager at the NBF, says: “The development of the Express Course came after we noticed that some retail salespeople who had started the original course were not completing it. On investigation, it became apparent that not all candidates had the time to record SCRs or it was simply not applicable to their job role. “This new version can be completed in a matter of hours rather than weeks but importantly still maintains all the key learning and assessment modules.” Upon completion of the new Express Sleep Sales Course, candidates receive an associate certificate via email, whilst those completing the full programme become graduates of the

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Academy, receiving a pin badge and certificate with their names and company name added to the NBF Roll of Honour on the Sleep Council Sales Academy website. Simon continues: “The beauty of this course, as with all our training, is it can be accessed anywhere online using either a PC, tablet or mobile. Delegates signing up can also download the Sleep Hub app to track their progress and complete the course remotely.” The Express Course is the latest addition to the NBF’s training options which also includes The Introduction to Beds Course, designed for anyone new to the bed industry, regardless of their role. It is also ideal to be used as part of an induction programme for all new starters in a business. The Express Sleep Sales course costs £49 whilst the Introduction to Beds is just £25. There is also a special bundle offer - the Express Sleep Sales Course or full Sleep Sales course, plus Introduction to Beds for just £60. All courses are completely free to NBF member companies. W bedfed.org.uk

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108 | Beds & Bedroom

Silver Seal from Slumberland’s Vintage Bed collection

SLUMBERLAND REVISTS ITS ROOTS Award-winning bed manufacturer Slumberland is launching its new Vintage Bed collection at the NBF Bed Show this year with a nod back to its golden years. Established in 1919, Slumberland has a proud history of new development in bed technology and improving the way people sleep. The invention of posture springing in 1964 represented one of the most important technical breakthroughs in the bedding industry since the war. At the time, this innovative new product with distinctive advertisements and the unique range of Seal beds all combined to make Slumberland a market leader in the bedding industry and a household name. Today, with a host of new and improved technology and fillings, plus a combination of striking new mattress fabric designs, the Vintage Bed collection offers style and performance. In line with the brand’s consistent commitment to innovation, the five new Seal mattresses within the Vintage Bed collection all boast pioneering support layers. This includes pocketed posture springing for maximum responsive support, Posture Flex for exceptional comfort and pressure relief, Rheia foam to deliver four times more airflow than standard foam and EdgeMax designed to maximise the sleeping surface area.

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The top two models, Platinum Seal and Gold Seal mattresses, feature temperature-regulating gel latex, luxurious natural wool, tencil silk, bamboo and alpaca fibres for those customers wanting premium comfort. The Silver Seal and Bronze Seal middle models feature wool, cashmere and silk for a luxury, fresh sleep environment. The entry-level Copper Seal model features cotton for those wanting a cooler sleep and impressive value for money. Giving the Vintage collection a fresh look, Slumberland has curated five new headboard designs and three divan options with a host of different storage solutions. These will be available in a range of eight upholstery fabrics ensuring customers have all the options to make their bedroom comfortable and unique. Offering top British-made quality and design coupled with attractive pricing, the new Slumberland Vintage Bed collection makes for a commercial retail proposition. Slumberland will be exhibiting at this year’s NBF Bed Show at the International Centre in Telford on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th September. W slumberland.com

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110 | Beds & Bedroom

Helix Optimum

VOGUE EXPANDS ITS OFFERING The Vogue Beds Group has added a new model, Helix, into its portfolio. The cleverly-designed spring in the Vogueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Helix model is receptive to individual body weights and quickly adapts and adjusts accordingly and provides an equal sleeping surface for two people. Not only does this create a softer feel on the outer edges but it provides a support zone in the middle to reduce partner disturbance and roll together. The Helix spring also means that there is no need for

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different spring counts. Traditional pocket springs are sold on the basis that a 2000 pocket spring is firmer than a 1500 and a 1500 is firmer than a 1000, but this intelligent spring unit is able to adapt to individual sleeping surfaces. Vogue will be presenting the new Helix models at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bed Show in Telford from the 19-20th of September. Visitors will find the company on stand K40. W voguebeds.co.uk

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114 | Beds & Bedroom

Softline chest of drawers Baroque Grey wardrobe

STEENS’ SCANDINAVIAN STYLE Steens is launching yet another Scandi-inspired design destined for large retailers both in Norway and Sweden and now also available in the UK. Steens UK MD Alan Cozens says: “Due to Steens being a truly international business, with customers in China, South Korea, the USA and of course in most European countries, it benefits from a constant stream of new product. In some cases these are quite country specific but, as with Slimline, often they have wide appeal in many markets and go on to prove to be great success stories. “Two great examples are Softline, also designed for the Scandinavian market and Baroque originally produced for a French customer. Both these ranges are now well established and enjoying great sales in the UK. “Adding these to products, designed specifically for the UK

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and launched in 2016, Sandringham, Norfolk and Milford have seen sales in the UK enjoy significant double digit growth this year. “Plans for 2018 are well underway with a bigger focus on living ranges based on our best selling lines. “In addition, we are increasing our warehouse space and stockholding over the coming months ensuring all core UK lines are readily available and ready for a next-day delivery if required. “There are exciting times ahead and we expect growth to remain strong for the foreseeable future.” W steensgroup.com

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Our Modern Living Portfolio of beds and mattresses are designed as contemporary statement pieces offering fashionable furniture in bedroom indulgence. Designed to offer a perfect nigh of luxurious sleep, the quality and comfort of the Natural Touch range, is hand crafted using natural cotton fillings surrounding a pocket sprung mattress, available in 1000, 1500 and 2000 pocket. Deluxe products enthuse with quality and craftsmanship and support all our customers with product marketing and knowledge from an experienced sales team. For more information on our range of product or to become a stockist, contact us on +44 1484 427 373, or email: enqurires@deluxe-beds.co.uk or visit our website: www.deluxe-beds.co.uk

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118 | Beds & Bedroom

SuperSoft

MAMMOTH TO MAKE AN IMPACT 2017 has been a busy year so far, for the team at health and wellbeing group, Mammoth. In the face of an industry trend for falling sales, the company has enjoyed an increase in sales, year-on-year. Mammoth will also make an announcement at the Bed Show this year, including partnerships news and more innovative technology developments. “The Bed Show is a very important date in our year,” explains John Tuton, owner and MD at Mammoth. “The team works hard all year to create excellent offers, deals and news stories to share with our retail partners and we have some exciting new developments involving partners and our technology innovation programmes. I can’t say more at the moment but, needless to say, our announcement will create a great deal of buzz around stand G50 this year. “We’re delighted to be able to show off our new product ranges, including the ottoman bedstead collection. The stand will include our complete range of bed products, including mattresses, divans, headboards and pillows, as well as introducing our new marketing assistance and point-of-sale material for retailers.” One of the latest ambassadors to join Mammoth is three-time Olympic and five-time world championship Gold medallist

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rower, Pete Reed, MBE, OBE. Part of GB’s rowing team, Pete is a keen advocate of the many benefits of a Mammoth mattress. He will be on the Mammoth stand at this year’s show to explain how a Mammoth mattress has contributed so much to his training, rest, and recovery regimes. “We are very excited to showcase our new products, ranges and offers at the Bed Show. All visitors will receive some fantastic gifts just for visiting our stand,” continues John. “Helping our retailers to attract footfall to their stores is of paramount importance to us, which is why we work so hard to provide new and innovative technologies.” Mammoth’s Medical Grade Foam is an innovation, right at the centre of the company’s product lines, derived from healthcare origins. It has been highly commended by NHS Innovations in the field of pressure relief. W mammothcomfort.co.uk

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120 | Beds & Bedroom

Mlily’s affiliation with Manchester United has brought the bed brand success

Mlily’s mattresses and accessories have proven popular with the team

UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP TAKES MLILY TO THE NEXT LEVEL Leading Chinese mattress brand Mlily continues to move forward with its new partnership with Manchester United. After experiencing success on Manchester United’s summer preseason tour, Mlily is looking to further leverage its highlevel affiliation. “We’re just happy that our campaigns and efforts are coming to fruition,” says Pomi Khan, senior vice-president of marketing and CEO for the UK. “Honestly we’re really in the beginning stages of our brand building, and we have some exciting opportunities ahead.” Already doubling its UK business from last year, Mlily continues to expand its operations and presence both globally and domestically. “It’s a lucrative time for our retailers,” says Bob Badman, UK sales director. With all of our internal marketing campaigns alongside the United partnership, we’re growing consumer awareness ourselves. That’s helping to drive sales and growth across all of our regions.” Mlily has been working closely with the regeneration and recovery team at United’s Aon Training Complex. The two have begun studies to improve player performance and recovery for athletes and non-athletes alike. In addition to these efforts, Mlily has supplied all United players and coaching staff with its Dream + mattress line that has been specially-designed alongside United’s sports scientists. On away trips players are provided with cool-gel travel neck pillows to further aid in their recovery. “They love them. We’ve been getting flooded with requests

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for the neck pillows, and the mattresses have been a great success with the players and coaching staff. Not only that, the same beds the players sleep on are now available to all of our retailers. That’s a massive opportunity for us,” says Bob. Combining a mattress technology that’s tailored to performance with the elite athletes of a global organisation has been a successful strategy so far, and the partnership is still only at the end of its first year. Mlily is a leading Chinese mattress brand, which has seen exponential growth over the last seven years by offering exceptional value on premium products. Mlily currently operates over 100 shops in China with a target of 300 within three years. It has partners in 10 countries including the UK, USA, Japan, Singapore and Australia. There are targets to increase the country partners to 25 within three years. Mlily exports nearly 500 containers a month to its partners around the world and is the largest producer of foam within Asia. With continued investment into people and machinery, the factory is at the cutting edge of modern technology and currently boasts the world’s most advanced air suspension system for moulded pillows with over 600,000 being produced monthly. With a new season now beginning for its partner that promises the exposure of Champion’s League football, the outlook is bright for this young brand. W mlily.uk

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126 | Beds & Bedroom

DUVALAY SET TO IMPRESS AT THE BED SHOW Yorkshire-based sleep expert Duvalay is set to unveil a new collection at this year’s NBF Bed Show – held in Telford from 19th-20th September – whilst displaying the best-selling Hilary Devey collection. Duvalay’s new collection, Rosalia, offers retailers an affordable, mid-market collection that sits alongside the Devey premium mattresses. Featuring an initial four mattresses, the Rosalia collection will continue to offer retailers a sense of luxury through Duvalay’s artisan bed making techniques and use of fine natural materials. Each mattress within the collection will have varying spring counts, along with a number being turnfree in contrast to the Hilary Devey Collection. The new collection will further strengthen Duvalay’s offering to bed retailers as it offers a fresher, contemporary take on traditional bed-making techniques. It will also be supported with inspirational imagery, modern PoS for brand stand out, along with continued efforts on the PR, marketing and social media front. Also on the stand will be three mattresses from the Hilary Devey collection, the Emerald, Diamond-Luxe and the Diamond, which was recently awarded Good Housekeeping Institute Approved stamp. The GHI Approved is an unbiased, independent endorsement that is given only to products that pass the Good Housekeeping Quality Assessment tests. Over the course of a two-month rigorous testing period, conducted by the GHI experts, the Diamond mattress was found to be both comfortable to sleep

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on, as well as providing a good night’s sleep. Feedback was positive, with the overall score rated as nine out of 10. The Emerald and Diamond-Luxe are an extension of the Diamond mattress, with innovative features that further enhance the collection. Both the Emerald and Diamond-Luxe feature an innovative natural filling produced using one of nature’s finest materials, lambswool. Wooltec is made using modern manufacturing techniques to allow air to circulate more readily for substantially-improved temperature control. This sits alongside the other materials already used within the collection, including silk, cashmere and cotton for the ultimate in a luxurious night’s sleep. They also feature a new pocket spring which offers initial softness while also providing much-needed support as weight is applied. This added feature generates a comfortable night’s sleep for the user and sits alongside other the luxury features of the collection. Buyers and retailers are invited to join Hilary and the team at Duvalay’s stand (C20) at the National Bed Federation Bed Show at Telford’s International Centre, to experience the new Rosalia collection and existing Hilary Devey collection. W hilarydeveycollection.co.uk W duvalay.co.uk

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This month Elstead Lighting (www. elsteadlighting.com) will be unveiling brand new products at design show Decorex. This coincides with the release of a new supplement catalogue with over 300 products, including striking statement chandeliers like the Fulton 13-light, that shows off vintage Edison filament bulbs – also suitable for LED retrofit bulbs – held in brass lampholders inside bronze trapezoid cages, artfully clustered to hang from a single rod. Elstead Lighting is still continuing to embrace new LED technology with products like Oberlin, which combines the decorative, traditionally-inspired style Elstead is known for with energy saving LED light sources. The crystal beads on Oberlin catch the light of LED modules at the top and bottom of the orbs to glittering effect. There are over 2500 products in the full Elstead range, including traditional, transitional and contemporary products. As well as interior models, Elstead has a large outdoor lighting collection, which

Louis de Poortere will present new collections at this month’s Decorex exhibition

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LIVING ROOM •••

includes models that are guaranteed to be corrosion free for up to 20 years. All Elstead products are tested in the UK before distribution to ensure a quality product every time. This means the company has a large amount of stock in the UK and can dispatch orders within 24 hours – ideal for quick turnaround projects.

Fulton, Elstead Lighting

Oberlin, Elstead Lighting

At this year’s Decorex – held from 1720th September at London’s Syon Park – Louis de Poortere (www.louisdepoortere. com) will be bringing new designs and colours to its collections of rugs, as well as presenting its Tailor Made and Les Tisse custom programmes. With two new designs in Agadir and Babylon, the jacquard woven Bobohemian is expanded – both styles capturing the essence of a grand faded elegance that typifies the collection. Multiple layers of pattern, distressed areas and intricate stitching give these flatweave styles a vintage look. Agadir and Babylon come in eight sizes and four colourways each, made from a wool-rich, cotton chenille blend. Decorex will also see updates to the popular Mad Men, inspired by the rapidly-changing social landscape of the 1960s. Here, new colours will be introduced to the Griff and Jacob’s Ladder designs – flashes of ice blue, flame red and white on a rich black backdrop. Here, cotton chenille is blended with high lustre polyester to highlight

essential elements of the design, each jacquard woven in eight sizes. Alongside these new looks for the home, Louis de Poortere will give room to its custom rugs and runners programme, Tailor Made, now with blind finishing to the stylish Haute Couture collection. Giving a neater and more sophisticated edge on custom sizes, blind finishing is ideal for working the striking pattern looks of Haute Couture into modern interior schemes, leaving a distinct edge to contrast hard textures. Louis de Poortere will also give a glimpse into the future expansion of its bespoke programme with Les Tisse. Bringing custom carpet of exceptional quality, Les Tisse allows the creation of a custom pattern in collaboration with Louis de Poortere’s designers, or the recolouring of 30 library designs from a standard palette. Crafted on narrow-width wilton looms in any one of three select wool qualities, Les Tisse carpets can be ready in just eight weeks, and are ideal carpets for designers seeking luxury.

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130 | Living Room Room by Ashley Manor (www. ashleymanor.co.uk) is a new collection – launched at the recent Manchester Furniture Show – reflecting the desire for a more compact, petite, lifestyle. Modern living is changing and evolving, as rooms and houses grow smaller so will furniture, in response to the more modest proportions. Other rooms become as important as our main living space – customers are seeking living kitchens, bedrooms as mini boudoirs and for customers further up the housing ladder, grander halls, landings, extentions and concervatories are the order of the day. Neat furniture fits these more eclectic spaces.

The Room concept comprises the Chelsea, Pimlico and Camden collections, which include a mix of sleek lined shapes, vintage styling and fluting, alongside chic modern mid century designs. Additions such as elegant gold legs allows the consumer to indulge in the latest trend led metallic shades and mix it with wood finishes on other pieces. The Camden modular group can grow from a neat sofa to a cleverly-designed chaise and footstool combo. Customers can add piece by piece and shape the collection to suit their lifestyle and budget. Consumers are getting braver with their colour choices and as the trickle

Camden right hand compact corner sofa, Ashley Manor

Klarity Glass (www.glassfurniture. co.uk) presents a striking glass furniture range which has been meticulously curated by a specialist team of creatives. It offers a selection of quality products designed and manufactured using fine materials. With many items also

available in bespoke sizes to meet precise requirements, Klarity Glass’ furniture collection is one of the most comprehensive glass furniture collections in the UK. Klarity is built on design and manufacturing know-how. Klarity is

down of trends between fashion and interiors closes, there is an appetite for refreshing current colour in the home. Colour is a great feature of this mix and match range and brings this together across an eclectic mix of shapes. For the more faint of heart, accent pieces such as occasional chairs are the ideal way to inject a pop of colour into a relatively neutral scheme and with the addition of texture too, this becomes even more impactful. Footstools can also be brought into the mix, and playful patterns and shapes can be created. Hexagonal mixes with round and when seen together in a plethora of shades, the effect is striking.

Chelsea large sofa with hex footstool, Ashley Manor

not only a retailer of glass furniture, but is also a highly trained designer and manufacturer. With over 15 years of experience in the domestic and contract furniture market, Klarity is well positioned to offer customers help and advice during the buying process. Klarity Glass offers a unique glass furniture offering

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Birkin Kingsize sofa

John Sankey prides itself on its quality

Fairbanks Lounger

Hugo Royal Split sofa

RECOGNITION AND NEW COLLABORATION FOR JOHN SANKEY John Sankey is proud to have recently been recognised for its manufacturing excellence, in addition to becoming a supplier to a major buying group. John Sankey has been recertified with its Manufacturing Guild Mark (MGM), awarded by the Furniture Maker’s Company for excellence in upholstery manufacture. The company was first presented with the MGM in 2014, and is pleased to be awarded this accolade once again, demonstrating its continued dedication to excellence in furniture manufacture. The MGM is awarded in recognition of the highest standards in manufacture and involved a rigorous audit by FIRA of John Sankey’s factory and offices, assessing all areas of manufacture from design and quality control to employment conditions and sustainability. “We are delighted to have our commitment to manufacturing beautiful, quality furniture here in the UK recognised with this prestigious award. It is a reflection of the passion, dedication and talents of the exceptional people who work with us,” says Suzanne O’Flynn, MD of John Sankey. Paul von der Heyde, MGM chairman, says: “I would like to extend my congratulations to John Sankey for retaining the Manufacturing Guild Mark, the highest accolade UK furnishing manufacturers can aspire to achieve. Retailers, specifiers and

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distributors that deal with companies that hold the mark can rest easy knowing that they are working with a business that has achieved the highest standards throughout all of its operations.” The business has also become a supplier to the Minerva Furnishers Guild. John Sankey has manufactured upholstery in the East Midlands since the 1950s, specialising in quality upholstery, stand-out fabrics and unrivalled attention to detail. This Autumn will see the launch of John Sankey’s new furniture collections including The Garden Room – a selection of relaxed loose covers with a soft and natural colour palette – and Snug – a strikingly coordinated and easy to live with range of upholstery. John Sankey will present its new collections at both the Autumn Long Point Show – held in Long Eaton from 18th-21st September – and the Autumn Furniture Show – held from 2627th September at the NAEC in Stoneleigh – where it will be exhibiting as a member of Minerva for the first time. The shows will also feature a display of John Sankey’s most popular and distinctive pieces upholstered in new fabric stories. W johnsankey.co.uk

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136 | Living Room

V&A Fanfare Ochre from the Luxmi collection

V&A Jazz in Grey, from the Luxmi collection

Luxmi Eclectic Agra Grey

A YEAR OF INNOVATION FOR FLAIR RUGS Flair has been hard at work on new collections, an updated website and planning for the busy event season ahead. Luxmi, a new collection of high-quality styles by Flair Rugs, is named after the mother of Dinesh Shah, company founder – a mark of a family-owned heritage dating back two generations. Dinesh brought his family to the UK over 50 years ago and his skill and expertise in making hand-crafted rugs from the finest materials is responsible for the Flair of today, providing highquality rugs to national and independent retailers right across the UK. A curation of exclusive fine-quality styles, including the new V&A Inspired collection, Luxmi by Flair Rugs is at once a celebration of rug craft and strong values. Featuring four rugs inspired by archive patterns belonging to the V&A, made possible through the museum’s V&A Inspired licensee programme, Luxmi sees styles conceived through diverse subject matter. With designs influenced by Scandinavia’s passion for ethical living, the opulence of traditional Persian art, ancient history of the city of Cairo and the Peruvian people’s love for the Alpaca, it is a collection rich in culture and creativity. Luxmi is inspired by a work of influential and acclaimed figures including William Morris, Owen Jones and F. Gregory Brown; charting key periods of design such as Art Deco and the Arts and Crafts Movement. In addition, Flair’s AW17 collection, inspired by the V&A, is launching in four styles with Jazz, Fanfare, Rhapsody and Honeysuckle, and features in the Luxmi collection. Crafted from wool and viscose, or silk-soft chenille, these rugs celebrate designs that have inspired generations of people in Flair’s rug craft. Whether hand-tufted and finished by skilled artisans or expertly woven on jacquard looms, each rug is finished to a

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high standard. Available exclusively to Flair Rugs stockists, Luxmi is presented in a striking brochure and through a consumerfocused website – luxmirugs.com – with the aim to promote this as a premium collection from one of the UK’s most highlyregarded rug suppliers. With 27 designs available in a range of sizes, The Luxmi by Flair Rugs collection will be officially launched at London’s Top Drawer exhibition this month. Here, Flair will also launch new lines in its value-driven Simplicity range and core offering. It will also form a major part of Flair Rugs’ display at The Flooring Show later in the month. Flair has also launched a new website – flairrugs.com – giving consumers an insight into one of the UK’s leading rug suppliers. It catalogues the company’s Simplicity and Core collections, as well as detailing the company’s family heritage dating back to 1984. The website also features practical buying advice on how to measure for the ideal size, layout in the room and what fibre and type is best suited. Browsers can also find out how to care for their rug and keep up-to-date with the latest tips and tricks revealed in the blog. Visitors will also be able to search the entire Flair catalogue for their desired style, selecting from hundreds of different options and get in touch to find details of their nearest stockist. The new website has been developed from the ground up to underline Flair’s position as a leading UK rug supplier. W flairrugs.com

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U K S T O C K S F O R FA S T D E L I V E R Y I C A R R I A G E PA I D O N O R D E R S O F £ 3 0 0 I I T E M S V I A PA R C E L

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138 | Living Room

Noche Marino

CENTRAL FURNITURE CONCENTRATES ON QUALITY AND SERVICE Central Furniture Manufacturing is a family-owned and operated wholesale furniture making company based in Birmingham. It is known throughout the furniture industry for its design-led ranges and handcrafted appeal. Central Furniture’s affordable, customer-led pieces can be found online at top retailers and in stores and retail outlets across the country. Central Furniture’s aim is to produce furniture that makes its retailers profit and gives the end user years of satisfaction. Central Furniture designs and manufactures a wide range of quality bedroom and lounge furniture from its factory in the heart of England. From modern contemporary designs to classic

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styles, Central Furniture offers a style to suit most tastes. The key to Central Furniture’s ongoing success has been largley due to its ability to rival its competitors in an increasingly challenging market. The company’s readyassembled products are delivered to its customers quickly and efficiently, and Central Furniture prides itself on its customerfocused service. W centralfurnituremfg.co.uk

30/08/2017 14:25

Buoyan

+44 1282 691631 info@buoyant-upholstery.co.uk www.buoyant-upholstery.co.uk

Our top 4 selling models at the Manchester Furniture Show were: Austin, Dillon, Sienna and Verona (shown above clockwise from top left)

Buoyant Upholstery build over a century’s worth of knowledge, experience and quality into every piece of furniture we make. We never stray from the guiding principles that have helped us get to where we are today: making the best products, offering outstanding service and maintaining the keenest prices. We are committed members of the British Furniture Manufacturers Association and we’ve always given 100% support to the Great British Furniture campaign. From reassuringly traditional favourites to bold, modern fashion statements, our range is designed to offer something for everyone to maximise its sales potential. Across every single chair or complete suite, each frame is made meticulously and all fabric is stitched with real care and attention to offer outstanding quality and long-lasting comfort. There is real pride in every piece of furniture bearing our name.

If you don’t have Buoyant on your floor, why not?

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30/08/2017 18/08/2017 14:25 12:08

DESIGNER DANISH STYLE WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG

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The NT Collection The NT Collection brings designer Danish style without the price tag. This oak dining and occasional collection comes in our new light lacquer finish, for a look that’s winning fans across the country. Selling fast, the NT Collection is in-stock and ready for fast delivery. Order the NT Collection for the first time today and enjoy display discounts! Container prices illustrated

Mainland UK Orders Kettle Interiors Agencies www.kettleinteriorsagencies.com

Ireland Orders Decor Furniture Ltd info@decorfurnitureltd.com 028 3844 6000 I ROI Dedicated: 01 9014285 www.decorfurnitureltd.com

01536 444960

sales@kettleinteriorsagencies.com Container

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Stockist

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30/08/2017 14:25

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Mainland UK Orders Kettle Interiors Agencies www.kettleinteriorsagencies.com

Ireland Orders Decor Furniture Ltd info@decorfurnitureltd.com 028 3844 6000 I ROI Dedicated: 01 9014285 www.decorfurnitureltd.com

01536 444960

sales@kettleinteriorsagencies.com Container

FN 342 Pages.indd 141

Stockist

Wholesale

30/08/2017 14:25

DINING ROOM

142

•••

M&P Chairs has enjoyed a fruitful summer season and anticipates this to continue

Oskar dining, Wood Bros

M&P Chairs (www.mandpchairs.co.uk) continues to experience steady sales of its staple beech and oak farmhouse-style chair products throughout the summer months, and anticipates that sales of these will rapidly increase over the coming weeks, as customers order new table and chair sets for their homes for Christmas. Additionally, the company’s slat back and fiddle back rocking chairs and high back Granddad chairs are always good sellers during this period, because they are popular Christmas gifts. M&P is well stocked to service its customers’ needs over the coming busier period. M&P is based in East Sussex, carries large stocks of its core products and distributes throughout the UK using its own delivery vehicles and pallet and courier providers. The company prides itself in being able to deliver quality European hardwood chairs to its customers quickly and efficiently.

Based on one of the most enduring oak designs from Kettle Interiors (01536 444960), the new CW collection has been developed for today’s latest trends and is the first range to feature an improved rustic-style lacquer finish. Simon Ainge, sales director, explains: “Today, homeowners on the hunt for rustic oak furniture are after a much less saturated look and the finish developed for the CW collection is our response to this. It has a rustic and relaxed feel, but with a less rich tone that works great against bold textiles and strong wall colours.” Available for dining, occasional and bedroom, the CW collection features antique brass-effect handles to make the range ideal for country and period properties. It is available in a wide range of items for all size homes and is supplied direct from Kettle Interiors’ UK

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This summer at the Manchester Furniture Show saw Wood Bros (www.woodbros.co.uk) launch a variety of new designs. Star of the show was Oskar, a new contemporary collection of dining and living furniture that offers a midcentury modern twist. Made in oak with a natural chalk finish, the tops feature a mitred corner detail. The dining group comprises two sizes of extending table, 5 and 6ft, and has a distinctive shadow gap which is featured throughout the collection. The dining chair is offered in a choice of six textured plains. The sideboards and TV cabinet have soft-close doors and drawers and the display cabinet features pushto doors. A coffee and lamp table complete the group. The show also saw Wood Bros launch a variety of compact Old Charm occasional designs that epitomise the brand’s quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Occasional has always been a mainstay for the company and this year it has developed the collection even further. The new designs include a round coffee table, lamp table, rug chest, floor lamp, flip top table and a console table.

warehouse. The CW collection is in stock and ready for delivery across the country. With chrome handles and a light lacquer finish, Kettle’s new LW collection ticks all the right boxes for a modern oak collection. Simon says: “The influence of Scandi style has really permeated into the consumer psyche and we are now seeing homeowners want a really clean look to their oak, particularly with modern styles. We first developed this finish for our Scandi style NT collection and it’s been a huge success, so it seemed natural to make it available on one of our most established oak designs.” Available for dining, occasional and bedroom, the LW collection is focused around choice and impressive value. From fixed top and extending dining tables to wardrobes, it is a collection that offers something for every home.

LW dining, Kettle Interiors

CW dining, Kettle Interiors

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M&P Chairs Limited WWW.MANDPCHAIRS.CO.UK

110 - Slat Side (& High Back) Chair

111 - Spindle Side (& High Back) Chair

112 - Fiddle Side (& High Back) Chair

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116 - Fiddle Low Carver

QUALITY EUROPEAN HARDWOOD (BEECH AND OAK) CHAIRS THIS IS JUST A SMALL SELECTION OF OUR RANGE - PLEASE CONTACT US FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON OUR FULL OFFERING ALL AVAILABLE FROM STOCK • FINISHING SERVICES AVAILABLE • LARGE OR SMALL QUANTITIES • DISCOUNT FOR COLLECTION EMAIL OR CALL US TO REQUEST A BROCHURE AND PRICE LIST Please visit our website to see our full ranges - WWW.MANDPCHAIRS.CO.UK All enquiries to: Mike Hodgson – mikehodgson@gmx.com • Call: or Paul Hodgson – paul.holroyd.hodgson@gmail.com • Call:

07802 648383 07469 819520

M&P Chairs 340.indd 1

13/06/2017 10:20

BE PART OF A WINNING TEAM IN 2017 Reach the trade by advertising with Furniture News, the leading magazine for the UK furniture sector

Comprising a monthly magazine, website and various supplements and digital products, Furniture News offers greater reach than any other brand in the sector – and consequently has the strongest advertiser following. Since 1986, Furniture News has offered market news, insight and new products, and its international scope is unsurpassed – it is recognised by the International Alliance of Furnishing Publications (IAFP) as the UK’s leading publication. Furniture News delivers results for every requirement and budget! To discuss advertising opportunities, contact: Sam Horscroft: T 01424 776100 E sam@gearingmediagroup.com www.furniturenews.net

FN adJA.indd 1

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28/03/2017 15:23

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144 | Dining Room

Portsmouth bedroom with Georgia bed

SECONIQUEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPREHENSIVE OFFERING The Manchester Furniture Show saw the launch of many new lines for Seconique, including the Warwick collection of dining and occasional furniture. The Warwick range is styled in the trend-led industrial look and features black square metal tubing frames which are complemented by a medium sonoma oak-effect foil. The range consists of a dining set with four chairs, a generous sideboard with drawers and cupboards for storage as well as a console table with two drawers. The TV stand has space for media boxes and will hold up to a 60in TV. A large coffee table with shelves, nest of two tables and two side tables/plant stands completes the look. The Portland four seat dining set was amongst the bestsellers at the show and is available in cream or grey. The table has a rubberwood top and painted trestle-style legs and frame, while the chairs have an attractive cross detail on the back rests with brown faux leather seat pads on the cream set and grey linen fabric on the grey. New bedroom pieces include Portsmouth, which consists of a two-door wardrobe, bedside chest, four-drawer chest and five-drawer narrow chest. The white cabinet is complemented by an oak-effect veneer which runs along the drawer and door

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edges, tops and feet and features sculpted handles to complete the look. Additions to existing popular ranges include the Seville high gloss two door one drawer wardrobe, three door two drawer wardrobe, three- plus two-drawer chest and a five drawer narrow chest all available in black, grey and white high gloss. The Salvador collection now includes a tile top coffee table and console table with drawer and there is also a high and low foot end 4ft 6in bed. A new style TV stand and three and five tier shelf stands in black and white high gloss are the latest additions to the Charisma range. These are just a few of the products available at Seconique where its ranges cater for all decor styles from traditional to modern and offer impressive value for money. The company carries stock of its entire furniture range and operates a fast, reliable delivery service, offers cash and carry facilities, and is equipped to deal with customers who trade online. W seconique.co.uk

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Stroolmount (www.stroolmount. co.uk) has been helping designers, manufacturers and retailers solve problems and finding solutions for over 10 years. Moving heavy furniture can play havoc with wooden flooring. The decision to move a sofa could result in scratching across the floor and this is not much better in terms of carpet. Moving a heavy wardrobe can cause carpet to ripple or worse cause its joints to lurch to one side. Often wardrobes are even too difficult to move as friction will anchor it to the floor, but Stroolmount offers a simple solution which makes moving furniture easy – a range of protective glides, felts, move-it pads and recliner cups. These solutions are ideal for manufacturing, retail, hospitality, nursing home or end users. Stroolmount is a family run business with years of experience in the furniture industry. It is the sole UK distributor of the award-winning Quickclick interchangeable glide system.

Ordorite (www.ordorite.com) is a cloudbased retail order management software solution which integrates in-store and online sales and stock for supply-toorder retailers, to improve management reporting, reduce operational costs, and allows customers to manage their business end-to-end, delivering an ROI within the first year. Ordorite was set up in Ireland in 2006.

TRADE SERVICES •••

Stroolmount’s stand at the Manchester Furniture Show

In the time since, Ireland has become one of the hottest digital hubs in Europe, and a chosen base for some of the world’s most influential and innovative tech companies, including many of the biggest names such as Google, Amazon, Intel, and Facebook. Ordorite has been implemented in a number of different industries with modules tailored to suit. The

infrastructure used is based on thin web clients that connect to a central business rule and database over local networks or the Internet. In the early days, each independent store had its own local database as network connections were less reliable than now – this evolved into a centralized approach for each company that allows live access to data for managers and reports.

Ordorite is a cloud-based retail order management software solution

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FN 342 Pages.indd 147

The innovative plug and play Loox lighting system makes installing lighting simple. Easy to fit without an electrician, the Loox range is completely colour coded, making it straight-forward to connect, alter and retro-fit. Designed and engineered by the Häfele group, join the hundreds of Manufacturers who have bought Häfele’s versatile lighting system, today.

Visit: www.hafele.co.uk/loox to find out more and shop online.

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Visit the NBF stand by the main entrance FN 342 Pages.indd 148 24059•Trade Ads Education & Training FURNITURE NEWS 11.08.17_V2.indd 1

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20/02/2017 09:54

24/08/2017 11:40

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150 | Trade Services

Richard Jessup

Inside Lectra’s French factory

WHAT DOES BREXIT MEAN FOR BRITISH MANUFACTURING? Richard Jessup, sales director at Lectra – a leading provider of integrated solutions to the upholstered furniture industry, covering design, product development and automated cutting – talks Brexit, British manufacture and the importance of the Manufacturing Guild Mark. Prior to the Brexit vote, what changes have you seen in British furniture manufacturing over the last few years? In recent years, the British furniture market has become more competitive. We have seen a move towards a demand for greater choice in design, style and fabric, and the more conventional furniture makers are often becoming more design-led in order to win business. We also are seeing change in the market that is driven by the habits of the Millennials, the new wave of furniture consumers. These are the guys that were born with a smartphone in their hands and who require more choice and more customisation but at a price point lower than ever before. To compound this, they are not prepared to wait – they want it now! Within this competitive landscape and with the increasing pressures of the Millennials, furniture manufacturers have to be more agile to meet demands, whilst at the same time focusing on reducing cost but not at the risk of quality.

CEO, has raised Godfrey Syrett’s growth challenge from £40m to £50m by 2020. He says: “We have every confidence that the sector will thrive post-Brexit. We believe it is important for manufacturers to invest in automation technologies in order to update current processes and remain profitable, as well as investing in a skilled workforce who are ready to adopt these new practices.”

Have you seen a change in attitudes since Brexit? There is a degree of uncertainty about what Brexit means for the industry. Companies can think of Brexit as an opportunity or a threat. Forward thinking companies are looking at areas where they can be more efficient so that they are ready to change how they operate in response to the market. Take Godfrey Syrett for example. They design and manufacture innovative furniture solutions for a broad array of markets, including education, office and healthcare. Godfrey Syrett remain optimistic about the situation, so much so that Mark Dixon, recently-appointed executive chairman and

What do you believe are the most important areas of focus for British manufacturing post-Brexit? British manufacturers need to seek out the new trends and focus on areas of growth. In the office furniture sector for example, we are seeing a swing towards upholstered seating, and away from task seating that we recognise as traditional for this sector. This is based on the habits of today’s office workers, being more collaborative and connected. In all sectors of the furniture market, UK manufacturers need to be ready for change. In addition to this the industry needs to invest in technology solutions to become more efficient, flexible

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Have you had any feedback from other European manufacturers about the impact of Brexit on the UK market? The furniture markets are becoming more localised as lead times are squeezed by the consumer. European manufacturers have less of a presence in the UK as lead time to the customer becomes more important. This is an opportunity for UK manufacturers to dominate in their domestic territory. The fluctuation in exchange rates now discourages European manufacturers from supplying to the UK.

30/08/2017 14:25

Trade Services | 151 and productive to shorten lead times and maximise profits. Lectra is also the key sponsor of the Manufacturing Guild Mark – how important is this award in recognising excellence in UK manufacturing? The Manufacturing Guild Mark is a mark of excellence that all manufacturers should aspire to achieve. Companies with a Manufacturing Guild Mark can be sure that they have the highest standards in their manufacturing operations that will help them to be flexible and agile in the future, responding to the ever-changing demands of the market. For the customer it offers a level of confidence in their decision-making as the Manufacturing Guild Mark, awarded via a comprehensive independent audit, sets apart the top manufacturers in Britain.

Lectra IATC is based in Bordeaux-Cestas, France

Do you foresee a trend in consumers supporting products made by UK manufacturers in the wake of Brexit? ‘Made in Britain’ is becoming more important to consumers. They want to make informed decisions about their purchases, and part of that decision is often based on sourcing local products. UK manufacturers should continue to fly the flag for home-grown products. Companies can use this as a differentiator over products made overseas, but only when they are sure that they are fully competitive on choice, price point, lead time and quality. Agility and excellence in manufacturing has a big part to play in this. W lectra.com

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FURNISHER •••

The Wicker Merchant’s decorative Willow, Kobe

Luxury fabric specialist Kobe (www.en.kobe.eu) has put together its essential Essente Summer collection of striking, easy-to-care for, affordable interiors fabrics. The stylish collection, which includes curtains, voiles and sheers, dim-outs and upholstery fabrics for both domestic and commercial interiors features fabrics in a cool linen, soft chenille and silk satin appearance. Curated from the extensive selection at Kobe’s accessible Essente ranges, the summer edits offer a bright palette of naturals, neutrals and pastels. Woven jacquard curtain Willow has a matt taffeta look and feel with a damask pattern on a satin weave background and comes in six colours, including soft pastels and a contemporary black. Walnut has an ikat geometric pattern and is available in seven tones.

items have a unique appeal

Exhibiting at this month’s Glee and Autumn Fair events, The Wicker Merchant (01536 444960) has underlined its status as one of the UK’s best wicker companies, with a range of new items and exclusive finishes. Launched for the autumn/winter 2017 season, new seasonal looks expand The Wicker Merchant’s portfolio, giving retailers even more choice in baskets, storage and furniture. With items such as picnic baskets and hampers, goods from the Wicker Merchant are an easy way to boost seasonal sales. The Wicker Merchant supplies orders from across the country with extensive stock located at its UK warehouse, with weekly deliveries operating in most areas of the country. With free delivery from orders of £300, The Wicker Merchant offers 10% off when £2500 is spent.

Granorte is taking

Febland offers a wide

advantage of cork’s

range of decorative

wide variety of

accessories

applications

Sustainable and fast-growing, cork is in renaissance and as a material it is versatile, capable of being turned into everything from fabric to wallcovering, flooring and furniture. It is this versatility that is being embraced by Granorte (www.granorte.co.uk), with an impressive collection of cork products. Whether it is fabric suitable for contract use in lights, seats, stools and coffee tables, or striking highly-textured wall panels, Granorte is pioneering innovation in cork. Granorte is expert at discovering new applications for cork. Harnessing waste material from the cork stopper industry by processing it into blocks of agglomerated cork that can be turned into all sorts of products, the manufacturer has won awards for its innovative products.

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Febland (www.febland.co.uk) reports that the threat of chaos caused by Brexit has not yet affected the business in terms of sales, with healthy orders coming regularly from all directions. However, the business states that the effect of Brexit on its suppliers is more concerning. It is now harder to fill a hi-cube container and space shortage, and this, coupled with slower deliveries, may water down the benefits of Febland’s strongest selling period. Fortunately, the business has already bought forward several ranges of new lines. Febland is a small but flexible company with a group of dedicated staff which respond instantly to customers’ requests. Its offers a choice of fabrics and range of furniture as well as lighting and giftware.

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Furniture & Lighting

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Hall 2

Open 7 Days A Week

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Flag House, Ashworth Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 4UN

T : 01253 600 600 Email : info@febland.co.uk

www.febland.co.uk

FABULOUS FURNITURE | LUXURY LIGHTING | AMAZING ARTWORK | GLORIOUS GIFTWARE

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Make your warehouse more eﬃcient! Ÿ mattress trolleys Ÿ sofa trolleys Ÿ ﬂat-pack trolleys

Tel: 0161 702 7002 sales@steelyproducts.co.uk

DESIGNED AND MADE IN MANCHESTER UK

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VISIT OUR SHOWROOM IN SOMERCOTES, DERBYSHIRE Unit 6, Securiparc, Wimsey Way, Alfreton Trading Estate, Somercotes, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 4HG 074 68 58 10 00

www.light-living.co.uk

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Advertorial

SHAPING A WORLD OF INSPIRATIONâ&#x20AC;¦ Light & Living is always trying to inspire you. This we do with a wide collection for a broad audience at a fair price. This year we are existing for already 15 years. But our own production of lampshades dates from 1972! Nowadays we are still producing our own lampshades in Noordwijk/ Netherlands. The fall & winter collection of 2017/2018 is made with a lot of love and care. We spend many hours making the right mood boards, sourcing the most loving items and negotiating with our partners. The result will hopefully blow you away.

VISIT US! Eventcalendar AUTUMN FAIR - Birmingham September 3-6 Hall 2: H21-G20 & G21-F20 MAISON&OBJET - Paris September 8-12 Hall 5A: B164-E163-E164-F163

Order the Light & Living Winter Collection at WWW.LIGHT-LIVING.CO.UK

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156 | Furnisher

Boyteks is a globally-recognised industry name

BOYTEKS RAISES THE BAR Boyteks has become one of the preferred textile brands for industrial buyers for its mattress ticking, upholstery fabric and carpet manufacturing. Boyteks is a well-known and recognised brand within its target audience throughout the world, and exported to more than 100 countries last year. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young and dynamic manufacturing and collection teams work with the sales team on the road in more than 50 countries and with customers. Boyteks endeavours to exceed its customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations, and has made significant investments in design and staffing in recent years. Currently, major furniture manufacturers request and utilise Boyteksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; patterns. The approach and interpretation of the various countries Boyteks works with towards patterns and designs differs greatly, and the company is able to manage these differences in

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order to appeal to each market successfully. Boyteks places importance on the utilisation of technology and mobile applications, with its marketing team working on ways to provide better services to its customers. With the mobile applications recently developed by the company, its customers are now able to design their own furniture and have the opportunity to see the furniture before the manufacturing process. This application provides great benefits to customers in terms of accelerating work processes and avoiding problems that can occur in the postmanufacturing process. W boyteks.com

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Central Furniture Manufacturing Ltd

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Central

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160 | Last Word

GARY RHODES NATIONAL SALES MANAGER, MAMMOTH Drawn from a wealth of expertise in the health industry, Mammoth designs and manufactures a range of mattresses and sofas featuring the company’s award winning Medical Grade Foam. The company’s science of comfort drives new innovations and technologies across its ranges.

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Last Word | 161

ow did you enter the trade? My first break was as a trainee sales representative for a subsidiary of British Vita in 1989. My job was to sell non-woven and furniture component products into the furniture sector. There was lots of cold calling involved and it was a great way to learn sales the hard way! Who is your inspiration? My first sales director in the bed industry- Ken Hutchinson. He gave me my first break into the sector and showed a great deal of dignity and patience in dealing with both the sales team and customers. These were invaluable lessons at an early stage in my career. What has been your career high point so far? Honestly, I still think it’s to come. I don’t like to rest on my laurels! However, being Sales Person of the Year, two years on the trot, whilst at Perfecta Beds is something I am very proud of! … and the low point? Watching the demise of Perfecta and Layezee Beds was a sad time in my career. When you have invested so much time and energy into a business for which you have a lot of affection, the failure of that business is so much harder to take. … and the turning point? Without question, it was landing the job as area sales manager for Perfecta Beds. I’ve never looked back since that day! Describe a typical working day In this sector there is no such thing to be honest. That’s one of the reasons I love working in the bed sector so much. But as national sales manager for Mammoth there’s generally a mix of meetings with agents, managing the sales teams, meetings with the team at Mammoth’s headquarters in the North East and generally organising the sales processes for an innovative business. If you had to start over, you’d probably

“The NBF Bed Show in September is one of the best things to happen to our industry. I really enjoy being a part of the team involved in organising and attending the show” pursue which career? I would most definitely be a sports journalist. I love sports of all kinds and I’d love to make a career out of reporting on sports and following developments closely. But for now I’m happy to settle for working with all the sporting elites who sleep on and endorse Mammoth mattresses! What date on the business calendar do you most look forward to? The NBF Bed Show in September – it’s one of the best things to happen to our industry. I really enjoy being a part of the team involved in organising and attending the show, from having a hand in designing stands to helping to organise offers and appearances. It’s a frenetic time in any bed business and I’m really looking forward to being involved in my first NBF Bed Show with the Mammoth team. What is the most important issue affecting your business right now? I think that there’s a general lack of consumer confidence in the retail industry as a whole at the moment. The uncertainty caused by Brexit is also an issue. People seem to be putting off the bigger shopping decisions at the moment, which is causing a bit of a slow down across the board. What company do you most look up to? Obviously Mammoth. It’s such a forward-thinking and innovative business, which I’ve been impressed by for a number of years now. When the opportunity arose to join the team I jumped at the chance to be involved. Everyone here is so positive about the company and the products they design that it’s almost impossible not to get

“There’s a general lack of consumer confidence in the retail industry as a whole at the moment – people seem to be putting off the bigger shopping decisions, which is causing a bit of a slow down across the board”

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caught up in the excitement. Further afield, I’m also impressed by Sealy. Their business model has always been so consistent and the team there is always developing the business and has some great people involved. What would you most like to change about yourself? My age… time is going far too fast! What do you enjoy most about working in the trade? That’s simple. It’s the people. The bed industry is, in my opinion, one of the last trades to be people-led. Leave us with an industry anecdote please! When I worked at Sealy, new starters were always told that we did a fancy dress day at the annual sales conference. Not wanting to let down their new team, they always turned up in fancy dress, only to find they were the only ones out of the entire sales team in costume. One year we were in Bruges. The sight of Batman being chased down the main street by The Incredible Hulk, to the total astonishment of the locals, still makes me cry with laughter.

CAREER DIGEST 1989 – British Vita, trainee sales representative/ area sales manager 1996 – Perfecta & Layezee Beds, area sales manager/ national account manager 2004 – Sealy Beds, national account manager 2008 – Simmons Group, national sales manager 2010 – Breasley – national account manager 2013 – Jay-Be, national sales manager 2014 – Dura Beds, national sales manager 2016 – FWG, national sales manager 2017 – Mammoth, national sales manager

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On the web this month The Furniture News website is constantly updated with fresh stories. Browse www.furniturenews.net on your desktop of mobile to access the latest content, or sign up for our newsletter

Further Reading Do you have a story to share? To contribute, call the editorial desk on 01424 776105 or email victoria@gearingmediagroup.com

Are you looking to place product before the UK’s buyers? To advertise or submit product information, call the sales team on 01424 776100, or email sam@gearingmediagroup.com

Do you wish to receive a copy of the magazine every month? You can subscribe to receive the magazine monthly by emailing subscriptions@gearingmediagroup.com.

News: Young Furniture Makers exhibition returns

Keep up to date You can also sign up to receive free access to the digital edition each month, as well as the twice-weekly Furniture News e-newsletter, via the speciﬁc links at www.furniturenews.net/magazine – or email sam@gearingmediagroup to be manually signed up for the digital services.

Don’t forget to follow the Furniture News Twitter feed, @FurnitureNewsED, to keep up with the latest news and opinions from the team

News: La-Z-Boy launches new consumer website

Furniture News is an invaluable resource for those operating in the UK domestic furniture and furnishings sector – but it’s just one of the titles published by Gearing Media Group.

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News: Heal’s celebrates British designers with top styling talent

Those involved in the contract furnishings market should take a look at Hospitality Interiors magazine (www.hospitality-interiors.net), while anyone seeking furniture manufacturing machinery or supplies should check out Furniture Production (www.furnitureproduction.net).

In next month’s issue: Autumn Fair review | Beds & Bedroom, Living and Dining | Trade Services

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ARE YOU LOOKING?

FOR A NEW SHOW OR DELIVERY VAN

01673 863300 www.maximover.co.uk

The Number #1 Low Floor Luton Van Manufacturer

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September 2017

Issue 342