MERIDIAN UPHOLSTERY

By MD Jonathan Eager

What’s your current bestseller?

The Georgia/Hampton range. It’s always done well, but now it seems to be seeing an explosion in popularity – we’re preparing for it to go into one of the biggest retailers in the country in an exclusive fabric range. It’s a classic design that suits interior design-led, quality-conscious buyers, and because we’ve kept the prices as they were in 2022 it’s attracting lots more mid-market customers. Everyone else’s prices have gone up, but ours have stayed the sameor even come down, which brings true affordable luxury within reach of a much broader, budget-conscious consumer base www.meridianupholstery.co.uk

What trends are on their way out?

Does anything ever really go ‘out of trend’ in the furniture industry?! Boucle was a supposed fad, yet it’s appearing on more and more shop floors. Possibly lower-quality products and imports, as people make more considered purchases?

… and what’s coming in?

Consumers are definitely looking for true value – good-quality product that’s not going to break the bank. It’s probable why we are so busy. There’s also the option to tailor products to their wants and needs, the bespoke option, which we can readily offer as we don’t run on a production line. Generally, the more minimalistic styles are doing well –monochrome colours in plainer fabrics, and clean, neat lines with accent scatters are making up a large portion of our order bank.Better product, better price and better lead time seems to be ticking the boxes!

What’s your current bestseller?

The Barrow upholstery range (comprising one, two and three seaters plus a two-seat sofabed). We launched the Barrow at the January Furniture Show and have found its slightly more compact footprint popular in the current market. We have also seen a marked upturn in sales of the sofabed option as customers are starting to make more use of space in their homes

What trends are on their way out?

We are seeing crushed velvets becoming less popular. For our customers, the more traditional models are also slowing down

… and what’s coming in?

Vibrant. opulent colours, with linens and natural fabrics becoming more and more popular. Clean lines and contemporary shapes are prevalent. Also, we are seeing a big increase on sofabeds as a whole www.sweetdreamsuk.com

Michael Tyler Furniture

By MD Kai Winders

What’s your current bestseller?

We have a number of products that sell really well. However, over the last couple of months the Zara range has really grown in popularity. Post lockdown, people have been re-evaluating the way they use their living space and the furniture within it, opting for a more bespoke modular approach and investing in quality and comfort. The Zara range offers not only a great choice of modular options but also two distinct seat depths, giving each option very different comfort characteristics

What trends are coming in?

We have seen a steady move from more clinical finishes, chrome feet, and grey, flat fabrics, to a more natural look and palette. Natural oak feet, with a raw, unlacquered finish, complementing earthy tones in fabrics from green to terracotta, are certainly gaining traction. We are seeing a lot more texture in fabrics, from boucles to soft, luxurious chenilles – the trend is very much about bringing the outdoors in www.michael-tyler.co