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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014
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An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
COLNE Valley-based family firm, Daval Furniture is heading to Birmingham to attend one of the UK’s largest gathering of the world’s most exciting kitchen, bedroom and bathroom brands. The Daval team is attending the forthcoming kbb Live Exhibition, which takes place from March 2 to 5 at the NEC Birmingham. The event will showcase more than 300 outstanding brands, their bestsellers and exciting new innovative products. Exhibitors include well-known household names such as AEG and many major publications from within the industry. Slaithwaite-based Daval, which celebrates 35 years of trading this year, has a strong reputation for the design and manufacture of fitted furniture. It has invested continuously in development and technology to help keep the business at the forefront of its industry – rivalling the likes of its German competitors and prospering through the recession. Daval will showcase its bestsellers – the Oakley Kitchen and Como Bedroom, as well as launching its brand new handle-less kitchen, Spa Fields, a new generation of kitchen using the latest syn-
■■ Simon Bodsworth, marketing and development manager at furniture firm Daval
chronised wood grains which provide a colour and texture never seen before. Marketing and development manager Simon Bodsworth said this would be the first exhibition Daval has attended as an exhibitor. He said: “It will no doubt prove to be a fantastic experience which will showcase our handcrafted products to attendees from around the world. “We have been preparing for the exhibition for a number of months. This has involved designing a complete exhibi-
tion stand from scratch, modifying our kitchen and bedrooms to fit within the stand and planning logistics for the event. “We are looking forward to showcasing our bespoke furniture at the event and putting Yorkshire manufacturing on the map.” Daval came to prominence a few years ago with its groundbreaking Option-I technology, which propelled the company to the forefront of its field as individual, flexible, design-led specialists –
offering a made-to-measure approach which has proved popular with consumers and independent retailers. Option-I is a software system that handles all aspects of a customer’s order – from placing the order to packaging and dispatching the finished product. The system also allows customers to specify a much wider range of colours, styles and finishes when they select the company’s fitted bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms. This has resulted in a carefully managed strategy that allows for individual care for different dealers, including tailored product, service and marketing support. Daval was founded by Simon’s father David, who is managing director. The business, which was initially built on recommendations, is owned and managed by the Bodsworth family with all furniture designed and built in the company’s state-of-the-art 100,000 sq ft factory at Slaithwaite. Daval has no plans to slow down as the UK economic recovery picks up. David said: “Many UK manufacturers have experienced tough times throughout a number of recessions. “As a family business we are proud to have survived these challenging periods and we believe this pays testament to our team ethos and pure determination. “We are looking forward to 2014 and are confident that Daval will still be around in another 35 years’ time!”
Businessman Graham Leslie is charity’s new champion A prominent businessmen has been appointed patron of a Brighouse-based charity. Prof Graham Leslie, founder of pharmaceuticals firm Galpharm International Ltd, has pledged his support to the Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund. Graham grew Galpharnm into the largest privately-owned store brand pharmaceutical company in Europe. He was also responsible for making one of the world’s most commonly used painkillers, Ibuprofen, available as an “over the counter” medicine – a move which continues to save the NHS about £300m a year. He was also instrumental in the development of Huddersfield’s first 25,000-seater stadium – now the John Smith’s Stadium – ,
which Galpharm sponsored for many years. During the recession, Graham helped several companies overcome their financial difficulties and transform themselves into profitable businesses, resulting in his being awarded an honorary doctorate of business administration at Huddersfield University. He became resident professor of enterprise and entrepreneurship at the university and is involved in its 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, which assists dynamic business growth and encourages collaborations through the university’s key research centres. Graham already supports a number of charities. Commenting on his latest
appointment, he said: “I am delighted to become patron of the Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund and to support the work they are achieving to ensure essential research on kidney disease. The charity has helped researchers to produce internationally renowned results and I am proud to be involved with such an organisation.” Pat Gardner, acting chair of the Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund, said: “We are grateful that Graham has agreed to become patron. We are very privileged to have the support of such an eminent entrepreneur, philanthropist and mentor and we look forward to working with him.” The charity is now encouraging people to stage fundraising events to mark World Kidney Day on March 13.
Second success A DESIGN company in Huddersfield has completed an awards double. The Engine Room, based at the Media Centre in Northumberland Street, was presented with its second consecutive Design Effectiveness Award in London. The trophy was awarded for the 2012 rebrand for national budget gym chain Xercise4Less. The project, which contributed to an increase in turnover of 120% in just six months, supported Xercise4Less in positioning its brand alongside supermarket giant Tesco in a recent deal which saw the award-winning chain open its first gym within a Tesco store.
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BAFTA winner Holmfirth design company Lightbulb took a bow for its role in this year’s BAFTAs. The company was behind the creation of the online voting platform used by thousands of producers and directors to submit and vote on all categories of the awards, which were presented in London. David Henzell, of Lightbulb, said: “BFTA asked for a major refresh of the look and feel of the site – and they turned straight to us. We were honoured and thrilled.”