Interiors Monthly January 2022 by Interiors Monthly

JANUARY 2022

Retail

Mattress Online

JFS

Show guide

Focussing on the future

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Inflation brings new concerns Higher utility and food costs mean retailers will have to up their game even further in 2022 Furniture and flooring sales in 2021 were up on 2019, although by very differing degrees. The industry has done remarkably well to manage raw material cost rises, supply-chain problems and staffing issues, but with inflation showing no signs of slowing, 2022 looks set to be a difficult year. Shoppers who last year spent their holiday money on a new sofa or carpet look likely to have to spend some of that on significantly higher utility and food bills instead, meaning interiors retailers will have to raise their game once again. By the time this arrives through your door there is a distinct possibility that your store may not be open. The spread of the Omicron Covid variant seems likely to see a return to some form of post-Christmas lockdown. For much of non-essential retail such a move would be an over-reaction. As was demonstrated across the furniture and flooring sector previously, a switch to appointment-based shopping is safe, doable and anecdotally generates a higher conversion rate. For large stores it is probably as safe as having a walk in the park, and even for smaller stores having a couple in-store allows for plenty of social distancing. And of course, appointments allow time for the necessary cleaning before the next shopper. Of course, it’s not ideal, especially during the winter sale, but it’s better than being closed, even if it is for a few weeks. But I fear such an idea is far too nuanced for the UK Government, for which a ‘one size fits all’ approach will be the most likely outcome. Hopefully I’m entirely wrong. Covid has continued to lay waste to exhibitions, with Heimtextil and imm Cologne following the way of Domotex. For UK visitors the matter was rendered irrelevant when the German Government followed France and banned UK travellers. The inability to visit the German trio and Maison & Objet should be a boost for JFS, INDX Furniture and Spring Fair this month, provided they can go ahead.

INTERIORS MONTHLY JANUARY 2022

INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS 4

Victoria buys Balta divisions for £165m

Furniture and flooring sales climb again

Plumbs debuts bespoke online sofa offer

FEATURES 14

New products

Service

Experiences New year, new challenges

Retail Combining online and bricks and mortar, Factory Direct Flooring reveals its 2021 bestsellers

Trends SS2022

Design Wood Awards winners

Beds and bedroom Supplement

Upholstery Mid-century influences, 40 years of innovation

Show guide January Furniture Show

128 Preview INDX Furniture, Spring Fair, CIFF

134 Protection and warranties Strengthened, Adding value, Be safe Editor: Andrew Kidd

T: 01273 930 029 E: akidd@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

JANUARY 2022

Retail

Mattress online

JFS

Show guide

Furniture advertising (South): Tim Boden Whitemeadow: driven to lead, proud to impress. Visit: www.whitemeadow.com

M: 07976 122 150 E: tboden@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Furniture advertising (North): Jarrod Bird T: 01565 631 397 E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Carpet, flooring advertising: Joanne Paull M: 07817 624 922 E: jpaull@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Focussing on the future

Representative in India: Amarjeet Singh Gianni T: 0091 98390 35458 E: as_gianni@yahoo.co.in

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NEWS

Victoria to pay £165m for Balta’s rug and UK flooring divisions Victoria Group is to buy Balta Group’s rug division, its UK carpet business and its non-woven operations for £117m in cash and take on £48m of debt. It has also raised a further £150m from investment group Koch. Balta will now focus on its ITC residential brand and the contract sector. The three divisions had EBITDA of £30.1m in the year to 31 March, a 18.7% rise, from sales of £260.2m, up 1.1%. The rug division had sales of £155m in 2020 and is the second largest rug producer behind Oriental Weavers. The UK carpet division had sales of £87.5m in 2020 and the non-wovens division £14.7m. Victoria says it expects synergies of at least £12.7m in the next two to three years. It will retain the Balta brand. The deal is expected to be completed in April. ‘Victoria has spent time building a highquality operational management team with depth and commitment. They have been

successful at increasing the operating margin of the group's UK carpet division from 5% to 18% through steady productivity gains and improved customer service. Consequently, Victoria's management team are now laser-focused on execution of our detailed plans for each of the recently announced acquisitions, and I am certain they will achieve similar gains as the businesses are integrated,’ says Geoff Wilding, Victoria Group executive chairman. Once the deal is completed Victoria says it will have ‘a little under 5%’ of the UK flooring market and 16% of UK broadloom carpet sales. ‘A higher average EBITDA margin and better cash conversion will enable more investment in sustainability and growth through innovation, manufacturing optimisation and more agile digital solutions. Being more focused and less complex is also expected to improve overall efficiency,’ says Balta.

B&S moves in Barker & Stonehouse has taken almost 20,000sqft of space at two of Fenwick’s department stores. It is occupying the furniture floor at the chain’s Newcastle flagship store and 9,000sqft at its Bentalls store in Kingston. ‘It is a different way of trading for us, but retail has changed markedly in the past five years, and particularly in the past two. This type of collaboration is definitely an excellent route to sustainable growth. It allows both brands to extend their offer in relevant ways, bringing the benefits of each brand to the customers of both. Fenwick’s values, customers and aspirations perfectly align with our own and I think this will work well for both parties,’ says James Barker, Barker & Stonehouse md. Hazel Ayers, Fenwick director of buying home & beauty says the move will meet growing demand for contemporary furniture in-store and online.

JYSK profitability means staff bonus JYSK saw its UK operation move into profit as sales leapt in the past year. Helped by store openings, sales jumped 67% to €68.9m for the UK and Ireland, with EBIT profits up 740% to €8.3m. Full-time staff will receive a bonus of £2,397 (€2,539). Customer numbers jumped almost a third to 1.1million. ‘Whilst it has been another tough year for retail in many ways, we are very pleased with the results of our continued investment in growing JYSK’s geographical – and digital – footprint. In Ireland, we were able to

contribute positive EBIT for our second financial year in a row. In the UK, we have contributed positive EBIT for the first time, which is a huge achievement considering five out of 12 months, our stores were closed. Following last year’s turnaround project to merge the UK and Ireland organisations we have seen the initial trend for growth continue,’ says Roni Tuominen, JYSK UK & Ireland country manager. ‘It was also a great privilege to be able to implement our industry-leading retail reward scheme. It is rewarding to

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Roni Tuominen, JYSK UK and Ireland country manager

acknowledge the hard work of staff throughout the year, especially during challenging periods of extended lockdown, where they proved they were agile and flexible in helping us to find creative solutions to service our customers.’ A further 14 stores are planned this financial year.

‘The appetite is there for home furnishing products amongst our customers, perhaps now more than ever. The nation continues to spend more at time at home and to invest in creating comfortable, “hygge”-inspired interiors that are synonymous with our Danish heritage.’

NEWS

Furniture and flooring sales rose in November According to the Office of National Statistics’ first estimate of November’s retail sales, furniture and flooring sales rose in November, higher than October 2021, November 2020 and November 2019. The furniture and lighting sector in England, Wales and Scotland saw sales rise 0.88% compared with October. This compared with a monthly fall of 5.99% in October. Average weekly sales were £325,755,000. Compared with November 2020, sales were up 7.77%, and compared with November 2019, sales were 3.15% higher. To put the monthly performance into perspective, it was the fourth best month (of 431) since January 1986. Weekly sales have averaged £198,115,000 in the interim. For the year to date (January to November 2021), furniture and lighting sales were 17.73% higher than the same period in 2020 and 0.29% higher than 2019. The flooring sector saw sales rise 4.48% compared with October. This compared with a monthly fall of 9% in October. Average weekly sales were £43,071,000.

November was the fourth-best month for trading in 35 years

Compared with November 2020, sales were up 136.7%, and compared with November 2019, 13.18% higher. November was the 265th best month since January 1986. Since then, average weekly sales have averaged £40,452,000. For the year to date (January to November), flooring sales were 24.78% higher than 2020 and 11.25% higher than 2019. The latest figures are subject to revision by ONS.

ScS warns of changing consumer trends ScS has warned of lower shopper numbers and orders. At the end of November the chain cautioned its shareholders: ‘Over the last seven weeks, the group has seen a reduction in store footfall and conversion, with consumers spending less on big-ticket discretionary purchases. This appears to

be driven by a change in behaviour, with consumers shopping earlier for Christmas when compared with previous years. The extended product lead times currently being experienced across the furniture and wider retail industry are also having an impact on purchasing trends.’ Shareholders took fright,

sending the share price down by more than 12%. Two-year like-for-like order growth for the 16 weeks to 20 November was 0.9%, 10.6% down on 2020. The group's order book was £131.9m at 20 November, £71.5m above the same point two years ago. Online sales were 38.5% higher than 2019.

Sterling profits jump despite lockdown challenge Sterling Furniture Group saw profits leap in the past year, despite lockdown store closures hitting turnover. Pre-tax profits leapt from £338,639 to £2.526m in the year to 28 February. Sales dropped by 27% to £40m. ‘Despite the difficulties

and challenges brought about by the pandemic, the group continued its strategy,’ says the company. ‘During the year the group invested in the refurbishment and conversion of its Thomson's store in Dunfermline to the new-concept “Sterling Home”

Interiors Monthly January 2022

format store. This store has traded well since reopening. ‘The pandemic has had a significant impact on the business over the year. The group was forced to review its operations and find savings and change processes to adapt to the changing circumstances.’

Valley deal Flooring distributor Likewise has agreed to buy rival Valley Wholesale Carpets for £30m. Founded in 1982, Valley has a strong presence in the south-east of England and the Midlands, with two main distribution centres in Erith and Derby. It had sales of £47.3m in the year ended 30 September, up 32%, and EBITDA of £5.7m, up 89%. Likewise says the deal is expected to deliver around 25% earnings enhancement during the first full year of ownership. It raised about £14m to help fund the deal by issuing 40million new shares. Directors bought £280,000 worth and shareholder directors saw their holding reduced from 28.4% to 23.3%.

GUARANTEE YOUR SALES SUCCESS IN 2022 ~ YOUR INVITATION ~ Come and see us on Stand A1 in Hall 1 at THE JANUARY FURNITURE SHOW on 23rd to 26th January 2022

DON’T MISS OUT Don’t hire a sales company until you have spoken to Greenwood. Discover why you can trust Greenwood – the UK & Ireland’s Leading Experts in Retail Sales Promotion - to help you optimise your next big sales event. Come and see us at the NEC JFS to find out more. We can usually outline your sales projections and costs from a brief discussion. We’d love to see you there. Or call us directly on 07771 700247 to find out more or, to arrange your free, confidential, no-obligation business consultation.

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NEWS

Shipping hits profits

Fable & Plumb is targetting the family market

Plumbs debuts online sofa offer Sofa cover, re-upholstery and curtains supplier Plumbs has debuted an online upholstery brand. While Plumbs has been selling covers for more than 60 years, and through home visits since 1980, Fable & Plumb is online only. Five UK-made designs are available with 12-week lead times. Prices start from £1,750 to £1,799 for a large sofa. With a range of more than 400 removeable, washable fabric options, three seat filling options and five leg colour options, the company says it is offering the widest range of custom design options of any major sofa manufacturer and retailer in the UK. The intention behind the brand is to enable customers to design a sofa that fits into their life for the long term, with the ability to update their decor in the future without having to buy a new sofa to match. ‘The ability to replace fabrics on the same frame is not only a great lifestyle choice but also reflects the global movement away from high-waste consumerism, and an emphasis on environmentally conscious purchasing decisions in products that have a long lifetime of use,’ says Sarah Page, Plumbs md and grand-daughter of Plumbs founders Tim and Bernice Plumb. ‘Built to last through the journey of family life, the key target audience is families, who want to live sustainably and to have the flexibility to refresh and enliven their homes throughout their lives. With Fable & Plumb, a sofa is forever.’

Management reshuffle Jonathan Hirst has reshuffled Dreams’ management team. Kal Singh has succeeded Hirst as coo from supply chain and distribution director, a role he held since 2019. Jo Martin has joined as marketing director. Previously head of in-store marketing at Asda and B&Q, she spent the past six years as Sally Salon Services European marketing director. ‘Jo and Kal have exactly the experience, expertise and values we need to drive our business and brands forward,’ says Hirst, who officially became ceo on 1 January.

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Made will see between £12m and £15m of profits deferred until 2022 because of shipping delays. The retailer says delays, particularly factory closures in Vietnam, will result in completed sales dropping by £35m to £45m compared to its previous forecast of £410m. This in turn would see profits not recognised until next year. Despite this, sales will still be more than 40% higher than 2020. ‘The group has built stock positions to deliver significantly better lead times to consumers for 2022 and beyond, as orders placed with suppliers are now in or close to our warehouses. The progress is based on foundational work already undertaken over the last 12 to 18 months, focusing on warehousing and logistics. Additionally, supply of goods from Vietnam has now returned to close to normal levels, with all key suppliers now operational,’ it says.

Inflation climbs According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, annual inflation for household furniture rose from 11.3% to 12.2% in the year to November 2021. In November 2020 the rate was 1.1%. Carpets and other floorcoverings rose from 7.3% to 8.8%: the figure had fallen from 9.6% in October. In November 2020 the rate was 0.9%. Garden furniture saw the rate rise from 5.6% to 6.3%. In November 2020 prices fell by 1.9%. Household textiles saw inflation slow from 3.2% to 1.9%.

Flooring it South of England flooring wholesaler STS Flooring Distributors has become a member of Floorwise. STS, founded in 1965 in Orpington, Kent, where its head office remains, has depots in Orpington, Basildon, Croydon, Hemel Hempstead and Cambridge.

UNFORGETTABLE . UNRIVALLED . UNMISSABLE

23-25 JANUARY 2022 Discover leading brands and ranges specifically curated by AIS for independent retailers. We look forward to welcoming you to the INDX Furniture Show.

Where the industry unites For exhibitor enquiries visit www.indxshows.co.uk or email info@indxshows.co.uk Cranmore Park Conference and Event Centre, Cranmore Avenue, Shirley, Solihull, B90 4LF

OPINION

Russell Rule Green is for go

‘January Furniture Show will go ahead as planned, with the Covid pass and mandatory face coverings in place,’ says Russell Rule, January Furniture Show event director. ‘With safety still paramount January Furniture Show will be onducting a Covid pass policy for entry (you must be fully vaccinated, with the final dose more than 14 days ago or a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours prior to attending) and mandatory face coverings. To review all safety measures, please visit our website at januaryfurnitureshow.com/safety-information. ‘We are committed to bringing you January Furniture Show 2022 in a safe environment that you can feel comfortable attending for your yearly buying needs. We have run successful trade shows up to now following the above safety measures and requiring a Covid pass for entry: the only new introduction is mandatory face coverings. We look forward to seeing you to start 2022 on a positive note for the retail industry,’ says Rule. ‘Filling four halls at the NEC: Hall 1 – Premium Design, Hall 2 – Interior Accessories, Hall 4 – Living, Dining & Bedroom, and Hall 5 – Furniture, Upholstery and Beds – the 2022 show promises more than 350 brands with thousands of new launches, catering to every budget and style. We look forward to welcoming you’

RECRUITMENT If you are looking to recruit staff for your furniture or flooring stores, looking for sales staff or reps for your manufacturing outlet, then INTERIORS MONTHLY offers a great package! Our online package is just £175. Your advert will appear in our jobs section on the website until the position is filled or you ask us to remove. Our weekly newsletter, which is mailed every Thursday to 7000 industry professionals, also includes a list of these latest jobs. If you have both online and quarter page recruitment advert in our magazine, the cost will only be £250! Costs for larger recruitment adverts are available upon request.

Please contact Jarrod on E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk T: 01565 631 397 January Furniture Show 2022 runs from 23-26 January and is the UK’s largest furniture and interiors trade event. Online registration is now open at www.januaryfurnitureshow.com

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Four bar Hexham This variant to the established eight bar Hexham spindle aims to give a cleaner, more contemporary look yet remains also able to cross over into traditional. A winner with painters.

Oak Hamburg Carver Jet Hopsack Seat

Oak Loire Chair Natural Hopsack

Hexham Eight bar Our highly popular eight bar back plain spindle back chair is where modern meets the best of Victorian simple. Equally at home in town or country dining settings. Available in beech or oak.

Hoop back

Windsor Hoop Carver

An enormously popular and stylish hoop back with elegant good looks and features, robust enough even for contract. This is a quality beech chair that fits many bills.

We have taken a classic Georgian style an adapted it for modern living. The ageless lines evoke their traditional background but also harness a more modern edge. Great as a stand-alone chair in its own right or a carver complement to our hoop or Hexham’s.

NEW PRODUCTS

1 BerryAlloc’s high-pressure Wall&Water waterproof decorative wall panels are now available in the UK through IDS. Presented in a contemporary range of designs and different tile sizes, the collection brings a versatile, durable and easy way to renew bathroom and wet-room interiors, with fast installation and easy maintenance. Visit: www.berryalloc.com 2 With its heathered effect and soft pile, Abingdon Flooring’s new Stainfree Aristocat has a comforting look and feel that belies its tough nature. Joining the Stainfree family, this is carpet with the durability for modern family life, protected from stains for its lifetime and available in 4m and 5m widths. Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk 3 Designed to bring a bit of magic into interior design, Pullcast’s Kids collection has a comprehensive range of whimsical drawer handles with either two- or threedimensional characters, including a dog, butterfly, donut, a rocket that lights up in the dark, a basketball and other enticing surprises. Visit: www.pullcast.eu 4 Recofloor, the vinyl flooring take-back scheme, has launched a new website offering improved information for both current and prospective scheme members and the wider industry. The new website combines a fresh look and feel with clear explanations, showing how everyone can play their part in making the sector more sustainable. Visit: www.recofloor.org 5 Granorte has opened a new Telford showroom, office and warehouse facility for its range of cork-based floors, walls, furniture and design objects. With growth capacity, the new warehouse will allow Granorte to introduce more products directly available from UK stock, helping to reduce lead times. Visit: www.granorte.co.uk 

Interiors Monthly January 2022

4 5

NEW Tudor Twist Classic • Regal

myvictoria.co.uk

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NEW PRODUCTS

6 Dehomecratic’s Vote armchair, with its free and expressive look, is a tribute to Man Ray and to the formal and conceptual acrobatics of Dadaism. Elegant and theatrical, it easily inserts itself in various environments, from the most classic and sophisticated to the most modern and minimalist. Visit: www.dehomecratic.it 7 Leading independent wholesaler STS Flooring Distributors has become a member of the Floorwise group. Founded in 1965, it has depots in Orpington, Basildon, Croydon, Hemel Hempstead and Cambridge. With a dedicated fleet of vehicles, the wholesaler is renowned for providing excellent service to the retail and commercial flooring markets. Visit: www.floorwise.co.uk

8 Kristalia’s Mustache indoor rug combines viscose and wool, made using the dhurrie technique. The decoration is minimalist, with woven line graphic details in contrasting colours. The standard size is 250cm x 350cm, with custom options. Visit: www.kristalia.it 9 Tato’s tubular metal Monforte chair is available with or without arms and in a satin gold or black finish. The ‘handle’ on the back of the backrest is a clear sign that distinguishes the design of this piece, but also a useful support to move the chair around effortlessly. Visit: www.tatoitalia.com 10 The MT table adds a new example of refined elegance to Ritzwell’s collection, thanks to the perfect balance between two elements that are only apparently contrasting: the wide solid wood top and the slim metal legs. The warmth of the wooden element, in dialogue with the lightness of the structure, creates a delicate harmony. Visit: www.ritzwell.com

Interiors Monthly January 2022

C E L E B R AT I N G

since 1972

Penthouse have been lovingly crafting carpets with the finest raw materials to create products of exceptional quality since 1972. We source premium yarns, natural jute backing and take care throughout our manufacturing process to consistently deliver the trademark Penthouse quality for 50 years. Combining modern manufacturing techniques with our traditional values forms the foundation for us to continue to deliver the very best for many years to come. Penthouse quality – naturally.

For samples and further information please call 01706 639 866 or visit penthousecarpets.co.uk

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A UK brand since 1964

SERVICE

Richard Renouf

A question of angles

Various factors can influence the apparent colour ‘That’s not the colour I ordered!’ The customer’s complaint had escalated by the time I was asked to give my opinion, and as I drove from the customer’s home there was already a BBC journalist on the phone probing for information. Fortunately he understood why I could not share any confidential information with him: the same reasons that nothing in any of my articles should identify any particular client or complaint. On this visit I had to work around the two householders. They would not leave the room and every time I took a measurement, carried out a test or lifted the fitted carpet to check something, they were on hands and knees next to me with a stream of questions. Obsessives, perhaps? I found that they were, at least, honest. When they saw me check the pile direction of every sample, offcut and the actual fitted product, they admitted they had not realised the difference the pile angle could make. When I measured the pile height above the backing they were surprised, because they had not realised a simple calliper measurement would not take into account the angle of the pile, which could change the apparent thickness of the carpet by quite a margin.

The mottled carpet shows a range of tones

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Taking measurements is easy when you have the right equipment. Checking colour match is much more difficult. My first aim is to ensure the pile is running the same way on all the pieces I want to compare. With experience, this can be done by feel, checking the resistance as you brush the carpet by hand, up, down, or side to side, not diagonally. Some check using a coin dropped flat from a few centimetres above: the bounce can be erratic, but most of the time the coin will bounce in the direction of the pile. I prefer the method I learned at the Flooring Industry Training Centre (now FITA) where you roll a pen or pencil on top of a piece of paper lying on the pile surface. It doesn’t matter which direction you roll in, the paper is likely to move in the direction of the pile. Then I check the lighting. There are huge differences in ‘colour temperature’ between different types of lamp, and overhead lighting has a different effect to angled lighting through a glass door. The light in the shop where the customer first saw the carpet is likely to be very different from that in his or her home. That’s why it’s always good to let a customer see a sample in natural daylight and also see it in their home

before they commit to a purchase. In this case I also checked the fitted carpet. The pile surface was mottled due to foot traffic, and the range of tones visible due to the natural disturbance of the pile also gave me an indication of the tonal variations that would occur with this fibre type and colour. If the carpet had not been down, I would have got the same information by brushing it forwards and backwards to create stripes. Measuring colour ‘scientifically’ requires expensive laboratory equipment, and assessing what is an acceptable variance is complex when you have at least three colour parameters to consider. To keep it simple, my assessment is usually based on whether I think a reasonable consumer would accept the carpet (or other product) that has been delivered, given that all dyed and printed products can vary, from paint to textiles to wallpaper. If the colour difference is obvious enough for me to think it could be another colour in the range (whether it actually is or not), then I would find that unacceptable myself. Visit: www.richard-renouf.com Richard Renouf is an independent furnishings consultant

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EXPERIENCES

New year, new challenges 2022 promises to be quite a ride, after a year many retailers are only too glad to see the back of, says our correspondent THE RETAILER Fludes Carpets As is normal at this time of the year – I'm writing this just before Christmas – most flooring retailers will be heaving a sigh of relief after the final fitting jobs have gone out prior to the big day. Time to hang up the order pads and tape measures and go home to put their feet up, ready to binge-watch Grand Tour or check out the schedules on Sky Sports (and most vitally hide the TV remote from the kids). That’s after checking, of course, that you have your holiday opening times

end to 2021 and in some ways will be glad to see the back of it. Stock shortages, delivery problems and faulty goods have been issues we’ve had to deal with on a daily basis: a year ago, it might have been fortnightly or even less. When you think about it, the growth of sales has been a significant factor in the number and type of problems that we have been hit with. It is not all the suppliers’ fault, just a surge in demand at a time of global shortage and transport issues that they are

will see more of this, and with the uplift in our supply costs we will have to learn how to deal with an increase in business tied with a reduction in gross profit. During the course of the next year the industry will probably see the resolution of restructuring in distribution amid more competition. Victoria Group goes from strength to strength and is in the process of adding yet another manufacturer to its already strong portfolio. Where will it all end? Will it turn its interest to the retail

displayed in the window for any customers who are desperate to buy some flooring before New Year. The alternative is facing an angry customer on your doorstep when you do re-open, demanding to know why you were shut. November finished with a flourish. With a little space left in the fitting diary, we took five quite decent enquiries, which converted into five decent orders that were written up in December as an early Christmas present – a good contribution to hitting our sales targets during this normally quiet month. Most of us retailers have had a fraught

struggling to deal with. With the ongoing shortages, and in anticipation of price rises for ply, underlay and general ancillaries, we have chosen to over-order these items and have stock available throughout January at December prices. And while we are on the issue of prices, we might find two months of cost increases on the doormat when we all return. So don’t sort out your selling prices until then! Customers are beginning to get more confident at quoting Internet prices when picking the bones out of the quotes we prepare for them. It looks like the New Year

sector? It seems to have covered every angle of the flooring industry already. Let’s see what the year brings. On 12 December it was déjà vu all over again, with the Prime Minister bringing information about the significant problems likely to beset the NHS and a tightening of measures to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant. Will this lead to closure of non-essential retail? Will we see a return to the appointment system we had last year (which actually worked really well)? Are we any closer to the New Normal? I think 2022 will be one heck of a ride. Andy Laird, Fludes Carpets md

The retail race resumed after the festive break

Interiors Monthly January 2022

New

To find out more speak to your Abingdon Sales representative

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Featured Image Aristocat Mercury

Aristocat

SUSTAINABILITY

Adding it up

HØLTE’s London studio shows carbon impacts

HØLTE is the first kitchen studio to measure the impact of its products When people buy a home, one of the first jobs on their list is usually to replace the kitchen. For companies like London kitchen design studio HØLTE, that should be a good thing: the business depends Fiona Ginnett on people’s desire to put their own stamp on their space. But Fiona and Tom Ginnett, HØLTE founders wanted to find out the environmental impact and be able to offer an alternative for their increasingly eco-conscious customers. Their search led them to Danish carbon calculator Målbar. It took five months to generate a full set of CO2 emissions (CO2e) data for every product in the range, thus uncovering the full – and startling – environmental cost of a modern fitted kitchen. A typical medium-sized kitchen from HØLTE generates 1,060kg CO2e, which is comparable to eight years of daily Starbucks or a weekly steak habit for two. This breaks down as: carbon storage 84kg, materials 386kg, surface treatment 178kg, production 113kg, packaging 20kg, transport 150kg, use (10 years) 52kg and disposal 244kg. This is just an average: there is a difference of about 40% between HØLTE’s

Interiors Monthly January 2022

worst-performing product and its best. And that’s just the start: the data includes only HØLTE-made components – door fronts, bespoke cabinetry, handles. Once you include worktops and carcases, the figure for a medium kitchen jumps to an estimated 2,500–3,000 kg CO2e. ‘The data was eye-opening. When we started calculating lifespan emissions it became clear that the impact of a whole kitchen is huge – a single cabinet door can generate the same emissions as 120 hours of Netflix or 92km in a car. It put a fire in our belly,’ says Fiona Ginnett. HØLTE has already overhauled a number of its practices and production methods to reduce emissions and is looking for ways to do more. Some immediate changes include ceasing the use of environmentally egregious materials; switching from Formica to Arpa Bloom HPL which uses 50%-lignin resin; transitioning to water-based lacquers and paints; bringing the manufacture of components such as handles back to the UK; and liaising with its manufacturers to encourage more sustainable production practices and more efficient waste streams. HØLTE is using Målbar’s tools in its development process to ensure future products are as low-impact as possible, and to find ways of adapting existing products and materials. ‘The magnitude of the issue is, in large part, down to the rise of the “fast kitchen”. Before the early 20th century, a kitchen was essentially a collection of standalone furniture – a range, a sink, a

table and a dresser – which would likely be with you for a lifetime, moving from house to house. Should anything cease to be functional, it could be replaced as a single piece. Then in 1926, the arrival of the Frankfurt kitchen – designed for compact post-war housing – paved the way for modern fitted units, inseparable from the fabric of the home,’ says Ginnett. ‘Convenience has brought enormous environmental compromise. Panel-based construction and the material demands of fitted joinery demand energy-intensive production processes, generating extraordinary amounts of carbon. Today, even products made with “eco” and recycled materials are climate-damaging in terms of emissions. Coupled with the rip-out-and-replace mentality we have collectively adopted, it means kitchens are among the biggest drivers of climate change in our homes.’ HØLTE believes the only way to make the industry sustainable is adopt an attitude that prizes longevity, adaptability and environmental responsibility. This will require a complete rethink of how kitchen cabinetry systems work, and is likely to involve both traditional materials – such as solid wood, a natural carbon store – and technical innovations such as injection-moulded recycled plastics. ‘We want to challenge the industry, including ourselves, to make better and more accessible freestanding kitchens, to stop designing for obsolescence and to develop kitchen systems that will last a lifetime,’ she says. Visit: www.holte.studio

RETAIL

Online and in-store

Mattress Online won Online Bed Retailer at the 2021 Bed Industry Awards

Steve Adams on agility, understanding customers, supporting suppliers and why he wants physical stores The past two years has seen enormous growth for Mattress Online (MO). After a fairly stable three years of orders of about 55,000 a year and sales of around £15m, business boomed in 2019/2020 and hasn’t stopped in the past year. Orders in 2019/2020 (to the end of July) jumped to 83,000, with sales of £22.9m as physical stores suffered lockdowns before leaping to 124,000 and £41.5m in 2020/2021, with a 28% increase in profits at £4.1m. Staff increased by 60% to 68, including the creation of four team leader positions filled by promoting from within, and new head of marketing and finance roles. ‘There has been a marked shift in attitude in shopping online, irrespective of product. That’s certainly going to help us retain first-time customers, and we are one of the leaders in peak delivery and they will remember that. I’m confident of that,’ says Steve Adams, Mattress Online ceo. When stores re-opened last April, you might have expected MO to see growth slow as consumers returned to trying out mattresses in-store. Not the case. ‘It grew. That completely threw me – the

Interiors Monthly January 2022

number of orders coming in and the average order value. I didn’t expect that at all. I had a TV campaign over Easter when stores were thinking of re-opening and I thought what a waste of money that was, but it wasn’t. Things stayed steady up until mid-summer – our figures kept getting bigger and bigger. A lot of people then decided: “We don’t want to buy direct online, we want to go to a

Steve Adams

shop,” so they waited for shops to re-open, perhaps to do their research before buying online. There was a bit of showrooming – we can’t deny that isn’t happening. That’s a challenge for the whole high street.’ Monthly orders dropped slightly to between 10,000 to 11,000 as shoppers waited for Black Friday events (MO operates a Black November 

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RETAIL with the best promotions on the day itself ), but Adams predicts there will be no drop in sales. ‘I’m pretty confident that this year we will keep at a minimum of what we did through Covid at a yearly rate – I can’t see us falling back at all. We are trending towards that, but we are doing slightly fewer orders: people are spending more money. We’re doing a better product as well – we recently launched Harrison Spinks and that’s working really well. We’re getting more revenue for less work, and we’re moving away from the more volume-driven bottom end. We’ll leave it to Argos to pick up that sort of business.’ While average order values have been increasing in recent years, increased costs have played a part in the past year as manufacturers saw raw material prices leap. ‘We have been very transparent in passing on our costs to consumers. We have maintained our margin. It’s about 50% costs and 50% trading up, and the average for the past month was £400,’ he says. MO increased its stock holding to £6.5m to meet demand and at the height of the pandemic it began paying its suppliers in advance. ‘It was a win–win as we wanted to secure supply. Supply was very limited – some suppliers couldn’t afford to buy the components to make our product. So that was a real triumph: we had guaranteed supply. One factory gave us a whole day of their production every week, which was great for us. We were sat on 15,000 mattresses when lockdown hit and we managed to maintain supply – the lowest we got was 6,000 – by doing things like this and picking up production slots that other retailers couldn’t make use of as they were shut. Manufacturers lost a lot of their income overnight as the bigger players just weren’t buying. It put us in good stead with our suppliers. And I’d do it again. We’ve got the cashflow ready.’ All but 10% of MO’s products are National Bed Federation approved; 70% of its best converting brands are NBF members and the top 10 reviewed brands are NBF members. ‘We have one supplier who is really good and isn’t NBF accredited and we won’t consider taking another UK manufacturer that isn’t NBF accredited. It’s very reassuring to know the due diligence and audit

Interiors Monthly January 2022

In July the company appointed Tracey Browne as its Workplace Sleep Ambassador, as part of its involvement with The Sleep Charity

processes they have to go through and that we don’t need to worry about that.’ For MO, research into customers and not-quite-customers is vital. Shoppers are sent a post-purchase survey asking about their experience. ‘We are always trying to get data on what we could do better and better understanding of the demographics. We are a relatively small company in a massive bed and mattress market so we need to punch above our weight. We have to find out what we need to do to compete with the likes of Dreams and Bensons for Beds, who have a big command of brand awareness. It’s really hard communicating the products when you can’t get close to matching that, so to find out what our customers want and what we could do better the only way to get an answer is to ask.’

The company unveiled a rebrand in November, and researched customers who didn’t make a purchase. ‘Instead of re-targeting them with an advert to buy from us, we targeted them for information, saying: “You’ve been to our website, you didn’t buy, what did you want? We’d love to chat to you.” We gave them an Amazon voucher if they agreed to be interviewed. We had a massive response and got so much data. Our user experience programme takes those lessons and we think about how to change content, how we describe things. ‘One thing that came through strongly was that they are confused by the bed industry as a whole. Because it’s such an infrequent purchase they have to re-educate themselves every time they  come back into that purchase

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RETAIL time. Manufacturers have their own trademark names for a spring system and customers don’t get what is going on. ‘And on foam we have lots of different names for essentially the same comfort layer. They are confused by names: different retailers will call the same mattress by a different name. Customers aren’t silly, they know it’s the same, and when we create that friction against purchasing they just go away. There is no easy answer. It’s an industry-wide problem and it’s how we communicate with customers. ‘Our customer base changes on a regular basis. Through Covid, the average age has increased and there is a different tone of voice, a different language to a Millennial. That’s hard in terms of writing one description, when you have trade terminology and are trying to turn that into consumer terminology. The average consumer has no idea what a tuft is, for example. That’s the sort of language we get from our manufacturers, but we’re guilty as well: we use it and don’t explain. But customers want to know why it’s there, not what it’s called, and if we don’t explain we’ll never win that customer over. The harder we make it for them, the more difficult it is for us. ‘There’s too much choice as well. We have 180 SKUs on our website, all in stock – arguably too many for the customer to make an informed choice. But they all sell. We are going through a process of trying to trim the product line, but it’s not easy to identify why one product works and another one is also working when they look identical. ‘The bed-in-a-box manufacturers and retailers have done a great job of demystifying that and putting it into consumer language. They’re still learning how to make money from it but they’ve done a brilliant job of raising awareness in our market. They’ve hit the nail on the head as to what consumers want. They don’t want the confusion – they just want to be told: this is the best mattress in the world and this is why it is and we’ll make it really easy for you to buy. ‘They are disrupting what is quite a traditional industry. We’re doing disruption but in a slightly different manner. We’re still buyers in the background, but with a digital front. We know product and we know the manufacturers, which is still quite traditional as a company. But we are very much a technology-driven

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Mattress Online is sponsoring EFL team Lincoln City this season and rebranded in November

company, rather than a bed retailer. We are an ecommerce business that just happens to be selling beds.’ MO plans to open a string of physical stores. ‘It’s a personal passion of mine,’ says Adams. ‘I still believe in bricks-andmortar retail, which I know sounds alien from someone who has been doing online retail for 18 years. But there are a lot of good businesses out there, and I have one store myself [in Rotherham] and I can see how well it works and how the two are joined, the online and offline, and we’ve got 50% to 60% of the online offer in-store. It works really well and is convenient for the consumer. ‘I just see these independent stores that are struggling and closing, and they have great staff, really knowledgeable staff that can feed into our telesales environment. We have phones that ring around everyone in the business, which means each customer is speaking to a seasoned salesperson who also sells direct to the consumer on the shopfloor with real product. That makes us so different to someone like Wayfair, where staff are in a call centre. It’s actually a different language the customer hears from a real bed salesperson, who can lie on the bed if they want to while talking to the customer on their headset. ‘These are good businesses that will add value to my business. It’s a safe way for us to expand. We know what we do, we know the product and we have the buying power and the logistics to feed that into a next-day delivery service. That’s something the high street can’t do

and if we can put that power back into the high street, local ecommerce and commerce is going to have a resurgence. I’m less convinced big retail parks will be so strong in five years, but quality local independents that have a reputation… there is a lot of value in those businesses. ‘I’d like to get a good proportion of the country covered, but we can probably do that over the next 10 years with 25 stores, including independent stores where we will change the name. Our target areas are where we don’t have much online penetration. It’s a personal belief that there is a lot of money on the table in physical retail if it’s done right. ‘One thing I do like is disruption, challenges. We are a very agile team, we are a low-bureaucracy, low-hierarchy organisation. We can adapt very quickly, as we did through Covid. On day one we switched our delivery profile to focus on delivering the bigger, heavier mattresses – we did that overnight, we changed the algorithm so everything that was a twoman was put right to the centre of the website and that’s what we sold, in case we later couldn’t deliver it to people’s homes. We didn’t want to be sitting on a lot of big, heavy stock we couldn’t sell. ‘That’s the organisation you need to react to changing retail environments. I hate meetings.’ Visit: www.mattressonline.co.uk

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RETAIL

Prestige Dusky Grey Oak laminate

Prestige Century Oak laminate

Flooring bestsellers The trends dominating non-carpet flooring in 2021 With so many flooring products, styles, colours, tones and effects to choose from, homeowners have never had it so good – but what were the bestsellers of 2021? Factory Direct Flooring (FDF) reveals the trends that dominated the flooring space in 2021, and provides the firm’s bestselling product lists across popular flooring categories. While green may have been hailed as the new grey for the decor colour of 2021, when it came to flooring, grey definitely held its ground. FDF’s sales highlighted that grey remained a key colour, consistently dominating sales, and peaking in the spring. It was the most purchased flooring colour across laminate, LVT and vinyl. With those homeowners seeking longevity of style or a more traditional

look, medium oak remained a strong choice – with steady sales throughout the year. White made a strong appearance as a bestseller through summer and autumn, particularly in the vinyl category. As 2021 was cited to be the year of ‘japandi’ schemes – where Japanese minimalist and Scandi tones combine – this could well have been a driver in the sales of light hues. LVT has been a popular choice of flooring product in recent years, according to FDF, with a proliferation of DIY plank options. In 2021, while LVT saw consistent sales, laminate and vinyl also enjoyed strong sales – but in the second half of the year vinyl saw significant growth, overtaking laminate sales by a considerable margin. Sales

Prestige Silver Oak laminate

Interiors Monthly January 2022

were heavily biased towards wood effects, with medium oak and grey wood being the top sellers. ‘The growth in sales of vinyl was really quite remarkable and unusual for us, as we’ve historically seen higher sales of alternative products. As a result of this popularity, we’ve more than tripled our vinyl stock holding. It’s a great, budgetfriendly option and can present fewer challenges in installation, both of which may be contributory factors in the popularity of the product this year,’ says Paul Hambidge, FDF md. ‘We must also consider the fact that homeowners these days may be likely to refresh their decor and flooring more often, and so rather than investing in higher cost products with a view to keeping them for longer, they may be tempted to go for options they can afford to update more frequently. ‘Additionally, vinyl flooring manufacturers are always the first in the flooring industry to bring out the most up-to-date designs and colours.’ Wide planks remained popular for a time, offering the ability to achieve a spacious look with fewer joins. But a trend that dominated 2020 and has continued throughout 2021 is the herringbone style. Herringbone styles, according to FDF, saw exponential growth in 2020. While this didn’t continue at the same rate in 2021, the consistency of purchase shows herringbone is surely here to stay. Visit: www.factory-direct-flooring.co.uk

RETAIL

Aqua Plank Shadow Grey

FACTORY DIRECT FLOORING 2021 TOP 20 BESTSELLERS 1 Prestige 7mm Dusky Grey Oak laminate 3532 2 Prestige Century Oak Grey 7mm laminate 4175 3 Ecostep Storm Grey 991M LVT 4 Prestige Plus 12mm Silver Oak Plank laminate 3900 5 Ecostep Rustic Oak 606M LVT 6 Plain Colours Solid White 000S LVT 7 Aqua Plank Shadow Grey Click LVT 8 Ecostep 892 Noblesse vinyl 9 Aqua Plank Fossil Grey LVT 10 Prestige White Oak 8mm laminate 3201 11 Ecostep Grey Chic 977M vinyl 12 Ecostep Mist White 009S vinyl 13 Prestige Classic 6mm Oak Light Grey laminate 3904 14 Prestige Oak Grey 8mm laminate 4175 15 Prestige Herringbone Faded Oak 8mm laminate 3678 16 Ecostep Noblesse 1892 vinyl 17 Ecostep 793 Alba vinyl 18 Ecostep Pale Shadow 741M vinyl 19 Prestige Natural Oak 7mm laminate 3903 20 Plain Colours Solid Grey 910M vinyl 2021 TOP 10 BESTSELLING LAMINATE PRODUCTS 1 Prestige 7mm Dusky Grey Oak 3532 2 Prestige Century Oak Grey 7mm V-Groove Click 4175 3 Prestige Plus 12mm Silver Oak Plank AC4 Click 3900 4 Prestige White Oak 8mm V-Groove 3201 5 Prestige Classic 6mm Oak Light Grey 3904 6 Prestige Oak Grey 8mm V-Groove  4175

Aqua Plank Cool White Oak

Aqua Plank Fossil Grey Click Vinyl

Abbey Cervara Oak Matt Lacquer

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

RETAIL

Prestige Herringbone Faded Oak 8mm 3678 8 Prestige Natural Oak 7mm V-Groove Click 3903 9 Prestige Classic White Oak 6mm 3201 10 Prestige Plus 12mm Mocha Rustic Oak AC5 Click 4731 2021 TOP 10 BESTSELLING LVT PRODUCTS 1 Aqua Plank Shadow Grey 2 Aqua Plank Fossil Grey 3 Aqua Plank Cool White Oak 4 Aqua Plank Ultra Original Oak 5 Aqua Plank Traditional Oak Herringbone 6 Aqua Plank Pumice Oak 7 Aqua Plank Loft Oak Click 8 Aqua Plank Urban Oak Click 9 Aqua Plank Acacia Oak Click 10 Aqua Plank Shore Oak Herringbone 2021 TOP 10 BESTSELLING ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS 1 Abbey Cervara 14mm Oak Matt Lacquer 2 Herringbone Parquet 18mm Natural Oak Brushed Oiled 3 Abbey Sawtry 14mm Oak Brushed Matt Lacquer 4 Abbey Kintbury 14mm Golden Oak Matt Lacquer 5 Abbey Torre 14mm Coffee Oak Brushed Matt Lacquer 6 Herringbone Parquet 18mm Natural Oak Brushed Matt Lacquer 7 Abbey Delapre 14mm Coffee Ash Matt Lacquer 8 Abbey Kempton 20mm Brushed UV Oiled Oak 9 Frankton Oak Matt Lacquer 10 Abbey Sarlat 20mm Golden Oak Brushed Matt Lacquer 2021 TOP 10 BESTSELLING VINYL PRODUCTS 1 Ecostep Storm Grey 991M 2 Ecostep Rustic Oak 606M 3 Plain Colours Solid White 4 Ecostep 892 Noblesse 5 Ecostep Grey Chic 977M 6 Ecostep Mist White 009S 7 Ecostep Noblesse 1892 8 Ecostep 793 Alba 9 Ecostep Pale Shadow 741M 10 Plain Colours Solid Grey 910M

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Herringbone Parquet Natural Oak

Abbey Sawtry Oak

Ecostep Storm Grey

Ecostep Rustic Oak

Plain Colours Solid White

TRENDS 1

Country casual Dunelm has three key themes for SS2022 CHURCHGATE ‘The jewel in our heritage brand is a new range of modular, oak-topped furniture available in three colourways. Traditional larder cupboards, drawer units and glasspanel cabinets have been created with the kitchen in mind but aren’t limited exclusively to a single room, creating the opportunity to mix and match around the home. Premium linen upholstery and tactile rugs complement this modern country mood. ‘Open-plan living becomes broken-plan living with oak-topped modular furniture. Offering versatility and longevity – there’s nothing to stop a chest of drawers finding a home in a dining room – these timeless pieces can travel seamlessly from one home to the next,’ says Debbie Drake, Dunelm design director. 1 Churchgate base unit with panel door in ivory £349, Churchgate base unit from £299, Churchgate top unit with open shelf £349, Oswald herringbone chair in grey £299, framed print £25, Wistow natural-blend jute oval rug from £35, Allexton fluted glass table lamp £40, Wymeswold shallow bowl £18, Churchgate resin cat £18, ceramic plant mister in grey £8 and rattan planter £25

Interiors Monthly January 2022

2 Churchgate kitchen island £549, Churchgate larder cabinet £999, Loxwood bar stool £69, Wymeswold large bowl £20, jute herringbone rug from £55 and Dunelm Folkstone blue matt emulsion paint £16

3 Churchgate larder cabinet £999, Churchgate dining table £699, set of two white chairs £189, lnwick corner sofa in white sand £2,099, Alnwick footstool £349, jute stripe pouffe £99, Stanford Churchgate rug from £79, rattan floor lamp £119

TRENDS PRETTY BOHO ‘Rattan is here to stay and we’re tapping into it as sustainably as possible, using fastgrowing cane to make bistro-style chairs and our most photogenic laundry basket yet. Even children are getting in on the action, with adorable mini-me pieces. ‘Step into the eclectic home of a globetrotter (where everything has been acquired at the click of a button). Future heirloom pieces might include a cane headboard or a giant gilded mirror, and chime with ruffled-trimmed covers and tablecloths,’ says Drake.

1 Decorative mirror in gold £299, round cane double headboard £119, Camille ruffled duvet cover set £46, Lucille bedside cabinet £109, Adalet chandelier in antique brass £159, set of six framed dried floral prints £30, extra-large Inca tufted wall hanging £45, crochet cushion £18, crochet throw in cream £60 and concave vase £5

‘Catering to the demand for compact sideboards, this new style is an exciting addition to our best-selling Samira range, offering ample storage but narrow enough for a hallway or tight nook,’ says Michelle Downs, Dunelm buyer. 2 Samira large slim sideboard in white £249, Canterbury luxury velvet snuggler in lilypad £1,099, Morroccan tile canvas £32, artificial pampas £175, Caleb jute border rug from £79, shaped flower cushion £22, plastic rattan basket £18, Ora table lamp £55, Capiz hurricane lamp £12 and Capiz tealight holder £6 3 Pretty Boho bent cane plant stand £40, Pretty Boho tile-burnout voile from £16, Tulle chair in natural £99, Maleeka rattan easy-fit pendant £40, artificial pampas in cream £175, tall plastic rattan basket £18, small plastic rattan basket £14, jute square floor cushion £69, jute circular cushion (on chair) £15, Caleb jute border rug from £79 and Elora pink jute circle rug £85

‘Introducing mini-me additions for little ones. With a rattan clothes rail and velvet cocktail chair, kids’ rooms can be boho pretty too,’ says Amy Sargent, Dunelm designer.

4 Kids’ rattan clothes rail £119, dinosaur rattan storage basket £65, belly basket £12, foldable storage box £5, six wood hangers £3.50 and  Curly single sheepskin rug £35

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

TRENDS 1

CURVES

‘Sophisticated and luxe, Curves is the destination for “wow” accent pieces in sizes and prices to suit even the most modest of homes. Shaped boucle sofas and cut-out armchairs make a statement, while ornamental pieces in a combination of metals instantly elevate their surroundings. The monochrome palette is softened by textured neutrals and new abstract artworks that celebrate the curved lines of the human body,’ says Drake.

2 Ophelia velvet chair in ivory £199, Arlo distressed faux leather chair in grey £249, Arlo boucle compact two-seater sofa in ivory £399, Octavia distressed velvet chair in mink £269, Kit boucle chair in ivory £199 and Tallie velvet chair in black £249

1 Claudia gold-effect console table £269, Arlo boucle compact two-seater sofa £399, Curves ceramic vase in gold (23cm high) £8, Curves ornament on stand (35cm) £25, Faces table lamp in ivory £49, sisal natural stair runner from £159 and Dunelm black eggshell paint from £12

3 Claudia corner ladder desk in gold effect £429, Luella office chair £149, Elements fountain 10-light ceiling fitting £115, skinny metal poster frame 30cm x 40cm in gold £9,Lilou integrated LED desk lamp in gold £22, gold/glass desk storage £18, desk box £12, rainbow curve LED

Interiors Monthly January 2022

‘The statement Claudia ladder desk not only creates an elegant home office but triplesup as a room divider and a chic display unit,’ says Downs.

candle £5 and set of two abstract prints £35

‘Small but hugely practical, the Delphi bedside table taps into demand for compact bedsides as well as meeting growing search trends for black furniture,’ says Downs. 4 Delphi one-drawer bedside table in black £79, Lynton four-poster double bed in black from £299, Curves mono duvet cover from £10, Curves ceramic vase in gold £8, Isla half-moon black rug £25, half-moon velour cushion £14, boucle throw in black £30, framed nude prints £10 each, Enzo table lamp in black £38

TRENDS 1

PRETTY BOHO – OUTDOORS 1 San Marino conversation set £599, Pretty Boho assorted craft fans £8, Honeycomb paper decoration in peach blush £3, Honeycomb paper decoration in peacock £3, Pretty Boho solar lantern in seafoam £20, Boho tile-print cushions £12 and £14, dragonfly cushion £8, ribbed acrylic wine glass in pink £1.50 and ribbed acrylic tumbler in pink £1

CHURCHGATE – OUTDOORS 2 Churchgate metal conversation set £499, 2.7m parasol in sage green £39, outdoor stripe cushion in lilypad £8, dragonfly cushion £8, Churchgate citronella candle £12, rusty hen ornament £15, dragonfly hanging basket £12 and bracket £5

CURVES – OUTDOORS 3 Crescent corner sofa set £799, Leaf wall art £20, set of 10 solar string lights in black £14, curved mirror £40, leopard wall planter £16, outdoor cushion in sand £12, outdoor cushion in charcoal £12 and outdoor raffia leaf cushion £25

Visit: www.dunelm.com

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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DESIGN

Wood winners

The Wood Awards recognised two very different designs The Iso-Lounge chair by Jasper Morrison for Isokon Plus won the Wood Awards Production category, while Wycliffe Stutchbury’s Gayles Farm 5 won the Bespoke award. The judges praised the Iso-Lounge chair’s accomplished making and extreme comfort. Morrison looked to Isokon’s archives and was particularly inspired by its original logo, Gerald Summers’ Bent Plywood chair with its single flowing surface, and Rietveldt’s Zig-Zag chair. Iso-Lounge’s cutting-edge design started life as a single sketch, where the hand flowed from the back of the seat to the floor. Plywood was the only choice of material to follow the curve of the cantilevered design. The cantilever relies on highly technical production to create balance and support. More than four complete prototypes, alongside many prototype sections, were made over the course of a year, to create a piece that offers total support and maximum comfort. Where strength is needed, there are more layers, and where it needs 

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Jasper Morrison

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The tiles were cut from discarded oak fencing

Interiors Monthly January 2022

to flex, there are fewer. The chair has been honed to be incredibly responsive. The orientation of the veneer layers and their thickness was tested over many months to push plywood to its limits. A very simple basis of an idea has been executed as purely as possible. The chair is constructed from a single pressing consisting of 16 layers of veneer. Integral to the chair is the delicately curved back and tapering seat, created by machining the individual layers to a feather edge. MOR Design, Ercol, Matteo Fogale, Benchmark Furniture and TAKT were finalists. Wycliffe Stutchbury’s Gayles Farm 5 won the Bespoke award. The judges were impressed by the piece’s sculptural presence and how it celebrates movement. It highlights the preciousness of the European oak used and draws the viewer in to examine its form and the quality of the individual pieces. The room divider was created to further Stutchbury’s exploration of textile techniques and characteristics using wood. The piece has a flowing appearance, made up of thousands of small oak tiles glued to an open-weave cotton twill. The wooden curtain is hung on a hinged, three-panelled oak frame with hemp rope and cleats and can be height-adjusted. The form is dictated by how the tile construction hangs over the supporting uprights, like a sail held by a mast. The tiles were cut from discarded oak fencing retrieved from the South Downs. The variety of colours and textures is explained by the different ways the timber reacted to weathering. The piece displays the many wonderful ways that timber responds to its environment. Benchmark Furniture, Jan Hendzel Studio, and Gareth Neal and Jan Hendzel were finalists. Visit: www.woodawards.com www.isokonplus.com www.wycliffestutchbury.co.uk

Beds and bedroom

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Revolutionising sleep Emma will introduce technology that adapts to your sleeping habits and reveals the results Emma – The Sleep Company has set its sights on further expansion and development in 2022. It will kickstart this at the January Furniture Show with the unveiling of two products that use smart technology to revolutionise the way people sleep: the Emma Motion Mattress and the Emma Motion Base. The Emma Motion Mattress is a smart mattress that automatically measures the points at which pressure is exerted and adapts accordingly. Gently and silently during sleep, Emma Motion firms up at the points that sink less and softens at pressure points, meaning the mattress actively interacts with the sleeper, adapting to every change in position. The mattress is also equipped with Emma’s patented Diamond Degree technology. Featuring graphite particles in the top layer of the mattress, Emma Motion dissipates excess body heat and quickly brings the body to the ideal temperature, ensuring a comfortable night’s sleep. Emma Motion also offers the ability to connect smartphones or tablets so that customers can record their sleep, to track sleeping position, rhythm, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and deep sleep phases. The app collects data during the night and is available to view and analyse the next morning. The Emma Motion Base is a bed base that makes any mattress smart. Featuring a tracking function that reflects the sleeper’s own body analysis data in real time, the smart bed base includes Muscle Regeneration mode, which helps to shorten post-activity recovery time; No-Snore mode, which detects

sleep noises then actively encourages a change of position; and Body Floating mode, which is designed to replicate the relaxing feeling of weightlessness. ‘Emma is totally revolutionising the sleep market. We’re combining smart technology with world-class engineering and expertise from our industry-leading in-house sleep lab to create products that are adapting to the modern sleeper’s needs. For too long now it’s been considered a luxury to have a mattress that has been crafted in the same way for many, many years, but we’re showing that view is outdated. Times have changed, technology has changed, and our individual needs have changed too,’ says Neil Robinson, Emma – The Sleep Company sales director, UK & Ireland. ‘Our research and development team, which includes our dedicated sleep research team led by Dr Verena Senn, is dedicated to creating innovative products like the Emma Motion Mattress and Emma Motion Base with the aim of making a positive impact on people’s lives by enhancing their sleep.’ Visit: www.emma-sleep.co.uk

Emma Motion Mattress Users can track their sleeping

Interiors Monthly January 2022

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Be well

Excel offers more Medical Grade foam, more depth and more pocket springs Consumers care deeply about wellness and that interest is growing. Recent research by McKinsey has suggested that the £1.13trn global wellness market is set to see annual growth of between 5% and 10% in the coming years. And sleep is one of the six areas that the survey considers to be critical to consumer views of wellness. While sleep-enhancing products such as sleep trackers and blackout curtains have a role to play in this growth, Mammoth believes there is a huge opportunity to reinforce the importance of mattresses and pillows in improving both physical and mental wellness. With its foundations in healthcare and award-winning sleep technologies, including naturally cooling Medical Grade foam, Mammoth has expertise in sleep and in its benefits to both mental and physical health. At the Bed Show, Mammoth showcased the latest update to its award-winning Comfort collection, introducing the Excel mattress to sit alongside Shine and Move. Excel has already enjoyed a great reception from stores, with orders placed by retailers

Interiors Monthly January 2022

around the country. More Medical Grade foam, more depth and more pocket springs ensure that customers will be able to enjoy superior comfort, pressure relief and postural support for a genuinely restorative night’s sleep. The brand’s health credentials include NHS Innovations awards for work in pressure relief and temperature regulation, an official partnership with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and close relationships with sleep centres at both Oxford University and Northumbria University. The addition of Excel offers consumers more of the sleep technologies that have made Mammoth a go-to brand for elite sports stars, health professionals and anyone who values their wellbeing. Each of the three Excel models – Excel 4000, Excel 6000 and Excel 8000 – incorporates 90mm of Medical Grade foam and seven PostureCell zones to ensure that bodyweight

Hybrid 8000

is evenly distributed and supported from head to toe. With a choice of 4,000, 6,000 or 8,000 pocket springs, Excel offers a deep, luxurious feel that absorbs pressure and adapts to movement seamlessly through the night. Each PostureCell moves independently to reduce partner disturbance while sleeping, while the cooling air channels between each PostureCell disperse heat, moisture and allergens. These benefits are further enhanced by a breathable and hypoallergenic cover that helps to ensure a dry, cool night’s sleep. Email: stuart.page@thefoamco.co.uk Hybrid 8000 construction

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Sonlevo TrueGel

Hot start

TrueGel pillow

Sonlevo’s relaunch is paying dividends

In spring 2020, at the beginning of the first lockdown, the innovation team at The Foam Company started work on a new vision and direction for its Sonlevo range. It had recognised the need to change, and to adapt to a new trading environment. As part of this it embarked on an initiative to create opportunities for it and its retailers. At last year’s Bed Show and the Autumn Furniture Show it introduced retailers to the new-look Sonlevo brand. The innovation goes way further than skin-deep, featuring a complete re-appraisal of the range, with new products including a first for the UK bed market. The Sonlevo TrueGel range is the first to be developed in the UK using revolutionary Gel technology, and it’s setting a new standard. The unique grid system is 80% air, 100% recyclable and hypo-allergenic. It gives maximum support, minimises pressure and is never too hot and never too cold, for the best possible night’s sleep. There are five models in the TrueGel range: Signature Soft/Medium, Signature

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Medium/Firm, Bronze 6000, Silver 8000 and top-of-the-range Gold 12000, plus the luxurious new TrueGel pillow. The TrueGel range is recommended to its members by the Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Medicine and Performance Association. It has attracted a lot of interest, with many new accounts opened, and very strong sales to new and existing customers. Demand for display models in time for the crucial January sales period has far exceeded the forecast, and repeat orders were happening even before the rush began. Attracting an equal amount of interest is the new branding, including a new-look website, and there has been a strong demand for Gel sample boxes, displays and POS material. ‘Every bed, pillow and mattress that we sell is researched,

designed and lovingly manufactured by us, right here in the UK. We’re a family-run business, with over 30 years’ experience, and as sleep science geeks, we fully respect the vital role sleep plays in restoring body and mind, especially given today’s busy lifestyles. ‘Given the heightened focus on sleep and wellbeing, this premium range represents a real opportunity for retailers to expand sales into lucrative new areas,’ says Stuart Page, The Foam Company sales manager. Visit: www.sonlevo.com TrueGel technology

Most companies would be horrified if you nodded off reading about their products. We on the other hand would find it quite a compliment. Because we understand the role that sleep plays in restoring the body and mind - we call it ‘the science of sleep’, and it’s at the heart of everything we do. Our new TrueGel mattress features a unique grid system which is 80% air, 100% recyclable, and gives the best night’s sleep possible. For more details about becoming a stockist please contact Stuart Page on 07436 330681 / stuart.page@thefoamco.co.uk

SONLEVO.COM

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Looking forward

Hypnos has invested to boost capacity

Hypnos has invested to meet increased demand for sustainable products ‘Sustainability will continue to be a key influence behind purchasing decisions, with increasing numbers of consumers choosing eco-conscious brands and products that don’t compromise on quality. Consumers are actively opting for products from brands that take a sustainability-first approach from conception to delivery, placing greater emphasis on traceable and certified materials from ethical supply chains,’ says James Keen, Hypnos ceo. ‘This approach has been at the heart of Hypnos for more than a decade. We

Interiors Monthly January 2022

were the world’s first bed company to be carbon neutral. We are committed to providing ethical solutions at every stage of our bed production process, from fibres made from recycled plastic bottles to developing a disposal and recycling service for old beds and mattresses with the help of retailers, and sourcing to the Global Recycled Standard for true traceability. Not to mention developing our own specialist 100% recyclable packaging made from a combination of renewable and carbon dioxide depleting sugar-cane ethanol and recycled plastic.’ The next chapter in Hypnos’ Origins collection, the new Orthos Support has been designed with a firmer feel, enhanced sustainability credentials and a choice of firmer comforts at different price points. The range features five models, each containing layers of British wool that is traceable to Red Tractor assured farms, as well as ReActivePlus pocket sprung systems, designed to be firmer across the whole bed. This helps to distribute weight more evenly and provide greater support for a truly restful night’s sleep.

The range also uses ethically sourced materials such as unbleached cotton and European certified flax, which benefits sleep and the planet. Produced without chemicals, these fibres have excellent moisture and temperature control properties and are naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic. ‘With growing consumer demand, retailers must align themselves with manufacturers that echo their own commitment to establishing working partnerships that seek to fulfil consumer demand every step of the way,’ says Keen. ‘We have further invested in our team, training, machinery and responsible product innovation to help retailers meet demand. We have recruited 50 new staff at our Princes Risborough factory to expand mattress capacity by 50%.’ It has also invested over £250,000 in equipment and fine-tuned its factory layout, increasing manufacturing space by 30%, to amplify capacity, enhance productivity and support retailers in satisfying 2022 orders and reduce lead times on made-to-order products. Visit: www.hypnosbeds.com

Discover Orthos Support, the next chapter in our Origins story. Wake up on a Hypnos bed and feel good for all the right reasons.

Expertly handcrafted, valuing the people, animals and places behind our sustainable and ethical beds. hypnosbeds.com Carbon Neutral

Inspired by Nature

100% recyclable

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Vegan and Emma bedstead in lime

New direction Vegan marks a change in approach Vogue Beds started work on its Vegan project and brand in September 2019, but it had been a long-term ambition of the company since its inception in 1990. ‘I was asked to make an animal-free mattress over 15 years ago, but it just wasn’t possible. Now we have achieved this, with the first vegan mattress to be certified by the Vegan Society built by an NBF approved manufacturer,’ says Ebrahim Patel, Vogue Beds md. Vegan however offers more than a mattress that doesn’t include animal products: it’s made using a mixture of fillings produced from recycled materials. ‘The Vegan mattress range is the first real look at how product design and the materials we use are going to change in the coming years. We started designing the range by removing farming from the supply chain and then looked at using recycled materials that could be recycled over again. As a manufacturer we have set a target date of 2030 to be carbon neutral and our manufacturing site will be 0%-to-landfill by December next year,’ says Tom Dow, Vogue Beds commercial manager. ‘The Vegan mattress can be fully recycled at the end of its useful life. We are working with a tree-planting partner

Interiors Monthly January 2022

to plant trees to offset the carbon from the range. We understand that looking after the planet is featuring higher on the customer’s list of requirements when purchasing new products, and as a forward-thinking manufacturer we wanted to be ahead of the curve,’ adds Patel. ‘Having a range of mattresses that ticks the environmental and vegan criteria was just the start. The range hits multiple price points and different feels, and also includes our unique Helix pocket spring system. The Vegan Helix is our halo model. Its pocket spring system offers excellent support and

Vegan uses recycled materials, and is itself recyclable

comfort, regardless of the customer’s sizeand shape – it really does work for everyone. The way the spring is designed means it compresses at different rates for different weights, working like a full-size pocket spring and micro spring in one. From an environmental point of view, this is a better way to build a spring unit, because it takes less manufacturing time and produces less waste. ‘Vogue Beds will always offer a diverse selection of products at different price points, but we will be doing this with the environment at the forefront of our mind,’ says Patel. Visit: www.vegan-mattress.co.uk

“This is the most exciting product in the bed industry”

Why Sell Vegan?

Vegan Certiﬁed

The Vegan movement across the UK is growing and the number of Vegans is increasing. In 2020 Brits following a Vegan diet grew by 40%. More customers are conscientious when it comes to their buying choices and how a product impacts on the environment. We support stockists with full marketing support, including social media advertising. We are leading the way in Vegan products and still have stockist opportunities, so talk to us today to ﬁnd out more.

Our mattresses have been certiﬁed by the Vegan Society, this is important to us we didn’t just want to make a collection of mattress that are Vegan friendly we wanted someone else to check our working out, make sure our ingredients all meet their standard. The Vegan Society created the word Vegan back in 1944 so who better to certify our mattresses.

Call Us:

Find us online:

01455 841 257

www.vegan-mattress.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Next generation

Above left: The Middleton Innovation Centre Above: Vita is at the forefront of anti-microbial protection

Performance and environmental sensibility can combine The Vita Group, one of Europe’s leading flexible foam solutions providers, has developed the next generation of sustainable foams, to ensure a wider variety of high-performance and environmentally friendly furniture solutions are available. As part of its environmental, social and governance agenda, Vita focuses on improving the environment and creating long-term sustainable product ranges. It recycles all of its excess trim, develops foams from more sustainable raw materials, and innovates with its suppliers and customers to drive circularity and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Vita has created a range of foams that replace the use of fossil fuels in the production process with sustainably sourced polyols. Orbis is a flexible Airzone medical mattress

Interiors Monthly January 2022

PU foam solution that turns postconsumer mattresses into high-quality foam. Nemus uses a CO2 polyol made from captured CO2. In the 2000s, Origin was Vita’s first step towards achieving its vision of a new generation of sustainable foams, each using increased renewable content with less reliance on petrochemicals. Origin was produced using polyols from plants such as sunflowers, soy and castor oil and was developed specifically for the furniture and bedding industries. In 2019, the company introduced a range of Combustion Modified Ether foam products formulated without TCPP: its FRee foam range. The foams in this award-winning range achieve high standards of fire safety without compromising technical performance or chemical safety. Vita is proud to

have been the first UK company to offer these products to the bedding and furniture industry. Continual investment in infrastructure and services allows its customers to utilise its extensive network of sites across Europe. Vita has four state-of-theart Innovation Centres and its Middleton, Manchester centre combines Vita’s technical expertise in foam chemistry with the latest testing equipment and systems. The facility allows customers to follow a complete development programme, from initial concept and data analysis to finished foam core. The group provides advanced tailored solutions for customers enabling them to respond to fluctuating market trends and consumer demand. Vita is at the forefront of anti-microbial protection and its experience in the medical and healthcare markets has enhanced its understanding of this area, allowing it to support customers with anti-microbial furniture and bedding solutions. ‘We have a great understanding of the upholstery and furniture industry, built up over many decades as a leader in this field. Our expertise in comfort, durability, haptic quality, and sustainability means customers can rest assured that our solutions align with their needs. What’s more, continued investment in products, infrastructure and services allows us to continue to offer the furniture industry high levels of support now and in the future,’ says Ian Robb, The Vita Group ceo. Visit: www.thevitagroup.com

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Support Success of the Jessica range supports Sheffield Children’s Hospital Sleepeezee donated £60,000 to Sheffield Children’s Hospital last month following successful sales of its Jessica range in 2021. The cheque was presented at the hospital by Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sleepeezee brand ambassador and Steve Warren, Sleepeezee md. With each Jessica mattress sold, Sleepeezee donates £20 to the hospital. The money goes towards providing the best equipment money can buy, opening new facilities and funding vital research to change young people’s lives. ‘It was an honour to present the Sheffield Children’s Hospital with our donation from the Jessica range at Sleepeezee. As a proud patron of the hospital charity, it’s amazing to support people that make such a difference to so many children’s and young people’s lives,’ says Ennis-Hill. Sheffield Children’s Hospital provides a comprehensive range of care for children and young people in Sheffield and beyond. The care focuses on local services for general children’s health, such as health visiting and school nursing through to world-leading, highly specialised services. ‘We are so grateful for this incredible donation from Sleepeezee from the sales of its Jessica mattresses. The donation will go towards helping to

Jessica Plush

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Steve Warren, Sleepeezee md and Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill with the cheque

build a helipad on the roof at Sheffield Children’s Hospital,’ says Tchad Western, The Children’s Hospital Charity business development manager.

‘Currently, air ambulances have to land in a park across the road from the hospital. Having a helipad on our roof would mean that, where every second counts, patients needing urgent care could arrive into the hospital more quickly and with more privacy during a critical situation. Thank you so much to both Sleepeezee and our charity patron, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill for helping to make this possible and for getting us one step closer to achieving our dream of building the helipad.’ ‘We are delighted to be making this donation to Sheffield Children’s Hospital and are proud to support the incredible work carried out by all the staff and team at the hospital. As a charity close to our brand ambassador, we couldn’t think of a more apt donation to celebrate another successful year of the Jessica Collection,‘ says Warren. Visit: www.sleepeezee.com

www.sleepeezee.com

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Optimistic

Many manufacturers had maintained margins

Bed manufacturers remain positive despite sales fall The value of bed sales by National Bed Federation members declined by 2.5% in the past quarter amid an almost double-digit drop in sales volumes. The NBF’s quarterly Sales Tracker report found volumes of bed sets, mattresses, adjustable bed sets and divan bases declined by 8.5% from the previous quarter. Total sales value was estimated at £249m. Manufacturers remain positive about future levels of business, with 42% saying they were optimistic, compared to 39% in the previous quarter and 35% in Q3 2020. Two years ago the major limiting factor on obtaining output was concerns over order levels, with almost 60% reporting that as their main worry. This has now dropped to 16%, while 43% see the availability of raw materials and components as their main limiting factor, and 24% list the availability of skilled labour. The number of respondents reporting increases in costs of more than 5% dropped from 83% in Q2 to 67% in Q3. Almost 70% said they had passed on these cost increases, with nearly half saying the increases had been in excess of 5%. Just under a third of respondents reported that they had kept their selling prices about the same over the

Interiors Monthly January 2022

previous three-month period. Profit margins continue to be under pressure, with 40% of respondents reporting a drop, but almost half had managed to maintain their margins. ‘The Sales Tracker reveals the challenging environment our members are still having to deal with. Volumes have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, while costs are under constant

The value of sales dropped

pressure and a shortage of labour is still affecting almost a quarter of members. Nevertheless, there are signs that the pressure might be easing and optimism has risen. ‘Predicting future demand and capacity and budgeting for next year is the toughest it’s been for a long time,’ says Jessica Alexander, NBF executive director. Visit: www.bedfed.org.uk

20 - 21 Sept 2022 | Telford

Supplier Innovation Zone

www.bedshow.co.uk @thebedfed | #BedShow2022

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Statement

Janet

Opera Contemporary’s collection is designed to make an impact An elegant, stylistic language is the forte of Opera Contemporary’s Janet. The refined design is enhanced by precise sartorial details. The headboard features diamond quilting in contrast with the rounded borders. The double headboard and soft organic forms set Alba apart as an offering for the bedroom zone. The back headboard displays an elegant, original structure in solid wood, enhanced by woven cowhide cords that add lightness and dynamism to the product. Vertigo is a bed of impressive charm. The ample sizing of the headboard is harmoniously countered by uniform profiles of the upholstered sommier. A sophisticated concentric motif is created by the expert stitching that decorates the headboard. Dorothy stands out for its timely,

Vertigo

Interiors Monthly January 2022

essential and refined design. The rigorous but light approach can be seen in the headboard – padded and enhanced by light stitching to create well-balanced geometric effects – and

Alba

Dorothy

also in the sommier, with its linear poise. The metal feet that support the structure speak of lightness and dynamism. Visit: www.operacontemporary.com

Textile Supply Solutions Relax, we have you covered with high quality upholstery fabrics. A bold, bright and beautiful colour range, or contemporary cool. Immerse your mattress with our quality tickings, including Knits, Damasks and Borders. We have the vision and expertise to help you create your perfect mattress collaboration.

Incorporating Atlanta Spring, our very own quality pocket springs manufacturing facility, with 100% customer satisfaction on products, delivery and service. Stockholding at our 100,000 sq ft of warehouse of pocket and bonnell springs, ready for a quick delivery using our own transport. The core of our business thrives on quality of products with a high level of customer service which cannot be beaten.

TRADE ASSOCIATION MEMBER

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Conmo Magnifik

Being different Envisage Trade is focused on producing the extraordinary ‘Our focus is on producing extraordinary products, something different to what the market has to offer, and above all being the best in manufacturing luxury beds and sofas in Britain. Envisage Trade is re-inventing the way beds are produced: all materials are environmentally friendly, ethically sourced and beautifully handcrafted to ensure a fantastic product is produced,’ says Adam Hussain, Envisage Trade director. ‘Working with leading UK and international retailers, interior designers and property developers has enabled us to cater for current market trends, demands and bespoke projects, as well

President

Interiors Monthly January 2022

as getting to know the needs of the luxury furniture industry as a whole. ‘As the demand for British-made products increase, we at Envisage Trade are always focusing on introducing new lines to the market. We pride ourselves on being bespoke with every order. All work is undertaken from our factory in Birmingham, no work is outsourced, and every product is checked thoroughly ensuring 100% quality control. ‘We also offer a direct home delivery service, working with respected couriers in the furniture industry to deliver items all around the UK. A two-man service is used for all our deliveries; every delivery

Premiere

is booked in with the customer beforehand and a call is made on the delivery date.’ As well as beds the company has an extensive upholstery offer. ‘Our sofas range from the old-school Chesterfields through to the latest modern sofas. Our market-leading sofa frames are made from the finest materials in our very own wood mill by our experienced carpenters. These frames offer the end consumer peace of mind, in the knowledge that their sofa will last for many years to come,’ says Hussain. Visit: www.envisagetrade.co.uk

snd 0 1of0 beds a

se o choo sofas t from

Luxury Bed and Sofa Manufacturer

100% quality control on all products

• In house designs • Premium products • Every order bespoke • Choice of fabrics • Direct Home Delivery • Showroom discounts • Made in Britain

Envisage Trade 41 Great Lister St, Birmingham, B7 4LW www.envisagetrade.co.uk | info@envisagetrade.co.uk | 0121 285 3336

UPHOLSTERY

Back in time now

Roger

The 1950s have inspired Minotti’s latest designs Roger, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni, is comprised of three elements: Roger Suite, with cushioned seat and a depth of 101cm; Roger Spring, a monobloc seat of the same depth, fully quilted on the surface, with a pocket-sprung insert to ensure it retains its shape; and Roger Spring Sofa, the armless version with a depth of 94cm. The elements can be freely customised with high and low backrests, different types of armrests and the option of additional elements functioning as tops and containers, jutting out at the back, or at the end, next to the seat. Roger features a customised base in profiled aluminium with a black coffeecoloured varnished finish, which supports the padded elements and the cabinet volumes in dark brown stained palisander Santos, in striped open-pore black lacquered ash veneer or with a lacquered finish in Ice, Cappuccino or Moka, as well as a front or side open storage compartment lined with brandycoloured satin-finish aluminium. Two cross blades in black coffeecoloured varnished aluminium make the join almost invisible and elevate it

Interiors Monthly January 2022

13cm above the floor, giving the seats an airy aesthetic. Brasilia, designed by Marcio Kogan/ studio mk27, has an ultra-precise, contemporary minimal style, rooted in Brazilian modernism. The range hosts a range of seats envisaged for different environments, from the living to the night area, including sofas, elements with one armrest, an armchair and ottoman,

and a varied selection for the bedroom. It is characterised by a Mid-Century aesthetic revisited and modernised not only in its lines and volumes but also in its use of materials, in particular dark brown stained palisander Santos, and in its elegant structural details. The seats, conceived for the home environment, can also play an original role in hospitality settings, given the

Brasilia

UPHOLSTERY Belt

wide variety of elements, coverings and configurations to choose from. The strong architectural feel conveyed by the volumes and proportions of Brasilia points to the world of Marcio Kogan, his interiors and architectures, paying tribute to the period of great cultural ferment that swept through Brazil in the 1950s, in which Oscar Niemeyer and Lùcio Costa were prominent figures. The seating elements are enclosed in a square frame in dark brown stained palisander Santos, sourced from responsibly managed forests, accommodating a system of even, comfortable padding that offers a comfy, cushioned seat. With their airy look, they rest on metal feet with a polished Brandy finish, a prime example of the interaction of materials exploited by Kogan – wood, metal, fabric and leather – to evoke warmth and comfort. The Brasilia range comprises two sizes of sofa (196cm and 273cm in length), elements with one armrest in various lengths with and without a top – made of slender staves in dark brown stained Canaletto walnut or one piece in dark brown stained palisander Santos – and an armchair and small ottoman. The distinctive characteristic behind the Belt collection, designed in leather or all-fabric versions, is the idea of a belt that draws the profile of the body, encircling it then breaking off and fastening to the front. In the leather version, the strip is sewn onto a piece of bonded leather to lend support and ensure a consistent thickness: it is applied to the covering as a belt is applied to a dress and sophisticated crafting is

required to follow the curved shape of the seat and keep the visible seams straight and even. With its classic shape, the foam body designs a shell-like, enveloping backrest that welcomes and protects. The seat rests on a die-cast aluminium base with a polished brandy-coloured, antitouch varnished finish, which in its leather version recalls the metal finishes of exquisite leather bags. The range consists of a sofa, an armchair, a bergère with footstool, a smaller lounge armchair and a small dining armchair. Lido is a comfortable basket-like nest, with a round seat, designed by

Italian-Danish duo GamFratesi. The design is inspired by the 1950s, expressed in a continuous, enveloping curved line that defines the padded body. The line recalls the typical stylistic marks of Brutalist architecture, with cushions adding a comfortable feel. The X-shaped sculptural base is the collection’s strong distinguishing mark. The armchair is available in one size and with two types of bases. One is the X-shaped aluminium version covered in brushed ash with a Moka open-pore lacquered finish. The other features legs in solid wood, in a choice of Moka lacquered open-pore brushed ash or matt polyester lacquered dark brown stained Canaletto walnut. A matching footstool completes the picture. The tops of the legs feature an interesting decorative insert in bronze varnished steel, elegantly distinguishing the point where the legs join the frame. The range also includes little dining and lounge armchairs – the latter only with legs in solid wood – and coffee tables in one size that sit on the iconic X-shaped aluminium base. The base is covered in ash with a Moka varnished finish, and the round or square table top is in Bianconero marble or brushed ash wood with a Moka open-pore lacquered finish. Visit: www.minotti.it Lido armchair

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

UPHOLSTERY

Pioneering

Fibreline is celebrating 40 years of innovation

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Fibreline has a 90,000sqft factory in Keighley

UPHOLSTERY

Fibreline was founded by John Prudhoe in 1982 and has grown to be the largest independently owned upholstery cushion fillings manufacturer in the UK. The company is known for its products across a broad range of cushion seat fillings, often combining different fillings to achieve specific results. Prudhoe had a long history in the upholstery market and could see the potential for carded synthetic fibres in upholstery. Fibreline became a pioneer in the use of polyester fibre in the UK furniture industry. Initially based on Marley Street in Keighley, West Yorkshire the company

soon outgrew this location and in 1992 moved to the town’s former Waddingtons playing card factory. Over the following decade Fibreline diversified into feather and foam cushion fillings, so offering a one-stop-shop for all cushion fillings. Innovations came thick and fast and in 2003, Fibreline became one of the first foam converters to install a fully integrated foam cutting line. One of the main problems with 100% fibre seat cushions is that they go flat over time and require strenuous plumping. Fibreline sought a remedy for this problem with Encore. In 2010,

it started to develop the Encore range, starting with Encore Fibre, which had the look and feel of a fibre cushion but with recovery characteristics more like foam. Encore Fibre was soon awarded the FIRA Gold seal of approval and went on to become a great success story. Encouraged by the success of Encore Fibre, Fibreline proceeded to develop Encore Feather and Encore Foam. Encore Feather has the look and feel of a feather cushion but with much improved recovery. Encore Foam provides the clean lines of a foam seat cushion but the snugly feel of a fibre seat. While all this innovative development was going on Fibreline also introduced a number of industry production process firsts – for example, in 2015 it pioneered the robotic drilling of foam components, followed in 2019 by the installation of a robotic fabrication line. These improvements and innovations helped the company to be competitive in both pricing and delivery. The latest product from Fibreline is Fibrefill Blue. Fibreline recognised the need to offer cushion manufacturers an environmentally friendly solution using recycled plastic, so it found a way to convert plastic bottles into a comfy cushion. Each cushion re-uses as many as 100 plastic bottles. Visit: www.fibreline-ltd.co.uk

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

RUGS

Positive energy Chiara Andreatti’s latest design can be used indoors and out Guna is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘energy that envelops all things’, used to denote the single threads that form a woven rope. The name encapsulates the deep meaning behind Chiara Andreatti’s design for Gervasoni: interweaving yarns, knits and textures, as well as inspirations,

Interiors Monthly January 2022

relationships and cultures are the basis of the designer’s project. A very fine polypropylene yarn in two contrasting colours is woven by a latest-generation knitting loom into an innovative rug, which is available in two versions, one with a striped

texture and the other a more decorative, double-faced version. Available in three colours, blue, red and natural, in a choice of 230cm x 300cm and 80cm x 240cm sizes, the Guna rug can also be used outdoors. Visit: www.gervasoni1882.com

Show guide

The Home of Furniture, NEC 23-26 January 2022

januaryfurnitureshow.com

23-26 Jan 2022

NEC, Birmingham

100s of Industry Leading Brands, 1000s of Product Launches…

januaryfurnitureshow.com

SHOW GUIDE

Back home

After cancellation in 2021, JFS returns to the NEC In addition to bringing the whole UK furniture and interiors industry together, January Furniture Show also gives buyers an unequalled opportunity to see the incoming furnishing trends and select the best of the new. Visitors will have access to the latest insights and expert advice, with practical business advice for small businesses from a host of keynote presentations, masterclasses, panel discussions and case study presentations in a new

seminar programme launching in 2022, Furniture Talks. Subjects will include the latest trends and practical tips on how social media can help your business. With an exhibitor list comprising over 350 UK and international exhibitors, supplying upholstery, cabinet, beds and interior accessories, January Furniture Show really is a one-stop shop for all the latest collections in furniture and accessories. Lorna by Buoyant Upholstery

Exhibitors include Akante, ALF, Alfrank, B4 Living, Babi, Baker Furniture, Bambi Industria, Breasley UK, Buoyant Upholstery, Camel Group, Conciaria, Devonshire Living, Ego Italiano, Fima, Forte, Furninova, Gala, Genesis Fine Arts, Grafu Baldai, Italia Living, Lebus Upholstery, Parker Knoll, Tetrad, Westbridge and Whitemeadow. ‘Lebus Upholstery is looking forward to being at the January Furniture Show once again, welcoming old and new customers alike to view the exciting new range that has been lovingly crafted by the dedicated design and development team over the last few months,’ says Jane Sage, Lebus Upholstery design manager. ‘It has been almost two years since the last show and we couldn’t be more excited to make our return. It is always a huge fixture in our calendar and one that we work towards for most of the year. We will once again have one of the largest stands in the exhibition hall and will be bringing our A-game in terms of new models and designs. We’re looking forward to greeting our loyal customers and creating some new partnerships at this January Furniture Show,’ says Mike Aramayo, Buoyant Upholstery md. Visit: www.januaryfurnitureshow.com

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

Madena by Lebus Upholstery

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE Eco Comfort Breathe

Hat-trick

Products will be debuted across Silentnight’s three brands Silentnight Group, home of the brands Silentnight, Studio by Silentnight and Rest Assured, returns to the January Furniture Show. Silentnight’s mission is to use its passion, product knowledge, exceptional quality and sleep expertise to provide sleep solutions for a nation of unique sleepers. Through wide research, it understands one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to a good night’s sleep, which is why it is delivering market-leading product innovation and sleep technology, with the ambition to give consumers the best sleep experience possible. Testament to its passion for quality and innovation, Silentnight has been

One size doesn’t fit all

Above: Eco Comfort Breathe Silentnight has been a Superbrand for many years

Interiors Monthly January 2022

recognised with awards from several independent bodies over the years, supporting its positioning as the UK’s most trusted sleep brand. It has maintained recognition as a Superbrand for more than 15 years, alongside the accolade of Which? Best Buy for multiple mattresses across its range. Silentnight is committed to working to the highest quality standards for its customers, with all mattresses, upholstered beds and headboards handmade in its UK factory and rigorously tested in its in-house SATRA-approved testing lab. At the show, it will be launching its new Health & Wellbeing mattress collection, designed to offer better sleep, to give you the lift you need for the day ahead. Also to feature is a premium addition to the Studio by Silentnight collection of rolled mattresses, contemporary Healthy Growth kids’ mattresses, and the introduction of a number of trend-led divan and headboard

fabric colours. Designed to help sleepers find their perfect mattress match for their individual needs, it has additionally developed a unique piece of sleep technology, backed by 75 years of sleep expertise. Rest Assured is showcasing three premium collections of mattresses made with natural and sustainable materials, using luxurious British wool. The collections – Wool, Latex and Refresh – provide a supremely comfortable and indulgent sleep. Silentnight Group has committed to the Climate Pledge, to be net zero carbon by 2040. It is recognised as Carbon Neutral+, offsetting more carbon than is produced, and has reduced emissions by 49% in the past four years. Energy consumption has also been reduced across the business, as it uses 100% renewable electricity and sources 70% of raw materials close to its Lancashire base. It continues to reduce fuel consumption. It recycles the equivalent of 450million plastic bottles a year into its eco-friendly mattresses and tops-of-bed, with a view to making sleep greener without compromising on quality and comfort. Visit: www.silentnightgroup.co.uk

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Launchpad

Highgrove Beds has taken extra space to show its latest products Highgrove Beds will use the January Furniture Show as a launchpad for several products, from innovative and upgraded mattress specifications to improved, stylish base options, all available with exclusive show offers. The new celebratory mattress Majesty will feature strongly on the stand. Designed to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, Majesty is also presented with high-impact POS and the opportunity for a retailer and consumer to win a weekend in London. And for every Majesty mattress sold in 2022, Highgrove Beds will plant a tree donated through the National Trust’s tree-planting scheme. Highgrove has taken additional space at the show for its debut Sanctum collection, with new covers and a focus on luxurious natural fillings and hand-tailored comfort. ‘It’s great to be getting back to some form of normality after the challenges of the past 18 months or so,’ says Shane Harding, Highgrove Beds head of marketing. ‘Those of us that love this industry really enjoy meeting customers

Majesty

Interiors Monthly January 2022

and having the opportunity to showcase our latest products and promotions. ‘Last year was particularly challenging for many reasons, with material price increases and shortages affecting all UK manufacturers. The fact is, we’ve all got used to virtually zero inflation and prices that have been stable for years –

and we’re now often faced with raw material and component prices being increased with little or no warning.’ Despite this, Highgrove Beds remains confident in its UK operation, with £500,000 invested in a new 25,000sqft storage facility at the Liversedge, West Yorkshire site (completed during

Shoppers and retailers can win a trip to London

SHOW GUIDE

Plaza

lockdown) to ensure the business has sufficient spring stocks to meet demand. A further £800,000 has been invested in new vehicles with improved driver facilities, to appear this month. Harding is also confident that the business will continue to take market share despite one of the toughest retail environments in many years. ‘We have now firmly bedded in our three main brands into the marketplace: HG at the entry level, our established flagship Highgrove brand taking up the centre ground, and Sanctum targeting the premium hand-tailored sector,’ he says. Highgrove has invested more than £600,000 in recent years supporting high-street retailers with high-impact

£800,000 has been invested in new vehicles

in-store displays and additional POS, including branded footmats and pillowcases. These have proved extremely popular with its stockists Although the Internet plays an increasingly important role in consumer decision-making, Highgrove Beds has made a tactical and commercial decision to support the high street, and its brochure collection is strictly not available for selling online. ‘We feel that consumers still want to “try before they buy” and although Internet sales continue to outpace retail, high-ticket comfort items will still be primarily sold in-store for many years to come – and that should be encouraged.’ Visit: www.highgrovebeds.co.uk

The company has invested in POS highlighting its tree-planting

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Introducing Majesty. The celebrated new mattress from Highgrove. To celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 70th anniversary as Monarch, Highgrove has produced ‘Majesty,’ quite simply the finest mattress in our collection. Majesty features Natural fillings, 2000 Pocket Springs, and is also designed to be fully recyclable. The luxury mattress also includes woollen tufts and Highgrove’s Dynamic Active Side Support, with extra springs strategically placed that adjust to body pressure and maximise the sleep surface. Majesty is available in a wide range of sizes – including specially tailored sizes by quotation. For every Majesty bed sold, Highgrove will make a donation to the National Trust Nationwide tree planting initiative to plant a tree on our customer’s behalf. At the end of the promotion Highgrove will match the total number, so doubling the number of trees planted. All supported by high impact in-store POS. For a Royal audience visit us in Hall 5 - Stand E20.

WIN a Royal weekend in London. Visit our stand for more details.

Come and talk to us at Hall 5, Stands E20 and F20. Highgrove Beds, Headlands Road, Liversedge WF15 6QA, UK T: +44(0) 1924 406 600 highgrovebeds.co.uk

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Alignment Sealy will debut the new Sealy Posturepedic range at the show Leading mattress brand Sealy UK will unveil a full range of new mattresses and beds at the January Furniture Show, including showcasing its new Sealy Posturepedic range. With more than a century of experience making premium mattresses, bedframes and headboards, Sealy is introducing a new product direction – welcoming not just one, but a whole host of new ranges to the market. The unique and proprietary Sealy Posturepedic technology delivers support, comfort and durability throughout the life of the mattress. Backed by world-leading orthopedic research, and using intelligence from the Orthopedic Advisory Board, the innovative spring system is designed to create the correct spinal alignment for the body at rest. It features exclusive technology that not only creates a different mattress feel but introduces a new aesthetic too. The

Interiors Monthly January 2022

collection presents a luxurious range of hand-crafted mattresses, comprised of the highest quality materials. Available in a wide range of choices, it offers customers a variety of different feels, comfort options and looks. Sealy’s mission is to design and create quality products that combine smart innovation, precise engineering and industry-leading research, and the new Posturepedic range exemplifies the application of science and technology for which Sealy is renowned. ‘We are extremely excited to announce the launch of our new Posturepedic range, which plays a huge part in our vision for the Sealy brand. Over the course of 140 years, Sealy has spearheaded and defined the science of making orthopedic-led mattress designs, basing its product development around the genuine needs of real consumers. Our new ranges use meaningful product innovation, with health and scientific

insight at the forefront of design,’ says Mark Tuley, Sealy UK sales director. ‘Each model has been designed with the needs of the end user in mind, providing on-trend mattresses that deliver support, comfort and durability. This year marks the start of a new era for Sealy and we plan to continue to innovate. It’s an exciting time indeed.’ Alongside the Posturepedic range, Sealy will present the new Ortho, Advantage and Enhance ranges, which show the brand’s continued focus on updating its offering to the market. It will also showcase its new divans and headboards, with a revamped aesthetic that has been influenced by wider fashion and interior design trends. The ranges are evidence of Sealy’s investment in its global R&D facility and ongoing commitment to cutting-edge research and development. The ranges will be available from February. Visit: www.sealy.co.uk

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Miami

Sandringham

Never stopping

The company continues to work hard to serve its customers better ‘The January Furniture Show is fast approaching and despite the many challenges of the past year, the team at Julian Bowen has worked hard developing new products across all home furniture categories,’ says Emmett Lenaghan, Julian Bowen md. There is a clear focus on new innovation with brushed gold, smoked glass and sumptuous velvet dining chairs in a wide range of colours, rich velvet beds and deep-buttoned, stylish and comfortable upholstery all a key feature at the show. The company is an acknowledged leader in children’s furniture and this is another key focus, with some innovative and highly functional new designs. Dining has not been overlooked either, with the launch of several discrete new ranges, alongside

additions to established bestsellers. Huge attention has been paid to supply chain management to mitigate the ongoing industry-wide dislocations, and Julian Bowen is consequently very well stocked across these key ranges. Given the fast-changing nature of the industry, the team at Julian Bowen recognises the meaningful and varied challenges that its customers face and has continued to invest significantly in staff training, IT and additional warehousing in order to provide the most efficient support. Stock control, order management and distribution are all areas that have been upgraded over the past year to benefit the firm’s extensive customer base and tailor individual solutions where required. Julian Bowen’s emphasis on bespoke solutions and customer support has been a key factor in the development of its successful Direct Container business, which offers a one-stop solution from product development through quality control, shipping and in-bound

Gatsby Bali

Interiors Monthly January 2022

distribution and ongoing stock management support, while leveraging the firm’s significant buying power to its customers’ advantage. As across the whole business, the emphasis is upon making the buying process as easy, efficient and pain-free for its customers as possible. The firm remains totally committed to offering the best quality and value at all of the many price points at which it supplies the marketplace. ‘Everything we do is designed to get the best possible outcome for our customers. Everybody in our business knows that the customer comes first and we work together to continually enhance our proposition, be it a wider and better product offering, flexible distribution solutions, stock availability, bespoke development, even project management. We are proud to win Interiors Monthly’s Award for Customer Service again, but our customers can rest assured that we will keep on working hard to serve them better,’ says Lenaghan. Visit: www.julian-bowen.co.uk

COME SAY HELLO. We look forward to seeing you at the January Furniture Show 2022 23rd - 26th January at the NEC Birmingham Hall 5 stand E10 W W W. L E B U S . CO. U K

Sanderson Bed with the New Bali Bedroom Collection Featuring Threespine™ Click Furniture Technology for Fast, Hardware-free Assembly

JULIAN BOWEN

Visit Julian Bowen at The Furniture Show Hall 4 Stand E20 Bentinck House, Park Lane Business Park, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts NG17 9LE tel: (01623) 727374 email: sales@julian-bowen.co.uk web: www.julian-bowen.co.uk

All Products are available for Direct Home Delivery

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Capri Carbon

More and more

Core will debut a host of new products, designed for DHD Core Products, winner of the Interiors Monthly Best Flatpack Furniture Supplier award for the past three years, will be showcasing its new collections at the January Furniture Show. Core has seen a real surge in demand for affordable flatpack furniture and has responded by increasing stock levels considerably, so orders can be completed in a matter of days. To meet everchanging consumer needs, many of Core’s products have been re-designed so they are even easier to assemble in the home, while packaging has also been changed to meet the requirements for more direct home delivery (DHD). A considerable investment in technology over the past year means customers can now access stock holding, product information, ordering and delivery tracking at any time of day. For 2022, its pine collections will be extended and an entirely new Texas cabinet collection introduced. Every

Dunkeld

Manhattan

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Texas

piece in these ranges has been designed to meet the space constraints of modern living and combines Core’s bestselling subtle grey and wax finishes with real metal, appealing to consumers looking for great value furniture. Core’s painted collections have been considerably expanded with new ranges

and colours, all of which will be on show for the first time at the NEC, while the demand for darker finishes has been answered with new colour versions of proven ranges too. Home entertainment furniture has seen a huge surge in sales during the past year and Core’s new Vision range has a large choice of freestanding and wall fixing TV units. Casual living is undoubtedly popular, with a varied selection of pieces for around the home, along with an extensive home office collection. Each piece is designed to optimise storage capabilities in minimum space. Core’s Highland Home collection answers the need for traditionally constructed cabinet furniture that is practical in design and easy to assemble. Bold ideas combined with vibrant paint finishes, wood, glass and stone give a completely fresh look to these ranges of bedroom, living and dining furniture. Visit: www.coreproducts.co.uk

CORE PRODUCTS

award winning flat packed furniture at the January Furniture Show

Hall 4 Stand A40

E S T. 1 9 8 6

Hundreds of products to choose from Over 50 Bedroom, Living, Dining, Shelving & Storage Ranges

NEW

RANGES

F O R

2022 EXTENSIVE UK STOCKHOLDING

QUICK DELIVERY TIMES TRADE PREMISES DELIVERIES DIRECT HOME DELIVERY

www.coreproducts.co.uk t: 01738 630555

e: sales@coreproducts.co.uk

2021

BEST FLAT PACKED FURNITURE SUPPLIER

WINNERS 2019, 2020 & 2021

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Smooth operator

Chittenden & Eastman Smooth-Tech

Recyclability and no tufts have created a record-selling mattress Millbrook Bed Company will exhibit what it says is the most sustainable mattress on the UK market at the show: the Chittenden & Eastman Smooth-Tech collection. Created through the partnership with Bedding Industries America, the six-model range features Millbrook Bed Company’s NemoFlex and Smooth-Tech sleep technologies. ‘The mattresses have circular sustainability and 100% recyclability due to a fundamental change in mattress manufacturing. With this range Millbrook Bed Company has addressed not only how a mattress is made and what it is made from, but also the end-of-life of the mattress and how it is recycled,’ says Ross Thurston, Millbrook Bed Company operations director. ‘At the heart of each Chittenden & Eastman mattress lies the NemoFlex core, a revolutionary, foam-free encapsulated spring system that eliminates the need for staples or stitching, traditionally problematic for recycling. These design

Interiors Monthly January 2022

attributes allow the raw materials and components to be easily upcycled into alternative products such as loft insulation. This in turn reduces the volume of mattresses going to landfill.’ To facilitate mattress end-of-life management Millbrook Recycling will launch at the company’s Totton, Hampshire headquarters in 2022. Additionally, for every NemoFlex mattress manufactured, at least 200 plastic bottles are re-purposed and diverted from landfill and for every Chittenden & Eastman mattress sold a donation will go to the Woodland Trust to support the creation, protection and restoration of UK woodland. Millbrook Bed Company is committed to reducing the company’s carbon footprint by 2.5% every year to continue to achieve The Planet Mark certification. Smooth-Tech is a new Millbrook sleep technology developed in response to some customer requests for a tuft-free sleeping surface. Millbrook Bed Company

mattresses are hand-made to last 10 years or more, attributable in part to the tufting process, so the company turned the idea on its head and created an inner tufted mattress: all the benefits of a traditional mattress but without the outer tufts. ‘For the past two years Millbrook Bed Company has dedicated itself to a fundamental change in manufacturing. We wanted to make a better mattress – better for our customers and better for our planet. We also wanted to create a mattress with the same performance as our traditionally tufted mattresses but with a smoother surface. It made sense to combine both, and our Chittenden & Eastman range was born,’ says Thurston. ‘We launched this range at the Bed Show in September where response from our retailers was phenomenal. In-store floor models are now displayed and the feedback so far is very good – this is the fastest-selling range we have ever had.’ Visit: www.millbrook-beds.co.uk

I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Write and thank your customers Make sure customers can easily get hold of you

Be in touch

Let ‘Thank you for your order’ be just the beginning ‘Consumers appreciate communication. Retailers are not always the best at communicating, especially if it is no news – or worse, bad news. Going silent when customers expect the opposite does happen; many retailers have no process to ensure it doesn’t. ‘Here are a few tips to make sure you are on the right communication frequency with your customers,’ says Jesse Akre, RetailSystem president. y Thank them again for their order. A quick call or handwritten note after every order can do many things: it will further your chances of repeat business as well as referral business; it will also improve your odds of positive social feedback. And it will lessen the reaction if you need to communicate further due to a delay or problem with the product purchased. y Set a positive post-sale tone with a proper follow-up on each sale. Provide your direct contact information, as well whoever is next up the chain. You were their person to get the sale: you are still their person until the sale is complete. Don’t dump it on back office. There should never be an ‘I’m too busy’ or ‘I’m too important.’ Give them your contact info and encourage them to use it. In fact, go one step further – don’t shy away from ‘Let me speak to your manager’. We are in a business of service; they can get a table, lamp, bed or sofa anywhere. y Follow up 30 days after all has been delivered. Once they have the product, remorse can kick in, so give them a call. Sure, you have policies preventing

Interiors Monthly January 2022

most returns, but ‘How’s your purchase?’ can go a long way. Ask for a review. Ask for a social post. Tell them about the rug or table or lamp that would complete the look. Tell them it’s not too late to add that warranty or protection package. The 30-day follow-up is a great practice. ‘To recap: communicate. Thank them for their order; provide direct contact

information (including up the chain) and follow up 30 days after delivery has been made. ‘Think like a consumer. Imagine what your expectations would be in their situation, and treat your customers to proper communications before, during and after the sale.’ Visit: www.retailsystem.com

Find out how your customer is enjoying their purchase

Bring the omnichannel experience to your retail showroom floor with FurnitureKiosk! Turn your retail space into that endless aisle digital consumer experience. Now your customers can search for products on their own. Customers can browse your entire catalogue content live and even see what you have in stock … it’s right there, with a tap. Reduce the “sales anxiety” that customers experience by letting them do it themselves!

E TIV C A E R L AY S T IN ISP D

Maximize the experience. Maximize your showroom space. Maximize the sale.

For more information visit www.myfurniturekiosk.com. Alternatively, call us on 0207 0960 021 or email us on sales@myfurniturekiosk.com.

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Spin for success

Monaco in pebble grey

Monaco will be shown in its entirety for the first time Bedroom manufacturer Wiemann is to showcase its award-winning, updated Monaco furniture system at the show. Visitors will be the first to see how the reimagined collection, the winner of the 2019 Furniture Awards Best Bedroom Cabinet will work, using interactive software platform Furnplan – designed for retailers to help customers discover their perfect bedroom solution. This will be the first time the German company has been able to show the Monaco 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 variations in their entirety since the launch of the collection during the pandemic. Known for its versatility and sleek looks, visitors can expect multiple wardrobe configurations to show all aspects of its flexibility and functionality. The Monaco system features a range of door and carcase finishes – some new for 2022 and set to be unveiled at the show. Door options include bifold (Monaco 2000), hinged (Monaco1000) and sliding (Monaco 3000), with all the

Interiors Monthly January 2022

variations including Monaco’s popular big, walk- in corner units. Meanwhile, the list of complementary furniture has been greatly expanded under the Monaco 4000 label to include bookcases, furniture chests, beds and bedsides. Wiemann will launch five ranges offering something for all price points. Three are VIP premium collections from its heartland, showing commitment to driving value for retailers. The priceconscious shopper is not forgotten, with two entry-level ranges. ‘We are looking forward to revealing these high-quality products that ooze functionality and represent great value for money. All Wiemann products are known for their excellent design, quality and value and are backed up with the company’s five-star customer support service,’ says Simon Hewitt, md of Litmus Furniture, Wiemann’s sole agent for the UK and Ireland. Perennial bestsellers will also be on display. Loft, a VIP premium range is

a long-standing favourite which hits the sweet spot by combining quality, luxury and value. Shaker-style Cambridge and Miami Plus are medium-priced ranges, which come to the NEC with new colours and trim options. ‘Our display will feature wide choices of storage and door configurations, handles and trims, creating eye-catching, on-trend looks. Contemporary and smart, the collections suit a range of budgets and tastes,’ says Hewitt. Visit: www.wiemannuk.co.uk

Monaco corner run in white and pebble grey

Create your perfect bedroom with Wiemann!

Metz

Bedrooms of distinctive style, quality and value

See for yourself on Stand C50, Hall 4 January Furniture Show, NEC, 23-26 January 2022

made in germany enquiries@wiemannuk.co.uk | www.wiemannuk.co.uk

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Up to the moment

Niamh

Alpha Designs will debut its 2022 models Alpha Designs is a progressive UK manufacturer at the forefront of design and fabric, which it once again will show by the presentation of new collections at the forthcoming show. These new models will follow the successful launch in Autumn 2021 of the now proven Audrey,

Selsey, Ciara and Niamh models. ‘The 2022 ranges to be shown for the first time at JFS22 have been designed and developed with a leading furniture designer, and will be presented in new, vibrant up-to-the-moment fabrics. This will continue the growth of Alpha Designs in the marketplace, which

alongside our current successful commercial ranges, offers a breadth of styles, with total flexibility on fabrics across all models, from a company with a can-do attitude, to ensure an extremely enticing proposition,’ says Barry Webb, Alpha Designs sales director. Tel: 01902 492 937

Selsey

100

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Find us at Hall 1, Stand E80

Elegant upholstery, handmade in the UK by a family company with passion, dedication and care

Audrey Chaise

ALPHA DESIGNS UPHOLSTERY LIMITED T: 01902 492937 F: 01902 493700 E: sales@alpha-designs.co.uk Unit 1, Stag Industrial Estate, Oxford Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 7HZ

The Furniture Makers’ Company the furnishing industry’s charity

IT’S TIME TO

STEP 2 IT Step 2 It is the exciting new fundraising campaign by industry charity The Furniture Makers’ Company. The Furniture Makers’ Company launched its largest ever fundraising campaign in May, asking the furnishing industry to ‘Step 2 It’ and help raise £250,000 to support people from the trade who have been impacted by COVID-19. Step 2 It aims to inspire companies and individuals to organise sports-based fundraisers between May 2021 – April 2022 in aid of the charity, encouraging friends, family and co-workers to join in the fun. What’s more – thanks to a benefactor, every single penny you raise will be matched, effectively doubling your donation. Last year our charity awarded a record number of financial grants to people from the sector whose lives and livelihoods were disrupted by the pandemic. Now we need your help to raise funds so we can keep supporting the industry.

Have fun, raise money, support lives, Step 2 It

Claim your fundraising toolkit: www.furnituremakers.org.uk/step2it

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

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104

Onwards

Above: Blair dining table Above left: Whirly vases

Gallery Direct’s second Design Project will be debuted Gallery Direct will launch its SS22 Collection at the January Furniture Show, on the largest stand in the exhibition. The collection will offer more than 1,300 new SKUs, with around 220 furniture lines, over 100 outdoor furniture pieces, around 650 accessories, more than 150 soft furnishings and over 60 wall decor lines. The new furniture will include Gallery Direct’s second Design Project – Packed-Flat – to follow on from the successful Sofa in a Box collection. Both projects combine exclusive design with practical solutions to everyday problems. ‘Packed-Flat, which offers design and quality without the price tag, features an extensive collection of 12 furniture ranges, plus other pieces, with varied styles to suit different interiors. All are designed to offer easy delivery to any room in any property. They require less packaging and are also freight-friendly, as they need less space for shipping, so reducing their environmental impact. All the pieces require easy home assembly but come complete with the tools required,’ says Peter Delaney, Gallery Direct md. ‘It is such a departure from traditional Gallery Direct furniture that we wanted

Interiors Monthly January 2022

a new but simple twist to the collection name. Packed-Flat offers an eclectic mix of furniture, combining bold colours and shapes to fit all spaces. Easy to build and easy to place, the collection is a commercial, modern and design-led solution to quality flat-packed, selfassembly furniture.’ The range includes the Blair tables. These feature solid oak bases with a contemporary black finish combined with tempered smoked glass tops. They are also available with natural oak bases and clear glass tops. Henley combines clean lines, natural oak veneers and matt black metal. On the accessories side of the SS22 collection, the extensive range of products offers a phenomenal choice, with products ranging from a huge selection of faux plants and stems to vases such as the glass Whirly vases, and from lanterns to planters, storage pieces to decorative items. There are also more homewares, including a new addition to Gallery’s catalogue: bathroom accessories. Soft furnishings see additions to Gallery’s current categories of cushions, throws, occasional seating and rugs, including a selection of cushions and

throws made from recycled cotton. New collections of kitchen and table textiles are also introduced. The company will be returning to the NEC next month when it exhibits at the Spring Fair. Visit: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Henley display unit

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

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106

Celebrations 2022 is Shire Beds’ 25th anniversary Shire Beds celebrates 25 years of innovative manufacturing this year. From a cottage industry started from scratch in 1997, it has become an award-winning British brand. A family business that’s built on strong British values: if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. With this basic principle at the core of its manufacturing, Shire Beds won the Bed Industry Awards Bed Product of the Year 2021 for its Shire Signature Collection. The collection answers the call of retailers seeking to maximise margin while still offering customers a top-quality product. The range of handcrafted mattresses contains natural fillings of wool, cotton, cashmere, silk and latex. The products are available in spring counts of 6,000, 8,000 and 10,000 – the highest spring count Shire Beds has offered – and feature two or three rows of classic, handstitched borders dependent on the spring count. The hand side stitching ensures the highest quality of finish and longevity. The bespoke, high spring-count luxury mattresses offer a sumptuous feel, to satisfy the comfort demanded by customers at the middle and higher end of the market. The Shire Signature Collection has been developed to achieve high margins while still being considered good value and below the cost of the

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Shire Beds won the Bed Industry Awards Bed Product of the Year 2021 for its Shire Signature Collection

larger well-established brands. The mattresses are also available as an own-label option, which allows retailers the choice of offering a great value, high-end product. The range also benefits from a two-week delivery time. Building on the success of the

Constable Natural Pillow Top launched in 2019, which was a finalist in The Bed Product of the Year, Shire Beds has developed this range in line with its brand offering of quality products at excellent value. Shire Beds has been able to increase its share and move into the higher end market through increasing the quality of offering whilst still keeping a close eye on costs. This quality offering in line with eco design principles has elevated the Shire Beds’ brand to address a wider range of retailers. Being able to access high value retailers and move its traditional consumers upmarket is something the company is proud to have achieved with the range of products developed in recent years. Today Shire Beds’ range of beds, mattresses, divan bases and headboards is supplied nationally and internationally to major retailers and the contract sector, including education, care and hospitality. Visit: www.shirebeds.co.uk

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

Every taste

La-Z-Boy promises its strongest product range UK-made models will be the centrepiece of La-Z-Boy UK’s return to the NEC. It will be the motion specialist’s first show since acquiring its La-Z-Boy Manufacturing UK division, with more than 10 UK-made models being presented. The firm has also joined Made in Britain. ‘The whole team is looking forward to unveiling our new-look La-Z-Boy stand. It will be great to meet customers once again and we can’t wait for people to see what we believe is our strongest product range to date,’ says Adam Morley, La-Z-Boy UK head of marketing. ‘Whether it’s comfort and reliability

Baxter

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Castello

Interiors Monthly January 2022

that consumers are looking for, or a suite with wow factor to relax in style, we have something for all tastes.’ Visitors to the show will be able to view 14 product ranges, featuring design-led new additions and updated versions of classic models such as the Winchester, which has proven highly popular and has a minimal lead-time stock programme. A new rise and recline collection bolsters the current catalogue. Popular releases from the Manchester Furniture Show will be on display in eye-catching colourways, including

Collins

the elegant Bartelli, and three new UK models will also be debuted. Visit: www.la-z-boy.co.uk Hampstead

HALL 5 G-40

Join us for our first

EXHIBITION

JANUARY FURNITURE SHOW 2022

HALL 5 / G-40

26 RANGES

OVER 150+ FABRIC OPTIONS ALL HANDMADE IN THE UK

NEW COLLECTIONS JANUARY FURNITURE SHOW EXCLUSIVES

FAST DELIVERY MAXIMUM 6 WEEKS DELIVERY ON ALL NEW DISPLAYS

For more about us please visit: www.sofafactory.uk Email: sales@bentinckfurniture.co.uk | Tel: 0191 495 4600 | Visit: Bentincks House, Nest Road, Gateshead, NE10 0ES

Designed & Manufactured in the UK.

Proud members of the Made in Britain Association. To experience our new designs including our NEW Made in Britain ranges, visit us at the January Furniture Show Hall 5 E32. For more information or to book a meeting with the team, please email: tristan.pyke@la-z-boy.com

Bartelli When your customers buy a La-Z-Boy sofa, they’re not just buying a sofa, they’re investing in: • A place to relax and unwind • The heart of their home • Time with their family and friends • Comfort and wellbeing

www.la-z-boy.co.uk

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE Bellagio in Antique Leather Tan

Triple hit

Whitemeadow’s three stands will showcase upholstery, beds and an eco range Whitemeadow is excited to be returning to the NEC for the long-awaited 2022 January Furniture Show. Last year proved to be yet another challenging year for the Whitemeadow team, as for many manufacturers, managing supply issues, increased lead times and skills shortages. It is looking forward to this year and confident that much of the hard work done behind the scenes in 2021 to improve processes and invest in staff will make for a smoother 2022 for itself and its customers. ‘We have been actively managing

Jasper in Lovely Armour

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Bossanova in Hollis Taupe

Interiors Monthly January 2022

various issues within the business and wider industry, and consistently communicating with our customers to overcome challenges. This has included improving some of our processes where necessary and investing in staff training and recruitment to ensure we are able to meet our customers’ requirements in the most efficient way possible, whilst maintaining the high quality we have become known for. No doubt 2022 will be bring with it its own challenges, but we feel we are in a good place to meet those challenges head on,’ says Daniel

Oscroft, Whitemeadow sales director. ‘The January Furniture Show presents us with our first opportunity in two years to exhibit at a national show, and we can’t wait to show our customers some of the innovations we have been working on for the past 12 months and that we are really excited about.’ Whitemeadow is particularly keen to showcase its progression with its sustainability credentials, so is dedicating one of its three stands – adjacent to each other in Hall 1 – to its eco range of products. This will include the launch of a new eco range and new and sustainable fabrics. In addition, 2022 will see the return of its dedicated bed stand, which will also feature a new range of upholstered bed frames. ‘After a year like no other, and such a long time without shows, we are really excited to get back in front of customers at a national level, and get back amongst other manufacturers within the industry too. The January Furniture Show is always a great opportunity to see what’s going on within the industry and is a springboard in terms of sales and marketing activities for the rest of the year. ‘We know our customers expect us to wow them at the show, so we’ve made sure our stand this year will be the best yet,’ says Zehra Gezer, Whitemeadow head of marketing. Visit: www.whitemeadow.com

Advertising feature: GFA GFA is excited for the year ahead

Darcy three-seater in Ocean

Making plans How was 2021 for GFA?

And the year’s biggest achievements?

As a business we feel very fortunate that we have had a reasonable year, considering the many challenges the business has faced. We have continued to evolve and adapt to the current climate, as pent-up demand for our product has increased. We have been focusing more and more on strengthening our sofa manufacturing facility here in the UK to provide a faster and more streamlined delivery experience for our customers, as well as broadening our product offering to become more of a ‘one-stop shop’ for chairs and sofas.

We were lucky enough to be nominated for a Furniture News Readers’ Choice Award and were delighted to win Best Occasional Chair/Recliner Supplier. Thank you to everyone that voted – It gave us all a real boost! We are also proud of our hugely successful sofa launch ‘From UK stock’, which has gained some real traction this year. We started cautiously with just a few different designs and now we are up to five, with more planned for early next year. We’ve tried to keep it relatively simple for customers, with just a couple of colour options and a standard leg

What have been the biggest challenges in the past year? It’s been another very challenging year for the business. The pandemic is still causing major problems with our supply chain out in China, and the manufacture of product and material costs have skyrocketed! We’ve also been hit by an unprecedented increase in shipping rates, which has inevitably meant that throughout the year we have had to adjust our prices in way of a surcharge, to absorb a proportion of those losses. GFA’s transport costs in the UK have also been hit with substantial increases due to lack of drivers, pay increases and now petrol price rises. Margins have been squeezed all round. As always, we try to support our customers for as long as possible and no price increase is ever implemented lightly. We have recently heard whispers that shipping prices could come down a little after Chinese New Year and that would be very much welcomed all round.

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Interiors Monthly January 2022

Paddington in Deep Sea

Florida in Otter

Instagram. Our dedicated office team are also on hand to answer any product queries. Our customers benefit from regular email updates on promotions, new launches, stock updates and clearance deals. We have dedicated sales agents who are extremely knowledgeable about our products and services and have been in the industry a long time. Our show van regularly travels around the UK showcasing new product ranges, which we have found hugely beneficial during the uncertainty of the past two years when trade shows haven’t been possible. We have invested substantially in transforming our show van,

Advertising feature: GFA Egger

Axton two-seater in Shadow

which we feel has been exceedingly worthwhile.

Hawaii in Café Cream

finish, but we’re excited to be a bit more adventurous with the new ranges – think boucle and deep, slouchy cushions, with a bit of shimmer added in for good measure!

Will you be exhibiting at any upcoming events? We really missed exhibiting at the January Furniture Show 2021, so we are looking forward to being back in 2022! We’ll be in our usual spot – Hall 5, Stand E40 with a great selection of new product that we hope everyone will love. We also hope to exhibit at Manchester in the summer as we usually try to freshen up the range every six months and this ties in perfectly with the show. We were disappointed we were unable to attend this year as it moved to Harrogate at the last minute.

What will 2022 bring? Hopefully more accessible travel and an end to the pandemic! We have lots of exciting plans for 2022. The January Furniture Show is always a positive start to the year for us, as we launch our new range and get a good feel from customers about their thoughts on the products. From a business perspective, we have been working behind the scenes on an online ordering system, which we are confident will streamline processes we currently have in place, enabling us to work more productively and efficiently. It has been many, many months in the making and setting up each of our products has been a huge task, but we are confident it will be a massive step for GFA as a business. Visit: www.gfa.uk.com

What do you have planned for the January Furniture Show? We are really looking forward to welcoming back all our customers, old and new. We have missed the opportunity for engagement that the show brings – it forms a big part of our business. We have focused heavily this year on a carefully selected range of fixed sofas in some exciting fabric arrangements with complementing scatters and accents. It’s been a very thorough process with lots of mood-boarding, meeting with fabric suppliers and brainstorming going on behind the scenes. It’s taken time to get right but we are really pleased with the results. Our core product, the swivel recliner, will certainly still be very prevalent, with a definite shift to a more modern design featuring integrated footstools and stylish chrome control panels.

Where can readers keep up to date with GFA throughout the year? Readers can keep up to date with all things GFA via our website and social media platforms: you can find us on both Facebook and

Darcy in Aztec Teal

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GFA GLOBAL

FURNITURE

ALLIANCE

Come and see us! HALL

5 -

STAND

E40

This year will feature a carefully selected range of fixed sofas in some exciting fabric arrangements with complimenting scatters and accents. Our core product, the swivel recliner will certainly still be very prevalent, with a definite shift to a more modern design featuring integrated footstools and stylish chrome control panels.

Darcy Ocean Fabric

Axton Shadow Fabric

Michigan Tan Leather/Match T:

01291

645080

01291

645099

Paddington Deep Sea Fabric Paddington Silver Fabric

Hague Husky Leather/Match

SALES@GFA.UK.COM

WWW.GFA.UK.COM

January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

118

Join the club

Mattress protectors can create significant add-on sales The January Furniture Show is the perfect time to assess and review after the winter sale. Protect-A-Bed, the award-winning specialist in mattress protection, will have helped multiple retailers significantly grow sales during this time. ‘This January would be a perfect point to join the Platinum Club for those not already a member. A visit to the show stand could pay dividends throughout the rest of 2022. The club has been extremely successful since its creation. We continuously build frameworks that are simple for retailers to implement in order to achieve extremely high sales within the category. The Platinum Club is an in-store rewards programme designed to build, recognise and reward this success. We create energy and

Interiors Monthly January 2022

excitement in a category that is often overlooked. Our ability to turn it into sales growth is phenomenal,’ says Paul Lake, Protect-A-Bed national sales manager. ‘The Platinum Club is one element; there are significant differences between Protect-A-Bed and other mattress protectors. Every Protect-A-Bed protector includes a 10-15-year product guarantee and, when bought with a mattress, a 10-15-year anti-stain guarantee too. Protect-A-Bed will have the mattress professionally cleaned to the customer’s satisfaction or buy them a new one if it fails and if the mattress was bought with the protector. This promise is powerful and is at the core of our philosophy. ‘It is in both the store’s and the customer’s interest to buy Protect-A-Bed mattress protectors. Our speciality is

driving in-store performance, so linked mattress and mattress protector sales are extremely high. The customer benefits from a healthy and hygienic sleep zone, while the store benefits from increased sales revenue. Every customer who walks through the door, if buying a mattress, needs to buy a mattress protector. It’s in their interest to do so for many reasons. ‘Our ability to upskill your team and increase your revenue by maximising every sales opportunity has been well documented. We can manage every step of the process for you and build a reward scheme through the Platinum Club. Visit our stand to see our advanced Therapeutics range and TV display bays, and find out how we can significantly grow sales for your store.’ Visit: www.protectabed.co.uk

GFA

Axton FIXED

SOFA

COLLECTION

The Axton delivers superb comfort in a clean, modern design that’s perfect for family living! Filled with supportive foam, this model is beautifully upholstered in a soft, mottled, velvet-feel fabric and complimented by coordinated scatter cushions. Gently curved arms, neat piping detail and polished chrome feet complete the look. Available in a 3-Seater, 2-Seater and Chair, along with matching Ottoman, Elephant or Shadow fabrics.

Elephant Fabric

Built for Comfort RELAX

BOTH

COLOURS

E: UNIT

SEVERN

STOCK

UNWIND

NOW!

Shadow Fabric

T: 01291 645080 | F: 01291 645099 SALES@GFA.UK.COM | W: WWW.GFA.UK.COM LINK DISTRIBUTION CENTRE, NEWHOUSE CHEPSTOW, MONMOUTHSHIRE, NP16 6UN

FARM

IND.

EST.

AIMMP Associação Das Indústrias De Madeira E Mobiliário De Portugal D10 Akante E71 ALF E75 Alfrank Designs D65 Alpha Designs E80 Alstons C60 Ashwood Designs D30 B4 Living D50 Baker Furniture F60/G60 Bell & Stocchero A65 BFM G10 Camel Group B70 Carlton Furniture/Vintage Sofa Company B30 Collins & Hayes Furniture C20 Coricraft/Chasco B80 Duresta Upholstery E20 Ego Italiano D60 G Plan Upholstery D20 Gala C10 Greenwood Retail A1 Gwinner B10

VE DOOR 1.6 1-G60

1-F90 4

120

35.5 14.5

11.5

1-F65

1-F80

1-E73 15

1-E71

40.5

4.5

14.5

1-E80

217

14.5

1-E78

7 3

6.5

1-E77

25.5

1-E75

1-E60

1-E76 15

217.5

14.5

95.23

6.5

14.5

Stage & Seating

112

1-C72

1-C85

1-C70

Seating

130

Young Furniture Makers Feature

19.5

1-B70

8.5

1-A65

12.5

130

1-A40

120

19.5

1-C60

1-B40

18.5

1-B80

1-A70

1-C65

217.5

14.5 10

60.72

14.5

246.5

14.5

18.5

1-D60

1-C75

202.5

13.5

1-D65

1-D50

VE DOOR 1.4

Cof

5 15

162.5

12.5 11

1-A60

10 14

8.5

Interiors Monthly January 2022

13.5

1-E86

1-B88

120

25.5

1-F60

VE DOOR 1.5

Hall 1 January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

119

154

SHOW GUIDE

1-G40

1-G21

1-G10

166.5

11.5

1-F40

21.5

1-F20

1-F10

4 4.5

15 11

382.5

112

1-D35

128

16 13

1-D40

22.5

1-E20

81.73

319.5

22.5

1-E40

offee Point

240

VISITORS ENTRANCE

1-D30

335.23

22.5 11

1-D20

1-D10

Heico Fasteners UK Hydeline Furniture Indus Valley Italia Living Kind Leather Meridian Upholstery Michael Tyler Furniture (UK) Minerva Furniture Group Orbital Vision Parker Knoll Upholstery Paulus & Brown Qualita Signature Kauri SITS Skovby Source By Net UK Steve Bristow Stone Masonry Stone Italia Tajoma Tetrad Westbridge Furniture Designs Whitemeadow Furniture

A19 A30/A40 A60 B50 F65 C65 A20 E76 E73 F20 G21 D40 E77 B20 A35 C75 C72 B40 C47 F80 C30 G40/F40/E40

130

1-C47 7

312.23

1-C40

292.5

210

15.5

1-B50

14.5

1-B30

195

1-B20

1-C10

1-C20

135

272

1-C30

184.72

1-B10

Hall 1 January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

VE DOOR 1.7

13 6

1-A30

14.5

19.5

1-A20

2.5

188.5

14.5

VE DOOR 1.1

1-A35

183.72

15.5

196

1-A1 4 14 14

14 1-A10

4 8

126

203

14.5

1-A19

196

6.5

1-A15 3

5.5

140

1-A12

19.5

71.5

VE DOOR 1.2

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121

2-G70

3.5

2-G55

2-G45

156

2-F70

3.5

120

2-F60

2-F50

2-F40

2-G80

14 14

81.7

182

2-E50h

2-E50a

123.72

9 15

2-E50g

2-E50d

4 5

87.5

2-D80

2-E50e

102

5 2.5

2-D40

2-D60

13 2.5

2-C60

71.5

2.5

2-C50 5.5

160

5.5

2-C65

32.5

8.5

3.5

2-B50 3.5

Cafe

2-B60

117

2-E50b

9 7

115

12.5

2-D75

4 6

2-E50c

2-E50f 17

4 60

72.5

29.7

VE DOOR 2.2

Interiors Monthly January 2022

3.5

2-G60

2-C70

122

2.5

2-H50

60.75

25.5

2-F80

2.5

2-H70

2.5

H40/H25/H20 G70 F10/F20 G30 E50d G25 A20 A12 F70 D40 D75 F15 F50 F35/F40 D10 E40 G45 G5 B40

1.5

Ancient Mariner Furniture Co Art Marketing Blue Bone Imports Camelot Pictures CIMC Complete Colour Derrys Distinction Contracts Dutch Imports Eco Furniture Edge Company ET Elimex-Ivan Radevski Febland Group Final Touches Dundee Fortune Woods Gallery Direct Hanlin Iconography Interiors Monthly

17.5

Hall 2 January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

4.5

2-G25

2.5 35

13.5

2-G40

2-H20

6.5

2.5

22.5

2-G30

2-H25

11.5

2-G20

2-G2

2-G5

11 5

6.5

148.5

13.5

49.5

4.5

126.5

11.5

2-F35

2-F25

2-F15

2-F20

17.08

2-F10 14

14 10

137.71

196

G20 C30 D30 F25 C50 G55 C20 D60 B18 G2 B14 E50h A18 F80 A14 G40 C25 C10 C65

2-E40

VISITORS ENTRANCE

763.56

77.5

2-C10 2-C30

2-C25

10 10

22.5

2-C20

11 18

110

50 247.5

22.5 5

2-N62 17.5

2-B20

3.5

2-B40

2-B18

2-B16

VE DOOR 2.1

4 10

10 10

77.6

8 14

2-A20

2-B14

11.5

.75

15.5

2-D30

25.5

4 60

25.5

2-D10

Hall 2 January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

1.5

2-H40

Kelston house International. Malini Marshall Arts Natural Green Creative Spaces Oriental Carpets and Rugs Ornate Garden Pacific Lifestyle Pharmore Premier Housewares Rama Carpets Ross Fabrics Sassy Home Sci-Net SHH Interiors Swan Retail Taylors (Scotland) Tyrone Quality Picture Framing Wilde Java YearnGlass

2-A10 14

63.25

14 8

2-A18

7 14

2-A12

196

2-A14

4 8

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123

4-F20

4-E10

4-F30

4-E20

4-E14

122.5

4-F34

4-E25

11.5 13

4-E30

214.5

13 14

4-D35

16.5

231

4-D20

16.5

16.5 247.5

4-D32

16 5

462.57

4-C20

4-C24

4-C30

4-B10

306

185.54

4-B30

16 5

4-B20

4-B45

115

4.5

4-A15

A 4-A20

464

29 13

4-A26

4-A12

4-A40

29.5

20.5

380.35

Interiors Monthly January 2022

4-A2

3.5

8 12

1.5

91.5

1.5

123

4.5

VE DOOR 4.7

58.25

4-A10

7.5 3

124

4-F32

108

27 15

16.5

C32 F36 D32 A40 E40 E10 D90 B45 C45 E52 A15 B50 D36 E20 B20/C24/C32/D20 E30 A26

24.5

Arte-n Furniture AWS Trading Babbar Accessories Core Products Dako Furniture Devonshire Pine DK Furniture Forte Furniture Furnish365 Furniture Express GCL (UK) Heartlands Furniture Jaipur Furniture Julian Bowen Kettle Interiors Agencies Lassic LPD

VISITORS ENTRANCE

Hall 4 January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

176

SHOW GUIDE

4-F50

4-F36

40.5

9 13.5 10

16.5

4-E52

90.75

222.75

13.5

4-D36

4-D45

10 5

4-D50

4-E57

4-E90 5.5

5.5

4-E55

15.5

4-E50

5.5

4-E45

5.5

4-E40

VE DOOR 4.3

17 5.5

5.5

3.5

46.5

4-D52

52.54

MFS MMILO Modern Furniture Nolte Mobel One Call Furniture Ordorite Software PPHU Arkos Arkadiusz Pietrus Racing Champ Exhibitions HK Rauch RS Furniture SanMartino Seconique Seconique Staud Value Mark Furniture Vida Living Wiemann

F34 E57 D45 A10 A2/A12 E45 C45 D35 A50 E14 C20 E25 B30 B10 A20 C50

Cafe

4-C32

4-C45

457.56

4-C50

372.56

4-B50

448

4-A90

119

368

352

4-A50

4-A52

4-A54

108

144

18 48

VE DOOR 4.4

404

Hall 4 January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

VE DOOR 4.1

VE DOOR 4.6

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125

3 13

546

5-E70

6.5

18.5

Cafe

18.5

144

13 84

13 84.5

5-E42

13 120

5-D52

5-D54

5-B45

221 273

5-E35

13 13 13

205.72

5-E32

13 14 195

117

5-E10

Interiors Monthly January 2022

5-D3

VISITORS ENTRANCE

5-D1

5.5

162.5

5-A1

126

D 13

5-D10

A 2.5

5-C10

5-A10

5-B10

228

12 12

5-B20

5-A20

351

13 13

5-D20

426.73

5-E20

13 13

5-C25

252

5-C30

5-D40

5-C32 12

VE DOOR 5.1

5-B42

5-A30

1 1

10.5

6.5

45.5

5-B43

5-C35

5-B44 5-A34 5 5-A32

5-D45

120

13 13

5-E40

36.73

3 17

195

5-C40

5-B46

13 13

5-C45

5 6

5-A37

5-A38

6.5

5-A35

6.5

84.5

247

13 120

5-F45

5-E60 13

5-D60

5-B50

5-D62

5-A70

5-A71

153.74

10.5

204

5-C65

5-F65

8 12 12 12

5-B60

50.25

5-A74

156

5-B70

5-C80

3 78

5-E80

5-D80

238.23

5-B80

5-A80 4

VE DOOR 5.3 VE DOOR 5.2

6.5

AC Furniture H20 AIMMP Associação Das Indústrias De Madeira E Mobiliário De Portugal D10 Aspire European Living F15 Autumn Leaves Furniture Outlet H25 Babi Industria Conciaria G10 Bentinck Furniture G40 BJS A35 Bob&Nik Unique/Enviro Furniture H60 Breasley UK G60 Buoyant Upholstery F30 Celebrity Motion Furniture C35 Cowthorpe Oak Furniture B42 Creation Italia D40 Daro (Trading) B43 Deepsleep Beds (UK) C45 Dormeo UK C65 Ecomaster Commercial A32 Emma Sleep UK G30 Excellent Relax Bedding Company A38 Exclusively Leather by KJV D62 FDW Spring Products E42 Flair Furniture A34 Flam & Luce/BY Classy C10 Flintshire Furniture H22 Furdeco A70 Furninova D20 Furniture Link C30 Furniture News D4 GIE Import & Export F40 Global Furniture Alliance E40 Global Home Ireland F65 Global House Midland E80 Grafu Baldai C10 Highgate Beds H75 Highgrove Beds E20/F20 Honey B E45 Hyder Living E70

6.5

Hall 5 January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

VIP Buyers Lounge

221

184.73

5-G80

490

162.72

VIP Entrance/Exit

5-G82

5 7 14 14

6.5

5-F70

84.5

537

5-G80

3 13 13 13 13

4.5

VE DOOR 5.7

121

11 110

182

3 21

5-J45

21.5

231

5-H50

234.22 574

5-F40

5-H55

5-G50

257.75

4.5 11

5-H60

5-F60

5-G60

4.5

49.5

5-H65

4.5

49.5

6 84

5-F45

6 13

11 11 11

132

5-J20 3

VE DOOR 5.8

29 10

5-J8

5-H10

92.5

5-H1

5-D4

152

5-G10

18.5

5.5

5-F10

6.5

34.75

5-J10

5-J12

280

5-F15

261.73

5-G15

126

3.5

319

14 403.73

5-H20

5-H22 7

5-G18

5-F20 7

14 14

5-G20

5-G22

7 168

A1 B20 C20 D3 E32 E10 F10 B45 A30 C40 G80 D47 F60 C10 C25 G18 J45 J20 A37 A10/A15 B50/B60 C32 D10 G20 D60 H65 F45 A20 H10 H65 D1 H55 G15 E35 F70 B10 G22 H35

5-H25

5.5

5-F30

5-G28

5.5

58.22

11 11

5-G30

121

5-H35

244.73

132

5-G40

143

13 13 13 14

IFD Image Furnishings Kea Tekstil Kyoto Futons La-Z-Boy UK Lebus Upholstery Man Wah Maple Furniture Maxi Mover Maya Tekstil Millbrook Beds Mini Divani Mlily UK MM Studio Michalina Misiorny New Trend Concepts Opera Beds Protect-A-Bed RetailSystem SATRA Technology Scandinavian House Sealy UK Shankar UK Sherborne Upholstery Shire Beds Silentnight Group Sleep Design Slumbernights Staingard Sweet Dreams Tancredi Salotti The Ultimate Home Living Group Torelli Furniture (UK) Twenty 10 Design UAB Lyra Group Vogue Beds Welcome Furniture West Midlands Upholstery World Furniture NI

Hall 5 January Furniture Show, 23-26 January, NEC

SHOW GUIDE

VE DOOR 5.9

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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INDX Furniture, 23-25 January, Cranmore Park

PREVIEW

Extra time INDX has added another day

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PREVIEW

INDX Furniture has added an additional day to the event, which will now open on Sunday 23 January. The show, formerly The AIS Furniture Show, is open to all retailers, not just AIS members. ‘The September 2021 show exceeded our expectations and in collaboration with our suppliers and retailers, we’ve decided to run the next show for three days and include a much called-for Sunday opening. The AIS selectors have secured an unrivalled collection of leading names to exhibit at what promises to be an exciting showcase, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Cranmore Park,’ says Emma Rackley, AIS director of furniture and home. ‘We would also like to take this opportunity to reassure our community that we will continue to work closely with the venue team to ensure we look after everyone’s comfort and wellbeing and deliver a safe and successful show.’ The confirmed list of cabinet suppliers includes Actona, Andrena, Hill & Hunter, HND, Jual, Papaya, TCH, Unique and Venjakob, and they will be joined by garden supplier Firmans and upholstery suppliers 3C, Alstons, Corium, himolla, HTL and Primavera. INDX Furniture offers free entrance, free on-site parking and complimentary refreshments for visitors. Visit: www.indxshows.co.uk

PRACTICALITIES Venue: Cranmore Park, Solihull When: Sunday 23 January, 10am – 5pm Monday 24 January, 8:30am – 5pm Tuesday 25 January, 8:30am – 4pm Need to know: Visitors are required to pre-register, prove Covid vaccination status to enter the show and wear a face mask while at Cranmore Park.

AND SO TO BEDS… INDX Beds & Bedroom will be making its debut at Cranmore Park on 26-27 April. Offering buyers and retailers a dedicated showcase of beds, bedroom cabinet and sofa beds from some of the biggest names in the industry, INDX Beds & Bedroom will provide a forum to meet with existing suppliers and discover new opportunities. The show will open from 8.30am to 5pm on 26 April and 8.30am to 4pm on 27 April.

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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INDX Furniture, 23-25 January, Solihull

PREVIEW 8980 and 8981 recliners

Innovation

himolla is continuing its transformation Sofas you can live, sleep, lounge around and reflect on are truly close to himolla’s heart, creating favourite places where you can physically and mentally relax. ‘We are very happy and proud of our loyal and consistent customer base in the UK and Republic of Ireland,’ says Markus Lutz, himolla international sales director. ‘We have a great local sales team and great products and we are all working in the same direction. ‘Mission transformation is not just an empty slogan but necessary. We have put ourselves under a strict mandate to innovate, developing fantastic products to excite customers worldwide and 4080 Trapez

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having a little bit of a say in moving upholstery furniture into the 21st century. As bold as that sounds, it is simple logic for a big player like himolla. ‘Thanks to Tamara Härty, himolla design, product and marketing manager, himolla is increasingly becoming a trendsetter in the industry. We surprise with impressive, never-before-seen and patented functions. Because of competitive pricing, as well as a number of copycats, we are determined to forge ahead with bold ideas, innovation, and a most desirable design and 360deg brand development. Customers can rely on our proven high quality, perfect 6932 Funktion

seating comfort and ability to tailor sofas to the customer’s needs.’ At the show, exciting colour combinations, sensual fabric, fine leather, lavish flower arrangements and large illuminated pictures will transport visitors to a lush and chic vision of a tasteful home. New products and innovations are also on display and are the focus of 360deg marketing. A new sofa and sales concept, elements at the POS for sofas and recliner collections will be presented, along with the introduction of smaller upholstered elements or ‘icons’. Visit: www.himolla.com

himolla is one of the UK’s leading upholstered furniture manufacturers and their recliners are packed with market-leading innovation such as independent headrests, backrests and footrests so your perfect seating position is only a button press away. A 5 year guarantee gives you conﬁdence in the quality and durability of their recliners and they only select the ﬁnest leathers, fabrics and woods so we guarantee you will not sit in anything as comfortable as a himolla chair. Bestsellers and also novelties are available as manual or electric armchairs and the Winter Sale has begun!

ARYA 1195 | www.himolla.com himolla Polstermöbel GmbH | GERMANY

Spring Fair, 6-9 February, NEC

PREVIEW

Expect the unexpected The marketplace for home, gift, fashion and design returns for 2022 Spring Fair is the UK’s most diverse and vibrant wholesale marketplace for home, gift, fashion and sourcing. As it returns for its first live event since 2020, the reaction so far from brands and buyers is resoundingly positive. Following on from the astonishing success of Autumn Fair, Spring Fair looks set to be bigger and better, with a stellar line-up of brands. Floor space is almost sold out across every sector and the show will see the official launch of Curated Meetings, while the Inspiring Retail Stage will lead the conversation on empowering change. Spring Fair is where bestsellers are found, relationships are forged and curiosity is piqued. Imagine a treasure trove of new ideas and new trends just waiting to be discovered for display in your store. If you want to touch, feel and experience what’s new and innovative

across the home, gift (incorporating greetings, floral, party and Christmas), and fashion retail industry, Spring Fair is the exhibition for you. The depth of product and trend inspiration available at the show provides buyers the opportunity to make unexpected discoveries. The power in diversification is something that can only be explored at Spring Fair, helping to offer customers something different, and stand out from the crowd. Within Home, showcasing the most stylish and on-trend furniture, textiles and decorative interior accessories, visitors will discover a host of exclusive brands including Coach House, Hill Interiors, Malini and Walton’s & Co. Showing exclusively in the UK at Spring Fair, Kaemingk will present its unique decorative items for home and garden. Danish brand Chic Antiques returns, as

The show is looking to build on the success of Autumn Fair

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well as French brand Maison Berger, and Authentic Models and Clayre & Eef from Holland. Hand-picked and curated, Summerhouse is home to style-led homewares and gifts. This season welcomes the return of Danish brand Bloomingville, as well as Bronte by Moon, Libra, Biggie Best and Gallery Direct. In Hall 8, Housewares will be serving up the best in culinary must-haves, from the latest innovations in cookware and kitchenware to beautiful tableware decor and dining ideas. Brands already signed for larger stands include RKW, Ultimate Products, Denby Brands, T&G Woodware, The DRH Collection, David Mason Design, Apollo Housewares, Bluestem Group, Captivate Brands, Creative Products and Kuhn Rikon. Visitors will also discover a host of high-end overseas brands such as Jomafe from Portugal and Olivawood from Tunisia, as well as Costa Nova, Casafina, Gusta/Kapimex, Atmosphera and Secret de Gourmet on the My Gifts Trade stand. In a repeat of the initiative launched at the 2020 show, Spring Fair collaborates on the BHETA Bira Village for 2022 and is host to eight brands showcasing inspired tableware, housewares and kitchenware. After its successful trial at Autumn Fair, Curated Meetings is scaling up for its official launch, offering more space, more meetings and more sectors. Over 300 one-to-ones between buyers and brands based on mutual interest generated thousands of pounds of new business at Autumn Fair and the programme now includes brands across all sectors. Visit: www.springfair.com

PREVIEW

CIFF will return to Guangzhou in March The extraordinary success of CIFF Guangzhou 2021 is generating much enthusiasm and high expectations for the organisation of the next edition. Last year’s exhibition attracted 357,809 visitors, a 20.17% rise on 2019’s edition, held before the pandemic. The 49th CIFF Guangzhou will take place in two phases: the first, running from 18-21 March, will be dedicated to home furnishings, home decor, home textiles, and outdoor and leisure furniture; the second, from 28-31 March, will feature office furniture, furnishings for hotels, public and commercial spaces and healthcare facilities, and materials and machinery for the furniture industry. The Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, which covers a total area of 750,000sqm of exhibition space, is expected to host more than 4,000 companies and over 350,000 visitors. CIFF Guangzhou 2022 will pay particular attention to international trade. The pandemic has strongly influenced how relations between Chinese manufacturers and international customers are managed. With the Overseas Procurement Circle, CIFF intends to innovate and continue finding new solutions to expand the network of over 200 world markets developed over 24 years of experience and the business opportunities for export. The exhibition will offer buyers, purchasing groups and international e-commerce operators essential information, roundthe-clock services, and an efficient one-stop sourcing platform. Visit: www.ciff.furniture

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CIFF Guangzhou, 18-21 and 28-31 March, Guangzhou

Returning

The 2021 show attracted 20% more visitors

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PROTECTION AND WARRANTIES

Strengthened

Guardsman has widened its product offer

Guardsman has seen a change in consumer behavour Despite the pandemic continuing to cause issues worldwide, the Guardsman UK team reports that it has had one of its ‘best ever years’. ‘Despite the obvious challenges, so many good things have come out of 2021 and we hope they continue,’ says David Evans, Guardsman sales director. ‘In the past year we strengthened our risk and compliance team, which is particularly important as the FCA focuses more and more on this sector and the value that customers receive from their insurance products. ‘Most recently we are thrilled to have appointed Rob Dyer as Guardsman UK md. Rob is a great addition, with his previous experience enabling him to join the team with a great understanding of the insurance industry, and the FCA.’ ‘What I’ve been impressed with since I started is the overwhelming desire from the team to want the business to grow, improve and expand. We have a very customer-focused team who have built solid foundations to create a strong and successful business. I can see that there are a lot of things they already do brilliantly, which we can use as a

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springboard for the future,’ says Dyer. ‘We’ve strengthened our relationships with our retailers by working with them to navigate the necessary changes to better provide and demonstrate the value of our products to customers. Our continued partnerships with them are vitally important and together we have found the best solutions – adding extra value for both them and their customers.’ ‘We’ve had a great response from our retailers, cementing partnerships even further. We now offer a complete Guardsman care package including new and improved premium furniture care kits, which are flying off the shelves. Consumers want to look after their furniture, and we’ve noticed a real difference in buying habits, shifting even more towards caring for and maintaining furniture,’ says Evans. Not only has the company launched a new premium kit range, including a specialist kit for aniline leather, but it has also increased its offering for other furniture items within the home to include stone care products, and is planning to introduce additional products into the range.

‘I would like to thank everyone in the Guardsman UK team for their continued support throughout the year and to thank our retailers who have worked with us to continue really great partnerships. I’ve joined the Guardsman team at an exciting time, and I’m really keen to see what 2022 will bring for us. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2022,’ says Dyer. Visit: www.guardsman.co.uk

Rob Dyer

PROTECTION AND WARRANTIES

Standing ready Castelan has continued to develop products that add value ‘All of us at Castelan would like to wish you a very happy 2022 and we hope it’s also a prosperous and, more importantly, healthy one for all of us,’ says Martin Napper, Castelan Group ceo. ‘The past two years have certainly had their challenges but it’s been great to see how the furniture industry, and its partners, have pulled together. Here at Castelan, we have continued to develop all areas of our business and we stand ready to support existing and new clients with products and services that can really add value.’ 2021 saw Castelan redesign and relaunch its PremierCare warranty scheme as well as other bespoke, clientspecific schemes. ‘Our insured protection plans already covered the vast majority of accidents. However, based on customer feedback, market demand and regulatory changes, we have launched a product with market-leading coverage that meets the requirements of the FCA. This is especially important as we move into 2022, where we are all submitting Value Measures Reporting. Our schemes are tailored to meet the needs of your customer base, making them appropriate to the customer and relatable for your colleagues to understand and sell,’ says Napper. ‘At a time when order books are full and pipelines are bursting, it’s ever more important to have a service partner that is responsive, structured and is an extension of the service you expect to deliver. Our Furniture Care Network

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delivers, once you have delivered – with fast response times, real-time reporting, high first-visit fix rates and detailed management information. ‘We are now able to offer a range of small, medium and large care kits for leather, fabric, cabinet and carpet. We have a great range of PremierCare branded kits and can also brand to your own identity with logos and images. These products offer tremendous additional value to the customer as well as increasing your average transaction

value: a win–win situation. We also offer a range of UK-sourced mattress protectors, which again are a valuable add-on product when selling beds. ‘Our commercial services division CCS was busy in the lead-up to the Christmas season, providing key support to a host of leisure industry clients. We offer a wide range of services from leather and upholstery refurbishment to bathroom refreshes, carpet cleaning, provision of casement goods and cabinetry repairs.’ Visit: www.castelangroup.com

Trust has to be earned. That’s why so many clients trust us to provide: Compliant insured warranty schemes ‘First Year Liability’ service delivery Comprehensive Care Product ranges Commercial build and refurbishment To find out how we can help your business call our Business Development Team on 07748 100 254 or email sales@castelangroup.com

Your customers love us too! www.castelangroup.com

PROTECTION AND WARRANTIES

Be safe

Increased working from home means more chance of damage

‘Working from home and social isolation have unleashed a frenzy of home makeovers. People are doing all those projects they’d previously planned but never had the time to complete. New furniture, new flooring, new rooms… families all need places for working from home and for school homework,’ says Gill Finch, Stroolmount md. ‘Here’s your opportunity: protection. Covid-19 teaches us that we should be prepared with protection. And the same goes in the home. Whether the trade installs new furniture or flooring, or customers redecorate rooms, furniture and flooring need keeping apart. When they meet, harm can happen: flooring gets scratched, scraped, dented and chipped; furniture weakens

Furni-glides in action; Self-adhesive Felt and POS

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when dragged across a floor – carpet fibres anchor the feet and joints fatally lurch to one side. ‘A single scratch can mean thousands of pounds in repairs and damage claims, angry customers, an even angrier manager as the profit is down or even wiped out. Plus, all the extra paperwork and hassle of putting it right – and the next job’s delayed too. Even afterwards, it’s not forgotten: you’ve the excess to pay and hikes in your insurance premiums for next year.’ So many problems could easily be avoided, thanks to simple protection from Stroolmount, says Finch. ‘Our Protect & Care products safeguard your floor, your furniture, your back and your business. Since 2007 our specialist

protection products have saved business thousands of pounds in repairs with solutions from as little as 1p. At that low price, you can’t risk not caring for your flooring, furniture and your business. ‘Self-adhesive Felt cushions the impact of furniture to prevent scratching on floors, while Quickclick Glides, Move-it Pads and Furni-glides allow heavy furniture to be moved smoothly across hard floors and especially carpets. Furni-glides are made from PTFE (better known as Teflon) and there’s a special version for heavyweight recliner sofas and chairs that makes them easy to move and clean around. ‘Should the worst happen, our Furniture and Floor Repair Kits restore showroom good looks to solid woods, veneers, laminates and even vinyl, for a fraction of the cost of French polishing. ‘There’s nothing virtual about the opportunity for the trade. Stroolmount’s Protect and Care products offer real benefits, real customer loyalty and real increases in vital sales. Or show an exceptional level of care beyond the sale by giving them away as promotional freebies. Include them as add-on checkout options, give them away as promotional items or even advertise a brand with own-label versions.’ Visit: www.stroolmount.co.uk

Point-Of-Sale is as important as Stroolmount’s flooring and furniture protection products.

There are two Protect and Care Display Stands, plus Factsheet Boards.

AT E R G YS POS

Cardboard Retail Display Stand holds up to 90 packets, depending on the packet you choose.

Wooden Counter-Top Rotary Display Stand In 4 quarters it has 8 prongs and holds up to 96 packets, depending on the packets you choose.

Great on rs counte

Grab attention, explain benefits and

Gain Add-On Sales With

P.O.S .

SELF ADHESIVE-FELT

STANDARD DISPLAY - CARDBOARD

3 Factsheets

MULTI-PRODUCT

WOODEN ROTARY DISPLAY

Ideal on walls

Factsheet Boards for Self-adhesive Felt, Furni-glides and Quickclick Glides. Lightweight, easily fixable to a wall or bring out by the till when closing a sale.

“

They’re so easy and convenient. You can see at a glance which pieces will fit the legs of furniture

• Place Factsheet Boards on walls around your store… • …or bring them out by the till when closing a sale. • Gain add-on sales. See exactly which item fits best.

FLOORING & FURNITURE PROTECTION SOLUTIONS View Products, POS, Videos & Become A Stockist 01942 271 271

sales@stroolmount.co.uk

www.stroolmount.co.uk

TRADE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Sales results have increased since Greenwood Retail adapted its strategy after learning from the pandemic

Sale time

Changes to promotion strategies are delivering results ‘Greenwood Retail’s clients can testify that our high-impact sales promotion strategies can generate 25% to 100% of your annual turnover, depending on the nature of your event and other variable factors, with high margin maintained in just 17 days’ trading,’ says Bernard Eaton, Greenwood Retail md. Greenwood Retail is a sales promotion company that specialises in organising high-profile retail sales events, on behalf of quality independent retailers, all over the UK and Republic of Ireland. Many of its clients are members of AIS or Minerva. ‘We ran 25 Greenwood sales events between the lockdowns of 2020 and

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Interiors Monthly January 2022

2021, on the instruction of our clients, and every event proved a sensational success. It’s proof that consumers will accept the realities of price increases and delayed delivery, provided the sales event is marketed effectively.’ Changes to the Greenwood Retail marketing model, forced by Covid-19 retail restrictions, actually had the effect of generating higher sales results than the original methodology – to everyone’s surprise and delight. ‘These evolutionary changes have been retained and incorporated into the latest Greenwood sales promotion strategies. It seems true that we grow

more from times of difficulty than from times of ease,’ says Eaton. ‘After nearly 20 years in the business and with well over 1,000 Greenwood sales events across the UK and Ireland completed, Greenwood has far more experience of planning and organising retail sales in this marketplace than any other sales company in the world. This means that no other sales promotion company is better qualified to help independent UK and Irish retailers get the best out of their next big sales event.’ Greenwood Retail will be exhibiting at the January Furniture Show. Visit: www.greenwoodretail.com

the biggest rewards promotion in flooring is back! The industry’s biggest reward promotion is back and now on with points to be earned on floorwise brand products. With over 60 rewards across lifestyle tech, sporting equipment and much more, there’s plenty of reasons to register today and start earning points every time you purchase floorwise brand products from your local distributor*.

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F Edmondson & Sons – European Furniture Transport Specialising in the collection, distribution and delivery of high-quality furniture throughout the UK and Europe for manufacturers, retailers and private clients. F Edmondson & Sons is a family-owned company with a proud heritage spanning six decades. We offer nationwide delivery service, bookings for all deliveries, home and trade deliveries, full and part loads, receiving containers and re-delivery of goods.

For further information and to discuss your requirements please call +44 (0)1524 382211 Or email sedmondson@edmondsonfreight.co.uk

J O I N T H E I NV I CTUS F LO OR I NG T E A M COMMERCIAL BUSINESS / SPECIFICATION MANAGER SOUTHEAST (Inc. LONDON) This is an exciting time to join our company, as Associated Weavers is building on its success with INVICTUS Luxury Vinyl Flooring in the Commercial Sector.

We are looking for a motivated and committed Commercial Business / Specifications Manager to join a new team, to enable our company to drive forward in the fast-growing Commercial Flooring market. The ideal applicant has experience and an understanding of the commercial sector. Ideally, you are living on the territory, as you will be required to visit existing commercial customers, as well as sourcing new customers along with generating business through End Users and Architects & Designers... and of course, building the brand. Interested applicants should send their CV and covering letter to commercial@associatedweavers.co.uk

A UK brand since 1964

www.invictus.co.uk

VISIT US AT THE JANUARY FURNITURE SHOW 2022 HALL 1, STANDS E40, F40 & G40 WWW.WHITEMEADOW.COM

Interiors Monthly January 2022

Articles inside

Protection and warranties

Preview

Victoria buys Balta divisions for £165m

Furniture and flooring sales climb again

Upholstery

Beds and bedroom

Trends

Plumbs debuts bespoke online sofa offer

Design

Retail