Interiors Monthly July 2023

Service is the key, stupid

To paraphrase ‘The economy, stupid’ remark from Bill Clinton advisor James Carville in 1992, ‘It’s about customer service.’

In recent weeks the topic of customer service has cropped up more and more. The people I’ve talked to and overheard may not be entirely representative of shoppers across the country, but they were firm in their opinions and customers most retailers would love to have. This is for two reasons: they have money and are loyal.

These were not people buying at the very top-end of the market (I expect they have interior designers to complain to for that), but what was called working, lower and middle class. Two things united them: the price of everything - from food and utilities to flights and healthcare (for the most middle class) and how it didn’t seem they were getting what they thought was good enough.

They accepted that the price of things had gone up (‘Interest rates – still far less than I had to pay,’ said a few), but they didn’t seem to mind that too much as they had been through it before. What they did mind was the sense of they weren’t getting what they were paying for. Part of this was service and this seems to have been forgotten by many companies. Why pay a premium if it makes no difference, was a consensus. ‘If things cost a bit more, then we’ll just save for a bit longer and then buy it, or sort the price now and pay it in bits,’ said one.

But what they didn’t like was the fact that trying to contact staff (retail, online and public service) ‘takes all day’ and ‘f-ing impossible’. And having online chat isn’t going to win you any favours either. ‘Why do I have to send a picture? I’ve told them the thing is broken. Why can’t they believe it?’

While these conversations weren’t interiors centred, they did crop up, and showed that if you want to stand out from your competitors it is customer service that is likely to set you apart and provide a solid foundation for success.

But of course, you knew all of this already.

4

Furlong Flooring’s Beyond Wool re-imagines flooring

Visit: www.furlongflooring.com

Editor: Andrew Kidd

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

Furniture advertising (South): Tim Boden

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

Representative in India: Amarjeet Singh Gianni

T: 0091 98390 35458 E: as_gianni@yahoo.co.in

Registered

With today’s inflation rates, price is not the defining issue, service is what sets you apart from your rivals

Sales: as you were in May but furniture and flooring enjoy annual growth

The value of furniture and lighting retail sales in England, Wales and Scotland dropped by 1.98% in May. Sales fell to £1,304,126,000 in May, according to Office for National Statistics data. However, this was 4.55% higher than May 2022.

Sales were 6.69% lower than May 2021; 224% higher than May 2020, and 15.77% higher than May 2019.

Of the 449 months since January 1986, when comparable records began, May was the 33rd highest month for the value of sales.

The value of flooring retail sales edged up in May, and was almost £8m higher than in 2022. Sales rose by 0.25% (£563,000) to £218,428,000 in May, according to Office for National Statistics data. This was 3.78% higher than May 2022.

Sales were 12% higher than May 2021; 594% higher than May 2020, and 90.06% higher than May 2019. May was the 66th highest month for the value of sales. The figures are not seasonally adjusted, do not allow for inflation and are subject to revision.

Furniture inflation halves in a year

Retail price inflation for furniture fell again in May and is now half of what it was a year ago.

The rate dropped for the eighth consecutive month in May, according to the Office for National Statistics, from 8.6% to 8.2%.

In May 2022 the rate was 16.4%.

The annual rate for garden furniture edged up from 4.5% to 4.6%, although increases in lighting prices fell from 3.4% to 0.1%.

Ulster Carpets acquires Alternative Flooring

Alternative Flooring has been bought by Ulster Carpets Group.

The brand will continue to operate as an independent company within the Ulster group.

‘We are enormously proud of what we have achieved since taking over Alternative Flooring. Securing a bright future for the Alternative brand, together with its employees, customers and key suppliers, was a major factor in deciding the most suitable home for its next phase of development,’ says Chris Brammall, Alternative Flooring retiring chairman.

‘This acquisition gives Alternative the opportunity of reaching its

considerable potential,’ he adds.

‘We believe that the Ulster Carpets Group is a fitting home for Alternative Flooring in terms of culture, outlook and ambition. Alternative will remain an independent, autonomous brand within the group, but with the added expertise and resources to strengthen its capability, service and product range. It is good news for Alternative’s valued customers, key suppliers and exceptional employees,’ says David Acheson, Ulster strategic development director.

‘The acquisition underlines Ulster Carpets’ belief in high quality, designled, customer-focused UK businesses.’

Household textiles also saw the inflation rate drop, from 6.4% to 4.3%, as increases in furnishing fabrics and curtains; bed linen and table linen all eased – from 5.8% to 3.3%; 5.5% to 3.7% and 10.2% to 8.4% respectively.

The overall furniture and furnishings rate fell from 8.3% to 7.8%.

Flooring inflation rises again

Retail price inflation for flooring again returned to double-digits in May.

The previous reduction from 10.3% to 9% in April was reversed, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Increases in carpets and rugs jumped from 8.3% to 11.5%.

In contrast, smooth flooring saw increases plunge from 15.3% to 5.4%: over the past year increases have averaged 16.7%.

Alternative Flooring’s Quirky B

DISCOVER OUR REDEVELOPED CASSIUS & DARIUS RANGES

Cassius and Darius in our renowned Invictus brand will get a fashion update this year.

14 updated colours in a 70oz and 50oz pile weight respectively offer a soft saxony product with a heathered appearance, one of the few products to offer this in the market today, the recoloured ranges are planned for launch in May.

Please ask your local area sales manager for more details

20232026

Sterling set for new leadership

Sterling Furniture Group has created a new role of ceo, with Gordon Mearns stepping down.

Former ScS commercial director John Pattison will take up the new role in August.

Mearns, current md, will work closely with Pattison during his initial months in post, to ensure a smooth management transition. Mearns is stepping down from Sterling after two decades at the helm, during which time he grew the company to include 600 staff working across 10 showrooms.

‘After a rigorous recruitment process where we interviewed a breadth of excellent candidates, we feel we’ve found absolutely the right person for our new ceo role in John. A highly experienced retail leader, he worked his way up from the shop floor to boardroom roles at major national firms, including ScS, Londis and Booker Retail Partners. We were very impressed by the way he dedicated a significant amount of time to getting to know the business during the recruitment process, visiting each of our stores in person multiple times. Like us,

John believes in the massive potential to make Sterling a recognised national brand once again and he’s brimming with exciting ideas to help us make that happen. We can’t wait for him to get started,’ says Lesley Graham, Sterling deputy md.

‘I’m hugely privileged to be joining Sterling Furniture Group, particularly in such an important year, recognising 50 years of long and successful service to Scottish households and families. Over the past few years, the business has shown great courage and ambition in transforming into Sterling Home. I know that the aspiration of the family, following in the footsteps of our founder George Knowles, is to continue to inspire Scotland’s homes as we enter the next 50 years. I can’t wait to join the team,’ says Pattison.

In other developments at Sterling, members of the third generation of the family are now also working in the business, including Graham’s two sons, Murray and Euan and her nephew, George, who have been appointed as directors.

Søstrene Grene to open ninth UK store Naked promotes Built for Life message

Danish homeware retailer Søstrene Grene is set to open its ninth UK store.

The 5,600sqft store on Sheffield’s Cambridge Street will be part of the Heart of the City development.

The company, which was founded in 1973, operates in 16 countries through a mixture of company-owned and franchise stores. Stores feature a labyrinth-style layout, atmospheric lighting and classical music.

‘We always strive to offer our customers beautiful experiences when they visit and we are looking forward to bringing some traditional Danish hygge into shoppers’

everyday lives,’ says Mikkel Grene, Søstrene Grene ceo and co-owner.

‘The Heart of the City is the

Kitchen retailer Naked Kitchens has debuted a ‘Built for Life’ advertising campaign promoting the concept that kitchens should be built to handle all that life throws at them.

Featuring dog enthusiasts and plant-lovers to artists

shot in under six weeks from the Naked Kitchen showroom and factory – a hangar on a former RAF site in Norfolk. As part of the new creatives a de Havilland Vampire fighter jet with a wingspan of 12m, weighing over three tonnes, was hung from the ceiling.

perfect location for our brand to introduce its affordable price points, aesthetic designs and unique shopping experience to the people of Sheffield,’ says Jonathan Cooper, Søstrene Grene UK joint venture partner.

and even a pilot, each advert showcases daily life at its most extreme.

Produced in-house using no CGI, the campaign was

‘We hope the campaign inspires and reminds people that creating something unique to last doesn’t have to be a pipedream,’ says Jayne Everett, Naked Kitchens founder. The campaign coincides with a new website that will deliver an improved user experience, including free design consultations.

L-R: George Knowles, Lesley Graham, John Pattison, Euan Graham and Murray Graham

The Sheffield store is due to open this summer

The campaign has four advertisements

Don’t get caught napping - buy from approved NBF members

Our manufacturer members are independently audited to ensure, as far as possible, that they’re complying with regulations on flammability, cleanliness of fillings & trade descriptions.

Amongst other areas, we also look at their health & safety compliance, product safety incident plans and where obligated, their modern slavery reporting.

Compliance with all these areas of a business comes at a cost. So, if you’re offered mattresses or beds at prices that seem too good to be true – ask yourself why that is?

We’re also leading the way on sustainability, launching the “Pledge for Our Planet”, asking companies in the bed industry to take steps in unison that will address global environmental damage.

To find out more about how the NBF can help you and for a list of NBF Approved members, visit BEDFED.ORG.UK

Do you love the cut and thrust of a busy retail sales event?

RETAIL SALES EVENT MANAGER

£Excellent rewards working on six to eight one-month contracts per year.

Greenwood Retail Ltd create and implement record-breaking retail sales events for quality independent furniture retailers, department stores and garden centres, on-site, within our client’s retail stores, all over the UK & Ireland. As a self-employed Sales Event Manager, you’ll be implementing and managing the most powerful and effective high-impact, retail sales, marketing and merchandising strategies available, on-site within our client’s stores.

This exciting and rewarding opportunity would ideally suit an experienced, energetic, management level person with natural leadership qualities and retail sales ability.

Experience within either furniture, department store or garden product retail is essential.

For this nationwide role you must be available to work away from home for average periods of four weeks.

www.greenwoodretail.com

Bensons for Beds has recruited former Magnet director of store operations and Dreams retail director Paul Owen as chief retail officer.

Petra Kasperova, Dreams director of finance and insights has been

Time to recognise the next generation

The campaign to recognise the next generation of furnishing industry leaders has begun.

The Furniture Makers’ Company has launched the call for entries for its 60th anniversary campaign ‘60 for 60’, honouring 60 outstanding people aged 35 or under working in the furniture and furnishing industry.

The 60 will be named in the autumn.

promoted to cfo, as Kim Zaheer leaves after 15 years. Dan West has became the chain’s first chief information officer.

Nick Harland-Smith, Handy md; Steve Warren, Sleepeezee md; Mike Holmes, Leggett & Platt (Kayfoam Woolfson/ Kaymed) md and Angela Moran, Silentnight ESG director have been elected to the National Bed Federation council.

The BFM has named Joanna Privett as its new membership engagement manager.

‘The Furniture Makers’ Company has brought together some of the most influential people and recognised brands from the furnishing sector with the purpose of cultivating bonds of fellowship and fortifying the industry though charitable endeavours. Instead of reflecting on past successes, we’re shifting our focus to the future and honouring the

incredible young individuals who will shape the furniture and furnishing industry going forward. By acknowledging their talent, we hope to demonstrate that the industry values their growth and offers a lifelong profession. This is not only an excellent opportunity for young people within our sector to get recognition as “ones to watch” but also for the company where they work, so we encourage businesses to put forward their talent for this great prize,’ says Amanda Waring, FMC master.

‘We would like to thank the companies who have signed up in support of the campaign, particularly our principal partners AIS, Biesse UK, Castelan, Furniture Village and Tempur.’

Likewise moves to reassure shareholders

Flooring distributor Likewise has moved to reassure shareholders that trading continues to be positive.

On 16 May it told shareholders that sales for the first four months of 2023 were 17.8% higher. In the 30 May update it said turnover was up 17.7%. Sales of Likewise branded products were 24.5% higher, compared with the previous rise of 23.5%.

Its 47,000sqft Glasgow distribution centre is now operational, adding 1.7m cu ft of storage space, increasing the total to 15m cu ft.

‘The ongoing investment in sales and marketing is continuing to accelerate gains in market share. We are committed to developing Likewise towards its medium-term objective of breaking through the £200m sales level,’ says Tony Brewer, Likewise ceo.

Ray Pearce dies aged 84

The funeral of former furniture and flooring retailer Ray Pearce took place on 9 June. He was 84.

Following National Service in 1958-1960, he became an apprentice upholsterer and mattress maker, and later a self-employed carpet fitter for County Carpets in Winchester.

Problems with his knees meant he had to give up fitting and he moved to furniture retailer Hebels in the town as a manager.

Comedian Maisie Adam will host this year’s Bed Industry Awards. The event, sponsored by The Vita Group, takes place on 26 September, the first evening of the Bed Show at Telford International Centre. Despite only starting on the comedy circuit in 2016, Adam’s anecdotal material and her self-deprecating charm quickly won her praise. She has appeared on numerous TV panel shows and recently finished her UK and Australian Buzzed tour.

Sales in 2022 were £123.6m, and the group says residential and contract sales have increased.

Charity golf tournament breaks record

This year’s Kidderminster Carpet Manufacturers National Charity Golf Tournament proved to be a record breaker.

‘Thanks to the support of sponsors, including Interiors Monthly, main sponsor Manx Tomkinson and the generosity of all the players, we were able to raise more than £19,000, which we believe to be a record for the tournament,’ says Mike Dobson, event co-chairman.

The money will be split between Macmillan and a number of charities local to Kidderminster. In addition, the committee has donated a sum to the Furniture Makers’ Company in recognition of its work supporting industry members who fall on hard times.

The first day team winner was MCD Kidderminster, led by Mark Hunt; with Condor Carpets, led by Andy Smith, winning day two.

When the Hebels building was taken over by a pub chain, Pearce moved to carpet retailer Duthie & Laurie as a manager, until his retirement in 2014.

Winchester born and bred, Pearce’s passion was politics. He joined the Liberals and stood for election in 1978, although it took him until 1986 to become a councillor. He retained his seat for the next 28 years.

He was major of Winchester in 1994-1995, and in 2008 had a housing development named after him: Pearce Court.

He married his wife Barbara in 1962, and they had three sons.

Fairisle - Cinnamon

A Double Launch from

Introducing Fairisle & Malabar Two Fold

Cormar Carpet Company have expanded their wool loop collection with the addition of an exciting new range, Fairisle, accompanied by the popular Malabar Two Fold range which has been relaunched with an injection of 8 on-trend shades. Perfect for use all around the home, both ranges are produced using 100% Pure New Wool in a durable, premium quality yarn.

Manufactured in a collection of timeless and contemporary neutral shades, both Malabar and Fairisle come with a 10-year Wear Warranty for added peace of mind and are available in 4 and 5 metre widths.

www.cormarcarpets.co.uk portal.cormarcarpets.co.uk

1 Floor_Story has added to its Chroma rug range with a bright and cheerful yellow colourway, originally selected by Inspace Interior Design for a client project.

Visit: www.floorstory.co.uk

2 Across nine cushion vinyl flooring collections (pictured is Noble Oak from Premium), shoppers can now discover a LeoLine floor that’s as unique as they are. Aspire’s range of tile and ceramic designs makes a bold statement, while Riviera keeps the affordable theme, this time with warm wood looks mixed in with smart stone and the Mediterranean style of the Es Vedra tile.

Visit: www.leoline.co.uk

3 Aberdeen-based independent flooring and furniture retailer, Sainsbury & Sons, has recently updated its Moduleo in-store displays with the new Roots collection. The store has been a Moduleo retailer since 2017 and its 12,000sqft store is now home to the Moduleo Showroom concept featuring the new Roots LVT collection and LayRed engineered acoustic flooring.

Visit: www.moduleo.co.uk

4 Frette’s Naturalismo is 100% organic cotton satin sheets, with a dye made from dried poppy petals, without use of any synthetic chemical agents, packaged in a coordinating bag with drawstring closure. Frette’s entire production methodology has been rethought with Naturalismo, from sourcing to packaging: to continue generating renewable energy, even the poppy plants are recycled into compost or pellets after use.

Visit: www.eu.frette.com

5 The Academy for Excellence in Flooring has partnered with installation products specialist Uzin to bring specialist advice to its training programmes. Wood & Laminate and LVT Master Installer training programmes now include a half-day session on achieving the correct subfloor.

Visit: www.quick-step.co.uk/en-gb/academy

6 ‘We really rate BerryAlloc displays,’ says Tim Ferebee, Renov8kitchens owner. ‘The large-format boards show off the detail and quality in the designs far better than small samples. There’s a great range of patterns and designs, and a solution for every customer.’ The Milton Keynes kitchen, bathroom and bedroom retailer has been a BerryAlloc stockist since 2021.

Visit: www.berryalloc.com

7 Abingdon Flooring has updated its Stainfree for Life promise, bringing a lifetime guarantee against food and drink spills for its Stainfree and Love Story collections. To uphold the guarantee the carpet must be installed by a qualified fitter in accordance with BS 5325, registered online and professionally cleaned once every two years.

Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

8 To mark the 25th anniversary of Fatboy’s original beanbag it has released a completely sustainable beanbag. The Original Slim Cord is filled with 3,543,897 (well, near enough) revolutionary airy beans, made from recycled construction and packaging materials. An inner bag, made of recycled non-woven polyester, keeps all those beans in check. And its sturdy, ribbed woven cover, made from recycled polyester, will instantly give every interior a relaxed ambience.

Visit: www.fatboy.com

9 The Floorwise nosing range includes everything from heavy-duty nosing through to low-profile designs. With flat, bullnose and rake fronts, along with single or double inserts and the option of ramp backs, there’s a nosing for any staircase. The range also includes the option of Super Grip anti-slip material inserts to provide additional safety – particularly in wet conditions.

Visit: www.floorwise.co.uk

10 Porro’s limited-edition Linea collection is a tribute to Alessandro Mendini: two sideboards and a writing desk speak of a free use, outside the standards and logics of industrial production, all to be imagined in everyday life.

Visit: www.porro.com

In search of normality

Uncertainty is hindering orders, but products that had been previously overlooked are generating good sales

THE RETAILER Fludes Carpets

The New Normal still eludes us. Just when we get into a period of reasonable trading something else pops up and knocks the confidence of our customers. You can sometimes see it coming, as most retailers generally know if the customer is likely to proceed with an order or not.

It is very frustrating, because in most cases we have done the hard work and quoted in store; the customer says the price is fine or ‘about what we expected.’ We go and measure, confirm the in-store price and ask the customer if they have a date in mind for the fitting. The customer replies with something like: ‘I will have to check with the other half,’ and when we follow up a few days later the story changes to: ‘We will let you know when we are ready,’ or possibly: ‘The price is more than we expected’.

On the other side of the coin, we do get some orders we were not expecteding. Let’s hope this period of uncertainty soon settles down.

I am sure many of you will smile and remember customers like that you have come across. Can you do to anything to avoid this situation? Well, as a team we just try to do the best that we can. None of us is any different than we were at the start of the pandemic, so really it is a matter of trying to give great service with a positive approach every day to every customer, so that if we don’t get an order when we thought we would, we can’t blame ourselves. Perhaps we should be aiming at being The Old Normal!

May saw the Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show in Solihull. It was quieter than previous years, perhaps partially because retailers did not want to be away from their businesses at that time. Certainly, the absence of some of the regular suppliers didn’t help. On the plus side, there was more time to spend with the suppliers

who did show this year, and they should be congratulated for the effort they put in to the show. My feeling is that with fewer suppliers to see, we had more time to chat with the representatives and see what product was available that had gone under the radar. We certainly saw three good products, show-stoppers that we had missed before and that are now selling well for us. If we hadn’t gone to the show, we might not have seen these ranges

Shoppers need to regain their confidence

and would have missed out on the sales.

So, the big question is, shall we go to Harrogate or not? Well, on the basis that if we do go, we will have to be similarly focused on those products that will bring a new offer to our stores and hopefully to our customers, you could say it’s back to the old normal!

Keep looking out for those show-stopper ranges, all.

Andy Laird, Fludes Carpets owner

Bottom line Training is key to profits

THE SALESMAN Andrew Adamson

A question: How much do you spend on sales training in an average year? By that I do not mean a chat with a company rep, or a factory visit or a day with a sales guru (that word is used because they cannot spell charlatan). In my selling life I have been forced to attend many sales courses and not one was given by a professional salesperson.

I can state unequivocally that the furniture/carpet sector is the best for a good salesperson. The opportunities are quite staggering. Houses have lots of rooms, most rooms have furniture in them, and flooring. That equates to a huge amount of money.

When a salesperson sells the right product, ie a product that meets the prospect’s needs, the opportunities for further business over future years are endless; even the best sofa or bed will wear out. This repeat business from satisfied customers and their recommendations is a rich vein of 24-carat gold.

Next question: Why are you still advertising and holding continuous sales with discounts. You’ll probably say because you want the turnover.

The most important pieces of data, vital to your success, are the conversion rates for each salesperson in your team and the average sales value (ASV) for each. Hand on heart, can you say you know this for each of your people? The table below illustrates this. The ASV figures are for simplicity, to keep it easy for me. The profit is based on the standard mark-up of 2.4, and the prospects are everyone that enters your store.

Line 3 is based on 40% conversion, easily achievable for a

ProspectsC/RSalesASVTotalGPProfit

1. 10015%15£1,000£15,00050%£7,500

2. 10020%20£1,000£20,00050%£10,000

3. 10040%40£1,000£40,00050%£20,000

4. 10020%40£800£32,00037%£11,840

Line 4: Sale time 20% off plus advertising. A lot of profit?

competent, fully trained salesperson. It is worth noting that each sale is started with the goal of obtaining a satisfied customer, not just a sale and commission. That will take time, product knowledge and knowledge of the prospect. From the initial greeting through all stages of the sale takes around 45 minutes up to an hour. What is achieved is firstly a satisfied customer and, more importantly, an income stream for the future – your gold mine. I have worked for companies that gave their salespeople ‘targets’ for sales, and of course KPIs. Those are your goals, or your manager’s goal, and have no power to motivate salespeople. Frighten them, yes. Fear is a great motivator; it makes people look for another job. Product knowledge can be gained from the good reps, from

brochures or from the factories so that the salesperson knows each product intimately. I have not actually met a rep or a salesperson that knows the difference between features or the benefits of the products they sell. They may know a few of the features if you’re very lucky.

Let me illustrate. The salesperson may say: ‘This sofa has serpentine springs.’ The prospect thinks: ‘So what?’

If the salesperson says: ‘This sofa is fitted with fishmouth springs so that when you stretch out your legs the back of your legs are cushioned so you do not suffer from numb legs,’ the prospect may well say: ‘That’s what happens with our sofa – numb bum.’

Every product has many features and many benefits; the salesperson must know them all and – vitally important – know how to use them when relating to the prospect.

There are nine stages to a sale, from greeting to saying ‘see you soon’ when they leave. All of which are skills. Just buying something doesn’t make someone a customer: a customer is someone who buys again and again, and tells their friends, and they come and buy. That is another seam in your goldmine.

The aim is satisfied customers. Here’s an estimate of what happens in your store: 80%-90% are unsatisfied – they came in to buy because they wanted something and could not find it; 15% are dissatisfied because they were sold something unsuitable, and just 5% are fully satisfied and they come back.

Spend a little time and do some calculations based on what you know, increasing conversions to 40%. You know how many sales each salesperson makes. Calculate over a four-week period, each ASV.

You will disagree with me. Of course your salespeople are much better than that. Sorry, bite the bullet and use your eyes and ears. They are not. Check the repeat business After a few years, 50% of your business should be from satisfied customers and recommendations from these happy people and cover a spread of prices and products. If you have calculated the profit on 40% conversion and 40% increase on ASV you will know how much of your effort has been wasted by your salespeople. Calculate how much you are prepared to spend to train your people to achieve these figures, week in week out, month in month out, and for years to come.

If I was to be tempted out of retirement, I could train your salespeople, and importantly your managers, to be professional salespeople. They could double their commission, and you as an owner would gain enormously. I could put in place a method of monitoring their work practices, and check results and report back. It would not be cheap; but it would, in fact, be beyond priceless for your company. I would guarantee success or money back – yes really, money back. I know it is a successful, professional way of selling, honest and ethical.

Email: SupersalesAWA@hotmail.com

Andrew Adamson is a retired furniture salesman

Welfare switch

John Lewis is making the most of its sister brand’s relationship with farmers

John Lewis is to switch sourcing of the leather for its own-label upholstery to higher welfare UK farms that supply Waitrose with meat.

The move follows the department store chain using wool that would otherwise have been discarded from farms supplying Waitrose in the ownlabel mattresses in 2021.

‘Running a department store and a supermarket gives us a unique ability to connect our two businesses and innovate. We saw an opportunity to use the leather being produced by our Waitrose farmers and use it to create beautifully crafted, high quality pieces of furniture that will last. By applying the same principles with our leather as we do with the products we stock on the shelf at Waitrose, we can offer the public a range of sofas and chairs using British-sourced, higher welfare leather

that’s distinct from anything else on the market,’ says Marija Rompani, John Lewis Partnership director of ethics and sustainability.

‘Leather is a durable, practical and tactile material. It ages beautifully, creating a weathered look that is simply timeless and a perfect long-term investment for the home. What makes our collection extra-special is knowing that the material has come from British farms that practise the higher welfare standards that we know our customers will love,’ says Nicola Waller, John Lewis head of furniture.

A survey of 2,000 households for the chain found that while shoppers thought the welfare of animals produced for meat was important (73%), and 89% said it was important for them to buy Britishsourced items, their interest in welfare was much lower when it came to leather

for upholstery. Some 62% said they had not considered the welfare of the animal when purchasing furniture, and just 5% had thought about where the materials used to make their furniture had been sourced from.

‘Everyone has the right to a sustainable choice no matter what they’re buying, but what this research shows is there’s a lot more work to be done to help shoppers make informed choices when buying certain products. Whether it is everyday household staples or larger items, these all have a social and environmental impact – but knowing what to look for isn’t always as easy as it should be. This is why we try to source all key materials used for our products to more sustainable standards, to make it easy for our customers to make more informed choices,’ says Rompani.

Visit: www.johnlewispartnership.com

By not sourcing the leather from areas at risk of deforestation the chain is reducing the relative environmental impact of its own-brand sofas and chairs

HOLBROOK

Add an unusual eye-catching feature piece to a room, with this stunning display unit which features a combination of grey painted finishes and natural oak veneer. The unit combines colour and shape to great effect, with a routed geometric circular pattern on the doors which has a hint of Bauhaus influence. The central shelf units have painted back panels, whilst the top and bottom sections have open backs. Brass handles on the cupboard doors are complemented by brass ‘socks’ on the solid oak legs. The unit is also available in white, and the collection also includes other matching and coordinating pieces.

With up to 70% off selected lines across all 7 of our categories, theres sure to be something for everyone! Visit us online to shop our full collection of over 2000 products or scan the handy QR code below to view our new catalogue, which is a selection of our ‘toppicks’ in an easy-to-navigate edit!

Scan the QR code for more

Marks of excellence

The Brutalist Collection, DGM 284, designed by Claire Canning and Lindsey Hesketh for Granite + Smoke

Edge Free, DGM 292, designed by Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd for Modus Furniture

Utility Shelf, DGM 291, designed by Rachael Heritage for Woud

Plum, DGM 299, designed by Mark Gabbertas for Allermuir

FLOORING INSTALLATION PRODUCTS

LOOKING AFTER FLOORS AND REPUTATIONS FROM THE GROUND UP.

The Brutalist Collection, DGM 284, designed by Claire Canning and Lindsey Hesketh for Granite + Smoke, and AD11 Lounge Chair, DGM 309, designed by Huw Evans and Campbell Thompson for The Conran Shop shared the Jonathan Hindle Prize for outstanding design, chosen from this year’s Design Guild Mark winners.

The Design Guild Mark is awarded by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City

of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, to drive excellence and raise the profile of British industrial design. It is unique in that the programme is not a competition with a ranking of entries and a winner; instead, the award is given to all designs that demonstrate to the jury that they represent the highest standards of originality and innovation in industrial

design. The Design Guild Mark is awarded across three categories: furniture, interior design elements, and lighting design.

The award is open to designers working in Britain or British designers working abroad, and entries for all categories can be for designs intended for domestic, office, hospitality, corporate or educational use, and for both interior and exterior environments.

Ooty, DGM 297, designed by Jack Smith and Gemma Matthias for Allermuir

Gemla Open, DGM 296, designed by Samuel Wilkinson for Gemla

AD11 Lounge Chair, DGM 309, designed by Huw Evans and Campbell Thompson for The Conran Shop

Marlow Table, DGM 311, designed by Matthew Hilton for Case FurnitureHideaway Swing Desk, DGM 301, designed by Chris Fowler for Bisley

Iris Lounge Chair, DGM 307, designed by Huw Evans for The Conran Shop

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30 Design Guild Marks were awarded. They also included:

Furniture: Metro, DGM 289, designed by Alex Blondek and Rodney Kinsman for OMK Design; Metis, DGM 294, designed by Gabbertas Studio for TrabA; Hideaway Wall Desk, DGM 300, designed by Chris Fowler for Bisley; Amity Seat, DGM 302, designed by the Gaze Burvill Design Team for Gaze Burvill; Uniun Bench and Planter, DGM 303, designed by Furnitubes for Furnitubes; SYD, DGM 304, designed by Aaron Probyn for Another Country; Domus Desk, DGM 306, designed by Matthew Hilton for The Conran Shop; Mag Table Collection, DGM 308, designed by Daniel Schofield for The Conran Shop and Slot Shelving, DGM 312, designed by Terence Woodgate for Case Furniture.

Lighting Design: Oslin Collection, DGM 286, designed by David Irwin for Luum; The Muse Solid Brass, DGM 287, designed by Tala for Tala and Solid Rechargeable Light, DGM 288, designed by Terence Woodgate for Case Furniture.

Interior Design Elements: Main Line Twist, DGM 285, designed by Hayley Barrett and Jane Marks-Yewdall for Camira.

Cross Task Chair, DGM 310, designed by Pearson Lloyd for Takt

Jump, DGM 295, designed by Gabbertas Studio for TrabA

Bastille, DGM 298, designed by Patrick Norguet for Allermuir

Tarn, DGM 305, designed by Gemma Matthias for Hitch Mylius

Bilbao, DGM 290, designed by Tim Rundle for Morgan Furniture

Omada, DGM 293, designed by Mark Gabbertas for Gloster

The start of a new adventure.

Premium quality laminate floors.

The premium quality of the BerryAlloc laminate floor collection is made in Belgium for all kinds of people and all kinds of lifestyle. Choose the 100% water-resistance of Ocean+, classic herringbone of Chateau or the affordability of Connect, matching or mixing styles for a beautifully coordinated floor that brings something special to every room.

Central: Ross Tooth T + 44 7949 151269 ross.tooth@berryalloc.com

berryalloc.com

South: Sean Walcroft T + 44 7940 455967 sean.walcroft@berryalloc.com

In the loop

Cormar is adding to its wool offer

Following its launch of Trinity and Primo Ultra earlier this year, Cormar Carpet Company is introducing two ranges in recognition of the rising popularity of wool loop carpets.

The company’s successful Malabar Two-Fold range has been relaunched with an injection of eight new shades, while the new Fairisle range is a chunky

1/4-gauge carpet in 10 natural shades.

As more homeowners become environmentally conscious, the awardwinning manufacturer has worked to enhance its wool offering by launching the companion 100% wool products. Inspired by the Shetland Islands, Fairisle comes in a collection of heathered neutral tones, in a moth-resistant,

three-ply yarn, in warm hues such as Boardwalk and Oatflake.

To coincide, Malabar has been relaunched with a bank of new colours in two textures: a sophisticated ribbed style and a weave design. First launched in 2001, the now 20-strong palette of natural colours includes a wider selection of warmer tones such as Nubuck and Pinto.

Both Malabar and Fairisle are made using 100% new wool and come in 4m and 5m widths. The ranges carry a 10-year wear warranty for added peace of mind.

To showcase the new products, Cormar will be displaying the ranges on a new Wool Textures display, helping retailers exhibit the manufacturer’s popular loops on one distinctive lectern. Showcasing the characteristics of wool, Cormar’s newest offering allows customers to meet the increased demand for natural fibres. It is also carefully designed to create an eyecatching, functional display that also works within limited retail floor spaces. Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Malabar

Fairisle

INVITING ALL FURNITURE,

& INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES

3rd — 4th October at NAEC Stoneleigh CV8 2LZ REGISTER NOW at www.theautumnfurnitureshow.co.uk

...and many other Major Furniture & Bed Brands!

● Free Entry

● Free Parking

● Complimentary Lunch for all visitors

● Great environment to view fantastic new products under one roof

● Over 70 leading Furniture suppliers from around the world

.....A few Stands still available

Hosted by

Elevate the space

The look of wool is combined with the practicality of polypropylene

Furlong Flooring has introduced the Beyond Wool collection of carpets, combining the look of wool with the practicality of polypropylene.

The collection has five ranges, showcasing a blend of twist and loop piles that offer the natural look and feel of wool whilst being stain and mothresistant, durable and bleach cleanable. The twist pile ranges, including Renaissance, Elegance and Serenity, provide sophistication, while the loop piles of Henley and Marlow add a touch of textural intrigue. The latest additions, Amesbury and Castlerigg, are made from 100% recycled polypropylene.

Amesbury and Castlerigg have been designed with the environment in mind, reducing waste and environmental impact. The range offers a selection of six natural hues and two on-trend loop designs. Crafted with Furlong’s awardwinning Combi-bac backing, these Class 33 rated carpets offer easy installation and are suitable for heavy domestic and commercial use, making them a versatile choice for various applications.

The Beyond Wool collection is available in an array of warm and cool tones,

curated to complement both residential and commercial spaces. Whether updating the home or revamping a business environment, Furlong Flooring ensures customers stay on top of current trends without compromising on quality or aesthetics. Additionally, the collection comes with a seven to 10-year warranty, providing peace of mind and easy-care qualities that simplify upkeep.

Furlong Flooring remains committed

to meeting the diverse needs of its customers. Its mission is to provide stylish, contemporary and precisely fitting flooring solutions while supporting customers in growing their businesses and reputation.

By offering reliable and innovative flooring options for every room in the home, Furlong Flooring has become a trusted supplier for customers. Visit: www.furlongflooring.com

Amesbury in Pumice

Castlerigg in Tourmaline

Image courtesy of Victoria Carpets & Design Floors

Grace-ful

The manufacturer is looking to increase its retail distribution

‘Tarkett has long been known for excellent flooring products, especially wood, and this legacy continues today. We are not best known for retail ranges, but that is changing. We are looking for a very limited number of independent retail partners for our all-Europeanmanufactured LVT and engineered wood products,’ says Steve Urwin, Tarkett UK marketing manager.

‘If you are exhausted by the overpromotion and blanket availability of products from other manufacturers, contact us to register your interest in a direct trading account.’

The latest wood range includes the new Grace collection of super-matt boards that combines the natural appearance of an oiled floor with the easy maintenance of a lacquered wood floor. ‘The Grace collection is treated with a new and unique ultra-matt lacquer that gives a silky and easily maintained finish.

Grace consists of one-strip flooring in two different widths; three-strip flooring, and floors with a basketweave pattern, with a total offering of 12 floors in six colours with warm, natural and

harmonious tones that are perfect for residential interiors, light traffic workplaces and hospitality areas.

‘Sustainable and environmentally certified, Grace is certified Silver level with the Cradle to Cradle sustainability label, and the entire collection is

PEFC (PEFC/05-35-125) certified for sustainable forestry. Add to that the offer of the first-ever digitally printed and super-matt LVT and you have a very compelling offer that is not available everywhere,’ says Urwin. Email: steve.urwin@tarkett.com

Above: Grace Oak Grey Chiffon Plank in a grey shade Above left: Grace Oak Era

Grace Oak Era in a classic basketweave pattern, where the character of the wood is accentuated by the softly brushed surface

The right base

The correct adhesive is all-important

Given customers’ high expectations for LVT installations, it is worth taking the time to ensure optimum results. Certain adhesives can help with this, for example by facilitating precise alignment.

‘Pressure-sensitive adhesives are ideal for the installation of LVTs because they form an instant grab upon contact, so once positioned, tiles or planks won’t move about as fitters work. They also offer an extended open time, reducing the risk of late placement and making them ideal for installations where more complex designs or patterns are being created. Some pressure-sensitive adhesives are also formulated to reduce the incidence of trowel serrations showing through thin vinyl floorcoverings, referred to as ‘grin-through’, affecting the appearance of the finished installation,’ says Tim Green, head of training at the F Ball Centre of Excellence.

There are specific applications where additional performance characteristics will be important to maintain the long-term aesthetic appearance of an installation. For example, when installing floorcoverings in areas subject to extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations, it is recommended to use a temperature-tolerant adhesive.

‘High temperatures or extreme temperature fluctuations can cause floorcoverings to expand and contract significantly, which may lead to

unsightly tenting in floorcoverings and gapping at the edges of LVTs over time. This can be the case in conservatories or rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows which are subject to solar gain, such as extensions with bi-fold doors. Temperature-tolerant adhesives develop the high bond strength required to hold floorcoverings securely in place in such environments, ensuring a long-lasting flooring finish. However, temperaturetolerant adhesives have traditionally been “wet-lay”, and fitters requiring this type of adhesive have had to forgo pressure-sensitive benefits.

‘Advancements in hybrid polymer adhesives have enabled the development of high-performance vinyl adhesives with revolutionary combinations of properties, including combined pressure-sensitive and temperature-tolerant characteristics. For example, F Ball’s Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS is a water-based, pressuresensitive vinyl adhesive that develops the extremely high bond strength and dimensional stability required to hold vinyl floorcoverings firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20°C to +60°C). Whilst providing high initial tack, the adhesive allows contractors to lift and reposition floorcoverings in the initial stages of drying, making it a great choice for installing tiles and planks, intricate

patterns and bespoke designs that need precise alignment. Styccobond F49 is also resistant to moisture, meaning it is suitable for use in areas subject to water and high humidity, including kitchens and bathrooms.’

As well as selecting adhesives suited to the requirements of a particular project, it is always advisable to check the compatibility of particular floorcoverings and adhesives. For these purposes, F Ball produces its industryleading Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG). It’s available on the F Ball website and as a free app, as well as a printed booklet. So confident is F Ball in the recommendations featured in the guide that it guarantees the resulting bond performance for the entire lifetime of the flooring installation, as long as the advised subfloor preparation and installation procedures are followed.

Alternatively, F Ball’s technical service department is on hand Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm, to answer your questions about F Ball products and how to use them.

The F Ball Centre of Excellence training and demonstration facility at its Staffordshire headquarters hosts training courses on achieving optimum results when installing LVTs, which are free to attend for both flooring contractors and retailers.

Visit: www.f-ball.com

Advancements in hybrid polymer adhesives have enabled the development of products that are both pressure sensitive and temperature tolerant

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Summer living

Gallery Direct will be showing its 2024 outdoor collection

Being able to touch and feel products is ideal when selecting new lines, so Gallery Direct offers customers the chance to visit its showrooms throughout the year. Clients can book appointments with their key account manager – at the Sittingbourne or Chesterfield showrooms for stock items, or at the Wiltshire showroom for Gallery’s mattresses and Made to Order products.

Visits can be arranged year-round to suit clients’ buying needs, and special

events are held occasionally for specific categories or promotions. Gallery is holding an Outdoor Living @Home event at its Sittingbourne showroom from 10-14 July, to give clients the chance to view the 2024 Outdoor Living collection.

Featuring more than 90 sets, the Outdoor Living collection offers an all-encompassing assortment from sun loungers and bistro sets to lounge and dining sets, providing a range of styles to allow customers to stay ahead of

the trends. Gallery has designed the collection to offer a range of price points, to accommodate all budgets.

The Outdoor Living @Home event is being hosted at Gallery’s head office in Sittingbourne, which has easy access via the A2, A249, M2 and M20, or the town’s railway station is close by with direct links to London. The event is by appointment only, so if you would like to visit to view the 2024 Outdoor Living collection, contact your key account manager to book a slot.

The event comes as the company is consolidating its distribution. The final phase of the warehousing move will see all Gallery product under one roof, at its central distribution centre near Chesterfield, by the end of the year, resulting in considerable operational efficiencies and a better, quicker service to customers.

Rather than paying to move stock from its other warehouses, Gallery prefers to sell it and pass the cost savings to customers, and so is holding its Big Moving Sale. This features more than 2,000 products at up to 70% off and covers lines from all seven of its core categories. The products featured in the sale can be seen and ordered on Gallery’s website.

Visit: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Messini pergola and Ancona dining set

Huntington coffee table and Seville lounge chair

Kingham round coffee table in grey and Open display

Flanders revisited

FFD returned for its second edition

Flanders Flooring Days returned for its second year in May, with exhibitors showing at showrooms and temporary spaces across the region. Next year’s event will see the addition of guest exhibitors at the Kortrijk Expo exhibition centre from 13-16 May.

Quick-Step highlighted its latest POS stands, showing A4 samples with larger samples in drawers. Scanning the sample’s QR code initiates the room viewer on a large, separate display screen.

The company expects about 10 retailers to invest in the full studio concept, with 100 opting for the display screen.

Its Alpha collection is being relaunched, with more than 100 SKUs and introducing the latest Unilin click system Unizip into Alpha Rigid.

Moduleo’s Roots collection has more than 130 designs based round six trends and is available in 0.4mm and 0.55mm wear layer options, with selected designs featuring Embossed in Register.

BerryAlloc has updated Ocean+, with the new floors due instore this month. The new samples have identifying labels to coordinate with the company’s

the right finish for them. Visit: www.flandersflooringdays.com

Harmony Lab research, providing shoppers with more information on selecting

Quick-Step’s new POS

Moduleo’s Roots in Fiastra 46935 with Nashville Oak 88279

BerryAlloc’s Ocean+ in Jazz Sand Natural

Kinder

Scale and environmental progress were key

Environmental issues were at the heart of Associated Weavers’ launches at the event.

The Re-verse polyester yarn made from recycled PET was introduced to Gaia across six ranges. ‘Gaia has had a very successful launch in the UK and the sustainability story will add to the appeal,’ says Emmanuel Lioen, Associated Weavers marketing manager. ‘The key advantage is that with polyester, the quality remains the same – the recycled yarn is just as high quality as the virgin material.’

Sedna, Associated Weavers’ first major move into sustainability using the Econyl polyamide, has been declared carbon neutral from cradle to gate: its construction and backing account for 70% of this, with the remainder being offset by farming projects in Kenya.

The show saw the first major presentation of the Ideal brand since Associated Weavers bought it from BIG in October 2022. The company has retained 16 ranges across a variety of price points, including Dublin Twist. The

Above: Dorado Below: Sarno

mainly polypropylene products were reinforced with the debut of the PP/ polyamide-mix Allure.

Associated Weavers’ new Northampton distribution centre is scheduled to be fully stocked by the end of June, with 3,000 pallets of LVT and 6,000 rolls of carpet. The 90,000sqft East Midlands facility has state-of-the-art carpet-cutting lines and will enable a cut-length delivery lead time of 3-5 working days.

The distribution centre is likely to be a game-changer for the company, dramatically improving delivery times, with retailers no longer having to wait

for orders being shipped from Belgium. This will be reinforced by the introduction of the AW Portal. Customers will have access to ordering and delivery information whenever they want. Stockists will have access to live stock availability, ordering and delivery tracking, along with the ability to view invoices and statements. ‘The AW customer portal is scheduled for release this summer and we’re looking forward to this important new step to further improve the service level in our partnership with our customers,’ says Lioen. Visit: www.carpetyourlife.co.uk

PILLARS OF GROWTH

Associated Weavers used the event to showcase a series of objectives on which it is basing its growth.

Evolution: The ultimate one-stop shop in carpets, LVT, carpet tiles and tailor-made rugs, leading the way with iconic brands.

Standing out: POS that creates the best possible in-store and online experiences with award-winning displays and smart visualiser technology.

Learning: Salespeople who know more, sell more – the Associated Weavers Academy in Halifax is at the centre of UK training for LVT and carpet. The LVT courses are now taking place weekly.

Ambition: Building leading positions in the carpet and LVT markets. More than 500 UK retailers have the awardwinning Invictus display stand.

Proximity: Investing in distribution, centring on the new Northampton distribution centre and the AW Portal, allowing 24/7 access to ordering and information.

Sustainability: A portfolio of environmental initiatives in production processes and the use of a range of sustainable materials in yarns.

Indus Tigris

The Northampton distribution centre will dramatically cut lead times

Collaborations

Developing ranges with customers is core for Betap

Betap says the company is well placed to take advantage of recent changes in Belgian carpet manufacturing.

‘Distribution in the UK is wholesale and volume retailers. Our core business is creating products in collaboration with clients. They may want “X” in a product and we can adapt it to their handwriting,’ says Andrew Bramall, Betap R&D product manager UK.

Introductions included Maroc, a twoply wool herringbone design in 4m and 5m widths with eight shades. Alder, Aspen and Birch were recoloured with seven new shades. Wellington saw the addition of pale gold and green shades.

The company is adding more 1/10th-gauge ranges, such as Winchester and also Montague, which has the company’s first fleece back.

‘We really want our customers’ opinions on product development,’ says Bramall.

Betap’s Next Generation collection sees the backing come from the same family of plastics as the carpet, thus removing the need for it to be separated when the carpet is recycled. Visit: www.betap.com

Above left: Maroc was among the introductions Above: Wellington

Tivano

Partnership

Condor Group is working with Tide Ocean

The main focus for Condor Group was its decision to begin using recycled oceanbound plastic waste in a partnership with Tide Ocean.

Tide Ocean collects waste plastic near coasts and rivers in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Mexico, and converts it into #tide ocean material as granules, yarn and filament, which can then be used in products instead of virgin plastic.

‘Our solution does not only contribute to reduce CO2 and achieve cleaner oceans, we also work closely with NGOs and local communities to close the circle

of plastic waste pollution. We organise beach clean-ups and pay fair wages to wastepickers and fishermen collecting plastics. And we don’t stop there, because prevention beats collection. To solve the problem of plastic pollution once and for all, it is more important and impactful to prevent new plastic waste from ending up in the environment to begin with,’ says Thomas Schori, Tide Ocean co-founder.

‘Condor Group has years of experience producing products with recycled content, but this collaboration is next

level. This thinking fits perfectly with the Condor Group. The important CO2 reduction is not the only benefit of using #tide ocean material, the ecological and social impact is also a very important part of this cooperation – giving local communities new opportunities and empowering them to restore nature,’ says Jan Hoekman Jr, Condor Group director.

‘The products can be traced back to their origin at all times. By using advanced blockchain technology, it is possible to see the exact location where the plastic waste was collected. The tool provides clear insight into the origin of the material and increases transparency in the supply chain. In this way, we rule out greenwashing,’ he adds.

Condor is developing four or five carpet qualities which should be ready by the end of the year, and an artificial grass range. POS will have QR codes explaining to shoppers where the waste plastic comes from and how it is transformed into new products.

Schori set up the company in 2019 while working in the Swiss watch industry and discovering no one was using oceanbound plastic in watch straps. Brands using #tide ocean material include Karim Rashid, Tom Ford, Muvit, Meister, Winter & Company and Yamamay.

Visit: www.condor-group.eu/en/group

Tide Ocean collects waste plastic from coasts and rivers in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Mexico

The plastic is recycled into new products

The main focus for Condor was its partnership with Tide Ocean

Nature but better

The Naturals collection gives nature supernatural powers

be a very short work! So you get the natural look you want for your home, without all that effort. Choose from 11 stone and 35 wood designs, 10 of them in a herringbone pattern. Naturals merges two of our existing collections: The Naturals and MegaStone. Just as in the circle of life we see in nature, the best floors come back around, supplemented with contemporary innovations.

‘You can also carry aesthetics of the new floor onto the walls, creating a feeling of harmony and spaciousness. Looking for an eye-catcher? You might think about a niche or an accent wall in a coordinated design or a contrasting colour. Or go for a splashback in the kitchen. The possibilities are endless.

‘This collection is as diverse as nature itself. We’ve added an extra-large 95cm x 60cm tile to our existing range. Like the look of a herringbone floor? You can have one. With or without grooves? On two or four sides of each board? The choice is yours. We even have different types of grooving to choose from: the classical V or an innovative groove with an attractive, gently rounded form.

‘We all want to get back to nature, but we don’t want a lot of extra work to do. And that’s how it is with your floor. You’d love warm wood or sturdy stone, but then there’s all the work involved in keeping your new floor beautiful. With the improved Naturals collection from COREtec you can enjoy natural beauty without all the effort. Your floor is a technological triumph. Highly resistant to wear and impacts, and not afraid of water,’ says Thibault Lanchon, COREtec quality manager.

‘Nature is beautiful, but it’s fragile. A wooden floor may swell and warp if it gets wet. Stains penetrate deep into the grain. What about a stone floor? That will

be vulnerable to scratches and stains.

‘So what if we could add supernatural powers to natural beauty? That’s exactly what we’ve achieved with our Naturals flooring. Click laminate has certainly made floor installation easier, but the wood fibre core makes it very vulnerable to water damage. Our innovative core material doesn’t swell even if you soak it in a bucket of water. And you won’t hear the “tap tap” footsteps sound you get from laminate.

‘Scrubbing, sanding, waxing, polishing, varnishing… you could fill a dictionary with words about the maintenance a natural floor needs. But a dictionary of COREtec floor maintenance words would

‘Something else that will strike you about the new additions to the collection: you don’t just see the texture of the board or tile, you can actually feel the way the grain runs. True luxury is, of course, found in the details. The core of the floor panels is covered with a robust vinyl layer carrying the design. It’s impossible to distinguish it from the real thing. There’s a further 0.55mm wear layer above that. Pet claws, shoes, chair legs? No problem: our floors come with a lifetime guarantee in domestic settings, and a 10-year guarantee for commercial installations.

‘There’s another clever invention below the core. An integrated cork underlay smooths out most unevenness in the underlying surface. So this flooring can be laid over an existing floor with no need for a separate underlay. Cork also provides even more noise-dampening.’

www.coretecfloors.com

Naturals has 35 wood designs

Being greener

Recycled and recyclable were at the heart of Lano’s introductions

Delay can be a virtue: Lano’s relaunch of X Collection was delayed by the pandemic and economic slowdown, but this has allowed the company more time to develop it and produce more environmentally friendly products.

Enso is made up of three recyclable ranges: Midori is made from 100% recycled PET and backing, while Fame and Jade have a recycled backing. As

the same family of plastics is used they can be recycled without the need to separate the carpet and backing. The recycled granules can be upcycled into products such as garden furniture.

The felt backing is also lighter, making it easier to fit and reducing transport costs, and thanks to its qualities it can be cut to a rug without any edging.

The trio have 15 colour options.

Pleasure has been recoloured with nine new shades, while Zen has a selection of more residential colours. The polyester Ilumina has 14 shades while Sofia is the new quality of Smart Strand Silk Reserve, available in 26 colours.

The show also saw the supersoft Felicity previewed.

Visit: www.lano.com

Enso is made up of three ranges

Jade Jade

Bringing the performance

With price points and designs for all tastes, LeoLine has been reinvented

The LeoLine collection brings vibrancy and energy as the brand looks to make cushion vinyl flooring the contemporary and savvy way to give people the floor they want. Across nine vinyl collections, homeowners and tenants can now discover a LeoLine floor that’s as unique as they are. So, whether they are hunting out herringbone or tracking down tiles, the LeoLine collection has the look.

For those looking for an affordable option that’s all about being individual, there is Aspire. Its range of tile and

ceramic designs makes a bold statement. Riviera keeps the affordable theme, this time with warm wood looks mixed in with smart stone and the Mediterranean style of the Es Vedra tile.

There’s also a wide range of textilebacked floors with loose-lay fitting for makeover projects. The all-round Comfytex PU, versatile Velvetex and premium Comfytex Deluxe Pro give homeowners a fantastic choice of looks, all with the added comfort of LeoLine’s Luxatex backing.

LeoLine has also thought of those customers who are super-serious about performance. Atomic XT, Diamond XT and Natural Trends are all castor chair resistant and come with a commercial warranty, so make the ideal choice for garden offices, studios and more. There’s a stunning selection of designs across these ranges, including herringbone wood and hexagon stone, Italian marble, bamboo strips and endless wood.

The LeoLine collection also features Premium, which blurs the boundaries between vinyl and LVT. Featuring an embossed texture, matt finish and defined grooves in a range of authentic plank designs, as well as architectural finishes, Premium is the ticket for homes demanding the very best looks.

‘The LeoLine brand has been completely reinvented to appeal to a new generation of householders and tenants looking to add style to their home in a way that’s accessible and affordable. Across nine collections, it provides a wide range of designs and options at all price points, so that there’s a LeoLine to suit every customer’s sense of style,’ says Stuart Reeves, LeoLine sales director.

Visit: www.leoline.co.uk

Riviera’s Patagonia 533

Atomic XT’s Treviso 597

Achilles 83 and Cambados 31

The new LeoLine is ready for the colour, vibrancy and variety of every space. Drawing upon our flooring know-how, we’re making cushion vinyl the contemporary and savvy way to create the floor you want. After all, everybody deserves their perfect floor.

More

Maximise order values through add-on sales

‘With lower levels of footfall recorded for May and June, it’s clear every sale matters. Maximising the order value through the additional sale of a mattress protector helps both the store and customer alike. Protect-A-Bed has continuously demonstrated our ability in helping retail partners significantly grow sales. With unique sales training provided by Protect-A-Bed, retail sales teams hit higher conversion rates. Stores who engage can expect to see a rise in mattress protector sales to a 50% attachment rate level to mattress sales,’ says Gowsh Shan, Protect-A-Bed national sales manager.

‘With TV display stands to support the sale, there’s no better time to talk

to Protect-A-Bed, whether you’re an existing customer or new to mattress protection. Products include the Therapeutics range, which uses advanced materials such as copper, charcoal and graphene, all with unique benefits to increase sleepers’ well-being.

‘We are specialists in the mattress protection category. Nobody else in the category has the same passion, drive and focus to grow sales and that’s why we are the leading global brand in healthy sleep. We continuously build frameworks that are simple for retailers to implement to achieve extremely high attachment rates. Focus is key: lots of small improvements often lead to significant improvement in performance.

Therefore, we know we can instantly increase sales within this category.

‘Supporting the retail sales teams is our bespoke reward programme, the Protect-A-Bed Platinum Club. The Platinum Club has been designed to build, recognise and reward success with unique promotional and discount opportunities, sponsored incentives, tailored POS solutions as well as membership rewards. The programme has been running consistently for multiple years now and the results have been excellent. Both existing and new partners have joined and are benefiting from the focused approach and rewards for growing sales.’

Visit: www.protectabed.co.uk

The Therapeutics range uses a variety of advanced materials

Go bright

How better to carry the summertime vibe into your customers’ homes than with white furniture? Its cooling effect will ensure that wherever it is used in the home it will enhance the sense of space and accentuate any new vibrant colour scheme.

Core Products’ Augusta White encapsulates industrial styling with a practical, hard-wearing, easy-to-clean melamine finish. Each piece is designed to optimise storage space, making it ideal where space is at a premium.

Options is a selection of painted-finish bedside cabinets in distinctive designs, which offer an easy, affordable solution to brighten up any bedroom.

The Nairn collection captures the look and feel of traditional construction methods, in simple, easy-to-assemble flat-packed kits. Each piece is easier and smaller to transport, meaning quicker deliveries and cost savings against an equivalent assembled product.

29.8 - 1.9

Core Products offers a quick and efficient delivery service to stores or the option of direct to your customer’s home,

a service that is based on the weight and not the size of the product. Visit: www.coreproducts.co.uk

VIETNAM ASEAN

INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE & HOME ACCESSORIES FAIR

SAVE THE DATES

SECC | HCMC, VIETNAM

Organized by:

Augusta White

Debut

VIFA ASEAN – Vietnam ASEAN International Furniture & Home Accessories Fair will debut from 29 August to 1 September, organised by Lien Minh, the company behind the VIFA EXPO exhibition.

Not limited to indoor furniture, VIFA ASEAN expands its scale with a variety of other categories such as outdoor/garden furniture; eco-friendly/recycled products; crafts and home decoration; wood; machines, equipment and hand tools.

As a centre for the supply and demand

chain of furniture products from southeast Asia to the global market with the motto: ‘One show – One place to Global’, the show will have pavilions for southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Philippines among others, for the purpose of introducing and creating opportunities for buyers and importers to explore unique regional products manufactured and assembled in a variety of materials.

VIFA ASEAN is in the chain of Asia’s

major furniture fairs this autumn, which includes KOFURN – Korea International Furniture & Furniture Fair (24-27 August); CIFF (5-8 September); Maison Shanghai (11-14 September); Furniture China (11-15 September) and IFFINA – Indonesia Furniture and Design Exhibition (14-17 September).

VIFA ASEAN is expected to attract more than 350 furniture exhibitors covering 20,000sqm.

Visit: www.vifaasean.com

VIFA ASEAN will take place for the first time

The show is held by the organiser of VIFA EXPO

Integration and development

CIFF returns to Shanghai with a focus on Chinese brands

China International Furniture Fair has been held for 51 consecutive sessions. Since September 2015, it has been held in Shanghai in September and Guangzhou in March.

The focus is on the whole theme of home-building and leading the integration and development of the industry. Thirteen exhibition halls are used, covering core themes such as home decoration, living and dining, outdoor furniture, office furniture, furniture machinery and woodworking machinery, accessories, and home textiles.

For September’s event, the show has built a design hall to create a new focus for original home design in China. The world’s top design brands will attend with new products, presenting a new style of home furnishing design for the industry.

The show will be held alongside the Shanghai Equipment Exhibition, CIFF Commercial Office Space Exhibition, CIFF Trend Life Aesthetics Exhibition and CIFF Urban Outdoor Exhibition, covering the whole chain of upstream and downstream home furnishing.

With the theme ‘Lead New Consumption, Service New Pattern’, CIFF Shanghai will focus decisively on promoting top Chinese design brands such as Camerich, HC28, Chic Casa,

My Just, and Treasure, positioning the exhibition as the leading platform for commercial furniture design in China.

In keeping with its longstanding strategy of creating a strong synergy between the exhibition and the pure commerce of product distribution, the 52nd CIFF is increasingly establishing itself as the dedicated place for promotion and successful positioning in the Chinese market, to find partners and develop new offline and online commercial channels. It is a true platform for economic and commercial cooperation, where the brands present will have the opportunity to interact

directly and effectively with all the leading high-end Chinese distributors, including Red Star Macalline, but also with small and medium-sized retailers, contractors, designers and decision makers.

The exhibition sees global buyers link in international cooperation: through internationalisation, globalisation and multi-channel promotion and invitations an international economic and trade platform of cooperation has been developed, attracting buyers from across the world and exhibitors that intend to explore overseas markets. Visit: www.ciff.furniture

, 5-8 September, Shanghai

The show will occupy 13 halls

Consistency and growth

Castelan is celebrating its 13th anniversary as it expands its network of technicians

protection plans offer, and they now provide the best levels of cover on the market for leather, fabric, dining and bedroom cabinet, beds and carpet. We have also recently expanded our offering to outdoor furniture and many of our clients have been excited to include this in their warranty offering.

‘In July, Castelan Group will enter our 13th year since inception, and in that time we have seen growth, challenges and a changing regulatory landscape.

I’m delighted that we have, as a team, shown a consistency in delivering and developing the sector-leading products and services that our clients and customers have come expect,’ says Martin Napper, Castelan Group ceo.

’31 July will also see the FCA’s Consumer Duty come into force, which

means that all financial firms must actively do the right thing rather than simply following the rules. To see how this may impact you, there is more information at fca.org.uk/firms/ consumer-duty but we will be working with all our clients to ensure that we continue to put the customer at the heart of all our decisions and are compliant with the requirements.

‘In recent years we have committed to expanding the cover that our

‘Our Furniture Care Network continues to provide exceptional service right across the UK and we were delighted to welcome the team of technicians from Ecomaster to join Castelan in April. The two businesses share the same values and commitment to customer service, and we believe that the combined resource will help us further enhance this excellent service to you and your customer. The Ecomaster technicians bring with them a wealth of experience and we see great benefit in the combined knowledge and efficiencies that this brings. Our service levels remain unchanged and we are committed to growing and improving our Furniture Care Network to deliver more in the future.

‘We would be pleased to discuss our schemes and service provision with any potential partners and demonstrate why we are the trusted name to provide extensive and compliant services to the furniture industry.’

Visit: www.castelangroup.com

Castelan is celebrating 13 years of business

Expansion

Guardsman has extended its mattress protection offer to sofa-beds and doubled the guarantee

high-quality products that perform the way they are intended is extremely important. ‘We want our retail partners to be assured that what we are providing to their customers is cohesive with our brand, by providing a superior product: it’s important for our own brand, but also for our partners’ brands as well. That’s why we commissioned independent testing of the protectors,’ says Kassam.

The Guardsman UK and Ireland team continues to support its retail partners with new and innovative products and kits – and the most recent addition proves just that.

Understandably when customers buy a new bed or mattress, they want to keep it looking good and remaining clean, but in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic they also want to keep it hygienically clean. Guardsman carried out independent research and found that health and hygiene of bedding and beds was very important to people, particularly since the pandemic.

As a result, the most recent addition to its mattress protector range is a protector designed specifically for sofa-bed mattresses. ‘We know families often use sofa-beds for guests and the mattresses need protecting just as much as a mattress that is used for a bed, especially if it is used regularly. That’s why having strong relationships with our suppliers is so important. It allows us to work and develop with them a bespoke range of mattress protectors suitable for sofa-beds,’ says Zeyn Kassam, Guardsman head of sales and business development.

‘Health and hygiene is top of everyone’s minds since the pandemic, so the addition of sofa-bed protectors,

which come in two different options, is a welcome addition to the range.’

In addition to the sofa-bed mattress protectors, Guardsman also offers a range of standard bed mattress protectors in all sizes, all of which come with the added benefit of being 100% waterproof and with a 10-year product guarantee. The range varies from soft terry towelling to quilted luxury, as well as an eco-friendly option in Tencel.

For the Guardsman team, offering

‘When we commissioned these tests, we wanted to make sure the guarantee we were offering, and the benefits we were claiming, were not just accurate but actually performed better than the normal standard. By conducting these rigorous tests with the Shirley Institute, it gave us a clear indication of their capabilities, so much so that we extended the guarantee from five years to 10,’ says Kate Way, Guardsman marketing executive.

Guardsman mattress protectors are currently available to sell alongside its bed warranty protection plan as an add-on, or can be offered with the plan, adding a tangible element to the sale.

‘We are keen to diversify and meet the demands of the ever-changing market, so watch this space as our product range continues to grow,’ says Kassam. Visit: www.guardsman.co.uk

Protection Plans

FCA regulated furniture insurance for every day accidental spills and stains

Products

Furniture care products to complement our protection plans, or to sell as an add on.

Insurance expertise

Highly experienced insurance professionals to support you with selling protection plans within the FCA requirements.

For today

‘Everyone at Iconography is proud to be working with some of the most successful furniture retailers in the UK, helping them develop effective and profitable ecommerce websites. In recent years, after consultation with a number of furniture retailers, we’ve resolved one of the most important issues they face. This issue causes many day-to-day operational problems and impacts business in numerous ways: causing friction, delay, errors and duplication of effort for many retailers who are striving to be effective and proficient online and in their store-based operations,’ says Wayne Robbins, Iconography director.

‘The source of these problems is the integration between ecommerce websites with legacy retail management software. That is why we’ve developed a complete web-based platform to manage and facilitate all aspects of furniture retailing and back-office operations in the 21st century: a unified commerce system

that removes so many of the day-to-day issues, limitations and work-arounds associated with integrations between ecommerce and offline retail management software. The benefits are numerous.’

Robbins says the company’s OMNIS system enables furniture retailers to effectively sell online, in-store and via phone from one platform and is a single coherent system, powering selling, order processing and all associated back-office activity, and reporting in real-time.

It provides award-winning ecommerce; intuitive EPoS; comprehensive product catalogue and inventory management; central omnichannel order processing; efficient back-to-back purchase order management; coherent warehouse management and accurate stock control; intelligent incoming and outgoing delivery management; insightful CRM; tailored omnichannel marketing and promotions management and reporting.

‘The key benefits for retailers are

by Visit iconography.co.uk

efficient and fit-for-purpose software that empowers smaller teams to achieve more; improved workflows through accurate real-time information; increased accuracy; better customer outcomes from accurate stock information and efficient order processing; better decision making from real-time information; reduced training and licensing costs; improved support from a single software supplier and enhanced efficiency.’

Visit: www.iconography.co.uk

A unified commerce system removes many day-to-day issues

Empowerment

Metro’s marketing team can transform a store

Metro has become much more than simply a £50m buying group. Assisting members with marketing has been a key goal over the years and since 2014 the group’s marketing service has been developed substantially.

It was recognised that many carpet shops had displays and signage that were outdated and didn’t offer a truly professional appearance. As the majority of Metro members look to maintain their own identity, simply accepting off-theshelf material in set sizes is not ideal.

The service has grown and now has a dedicated studio and production unit with the latest retail display and signmaking equipment, and the capacity to design, manufacture and install anywhere in the UK.

Not only does Metro provide a whole host of marketing solutions it also assists with the cost, with each member qualifying for £600 worth of bespoke marketing support each year.

Midlands retailer The Carpet Stop extended its large premises in Derby to include a dedicated remnant department. The extension was built to fit in with the existing building which is a former pub on a large site on a busy crossroads. Signage is essential with such a large amount of passing traffic.

The project was run in parallel with the building work and existing exterior signage was updated to match the new look. Every aspect of the project was completed in-house by Metro’s marketing team. including the installation of the signage using access equipment for the very high signs.

The chain also revamped its Cheadle store, where the signage covered 60sqm and was fitted to metal/brick surfaces. There were a lot of problems to overcome with this project including access over a conservatory: the building had been a glazing showroom previously. Plus, the sheer size of the signs required a lot of manufacturing space, before the whole job of removing the old ones –which had been applied over the top of the old glazing showroom signs.

The signs used CNC cut foam PVC letters that were both surface fixed and offset from the surface using locators to add depth to the signs and all were

framed in milled aluminium. The fascia sign also had a 6m trough light. The project was extended to include a lower, 14m-wide sign to cover drains and windows, featuring a combination of flooring types but mainly Amtico and Karndean.

Once the signs were complete, replacement window graphics finished the job on the shop windows and also the conservatory windows, making a feature of the building. The results created a completely new look for the business, much more in-keeping with the local marketplace.

The Metro service doesn’t end with attracting footfall into the showroom. Another benefit of group membership is Carpet 1st own-label displays. Most retailers understand the benefit of rebranding but so often this can create a mis-match of displays and stands.

Metro’s Carpet 1st display stands have been designed to be completely modular with a wall, lectern, corner and staircase unit, allowing the retailer to display whatever products they choose, with standard or bespoke graphic panels.

Trade Carpets in Clitheroe wanted to replace its existing signage. Following a site survey it was decided the existing signage could be revamped, saving huge fabrication costs, and the marketing team worked with a new logo design to fit clear new signage, including the main 9m-wide tray sign.

Tel: 01204 393 539

Trade Carpets in Clitheroe

The Carpet Stop in Derby

The Carpet Stop in Cheadle

July is always a flurry of activity for the National Bed Federation, with the first deadline for the Bed Industry Awards (21 July) and planning for the upcoming Bed Show in September. It’s particularly busy this year for the NBF, which represents UK bed manufacturers and their suppliers, with the launch of the

fifth version of its Code of Practice and making its members aware of the updates and changes to prepare them for the next round of audits.

It is now a decade since the NBF launched its Code of Practice, which requires manufacturer members to undertake and pass an audit with strict requirements and sets out criteria for ensuring processes and procedures are in place for supply chain scrutiny and compliance with regulatory compliance.

Since its launch, the requirements have continued to evolve. The latest introduction for the 2023 version 5 audit is an awareness of PAS 7050, the code of practice on bringing safe products to market, and a requirement to start working on a Product Safety Management Plan (PSMP) in line with the PAS. The NBF will be rolling out training and support for members to help them to understand the key areas to consider when creating their PSMPs.

In addition to the regular audits, the NBF has a due diligence testing programme that further strengthens its Code of Practice by checking that

NBF member products placed on the market continue to meet essential requirements. The programme allows the trade association to assess whether its members continue to meet their obligations as standard. It also looks at non-member products placed on the market to compare how the industry generally performs against key legal requirements.

Doing this helps the NBF to consider how it can support the industry better overall, an example of which was the development of the NBF Flammability Best Practice Guidance that is available to the industry free of charge. The NBF created this guide to try to help all parties understand the requirements of BS 7177 for low-hazard domestic use, one of the key standards used to assess the safety of a mattress.

A summary of the Code of Practice, frequently asked questions and further information on the due diligence random testing programme is available to read on the resources section of the NBF website.

Visit: www.bedfed.org.uk

The NBF’s Code of Practice has been in place for a decade

This mattress was described as having three inches of foam

The NBF Flammability Best Practice Guidance is available to the industry free of charge

Personal stake

Incentivise sales staff and use software to track performance

‘In the fiercely competitive world of furniture retail, sales performance plays a crucial role in determining the success of businesses,’ says Darren Lee, Ordorite business development director.

‘Of course, you need to have the right products at the right price points in the right shopping environment, but unless the sales team are fully engaged, retailers will struggle to reach their potential. To drive motivation, enhance performance and ultimately increase revenue, many big-ticket retailers worldwide rely on the power of sales commissions and incentives for selling specific products. By implementing these, retailers can align the interests of their sales team with the overall goals of the business, attract and retain talented individuals, and create a culture of accountability and responsibility.

‘The revenue generation potential of sales commissions and incentives is immense. In the competitive furniture retail industry, engaging with customers, upselling products, and closing deals are

essential. By offering sales incentives, retailers can encourage their salespeople to actively pursue these goals, resulting in increased sales volumes, higher average order values and ultimately, greater revenue and margin for the business. When salespeople have a personal stake in the success of their sales, they become more invested in delivering exceptional customer experiences and closing deals effectively.

‘Commission-based structures also promote goal alignment between salespeople and the business. By tying compensation directly to sales performance, salespeople are incentivised to focus on generating revenue and closing deals. This alignment ensures that the sales team’s efforts are directed towards achieving the company’s objectives, ultimately driving overall growth and success.

‘Moreover, sales positions with commission-based structures have a natural attraction for motivated, driven, results-oriented individuals. By offering

sales commissions and incentives, furniture retailers can attract top talent that is eager to succeed. Furthermore, salespeople who consistently perform well and earn commissions are more likely to stay with the company, reducing staff turnover and providing continuity for the business.

‘To harness the benefits of sales commissions and incentives effectively, businesses can utilise comprehensive business systems like Ordorite. Ordorite offers a range of features that assist in administering and monitoring incentives seamlessly. With the ability to monitor sales targets by salesperson or branch, track sales, margin and incentivised items, and set individual commission rates based on sales, delivered orders or payments, Ordorite provides the necessary tools to streamline commission and incentive management. Ordorite can even handle split commission between salespeople.

‘Additionally, Ordorite allows retailers to provide incentives on specific categories or individual items, enabling upselling opportunities or clearing old stock efficiently. The platform also offers full date-range reporting of all sales and commission data, saving valuable time on payroll processing. Moreover, Ordorite provides prompts at the point of sale to remind salespeople about specific addons, enhancing their ability to maximise sales opportunities. By monitoring aged stock and targeting it with incentives, retailers can effectively move inventory and maintain a healthy cash flow.’

Visit: www.ordorite.com

Sales commissions and incentives are powerful tools in furniture retail

Summer days

With the arrival of warmer weather and extra hours of daylight, more people will be buying and using outdoor furniture, including furniture intended for use in conservatories and garden rooms.

Testing at SATRA helps to ensure that these products are safe, fit for purpose and likely to stand up to the demands of their intended use, providing reliable performance in outdoor environments. Its testing facilities are equipped with a suite of furniture and materials testing equipment that allow it to offer comprehensive test services for a wide range of products, such as chairs, sofas, recliners and deckchairs.

For example, it tests outdoor furniture to the EN 581 suite of standards, which encompasses various aspects such as strength, stability, ergonomics and durability. Tests evaluate the furniture’s resistance to impact and fatigue, and also assess flammability; gap-and-hole analysis; shear and squeeze points during

use, and seat and back static load as well as chemical analysis. In addition, SATRA can test materials before production to prevent costly errors down the supply chain: for instance, testing for properties such as soiling resistance, colour fastness and abrasion resistance.

Furniture testing at SATRA helps to ensure that products meet your customers’ requirements and expectations, so you can be confident that the furniture will last for many summers to come.

Visit: www.satra.com

Mattress testing at SATRA

SATRA has recently invested in a second mattress roller for testing mattresses to BS EN 1957:2012, for assessing the durability of all kinds of mattresses.

Benefits of testing include;

• Rigorous fitness-for-purpose assessment

• 30,000 cycles test duration

• Firmness rating, correlating with subjective human assessment

• Firmness and hardness measured before and after rolling

• Bed edge testing

• Overall construction assessed, for issues such as broken springs and displaced filling

Outdoor furniture is tested to EN 581

Mattress testing half-page full-bleed_Half page bleed

Celebration

3daysofdesign marked its 10th anniversary, with events across Copenhagen. Visit: www.3daysofdesign.dk

Woud’s Ludo is a visually strong pillar dining table, embodying the beauty of simplicity and balance

Nomad added four new colours to its Candy Wrapper rug

Menu and by Lassen have been merged by Design Holding to create Audo Copenhagen

Kristensen & Kristensen’s Veifa sees the top rail angled so the armrests reach down to the legs

Moebe’s Magazine can be a stand-alone piece or incorporated into its existing shelving units

The shelves and side panels of Mass Production’s Gridlock lock in place with a simple movement

Nikari’s Centenniale table is made of solid ash or oak, and intentionally has cracks and knots, making each piece unique

101 Copenhagen’s Ghost Chandelier combines sculpture and light

Woodnotes introduced new colour combinations for San Francisco

Ronja is Gärsnäs’ effort to use more Swedish timber, beech in this case

Ege Carpets previewed its She collection of six hand-made rug designs using British wool

Expormim showcased the updated version of the 505 sofa bed

Bla Station’s Max is an upholstered version of 2021’s Maximus chair

3GREAT POS WAYS

P.O.S

.

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.

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

2 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 counters

3

Factsheets

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.

• Place Factsheet Boards on walls around your store…

• …or bring them 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

• Gain add-on sales. See exactly which item fits best.

Grab attention, explain benefits and Gain Add-On Sales With

Signal imm cologne returned, with new timing and formats

‘With the imm Spring Edition, Cologne has finally been able to send an important signal to the national and global markets again. We’re now setting the course for imm cologne 2024,” says Gerald Böse, Koelnmesse ceo.

The show moved from its traditional January timeframe to 4-7 June, after an

absence of three years because of Covid. Some 30,000 visitors from 116 countries attended the event, with 52% of these being international visitors. The show had 718 exhibitors from 43 countries.

Pure Galleries presented furnishings in a new exhibition format that emphasised minimalism and a return to essentials.

Drawing on an art exhibition, the format created clear structures with compact spaces and a focus on products’ design. The segment gave the product centre stage, elevating it to star of the event.

Next year the show returns on 14-18 January.

Visit: www.imm-cologne.de

Parla’s Hug sofa

Asco’s Aereo table KFF’s D-Fine chair

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

To strengthen the sales department of our broadloom division and to make a better & stronger Balta, we are currently looking for a:

Sales Representative North West, Including North Wales

Your Challenges:

•Managing key retailers and buying group members in your area

•Expansion of the exisiting customer base

•Increasing the product ranges with exisiting customers based on a clear sales strategy combined with a wide range of new products

Your Talents:

•Experienced Sales Manager looking to challenge themselves and thrive in a busy and fast paced environment

•Eager to drive sales and able to spot opportunities for growth

•Excellent time management with the ability to work with numbers and data

•Able to travel approximately 4 days of the week

• Experience in carpet & flooring industry preferrable but not essential

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to have a direct influence on accounts in your area

•The chance to be a part of a world leader in broadloom

•A working environment based around sustainability, safety and strong communication

• Attractive salary and other excellent benefits.

To register your interest, please send you CV to careers@baltafloorcoverings.co.uk

Our finest underlays, made with comfort in mind and quality you can trust.

Tredaire Premier includes a highspec backing with an eye-catching design. Not forgetting the layer of 100% recycled foam to add a wonderful, sumptuous feel like no other.