Best of British

Spencer

Congratulations

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Vale Upholstery

In 1947 the Lomax family set up Vale Upholstery in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, manufacturing utility furniture under government regulations and re-covering furniture, with Vale mill giving the company its name.

The 1950s saw the first deliveries of upholstery into independent retailers in the north-west of England and by 1962 the company had moved to larger premises in the town to cope with growing orders. The Belle Vue furniture show in Manchester proved a great springboard for attracting retailers from further afield and soon the company was trading throughout the North and Midlands and later to the rest of the UK.

Along the way Barbreck Upholstery was purchased and in 1982 the company moved to a 60,000sqft building in Mytholmroyd, near Hebden Bridge. Bridgecraft was bought in 2000 and all production combined on this site.

Vale and Bridgecraft have a combined history of furniture making of 160 years, producing quality upholstery to a high standard. Designs new and old can be found in homes around the country.

The company has a strong connection with Outward Bound and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. A company bursary has allowed about 800 disadvantaged students to attend five-day courses at the Outward Bound centre near Ullswater.

The company endured massive disruption in 2012 and 2015 due to flooding, which flood defence works will hopefully prevent happening again. Management and a loyal skilled workforce are proud to have completed 75 years without a day of lost production.

Changes on the high street and the loss of so many quality independents encouraged Vale Bridgecraft to open five support showrooms in Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, and Tyne and Wear for existing stockists. Visit: www.valebridgecraft.co.uk

Poppies

Opal

Baxter

Made here

La-Z-Boy now has its own UK manufacturing facility

Recliner brand La-Z-Boy has committed to producing more of its furniture in the UK, recognising there is a growing awareness among consumers of the importance of buying local. Recent issues with international freight, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, mean people are increasingly trying to avoid buying products imported from abroad.

In October 2021 La-Z-Boy bought Furnico Furniture. Furnico had manufactured for the brand since it acquired the La-Z-Boy licence in 2008, before La-Z-Boy re-acquired the licence in 2017. As well as providing La-Z-Boy with its first European production facility, the deal enables it to develop and retain core skillsets for furniture production, which is so integral for the industry.

Trevor Hailes, La-Z-Boy international merchandising director says the company was responding to a growing consumer desire to buy products manufactured in the UK rather than overseas. And with complications from Brexit and the pandemic causing supply-chain issues for retailers and manufacturers, it is also an effective way of guaranteeing supply for British customers and mitigating, as much as possible, the effect of increased shipping costs.

Leading on from this, La-Z-Boy signed up to the Made in Britain organisation, established to demonstrate the quality and scope of manufacturing in the UK and provide a way companies can market this to their consumers.

‘It is moves such as this that will demonstrate to consumers the best of

Payton

British manufacturing – a commitment to supporting the local economy and to producing high-quality products for consumers more efficiently. It will also give La-Z-Boy the ability to take new designs from initial sketch concept, to display models and then to market in a shorter time frame,’ says Hailes.

‘As a brand, La-Z-Boy is keen to support the growth and development of the already prestigious British furniture industry. While manufacturing ranges in our Lancashire factory, we will be using components from UK suppliers wherever possible. We are pleased to support the local economy and give something back to the community where our staff live and work.’ This has included the company becoming a sponsor of Burnley FC. Visit: www.la-z-boy.co.uk

Castello