Interiors Monthly October 2022

The unravelling of Made.com

I cannot remember a quicker unravelling of a business model than that of Made.com. From a £200m flotation in June 2021 that raised £100m for early investors and the same for the company, which was then valued at £775m, to putting itself up for sale in order to secure funding to survive in September 2022. (For context, the UK government has had 12 years to get us to where we are, although it has noticeably stepped up its efforts in the past fortnight.)

Made.com made a great emphasis of increasing its stock holdings in September 2021, saying investing in stock, warehousing and shipping availability would allow it to begin to offer an ‘industry-leading lead-time proposition. Due to our curated range and deep supplier partnerships, we are well placed to do this with a relatively limited stock investment.

Historically, an improvement of one week in our lead times has resulted in a c5% sales uplift and improved levels of customer satisfaction,’ it said.

Only it didn’t. Physical competition had re-opened by then. Yes, shipping was expensive and disrupted, but it was for everybody. In March this year, Philippe Chainieux, Made ceo for the previous five years stepped down. In May it bought online marketplace platform Trouva (in a move that still seems odd) and the same month it replaced its finance director after warning that profitability had been delayed for at least a year and sales would be flat at best and might drop 15% at worst –rather than the previous forecast of 25%-35% growth (a reduction from 65% anticipated in 2021).

It found itself with too much stock it couldn’t sell without large discounts, and the cost of gaining new customers was too expensive. And £73m of cash left the business in six months. Now it wants to switch to a model that cuts back on selling from stock and expand to more countries once it has slashed staff and warehousing costs. Presuming it survives. Anyone investing on day one has now seen 98.4% of that wiped out.

INTERIORS MONTHLY OCTOBER 2022

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS

04 M ixed fortunes for sales

06 Made.com looks to find buyer

10 Sylvia Reid 1924-2022

FEATURES

12 New products

14 Service

18 Experiences

Being on the hit-list

22 Retail

CW Harris is back in business

30 Upholstery

Setting a standard, artisan mix

34 B est of British M aking more here

38 B eds and bedroom

Celebrate the best in retail, manufacturing and supply

52 Outdoor

For all seasons

56 Trade products and services

Security, software, testing

64 Review

The Flooring Show, Long Point, INDX, VIFA

106 Buying groups

Opportunities

Editor: Andrew Kidd

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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

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Once seen as the future during lockdown, the etailer is now in need of rescue from an outside investor

Mixed success for sales

Flooring sales in August recovered after July’s monthly drop and were almost double that of pre-pandemic levels but the value of furniture and lighting sales fell for the second consecutive month, but were still ahead of 2019.

The value of flooring retail sales in England, Scotland and Wales was £214.77m in August, according to ONS data. This was 6.3% higher than July 2022. It was 20.58% higher than August 2021 and 83.5% higher than August 2020.

Sales were 90.55% higher than August 2019, and it was the 74th best month of 440 months since comparable records began in January 1986.

Furniture sales dropped by 6.8% compared with July 2022, to £1.111bn. Sales were 3.25% lower than August 2021 and 0.48% and 3.37% higher than August 2020 and 2019 respectively.

It was the 72nd best month of 440 months.

The figures are non-seasonally adjusted, do not include the effect of inflation and are subject to revision by the ONS.

Inflation on the up again

Furniture and flooring retail inflation jumped in August.

The rate for furniture rose from 15.1% to 15.6% for household furniture, partially reversing the decline seen in July.

Lighting saw the rate increase from 7.9% to 8.5%, while the rate for garden furniture dropped from 21.1% to 16.3%.

The flooring rate rose from 6.4% to 8.1%.

Carpet and rugs saw the rate jump from 4.9% to 7%. Smooth flooring saw the rate drop from 16.9% to 15.1%.

The furniture and furnishings index rose from 14.8% to 15.2%, according to ONS data.

Sales growth continues into September for Likewise

Flooring distributor Likewise has seen sales growth continue through the summer and into September.

‘The positive sales revenue trend has continued through July, August and September, which positions the group well for the traditionally busy autumn trading in Q4. Activity has increased on new products which has significantly improved the market presence of our various businesses, in particular flooring retailers but also contractors, cumulating in the number of active accounts increasing each month,’ it says.

Sales grew by 108% to 58.4% in the six months to 30 June, fuelled by last year’s acquisitions. Valley Wholesale Carpets generated £20.8m alone. Excluding acquisitions, sales rose by 27% to £35.8m.

Pre-tax profits dropped from £302,000 to £85,000.

The group says it has invested in accelerating its growth including additional delivery trucks, materials handling and cutting equipment, plus increased stock holding, ‘to strengthen the medium-term opportunities.’

London debut

Luxury Living Group has made its London debut.

The group has opened a 6,500sqft store on Brompton Road, Knightsbridge featuring the Versace Home collection and its new Luxence brand.

‘This opening is a fundamental stage in the group’s international growth. In fact, London is not just an important hub in terms of quality furniture sales, but also represents a key international connection with our target clientele,’ says Andrea Gentilini, Luxury Living Group ceo.

Likewise has accelerated investment

The store features the Versace Home and Luxence brands

Made.com looks for a buyer

Made.com has insisted that putting the company up for sale will succeed in securing its future.

It says after deciding it would be unable to raise capital from shareholders – who have seen their investment practically wiped out – it will look at a sale, a merger, outside investment or debt financing.

‘The board expects this process to lead to sufficient investment and access to funding to enable the group to operate as a going concern,’ it says.

Pre-tax losses ballooned from £10.1m to £35.3m as sales rose by 4.2% to £178.2m in the six months to 30 June, including orders from the previous period. Gross order value, which Made.com defines as sales excluding VAT, cancellations, returns or the timing difference between customer order and delivery, fell by 18.8% to £173.6m.

The company saw £73m of cash leave the business in the period and had cash of £32.1m, helped by

DFS warns September upturn must continue, to avoid FY decline

DFS has warned that the monthly increase in orders it saw in September will have to continue for the rest of the financial year if it is to avoid a double-digit sales decline.

It presented shareholders with three scenarios, in which profit before tax and brand amortisation would be

between £20m and £54m, based upon assumptions of an average market order volume decline relative to pre-pandemic levels of between -15% and -5%.

‘The £36m profit before tax and brand amortisation outturn in our medium scenario is based upon a market-wide like-for-like

Half a pound of bananas and a wardrobe…

Ikea customers will soon be able to collect their orders from Tesco. The chain is expanding its Collect Near You scheme to include a small number of Tesco car parks.

It will debut at Blackburn on 10 October, before being extended to Bolton, Cambridge, Dereham, Doncaster, Liverpool and

Stockport. The trial will last at least six months. Delivery is free for orders over £200 and £10 otherwise.

Customers will arrive at the car park at the selected date and time, where a delivery driver will hand their order to them. The scheme is already being trialled in Denmark and Portugal.

£4.4m of currency gains.

It says it is implementing a three-phase strategy of reducing costs: £6m a year of wages and £5m of warehousing costs along with lower stock levels; reducing the level of products sold from stock and expanding to more European markets, and setting up an international parcel delivery system.

‘The board and I recognise that recent performance has been disappointing for all of the group's stakeholders, reflecting a very challenging external environment as we executed on our strategy of improving lead times for our customers,’ says Nicola Thompson, Made.com ceo.

‘Following the continued challenging trading environment through Q3 2022, we believe that the decision we have taken to launch the strategic review and formal sale process is the best route in order to maximise shareholder value.’

order intake volume decline of 10% relative to prepandemic levels. It is hard to extrapolate short-term trends into the future, and there are some transient factors likely to have particularly impacted demand over the summer, including consumer uncertainty on domestic energy prices, re-opening of holiday travel and the hot weather,’ it says.

‘However, the -5% and -10% scenarios would require a continuation of September's recovery from the weaker average trading patterns observed in July and August,’

the company statement continued.

‘The UK furniture market continues to be challenging and the outlook for the sector remains uncertain given the macro-economic environment. From the fourth quarter of the year, we saw a reduction in the volume of orders, which we believe is consistent with the overall furniture retail market, although our elevated order bank will provide some resilience as we enter our 2023 financial year,’ ,’ says Tim Stacey, DFS group ceo.

Lumous chair, sofa and footstool

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Sylvia Reid 1924-2022

Celebrated mid-century architect and designer Sylvia Reid, whose designs brought the gleam of post-war modernism to millions of British homes, passed away in Penzance on 20 August. She was 98.

‘She studied architecture at the Regent Street Polytechnic at the beginning of the Second World War. There she met John Reid who was to become her husband and collaborator, a relationship that was to sustain them both personally and professionally throughout their happy marriage and lifelong design partnership, until John’s death in 1992,’ says her son Dominic.

‘A defining feature of my parents’ design partnership was that they collaborated on their entire output. It is therefore often hard to discern where the influence of one ends and the other begins. In this regard they differed from other famous design couples of the period. Their work was prolific and wide-ranging, winning three Milan Triennale medals (1954, 1960 and 1963) and four Council of Industrial Design awards (1957, 1958, 1959 and 1961). Their enamelled cast-iron Anniversary Ware for Izons is part of the permanent collection at the V&A Museum.

‘But they are perhaps best known for their furniture designs for British manufacturer Stag and their lighting fittings for Rotaflex. Their iconic S230 dining chair was awarded a Design Guild Mark on its 60th anniversary in 2019. They believed that “good design is the product of logical thought and the attempt to provide for the requirements of the world in which we live. Whether it be of furniture, interiors or complete buildings, it is concerned with the intelligent usage of suitable materials, arranged so that the functional requirements of the particular problem are solved.”

‘Having coined the phrase “Good design for the young in heart and pocket” for Stag in 1960, she was adamant in a recent interview that “if people can’t afford it, what’s the point?” She was a liveryman of the Furniture Makers’ Company and both my parents were master of the Company of Chartered Architects, the first couple to both become master of the same livery company.’

She is survived by Dominic and his siblings Suzannah and Victoria, and three grandchildren, James, Elizabeth and Grace.’

Record profits after Dunelm customer numbers jump

Dunelm generated record profits in the past year, helped by a jump in customer numbers.

The chain saw pre-tax profits leap by 32.4% to £209m as turnover increased by 16.2% to £1.55bn in the year to 2 July.

Trading in the first 10 weeks of the financial year was described as ‘robust’. Customer numbers increased by 8.5% in the year.

It saw growth across all geographic regions in the UK, with customers in London and the south of England contributing 40% of the growth in customer numbers. It enjoyed growth in customer numbers across all income levels, with a yearon-year increase of more than 10% in both the under

£20,000 per annum and over £100,000 per annum groups. It also increased its appeal across all age ranges, with

customers aged between 16 and 24 growing by 8.5% and those aged 65 and over growing by 16.2%.

UK move

Swedish bed manufacturer Carpe Diem has confirmed its plan to launch into the UK market. The company, which has a London showroom and already sells through Harrods, has appointed Oliver Bowen as UK agent.

‘We are incredibly excited about taking this step and being able to reach more people across the UK. The brand’s vision is to always be at the forefront when it comes to combining luxurious comfort with stylish design whilst being able to offer a complete solution for the bedroom, and we look forward to reaching even more people across the UK. We are beyond excited to start expanding in such an important market for us,’ says Helen Jensen, Carpe Diem VP brand.

The brand is sold in 20 countries and UK shoppers can already buy online.

Our trade showroom is home to many different ranges all of which are running on 8 weeks or less as a lead time, below are just a small selection of what is available to view. Find us at 23-27 king St, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 1NX

ARC – With precision at the forefront of all products the results are quality engineered ranges that look fantastic! Available in many finishes including ceramic, many wood finishes, glass and gloss. Made in Portugal, delivered in 6-8 weeks. Brendan says, ‘Having such detailed design whilst being so robust makes for an amazing end result’

BIZARTO – High spec, design lead. European manufacturing. Extensive range of fabrics, with great selection of range options. Delivered in 6-8 weeks. Brendan says ‘It’s very rare that you find a company that offers so much detail and design across all of their ranges.’

X8 CHAIRS – 6 – 8 week lead time, extensive range of fabrics and colourways, Chairs built to contract standard rarely seen in the UK domestic market. Bespoke options available across the board. Brendan says ‘Never before have I seen a solution for dining chairs that is as good as this!’

KRISTENSEN & KRISTENSEN – When it comes to solid wood dining and occasional furniture Kristensen certainly stand out. Offering solid Oak or Ash furniture available in a number of different stains and finisshes. Huge choices in table sizes, thickness and leg style with just as much choice around wood finishes. Kristensen specialise in industrial, Scandi or farmhouse across their ranges. Brendan says, ‘The beauty of these amazing woods is highlighted in everything that Kristensen do, everything possible is done to honour the quality of the timber whilst creating stunning ranges and products.’

1 Thanks to an extremely durable surface, BerryAlloc’s High Pressure Floors can withstand use in the most intensive indoor environments: proven in everywhere from international airports to homes. Made in Norway, they feature an AC6 scratch-resistant wear layer for the highest protection in class, with a thick, super-strong protection layer that withstands serious impact and a robust, water-resistant top layer to protect from spills.

Visit: www.berryalloc.com

2 Echoing the labyrinthian networks of coral reefs in a relief pattern of structured high and low yarns, The Meditation Coral Collection from Louis de Poortere comes in seven vibrant colourways and a new circular shape. Coral is a design that uses its multi-tonal base and a single-colour high pile to mesmerising and unexpected effect.

Visit: www.louisdepoortere.com

3 Abingdon Flooring is celebrating new styles and colour updates to its Wilton Royal wool carpet collection with a special time-limited offer on lecterns: all four new and updated styles are available for just £149.

Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

4 Floorwise’s F597 heavy-duty spray adhesive, eliminating dichloromethane from its formulation, replaces F599. The solvent disperses faster into the atmosphere, rather than remaining trapped at ground level. The layer of invisible, odourless gas left at ground level by dichloromethane has been proven to create a significant risk of asphyxiation for installers working on their knees in poorly ventilated spaces.

Visit: www.floorwise.co.uk

5 The modularity of Unopiù’s Welcome, suitable for indoor and outdoor use, allows the creation of convivial and relaxing areas according to your needs. There is a choice of two coffee tables, and all products have bronze-coloured aluminium feet.

Visit: www.unopiu.com

Royal Windsor Oatcake

Richard Renouf

Ultimate add-on

One initial order lead to much more exceptional work

Although I had come to look at the flooring, which was pretty bad because of the way it had been fitted, it was the staircase that made my jaw drop to the floor.

The house was newly built and the flooring had been laid before the screed had dried out, so it was cupping and chipping. I noticed that the beading around the edge was not run-of-the-mill but had been made from plywood, machined so that the veneer layers were prominently visible. I’d never seen the like before.

Then the coffee table in the lounge caught my eye. It, too, was end-on plywood, which had been painstakingly bonded and then turned. The quality of the plywood was exceptional, so there were no gaps or knots in the veneer layers and the maker had been able to produce a very fine surface finish.

I commented to the customer on its quality and she said ‘Oh, that’s only the first piece of his we bought. Come and look at this!’

She showed me her staircase. It had a

straight section at the top that turned through 90degrees in a spiral at the bottom, with two elliptical bullnose double steps at the bottom. And the whole thing was made of end-grain plywood: the rails, the stringers (including the curved sections), the newel post and even the risers.

Then the customer took me into her

It was outstanding craftsmanship

kitchen and showed me a kitchen island with end-grain doors and carcases. It was only then that I noticed that all the doors and skirting boards had been made to match.

‘It was all done by the same guy who made the coffee table. He said he could do the doors and kitchen units, then when he’d supplied these he said he’d always wanted to do a staircase and asked if he could do this special one for me,’ she said. ‘I don’t think he charged me anything like its real cost.’

I cannot begin to imagine the time that the maker had invested to produce such amazing work, and the customer was not forthcoming about the price she had paid, but I suspect it was enough to have bought a sizeable house on the nearby estate.

I’ve never seen an add-on sale like it – from one coffee table. It’s clearly worth doing your best even with the little things.

Visit: www.richard-renouf.com

Richard Renouf is an independent furnishings consultant

The coffee table caught my eye

Diamond

Diamond

Always a trailblazer when it comes to branding, Associated Weavers reinvents the in-store display & brings an experience unseen in the flooring business. With traditional samples and an intuitive digital module, Invictus® luxury vinyl flooring invites the customer on a fun-todo purchasing journey.

Time for a spring clean

THE RETAILER Fludes Carpets

It sounds a bit daft to talk about spring cleaning in early October, but making space for new ranges is always an interesting and thought-provoking time.

If I identify an existing range for the hit list, some of the sales staff will say: ‘Don’t lose that – it’s one of our bestsellers.’

A quick look at the sales analysis reveals the truth: no sales of that product. But sometimes I get it wrong and they say: ‘Look at those numbers – we don’t want to get rid of that one.’

The objective is to ensure that we have the right mix of products on show, and at the right prices. It also makes the sales staff more keenly aware of their products.

The suppliers’ representatives do play their part in this process. They can point to national and local trends in sales and will also suggest that a particular range should have a more prominent position. They are generally quick to tell us if we are

overpriced and this is certainly a great help.

I think it’s true to say that most independent retailers have too many ranges on show or being rested. They are supplied at a significant cost to the suppliers, so sometimes we have to say ‘no thanks’ when we look at new ranges. Sometimes less is better than more – it is just a matter of getting the right carpets on show. Our main principle is that every product has to buy its place on display with the sales level that it produces.

When choosing ranges we start by identifying the top sellers that we must have and then allow for the new ranges to come in and be merchandised. Then we take a look at those that are left. It is always a good idea to check the cost price and your selling price, as a range with a low gross profit return could be substituted with a similar product that can deliver a larger gross profit.

It’s the end of the line for ranges on the hit list

When we do a refresh of the ranges on show, we look to group each of the product types together. For example, with carpet we break this down to wool products and man-made products, and Berbers/loops we display in price order with the cheapest nearest to the front door and the dearest towards the back of the store. We then look at the colours and try to create an inviting look.

When we have finished merchandising, we check that we have the prices right and that the samples are brushed and displayed correctly.

It does add a lot of extra work keeping the shop well dressed, but it will be rewarded by increasing the sales levels. Think about your customers and look at your store: you only have one chance to make a good first impression, so make sure they get the right one.

Andy Laird, Fludes Carpets md

Introducing new ranges is an opportunity to re-examine what is on the floor and if it is performing, says our correspondent

Habberley Ridge, Rainy Day

Making progress

Nanimarquina has become climate neutral

Throughout its history, rug producer

Nanimarquina has been environmentally aware. In 2013, it incorporated the use of Eco-Sheen and Jutex, both biodegradable, chemical-free products, into its cleaning process. Its latest sustainability milestone is becoming climate neutral certified, as part of its commitment to a zero-emissions future.

Having developed a measurement programme, it has set an annual plan to continue reducing CO2 emissions. In addition, to achieve zero net emissions, it has put in place a carbon-offsetting plan, which entails a raft of independent projects audited by Gold Standard.

Located in India, these initiatives prove the highest environmental

integrity as well as contributing to the local economy. They include a 20MW biomass power plant in the state of Chhattisgarh. This sustainable energy project generates electricity using rice husks produced by local communities.

By replacing the fossil energy source with a renewable one, both waste and CO2 emissions are reduced. In addition to its positive environmental impact, the initiative provides the community with other benefits, such as access to a firstaid centre and educational programmes.

More than a million people a year in India die from inhaling harmful cooking fumes, while open fires contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The project supplies biogas facilities to 12,000

farming families, improving their health in addition to reducing the time spent on household chores and finding firewood.

The company has also begun a process that will allow it to continue deepening its knowledge of the environmental impact of its products and processes.

Through a combination of internal resources and external consultants, it is launching various initiatives, including environmental impact studies of the different product categories. These will allow the company to:

• k now in detail where its main impacts are felt, in a quantified way, so it can introduce sustainable design strategies to alleviate or improve them;

• study the impact of logistics, at the level of both packaging and transport;

• calculate the carbon and water footprints of the products, and

• continue aligning the company’s actions with global development objectives and continue working on its transparency and environmental communication to improve the knowledge regarding its products and their impact, for customers, distributors, suppliers and other agents in its chain of values.

Visit: www.nanimarquina.com

The company is supporting schemes in India

Biomass power plant

Hoop back

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

Four bar Hexham

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

Hexham Eight bar

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

Windsor Hoop Carver

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

Back in business

71 years after it first opened, CW Harris is again a flooring store

In 1945, Charles ‘Charlie’ Harris returned to Peckham, south London after serving in the army. During the war he had risen through the ranks to become a major, and won the Military Cross for action in Wildeshausen in April 1945, later presented by Field Marshal Montgomery.

After struggling to find work he became a professional boxer, and by 1949 he had saved enough money to open a stall in Peckham market selling lino – before the war he had worked in his elder brother Tom’s lino store in Deptford. In 1951 he opened CW Harris at 101 Peckham High Street.

By 1959, when he died, he had built up the company to three stores, plus the market stall, leaving his widow Ruth and son Philip to run the business.

Fast-forward through Harris Carpets, Harris Queensway and Carpetright to now, and a week before Lord

Lord Harris and Lady Pauline were presented with a print chronicling his life by Peckham mural artist Vic Lee. A larger version is featured in the store.

CW Harris originally opened in 1951

Harris’s 80th birthday on 15 September, 101 Peckham High Street officially became Tapi’s latest store. It is also its smallest at just 333sqft, and houses a training centre in the basement.

Lord Harris told Interiors Monthly that

he recalled climbing the (now gone) spiral staircase to the first floor where the carpets were kept – which didn’t help their condition when they were brought down – and running up and down the narrow stairs to the basement. He also

talked about being scared of his task of taking down the rugs that were displayed outside the front of the store as he had to climb up above the store’s signage to reach them.

That signage has now resumed its position, with an awning proclaiming ‘A local business since 1951.’

‘When, out of the blue, we had the opportunity to re-open our family’s first ever store, it felt like the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to my father’s remarkable career,’ says Martin Harris, Tapi retail md. ‘It’s a really, really small space, so we decided to turn it into the most digitally advanced flooring store in the country.

‘It’s allowed us to showcase what we have learnt from the way customers act online in a real-world environment an approach that we are taking into all our stores. Customers love the look and feel of the store. They are both surprised and excited to see that it has the full range of samples – in smaller sizes for ease – plus mood boards and digital tools to help them to visualise their options.’

The store outlines the chain’s ethos

24 Interiors Monthly October 2022 RETAIL Lord Harris said he was determined to reach 100

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‘Peckham represents a perfect marriage of the physical and the digital customer experience for Tapi. It’s also a really important celebration of family; we’re embracing history and the heritage of our brand by implementing a most forward-thinking digital experience

where it all started,’ says James Sturrock, Tapi ceo. ‘By acting on the learnings from our digital and instore teams we have delivered a store that we believe represents the future of retail. Our Peckham store represents our drive to ensure the very best possible customer

experience across all our channels.’.

At a presentation to mark his then forthcoming birthday Lord Harris spoke about his involvement with retail, his school academies and charitable work.

‘It’s been a great life. Pauline has been a fantastic wife – without her I couldn’t have done it. I want to be here for another 20 years. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it and I’ve tried my best. And we’ve been a success. And we want to be more successful: we’re going to have more schools with better results, and that’s what we’re going to do with the shops: we’ve got motivated staff, we’ve got fantastic people, but we’ve a lot to do.

‘We’re going to take market share. Business is going to be difficult but we are going to take market share because we are a team. We are the Harris family team of carpets and the Harris family team of schools. I want every school in this country to give every child the best education possible, because they only get one chance at a good education.

‘All do well, all enjoy life, all have fun and most importantly all keep in good health. I am going to be here in 20 years’ time, I’m determined.’

Lord Harris aged 15

The store features a time line of Lord Harris’s life

Be smart

Modularity, cocooning and curves combine with Standalto

Most modular sofa systems are angular affairs, with clean lines and a pared-back look. Edra has no truck with this. With Standalto, it demonstrates that modularity – and the options this brings – can very happily work with softness and curves.

Standalto’s structure retains the fundamental element of the ‘smart cushion’, a system of joints inside the backrest and armrests that is a real engineering jewel. Thanks to this mechanism, backrests and armrests

lose any stiffness. They can be shaped as desired, while sitting comfortably, with a simple, light pressure – low, high, oblique or wrap-around.

The variety of shapes available and the depth of the seats give the possibility

Standalto offers a plethora of shapes than can work together

to create different compositions: linear, pure corner, open corner or free-plan solutions. Seats with open elements can be deeper and offer informal comfort and a freer use of the sofa, which can be enjoyed alone or in company.

‘The term “standard” comes from the Old French “estendart”, meaning banner or insignia. A standard is an accepted norm, a reference model to which one conforms so that it can be repeated later. With Standalto, Edra is adding a step up to the process of achieving an elevated standard,’ says designer Francesco Binfare.

‘The quest for fluffiness is an interesting adventure for me. Before foam rubber and polyurethane, sofas were fixed wooden structures with a frame that was designed. You cannot design the spring: you have to shape it. Hence the need to find a language for a material that has no language. I continue discovering the language of springs. I have acquired it in part but

there is still a lot to discover,’ he says.

‘Discovering this language means expressing its consistency in an aesthetic way. Appearance must be the essence

of the project, and this essence lies in the process. This is why I consider it essential to continue researching the “intelligent cushion”.

‘Someone has described me as a kind of archaeologist, digging deep into centuries to find something that belongs to us, which I call the “deep archetypes”. For me, the idea of freedom of movement and softness when it comes to sofas is an archetype. Standalto is a metamorphosis of Standard.

‘Working for a consequential idea is not an easy job. In fact, it is a much more difficult job, because that idea must have autonomy and a balance. You have to find a soul, an identity in something that already has many existing chromosomes. The object must respond to a semantic memory that is already there. But perhaps that is where its strength lies. I am working on an archetype,’ he concludes.

Visit: www.edra.com

Artisan mix

Call Salotti combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary style

Call Salotti was founded in 1975 and is driven by the spirit of innovation, using advanced environmentally friendly technology alongside traditional craftsmanship to manufacture upholstery in European leathers and modern and traditional British fabrics.

‘We bring our new interpretation of classic Italian style to the UK, already becoming popular all over the world. Artisanship is not compromised, as the skill of talented craftmasters makes innovative solutions possible by transforming upholstery into beautiful pieces to be admired,’ says Dino Bevilacqua, Call Salotti UK sales manager.

‘The contemporary collections offer the latest Italian design at its best, combining the finest of materials with stunning fabrics and a wide range of colours and textures of luxurious topgrain leathers. For both large or smaller pieces, mechanical or motorised options are available, in a choice of chairs, sofas and chaise longue options as well. The

bold design combinations allow the mixing of leather and fabric to compliment every home.

‘The traditional collections offer the greatest craftsmanship, with a range of wood-finish options and variations of style and size. The collections offer the perfect answer for family space – the common area where everything comes together, allowing you to create a living room that is a reflection of your life.’

The range of mechanical to motorised mechanisms includes full lift-and-tilt

with one, two and sometimes three smooth-action motors. ‘Being able to match a suite with lift action saves the compromise that is so often necessary,’ says Bevilacqua.

‘When comfort, flexibility and Italian style are called for, Call Salotti sofabeds offer fine materials and actions in a choice of materials, featuring slatted or metal frame sprung bases complete with flexible mattresses that fold neatly away. Nearly every collection also features accent pieces or matching accessories, with an occasional collection offering a selection of finely crafted pieces for every setting.

‘We ship to the UK almost every week from our factory near Florence, so an order does not need to be huge for delivery to most parts of the mainland to be arranged. We are manufacturing to order within six weeks and all Call Salotti furniture comes with our guarantee to ensure that it reaches our stockists in perfect condition.

‘Each of us has the power to affect the world in a positive way, which is what Call Salotti strives to achieve every day.’ Email: enquiries@callsalotti.com

Modus

Leroy

Ocean

Miami (left) and Mistral

Listening to customers

Modern motion sofas lead the way in La-Z-Boy’s British-made collection

La-Z-Boy UK is now manufacturing more ranges in the UK than ever before, with modern, off-the-floor motion furniture playing a key role in the collections.

Last year, it began manufacturing some of its ranges at its newly acquired factory in Lancashire. Up until that point,

La-Z-Boy’s sofas, recliners and chairs had been produced at facilities in China and Thailand as well as the UK.

Moving the focus of production to the UK has allowed the brand to better control the lead times for in-demand models as the company is less reliant on

foreign imports and international shipping. It is also an environmentally conscious move as each piece of furniture in the Made in Britain collection has a much shorter distance to travel from the factory to the end user.

JonesLawton

34 Interiors Monthly October 2022 Bartelli

Off-the-floor motion models have played an important part in the collections being produced at La-Z-Boy’s UK factory. With visible legs, these pieces are a move away from the traditional and iconic recliner people often picture when they hear the brand’s name.

Off-the-floor designs give the appearance of being more compact. The visible legs lift the piece, making it seem lighter and more elegant. The modern style also suits properties with contemporary or mid-century inspired interiors. As they are motion sofas rather than recliners, they can be placed closer to a wall, making them ideal for smaller living spaces. The back of these chairs and sofas does not tilt backwards in the same way as a standard recliner.

Trevor Hailes, La-Z-Boy int ernational merchandising director, says the company is responding to consumer demand for high-quality pieces that are designed and manufactured in the UK.

‘As a brand we are always looking to produce collections that meet the needs of our customers. Highly publicised issues with the global supply chain in recent years have fuelled a growing appetite for goods that are produced in the UK and benefit from the advantage of British craftmanship. Our new off-thefloor collections are also more accessible to those with smaller homes who may have ruled out buying a traditional La-ZBoy recliner due to lack of space.’

The Made in Britain collection includes Bartelli, which features classic fabric

upholstered pieces in a choice of a motion or a static model. The button detailing and wooden legs add an element of timeless style and the range includes two-seater and three-seater sofas, a love seat, a swivel accent chair and a customisable corner group.

Items are available in a wide range of colours, accompanied by scatter cushions in matching or contrasting shades. Customers can also choose a banquette stool or storage ottoman.

The online configurator gives customers the opportunity to visualise how the different fabric finishes and colourways will look. They can see whether their choice will work well in their home using the augmented reality ‘View in your room’ feature.

The generously proportioned Castello has strong lines and comfortable, supportive seats. Available in a range of premium fabrics and attractive colourways, Castello is a motion model with thin wooden legs that lift the piece away from the floor.

Another British-made La-Z-Boy product range which has recently become available to retailers in the UK is Lawton, which has statement curved arms and a contemporary silhouette.

The factory in Lancashire is also producing a number of new fabric La-Z-Boy recliners, which have a more traditional to-the-floor look. Unlike the motion ranges, these come with a manual recline option, ideal for customers who prefer a non-powered recliner. In addition, all the British-made sofas come with scatter cushions in a contemporary colour.

One of the traditional recliners is Baxter, which is available as a two-seater or three-seater sofa with a high back design, or customers can choose a curved sofa, spacious enough for large families to enjoy. The range also includes a love seat, armchair and footstool.

Collins prioritises comfort with foam and fibre cushioning for a supportive sit and a back you can sink into. Meanwhile, the Jones range combines the comfort of a traditional La-Z-Boy recliner with a more refined silhouette suited to modern homes.

La-Z-Boy is now working on further expanding the UK collection of products, with plans to launch more ranges at the January Furniture Show in 2023. Visit: www.la-z-boy.co.uk

Castello

Baxter

Bartelli - Timeless design to make a real statement in your living space with its button detailing and elegant wood legs. Choose from power recline or static options across a three piece suite, love seat, swivel accent chair and customisable corner group all with contrasting or matching buttons and scatter cushions.

Bartelli

The best

The 2022 Bed Industry Awards saw the introduction of new categories and retail doubles

l Dreams again scooped National Bed Retailer of the Year. The judges cited that the chain overcame a different set of challenges, with evidence of some excellent work supporting and building relationships with NBF brands. Dreams, which recently joined the Tempur Sealy family, demonstrated a continued excellent performance from a top and bottom-line perspective and was praised for its marketing, particularly in supporting ParalympicsGB as its official brand sponsor.

Fabb Furniture and Furniture Village were finalists.

l Mattress Online was crowned Online Bed Retailer of the Year for a fourth successive year. The judges recognised

its excellent achievements, from launching a new website to increasing average order value and conversions. Mattress Online has also grown its team by 14% and successfully launched its omnichannel strategy by acquiring its first bricks-and-mortar stores. Mattress Next Day and Simba Sleep were finalists

l The first new award, the NBF Small Retail Champion of the Year category was awarded to north Wales retailer Now to Bed, which stocks entirely NBF-approved brands. With a new 8,000sqft flagship store in Rhyl, website and additional warehouse, the judges praised the retailer’s great improvement in margins and sales growth. Alongside

strong customer satisfaction evidenced in over 770 five-star Trust Pilot reviews, Now to Bed also invested in its staff with increased factory visits to suppliers and an improved fleet of delivery vehicles. Linthorpe Beds and Prestige Beds were finalists.

l Glasswells, a newcomer to the NBF’s retailer scheme, took home the NBF Large Retail Champion of the Year award. Described by the judges as ‘one the finest furniture retailers, not just in the UK but maybe all of Europe,’ Glasswells proudly promotes its NBF Retail Champion status and is a supporter of many NBF-approved brands. Sustainability and staff development are high on its agenda too, with the

NBF’s Introduction to Beds course now a key part of bedding staff’s induction. Sussex Beds was runner-up.

l The Power of Sleep by Dreams, in partnership with Team GB and ParalympicsGB, won the NBF’s first Best Marketing Campaign award. In less than a year, Dreams, with its top athlete ambassadors, became the brand most associated with ParalympicsGB by its target audience, and the second most associated with Team GB. Its social media reached 35.5million people and the Dream Team product range now accounts for a significant amount of mattress sales volume. Linthorpe Beds and Mattress Online were finalists.

l Glasswells was the winner of the new Outstanding Bed Store of the Year The NBF marketing committee produced a shortlist for this award, which was then mystery-shopped by an agency to reveal the winner. From exceptional kerb appeal and immaculate presentation of products to merchandising and excellent

product knowledge, Glasswells’ flagship shone as a store that truly knows its products, its customers and what is required to support staff to deliver the best possible service. Bradfords of Evesham and Housing Units of Manchester were finalists.

l Harrison Spinks was named Bed Manufacturer of the Year. With wellestablished sustainability credentials, the manufacturer has built further on these in the past year, with initiatives ranging from product-related innovation to tangible end-of-life processes. From a high base, Harrisons Spinks has also found growth with key independent retailers in the UK and successfully expanded its international horizons. Sleepeezee and GNG Komfi were finalists.

l The Bed Product of the Year was won by Sealy UK for its Elevate Ultra Turing Plush mattress, part of the Sealy Posturepedic collection. The mattress is based on simple skeletal symmetry, keeping the body’s posture parallel to

the sleep surface so that the hips and shoulders are aligned and the spine is straight yet perfectly relaxed. The judges acknowledged that the product draws on the heritage of Sealy UK, using a lot of small innovations that come together to make a bed that does not just feel great but looks truly fantastic and is sure to be a huge success.

Harrison Spinks was runner-up for its New Dawn Collection.

l Neil Steed from Shire Beds clinched the first NBF Member Sales Agent/ Rep of the Year Award, which shines a spotlight at an individual level. Described by Shire Beds as ‘the father of the industry in the agent community’, Steed has worked in the bedding trade for 50 years, driving more than 1.5 million miles and booking more than £100m worth of orders. He is known for his quote: ‘One always needs a good mattress and a good pair of shoes because if you’re not in one, you’re in the other.’ Louise Hardy, Shire Beds; Graham Riggall, Deluxe Beds and John Saunders, Sleepeezee were finalists.

l Component Supplier of the Year was John Cotton Nonwovens. With impressive advances made to help its customers and the environment –alongside a truly next-level foam replacement product – John Cotton, described by judges as ‘West Yorkshire’s finest’, continues to demonstrate a world-class approach to developing the filling solutions of tomorrow. Wolf Components was runner-up.

l Hypnos won Component Product of the Year for its Himalaya Nettle, Cotton and Kapok Fibre Comfort Layer. Completely new to the bedding market, this product demonstrates that comfort layers can be effectively and sustainably derived from nature, making it suitable for vegan products or mixing with other protein-based natural fibres such as wool. The judges acknowledged that the product drives value for the community that produces it and for

the manufacturer and retail partners that invest in this unique comfort story.

‘Now in its 13th year, the NBF Bed Industry Awards is a pivotal event in the bed industry calendar and a real opportunity to recognise the businesses and individuals who have gone above

JUDGES

l National Bed Retailer, Online Retailer, and the Small and Large NBF Retail Champion: Andrew Kidd, Interiors Monthly editor, Bernard Eaton, Greenwood Retail md and Richard De Melim, Furnishing Report editor.

l Marketing: Phil Bennett, PIP Creative founder and Richard McMurrough, The Propaganda Agency director.

l Bed Product and Component Product: Steve Adams, Mattress Online md; Jerry Cheshire, former Surrey Beds owner;

and beyond during the past 12 months. Congratulations to all the worthy winners and finalists and those who put themselves forward to be judged,’ says Jim Gerrety, NBF president, who presented the awards along with David Miller, Sleepeezee commercial director.

Visit: www.bedshow.co.uk

Sue Davies, Sue Davies Design Solutions founder; Paul Farley, Furniture News editor and Rebecca Maloy, AIS beds, cabinet and semi-fitted bedroom cabinet selector.

l Bed Manufacturer of the Year: Tony Attard, Furniture Makers’ Company master; David Fitzsimons, Oakdene Hollins director and Richard De Melim.

l Sales Agent/Rep: Steve Adams, Jerry Cheshire and Rebecca Maloy.

l Component Supplier: Tony Attard, Paul Farley and David Fitzsimons.

l Broadcaster Colin Murray hosted the awards

Elevated

Winning Bed Product of the Year is ‘first step in a new era’

Sealy UK is celebrating its win at the NBF Bed Industry Awards, which saw its Elevate Ultra Turing Plush mattress named as Bed Product of the Year. Part of its Sealy Posturepedic collection, the mattress is based on simple skeletal symmetry, keeping the body’s posture parallel to the sleep surface. This means that the sleeper’s hips and shoulders are aligned and the spine is straight whilst perfectly relaxed.

The mattress is packed with new, exclusive sleep technology, including the patented AlignSupport coil, a sense and respond spring system. ‘It starts by sensing your shape as your body relaxes into the mattress. The unique geometry of the spring then follows up with deepdown, consistent support that does not diminish over time. The spring unit is twice tempered for added durability and is completely unique to us,’ says David Trimble, Sealy UK general manager.

Working collaboratively with the spring system, Sealy UK also has its patented UniCased XT edge support. ‘Encompassing the entire edge, the tailored keys lock into the AlignSupport system to create greater stability and extend the sleep surface. The coilinspired air channels also offer greater breathability and a secure seating edge. UniCased XT is supported by BasePlank. Like anything in life, we all need firm foundations and the Sealy Posturepedic BasePlank is exactly that. It’s an integral piece of the puzzle that underpins the entire mattress, working with the

AlignSupport spring system to provide true support and durability.’

A MemorySense ComfortCore is placed in the centre third of the mattress to target the hips and lower back for the ultimate pressure relief. InfiniLux – an exclusive premium foam – is followed by a double layer of Geltex foam, providing breathability and long-lasting comfort.

‘Not only should a mattress feel good but it should look good too. The textiles have been expertly designed to stand out and create a look that is

unique to Sealy, complete with SmarTex and ProShield for a clean, comfortable night’s rest. SmarTex is designed to wick away moisture and regulate the sleep climate, whilst ProShield keeps allergens at bay and is endorsed by Allergy UK,’ says Trimble.

‘To be recognised with this award feels like the first step in a new era for Sealy UK. Special thanks to everyone associated with every aspect of this award entry. It’s a great result and a big win for us all.’

Visit: www.sealy.co.uk

First

John Cotton Nonwovens has created awards history

John Cotton Nonwovens is a leading supplier of bed mattress components and has won multiple awards for its innovative and forward-thinking solutions over many years. At the NBF Bed Industry Awards it became the first Component Supplier of the Year winner.

This award reflected the developments the company has made over the past year. This includes the launch of the next generation in its Platinum brand series, Platinum 3D, which it exhibited at the Bed Show. With a three-dimensional supportive structure, it has been engineered to provide unparalleled comfort and support due to its unique and technically advanced blend of spiral crimped conjugate fibres, providing multi-directional support. Platinum 3D has all the benefits of Platinum Eco, which won Component Product of the Year in 2021: with long-lasting performance, a favourable micro-climate, free from FR chemicals and made from recycled fibres, it can also be recycled at end of life into an alternative product.

Actiflex was launched this year as a product that dispensed with the mechanism of needling in the production process, and serves as a component that can be placed in three areas within a mattress: as a border felt, an insulator and corner protectors. This allows customers to streamline the number of components ordered and eliminates the risk of needle contamination.

In partnership with its sister company,

John Cotton has introduced a closedloop strategy, whereby industrial waste generated from producing pillows and duvets is re-fibreised in-house and upcycled into components for bed mattresses such as insulators and comfort layers. It is currently upcycling 10tons a week, which would have previously been disposed of.

The John Cotton laboratory recently extended its UKAS scope to include BS EN 1957:2012 – BEDS AND MATTRESSES (Determination of functional characteristics and assessment criteria), providing additional value to its customers who need their products

independently tested and verified. Technical training on all aspects of furniture testing and NBF requirements is now available either as bespoke in-house training at customer premises or general administrative help.

During the past six months John Cotton has been very supportive in its donations to the Ukraine, sending a significant number of pillows and duvets to those in need. It also teamed up with Airsprung to provide the components for mattresses it is sending to the country for those who have lost their homes.

Visit: www.johncotton-nonwovens.co.uk

The company has invested in innovation and testing

A round dozen

Sleepeezee had 12 new models and was an awards finalist at the Bed Show

‘It was fantastic to be back at the Bed Show at Telford and to have the opportunity to meet up with our retail partners, old friends and colleagues again at the industry’s biggest trade show. The entire Sleepeezee team worked extremely hard in presenting a truly excellent stand, which remained busy throughout and we received great feedback on all new product launches,’ says Amy Curtis, Sleepeezee head of marketing.

The stand featured 12 new models. The upgraded Cooler collection Cool Rest is made up of three models featuring a Cool Touch cover and TemperatureSmart technology, both proven to reduce body temperature during the night. TemperatureSmart technology situated just under the mattress cover helps conduct excess heat away from the body naturally and continuously. The cooling strips work across the entire mattress, helping maintain that ‘just right’ temperature, all night long.

Alongside the new Cooler Collection, Sleepeezee also refreshed its backcare range with Ortho Bespoke: a range of three beds featuring luxurious natural fillings and offering a firmer level of comfort for those who prefer that extra bit of support.

Showcased alongside these two collections were new ranges based on memory foam, natural and latex fillings

stories, which have been designed exclusively for its independent bricksand-mortar retail partners, offering a wide range of products available only in-store. This is designed to help retailers differentiate their ranges from the online partners.

Sleepeezee was also pleased to have achieved finalist status in the Bed Manufacturer of the Year category of the NBF Bed Industry Awards.

‘All of the team at Sleepeezee have worked incredibly hard over the past 12 months to ensure our service levels and lead times remain consistent and products are made to our highest standards, as well as developing new products and supporting our retail partners. We’re pleased to have been recognised as a finalist in this category and will continue to invest in and build the Sleepeezee brand,’ says Curtis. Visit: www.sleepeezee.com

Cool Rest features a Cool Touch cover and TemperatureSmart technology

Quality comfort, naturally

Strength to strength

Investment is bearing fruit for GNG Group

Over the past few years, British mattress manufacturer GNG Group has made major inroads in becoming recognised as a leader in its field. It was recently proud to be one of three finalists in the Bed Manufacturer of the Year category of the Bed Industry Awards, alongside Sleepeezee and winner Harrison Spinks.

The Bed Show was a real success for GNG. The group welcomed existing and new customers to its stand showcasing its three popular mattress brands: Komfi, Sonlevo and Nectar Sleep.

Since the relaunch of the Komfi brand in 2021, GNG has seen a 70% uplift in sales. Its innovative eco collections replace traditional foams with alternative, more sustainable comfort fillings that aim to keep end-of-life mattresses out of landfill and direct them back into the recycling chain.

The GNG portfolio includes the Sonlevo TrueGel range, designed to offer greater support, advanced pressure relief and a cooler night’s sleep.

As an approved non-direct supplier to the NHS for more than 30 years, GNG has become known for quality and innovation. It invests in the latest foam design and production equipment, supported by its own product development team, with all product design and testing carried out in-house.

Seeking environmentally friendly solutions is also a focus for the group, which recycles foam offcuts and uses reconditioned Ecofoam where possible. Having achieved carbon-neutral

certification in 2019, it was the first UK manufacturer to produce a carbon-neutral mattress. As a member of the NBF, GNG signed the Pledge for Our Planet in May, further demonstrating its commitment to becoming a more sustainable business and reducing its products’ impact on the environment.

This year, GNG made a £1.75m investment in regenerating a dormant site in Normanton, West Yorkshire, into a newly refurbished 40,000sqft factory and warehouse, dedicated to its fastgrowing mattress division. It will massively increase capacity, quadrupling production.

GNG’s loyal and skilled 100-strong team demonstrated its unswerving

support, keeping the factories running at full speed during the pandemic to meet the demands of the NHS, supplying some 16,000 mattresses. In March, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare and GNG joined forces to donate desperately needed beds and mattresses via MEDAID-4KIDS to support victims of war in Ukraine.

GNG has proved able to meet demand from UK companies seeking British suppliers following global supply-chain issues. Given its progress, the company is in a strong position to work with retailers over the coming months, continuing to provide fast and efficient lead times, strengthened by the additional capacity of the new factory.

Visit: www.gnggroup.co.uk

Stuart Hibbert, GNG Group director collects the company’s award

GNG was the first UK manufacturer to produce a carbon-neutral mattress

Easy classic

Moduleo LayRed Herringbone offers design and faster fitting

Moduleo has launched a collection of engineered vinyl floors that look to reinvent the classic herringbone style. The Moduleo LayRed Herringbone range features five wood designs in 12 colours and brings a modern spin to a flooring shape that has been around for centuries.

The timeless feel and geometric design of LayRed Herringbone can add a splash of grandeur and warmth to any room. The new styles join the existing Moduleo LayRed range, which consists of wood-effect and stone-effect floors in two plank sizes and two tile formats, as well as a range of colours and designs.

New for the Moduleo LayRed Herringbone collection is the Unizip click system, boasting smarter clicking for faster placing. A herringbone pattern often calls for two types of planks to place it, but with the Unizip click system the pattern is created with just one plank that clicks both ways, making it faster and easier.

Moduleo LayRed engineered vinyl floors feature a strong core and are manufactured to look and feel like real wood or stone. The flooring combines design, strength and comfort. It feels soft, dampens sound and features integrated underlay, as well as offering waterproof properties and a premium protective layer, making it even more resistant to scratches and stains.

‘Herringbone is a style that has truly stood the test of time and is now more popular than ever. The design has been seen across the world for centuries and this year we’ve developed a collection to offer it as part of our award-winning engineered vinyl flooring range,’ says Alison McLaughlan, IVC Group head of marketing UK and Eire.

‘Herringbone styles can transform a space and will bring a touch of class to a room. The new floors offer the classic look but feature practical benefits such as easy maintenance, a stronger protective layer than

ever before and all-important sound and heat insulation.’

Classic Oak, Laurel Oak, Blackjack Oak, Sierra Oak and Country Oak make up

the Moduleo LayRed Herringbone collection, meaning there is a colour for any interior design taste.

Tel: 01332 851 500

Moduleo LayRed Herringbone Blackjack Oak 22210

IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO MAKE IT MODULEO ®

and

The a ordable choice in luxury vinyl flooring, Moduleo ® o ers an impressive and inspiring choice of designs and colours. Providing the style, durability and ease of maintenance customers want, plus the extensive support retailers value and appreciate. Choosing Moduleo ® makes a lot of sense all round.

Discover more at moduleo.co.uk

Out in the cold

The latest designs work just as well in winter

Costuras

Patoso and Calcetin

Plisy Up

Diabla has elected to show its 2022 collection across all four seasons, demonstrating the suitability of the pieces throughout the year.

Debuted at Habitat Valencia last month, Valentina Up takes us to Perito Moreno, in the south of Argentine

Patagonia, where an ice skyline and a virgin forest become a hypnotic spectacle.

Trip journeys to the frozen lake in Iceland’s Kerid Crater, while Plisy and Plisy Up visit Saint-Sauveur in Québec.

Lilly finds itself at home in the quarry

of Carrara in the Apuan Alps in Tuscany, while Costuras heads to western Greenland.

With Patoso and Calcetin we are returned again to Iceland, this time to the caves of the Vatnajökull glacier.

Visit: www.diablaoutdoor.com

Lilly and (right) Trip Valentina Up

Protecting the investment

Consumers remain keen to protect their purchases

‘At times of economic hardship, it is easy to assume that customers are not willing to pay more to protect their purchases. This has not been our experience over the years. There is a danger of falling into the trap of being reluctant to offer any additional products in case the main sale is jeopardised,’ says Martin Napper, Castelan ceo.

‘Our data shows that while customers may buy less product, conversion rates of protection plans rarely differ, as there is an understanding that protecting the investment is more important than ever when money is tight.

‘In recent years, we have committed to expanding the cover our protection plans offer. This has been driven partly by our own data around declined claims and complaints but also by the need to demonstrate to the FCA that our product is compliant and offers good value to the customer.

‘Our protection plans now offer 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.

‘The most unexpected things can happen that mean a protection plan truly does protect the investment: as this customer found out and reported

in their five-star Trustpilot review: “Bleached leather stain caused by dog flea treatment: after flea treatment bleached the leather sofa we thought it was damaged beyond repair. The technician from Castelan arrived and repaired it within the hour – £1,000s saved, no new suite required. Thoroughly recommend.”

‘One of the key components to our success is our Furniture Care Network. They visit customers in support of our warranty schemes but also act independently to inspect, report or

repair on behalf of many retailers and manufacturers. Having this network of skilled technicians allows us to deliver on the promises you have made at the point of sale and ensures that more furniture remains delivered and more customers remain delighted.

‘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

Damage caused by flea treatment was soon fixed by the Furniture Care Network technician

Shoppers want protection from accidents

Feeling optimistic

Working together is paying dividends

In a time of uncertainty, the Guardsman UK team is optimistic about the future.

‘We are seeing an increase in the number of retailers who want to partner with us, not only from a furniture insurance perspective but also from a products and services perspective as well,’ says Zeyn Kassam, Guardsman UK head of sales and business development. ‘We are certain it’s down to our approach: we see it as a partnership, continuing to work together to find a solution.’

The Guardsman UK team has spent 2022 focusing its time on investing in new ways to support retailers and is excited to be introducing a new range of products to use in the home, not just specifically for furniture. By forming great relationships with suppliers, it has been able to formulate new products, including room sprays and high-end carpet fragrances. In addition, it has recognised areas that need even stronger focus and is pleased to be expanding its account management team by four.

‘We know that the focus on training is key, so the introduction of four new

field-based roles is an exciting time for us,’ says Paul Jennings, Guardsman UK national development manager.

The new recruits will devote their time to supporting and teaching sales staff using fresh and innovative techniques, whilst maintaining compliance and at the same time continuing to ensure that the e-learning platform is utilised and available for whenever staff need a little more help.

‘By introducing these roles, it allows the rest of the sales team to focus on retailers, sharing with them our strategic approach, new initiatives and cementing our relationships,’ says Jennings.

Following the successful launch of its customer portal last year – which allows consumers to log a claim and receive updates in real time – Guardsman is also launching other initiatives to improve the customer experience even further.

‘Everyone is busy, so making things easier and quicker, and listening to what our customers want, is essential. My team is always looking at improvements and making the customer’s experience with

Guardsman successful, and we are thrilled to be launching some new initiatives very soon,’ says Rob Dyer, Guardsman UK md.

‘This is in addition to our talented network of repair technicians and Safeclean stain-removal technicians, who continue to hone and develop their skills to keep up with the latest finishes and trends. Without their skill and dedication we would not be able to boast about our impressive first-visit fix rate, which means the consumer experience is a positive one, allowing them to use their furniture again in a shorter timescale and without too much disruption.

‘It’s very much a collaborative approach here, recognising areas that need investment and improvement, and working together to make it a success for everyone. There’s no question that the latter part of 2022 is going to be challenging, but we are confident that we are headed for a positive 2023 and cannot wait to share our journey.’

Visit: www.guardsman.co.uk

Delivery matters

Shoppers demand more information on their delivery and there is no reason they shouldn’t have it

‘“The final mile” is a phrase we see bandied about more and more in our industry. But what does it mean and is it important to furniture and bed retailers? The final mile is the last leg of a journey of goods from a transportation hub to the customer, or what we tend to call the customer delivery – a modern phrase for an age-old process. In the not-too-distant past we could all be much more casual

about deliveries to our customers: we took the order, gave an estimate of when the goods would hopefully arrive and told the customer we would call when we had their furniture. Everyone was happy with this. Of course, the customers were on the phone chasing their delivery a few weeks after they left the store, no matter how many weeks you told them the delivery would be! Cue endless inbound calls and tied-up sales staff,’ says Darren Lee, Ordorite business development director (UK).

Covid raised expectations around delivery. Whether it was a packet of seeds or a pair of trainers you bought online, retailers that were on their game were letting customers know when the goods were dispatched and due to be with them or that they might be delayed. Why should shoppers settle for less when it comes to furniture?

‘A good retail software package should facilitate excellent two-way communication. In the first place, when the customer leaves the store, they should have an easy way to track the progress of their order without having to pick up the phone: a link on their e-receipt that lets them know where in

the journey their order sits, for example. It should be easy for us to let that customer know if there’s going to be a delay. Imagine a container delay and with one click you could send a personalised text or email to every customer to let them know the date has been revised.

‘Your customer should be advised that their goods are in by text or email and have the option to make payment and book delivery via an online link on their e-receipt. Ordorite’s powerful algorithms use delivery zones, postcodes and vehicle capacity to facilitate this. Automated texts or emails can be set up to advise when goods are picked, trucks are loaded and goods are on delivery. The route can be planned automatically for optimum time and economy, whilst still considering those “must be last drop” requests. All of this on the delivery team’s mobile phones, including proof of delivery by digital signature or photo. When the customer signs, your system is updated in real time, marked as delivered, or if there’s any kind of issue, the service request can be generated by the delivery team.

‘With the right technology partner, the last mile should be a breeze.’

Visit: www.ordorite.com

Shoppers want to know the status of the delivery. Below left: The delivery team can have all the required information on their phone

Evaluation

Ensure your products meet the required standards

SATRA is an international centre of excellence for flammability, furniture and floorcoverings testing, training, consultancy and innovation.

Working to ISO 17025 and offering expert technical advice on UK, European and international standards, SATRA is the premier technical partner for retailers, suppliers, manufacturers and trade associations. SATRA conducts a wide range of testing and evaluation services to ensure products are safe, fit for purpose and meet industry standards.

Its leading experts in flammability testing can help you to navigate the standards and regulations, and provide technical support and guidance on regulatory changes on the horizon. SATRA recently held a joint industry furniture flammability seminar for members along with the NBF and BFM, to help businesses understand what they may need to consider in the future as the industry awaits a public consultation on the Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations.

SATRA is the technical partner for the NBF, providing technical support and information to NBF members on compliance-related matters for the

bed industry. Full support and technical advice are also provided on the NBF Code of Practice audit, a mandatory requirement for bed manufacturers to gain NBF membership.

Furniture testing can help to demonstrate the performance, compliance and safety of products. SATRA can test all types of furniture items, including mattresses, beds, tables, desks, cabinets, chairs, seating and many other products, either for physical performance as a finished product or through surface finish/raw material testing to ensure fitness for purpose.

SATRA offers high-capacity 24/7 chair fatigue testing. For leather and textile upholstery, it is experienced in the evaluation of colour fastness, tensile and tearing strength, seam slippage, abrasion, flexing and soiling resistance.

Seating and chair testing data can help to improve design and manufacturing techniques, as well as provide evidence of due diligence. The need to demonstrate adequate safety and appropriate fitness for purpose has become increasingly important commercially, with many buyers of domestic, contract and office products

insisting on seeing evidence of product testing and performance.

SATRA conducts a wide range of floorcoverings testing and evaluation, including physical, light reflectance, artificial light, flammability, chemical and slip resistance testing, to ensure that products are safe to use, fit for purpose and meet appropriate industry specifications.

A comprehensive floorcoverings testing and performance evaluation service is available for a wide range of flooring in both the domestic and commercial sectors, including LVT, modular multi-layer and textile floorcoverings.

Its floorcoverings experts can also provide UKCA assessment services. Visit: www.satra.com

SATRAsupporting you

SATRA’s furniture and floor coverings membership package is specifically tailored to meet the needs of these industries.

Membership provides businesses with a range of benefits such as bespoke technical support and advice through our technical team, helping businesses to understand current legislation and develop product specifications.

Also included are testing discounts, 20% of the annual subscription value returned in the form of vouchers and access to SATRA’s online Furniture & Floor Covering Hub, a go-to repository for the latest industry news, technical information on standards and regulatory requirements, as well as industry focussed features such as polls.

Colour matters

Abingdon Flooring had plenty of bolder choices at a unique show

With consumers no longer shying away from making bolder style choices in the home and sales indicating a resurgence in the demand for natural fibres, visitors to Abingdon Flooring’s stand at The Flooring Show were able to find plenty of options from a range of new carpets.

In a palette covering shades from pale beige and grey through to rich, statement-making hues, StainFree Caress and StainFree Finesse are aimed at retailers looking to get in on the move towards colour. Practical and hardwearing, they balance luxury and affordability through the home.

As the demand for natural qualities rises, a return in popularity for classic ‘natural’ looks such as Berber is expected. Abingdon Flooring proved ahead of the curve with its Wild Silk collection, which won Gold at the Flooring Innovation Awards. Made from luxurious and stain-resistant polyester, Wild Silk captures the flecked look of this sought-after style, thanks to a clever production technique that recreates the natural variations found in traditional Berber carpets. Each of Wild Silk’s 12 colours has been chosen to tie in with key colour trends.

The company also showed developments in the Wilton Royal

wool collection. Royal Windsor received a colour update for a more youthful and contemporary feel, while Royal Sovereign is a new 100% wool collection. With a colourbank inspired by nature, the carpet continues expansion of the family, providing improved choice as sales of wool carpets grow across the country.

Showing two different approaches to wool, Charter Berber Deluxe and Royal Charter Deluxe also made an appearance

on the stand. The 80/20 wool-rich blend of both ranges brings a more attainable wool carpet. With meltbond for heightened appearance retention, both styles come with a 12-year warranty. In Charter Berber Deluxe visitors found a yarn system that is the reason for a collection of 20 rustic colours and a carpet that’s the epitome of country style.

Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

Highlighting colour and performance was key

Green story

New products, environmental updates, investment and training were core to Associated Weavers’ presence

For Associated Weavers, The Flooring Show gave it the opportunity to update retailers on environmental progress, investment in the UK and its Academy.

The Sedna carpet range is now carbon neutral, from raw materials to finished carpet. Sedna is made with Econyl yarn, a regenerated polyamide that is superbly soft. Compared to a carpet with virgin polyamide, the carbon footprint is 70% lower as no new raw materials are used, only materials that were already in use. By using discarded fishing nets removed from the seas and oceans, which can then be converted to Econyl, Sedna also helps protect wildlife .

The remaining carbon output is offset by supporting the Kenya Agroforestry Project. This carbon-offsetting initiative aims to reduce deforestation by making agriculture more efficient and

climate-change proof, so helping the Kenyan farming community to build a sustainable future. The forests saved thanks to this project sequester 80,000tonnes of CO2 every year.

Sedna, and the Gaia range, use the ECO FusionBac textile backing made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles.

Being more environmentally friendly is not something new for Associated Weavers, or merely a response to consumer pressure: in 2003 it committed to the Flemish Covenant Energy Benchmarking scheme, which allowed companies to pinpoint where energy could be reduced and better used. Between 2015 and 2020 Associated Weavers cut its energy use by 24%.

There are 12,000 solar panels on the 5.5hectare roof area of its production plant in Ronse, Belgium. About

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three-quarters of the energy generated is used at the factory, representing 20% of the company’s total electricity consumption. This reduces CO2 emissions by 900tonnes a year.

Between 2015 and 2020, Associated Weavers managed to cut its waste by 27%, thanks to a policy of constantly looking for efficient solutions for the reuse and recycling of waste. Most of the waste that cannot be avoided is treated by specialised waste processors and recycled into fibres, textiles and

construction materials.

Water is an essential raw material at Associated Weavers, particularly for carpet printing. The company makes targeted investments and optimises production processes to reduce its water consumption sustainably. Raising awareness among employees contributes greatly to reducing the amount of water used. In 2020, the water needed per square metre of carpet was already 21% lower than in 2015.

Associated Weavers’ own biological

water purification installation purifies the company’s waste water. As a result, 95% of the contaminants in the water are removed. Furthermore, 25% of this purified waste water is not discharged but is reused for processing after undergoing additional physicochemical purification.

With pilot testing of additional innovative technologies ongoing, the company aims to increase water reuse by another 30% within five years.

Visit: www.carpetyourlife.com

l Associated Weavers’ Invictus LVT brand highlighted Invictus Parquet LVT, alongside carpets, designed to be easier and quicker to fit thanks to its one-plank click system.

There are two initial Invictus Parquet Click designs –Highland Oak and Divine Oak – and each is available in

three colourways: Classic, Roasted and Chocolate. Next year will see the offer expanded. There is a 0.55mm Scratchmaster top layer for protection and a 25-year wear warranty.

Visit: www.invictus.co.uk

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After being previewed during Flanders Flooring Week, Vivendi received its updated POS and new tagline: The Best A Home Can Get. The six ranges highlight the use of the iVivo yarn for bounce-back, durability, softness and ease of cleaning. Each range has a choice of 14 or 15 colours in 4m and 5m widths. Visit: www.vivendi-carpet.co.uk

l The company also highlighted the launch of the AW Academy in Halifax, which provides training courses in carpet and LVT for AW customers and their staff. The UK location makes it easier for retailers to gain the important knowledge as they no longer have to travel to Ronse for the courses. The programme begins with an insight into Associated Weavers, followed by training on how broadloom carpets and LVT are made, the benefits of both flooring products and how they are fitted. Customer experience, efficient in-store sales tools and the importance of colours and brands follow as the course looks to develop sales staff into ‘carpet and flooring champions’. Tel: 01422 431 100

AW Commercial (above and right) returned to the show for the second year

Associated Weavers is to make a major investment in its UK operation with a new distribution and cut-length centre. The 90,000sqft site in Northampton is intended to reduced delivery times to three to five days when it opens in early 2023. It will have three state-of-the-art cutting lines, a tailor-made sortation system, 11 loading bays and racking for almost 7,000 rolls and more than 3,000 pallets. The company will run its carpet cut-length operation and LVT business from the site, with Verhoek handling carpet deliveries and Dachser responsible for LVT.

‘The entire AW team are very excited about this acquisition. We are so pleased that we will be able to offer the delivery service that our customers deserve,’ says Gavin Pugh, Associated Weavers UK md.

Double act

Axminster and Cavalier showed the latest ranges at Harrogate

Axminster Carpets is a company with a proud tradition of making the world’s finest carpets for the most discerning clients, from King George III and Queen Charlotte to Queen Elizabeth II. With the highest definition traditional looms in the world, its highly skilled team continue to offer the finest carpet from its base in Devon. Proud to be a leading supplier of sustainable, woven carpet, Axminster’s British origins remain at its core, from sourcing to weaving.

The design world is in the midst of a wool renaissance. Consumers are realising the unique benefits of this wonderful fibre, and Axminster couldn’t be more excited. It has been working with the finest quality British wool for centuries, over which time it has learnt a thing or two about what makes wool so special. From its aesthetics to its eco-credentials – it is nature’s own high-performance fibre.

Axminster’s stocked ranges include Devonia, Moorland and Simply Natural, complemented by recent additions of The Velvet Collection and the new Cobble Weave. The woven-to-order collections consist of Hazy Days

(contemporary patterns); Myth & Moor (tartans and plaids) and the new Modern Classics collection, which features 14 designs, a kaleidoscope of animal print, geometrics, Greek keys and herringbone.

Taking pride of place on sister brand Cavalier Carpets’ stand was the awardwinning Snowdon, a British-made 55oz, 90% wool, 10% polyester, refined 1/8th gauge heather twist. It is made using clean white base yarns, which means

Cavalier has been able to create a sophisticated colour palette not usually seen in heathers.

It is available in 16 shades, 4m and 5m widths and has an extra heavy domestic rating. This carpet is flame retardant, moth resistant, the yarn is sustainable and hypoallergenic and it carries a 15-year wear warranty.

Visit: www.axminster-carpets.co.uk; www.cavaliercarpets.co.uk

At the centre

Balta returned to Harrogate with a story to tell

Balta made its return to The Flooring Show after it was acquired by Victoria in April as part of a £139m deal that also included the Balta brand, Balta Rugs and Captiqs.

The show saw the arrival of Soft Noble & Stripes and additions to the Woolmaster range in Prestige Twist.

Soft Noble & Stripes is part of the Stainsafe range of polypropylene carpets, with a 10-year wear warranty and in a mix of contemporary colours and coordinated stripes.

Being part of the Victoria group sees Prestige Twist made in the UK and is designed to meet an increased appetite for wool carpets. The 80/10/10 mix, 50oz range is available in 16 colours in 4m and 5m widths and will be introduced this month.

Early 2023 will see Woolmaster expanded with Prestige Design: a loop in three designs and six matching tones.

More than 10 new ranges are expected to be introduced in the coming year as the company breathes new life into some of its best-known brands such as

Made in Heaven, Eternity, Satino and Woolmaster.

‘Balta is right at the centre of the modern trends in carpet design and production and we have an ambitious

programme to build on our strengths in the months and years ahead,’ says Filip Poelman, Balta sales and marketing director.

Visit: www.baltagroup.com

Soft Noble in colour 935

Prestige Twist in colour 700

Second showing

BerryAlloc returned to Harrogate with plenty to share

With its high pressure floors, LVT, wood and laminate floors and wall panels on display at The Flooring Show, BerryAlloc underlined its portfolio and dynamic branding.

Exhibiting at Harrogate for the second time, BerryAlloc showed its intent to continue growth in the UK. Alongside the opening of a new London showroom, the brand’s attendance at the UK flooring industry’s biggest annual event comes as the company is looking to heighten activity in the retail and commercial markets.

‘We’ve experienced a solid period of growth over the past few years and in that time we have established excellent relationships with retailers across the UK. We’ve also worked hard to improve the UK availability of our products, establishing partnerships to make sure floors are readily available. We are now able to offer our high pressure floors, LVT, wood and laminate floors and walls direct from UK stock. Harrogate gave us the opportunity to bring these collections together to show how BerryAlloc brings product innovation and quality across multiple categories,’ says Scott Arundell, BerryAlloc sales director UK.

Collecting a Flooring Innovation Awards Gold at the show, Les Iconics is BerryAlloc’s new wood floor that lets the customer pick from an Aged or

Rustic finish in a range of tones, as well as Herringbone and Chevron laying patterns in a natural oiled oak.

To master the looks available in Les Iconics, BerryAlloc has taken traditional, hand-applied ageing techniques and translated them into modern machine production. The result is a parquet floor that has all the character and charm of aged oak, and can be produced on a large scale.

BerryAlloc also showed Pure, featuring the DreamClick installation system, and Style LVT, as well as its Ocean+ water-resistant floors and Chateau herringbone laminates. For

those working with more than just floors, its easy-fit wall panel systems suitable for wet rooms – Wall&Water and Kitchen Wall – were also on show.

Including a display of BerryAlloc’s largest ever planks in Grand Majestic, measuring 30cm x 240cm, high pressure floors took their place on the stand. With a highest-in-class AC6 wear layer and water-resistant, the range is the company’s answer to flooring for commercial environments, offering the look of wood but with the durability and ease of maintenance that make it a superb choice for high traffic locations.

Visit: www.berryalloc.com

grand majestic.

Celebrate the majesty of nature with our extra-long and super-wide planks. Designed & made in Norway, Grand Majestic represents the latest evolution in the progressive technology of BerryAlloc® High Pressure Floors. Merging trend shaping aesthetics with high performance, Grand Majestic is the pinnacle of our HPF innovation: the world’s strongest laminate floor in a plank of extraordinary dimensions that remains easy to fit and simple to care for.

Gaining ground

Carpet Recycling UK has increased support as it looks to inform the sector

showed interest in design for the circular economy and products made with recycled content. Smarter information is often needed to understand their waste streams. CRUK suggests that companies do a baseline study with their waste collector to find out what is happening to their textile flooring waste.

‘Gaining a detailed understanding of the process means we can provide bespoke advice on how to make improvements and potentially savings on cost and resources. We met several flooring contractors with a monthly spend of £4,000 to £5,000 on waste, and we look forward to making a start on helping these companies with next steps and including them in our membership.’

Carpet Recycling UK now has support from about half of the carpet manufacturing and distribution sectors supplying the UK market through its 16 core funder members, visitors at The Flooring Show were told.

This reflects a clear increase in engagement from the sector to act to reduce textile flooring waste and resource usage, according to the not-for-profit association.

Support from CRUK’s core funders comes from: Balsan; Betap; Brintons Carpets; Condor Group; Cormar Carpets; ege Carpets; Furlong Flooring; Gradus; Headlam Group; IVC Commercial; Likewise Floors; Milliken; Modulyss; Rawson Carpet Solutions; Shaw and Tarkett. They are acting voluntarily ahead of any legislation, including Cormar Carpets and Headlam which, with assistance from CRUK, have helped key customers to reduce waste and create cost savings.

At the show, Adnan Zeb-Khan, CRUK scheme manager reported interest from raw material suppliers, including fibre and backing manufacturers, seeking advice on how to include more recycled content, and discussing the challenges of separating the carpet components.

‘We want to have more conversations with raw materials suppliers about the supply of recycled and more sustainable materials, as well as the challenges of decommissioning carpets at the end of life, what is being done and how we can help. We also want to examine more deeply the range and volume of fibres in the UK marketplace. The raw material sector wants to do more to help their manufacturing customers,’ he says.

Flooring suppliers of varying sizes

Zeb-Khan also highlighted discussions with training organisations on developing educational programmes regarding the waste they create and ways in which they can directly influence how the waste is collected, sorted and then processed.

‘It was a positive show, and it was great to meet new faces in the sector from raw material suppliers, manufacturers and flooring suppliers. We look forward to following up all of the conversations and assisting companies in revisiting waste streams as well as using resources in a better way through our 119-strong membership and wider network.’ www.carpetrecyclinguk.com

Portal to success

New carpet ranges and improved service were on show

Cormar Carpet Company was delighted to return to The Flooring Show this year, showcasing its award-winning trade portal and building on the strength of key bestselling ranges to further extend their appeal to consumers.

The company introduced the newest addition to its wool loop collection, Pimlico, adding a new element of texture to the portfolio. Available in three distinctive designs – level, texture and stripe – in a three-ply yarn, the range draws on a palette of nine fashionable neutral shades such as warm beiges and cool creams, in line with interior trend forecasts for the coming year.

In addition, Cormar’s fifth range launch of the year, Pembroke, was previewed at the show, ahead of its launch this month. Made from 80% pure new wool, 10% polypropylene and 10% tuftbond, this classic heavyweight wool twist has a palette of 18 contemporary colourways, including classic neutrals alongside some bolder autumnal tones, providing a stylish and practical base for interior design schemes.

Once again, Cormar exhibited at the front of Hall A, with the team showcasing the trade portal, which has seen a host of new features introduced this year. Since its launch in 2011, the portal has gone from strength to strength, with 60% of customers’ orders now placed via the online service. The company has invested over £75,000 in the past 12 months in further enhancing the online portal, and visitors to the stand

benefitted from live demonstrations exhibiting its latest features, including the new after-sales area and text delivery notification feature.

‘With the number of customers choosing to use our trade portal growing more and more, we were delighted to showcase our recent enhancements,

which we believe will help towards our aim of transforming the portal into a one-stop-shop. Our focus is to enable customers to carry out most of their interactions with Cormar online, should they choose to do so,’ says David Cormack, Cormar marketing director.

Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Above left: The company took centre stage in Hall A Above: The trade portal has seen recent improvements

Pimlico

Start turn

Everyroom’s debut attracted crowds

Everyroom was launched at the show and its debut certainly attracted visitors.

Everyroom believes that updating interior decors needn’t cost consumers a fortune, and it has curated a collection of quality flooring that is affordable and,

most importantly, looks fantastic in everyday homes.

The stand – designed to be reminiscent of a party or gameshow, to build excitement – was the first exposure to Everyroom most retailers

have had, and it made a great first impression. As part of that gameshow feel, visitors could spin the wheel to decide on their free gifts including T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, beanies and pens. The grand prize was entry to a

raffle to win a five-supercar driving experience day at a top UK racetrack, with second prize a Nespresso machine.

But it wasn’t all about freebies: on show were Everyroom POS displays, the first production of which have been distributed to retailers over the past month. These include carpet lecterns and a new vinyl browser. At the show retailers were able to pre-order displays from the second production, which is due in Q1 2023.

Retailers were able to look through sample books of all 17 current Everyroom ranges, made up of 15 carpet ranges and two vinyl ranges, with more to be announced soon. Prices are guaranteed to be held until January 2023. A free home sampling service is available to help retailers clinch the sale. Retailers interested in Everyroom POS stands should speak to their sales representative from their local Headlam branch. Visit: www.every-room.co.uk

Next generation

F Ball debuted its latest water-mix smoothing underlayments

The UK’s leading manufacturer of subfloor preparation products and adhesives for floorcoverings, F Ball used this year’s show to debut Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, the latest addition to its nextgeneration water-mix smoothing underlayments.

Visitors to the F Ball stand were able to watch live demonstrations featuring Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, alongside other fast-track flooring installation products developed to help flooring contractors to meet ever more exacting time constraints, including its Stopgap Micro Rapid floor finishing compound and Styccobond F58 PLUS adhesive. These were delivered by F Ball’s head of training, plus experts from the company’s technical service department, on the stand’s live demonstration area, which returned to Harrogate following a positive reception from flooring professionals at last year’s show.

Stopgap 1500 AquaPro uses the latest technology to provide a highperformance water-mix smoothing underlayment that can be applied over old adhesive residues, including bitumen, carpet tile tackifiers and ceramic tile adhesives, eliminating the need for mechanical preparation. In such applications, there is no need to prime beforehand, saving further time and expense. Fast-setting and fast-drying, it is walk-on hard in as little as 60 minutes after application, and ready to receive floorcoverings from just four hours.

Stopgap Micro Rapid is an ultra-smooth, flexible, rapid-drying floor finishing compound for creating a subfloor finish that is flawlessly smooth.

The fast-drying formulation of Styccobond F58 PLUS enables LVT tiles and planks to be secured from just five minutes. The product transitions from a wet-lay adhesive when initially applied to a subfloor to become fully pressure sensitive, while fibres in the formulation provide resistance to lateral movement –an advantage when creating complex designs and patterns.

Representatives from the F Ball marketing, sales and liaison teams were

on hand throughout the exhibition to answer any questions from visitors about F Ball’s products and technical support, including free training courses delivered at the F Ball Centre of Excellence in Staffordshire. Flooring contractors could also register for training courses as well as sign up to the Ball Rewards scheme, which gives contractors cashback each time they purchase F Ball products, together with a range of exclusive benefits, such as the opportunity to enter regular competitions and extra cashback on promotional products.

Visit: www.f-ball.com

The big one

Floorwise returned to Harrogate celebrating safer products and its 40th anniversary

Celebrating 40 successful years in the industry, Floorwise made its return to The Flooring Show, showcasing its latest developments alongside some of its well-established bestsellers.

Along with anniversary celebrations, the show also saw Floorwise focus on its new, award-winning F597 Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive, which is 100% dichloromethane-free. Developed by Floorwise as a healthier alternative to ‘conventional’ heavy-duty spray adhesives with no performance compromise, F597 removes the hazards associated with many sprays of being potentially carcinogenic and harmful to the environment. The other significant benefit of F597 is that, unlike dichloromethane, the solvent used is lighter than air and so will disperse faster into the atmosphere, removing the traditional health risk from dichloromethane of asphyxiation for installers working on their knees.

‘It was great to be at The Flooring Show once again. It provides an opportunity to spread word of our flooring accessories and installation products and we were delighted to

be able to mark our 40th anniversary by being there. Talking to retailers and installers is always a great way to find out how we can improve products or respond to their needs with new product development,’ says Andrew Gill, Floorwise group product manager.

‘The response we’ve received to F597 has been excellent and the show just reaffirmed that the product really is hitting the mark with installers. With a high adhesive content for great application, it really does deliver a controllable spray that tacks up beautifully, and its health benefits over conventional products mean many installers are making it their first choice. After The Flooring Show, we hope that more installers turn to it and introduce a healthier and safer way to work.’

Over the past 40 years, Floorwise has built a catalogue of award-winning products – such as Diamond Gripper and F599 Spray Adhesive – and become the trusted source for installers in everything from underlays, gripper and profiles to adhesives, screeds and tapes, as well as offering a world-class collection of tools from leading brands.

With its member-based distribution network providing the exceptional quality and value of Floorwise products and the benefits of independent local service, for many installers it’s an unbeatable combination – and it is this combination that has seen it grow into one of the flooring industry’s most recognised brands.

Visit: www.floorwise.co.uk

Floorwise members gathered for the group’s 40th anniversary gala dinner after the show

Floorwise at TFS

A room viewed

An online visualiser was among Furlong Flooring’s introductions

‘The Flooring Show is always a great event, but this year saw us all balancing the verve and life of a busy show with marking the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Closing the show to mark the funeral was a sensitive decision by the organisers, who, as always, did a great job all round,’ says Mike Symonds, Furlong Flooring Dartford md.

For Furlong Flooring, this year’s show was a chance to showcase a range of new products, and to launch the company’s Room Viewer – an online visualiser that allows visitors to see how all its flooring will look in their room.

‘It’s a great additional tool for retailers and works across our entire range. We were delighted by the reception we had to the Room Viewer and we know it is going to get significant use across our whole customer base,’ says Symonds.

Several ranges were launched at the show, drawing visitors to the stand. With two new carpet launches – Inspiration and Trident Tweed – plus three new LVT ranges and design updates to some of the bestselling vinyl ranges, there was something for everyone at the show.

Inspiration is a lustred deep-pile luxury carpet range available in 16 colour tones including neutral and bolder colours. Trident Tweed is an addition to the bestselling Trident range: Tweed is an eclectic mix of tones that will suit any home or commercial setting.

In LVT, Sirona, Aurora and Carina are on-trend herringbones that sit alongside modern tile designs and have all been carefully thought out to offer an up-todate, attractive range of LVT that is perfect for busy lives.

Vinyl saw updates with contemporary wood-effect, tiled and contemporary patterns in a range of on-trend colours.

‘We had another fantastic year at Harrogate. It’s always a great opportunity to have quality, face-to-face conversations with old friends and new contacts, showcasing our products and sharing our values and our future plans. Thanks as always to the organisers and to everyone who visited our stands this year,’ says Symonds. Visit: www.furlongflooring.co.uk

Several ranges were launched at the show

Room Viewer

Premier time

Interfloor showcased the latest underlay collection

Interfloor used The Flooring Show to showcase its latest underlay collection, Tredaire Premier: the bestselling PU foam underlays upgraded for superior performance. This new premium brand brings together a number of its flagship underlays, restyled and redesigned for a luxury feel.

Interfloor’s team attending the event were overwhelmed by the positive feedback for Tredaire Premier and the response from visitors looking to stock the new line.

Tredaire Premier is defined by its exceptional cushioning, achieved through its unique design and highspecification materials. A tactile paper backing combined with 100% recycled foam is further enhanced by a white scrim layer, which has been added to the majority of products throughout the range.

Updated branding provides the collection with a fresh, eye-catching aesthetic and it was this new look that characterised Interfloor’s stand at the

show. Styled in Tredaire purple, it reflected the luxury and prestige of the Premier brand, bringing in visitors eager to see the new products.

In addition to the networking area, the Interfloor stand also sported many of its other leading underlays. These included renu, its greenest underlay to date and 100% recyclable at end of use; and its Gripperrods Premier accessories, designed to provide a professional finish to flooring projects.

Visit: www.interfloor.com

Even better

Kellars enjoyed a record-breaking exhibition

The Flooring Show for Kellars gets better each year, with 2022 proving another record-breaking year, even under the unforeseen circumstances, which proved that the months of fantastic preparation had paid off.

The 16 sales reps were kept busy across the two exhibition days with new customers, POS, branding developments, and the latest stand and lectern additions, which meant a fuller stand this year, with customers keen to find out what the company had been working on.

The product portfolio has seen a selection of new additions: carpet ranges; an entire LVT collection and wall stand; various stands at high and low price

points; an award-winning rebrand to the Floorlink underlay and accessories collection, and multiple smaller stand options across the seven brands.

The Floorlink brand positioning was taken up a level this year, as it introduced on-trend branded packaging, latest products, underlay covers, branding concepts, and new stand boards and walls.

After paying its respects on Monday by closing the stand, the company was back with a bang on Tuesday, and welcomed new and current customers to the 150sqm stand.

This year, its most popular products proved to be the new Alva LVT collection, which will be available in January 2023,

and the Centicus Perseus and Eros carpet ranges, which were introduced to the market last month.

In April this year, Kellars sadly lost Dave Francis, Kellars sales director and heartbeat of the company, so it dedicated Frannie’s Bar to him. The show wasn’t the same without him, while the Kellars staff felt sure he was with them along the way and would have loved every part of it.

The company would like to thank everyone who said hi, visited the stand and ordered. They loved every minute and look forward to hearing your feedback and seeing you in 2023.

Visit: www.kellars.co.uk

Staff were kept busy throughout the show

Delighted

Retailers responded to a vast selection of introductions

Likewise was delighted with customer reaction, both to the vast range of new products on show and to the new displays and POS.

The new wall units, available with bestselling ranges and many new ranges, were the centre of attention. New ranges include Soft Noble, a luxury heavy domestic cut pile in a choice of backings and widths, available in 14 contemporary shades.

Floors by Lewis Abbott introduced new sample presenters following the successful launch of the compact display unit last year. Innovative presenters included an extra-large folder displaying the bestselling Herringbone range, which is produced in a herringbone weave construction and available in seven contemporary colours. The collection of 12 pure wool ranges is also now available in a wooden sample presenter box.

Likewise Matting showcased its new rugged outdoor mats and rug ranges including Persian Classics, a collection of chenille rugs in nine elegant designs, offered in 120cm x 170cm and 160cm x 230cm sizes together with matching 60cm x 180cm runners. The New Dawn Eco rug collection, made from recycled PET bottles, was also showcased, with two ranges available in 120cm x 170cm and 160cm x 230cm

sizes with a wool-effect loop pile. Further eco-friendly indoor mats were on show including the new Autumn Recylon

designs: super-absorbent machinewashable mats in the latest colour trends. Tel: 0121 817 2900

Soft Noble

Above: Herringbone in Chalk Below: Persian Classics

Colourful story

Lifestyle Floors loved every shade

The Lifestyle Floors team is passionate about ensuring that its stand is a welcoming, fun and interesting place to be, and this year was no different. When designing the stand, it tried to ensure it was as spacious and easy to navigate as possible, which appeared to be very successful, with the stand being consistently busy throughout the show.

This year saw the theme of colour, with the tagline Love Every Colour, as it introduced some colourful and highly designed ranges

Carpet launches included Montego Bay, a sophisticated polypropylene with a colour bank that includes both a black and a white as well as several neutrals and greys, while Wilmslow is Lifestyle Floors’ first velvet range, which amongst greys and neutrals features three blues, an aubergine purple, a mint green and a rich ruby red.

Grantham was relaunched with a new colour bank including navy and ochre yellow; Valentine was updated

with a contemporary colour bank including standout fuchsia pink, fresh green and sunshine yellow, and Molto Bella was refreshed with a tighter pile and updated colours, featuring three

blues, a deep red, a fuchsia pink, a gold and a deep green.

In vinyl, San Diego features several unusual abstract tile designs as well as traditional woods. Columbia features

standout designs including the colourful Santa Cruz Blue, which was laid on the stand. Baroque was relaunched and includes three classic woods along with a herringbone and several colourful feature floors.

GeorgiaTex is available in 5m widths as well as the more typical 2m, 3m and 4m, and is the only Lifestyle Floors vinyl to be available in this width. Textile-backed vinyls received unanimous praise at the show, and have cemented themselves as a firm favourite with retailers. DenverTex is a hardwearing range with a 0.4mm wear layer.

As well as being displayed on the POS

stands, these ranges were exhibited in large look-book displays, which were built bespoke for the show. This allowed the company to show larger samples than usually available and made the browsing experience much easier, giving a visitors the opportunity to go through the ranges in detail.

Lifestyle Floors is well known for its freebies at the show, and these followed the Love Every Colour theme, with eight colour options to choose between. T-shirts, travel mugs, pens and notebooks were available in a choice of eight colours. The notebooks are unique, as each one is covered in a coordinating

Lifestyle Floors vinyl floorcovering.

Instead of having freebies available to take away on the day, visitors could order their colour and then choose the freebies they wanted from this colour theme, which will be sent out in the weeks following the show. Despite this unusual way of offering freebies, the team took orders for over 600 T- shirts, 200 travel cups and 210 notebooks, as well as 1,000 pens that were available on the day. The aim was to help reduce Lifestyle Floors’ contribution to the waste that inevitably accumulates from a trade show of this size.

Visit: www.lifestyle-floors.co.uk

For you

A bespoke marketing service was among the benefits discussed at the show

Metro Group not only negotiates highly competitive terms for its members but also helps them sell market-leading products at a profit.

Whereas multiple retailers operate by developing a business model and replicating it from place to place, independent retailers work by building a business in their area that suits their marketplace and their customers’ needs. That’s where Metro’s marketing service offers a great advantage: it is completely bespoke.

Metro understands that retailers work in differing marketplaces and locations, so having access to a whole host of marketing resources means that Metro members have a wealth of experience and facilities custom-made to suit the independent flooring retailer’s needs.

The marketing service Metro offers combines help with selling products with assisting retailers with more basic needs using great design and creativity.

In the past retailers have often not replaced existing signage, they have renovated it, keeping the expensive parts of the signage such as structures or framework. One retailer who has taken advantage of Metro’s offer is Crown Carpets in Widnes, Cheshire.

The building was in need of some TLC so all signage was removed while the building was re-dressed in modern grey cladding. Metro’s marketing team then returned, refitted and relocated the

signage and added new signs including a 2.5m x 2.5m post sign. The once-tired building now looks clean and modern.

Another retailer who recently took advantage of the scheme is William Rylatt Carpets in Castleford. Following some mindless vandalism in which several retailers in the Yorkshire town suffered, the store needed to re-dress the windows and convert some of the vulnerable glass areas into graphic panels. Fortunately, all measurements were available from past work on site and refitted in one working day.

Most retailers understand the benefit of rebranding but so often this can

create a mismatch 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 put whatever products they choose on display with standard or bespoke graphic panels. All of the POS is designed and created in-house at Metro in its own studio, so it’s easy to change should members wish to do so.

Backed by the studio in the north-east of England, the team travels the four corners of the UK working on-site with members on whatever project they need assistance with.

Visit: www.carpet1st.co.uk

Above left: Post sign at Crown Carpets, Widnes Above: Signage/window graphics at William Rylatt Carpets, Castleford

Steve Depport, Metro operations manager at the show

Best of both worlds

Group membership brings benefits while remaining independent

SMG is the largest flooring buying group in the UK, with its members having 430 retail outlets. SMG members can proudly retain their complete independence while enjoying the most profitable and comprehensive benefits package around. Established retailers with existing direct accounts will still benefit from SMG’s special pricing, rebates and promotions to improve their profitability and competitiveness. In addition to these financial advantages, members without direct accounts can still access products from any approved supplier via the unique central purchasing scheme.

SMG has something for every retailer, large or small, long established or just starting out. Members run their business as they see fit but gain advantage from the most comprehensive package of benefits around, and all for the lowest annual membership fee.

At The Flooring Show, SMG showcased the latest additions to its Pure own-brand ranges and POS. There were also new selling opportunities for members on non-flooring products and, of course, the latest in-show offers and updates on all the initiatives from the group. These advantages, together with awardwinning business support, show that SMG really does have something for every retailer, large or small, and truly gives strength to the independent.

‘Independent retailers are attracted to joining SMG as the group guarantees that members can retain their complete independence but at the same time benefit from preferential discounts,

rebate schemes and promotions from a comprehensive range of approved suppliers. On top of this, members can access products from any approved supplier via our central purchasing scheme, even without a direct account. And now with Pure they can access an exclusive own-brand range should they wish to – to any extent that suits their own business,’ says Mike Reed, SMG head of operations.

‘Not only do members benefit from great terms but SMG offers a fantastic

business support package that is second to none. With a free-of-charge business support helpline, bespoke SMG retail insurance, IFC options, discounted utility brokerage and preferential credit-card rates, it really is an all-round great deal.’

The key driver for SMG has always been to create profitable partnerships between members and approved suppliers. Both have the same goals and SMG is able to deliver more sales and greater profitability for both.

Visit: www.smg-group.co.uk

SMG was exhibiting in Hall A for the first time

Centre stage

Victoria Carpets & Design Floors had plenty of introductions to interest retailers

The Flooring Show provided the perfect platform for presenting the next stages in Victoria Carpets & Design Floors’ portfolio.

Visitors saw the updated Natureborn Strathmore: a collection of 12 Berbers taking inspiration from the Scottish Highlands. The colours for this new collection incorporate sophisticated flecks of colour such as you would expect to see in fauna and flora of the hedgerows and mountain passes, while being an 1/8th gauge lends the carpet a beautiful open appearance.

Making its show debut was Tudor Coordinates, a range of 20 plain

loops which match the Tudor Twist counterparts launched earlier in the year. These 100% wool, 5/32th gauge carpets will allow homeowners the option of mixing textures whilst keeping the continuity of colour – a trick borrowed from the LVT market when homeowners mix parquets with planks.

Visitors were also able to see a new edition to the polypropylene family: EasiCare Super Twist, a six-ply, 100oz, tufted Saxony available in a capsule collection of nine shades, along with the latest from its LVT collection.

Visit: www.myvictoria.co.uk

With consumers no longer shying away from making bolder style choices in the home and sales indicating a resurgence in the demand for natural fibres, visitors to Abingdon Flooring’s stand at The Flooring Show were able to find the perfect option from a range of new carpets.

Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

Deco Design, a 40oz patterned carpet with a small diamond design, in eight modern colourways in 4m and 5m widths, was among five launches by Adam Carpets. Also debuting was Geometrics: four ranges of patterned carpet in a 42oz pile weight, shown on a dedicated lectern with roomset images to inspire.

Visit: www.adamcarpets.com

Show highlights

Debuts and updates marked a successful edition of The Flooring Show

After being previewed in May, Associated Weavers’ Vivendi received its updated POS and new tagline: The Best A Home Can Get. The six ranges highlight the use of the iVivo yarn for bounce-back, durability, softness and ease of cleaning. Each range has a choice of 14 or 15 colours in 4m and 5m widths.

Visit: www. www.vivendi-carpet.co.uk

Among its product introductions, Associated Weavers had an environmental story to tell. Water usage per sqm of carpet has been cut by more than 20% since 2015, waste by almost 30% and energy use by almost 25%. Sedna is now carbon neutral, while it and Gaia use the ECO FusionBac textile backing.

Visit: www.carpetyourlife.com

Visit: www.invictus.co.uk

Axminster launched the woven-to-order Modern Classics at the show. The Axminster weave was invented to achieve intricate pattern and the new collection embraces its pattern credentials. The 100% wool Modern Classics is woven to order by its skilled team in Axminster, Devon and inspired by latest consumer trends.

Visit: www.axminster-carpets.co.uk

Whatever your project, AW Commercial Flooring has a solution tailored to your needs. As a professional, you know that success is all about dedication and attention to detail. Choosing wisely is key, but with AW Commercial Flooring you can’t go wrong. With a complete collection of luxury vinyl flooring, broadloom carpet and carpet tiles there’s always a solution to fit.

Visit: www.aw-commercialflooring.co.uk

Ball & Young, as part of the Vita Group, has been a pioneer in sustainability, setting the industry benchmark for decades. It uses 100% of the trim generated within the Vita Group as well as re-purposing trim from the group’s customers, meaning it is a net consumer of trim, and prevents 20,000tonnes of trim foam going to landfill every year.

Visit: www.underlay.com

Associated Weavers’ Invictus brand highlighted the Invictus Parquet Click LVT, designed to be easier and quicker to fit, thanks to its one-plank click system. There are two initial Invictus Parquet Click designs – Highland Oak and Divine Oak – each in three colourways: Classic, Roasted and Chocolate. Next year will see the offer expanded.

Balta, established in 1964 and part of the Victoria Group since April 2022, showcased several new carpet ranges at The Flooring Show. It has been busier than ever refreshing its product offer and is building on key collections such as Noble, Satino and Eternity as well as launching Made in Heaven polyester ranges and bringing back natural fibre qualities under Woolmaster.

Email: broadloom@baltagroup.com

Carpenter looked to raise its presence with retailers at the show. The majority of the company’s distribution is wholesale, and while it is not looking to dramatically change this situation, it is keen for more retailers to recognise it as a brand and buy from the wholesale sector. The group has been investing in increasing its UK production, with £4m invested in the past two years.

Visit: www.carpenter.com

Exhibiting at The Flooring Show for the second time, BerryAlloc showed its intent to continue growth in the UK. Bringing its high pressure floors, LVT, wood and laminate floors, and wall panels, the manufacturer’s stand was an impressive showcase of its portfolio and dynamic branding.

Visit: www.berryalloc.com

Carpet Recycling UK now has support from about half of the carpet manufacturing and distribution sectors supplying the UK market through its 16 core funder members. This reflects a clear increase in engagement from the sector to act to reduce textile flooring waste and resource usage, according to the not-for-profit association.

Visit: www.carpetrecyclinguk.com

Visit: www.cavaliercarpets.co.uk

With the UK market really starting to pick up, Condor is delighted with the arrival of its new UK sales manager Matthew Street. With its presence at The Flooring Show, it made a flying start to introduce Street to the market, as well as showcasing its latest innovations and sustainable solutions.

Visit: www.condorgrass.com

Carman, Computers for Flooring’s flooring business management software, has a version to suit all sizes and sectors. With the companion app managing fitting teams, internal SMS and communication with customers, it offers transparency of sales, stock, and distribution, digital pick lists, goods receipt and stocktaking, as well as stock movements, adjustments and more.

Visit: www.computersforflooring.com

COREtec used the show to debut XL-END in the UK. The extra-large planks are 2.1m x 228mm, designed to give rooms a greater sense of space. They are 155mm thick with an extrathick core layer and bottom cork layer. The 0.8mm wear layer is 60% thicker than other COREtec floors. The team and visitors celebrated its launch at St George’s Hotel.

Visit: www.coretecfloors.com

Cavalier Carpets’ award-winning Snowdon took centre stage at the show. A British-made, 55oz refined 1/8th-gauge heather twist it is 90% wool, 10% polyester. It is made using clean white base yarns to create a sophisticated colour palette not usually seen in heathers. Available in 16 shades and 4m and 5m widths, it has an extra heavy domestic rating.

Cormar Carpet Company returned to the show with its award-winning trade portal alongside a selection of enticing new ranges. With updated graphics and a fresh new look, the stand displayed the newest addition to its popular wool loop collection, Pimlico. Its fifth range launch of the year, Pembroke, was previewed at the show, ahead of its launch this month.

Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

F Ball used this year’s show to debut Stopgap 1500 AquaPro: the latest addition to its next-generation water-mix smoothing underlayments. Visitors to the F Ball stand were able to watch live demonstrations featuring Stopgap 1500 AquaPro alongside other fast-track floor preparation products, Stopgap Micro Rapid and Styccobond F58 PLUS.

Visit: www.www.f-ball.com

Everyroom was launched at the show, and its debut certainly attracted visitors. Everyroom believes that updating interior decors needn’t cost consumers a fortune, and has curated a collection of quality flooring that is affordable and, most importantly, looks fantastic in everyday homes.

Visit: www.every-room.co.uk

Fells Carpets launched four recycled woven collections. Morocco and Serengeti are made from recycled waste polyester, and Parisian and Runswick Bay are produced from recycled plastic bottles, with each square metre using about 120 plastic bottles. All four collections met with a wonderful reaction, with customers really excited over this new product offer.

Visit: www.fellscarpets.co.uk

Floorwise highlighted safety improvements to adhesive spray. The group has introduced the F597 spray adhesive, replacing F599. The new adhesive has no dichloromethane, making it safer to use and kinder to the environment. Unlike dichloromethane, the solvent used is lighter than air and so will disperse faster into the atmosphere, rather than remaining trapped at ground level.

Visit: www.floorwise.co.uk

Furnishing industry charity The Furniture Makers’ Company made its debut at The Flooring Show. The charity is seeking to raise awareness of how its welfare function can help employees in the flooring industry, across retail, manufacturing and distribution. Its debut follows its participation at the Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show in May.

Visit: www.furnituremakers.org.uk

The Flooring show provided the perfect opportunity for Furlong Flooring to showcase its innovations. It was proud to relaunch its LVT and bestselling vinyl ranges with on-trend designs and decors. This was accompanied by the launch of the Inspiration and Trident Tweed carpets and the Furlong Room Viewer.

Visit: www.furlongflooring.com

The Gekko Flooring Adhesives stand, including Rachael Morgan, Gekko category manager (pictured), was busy throughout the show, having opted to put particular focus on its range of safer, DCM-free products. The business has invested heavily in DCM-free innovation and raising awareness around safer sprays.

Visit: www.gekko-adhesives.com

Hugh Mackay showcased its range of bespoke Axminster carpets. It offers an in-house design service, where customers can design their own carpet (minimum order 5 linear metres). It has a catalogue of more than 2,000 ideas, or customers can work with the designers to create something new. It also displayed its wide selection of wool and polypropylene ranges.

Visit: www.hughmackay.co.uk

The Flooring Show 2022 was another busy exhibition for Kellars, and it wanted new and existing customers to walk into a stand like they have never seen before: with an on-trend and homely feel. Each year, the company aims to improve the Kellars exhibition experience as a whole and it looks forward to 2023.

Visit: www.kellars.co.uk

Tredaire Premier was the centre of attention on the Interfloor stand, with visitors keen to see and feel the difference in the upgraded collection of PU foam underlays. renu, the company’s most sustainable underlay, was also a popular feature, made from 98% recycled materials and 100% recyclable after use.

Visit: www.interfloor.com

Kingsmead’s Perfect Home carpet is where traditional meets modern for a luxurious interior. Made with exclusive 100% British yarn – Wool Britannia, developed by Headlam in partnership with British Wool and with the support of Campaign for Wool – every linear metre of yarn includes wool sourced from farms in each of the four home nations, helping our farmers and the planet.

Visit: www.kingsmeadcarpets.co.uk

Lano presented upgrades to its premium PP Touchdown collection, showcasing Soft Perfection which launches this autumn: a 78oz 1/10th gauge Saxony building on the success of Soft Distinction. Also shown for the first time was a revamp of the bestselling Serenade quality, planned for launch in early 2023, a classic sprinkled with colour to inspire any home decor.

Visit: www.lano.com

Likewise enjoyed a fantastic The Flooring Show 2022. It was delighted to see so many visitors to its stand and received great reactions to all of its new products. The group would like to thank all customers and suppliers for their continued support and the hard work and endeavours of the staff to make it happen.

Tel: 01527 314 000

The Lifestyle Floors team is passionate about ensuring that its stand is a welcoming, fun and interesting place to be, and this year was no different. With the tagline Love Every Colour, it introduced some colourful and highly designed ranges across carpet and vinyl, and new POS.

Visit: www.lifestyle-floors.co.uk

Manx Tomkinson highlighted its new fully transactional app at the show. It allows customers to trade with Manx Tomkinson ‘on the go’, in a quick, easy and convenient way. Customers are able to search for all Manx Tomkinson products; check real-time availability and prices; place orders quickly; review order history and track live orders.

Visit: www.manxtomkinson.co.uk

Award-winning MasterPiece runs on Android, iPad and Windows to suit both on-site estimator and in-store operations. It is easy to pick up and run with. Beyond measuring, planning and quoting, options include LVT estimating (Amtico, Karndean), a scheduling diary and attaching photos. For new-build and commercial/ contracts, Windows MasterPiece allows import of PDF floorplans.

Visit: www.masterpiece-system.com

Penthouse Carpets celebrated 50 years of service to the flooring industry by launching five new shades in its 18 colour Esprit Nouveau collection. The range consists of 50oz, 60oz and 75oz weights and is available in two guaranteed widths of 4m and 5m.

Visit: www.penthousecarpets.co.uk

‘We spent two days manning the stand, choosing to close on the day of the Queen’s state funeral. The show felt different, but it’s always worthwhile meeting suppliers as well as existing and prospective new members. Two successful and worthwhile days and we look forward to the full three days in 2023,’ says Steve Depport, Metro operations manager.

Visit: www.carpet1st.co.uk

As well as promoting the extensive benefits of membership to the independent retailer, SMG showcased the latest additions to its Pure own-brand portfolio as well as an exclusive blinds and curtains offer and a new LVT supplier. SMG has something for every retailer and has been supporting the Independent retailer since 1968.

Visit: www.smg-group.co.uk

Stroolmount was Interior Monthly’s Best Product Protection Provider (Flooring) for the fourth year and visitors to the show were able to see why. Stroolmount has flooring protection needs covered for retailers, manufacturers, architects and designers, from superior felt pads, interchangeable Quickclick Glides, Furniglides and Move-it Pads. It’s best to act before you scratch!

Visit: www.stoolmount.co.uk

Visualsoft has two decades of experience, a thriving portfolio of clients like you, and a team of ecommerce experts that understand that ecommerce success takes more than just a platform. It’s marketing, it’s strategy but it’s mainly a people thing: people who understand your business and the sector you’re in. Visualsoft is expert in all things home.

Visit: www.visualsoft.co.uk

The updated Natureborn Strathmore, a collection of 12 Berbers taking inspiration from the Scottish Highlands; Tudor Coordinates, a range of 20 plain loops, and EasiCare Super Twist, a six-ply, 100oz, tufted Saxony were among the introductions by Victoria Carpets & Design Floors, along with the latest from its LVT collection.

Visit: www.myvictoria.co.uk

WoolSafe again promoted the message that wool carpets will look better and last longer than any other fibre carpets, when maintained correctly. ‘We had a great response from carpet retailers at the show, who were encouraged to embed the WoolSafe care advice on their own websites, says Steve Bakker, WoolSafe global marketing director.

Visit: www.woolsafe.org

Statements

Highlights from a shortened Long Point

Artistic Upholstery and Iain James Furniture showcased roomsets of upholstery and classical cabinet furniture. Artistic featured its decorative Giovanni sofa and Milano chair in painted finishes, upholstered in decorative and plain velvets complemented with contrast piping. Iain James displayed several successful occasional and dining ranges including a classical Burr walnut dining room with fully upholstered chairs. Several other collections were on display

in mahogany, Burr oak and rosewood.

Siren demonstrated its new direction since its 2021 MBO, with retailers responding well to the new Freya, Casper and Sala ranges as well as the revamped fabric offer. It also debuted models from its Italian range, developed through its factory partnership in southern Italy.

Tetrad launched the loose-cover Alice, offering big character for a petite piece. Bagru saw new colours and country classic turned country chic with the

launch of Bowmore in a new floral fabric.

‘There was a good turnout over the two days [the Monday was cancelled in respect of the state funeral]. Visitors were very positive and placed orders for the New Year sales as most manufacturers have closed their order books for preChristmas deliveries,’ says Andrew Mitchell, Long Eaton Guild chairman.

The dates for 2023 have been confirmed as 8-10 May and 18-20 September. Visit: www.longeatonguild.co.uk

Tetrad’s Vagabond Midi

Iain James’ Burr Walnut dining room

Artistic Upholstery’s Giovanni sofa and Milano chair

Encouraging mood

INDX Furniture Autumn saw AIS members and non-members attend

Retailers turned out to support the Autumn 2022 edition of INDX Furniture, which took place from 30 August to 1 September. The first day of the show was reserved for AIS members, whilst general trade visitors were welcome to attend subsequent days – a successful format which will continue when the show returns on 22-24 January.

‘Despite the fact that we are experiencing an extremely challenging economic climate, and our retailers are subsequently facing some exceptional challenges, we welcomed a good level of footfall across the three days and our exhibitors were very happy. Although

there was an undercurrent of caution, the mood of our visiting buyers was very encouraging, and we had a great response to the new product ranges,’ says Emma Rackley, AIS director of furniture & home.

‘Again, another very good INDX Furniture show delivered by the team at AIS. Very good selection of product, especially across upholstery, and more importantly most new models being delivered in time for our winter sale promotions. It’s always a great and positive show environment in relaxed and casual surroundings,’ says Philip Sainsbury, Sainsbury’s director.

‘It was good to be back at Cranmore

Park, because the show is always very well organised and attended. I’m pleased to say HTL and Corium Italia once again received great support from the AIS members and visiting retailers, for which we are most grateful,’ says Mark Flint, HTL UK md.

The show also saw the continuation of the Retail Insights presentations, including Matthew Thomas, Dispute Resolution Ombudsman head of engagement, who spoke about changing consumer complaint behaviour, and Andrew Hudson, Eurofins md, who looked at sustainability in the industry.

Visit: www.indxshows.co.uk

The show went on

INDX Beds & Bedroom had a decision to make

Following the death of the Queen on 8 September, the team organising this season’s INDX Beds & Bedroom show were faced with a very difficult decision, and following much deliberation, the show went ahead on 13-14 September.

‘Continuing under such sad circumstances was an extremely difficult call to make and the decision was made collaboratively, following discussion with AIS members and our suppliers. We were incredibly mindful of providing support to our employees, our exhibitors and our visitors, and we created dedicated areas of peaceful contemplation throughout the showrooms, which allowed everyone

to come together and reflect,’ says Emma Rackley, AIS director of furniture & home. ‘There was understandably a very subdued mood across the two days, and we would like to thank everyone who travelled to and exhibited at the show.’

Despite the circumstances, retailers and exhibitors heralded the show a success.

‘It was great to be back at the INDX Beds & Bedroom show, seeing existing suppliers and a few new ones. This is our go-to show for all things beds and bedroom furniture, with the Dreamworld bed offer being a particularly useful range-planning and product selection

aid for the year ahead,’ says Alastair Rainey, Ulster Stores group buyer.

‘The INDX Bed & Bedroom Show provides us with a fantastic platform to launch our new and bestselling ranges. Visiting retailers were able to view our ranges in a super environment, with our products beautifully dressed and accessorised, enabling us to maximise sales to their full potential,’ says Joy Cullen, Classic Furniture sales manager.

INDX Beds & Bedroom will take place at Cranmore Park on 25-26 April 2023, with the first day reserved for AIS members.

Visit: www.indxshows.co.uk

Successful comeback

VIFA EXPO returned to Ho Chi Minh City

After two years of postponements due to the pandemic, Vietnam International Furniture & Home Accessories Fair –VIFA EXPO 2022 successfully returned to Ho Chi Minh City from 31 August to 3 September.

This was the first time VIFA EXPO had been held in August (the show is normally held in March), and although there were difficulties and uncertainties in the global status, the exhibition achieved very impressive results, which

were recognised by visitors and exhibitors.

The show gathered 175 exhibitors covering 15,000sqm. Among them were 34 overseas exhibitors from Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA.

Furniture made up 61% of the show; hardware, machines and wood materials 14%; handicrafts 10%; furnishings 8% and services 7%.

VIFA EXPO welcomed 11,156 visitors,

including 4,652 from overseas, from 89 countries and territories. The top 10 visitor countries were the USA, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, India, the UK, Australia, China, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

In 2023 the exhibition will return to its traditional March slot in the calendar, taking place from 8-11 March, in between the MIFF and EFE shows in Malaysia, and IFEX in Indonesia and 3F and CIFF in China.

Visit: www.vifafair.com

MINERVA GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Due to retirement, the Minerva Furniture Group has a vacancy for a Group Chief Executive.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Maintaining and nurturing existing accounts

• Sourcing and meeting new suppliers / manufacturers

• Visiting furniture shows and trade fairs at home and abroad

• Introducing product ranges that suit our membership and their customer base

• Negotiating prices, arranging promotions and exclusives

• Expanding the membership of the group

• Organizing the group’s yearly exhibitions

• Working in close collaboration with the Board of Directors

The ideal candidate must be self-motivated, self-disciplined, articulate, have excellent negotiation and communication skills.

Generous remuneration package including company car, pension and health benefits.

To apply, e-mail a CV and covering letter to: Martin Lukehurst, Chairman, martin@lukehurst.co.uk

Minerva Furniture Group, 3 Pickwick Park, Park Lane, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 0HN

We’re Hiring...

Territory Manager

South Herts and Bucks

OTE of £55,000

Cormar Carpets is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tufted carpets, supplying stylish, quality carpets to the retail, contract and wholesale trade throughout the UK.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual with the ability to realise the full potential of the territory. Knowledge of the carpet trade is not essential, however previous sales experience is required as applicants must be able to demonstrate a proven successful sales record.

The ideal candidate would live within the counties described, although the defined territory will be subject to the successful candidates location.

Previous applicants may apply.

Please send your CV and covering letter summarising your relevant skills and experience for the attention of:

Carla Grant, HR Manager

Cormar Carpets, Brookhouse Mill, Greenmount, Bury, BL8 4HR Or email carla.grant@cormarcarpets.co.uk

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

Celebrations

Greendale is marking a major anniversary and has scope for further growth

Greendale Carpets & Flooring is celebrating its diamond anniversary this year. Formed in 1962 by a handful of retailers, it has grown into one of the leading buying groups in the UK.

In 2000, Greendale moved into its current headquarters, a purpose-built warehouse and office on the edge of Hereford. Here it can stock up to 2,800 rolls of carpet, from all of the leading

UK and Continental manufacturers. Greendale is the only buying group that stocks carpets, which offers its members lower prices, stock availability, dedicated customer service and fully supported merchandising.

Some of the strengths of the group outside of the stock holding are completely rebranded carpets, to ensure protection against local competition,

and exclusive areas for members.

Greendale has opportunities for new members in the following areas: East Anglia, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Berkshire, Leicestershire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Wales. Other areas may be available, subject to enquiry.

Tel: 01432 852 000

Carpets can be completely rebranded

The warehouse opened in 2000

Up to 2,800 carpet rolls can be stocked

Andover

Two more wins for Ball & Young...

CFJ FLOORING INDUSTRY AWARDS: Underlay Manufacturer/Supplier of the Year 2022

Ball & Young has been championing sustainability for over 25 years and its many green initiatives have helped its parent company The Vita Group achieve a Silver rating in 2022 from EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, in recognition of its advanced sustainability credentials. The Vita Group is the rst foam manufacturer to have received this accolade. Ball & Young’s contribution includes the development of its Cloud 9 carpet underlay, which has stopped over 250,000 tonnes of foam from being sent to land ll.

Over 25 years of sustainability and innovation. It’s in our DNA.

Scan the QR code to see our sustainability story.