THE BIG QUESTION

This month we’re asking retailers, what was the last big investment you made at your business?

John Rayment – Sussex Beds

Sussex Beds has invested £400k in the last 6 months in two new stores in Horley and Caterham, taking our family run business into a 3rd county. After celebrating our 40th Anniversary last year, we then looked at our BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) with research and analysis and took the step into another county in the South East. Along with our rebrand last year, these two new stores have the new colouring fascias and POS throughout the store, marking a fresh new look to the stores in Surrey, and bringing our total shops to 15. Both new stores have started well, with Caterham smashing records for a new store opening day and week.

Huw Williams – Toons

The latest big investment we have made is £200k to install the solar panels on our roof. We have done this to remove the risk to the business from increased costs and to provide us with an income stream by selling back excess generated electricity to the grid.

Luke Sheppard - George Street Furnishers

We started selling spas a year before Covid. We measured the performance over a sustained period and found fourtimes the turnover at twice the profit margin of a leading leather supplier. It’s been a great success so far. Spas can help furniture stores improve footfall in spring and summer where garden centres tend do well. Spas level off the peaks and troughs where furniture stores lose footfall to garden centres. Plus, they create such an eye-catching statement in a store and have proved to be big head-turners when consumers are browsing. It’s been a fantastic journey so far.

James Barker - Barker and Stonehouse

Whilst Barker and Stonehouse is a national brand with stores across the country, the North East is very much still our home so we are thrilled to be investing in the region and to be bringing our latest ideas and products to its people. The new £5m flagship Gateshead store opens a new chapter in the company’s 77-year history and has some fantastic unique design features that I’m hoping our customers will really enjoy and make use of, such as our co-working lounge and our bistro.

Paul Newton - United Carpets and Beds

We have taken some time over the last 12 months to conduct some detailed research into how the consumer currently perceives the United Brand and from that have discerned how we as a brand need to evolve to keep pace with the expectations of the most important people in our business ‘Our Customers’. We have listened to the consumer and after a great deal of hard work from the entire management team, we have evolved our brand identity which will now be applied across all media platforms and ultimately across our entire store network. Moving away from our historic red, white and yellow colour palette to a whole new look is a huge undertaking, however, we firmly believe that staying focussed on what our customers told us was important to them will help us future proof our business and ensure that the United brand continues to be the consumers preferred choice for flooring and beds for years to come.

Carl Lewis – Glasswells

Due to popular customer demand, our Glasswells Storage and Distribution Centre in Bury St Edmunds has been extended by an extra 2,000 pallet spaces, almost double the existing area and will provide over 100,000sqft of storage accommodation. With pallet storage continuing to be in high-demand, this development will offer over 40% more capacity to meet client needs and enable us to welcome new customers to Glasswells.

Paul Wray, Managing Director of Furntec Ltd and Modern Outlook Furniture, shares an insight into why visiting your overseas partner is paramount when product checking.

Finally, after the outbreak of COVID, China has opened its doors again giving the freedom for buyers to look at visiting again after an almost a three-year close on the border.

I had the privilege of my first customer visits in March and April this year, and let me say it was great to see faces I had not seen in such a long time. Although many meetings online, it’s just not the same as having face to face discussions about existing product ranges and new developments.

As one of my customers explained on his visit, seeing pictures of new products is good, but actually being able to feel, sit, handle, and see the quality of a new piece of furniture is paramount to getting it right for your market.

Having sofas produced for us here in China are a big part of our business in both leather and fabrics, and the sit comfort is extremely important for the UK market as well as other countries. If you are buying directly from a manufacturer from overseas and you cannot go there to check what has been made, how will you know if what you have ordered will feel, and sit right?

I have heard many times that although the product looked great on a picture, when it arrived it sat like a concrete block and the materials used did not have the feel we needed. We now have a container/containers of product that will be very difficult to sell.

My advice from someone being on the ground here who knows the industry, buyers please visit your factories regularly to make sure you are getting products that are right for your market. If this is not possible, please get in touch so we can help you throughout any new development or purchases to achieve the best results.

Modern Outlook Furniture assists businesses of all sizes in procurement from China at any stage of your project. If you would like a no obligation conversation about how we can assist you and help you avoid any costly issues or nasty surprises, please do get in touch!

paulw@modernoutlook.cn www.linkedin.com/in/paul-wray-79403935/

Sherborne Upholstery

One of our most popular recliner/suite ranges, the Comfi-sit, has been totally remodelled & was reintroduced at the January Furniture Show in its new, improved form with great success. It is a wonderfully comfortable & generously sized design, which is offered in both soft covers and leather in both small & standard sizes. Matching riser recliners are also included. Suiting both traditional & contemporary homes, it features soft, fibre-filled backs & soft ‘pillow’ arms. www.sherborneupholstery.co.uk

Sonlevo

The Sonlevo TrueGel range is setting a new standard. It’s the first gel mattress to be developed in the UK using revolutionary Gel technology – its unique grid system is 80% air. TrueGel gives maximum support, minimises pressure and is never too hot and never too cold, for the best night’s sleep possible. For over 40 years GNG has been dedicated to helping people sleep better, with the latest in innovation, materials and design. From sidesleepers to star-fishers, nappers and night owls, to those who suffer in pain - we have something for everyone. Everything we do is researched, designed and manufactured by us in the UK. Given the heightened focus on sleep and wellbeing, this new premium range represent a real opportunity for retailers to expand sales into lucrative new areas. www.sonlevo.com

Wiemann

New product Denver has proved an eye-catching instant hit for award-winning German bedroom manufacturer, Wiemann. This range was the star of the January Furniture Show for Wiemann with its unique decking-style panel adding interest to this sliding and hinged wardrobe in the company’s VIP catalogue. Denver is available in a range of best-selling finishes and, with a decking overlay for outer or centre doors in matching or contrasting colours, the range gives a variety of bold or subtle finishes to suit every bedroom. Wiemann also scooped first place in the Furniture Awards ‘Global Player’ category, announced at JFS. This success was down to the quality of products combined with five-star customer service, which includes a delivery and installation service. www.wiemannuk.co.uk

Devonshire

Devonshire has recently launched a new kitchen selection designed to add style and practicality to consumers cooking spaces. Consisting of a butcher’s block, kitchen island and two larder cupboards (single and double), these beautiful pieces have been created to complement their popular Dorset Painted collection, but work equally as well as standalone pieces. Offered in a choice of 9 fanciful paint colours, the kitchen items are in stock now in the UK and available for fast and efficient delivery. www.devonshireliving.co.uk