DESIGN
MANUFACTURE
RETAIL
Hydeline speaks to Cabinet Maker on their rapid growth and future expansion plans.
Stephen Hampton, CEO at Belfield, reflects on his career ahead of his impending retirement with an exclusive Q&A.
Bazaar Group reveals to Cabinet Maker their first instore retail offering.
26th OCTOBER 2018 £3.75 ●
first issue: 1st July 1880
cabinet-maker.co.uk
GALLERY DIRECT | OTTO COLLECTION Gallery - Nov Issue CM Cover.indd 1
23/10/2018 12:11:54
Furniture testing and certification
Extensive modern test facility Technical advice and expertise ISO 17025 UKAS accredited Excellent customer service
www.satra.com furniture@satra.com Tel: +44 (0)1536 410 000
DAN SQUIRES
CABINET-MAkER.Co.Uk 01223 846 825 PUBLISHER Stewart Rickersey stewart@cabinet-maker.co.uk EDITOR Dan Squires dan@cabinet-maker.co.uk PRE-PRESS PRODUCTION Chris Randall production@cabinet-maker.co.uk SALES Sharon Rickersey Operations & Sales Manager sharon@cabinet-maker.co.uk Kacem Ellabbar kacem@cabinet-maker.co.uk Chris Manning chris@cabinet-maker.co.uk
Subscription prices Cover price for a single print copy £3.75 Published weekly; 48 issues per year Subscribe online at www.cabinet-maker.co.uk P&P extra. VAT will be charged where applicable. Refunds on prepaid subscriptions will only be provided at the publisher’s discretion. Issue no 6094 published by Information Publications Ltd, Suite 15 Brunts Business Centre, Samuel Brunts Way, Mansfield, NG18 2AH VAT No: GB 945225521 © Information Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. We regret we cannot be liable for the safe custody or return of any solicited or unsolicited material. Contributors are advised to keep copies of all materials submitted.
With the cloud of Brexit still looming over the UK, this week has been a pleasant distraction from the all the uncertainty that has in part created a gloomy outlook. After all, a business that stands still and waits on a situation to present itself runs the risk of falling behind those that choose to ignore the current climate and continue to build on its presence for a better future – whatever happens! So I would like to congratulate five success stories of investment within our industry this week. Office furniture manufacturer Dams recently announced the opening of its new multi-million pound UK manufacturing facility at its head office site in Knowsley. The new 85,000sq ft building has officially opened and consolidates its four sites into one larger site that includes a new upholstery factory. Furniture wholesaler Eclipse has confirmed plans to build a new 61,500sq ft facility at the Waterwells Business Park on Jessop Court in Gloucester after securing planning permission, with the investment said to be in the millions of pounds. Two discount homewares retailers have both aired their respective growth plans, with B&M confirming the acquisition of French retail group Babou in deal worth £80.3m, as the retailer looks to expand into France utilising the chains 95 store network. Meanwhile, Home Bargains has proposed plans to revamp a closing Homebase store in the Scottish Borders, looking to invest £5m into the site, creating 50 new jobs for local area.
The final investment story worth taking note of is Italian upholstery manufacturer Moroso, who have laid the groundwork for market expansion following an investment in Lectra technologies including its DesignConcept, which is a virtual prototyping and costing solution. Inside this week’s editorial the theme continues as Cabinet Maker finds out the latest developments at soft furnishings group Bazaar, upholstery maker Rossini and sofa specialist Hydeline. This week also marks the passing of the torch at Belfield Furnishings Group as Stephen Hampton reflects on his time as CEO ahead of his approaching retirement. Despite the uncertainty Brexit continues to create, it is encouraging to report that so many businesses are thriving and looking to the future with an open mind. Lets hope this positive stance is infectious throughout our industry. Do let us know what investments your business has planned that will look to build your future growth.
Dan Squires Editor
The opinions and views expressed in Cabinet Maker are not necessarily those of Information Publications Ltd. Being subject to the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines in place at the time of going to press, all data submitted by advertisers and contained in their advertising copy is accepted by Information Publications Ltd in good faith. ISSN: 0964-4199 Registered as a Newspaper at the Post Office.
TRADE ASSOCIATION MEMBER
TRADE ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATE MEMBER
TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRY
British Furniture Manufacturers British Furniture Manufacturers British Furniture Manufacturers
ON THE COVER OTTO COLLECTION BY GALLERY DIRECT
w www.gallerydirect.co.uk
8. – 11. 1. 2019
TEXTILE INSPIRATION ABSOLUTE PASSION FOR HOME AND CONTRACT TEXTILES – NOW WITH A NEW TRADE FAIR CONCEPT FOR GREATER PROXIMITY.
The new Heimtextil – surprisingly different. heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83
INSIDE ThIS wEEk’S ISSUE
NEWS
06
MANUFACTURE MAINTAINING MOMENTUM
16
Cabinet Maker gets the latest company updates from Italian upholstery manufacturer Rossini.
PASSING THE TORCH
18
Stephen Hampton, CEO at Belfield, reflects on his career ahead of his retirement with an exclusive Q&A with Cabinet Maker.
BRAND NEW
Hydeline speaks to Cabinet Maker on their rapid growth and future expansion plans.
COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH
22
Bazaar Group reveals their first instore retail offering.
LAST WORD Nick Williams, sales manager at Sweet Dreams, has the Last Word.
20
20
26
22
18
|N E w S
NEWS IN BRIEF CFo RESIGNATIoN
UK expansion
Home improvement group Kingfisher Plc, owner of B&Q, has confirmed that Karen Witts has stepped down from her role of chief financial officer. Karen, who leaves the Kingfisher Board after six years, has been appointed as chief financial officer at Compass Group. Kingfisher said a search her successor is underway with Karen to remain to allow a smooth handover.
Interior design and soft furnishings specialist Beaufort Interiors has announced the opening of new London unit. Moirabased Beaufort Interiors has expanded its London operation with the launch of a standalone unit at the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. The move is a result of increased demand in commercial contracts.
Opening celebration
poSITIvE START
Furniture and interiors brand Timothy Oulton welcomed nearly 400 VIP guests to the grand opening of its flagship at Bluebird in Chelsea last month. The opening marked a celebration of the new 7,200sq ft showroom, which is situated on King’s Road - its standalone store in London.
Four years of growth Manufacturer of flooring textiles Phoenox has reported a fourth consecutive year of turnover growth. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017, total sales rose 26% to £12.1m. Pre-tax profit rose 33.3% to £3.2m, also marking a fourth straight year of bottom line growth.
26th October 2018 | 06
Accrington-headquartered online retailer Findel has reported positive progress within both of its divisions. Express Gifts, trading as Studio, grew revenue by 8% in the first 28 weeks of the year, whilst its Education Division, which supplies furniture to schools, saw its UK customer base has grow by 4%.
MANUFACTURE
FURNITURE SUppLIER ENTERS ADMINISTRATIoN; CEASES To TRADE Furniture and flooring supplier First Furnishings Ltd has entered administration, impacting almost 60 jobs. Blair Nimmo and Alistair McAlinden, both of KPMG, were appointed as joint administrators of the business, which has ceased trading. First Furnishings Ltd operated out of its head office and warehouse in Broxburn, West Lothian, as well as another leased warehouse in Glasgow. The collapse of the business has led to the loss of 57 jobs. Established in 2004, First Furnishings generated a turnover of £5.8m in the year to 31 March 2018 but suffered substantial losses due to ‘cash flow difficulties’ caused by rising costs and ‘contractual obligations’.
The business supplied and installed furniture, flooring and white goods to local authorities, housing associations and letting agents. In a press statement, administrators said that the business was ‘unable to continue trading’ and as a result of the ‘difficult financial position’, there was ‘no choice but to make all employees redundant’. Administrators added that they are currently exploring a potential sale of the company’s assets.
w www.home.kpmg.com/uk
RETAIL
Discount homewares retailer completes French acquisition General merchandise retailer B&M has announced the acquisition of French discount retail group Babou in deal worth £80.3m. B&M has acquired the entire issued share capital Paminvest SAS, which operate from a chain of 95 stores under the trading name Babou in France, through its subsidiary EV Retail Limited. The acquisition of the Babou Stores Group will provide a base which will enable B&M to develop and grow in France its proven and profitable value retail model.
Product nomination German kitchen manufacturer Rotpunkt has been shortlisted at this year’s EK&BBusiness Awards for its new Terragrey Finish in the Star Kitchen Product category. Taking place on 29 November 2018 in the historical setting of The Brewery, London, with all product finalists will be announced on the night.
B&M’s strategy for the Babou business is to apply B&M’s direct product sourcing and limited assortment SKU model, while refining Babou’s product offering. The Babou Stores Group is currently led by Thierry Morter. Mr Morter is retiring from the business as part of the transaction, and is today succeeded by Cedric Mahieu as CEO. Mr Mahieu has been employed by B&M since January 2018 in expectation of this transaction and has been working with the B&M team to develop the integration plan for Babou. At the same time as the transaction, the third party distribution services provider to the Babou Stores Group, has been acquired by the Babou Stores Group from Logitex Sarl and Terrealame.
w www.bmstores.co.uk
RETAIL
Homewares retailer told to clarify future ads Homeware and fashion chain Laura Ashley has been told to clarify future savings claims after being deemed misleading. Laura Ashley sent out four emails over a period during January and February 2018, in which a single complainant challenged whether the savings claims advertised could be substantiated. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) conducted an investigation into the email marketing and upheld two issues raised by the complainant, whilst not upholding the other. In a statement, the ASA ruled: “We told Laura Ashley Ltd to ensure that their future advertising did not make savings claims unless they were able to substantiate those claims against the usual selling price of the products. We also told them to ensure that the significant conditions and exclusions of their offers were made clear.”
w www.asa.org.uk
DESIGN
Children’s bed gets recalled over safety concerns General merchandise retailer Argos has issued a product recall on a child’s high sleeper bed unit. Announced through Trading Standards, Argos has identified a safety issue with the ladder supplied with the Ohio High Sleeper and are asking customers to stop using the ladder immediately and avoid using the bed without the ladder. In a small number of cases, customers have reported that the steps on the ladder rotate – even after tightening – and that they can also become detached. Due to the concerns, the ladder has the potential to cause injury if the rungs/steps rotate or detach. The Argos Home Ohio High Sleeper was sold in white/grey/ beech, in two different sizes (standard and shorty) and in a range of mattress options.
w www.argos.co.uk
MANUFACTURE
Crocked Messieurs raise over £9,000 The Crocked Messieurs, led by Peter Delaney, managing director of Gallery Direct, and Bruce Bell, marketing director, completed their four-day London to Paris bike ride last month.
The ride took them through the rolling Kent countryside and then across the poppy fields of Northern France to Paris and culminated in a moving ceremony under the Arc de Triomphe.
The team of eight raised over £9,000 in total for the Royal British Legion.
w www.gallerydirect.co.uk
26th October 2018 | 07
|ne w s RETAIL
MANUFACTURE
Furniture retailer opens first UK studio store
Office furniture manufacturer expands facility
Swedish furniture giant IKEA has announced the opening of its first Planning Studio format store.
Office furniture manufacturer Dams has announced the opening of its new multi-million pound UK manufacturing facility at its head office site in Knowsley, Merseyside.
Situated in Tottenham Court Road, the store also marks the first step in IKEA’s new city centre approach for the UK and Ireland, which was previously announced earlier this year. IKEA has also revealed that it is on the look out for other suitable locations in London to expand the concept. Jane Bisset, IKEA London City Centre market leader, said: “Our new city centre approach brings IKEA into the heart of London and is designed to complement our larger stores and digital offering so customers have a wide range of choices that suit their needs and lifestyles. “The Tottenham Court Road shop will give Londoners a relaxed and professional experience.”
The new 85,000sq ft building has officially opened and consolidates the four sites that Dams previously operated from on Knowsley Industrial Park into one larger site that includes a new upholstery factory.
The expansion is to improve operational efficiencies and boost its UK manufacturing capabilities. The investment in UK manufacturing will also ensure that Dams can reduce lead times on their expanding portfolio of made-to-order products, as well as developing the skills needed for the office furniture Industry of the future.
w www.dams.com
w www.ikea.com
RETAIL DESIGN
Upholstery manufacturer invests in technology Italian upholstery manufacturer Moroso has laid the groundwork’s for market expansion following an investment in Lectra technologies. Moroso has been planning to accelerate its growth, as well as optimising cost evaluation and industrialisation stages. Lectra, integrated technology solutions provider dedicated to industries using fabrics, leather, and textiles, proposed DesignConcept, a virtual prototyping and costing solution, to Moroso. Using this solution, it allows Moroso to incorporate cost targets and evaluate design and production feasibility from the early stages of the product development process. Moroso also invested in Lectra’s automated leather and fabric cutting solutions, Versalis® and Vector®.
Furniture retail sales deliver September growth; prices fall Furniture retail sales increased during September on both a monthly and annual comparison. According to the latest September 2018 figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the total value of furniture and lighting sales increased by 40% to £1.5bn from £1.07bn in August. The uplift saw marked a second successive month of growth with the figure the highest recorded so far this year. Compared to September 2017, furniture and lighting sales increased by 15.3% from £1.3bn. Floorcoverings retail sales also experienced a month of growth, with sales improving by 22.2% to £190.4m from £155.8m in August. Compared to the previous year, sales rose by 17.7% from £161.7m.
w www.lectra.com
In overall terms, the quantity bought in the retail industry during September increased by 3%. The total amount spent within retail during the month represented £39.6bn, up by 4.9% compared to September 2017.
MANUFACTURE
Online sales increased by 11% for the amount spent in September 2018 when compared with September 2017, with all sectors showing strong year-on-year growth.
NBF unveil new member The National Bed Federation (NBF) has announced its latest member. Duflex Foam Ltd has now joined the trade association as an Approved Member after successfully passing the stringent NBF Code of Practice audit.
26th October 2018 | 08
Castle Donington based Duflex Foam is part of the bedding division of the Belfield Furnishing Group along with USleep who are based in Ashton-Under-Lyme.
Furniture prices continued to fall in the year as overall inflation declined. According to the latest ONS figures, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for September saw the total furniture price rate decrease by -1.4% from -0.9% in August. Compared to the same month last year, furniture prices fell from a rate of 6.3%. Carpets and floorcovering price rate both decreased on an annual and monthly comparison, down to to 0.5% from 0.9%. On last month prices fell from 0.5% to a rate of 0.1%. Overall, the 12-month CPI inflation rate was 2.4% in September 2018, down from 2.7% in August 2018
w www.bedfed.org.uk w www.ons.gov.uk
FoR FULL SToRIES AND DAILy NEwS UpDATES: WWW.Cabinet-maker.Co.uk
aQO
RETAIL
MANUFACTURE
Home furnishings retailer looks to expand following acquisition
TExTILE MANUFACTURER LAUNChES RECyCLABLE BRAND
Investment firm Ramphastos has confirmed the acquisition of Dutch home furnishings retailer HEMA. Ramphastos, owned by Marcel Boekhoorn, will buy the business and its debt from Lion Capital with the focus to enable HEMA to pursue online growth through international expansion as well as ‘improving profitability during the next few years’. With Ramphastos as its new owner, HEMA will increase its investments in its core markets of the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as online and international expansion in side and outside Europe. HEMA is partnering with international operators, such as the Apparel Group in the Middle East . This is transforming HEMA from a retail chain in to an international brand, a statement said. Looking to develop this further, HEMA is looking for opportunities to increase the number of international partners with the aim of accelerating its expansion. Tjeerd Jegen, chief executive of HEMA, said: “I’m very pleased that Ramphastos is becoming the new owner of HEMA. This is the best scenario for HEMA, our customers, staff and franchisees. In recent years, Marcel Boekhoorn and his team have shown strong engagement with their portfolio companies, encouraged entrepreneurship and demonstrated a keen investment vision.”
w www.hemashop.com
Textile manufacturer Low & Bonar has announced the launch of its debut range of fully recyclable cushioning materials.
Designed to facilitate the production of eco-friendly mattresses, wheelchair cushions, furniture and similar products, the material serves as a performance-enhancing textile alternative to foam. Along with a number of prototypes of finished products, the innovation will be presented to the public on 23 October during a circulareconomy seminar at the Dutch Design Week, which takes place from 20-28 October in Eindhoven.
filament mats as well as multilayer composites consisting of two or more mats depending on the intended end-use. It will be marketed under the brand name Enkair®. Leo Smit, Low & Bonar’s venture leader advanced cushioning, said: “This material is an improved alternative to foam. Its open structure lets air flow freely and enables a healthy microclimate. Enkair can be washed in water. And it weighs only half as much as foam. Enkair’s unique soft pyramid-shaped filament structure conforms nicely to the body and provides excellent comfort.”
w www.lowandbonar.com
The new product range is based on Low & Bonar’s proprietary polymer 3D-spinning technology and comprises single continuous-
WHY SLEEP ON
MANMADE WHEN YOU CAN SLEEP ON
Platinum Enterprise (UK) Ltd T/A Sareer Furniture Savile Business Centre Mill Street East Dewsbury West Yorkshire WF12 9AH
26th October 2018 | 09
|ne w s RETAIL
MANUFACTURE
Sales near £200m at home furnishings retailer
Furniture supplier appoints logistics specialist
The UK parent company of furniture retailer Homesense has reported a decline in profits despite an increase in turnover. According to TJX UK’s latest filed accounts for the year ended 3 February 2018, total sales for the group that houses TK Maxx and Homesense rose 10.6% to £2.9bn from £2.6bn, the fourth consecutive year of sales over £2bn, with like-for-like store sales increasing 1%.
Commercial furniture supplier Tabilo has appointed transport specialist Speed of Welshpool as its logistics provider.
Within its Homesense division, sales rose 21% to £193.4m from £159.8m, as it continued to grow its UK presence, opening nine stores within the year, bringing its total estate to 53 stores across the UK. Sales across its main sector, TK Maxx, reported a growth of 11% to £2bn from £1.8bn as it grew its store portfolio by 14 to 337 in the year.
Speed Welshpool, a member of Palletways, has been appointed to handle a substantial volume of pallets every month, and input them into the Palletways network for delivery across the whole of the UK.
Stated within its report, the group said that it expects to open 11 new stores during this year.
Commenting on the appointment, Neil Owen, operations manager at Tabilo, said in a press statement: “We appreciate that Speed Welshpool is a part of the Palletways network, as the IT systems are a real game-
TJX UK is a subsidiary to TJX Europe Limited, with its ultimate parent Massachusetts-based TJX Companies Inc.
RETAIL
Gross profit also increased 1.7% to £422.5m from £414.8m, although pre-tax profit slipped 21% to £87.1m from £111.4m recorded last year.
w www.homesense.com
Soft furnishings firm to launch JFS 2019 exclusive
Launching at the 2019 January Furniture Show, which takes place from 20-23 January at the NEC in Birmingham, the company’s new seating brand is called AYLA. The brand features a collection set to challenge perceptions of furniture design with seven unique pieces due to be exclusively revealed at the show. Mark Dolder, managing director, said: “Bazaar Group has enjoyed significant growth over the past 11 years, and now sees a need for accessible and innovative design-led soft seating within the UK bricks and mortar furniture sector. We know that soft seating is an underdeveloped category, so we are delighted to be
26th October 2018 | 10
“Being connected to the network also offers a lot of opportunities for growth thanks to the wide geographical coverage of Palletways in the UK and Europe.”
w www.tabilo.co.uk
New store opening next month
MANUFACTURE
British soft furniture specialist Bazaar Group has announced it plans to launch a new seating concept next year.
changer. Consignments are easy to track, and ETA speeds up our handling of customer queries – which ultimately helps to achieve significant cost savings.
bringing this exciting offer to retailers. “We know we have a collection that differs from anything else in the market, that retailers and their customers are going to love, all packaged up in an efficient and flexible model for the buyer. “We are perfectly positioned to continue to carve out the soft seating category in the retail sector, bringing innovation to bricks and mortar stores and offering the retailer differentiation.”
w www.bazaar-group.uk
Danish homeware and furniture brand Søstrene Grene has confirmed it will open a new store next month. Situated in Main Street in Bangor, the new location will become the businesses third store in Northern Ireland and forms part of plans to expand its presence in the country to six. The new Bangor outlet will take over a former Dreams store and is set to officially open on 23 November 2018.
w www.sostrenegrene.com
MANUFACTURE
Visitors flock to furniture components event Organisers of furniture components and machinery show W Exhibition & Elements 2018 have revealed an increase in visitor numbers. A total of 9,200 visitors attended the event this year, an increase of 4%, whilst the show played host to 250 exhibitors, making the event its biggest footprint and largest exhibitor list to date. This year, there was a distinct shift towards intelligent machinery, with new concepts being introduced for today’s
furniture manufacturing industry. SCM UK’s Digital Hub and Maestro Digital Systems – which have been created in response to the latest industry 4.0 requirements - drew in the crowds as it showcased a new, smart approach to manufacturing.
w www.wexhibition.co.uk
aQO RETAIL
MANUFACTURE
EU mattress group restructures business as Q3 suffers
BED MANUFACTURER wINS SUSTAINABILITy AwARD AGAIN
Netherlands-based mattress business Beter Bed Holding has delivered a ‘mixed picture’ during its third quarter as it restructures its Matratzen Concord division. As part of its new strategic strategy, Beter Bed plans to reset the footprint and organisation of Matratzen Concord in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For over 30 years Matratzen Concord has been one of the leading suppliers of mattresses and box springs in their markets. Beter Bed Holding has decided to restructure its Matratzen Concord business. Matratzen Concord will reduce their HQ and support team by 64 employees, and will close 176 of around 1,000 stores by the end of 2018. At the same time, Matratzen Concord will invest in accelerating the omnichannel presence in its markets. This restructuring ensures that Matratzen Concord will regain its strength as a smart omnichannel discount chain in a future proof way. The restructuring will have a one-off cost impact of circa 8m euro on Matratzen Concord in Q4 2018, and is expected to have a structural EBIT benefit of circa 6m euro as of 2019. Beter Bed added that its third quarter trading update was ‘mixed’ with sales of 97.9m euro declining by 7.1% compared to Q3 2017. The decline was specifically caused by ‘the high temperatures resulting in lower retail traffic’.
w www.beterbed.nl
Lancashire bed manufacturer Silentnight has won The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Sustainability Award for the second year running.
Silentnight successfully demonstrated that its commitment to the environment was taken to the next level. Sponsored by waste management specialist HIPPO, the Sustainability Award recognises improvements in sustainability in relation to manufacturing of furniture and furnishings. It is based on principles provided by the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme, administered by the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA).
– and presented to a panel of industry experts, chaired by Ben Burbidge, Manufacturing Guild Mark chairman, at Furniture Makers’ Hall on 15 October 2018.
Ben Burbidge, Manufacturing Guild Mark chairman, said: “Silentnight showed quite convincingly that sustainability and environmental initiatives now run through the veins of the business, from colleague driven initiatives to be a single use plastic free site by the end of 2018 to new eco product launches and high profile advertising campaigns.”
w www.silentnight.co.uk
Three companies were shortlisted for the award – Jay-Be, Martek and Silentnight
BED UPHOLSTERY REDEFINED
www.oliverandsonsuk.com Please register your guarantee within 30 days for it to be activated
44 (0) 800 083 0683
#oliverandsonsuk
oliverandsonsuk
www.oliverandsonsuk.com
oliverandsonsuk
oliverandsonsuk
info@oliverandsonsuk.com
#please-sir-can-i-sleep-more
26th October 2018 | 11
|ne w s RETAIL
MANUFACTURE
Independent shortlisted for business award
Profits jump 60% at bedding manufacturer as sales rise
Family business Sussex Beds has been nominated as a finalist in the Eastbourne Business Awards 2018.
Bedding products manufacturer Comfy Quilts has reported a growth in both its top and bottom lines. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 January 2018, total sales returned to growth, up by 8.7% to £74.9m from £68.9m in 2017.
Sussex Beds, which has eight stores across the South East, has been shortlisted in the Retailer category of the annual event. Steve Pickering, managing director of Sussex Beds, said: “Being announced as a finalist for these local awards means so much to us. As a family company, we like to ensure that our customers receive the best possible service from us. “We have been serving the South East for a long time so being recognised - when so many high-street retailers are struggling – has been very uplifting. We hope to win this award for the whole of the Sussex Beds team and our wonderful customers, past, present and future.” The finals will be held at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne on 2 November.
Last year sales were impacted by the collapse of BHS, which was a major customer within its imported bedlinens division, with the reported year benefiting from new projects being introduced.
UK sales, its core market, rose 8.5% to £74.7m from £68.8m, as did sales from the EU, up by 16.8% to £208,847 from £178,207. Gross profit increased 16.6% to £18.9m from £16.2m, whilst pre-tax profit increased 61.1% to £2.9m from £1.8m last year. The reported pre-tax profit was its highest figure since 2012 when it recorded a pre-tax profit of over £2m.
w www.comfyquilts.co.uk
w www.sussexbedcentre.co.uk
MANUFACTURE MANUFACTURE
Losses widen at furniture specialist
Office furniture maker secures new funding Office furniture designer and manufacturer Gresham Office Furniture has secured new funding to boost efficiencies. Gresham Office Furniture secured a six-figure funding package from HSBC UK, with the money to be put towards improving its 200,000sq ft head office in Bolton.
efficiency process, as well as reducing its overall gas consumption. The investment is understood to allow the business to save around six-figures over the next three years.
w www.gof.co.uk
The business plans to install a new low carbon industrial biomass boiler to increase
RETAIL
Department store continues to grow Norfolk department store retailer Jarrold & Sons has reported a fifth successive rise in turnover. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 28 January 2018, total sales grew by 0.6% to £31.8m from £31.6m in 2017. Pre-tax profit resulted at £9m, improving from its loss of £2.7m last year. During the year under review, the company said that its online retail division delivered a strong performance due to an expanding product range and improved appearance and functionality. Jarrolds added that it has also grown its digital marketing and social media platforms to enable the business to connect with new customers as the internet continues to ‘disrupt’ high street trading.
w www.jarrold.co.uk 26th October 2018 | 12
North East furniture manufacturer Godfrey Syrett has reported a growth in turnover as losses widened. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017, total sales rose 11.3% to £29.4m from £26.4m in 2016. Gross profit increased 28.2% to £5.9m from £4.6m, whilst pre-tax losses widened to £846,374 compared to its loss of £598,784 the previous year. Detailed within its report, the company said that exceptional provisions for ‘obsolete stock and bad debt’ impacted its bottom line.
Godfrey Syrett added that certain sectors have become more ‘price sensitive’ during the year, which included the NHS and education markets. Moving forward, the company secured fresh investment via a working capital facility from IGF Ltd to a value of £5.25m and by Dolbia Ltd acquiring 100% of the share capital.
w www.godfreysyrett.co.uk
MANUFACTURE
Furniture business expands sales team Oak furniture manufacturer and distributor Fortune Woods has expanded its sales team with two new appointments. Paul Ridgway has joined the business as its new North East of England sales agent. Paul has been involved in the furniture industry for many years, most notably his 22 years as store manager at Stokers. Andrew Cavaciuti has also joined the business as a sales
agent and is responsible for accounts in Wales, Chester, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Wiltshire. Andrew brings to the team his many years of experience in the cabinet furniture industry, including 12 years at Furniture Origins.
w www.fortunewoods.co.uk
aQO RETAIL
MANUFACTURE
Logistics firm expands fleet with green approach
BED MANUFACTURER SIGNS ARMED FoRCES CovENANT
Logistics specialist Clipper has expanded its fleet of vehicles designed to reduce carbon emissions.
British bed manufacturer Hypnos has formally signed the Armed Forces Covenant at an event attended by senior figures at the company’s Princes Risborough showroom.
Clipper Logistics, which provides services to the retail sector with clients including John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Westwing, has introduced 11 new vehicles and 16 trailers into its fleet. The new vehicles, powered by LNG (Liquid Natural Gas), each save an estimated 47 tonnes of CO2 per annum, resulting in a saving of over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. The new vehicles also have a range of 1,500km – double that of a diesel vehicle. Combined, the new vehicles and trailers also have the capacity to reduce trunking requirements by 20%. Clipper partnered with Northern Commercials and IVECO to find a vehicle model, whilst the double decker trailers were sourced through Don Bur and TIP. This collaborative partnership ensured that Clipper vehicles were not only quieter and cleaner, but designed to use the largest trailers permitted on UK roads. Tony Mannix, CEO of Clipper Logistics, added: “We are delighted with the addition of these new vehicles and trailers to our fleet. They are the largest and most environmentally conscious in the industry, demonstrating our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment across all areas of our business.”
w www.clippergroup.co.uk
those who leave the Armed Services. Hypnos has formally promised to provide flexible employment opportunities that allow Reservists to train or to deploy.
As part of Hypnos’ commitment, the company has pledged to take a flexible approach to recruitment that recognises the unique experiences and skills of those involved in the Armed Forces community.
Furthermore, the company aims to attract veterans to Hypnos who leave the services, as well as cadets who may not ultimately take up an Armed Forces career.
The Armed Forces Covenant represents a promise that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.
By signing this agreement, Hypnos has also pledged to provide training and development for Armed Forces personnel and offer support for those looking for a new career at the company.
Signed by businesses, charities and public sector organisations, pledges can range from discounts on products to training and workplace opportunities for
w www.hypnosbeds.com
Established in 1988, CIMC Ltd is a leading provider of furniture, lighting and accessories in the UK. Explore our new furniture and lighting collections for Autumn 2018. For further information visit our showroom or contact us on: 01162875288 www.CIMChome.com
NOW RECRUITING National Business Development Manager Attractive Salary & Bonus Structure, Company Car, Phone etc... (OTE Yr. 1: £35 - £45k).
Florence
COLLECTION
Regional Sales Manager for Scotland & N. England Attractive Salary & Bonus Structure, Company Car, Phone etc… (OTE Yr. 1: £35 - £45k). Email CV to: careers@cimc-lighting.co.uk
26th October 2018 | 13
Modern design. Home comfort.
Discover the new stylish Lisbon range, featuring a discreet new mechanism for contemporary styling, with all the benefits of a recliner. Exclusive fabrics and patterns available, in addition to our full fabric and leather range, ensuring even greater choice for your customers.
Lisbon
F E A T U R E |R o S S I N I
FELLINI
Cabinet Maker sits down with Luigi Segreto, export manager at Italian upholstery manufacturer Rossini, who details their latest company updates.
After what has been a busy year for Rossini, the Italian upholstery manufacturer doesn’t plan on sitting down for too long but rather capitalise on the momentum they have generated. In fact, overall business has grown compared to last year, which has been vastly delivered from its expansion into new markets, as Luigi Segreto, export manager at Rossini, explains to Cabinet Maker: “The overall business of this year is good as our figures show an increase compared to 2017. This due to the fact we have and are still expanding our markets and gaining shares. “The increase is also thanks to the investments made by the company in terms of attending new exhibitions, such as Shanghai last September that brought to the company visibility in the Far East, especially in the Chinese market, where the demand of ‘MADE IN ITALY’ products is increasing year-on-year. The attendance of the show was really good and we gained many new accounts, not only in China, but also in Korea, Lebanon, France and the UK.” Luigi went on to say how important the Chinese market has become to the business with consumers perceiving Italian products
26th October 2018 | 16
in a different way, a real ‘status symbol’. Recapping on the show, Luigi said that it met all expectations: “The show was great for us, as we had a lot of customers visiting our stands and ordering models for their stores. We took our Atene & Chic models with us to showcase due to the new stitching details. Our Fellini range was brand new and the Smart range received a very good reaction. We will definitely attend again as the margins of growth in the Chinese market are huge.” Celebrating its success, the company has already begun working on new models, new coverings and new styles to adapt to changing trends across the different markets it operates in. Luigi said it is of ‘great importance’ to be able to ‘satisfy the various demands we receive worldwide’ with its product offer as each consumer has their own needs to be adhered too. Not only are market trends a constant challenge for the business, but also the different markets present different pictures in terms of trading. Luigi said: “The current situation of the upholstery markets is different from market to market as some of them are still facing recession and some others are showing signs of recovery.”
f o r F ull st o ries and dail y ne w s u p dates : W W W . C a b i n e t - m a k e r . c o . u k
With 2018 almost behind the business, the focus moves onto the year ahead with Rossini targeting maximum energy on the Cologne show in January. “In the New Year we will definitely show in Cologne, Milan and Shanghai. We are also considering other shows to add to those throughout the year with the UK a potential destination,” Luigi said, continuing: “However, at present, our focus is 100% for the Cologne show in January 2019, which will be the very first important show opening the year. Looking further ahead, the company has banished any type of Brexit blues, firmly stating that it is not scared of what will happen next year. Luigi concluded: “We’re not afraid of Brexit at all; trade will still continue as it was. We have taken on a few new accounts in France, the UK and Belgium, with new agencies in Spain, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. We will continue to maintain our momentum of growth and rise to any potential challenge that comes our way. We are excited for what the future holds.”
aQO
“The overall
business of this year is good aS our figures show
an increase
compared to 2017.”
w www.rossinisofas.it
Smart amb
26th October 2018 | 17
F E A T U R E |B E L F I E L D
Tetrad
Stephen Hampton, chief executive officer at Belfield, reflects on his career ahead of his impending retirement with an exclusive Q&A with Cabinet Maker. When was Belfield established and where did the company come from? Belfield was established in the Summer of 2002, based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, essentially as a manufacturer and supplier of furnishings for the Caravan and Holiday Home market. It was a greenfield start-up by Paul Millership who several years before had sold Beauvale Furnishings Ltd, also a Caravan and Holiday Home supplier. I joined Belfield as CEO in January 2004 when the Company was in its infancy. Can you recall the early days? What happened in the beginning? In the early days the Business grew to around £25-30m turnover per annum, essentially in the caravan market, but also established a small curtain operation and a small operation supplying chairs and similar products to IKEA. What would you say are some key notable moments? Since 2002 the Group has grown to over £200m turnover per annum. Notable moments along this journey were: 2004 - Established Westbridge Furniture Designs Ltd as a greenfield start-up operation in North Wales, supplying upholstered 26th October 2018 | 18
Stephen Hampton (Right) joined as CEO back in 2004 furniture, initially, to NEXT and M&S.
2016 - MBO backed by North Edge Capital.
2005 - Purchased Deeside Furniture out of the Christie-Tyler receivership.
2017 - Acquired Tetrad.
2009 - Converted Duflex from a polyurethane foam manufacturer into a foam mattress manufacturer. 2013 - Established a third upholstered furniture site in North Wales supplying IKEA.
2018 - Established USleep as our second mattress manufacturing facility. All these milestones have enabled the Group to grow to over £200m turnover and to become the largest upholstered furniture manufacturer in the UK.
FoR FULL SToRIES AND DAILy NEwS UpDATES: WWW.Cabinet-maker.Co.uk
Were there any disasters along the way? If so, what were these and how did you overcome them? Our biggest disappointment was, for a variety of reasons, not being successful in polyurethane foam manufacture. This was overcome by developing the facility into a mattress manufacturing facility which has now reached the milestone of manufacturing 20k mattresses per week. What lessons have you learned in your time? To keep very close to your customer and to invest heavily in design and manufacturing excellence, as well as to surround yourself with excellent people. How long have you served as CEO of Belfield and what other roles have you seen through your tenure? I have served as CEO of Belfield since joining the business in January 2004. Prior to that, I spent a very enjoyable 20 years with the Christie-Tyler Group, working in several subsidiaries and eventually becoming COO and then for a short time CEO. What does the future look like for Belfield? The Belfield Group has a very strong team, many of whom have been within the Business and indeed have worked with me for over 25/30 years, therefore it is in
very good hands. I am sure my successor, Gary Lasham, will continue to lead the team successfully and drive the Business forward. Belfield operates in four different marketplaces and is therefore a well balanced portfolio of businesses, all of which have tremendous potential. What advice would you pass on to your successor? That the business is essentially about products and people and you need to look after both. What do you plan to do in your retirement? I plan to spend time travelling and with my wife and family. I am trying to learn to play golf and I will continue to follow my favourite football team in their pursuit to win the Champions League - in case you are wondering that is Manchester City!
aQO
“ThE BUSINESS IS ESSENTIALLy ABoUT pRoDUCTS AND pEopLE AND yoU NEED To Look AFTER BoTh.”
What will you miss the most? The people, be it suppliers, customers or colleagues. What won’t you miss? Getting out of bed at 06:00 (or earlier) every morning!
w www.thebelfieldgroup.com Westbridge HQ
Design process at Westbridge 26th October 2018 | 19
F E A T U R E |h y D E L I N E
Michael Sheedy, European sales manager at Hydeline, speaks to Cabinet Maker on their rapid growth and future expansion plans.
Challenging conditions has been a common phrase for most during this year, which can only be described as turbulent. When Cabinet Maker caught up with Michael Sheedy, European sales manager at Hydeline, the analogy was echoed but not absorbed. For Hydeline, 2018 has been another year of ‘rapid growth’ with momentum not looking to slow up any time soon. “Despite difficult trading conditions business has been excellent so far this year,” revealed Michael, continuing: “Building on an increase in turnover in the region of 250% last year we are on course to double turnover this year and the target is to repeat that again in 2019. “The Hydeline brand, recognised for excellence in comfort and innovation, is developing very well in the UK and Ireland. We launched a number of fixed models at the January Furniture Show earlier this year with our Buckingham chesterfield model receiving rave reviews and excellent order levels. Repeat orders have been extremely good also with the model being widely described as being the most comfortable chesterfield sofa on the market. Other fixed models launched in January are also performing very well and this will be an area of significant growth for us in the years ahead,” Michael said. Part of a global manufacturing and supply structure, Hydeline’s success has been down to a number of key factors. Michael told Cabinet Maker that its expertise in seating design and innovative reclining technology 26th October 2018 | 20
Buckingham has been recognised throughout its sector. The business boasts exceptional levels of craftsmanship, the use of high quality materials and components, as well as a unique supply chain structure that offers a made-to-order service and prompt delivery from stock. Michael explained: “Having focused on the reclining sector to date, our power adjustable headrests, memory functions and power adjustable lumbar support features are setting new standards for innovation. Only Leggett and Platt mechanisms and Okin motors are used and warranties are among the best on the market today.” Delivering a product is one key cog in the business wheel, with the other being its staff. The business is family owned with Jonathon
Tan heading up the European operation from the Milton Keynes head office. Adding to the UK base is a complete structure including admin, account management, service and logistics, with the business also expanding its sales team. Michael revealed: “We have recently appointed Gary Birch as an agent for London and the South East to complete our UK sales team. We have also appointed a creative director recently and are in the process of appointing a general manager to manage the ever increasing operation in the UK and Europe in the years ahead.” Expansion into Europe? “In the coming months we will have very exciting news in terms of the brands further development, not only in the UK but also launching in continental Europe from January 2019. The new brand will launch at both IMM Cologne
FoR FULL SToRIES AND DAILy NEwS UpDATES: WWW.Cabinet-maker.Co.uk
aQO
Richmond
and the January Furniture Show at the NEC. An exciting new international lifestyle brand is in the offing and we are sure that both existing and new customers alike will be excited come launch day,” Michael unveiled. Undoubtedly this launch will include new models, which are being created by Hydeline’s new creative team, with plans already in place to develop POS materials and in store galleries ‘in the not too distant future’. And it doesn’t stop there. To combat the increased growth – and forecasted potential – Hydeline is planning to expand its production capacity with the construction of two new factories. Michael tells us: “Recent significant increases in sales both in the UK and also in the US where our sister company have a significant presence has obviously put increasing pressure on production capacity at our Dongguan manufacturing facility. “To resolve this and plan for future development the company has recently entered a joint venture arrangement to build two new factories over the next two years. Production has already begun at one of these with construction of the second facility set to commence early next year. The total investment is in the region of £25m, which will provide the production capacity for our ambitious growth plans.” Reverting back to the previous statement of ‘challenging conditions’, Hydeline’s approach is nothing short of committed. The business has a clear plan to maintain its accelerated growth trajectory, with the new brand looking to play a key role and buck the trend in the face of a difficult market. “As everyone in the trade has no doubt experienced, trading conditions for the first half of 2018 were
Billingham
challenging and the effects were seen on the high street with some significant casualties,” Michael said, adding: “But our focus is firmly on producing a really high quality product offering through an extremely efficient supply chain with excellent customer service. This results in excellent value for money for the retailer and ultimately the end user and at the end of the day that is what today’s consumer really wants. “The unique quality of our business is obviously a key ingredient in our success to date. The new brand will move us into the next phase of our development and a continuous flow of commercially designed models will help grow the business into the future. We are really looking forward to presenting this to new and existing customers next January.”
w www.hydeline.co.uk
“wE ARE oN CoURSE To DoUBLE TURNovER ThIS yEAR AND ThE TARGET IS To REpEAT ThAT AGAIN IN 2019.” 26th October 2018 | 21
F E A T U R E |B A Z A A R
Allison Chatten, head of design at soft seating manufacturer Bazaar Group, speaks to Cabinet Maker on their first instore retail offering.
Below: Mark and Jayne Dolder “We have an unrestricted approach to design, we don’t think of a chair as four legs and a platform, and that gives us a huge amount of freedom.” Allison Chatten, head of design at soft seating manufacturer Bazaar Group, believes the company will be turning heads at the 2019 January Furniture Show (Birmingham NEC on January 20-23) when it launches its first in-store retail brand AYLA. Bazaar Group is a hugely successful and leading company in the soft seating category. It has grown from humble beginnings in 2005, when founder and creative director Jayne Dolder began designing contemporary soft seating and selling to family and friends, to now operating from a 42,000sq ft manufacturing and commercial premises in Northumberland. Allison explains: “For AYLA we have a human-centred approach to design – we started by looking at how people move, feel and interact with their living space in today’s urban world. “At the January Furniture Show, we intend to embrace furniture design from a soft seating perspective, free of the restrictions of traditional forms and categories, launching seven innovative new designs. 26th October 2018 | 22
“We know that 83% of the UK population are now living in urban areas*, and the average floor area of a flat in England and Wales is a mere 49m sq, so there is a need for design innovation that is desirable, comfortable and practical for urban consumers.
“Gone are the days of a separate dining room, playroom, living room and office! Space is constantly restricted by hard lines and fixed furniture, and yet spaces must be able to adapt to their different uses throughout the day. We wanted to echo life’s
FoR FULL SToRIES AND DAILy NEwS UpDATES: WWW.Cabinet-maker.Co.uk
aQO
“ AT ThE JANUARy FURNITURE Show, wE INTEND To EMBRACE FURNITURE DESIGN FRoM A SoFT SEATING pERSpECTIvE, FREE oF ThE RESTRICTIoNS oF TRADITIoNAL FoRMS AND CATEGoRIES, LAUNChING SEvEN INNovATIvE NEw DESIGNS.”
Bazaar head office in Northumberland
dynamism with flexible pieces that can be easily moved from room to room, without sacrificing on design and comfort.”
have been able to create striking pieces of furniture that interact harmoniously with the individual and their environment.”
Perhaps the most innovative approach to the pieces was not allowing production to dictate how the pieces would look and feel.
Bazaar Group now has a multi-million pound turnover, is self-funded and around five percent of households in the UK own at least one of its products.
Said Allison: “The designs were about creating a total experience – focusing on space, place, occasion and people first and foremost. ‘Design’ in its purest sense followed, sketching shape to create a mood, look and feel that is in tune with the needs of modern life. To create an inviting atmosphere, and to offer support and comfort in multiple seating positions, curves were an essential design element, which was challenging to achieve. However, we really didn’t want production methods to limit our creativity. “Shapes and form came first, then the construction methods. Rather than sacrificing the overall experience by shaving off a corner here or flattening a curve there, we looked at different ways to ensure the pieces kept their fluid shape. “By fusing our human centred approach to design with the knowledge of expert upholsterers and furniture manufacturers, we
Said Allison: “We see a real opportunity in the bricks and mortar market for well designed pieces of soft seating, which is an underdeveloped category despite its growing relevance for consumers in today’s urban world.” The collection will be kept under wraps until JFS, but AYLA is described as ‘accessible, design centric soft seating with an innovative approach to design’. Bazaar Group’s slick logistics operation offers some major advantages for retailers with a range of delivery options all negating the need to carry stock. Said Allison: “AYLA rebalances the human element in furniture design, and challenges the myth that the design of a chair begins with four wooden legs and a platform.”
ThE BAZAAR GRoUp IS A LEADING SoFT SEATING MANUFACTURER BASED IN NoRThUMBERLAND. AS wELL AS AyLA, ThE BAZAAR GRoUp’S BRANDS INCLUDE ICoN, EDEN LEARNING SpACES, BAMBEANo AND LEDA.
w www.bazaar-group.uk 26th October 2018 | 23
CLASSIFIED
NOW RECRUITING CIMC has been established for over 30 years and is one of the leading suppliers of furniture, lighting, and home accents in the UK. We have the following two exciting opportunities that have arisen for our company.
Regional Sales Manager for Scotland & N. England-Attractive Salary & Bonus Structure, Company Car, Phone etc… (OTE Yr. 1: £35 - £45k). Key responsibilities •Responsible for growth & development of our established customer base within Scotland and N. England •Open quality new customers (both bricks & mortar and online retailers) within the furniture and home industry. •Meet or exceed sales objectives and sales and revenue targets •Build effective trading relationships with key decision makers
Requirements •At least 3 years’ experience in sales within the furniture & home interiors industry •Reasonable IT skills: Microsoft Outlook / Excel / Word / PowerPoint / Social media platforms •Proven track record of selling a full portfolio of products •Ability to build and develop relationships at every level •Confident, persuasive, with a ‘can do’ attitude Email CV to: careers@cimc-lighting.co.uk
National Business Development Manager - Attractive Salary & Bonus Structure, Company Car, Phone etc… (OTE Yr. 1: £35 - £45k). This role requires a field based sales manager to specifically develop independent furniture stores throughout the UK. The candidate must be familiar with the furniture industry and can make quick in roads with good quality furniture retailers. We are currently working with quality retailers such as Fishpools, Barker Stonehouse, Stokers to name a few and are looking to develop and grow these accounts as well as opening more furniture stores with a similar pedigree.
Requirements •At least 3 years’ experience in sales within the furniture industry and a proven history working with strong independent retailers (both bricks & mortar and Online sellers) •Proven track record of selling a full portfolio of products •Ability to build and develop relationships at every level •Reasonable IT skills: Microsoft Outlook / Excel / Word / PowerPoint / Social media platforms •Confident, persuasive, with a ‘can do’ attitude Email CV to: careers@cimc-lighting.co.uk
26th October 2018 | 24
CLASSIFIED
TO ADVERTISE A JOB PLEASE CONTACT KACEM Q 01223 846825 m KACEM@CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK
TRADE ASSOCIATION MEMBER
TRADE ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATE MEMBER
TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRY
British Furniture Manufacturers British Furniture Manufacturers British Furniture Manufacturers
The Furniture Makers’ Company the furnishing industry’s charity
WE CAN HELP YOU
Things don’t always follow the design
Life
There may be times you need
have in mind
often throw some curve balls
We will always be there for
The Furniture Makers’ Company has been supporting the welfare of employees in the interiors and furnishing industry for more than 100 years. If you or someone you know is in need of financial support, let us help. Visit our website www.furnituremakers.org.uk/assistance or contact 020 7256 5558
This advertising space was generously donated by Cabinet Maker magazine in support of The Furniture Makers’ Company’s welfare campaign. The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers’ Charitable Funds incorporating the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1015519) and a registered company (no. 02759359) in England and Wales
Welfare FX half page.indd 1
26th October 2018 | 25 12/10/2017 15:12
LAST WORD NICK WILLIAMS, SALES MANAGER AT SWEET DREAMS YOUR ADJUSTABLE FRIEND: WHY THE ADVANTAGES OF SELLING ADJUSTABLE BEDS JUSTIFY A CHANGE IN POSITION Adjustable bed frames are staging a comeback. Long associated with hospitals and classic infomercials, the adjustable bed frame has always done exactly what its name says — it adjusts your mattress to lift and lower your head, feet, or both — but it’s only in recent years that consumer interest in the ergonomic bed accessory began rising.
“CUSToM CoMFoRT MEANS ThAT pEopLE GET To ENJoy A CoNFIGURATIoN ThAT pRECISELy FITS ThEIR BoDy’S wANTS AND NEEDS, AND who woULDN’T wANT ThAT?“
DGM ASHLEY MANOR TRADE FURNITURE CO
The health and comfort benefits of an adjustable bed frame are considerable. You can relieve lower back pain and swollen legs by elevating your feet, or prevent snoring and relieve acid reflux by elevating your head. Students and remote workers can study and work all day comfortably in bed, while anyone can unwind watching TV or reading without straining their bodies. Split bed frames allow people to enjoy a particular resting position without disturbing their partners. Custom comfort means that people get to enjoy a configuration that precisely fits their body’s wants and needs, and who wouldn’t want that? Not surprisingly, perhaps, here at Sweet Dreams we’re seeing a sharp increase in the sales of adjustable beds. One factor is to do with more comfortable nights. UK consumers in general are beginning to realise that adjustables can help them get a better night’s sleep by allowing them to find a more comfortable sleeping position.
Then there’s the older generation and the grey pound. With people living longer and remaining in their own homes even while affected by conditions often associated with ageing, there certainly is an appetite in this significant consumer group with its larger spending power for an adjustable bed and all its benefits. Adjustable beds can help those with back pain, sciatica and arthritis and more, helping them to find a more comfortable sleeping position. Mobility problems and muscle weakness are managed by making it easier to get in and out of bed, and an adjustable bed can really help by reducing pressure points – it’s so easy to change position at the push of a button. In our collection for 2018-19, we have introduced adjustable beds using a wide range of mattress materials such as latex, reflex and memory foam. For the first time, we’ve added a 120cm adjustable bed for single people who need more space. Adjustable beds are a growing market that the canny bed retailer would be wise to make room for.
TO HAVE YOUR LAST WORD OR OPINION PLEASE CONTACT DAN@CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK
A further factor is to do with lifestyle for younger people – work and play on the laptop or tablet can just as easily be accomplished in a warm and cosy bed as on a sofa.
DONT MISS NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE
IN THE MEANTIME CHECK OUT THE DAILY NEWS ON LINE >>>
26th October 2018 | 26
By order of Chris Pole and Mark Orton of KPMG Joint Administrators of The Quality Furniture Company Limited Online Public Auction: Range of Woodworking Machinery, Racking, Raw Material Stock & General Plant
Key Assets 2014 Morbidelli Universal 3615 CNC Router, 2012 HOLZMA HPP 380 Profiline Beam Saw, 2013 Proficut x 50 Cross Cut Machine, 2012 Proficut X50 Plus Cross Cut Machine, 2012 Salvado Super Push Cross Cut Machine, 2013 SCM SI300 Nova Panel Saw, 2012 Felder K915/06 431.04.500.12 Panel Saw, SCM SI300S Panel Saw, 2009 Fluidair Model VS40 Compressor plus other assets Sale Online: Friday 26th October Public Viewing: Wednesday 7th November, 9am - 3pm Auction Ends: Friday 9th November, from 1pm Payment & Collection Deadline: Friday 26th November
Viewing Location: The Quality Furniture Company Limited Alma Park Rd, Grantham NG31 9SE
FURTHER AUCTION TO FOLLOW FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY & OVER 200 SOFAS www.Johnpye.co.uk
0115 970 6060
26th October 2018 | 27