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READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE The results are in! Our inaugural Reader’s Choice Awards, launched back in May’s issue, asked the trade to nominate their top suppliers, and the industry’s response was phenomenal. The result – an inspiring, revealing and credible roll-call of the businesses that truly excelled in the past year …
IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE THE SUPPLIERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THEIR CUSTOMERS AND PROVED THEIR WORTH, TIME AND AGAIN, OVER THE PAST YEAR
No-one needs reminding how difficult the past year and a half has been for the furniture industry. But, despite the obstacles before them, many of the trade’s manufacturers, suppliers and service providers have performed admirably – and some have truly shone, distinguishing themselves as among the best in the business. Furniture News introduced the Reader’s Choice Awards this year in a bid to recognise those businesses which truly came through for its readers during one of the most turbulent periods in their history. Perhaps a supplier pulled out all the stops to ensure that important delivery made it through. Maybe their innovations met customer demand better than any could have expected, or perhaps they demonstrated financial compassion during hard times. Whatever the reason, every business can recognise that there are some partners that they simply wouldn’t – or couldn’t – do without. The sheer number of votes cast is testament to a trade keen to make its
Julian Cox, AIS
Best Buying Group/Association: AIS (p24) “The last 16 months have undoubtedly been a huge challenge, and this win is a great endorsement of the value that AIS brings to its members and suppliers,” says the buying group’s director of furniture, Julian Cox. “We’d like to take this opportunity to also send our thanks to our valued AIS members and suppliers for their support during this challenging period.” Best Bed/Mattress Supplier: Sleepeezee (p28) “Receiving this award is testament to the hard work of the Sleepeezee team, and a reflection of the work that’s gone into making Sleepeezee a household
Sponsored by
voice heard. This year’s sponsor, January Furniture Show, helped spread the word, encouraging even professionals to get involved. Zoë Bonser, director of Clarion’s Retail portfolio, commented: “Now is the perfect time to showcase and celebrate all of the suppliers and service providers who have supported their customers and proved their worth, time and again, over the past year. “Every business will be thankful for the partnerships that helped, and continue to help them negotiate all this disruption, and, together with Furniture News, we’re looking forward to finding out which ones mattered most.” Well, without any more ado, here are the businesses which made the grade. Well done to all of them – they are truly deserving of your business.
name,” says MD Steve Warren. “We’ve been focusing on key areas such as new product development – including the expanded Jessica Range, in partnership with brand ambassador Jessica EnnisHill, whereby we support The Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity with a donation for every bed sold. “Just recently we introduced solar panels to our factory site as part of our sustainability plan to reduce our carbon footprint, and we have launched a brandnew website to provide an even better online experience for our customers. Since the start of the pandemic, we have all pulled together admirably – and safely – and I can now say we are operating at full capacity after a most challenging time for everyone.
