Living / 46 Bedroom / 62 Trade services

PEACE OF MIND

GUARANTEED

At La-Z-Boy UK, products are built to last with a 10-year limited warranty as standard – but the brand’s commitment to quality and delivering exceptional customer service does not end once each sofa or chair is manufactured and sold …

www.la-z-boy.co.uk

Lawton

Spectator

La-Z-Boy UK provides a comprehensive aftersales care and repair service to ensure complete satisfaction and to extend the life of its products.

La-Z-Boy UK works with a number of approved and trusted partners nationwide, which have been tasked with servicing all the brand’s furniture in the UK and carrying out repairs when needed. Depending on the furniture concern in question and the customer’s location, a suitable service partner can be appointed to resolve the majority of issues, states the manufacturer.

The company’s network of trusted partners means that both customers and retailers can feel confident that any concerns which may arise with a product will be resolved quickly and to a high standard by an independent technician. Each recliner, sofa and chair is manufactured to an extremely high standard, says La-Z-Boy UK, so problems are not commonplace – but the servicing and repair service offers peace of mind to both La-Z-Boy stockists and the end-customer.

All technicians have been fully trained to make sure they have all the knowledge and skills required to repair and service all La-Z-Boy UK products, from both the current range and the older collections.

When a customer reports a problem with their La-Z-Boy product, the retailer can send through a service request form and the issue will then be resolved in the most effective way possible. Servicing is available too on products which have been owned for more than a year, but a call-out fee of £50 + VAT is payable.

La-Z-Boy UK also works hard to supply spare parts – providing they are still available – and the company is rolling out a number of aftersales accessories such as care kits and lithium-ion batteries to enhance the customer’s experience of the product.

All this allows retailers to sell the brand with confidence, knowing that customers will be able to enjoy their chair or sofa for many years to come

Abstract Blue

LOUIS DE POORTERE

www.louisdepoortere.com

The Gallery Collection from Louis de Poortere brings colourful and modern works of art to well-made rugs. Whether hanging as a wall tapestry or softening the block parquet floor of a stylish living space, The Gallery Collection is unmistakably midcentury modern. Inspired by the works of famous artists such as Pollock, Picasso and Mondrian, the rug collection brings bold and energising statement designs that are suitable for any homes inspired by the popular interior decoration style.

Best described as high-design rugs, the collection comprises Abstract Blue, Orange Drip, Scroll, Faces, Fantasy, Dorado and Street Graph. Each design homages a specific artist, and is available in a range of standard rug sizes, as well as a special ‘tapestry’ size measuring 100 x 140cm for wall hanging.

Sales director Alan Russell says: “Our designers have thrown caution to the wind with The Gallery Collection and created some truly beautiful pieces that feel more like art.”

LA-Z-BOY UK

www.la-z-boy.co.uk

La-Z-Boy UK’s new Lawton range is an off-the-floor design that promises to turn heads in the showroom. Set to be popular with a wide range of consumers, its discreet recline mechanism offers style alongside comfort.

Shoppers can visualise products in their own homes with the new augmented reality (AR) tool on La-Z-Boy UK’s website.

HOME JUNCTION

www.homejunction.co.uk

“Just because summer is technically over, it doesn’t mean you need to put your garden sets away (or cover them up with our Home Junction rain covers) until next spring,” states the supplier.

“Make the most of your outdoor living spaces by adding in some of the beautiful new heaters from our sister brand Fogo & Chama, to keep those evenings outside warm and cosy! This year’s model is finished in stainless steel, and comes with a colour-changing light and a Bluetoothconnected speaker, bringing the heat and the party outside!”

Throughout September, Home Junction is offering a free heater with every new set sold (see the brand’s website for full T&Cs).

GIVING SLEEP A GREEN LIGHT

Simba has unveiled Green Organic (GO), its most organic mattress to date – at a time in which sleep quality has never been more important, the brand reports …

www.simbasleep.com

Studies have shown that two out of every three adults experienced a decline in sleep quality since the start of the pandemic, states Simba – and that getting less than six hours of quality sleep a night doubles the risk of cancer, while poor sleep is the biggest single cause of mental health issues.

Simba says that these findings are frightening, when one considers that 44% of the UK population say they struggle with sleep, 64% of poor sleepers have at least one physical health disorder, and 48% of adults and two-thirds of teenagers (66%) agree that sleeping badly has a negative effect on their mental health.

Championing advances in sustainable sleep architecture, and challenging its engineers to balance smart design, technology and nature to generate a lower-impact mattress with half the carbon emissions of a traditional hybrid mattress, Simba has unveiled the Green Organic (GO).

Handmade from naturally biodegradable, renewable or recycled materials, Simba’s most organic mattress to date is striving to make the planet a better place, one sleep at a time. The Simba GO blends six layers of sustainable, organic materials with technologically advanced ones – all in “cool, comfortable, sustainable harmony”.

Believing that a better-rested population will be happier and develop less health issues over time, Simba’s head of sustainability, Emma Reid, says it is clear that “what’s good for our health must also be good for the planet. Today, our mission is to not only be the most innovative sleep tech brand in the world, but also the most responsible”.

Simba’s ambition has always been much more than selling the most comfortable and innovative mattress – and the brand has always wanted to offer the world a greater service, with the firm belief that everyone has the right to a good night’s sleep.

“Our design promise is to deliver cutting-edge sleep technology that helps counter the disastrous health effects of poor sleep and improve the daily life and health of every sleeper around the world,” says Emma.

“While all Simba mattresses are 100% recyclable, we have consciously designed the Simba GO with a view to making the whole disassembling and recycling process even easier. It’s another important step for Simba towards being circular”

SMOOTH AND SUSTAINABLE

With a mission to create sounder sleep solutions for people and the planet, Millbrook Beds is forging new directions in sustainable mattresses and recycling solutions …

www.millbrook-beds.co.uk

SmoothTech is a collection of chemical and foam free mattresses by Millbrook Beds which offers a range of tensions to suit all sleep preferences. These sustainable mattresses are handmade in the New Forest, and are designed with responsible end-of-life recycling in mind.

Offering superior levels of comfort, each mattress is made entirely from natural and recycled materials, with no foam in sight. Six different firmness

SmoothTech Crescent 3000, from The Millbrook Bed Company

ratings are catered for, and every mattress features Hampshire Wool layers underneath a smooth and tuft-free sleeping surface – a design feature unique to Millbrook, states the manufacturer.

The NemoFlex core system inside the SmoothTech range of mattresses features between 1000 and 5000 encapsulated pocket springs, and is designed for comfort and breathability. A design for simple deconstruction means every part can be professionally regenerated or repurposed at speed and with ease, minimising how many mattresses end up in landfill each year.

Millbrook’s new mattress recycling scheme was launched earlier this year to ensure that every part of the mattress is regenerated or reused. This is the only mattress scheme in the UK where zero waste goes to landfill, states Millbrook.

In 2021, Millbrook diverted over 12 million plastic bottles from landfill with its Nemoflex core system, and its goal for 2022 is to reach 16 million – and it is on track to achieve this.

“A huge 7.5 million mattresses end up in UK landfill every single year. If they were all laid out end to end, the line would stretch from London to Perth, Australia,” explains Millbrook’s Ross Thurston. “We were so shocked by this, and imagined a world where you wouldn’t ever have to send a mattress to landfill – and came up with the Nemoflex and our recycling scheme in response.

“We wanted to create a product and recycling scheme which would bring the change needed to reduce the huge number of mattresses which sit in landfill in the UK. With Nemoflex, we are ensuring that our mattresses leave no trace on our planet with our end-of-life recycling scheme.

“We are proud of our Planet Mark certification for Nemoflex, and work with the organisation to ensure that we are continuously improving”

SWEETENING THE DEAL

This year’s NBF Bed Show, taking place in Telford from 20th-21st this month, will see the release of Sweet Dreams’ new 2023 brochure, which contains a comprehensive new range of mattresses, frames, TV and hybrid beds, as well as the manufacturer’s bestselling bases and most popular mattresses.

www.sweetdreamsuk.com

Bethany

Sweet Dreams has risen to the challenges of the hour by investing time and resource in the development of new mattresses, with a focus on highquality, high-value models that promise to deliver strong sales and margin for the supplier’s independent stockists.

Sales manager Nick Williams comments: “As well as the continuing success of our own-manufactured upholstered beds, significant investment has enabled us to produce new designled frames in some fantastic, luxurious and sumptuous new fabrics. In addition, we have added further colour options for our bestselling hybrid frames and TV beds.”

Contemporary styles, packed with high-quality materials, demonstrate the manufacturer’s ambition to become a go-to supplier for any retailer seeking upholstered beds with a difference. “Coupled with our fabulous mattresses – including benefits such as being hand side stitched, free from FR chemicals, and wellbeing themes – Sweet Dreams can deliver a winning combination for your customers,” Nick continues.

The Bed Show will also see the launch of a refreshed and renewed online-exclusive mattress offer, based on Sweet Dreams’ bestselling designs, and coupled with its Evolve bases and headboards. All data, images and product details will soon be available in a simple, ready-to-go format, making it easy for retailers to upload products for sale.

“Our efficient and reliable DHD service will complete the circle, and make Sweet Dreams’ online offer a nobrainer,” concludes Nick

One of Sweet Dreams’ new bedframes Elegance

BODY POSITIVE

Sealy UK is on a mission to “revolutionise” the bed industry with its new Posturepedic mattress range, which promises to help provide everyone with correct spinal alignment while they sleep …

www.sealy.co.uk

WE WANTED TO PROVIDE A TOTALLY

UNIQUE MATTRESS THAT STANDS ASIDE FROM

EVERYTHING ELSE, AND WE REALLY HAVE ACHIEVED JUST THAT

With over 100 years’ experience of making premium mattresses through the generations, Sealy’s decades of know-how has helped develop its brand-new product direction, which is also based on cutting-edge technology and research.

The new Posturepedic range, which is now available to retailers, has been designed around skeletal symmetry – to help hold the body’s posture parallel to the sleep surface, align hips and shoulders, and keep the spine straight, yet relaxed, offering everyone “genuine support, true comfort and durability you can depend on”.

Sealy has worked with the Orthopaedic Advisory Board, an independent panel of Orthopaedic surgeons, biomechanical engineers and medical scientists, to develop the patented technology. The mattresses also benefit from extensive testing via Sealy’s advanced R&D facility in Australia.

At the heart of the new range is the unique AlignSupport Coil. A spring system which “senses and responds to the body”, it first senses the body and provides an initial response, then provides truly personalised, deep-down support which helps maintain the body’s natural posture during rest, reducing muscular tension and strain, says Sealy.

In every Sealy Posturepedic mattress, the spring system is upheld by a number of additional unique features. The UniCased edge-support system maximises the sleep surface across the mattress, preventing the roll-off and adding durability – while BasePlank offers a strong foundation, providing structure and integrity.

Combining a range of feature filling combinations and a high-quality and durable Comfort Core within each mattress (such as gel-infused foam or MemorySense foam – the Elevate and Elevate Ultra collections also provide that all-important pressure relief where it is needed most.

“The combination of smart innovation, precise engineering, industry-leading research and unique testing to ensure quality and durability, is what makes Sealy Posturepedic different, providing unparalleled sleep quality, says Sealy UK’s sales director, Mark Tuley. “We wanted to provide a totally unique mattress that stands aside from everything else, and we really have achieved just that. This year marks the start of a new era for Sealy, and we plan to continue to innovate. It’s an exciting time indeed.”

The brand has also enjoyed a repositioning, including a relaunched website, which was designed to deliver an enhanced shopping experience to support Sealy’s retail partners, and also features an online shopper tool which guides consumers through the buying experience

It’s where sleep matters, where sleep is not just “something we all do”, or “time spent in bed” but more a question of when, where, why and how sleep can be better. It’s our wholehearted commitment that allows the Sealy team to make mattresses that are not only different but made with love, passion & care right here in the UK.

Monaco

Asmara

WIEMANN

www.wiemannuk.co.uk

Award-winning German bedroom manufacturer Wiemann is exhibiting at various trade shows throughout the autumn. Simon Hewitt, MD of the producer’s sole UK and Irish agent, Litmus Furniture, says: “We are attending the NBF Bed Show, Telford, September 20th-21st, as a guest exhibitor – find us on stand G70. Also: the AIS INDX Beds & Bedroom show, September 13-14th; Autumn Long Point, Long Eaton, September 19th21st (in our permanent showroom); and the Autumn Furniture Show, Stoneleigh, October 4-5th.”

Wiemann will exhibit collections including the ever-popular Monaco and Loft, plus new stars such as Asmara, which launched this year.

Simon adds: “Expect to be impressed with the quality and value for money of our VIP premium offerings. Our entry-level products offer a very attractive price tag for the current market conditions, too. All our ranges are versatile as well as beautiful, and everything we offer is underpinned by our excellent customer service.”

Create your perfect bedroom with Wiemann

Bedrooms of distinctive style, quality and value

Quito

A NEW LEVEL OF LUXURY

With a history stretching all the way back to 1851, luxury handmade bed brand Mattsons is in a different league, says its new UK agent, Colin Boyce – and buyers are invited to see the latest models for themselves in Devon this month …

www.mattsonsbeds.com

THE RANGE’S SHEER QUALITY IS GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF RETAILERS RE-

EVALUATE THEIR NOTION OF LUXURY

With its reputation for healthy, clean living, it is little wonder Sweden has such a strong track record of luxury bed manufacture – and Mattsons is an exemplar of the country’s conscientious craft.

The brand dates back to 1851, when founder Isak Mattson set up a sawmill on the family estate in Malmbäck Småland, an area of Sweden that has been associated with fine furnituremaking for centuries.

Today, each Mattsons bed is painstakingly handcrafted in Falkenberg, utilising only local materials, and, having established itself as a household name in Scandinavia, Mattsons is now on a mission to introduce its luxury sleep solutions to the wider world.

Its UK deployment has fallen to well-known furniture sales agent, Colin Boyce (‘The Bed Agent’). When he was approached by Mattsons’ principals, Colin quickly recognised the opportunity for the premium bed brand to work wonders for select retailers. “I’ve operated in the UK bed sector for some time, and I can honestly say that these models represent a whole new level of quality,” he says.

Globally, Mattsons operates through 16 strategically located showrooms – 11 of them in Europe. Colin’s first step was to establish a national showroom so prospective customers would have an opportunity to see the brand’s quality for themselves.

He selected a well-appointed space in Topsham, near Exeter, within the Dartmoor Bed Company’s facilities – Unit 2 Dart Business Park, opposite Darts Farm, just two miles from Exeter Airport and five minutes from the M5 – and is now inviting interested parties to attend an official launch event there, taking place from 14-16th this month.

The new showroom features Mattsons’ full range of beds and mattresses, and promises to be the ideal setting for this exclusive brand.

“I can’t wait to to introduce the Mattsons concept to the UK,” Colin continues. “I think the sheer quality of its range is going to make a lot of retailers re-evaluate their notion of luxury.”

The collection is underpinned by a comprehensive bespoke programme, which UK partners will also be able to avail of. Anders Mattson, the company’s owner and a fifth-generation member of Mattsons’ founding family, comments: “At Mattsons, the vision is for the customer, to a great extent, to be able to determine the look and style that best suits their home, their personality. From eccentric cool to classic elegance. Your choice. After all, it is your bedroom.”

Colin can be contacted on colin@ thefurnitureandbedagent.com or by calling 07876 198938

Weavers organic sustainable fabrics are easily biodegradable in nature…

HUGEL

www.hugelbeds.com

Several established furniture retailers have already joined Hugel’s mission to “bring the health and lifestyle benefits of a motion bed to all”.

The Hugel collection encompasses innovative smart comfort technology and British manufacturing, to create premium adjustable beds for the home. Delivering “the ultimate sleep and relaxation experience”, a Hugel bed comprises features such as zero-gravity, massage and anti-snore, pushing the boundaries of the conventional adjustable bed.

With impressive stocking capabilities and efficient delivery, Hugel continues to onboard retailers looking to appeal to a new type of customer. Anyone interested in partnering with Hugel can get in touch with the team by calling 0333 222 1804 or emailing sales@hugelbeds.com.

12 October 2022

3.00pm - 9.00pm

Furniture Makers’ Hall and the Dutch Church, Austin Friars, London Register now: bit.ly/YFMexhibition22

 FurnitureMakersCompany  The Furniture Makers’ Company  FurnitureMkrsCo

#YFMexhibition

The Young Furniture Makers exhibition returns to the City of London for one day only this October, offering industry the opportunity to connect with young, creative designer-makers, who are looking to make an impact on the sector. Organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the event showcases the very best furniture and furnishing design talent from GCSE students to recent graduates.

SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

The Furniture Makers’ Company the furnishing industry’s charity

JOINED-UP THINKING FROM 3CAD

3CAD, a dynamic and fast-growing visual CPQ (configure, price and quote) software specialist, promises furniture brands an inituitive and joined-up route to the customer’s home …

www.compusoftgroup.com/ products/3cad/

3D renders help customers visualise the finished product

As the customer visually configures and prices their product online, their order is then seamlessly processed and managed all the way through to the CNC machines for manufacturing.

“One connected platform ensures full visibility of orders, enabling manufacturers to speed up sales and manufacturing of the products that deliver what every company wants – growth,” states 3CAD. “With specialists that have over 20 years’ experience in the visual CPQ industry, customers like Natuzzi, Cassina, Catellan Italia and many others have benefitted from our knowledge and software to expand their businesses.” 3CAD offers a complete solution, from sales to production. At the outset, powerful parametric software, which automates all the information needed for production, enables users to easily configure each product in 3D, and to manage rules, variants and options, giving them complete control throughout the production process.

Production management is optimised – retailers and manufacturers use a single system, resulting in complete visibility of all orders. Sales and production teams can then optimise their processes to meet requirements, as every order shows the bill of materials, production lists and CNC production details.

Users can take advantage of 3CAD’s web-based system to manage all activities, starting at the design phase. They will benefit from a fully integrated solution at every stage of the process, from sales to production, which reduces the risk of error, speeds up processes and optimises the internal flow of data, from design to production.

“One database, from sales order to production, removes the chance of error,” states 3CAD. “Guided by powerful parametric rules from the start, your catalogue management will ensure that what is ordered can be produced, no matter how complex.

“And you can design without limits, managing and designing entire apartments, houses and other complex environments, while maintaining performance and fluidity.

“Automatically generate information for your CNC machines – drilling, cutting and edging, directly from the drawing – and gain full control of your catalogues by managing them easily in-house, ensuring that every update to your products looks exactly as it should. New catalogues and changes can instantly be updated across your entire sales network to ensure complete consistency.”

As part of the Compusoft+ 2020 group, 3CAD enjoys an international network through its subsidiaries and partners across the world. 3CAD says its ability to streamline the sales-toproduction process in a single, cloudbased platform truly sets it apart from the competition

Product designs can be specified in detail each product in 3D Users can configure

FOR THE JOURNEY

With its skilled delivery specialists entrusted with entering consumers’ homes, Rhenus Home Delivery UK is committed to providing exemplary customer care across its client base …

www.rhenus-home-delivery.co.uk

Some of Rhenus’ team on site at the company’s new Magna Park CDC

Over the past few months, Rhenus has taken targeted steps to elevate its customer journey. This begins within its central distribution centre, where multiple quality control checks are delivered throughout all inbound and outbound deliveries as a preventative measure.

Specialised training has been delivered to warehouse and driver staff, as they are the primary point of contact with customers. This is facilitated through Rhenus’ industry-leading Academy of Excellence, which strives to ensure that all staff members at Rhenus Home Delivery UK are providing the highest level of customer service.

Rhenus’ specialists are trained to deliver the most effective in-home service

Prior to delivery, all end-customers are sent a bespoke animated video that provides a simple three-step guide to how best to prepare their property for the delivery of furniture – helping prevent any unnecessary damage to the product and the customer’s home. Rhenus says the delivery animation has helped improve customer engagement by +57.6% in comparison to its previous SMS and email communications.

Rhenus Home Delivery UK has also partnered with what3words to ensure the accuracy of its deliveries, and to cut search times. This location technology is synced to the fulfilment specialist’s transport management system, significantly increasing delivery success – particularly in rural areas and newbuild estates.

At the property, Rhenus’ dedicated driver team will deliver to the customer’s desired room of choice. Following the unwrapping of the furniture, the packaging will be removed, to be bundled and recycled at one of Rhenus’ certified local recycling companies.

After delivery, a dedicated customer care team are readily available to assist the end-customer with any issues that may arise throughout the delivery process. The service Rhenus continues to deliver is reflected in its Trustpilot score, which remains at five stars after over 9200 reviews

BEHIND THE BEDMAKERS

With innovation and efficiency the buzzwords of the moment, British machinery manufacturer MattressTek is proud to have established itself as a leader in the provision of machines for the mattress industry – including foam processing – with successful exports across the world.

www.mattresstek.co.uk

WE ARE AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN CATERING FOR MANUFACTURING SECTORS CONSIDERING THE

TRANSITION TO AUTOMATION

Directors Shaun Peel and Michael Birtwistle have over 40 years’ worth of combined experience in the industry, and are strong advocates for automation in production lines, supporting the transition to digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, efficiency and sustainability, as well as dealing with the imminent labour shortage.

“We are proud to be ahead of the curve in catering for the variety of manufacturing sectors who are looking to or considering the transition to automation that will soon be necessary,” says technical director, Shaun. “Having become known as a provider of proactive preventative solutions to problems that some manufacturers sometimes don’t even see – but certainly experience – we have also been hot in implementing elements of our range, at design and installation, that prevent issues such as bottlenecks, material run-out and downtime.

“It’s great that we can react and devise solutions with our robust and reliable machines, and are the chosen provider for our customers, here in the UK and across the world. Our intuitive, preventative approach means that our reputation remains built around our quality range that exceeds the requirements of the factories and facilities we are installed in.”

As well as serving its customers in the UK, 70% of MattressTek’s business is exported across the US, Mexico, Europe and Australia. “We are already known in the industry for our innovative machines used in the making of mattresses, and their transportation around factories and processing facilities, as well as leaders in the automation field of manufacturing,” explains Michael. “We even repair, adapt and improve machines that have broken down.

“The benefits of automating, supported by programmable technology, laser guides and sensors, are proven in the transition to using machines in place of, and alongside, operatives. Automating production processes deals with staff shortages and lags in labour being faced here in the UK, and the US, and streamlines production, increases the capacity and amounts of products made, contributing to efficiency, preventing downtime and bottlenecks and saving money and time.”

MattressTek understands how maximisation and speeding up of production and better utilisation of resources can modernise its customers’ operations and make better use of the space and technology available to them – whether it is filling gaps in production (so it does not have to stop to turn, move, flip, lift or align components) by adding multiple machines as a backup, managing and preventing a bottleneck from occuring, or enabling machines to manoeuvre allowing operators and machines to pass through.

Along with its extensive range of stitching and panel-cutting machines, and straight-line and multi-directional conveyors, MattressTek has been refining the development of machines for unbaling and unwrapping pocketspring beds, as well as those that can compress and roll springs and complete mattresses.

“The expansion of the business, and our ability to branch into other sectors of manufacturing, along with warehousing, logistics and processing, has further proven the efficiency and quality of our range, and, indeed, the demand for it,” Shaun adds.

This success has enabled MattressTek to expand its workforce and site, and the business is planning further investment. For details of its machines, including the new Hot Glue Bridge, Stacker, Roll Pack and improved Roll Slitter, take a look at MattressTek’s catalogue online

PANTHER LOGISTICS

www.panthergroup.co.uk

Sofa-in-a-box specialist Swyft Home has once again teamed up with twoperson delivery service provider Panther Logistics to provide the a delivery solution for its ever-growing customer base.

Panther is Swyft’s sole delivery partner, collecting daily from the brand’s warehouse in Luton at 7pm for next-day delivery, with an order cut-off time of 4pm. Swyft’s customers benefit from a range of Panther’s services including next- and nominated-day delivery, and full track and trace from point of order through to delivery. Panther will also deliver to the customer’s room of choice and ensure that all packaging is removed and taken away, and weekend delivery is available. To Swyft’s co-founder Keiran Hewkin, the purchase journey and experience of ordering high-ticket upholstery – often resulting in a 12-week wait at

FLUID COMMERCE

www.fluidcommerce.co.uk

Manchester-based ecommerce agency Fluid Commerce has launched a progessive web app (PWA) for new home furnishing brand Daily Furniture, a subsidiary of wholesale company Arca Living (established in 2014) which supplies indoor furniture and home furnishings.

Built using PWA Studio from Adobe Commerce, Daily Furniture’s new site combines useful features from web and mobile apps to improve site speed and boost conversion rates.

Arnold Bertasius, marketing director at Arca Living, says: “In choosing to launch our new website as a progressive

Model 06, Swyft Home

best before delivery – was just not satisfactory, and Swyft’s box concept followed. Panther too seeks to provide a fuss-free, best-in-class service offering.

Samuel Scott, Panther’s head of sales and marketing, comments: “Through Swyft Home’s ability to provide a unique solution the company has grown exponentially, developing a strong brand presence within the home furnishings marketplace. It is a tremendous success story and we are delighted to be supporting them as they continue their upward trajectory.” Keiran Hewkin adds: “The home furnishings market is fiercely competitive, with quality and service being an absolute must. Our choice of delivery partner is vital, as the lastmile service is an extension of our own business in many ways.

“Panther’s customer-centric approach sets the company aside from the competition, and is one which resonates with our own aim of ensuring customer satisfaction. By using Panther, we are confident that we can provide our customers with a level of service and flexibility synonymous with our own, further reinforcing our own reputation in the marketplace for delivering a quality product which surpasses all others.”

web app, we will provide an app-like experience for the consumers, which is what we are all accustomed to right now. Rather than just your average website, this is more of a futuristic stance. We are hoping to be one of the pioneers of the furniture industry by experimenting with this approach on Adobe Commerce.”

The new site has a host of features to smooth the sales process for the modern-day consumer, including integrations with marketing automation platform Klaviyo and payment providers Adyen, Klarna and Paypal. The PWA also features quicker synchronisation, instant updates, offline utilisation, and enhanced performance.

Fluid Commerce MD Adam Hindle comments: “We were delighted that Daily Furniture came to us with this project, as PWA is one of our specialities. The site will deliver an enhanced customer online shopping experience with the added ‘app-like’ features of enhanced performance, rapid load times and offline implementation.

These are exciting times, as Daily Furniture is among the first in the furniture industry to harness the full power and features of a PWA.”

AGR DYNAMICS

www.agrdynamics.com

AGR understands that supply chain disruptions can have significant impact on a your business. Its clients in the furniture have told it that longer lead times, coupled with supply chain shortages, have resulted in lost sales – and even penalties.

The AGR Inventory Optimisation Solution is an add-on to any ERP system, providing an end-to-end view of a company’s supply chain and assisting with demand forecasting and planning, ordering and maximising container space, and much more.

“Take control of your supply chain with AGR and have the right products, in the right place, at the right time,” states AGR. “Using the features of the AGR system you can look to maximise container revenue, ensuring that each container or pallet is as full as can be with high-profit or high-demand items, and stay one step ahead with features such as the planning tool with multidimensional planning capabilities that look beyond the forecast at all potential scenarios, as well as having an accurate view of your entire supply chain.

“Another key benefit of using a system like ours is automation. Removing all the simple, repetitive, and mundane activities which can instead be handled by technology, frees up your team to apply their specifically human capabilities – judgment, creativity, and innovation – to the issues that truly require them.

“Holding less stock also makes it easier to manage your inventory. Cash flow is freed up through reduced storage, handling, and distribution costs. And by reducing the risk of overstocks, you minimise the markdowns and reductions required to shift dead stock that are so damaging to your margins.”

FURNITURE INDUSTRY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

www.fira.co.uk/knowledge-hub

(photo credit iStock/iBrave)

The Furniture Industry Research Association has extended its suite of business support templates for members.

Topics covered in the latest series include: a Flammability Tracker Template to support members in demonstrating they have documented systems that show compliance to relevant flammability requirements; a Sustainability Key Performance Indicator dashboard to help improve their organisation’s sustainability performance; and a Furniture Product Risk Assessment Template to help analyse and identify possible risks of the products and determine essential requirements that are applicable. To view the full suite of business support documents, visit the association’s knowledge hub via the above link. Non-members can purchase research association resources too – further details are available from info@fira.co.uk.

Leggett & Platt Springs UK will be exhibiting at this year’s NBF Bed Show (taking place in Telford on 20th-21st September), where it will showcase a range of its leading bed component products, including: NanoCoil, an adaptive and receptive comfort layer that enhances the sleep surface by increasing coil counts, improving air circulation, and delivering long-term comfort and consistency;

NanoCoil Edge – versatile and responsive, this solution transitions firmer ActivEdge perimeter support into the comfort layer to expand the sleep surface and prevent roll-off; Caliber Edge, which forms a steel coil perimeter around select pocket systems to deliver consistent support and offer longer and more resilient edge-to-edge comfort life; its nextgeneration 2000 Series technology, an ultrasonically welded multi-layer innerspring innovation that achieves “a superior level of comfort and performance not possible with firm, single-layer 2000 units”;

Combi-Zone Next-Generation Technology (featuring ActivEdge perimeter performance), which offers different levels of comfort resolution and support dimension to match key body support zones and deliver pressure relief for all body types; and S-Line, a pocketed innerspring soltuion that purports to deliver the same comfort and support as the supplier’s standard innersprings, but in a lighter weight, representing additional value.

LEGGETT & PLATT SPRINGS UK

www.beddingcomponents-intl.com

THE FURNITURE MAKERS’ COMPANY

www.furnituremakers.org.uk

Struggling with bills during his apprenticeship, Michael was offered a grant to help with his family’s everyday household outgoings

The Furniture Makers’ Company is inviting HR professionals working in the trade to a free one-day conference this September to learn about the charity’s welfare support and how it can benefit the lives of employees who might be struggling due to the cost of living crisis.

The Welfare Matters conference is taking place on Wednesday 28th September (10am-3pm) at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London. Delegates will learn about the charity, the various grants it can offer people, the communication tools available to disseminate information, and more.

The charity also plans to launch a free service that will support workers struggling with mental health issues. To find out more, visit https://bit.ly/WelfareMatters2022.