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FABRIC FLAGSHIP

Prospective exhibitors can book their places for next year’s London Fabric Show, which is already shaping up to be better than ever, says BFM MD, Sean Holt …

WE ARE COMMITTED TO REINVESTING

ALL PROFIT MADE FROM

THE EVENT INTO THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY AND OUR MEMBERSHIP

By SEAN HOLT www.bmf.org.uk

As a result of the success of the newlook London Fabric Show in 2022, we’re delighted that new and returning exhibitors from across the UK and Europe are already securing their places for next year’s show.

This is the furniture industry’s flagship fabric event, and we’re pleased that the changes introduced this year to increase capacity and choice have been welcomed by exhibitors and buyers alike. The show will return to the ILEC Conference Centre, Earls Court on 28th February and 1st March 2023, and will include private showrooms on the exhibition floor as well as new catering options on the show floor and at the onsite restaurant and pub.

The show draws in world-renowned manufacturers and suppliers from across Europe, including Italy, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Germany and the UK, and 70% of the companies who exhibited at the show in 2022 have already confirmed their return. Fabrics on show will include wools, tweeds, velvets, cottons, linens, chenille, silks, leathers, faux leathers, backing fabrics and FR treatments. Alongside the fabrics and accessories on display, the latest in fabric protection and cleaning treatments will also be presented.

BFM has built a reputation for delivering a high-quality event with leading fabric buyers in the UK market. This year’s edition saw 98% of buyers achieve their objectives at the show.

Our intention is to continually improve and add to our growing database and reputation by attracting more buyers from British furnituremakers, with a real push this year to increase the number of buyers from bed manufacturers and contract furniture suppliers. The show is a one-stop shop for volume buyers of materials used in soft furnishing and upholstery, as well as providing a venue for showcasing leading fabric and accessory suppliers.

It is our aim to offer British furniture manufacturers the opportunity to source high-quality designs and innovative contemporary and traditional fabrics for upholstery, bed, and soft furnishings at price points to match their respective budgets. The show is by invitation only, which enables exhibitors to showcase their products directly to a key, professional audience, offering opportunities to network with colleagues across the industry.

In line with one of BFM’s key strategic objectives, we are committed to reinvesting all profit made from the event into the furniture industry and our membership. This is an exhibition run by the industry for the industry. We will continue to invest and evolve the show for the future, and now look forward to delivering further growth, attracting more exhibitors and a wider audience of international buyers for the 2023 event.

The ILEC Conference Centre offers easy access, being within walking distance of West Brompton and Earls Court stations. It also has on-site car parking and accommodation and is close to the A4, with easy access to the M4, M5 and M40.Companies interested in joining a world-class line-up of exhibitors are urged to make contact with us as soon as possible to secure their space on the floorplan.

We look forward to seeing you there!

THIS YEAR’S EDITION SAW 98% OF BUYERS ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Young Furniture Makers exhibition.

THIS MONTH, WE’RE ASKING …

Shane Harding, Highgrove Beds It’s the mix of what Highgrove offers – great choice, great value and great support, including heavy in-store investment

John Northwood, sales agent They could probably answer that best, but I believe it’s always being available and responding swiftly and efficiently to requests and enquiries

Keiran Hewkin, Swyft Beautiful product

Deirdre Mc Gettrick, ufurnish.com Giving choice whilst saving time and money. If I talk about our consumers, they enjoy the choice of finding and searching all the retailers (known and unknown), the speed at which they can search all the retailers and the comfort in knowing they have found the perfect item for their home at the best available price

Steve Reid, Simba Sleep Quality, innovative product

Huw Williams, Toons Furnishers Customers value our friendly, genuine service. Building good long-term relationships is essential for repeat business

Martin Seeley, MattressNextDay Free next-day delivery, most definitely – or, as we like to say, the Amazon Prime of the mattress industry

WHAT ASPECT OF YOUR BUSINESS DO YOUR CUSTOMERS MOST VALUE?

Jade Farthing, Haskins Furniture The customer service we offer – each customer is a person and is treated with respect from the start of the sale to the delivery, and beyond

Shaun Peel, MattressTek The tailored approach and innovative thinking of our designers (and internally, the involvement of our in-house engineers in the installation, repair and servicing of our machines at their site). We are here to help them solve and prevent problems arising, and we seem to do it well

George Sinclair, Nimbus Beds The ‘design your own bed’ section. Customers can come in, and if they don’t like anything they see, they can design their own, free of charge. We then get it made in the factory and delivered to the customer. Every customer’s wants and needs are different, so to be able to design your own is amazing

Wendy Martin Green, Peter Green Furnishers We are a family business, which brings a certain warmth to our relationships with our customers. I think that is rare these days Tom Bayliss, Kettle Interiors I don’t think there is simply one aspect, but more of a combined recipe that our customers enjoy. Broad choice of product, supportive content, and the added flexibility of how the customer can access it, is at the core of what we offer

David Kohn, The Multichannel Expert Excellent product design and quality

Mark Gannon, Sofa Source Our open and honest two-way communication

Mike Whitman, Iconography The amount of time we can save them – IXO Commerce makes the day to day so much easier to administer

Neil Barker, Barkers Furniture Honesty

#397 October 2022

www.furniturenews.net

Illuminating approaches from Chilli Pepper Designs

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