Interiors Monthly April 2024

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Relying on others; new entrants; uncertain statistics and get ready to vote

The collapse of one of its retailer members that has made the Carpet Foundation re-examine its Code of Practice, particularly on guaranteeing shoppers’ deposits, has shown the Code’s strength and weakness. Firstly, it appeals to consumers, who feelhappier they are dealing with a ‘proper’ retailer that knows what it is talking about, and secondly, the scheme doesn’t work if retailers don’t follow its rules, as there isn’t a huge pot of money to compensate affected customers. It was never designed to have that and as such each retailer member is relying on the trust of other members doing what they are meant to do.

Financial updates in the past month haven’t made great reading. But to counter that, there does seem to be an upswing in the number of people who want to be a retailer, and recently established companies opening further branches and outlining plans for more.

Someone asked me the other week if there were reliable statistics for the size of the market. Ireplied it depended on which report you had bought and if itsforecasts met with any message you were trying to get across. It’s strange that even in 2024 there is no agreed set of numbers that companies large and small can use as a base when explaining performance in relation to the overall market.

Being April (where does the time go?) this is the first occasion for you to vote in the Interiors Monthly Awards 2024. We’ve revamped the categories, and as ever it is entirely up to you what criteria you use to decide your vote. Once again there is a Fortnum & Mason hamper up for grabs.

This year we’ve moved voting online: simply visit www. interiorsmonthly.co.uk/voting-form to cast your vote. There you will also be able to see the other new elements of our website. When voting you must include your name and contact details (remember that hamper…) or your votes will not be counted.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

February sees drop in sales values

The value of furniture and lighting sales fell by 6% in February, while flooring sales dropped by 3%.

The value of furniture sales in England, Scotland and Wales dropped to £1,151,194,000, a fall of 6.11%.

Sales were £64.4m lower than January 2024, a drop of 5.3%, according to Office for National Statistics data.

Of the 458 months since comparable records began in January 1986, February 2024 was the 74th best performing month.

The value of flooring sales dropped to £204,716,000 in February, a fall of 2.85%.

Sales were £4m lower than January, a drop of 1.94%.

Of the 458 months since comparable records began, February 2024 was the 123rd best performing month.

The figures are non-seasonally adjusted, do not take inflation into account and are subject to revision.

Likewise enjoys 2024 success

Flooring distributor Likewise has seen adouble-digit increase in sales in the first two months of the year.

The group says sales have risen by 11.5% to £22.8m. Average daily sales have increased by 6.5%.

It says revenue from Likewise branded ranges jumped by 20.1% to £15.4m, with average daily sales increasing by 14.5%.

The group says the results reflect the board’s continuing confidence at

meeting market expectations for the year and that the start had created ‘significant momentum’.

‘Whilst the first two months can only ever provide limited indication of the year as a whole, early trends are positive. This is a good start to the year with many opportunities before us, and the ongoing investment in sales teams, products and POS displays will increase our market share,’ says Tony Brewer, Likewise Group ceo.

Partnership boost for Modus

Modus has become the first British manufacturer to become a partner of Teknion, boosting its international presence and cutting carbon footprints.

Modus’ manufacturing facility in Somerset will enable the Canadian manufacturer to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its products for the UK and European markets while the

investment will support its growth plans.

Modus will continue to operate as an independent company, retaining its own brand and servicing its dealer network whilst expanding its international reach.

‘We are really excited about this new venture,’ says Jon Powell, Modus md. ‘Our companies share an entrepreneurial spirit with a long history of working with some of the world’s leading designers. Design has always been central to our philosophy, and we are very happy to be partnering with a global manufacturer that understands the value of great design.’

‘We are very selective in our strategic partnerships and Modus shares our high standards for design, quality, craft, and sustainability,’ says David Feldberg, Teknion president and ceo.

Mixed picture

Deflation in the retail price of household furniture increased in February. Deflation climbed from 1.5% to 1.6%, according to Office for National Statistics data.

In February 2023 the inflation rate was 10.4%.

Inflation for garden furniture dropped for the fifth month of the past six, falling from 0.2% to 0.1%. In February 2023 it was 10.8%.

Deflation in prices of table linen proved short-lived, as January’s -0.5% rose to 1.7%.

The combined furniture and furnishings rate saw deflation edge lower from 1.5% to 1.6%.

Higher annual price increases in rugs saw the rapid disappearance of deflation in flooring retail prices in February.

The deflation of 0.5% seen in January for carpets and other floorcoverings became inflation of 1.7%.

The increases were also reflected in carpet and rugs inflation, which jumped from 0.2% to 2.3%.

Deflation continued in smooth flooring, but saw another decline. From December’s 3.8% and January’s 2%, deflation fell to 0.4%.

Your new homepage

New website

Interiors Monthly has a new website, featuring a host of new features and extended news coverage.

There is a new section featuring video interviews from figures across theindustry; features from the magazine; information on exhibitions, an archive of previous issues;

Information on the Interiors Monthly Awards – and how to vote; along with the latest industry jobs.

Visit: www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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DFS warns of profits fall as upholstery demand plunges

DFS has warned that its profits could be cut by up to a third after a fall-off in sales since the turn of the year.

The group, which saw its share price drop by 7% as shareholders reacted, warned that the upholstery market had seen a drop in volumes of about 16% across January and February. It says it ‘has not been immune to this’ and cut its full-year sales guidance by £60m-£65m to £1bn-£1.015bn.

It now says profits will be between £20m-£25m, having previously forecast £30m-£35m.

It also says that delays in shipping through the Red Sea could result in profits of up to £4m being pushed into the next year.

Its updated forecast is also reliant on an upturn in demand in the coming months. ‘The guidance assumes H2 market volumes broadly consistent with H1 year on year, in a range of -8% to -10%, supported by weaker Q4 comparatives and a level of pent-up demand following the weak January and February. We remain cautious about consumer confidence

starting to improve and benefit demand until FY25,’ it says.

‘I want to thank our colleagues for their dedication toward providing a first-class service to our customers. Whilst the current macroeconomic situation has presented many challenges, we are pleased to have extended our market leadership while reporting a resilient profit performance through the first half. As a result of weaker market demand we have lowered our FY24 profit guidance to £20m-£25m, excluding the potential risk of Red Sea delays which we continue to monitor closely. This reflects revenue guidance reducing by £60m-£65m, partially mitigated by good progress on our Cost to Operate programme,’ says Tim Stacey, DFS Group ceo.

‘We remain confident in both our long-term growth strategy and the capability to deliver on our objectives. We remain well positioned to improve our profit margins without market recovery and remain confident in delivering our 8% PBT target when the market recovers.’

Headlam warns of January and February weakness

Flooring distributor Headlam has told shareholders that sales volumes remain well down on 2023, despite a recent improvement.

The group says that volumes have fallen at its UK and Continental European operations ‘despite continued growth in Larger Customers and Trade Counters’.

Sales in February were 6% lower than 2023, but higher than January 2024.

The falls compare with a

1.1% drop in sales to £656.5m in 2023. The UK sector was flat, despite large customer and trade counter increases of 26% and 8.5% respectively. UK sales volumes were down by 5% but it had invested £6.3m in cutting tables, sortation units and other warehouse and transport equipment ‘to improve the customer proposition for independent retailers.’

Underlying pre-tax profits dropped from £37.1m to £11m.

Bedroom move for Howdens

Kitchen supplier Howdens has followed the example of retailer Wren and moved into the fitted bedroom market. Howdens has introduced five ranges in a variety of finishes, with a 25-year cabinet guarantee. All 800 branches will carry stock and its planning and design service has been expanded.

‘We are thrilled to introduce fitted bedrooms to our ranges, bringing Howdens’ quality and expertise in kitchens into a new area within the home, and providing our trade customers with even more options to grow their offering to meet their clients’ needs,’ says Ady Heaton, Howdens head of design.

Year-on-year decline in profit was ‘principally driven by the macro and industry headwinds, including: £11m profit impact from lower volumes, £10m from operating cost inflation, a £5m unwind of manufacturerled price benefits in the prior year and £4m from strategic investments; partially mitigated by £10.3m of efficiencies and cost savings.’

The group says 38% of sales are now via digital channels.

Fraudulent fitter avoids prison

A North-East carpet fitter who left customers £33,000 out of pocket has been spared jail.

Christopher Lamb, 41, who traded as Mobile Flooring Store, in Whitley Bay, pleaded guilty to 10 charges: two under the Fraud Act and eight of engaging in an unfair commercial practice under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Lamb would visit consumers’ homes and show them samples, but according to the prosecution brought by North Tyneside Trading Standards, failed to carry out work on at least 10 occasions.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that customers had paid £33,431.36.

Lamb was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and told to undertake 240 hours’ unpaid community work and pay his victims compensation.

The five bedroom ranges include Hockley in a choice of Mirror Gloss (shown) and Super Matt

Return of a favourite

After a five-year hiatus, Manchester Furniture Show relaunches this summer for essential mid-year buying

The furniture industry’s favourite summer show is back by popular demand! Registration has now opened for the Manchester Furniture Show, which is making its grand return this July after a five-year hiatus.

Having run for 28 years previously, MFS will be relaunching at Manchester Central from 10-11 July, making the North the furniture industry’s summer meeting place once again. This year’s show relaunch will offer a unique blend of networking, inspiration and the summer sourcing MFS is well known for.

We are delighted to finally bring back the Manchester Furniture Show following a break: now is the right time to provide sourcing and networking opportunities for the industry in the historic city of Manchester. Running the second biggest show for the industry isaprivilege and we look forward to celebrating with the furniture community this summer.

Two days of sourcing and inspiration, with over 100 brands to explore

Perfectly timed at the beginning of the second buying season, MFS provides an essential opportunity for mid-year buying, which is crucial for pre-Christmas sales. With more than 40% of visitors doing the bulk of their orders in the latter half of the year, MFS is an industry-leading event that brands and retailers can’t afford to miss.

With over 100 brands to explore, retailers, designers, manufacturers and distributors from across the UK will unite for two days of sourcing, inspiration and socialising. Prepare to see new designs and find a wealth of creative inspiration from top brands including BlueBone Imports, Buoyant Upholstery, Creation Italia/Incanto, Dappr, Final Touches Trading, Harmony Furnishings, Heritage, Kennett & Lindsell, Kettle Home, La-Z-Boy, Lebus Upholstery, Taylors of Scotland and many more.

Networking is as much a part of MFS as the sourcing and this year won’t disappoint. With the Summer Solstice Show Party on 10 July, visitors and exhibitors can celebrate MFS’ return in arelaxed setting, perfect for casual networking. Then on 11 July the Women in Furniture Network will be hosting a leadership brunch with a talk from Melinda Whittington, La-Z-Boy ceo, speaking on her career journey and sharing advice for women in the industry. Both are invaluable opportunities to meet and mingle with the furniture community in a laid-back atmosphere. Visit: www.januaryfurnitureshow.com

Zoe Bonser is Clarion Events portfolio director – retail

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updated with soft & natural tones

Hudson & Brooklyn from AW has been a popular range for us over the years, it’s a great everyday carpet and suitable for anywhere in the home.

We stock the Brooklyn quality and we find this a perfect family friendly carpet at an a ordable price.

The new colours have definitely enhanced the range and kept it on trend for our customers.

Lee - Direct Carpets

I’ve been using Hudson & Brooklyn for a few years and brooklyn has become one of my best sellers.

The colours are on point and the coverage of the product gives outstanding value for money.

Also which makes my life easier is that the fitters have no complaints and are complimentary to how it fits and looks after installation.

With the new colour bank and more Heather’s options

I’m confident it will remain my go to twist of choice!

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Hudson is our “go to carpet”. Good quality, good colour range, good value.

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Fairway invests £1.5m in flagship revamp

Family-owned furniture and flooring retailer Fairway Furniture is to invest £1.5m revamping its flagship store.

The four-store chain will remove all of the existing interior of its Plymouth branch and replace it with a new layout, allowing for a wider product range within a fresh, contemporary shop-fit design.

Work will begin this month and is scheduled to last for six months. The phased scope of the refurbishment will see the store trade from about 75% of its usual floorspace throughout the project’s four phases.

The sixth-generation family business had begun planning the revamp before the pandemic, but action was postponed until 2023.

‘Now is a great time to invest in our store estate after the turbulence of recent years and we are delighted to be making such a big investment into the city where the company first started. As the biggest furniture store in the region, we believe that this exciting new store design will make it a genuine destination for the area’s furniture buyers, encompassing both existing and new demographic groups,’ says Peter Harding, Fairway Furniture md.

‘Beacon of light and strength’

Diana Mansutti, co-founder of Moroso died on 25 March. She was 89.

She co-founded the company in 1952 with her husband Agostino.

‘Since the beginning of the ’50s, Diana has been a beacon of light and strength for our company and the community. Her entrepreneurial vision and great perseverance have accompanied the company for more than 70 years, inspiring many generations of employees and collaborators,’ says a statement.

‘Her curiosity, energy and determination will remain an indelible memory.’

She is survived by Agostino; her children Patrizia, Moroso art director; Roberto, Moroso md; grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and siblings.

Furniture for the Home sees second store

West Midlands furniture retailer Furniture for the Home has opened a second branch. The new store in Kingswinford is just 15 minutes from its original store in Sedgley. It also sells online.

FftH has invested £50,000 in the unit in Market Street.

‘We have been inundated with good wishes from local people who are delighted to see a furniture shop come back to their high street,’ says Simon Foster, FftH founder.

‘The design work for this project began before the pandemic when we engaged Somerset-based retail designer Spaceworks Interiors to develop an initial concept for a new store layout. In 2023 we commenced more detailed work and took the decision to target a spring 2024 start date.’

£17m pro t turnaround for Bensons

Bensons for Beds has seen an almost £17m turnaround in profits after sales grew by £18m.

The chain saw a EBITDA profit of £1.5m in the 53 weeks to 30 September 2023, compared with a loss of £15.4m. Sales grew by 7.5% to £257.5m.

The group says that the performance was a result of focusing on increasing conversion rates and bosting average order values.

‘Five months into the new financial year and in an external market which remains challenging, we continue to make progress, and our performance remains in line with our expectations. For the remaining months we remain focused on those factors in our control: store number growth, investment in colleague training, product

innovation and digital capability,’ says Nick Collard, Bensons for Beds ceo.

‘There is an old retail sayingto the effect that you should focus on the KPIs that you can control. Faced with lacklustre market demand, the Bensons team have done just that – focusing on sales conversion and average transaction value in order to make the most of what demand there was, and on delivering a first-class customer experience,’ says the chain.

‘The ultimate measure is in the financial results which show strong revenue growth and a return to profitability despite a challenging market.’ It added it had grown market share in core categories; boosted online sales by more than a fifth and opened 14 branches.

The £1.5m project will take six months to complete

Mansutti: ‘inspirational’

1 Slamp is celebrating its 30th anniversary with Veli Aurea, a reinterpretation of its iconic Veli. Available in wall-mounted and pendant versions, Veli Aurea features a delicate white texture with interweaves of gold leaf.

Visit: www.slamp.com

2 A combination of the tactile and the ethereal, the Bora sun lounger from Gloster alludes to the imposing climatic winds that buffet and ruffle the Adriatic coast. The name simultaneously evokes a sense of the remote and the exotic, painting a path to the horizon where oceans and skies meet and continents crumble into archipelagos.

Visit: www.gloster.com

3 Radar Interior’s Spectre lamp takes reflecting glass as an inspiration. Light hits the hammered and handcrafted glass surface, which reflects it to project a fascinating and changing pattern.

Visit: www.radar-interior.com

4 With new Herringbone Classic and Herringbone Short, homeowners are sure to find the perfect Moduleo Roots herringbone floor, whatever the room. In large rooms or open-plan living, Herringbone Short (63.2cm x 15.8cm) brings a statement floor that doesn’t look too busy. For smaller rooms like cosy living spaces, kitchens, hallways or the downstairs WC, Herringbone Classic (40.8cm x 10.2cm) is the smartly sized herringbone floor.

Visit: www.moduleo.co.uk

5 Whatever shoppers need from a vinyl plank or tile, they’ll find it in Zenn. Herringbone or concrete looks, planks or tiles, glue-down or click, integrated underlay, residential, commercial and more, BerryAlloc has given its all to Zenn. They simply select the design and you guide them through the myriad of specification options.

Visit: www.berryalloc.com

6 The hold of Floorwise Diamond Gripper can now be enjoyed on the thickest underlay and carpet combinations with new Diamond XL9 Gripper. In the original wide 25mm format, XL9 is now thicker at 9mm. Combined with the high nail and pin count, this means Diamond XL9 Gripper brings the hold to carpets with underlays 10mm thick and over.

Visit: www.floorwise.co.uk

7 The boundaries between indoor and outdoor have become evanescent, and terraces and gardens are now conceived as an extension of the indoor environment, to be furnished with the same care reserved for the living area. Abimis has succeeded in interpreting this trend with its high-performance outdoor kitchen lines with attention to every detail, which can offer advanced tools and customisation possibilities.

Visit: www.abimis.com

8 Quick-Step is one of the sponsors of the Grand House at Grand Designs Live next month, one of the UK’s most popular consumer self-build events. Quick-Step wood, laminate and vinyl will feature across the Grand House to demonstrate how its floors can create a beautiful home, while withstanding the footfall expected throughout the week-long show.

Visit: www.quick-step.co.uk

9 Visit Louis de Poortere at INDX National Flooring Show to see Ecorugs, Richelieu Runners and The Monochromes art rugs. Its entire rug collection has been transformed into the Ecorugs 100% recyclable construction, so every rug sold takes the company one step closer to a completely circular product.

Visit: www.louisdepoortere.com

10 New from LeoLine for 2024, the endless plank of Woodline is an exceptional design, available in a range of 10 painted colours including tones of forest green, sky blue and mushroom beige. Giving an alternative to painted wood floors that need careful treatment not to chip and scratch, Woodline makes full use of LeoLine’s new Realistic Look that brings defined plank grooves and an improved textured grain.

Visit: www.leoline.co.uk

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Back where we were

Retailing seems to have settled on a new normal, which is just as tough as the previous one, says our correspondent

THE RETAILER Fludes Carpets

As we trundled from the dire time that was the Covid-19 pandemic into the Government-funded mini-boom, many people took advantage of low-cost loans, suspended business rates and local authority grants. It was a life saver for some companies, who used the opportunities wisely to strengthen their business. Some didn’t take the opportunity and their businesses struggled and were closed. Some retailers chose to retire and close their shops. The new normal had arrived, with a different set of requirements for retailers to overcome when dealing with customers and manufacturers. From a retailer’s perspective, there are still some difficulties ahead.

Certainly, the amount of customers is less than last year, but they are spending

more and buying better quality products. People appear to be thorough in their homework: many come in to the showroom or phone up and the first thing they say is: ‘I have seen this carpet online, how much do you sell it for?’

A fair number of potential customers fall into the category of people who had a higher level of disposable income because of the Government support for businesses – individuals who during the lockdown did not spend very much and became savers instead. A lot of these customers have now enjoyed the freedom to take holidays or, more relevant to flooring retailers, to spend money on home projects. It seems that we have gone through this period of business and are back to the grind of working hard to

maximise sales and profitability and have a clear plan for the year ahead in terms of sales targets and expenditure.

One essential item is the appearance of stores. Keep them tidy, with products well displayed, and clearly priced and labelled with relevant information. I do believe that as a company, our stores have never looked better, the staff are on the ball, and our pricing and promotional offer are just right.

Suppliers have played their part in helping the appearance of stores with new ranges of carpets, LVT and laminate, backed up with new POS display units. In all, the new normal is going to be just as tough as the last one. The added downside of an election, potentially in the Autumn, will not make our job any easier.

Andy Laird, Fludes Carpets owner

Some customers have enjoyed the freedom to take holidays and then spent money on home projects

worries no

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Renouf

Accidents happen

A wine spill and a lack of a stain-protection policy has seen a customer try and shift liability

‘We have a customer complaint on asofa. Initially some technical issues were resolved, but now the customer has spilt red wine on it. He declined a stain-protection policy when he bought it. We advised him to obtain a cleaning kit from the manufacturer and he bought this online, but this seems to have made the problem worse. As a gesture of goodwill we sent a technician to see ifit could be cleaned but this was not successful and now he is holding us liable for the problem. Citizens Advice has advised him to request ADR (alternative dispute resolution), but I don’t feel this is our issue. Can you advise?’ read the retailer’s letter.

What we mean by a ‘gesture of goodwill’ can, all too often, be taken as an admission that something is wrong, and this seems to be the case here. The original problem was, I assume, accidental damage and this would have been covered by the warranty if this had been accepted. Even now it might be

covered by the customer’s own insurance if they have a household contents policy – depending on the terms of any such policy.

Has the attempt to clean the sofa created a liability the retailer did not have? Probably not. I’m not a lawyer, and I am not qualified to give legal advice, but as I see it, if the attempt at cleaning was carried out with reasonable skill and care the consequences are still the result of the accident. It may be different if the customer had been charged for the cleaning, as this would have created a contract for the cleaning itself, but cleaning had been done for free for the customer.

Now to the question of ADR. Alternative dispute resolution can be done as part of a court claim. During the preliminary stages the court recommends that the parties consider this step, and they have mediators specially trained for this. However, ADR can also be done independently of the courts. For this to

be suggested by a consumer advisor implies that they have not recommended the court process to their client. You are not obliged to accept this request and, as it is the customer’s liability, I would think carefully before agreeing, as ADR usually tries to find a compromise, which means you will end up agreeing to offer something. Of course, you might be willing to make a further offer of some kind and, if so, doing this through ADR may make closure more certain if this is accepted.

Finally, let’s not assume that the customer (or Citizens Advice) has considered their own insurance. It could be worth pointing out that they should claim against this policy as, even if they don’t have a policy, it will help them to understand that a retailer is not liable for a customer’s accident.

Visit: www.richard-renouf.com

Richard Renouf is an independent furnishings consultant

Drinking wine in the bath may have been a better option

Robust, honest and verifiable

Karndean Designflooring has become the first flooring manufacturer to sign up for The Anti-Greenwash Charter.

‘Fifty years ago, Karndean was founded on innovation, bold action and a pioneering spirit. Today we are still guided by these ideals because the future demands change. Tackling key environmental challenges has become a major consideration over recent years. But as we come to understand the difficult transition we need to make towards a more sustainable future, transparency is key to maintaining the trust our customers have in our business,’ says Fleur Carson, Karndean Designflooring md.

‘We are proud to be the first flooring manufacturer to sign up to The AntiGreenwash Charter. As a signatory, we are clearly stating our intention to keep our marketing fair, with product claims that have been independently substantiated. We know that great things can be achieved when we take a collaborative approach, so we are calling on others in the flooring industry to join us and stand together as part of this Charter.’

Established in 2023 to promote responsible marketing practices, The Anti-Greenwash Charter emphasises the need for accountability and fairness in

all aspects of marketing.

‘Through this Charter, we are creating a framework that enables the truth of an organisation’s claims to be made visible, and enables customers to see which organisations are open about their claims so they can be confident that they are supporting those who share their vision for a more sustainable future. By signing up to the Charter, Karndean is pledging to ensure its marketing practices are robust, honest and verifiable,’ says Charlie Martin, The Anti-Greenwash Charter co-founder and ceo.

‘We are inspired by the beauty of nature and believe it is the duty of us all to ensure the natural world is protected for future generations, which is why we are committed to taking real and meaningful steps towards cutting our environmental impact. We have released our first Karndean Evolve sustainability report, which establishes a 2022 baseline for our greenhouse gas emissions and sets out our plan to reduce these by at least 50% by 2030. This will be evidenced by science-based targets, established in line with the Business Ambition for 1.5degC campaign,’ says Carson.

The strategy highlights the work the business is currently undertaking to reduce its environmental impact and

sets out how the principles of sustainability are being integrated across its operations. Embedding the notion of continual improvement, the strategy looks at progress and future actions in six areas: confronting climate change, individual health and wellbeing, sustainable resource use, inclusion and diversity, supply chain transparency and education.

Confronting climate change through increased energy efficiency and renewable energy, Karndean plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sources it controls directly, indirect sources and third-party sources. This includes a commitment to invest further in solar power across its property portfolio, while a new UK warehouse in construction is expected to meet requirements for BREEAM Excellent accreditation.

Taking steps towards a more sustainable use of resources and a circular economy, the report says up to 300tonnes of product offcuts is recycled into street furniture such as traffic cones each year, while the backing layer of its products contains up to 50% recycled material from production waste. It has begun a trial with independent retailers and contractors to collect offcuts for recycling.

Visit: www.karndean.com

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AWARDS

The best

Once again in the Interiors Monthly Awards, we want you to tell us which retailers, manufacturers and suppliers are the best in the industry, including some

new categories. As ever, the criteria is entirely up to you.

To vote, visit www.interiorsmonthly. co.uk/voting-form and fill in the form:

Voting closes on 28 June. Here’s a reminder of the 2023 winners…

Best Furniture Retailer

(1-3 stores): Lenleys Home

Best Flooring Retailer

(1-3 stores): Dentons

Best Furniture Retailer

(4+ stores): DFS

Best Flooring Retailer

(4+ stores): Tapi

Best Online Retailer:

Mattress Online

Best UK Furniture Manufacturer:

Millbrook Beds

Best UK Flooring Manufacturer:

Victoria

Best Overseas Furniture

Manufacturer: Wiemann

Best Overseas Flooring

Manufacturer: Condor Carpets

Best Furniture Buying Group: AIS

Best Flooring Buying Group: SMG

Best Bed Manufacturer

(Upmarket): Harrison Spinks

Best Bed Manufacturer

(Mid-Market): Sleepeezee

Best Bed Manufacturer (Value): Shire Beds

Best Bed in a Box Manufacturer: Emma Sleep

Best Carpet Manufacturer:

Cormar Carpet Company

Best Bed Manufacturer (Adjustable): Adjustamatic

Best Rug Supplier: Think Rugs

Best Bedroom Manufacturer: Forte

Best Laminate Manufacturer:

Quick-Step

Best Dining Room Supplier: Ercol

Best Solid/Engineered Wood Flooring Supplier: Furlong Flooring

Best Living Room Supplier: Core Products

Best Underlay Manufacturer: Ball & Young

Best Fabric Upholstery

Manufacturer (Luxury):

Alpha Designs

Best Fabric Upholstery

Manufacturer: Lebus Upholstery

Best Vinyl Manufacturer: IVC

Best Leather Upholstery

Manufacturer (Luxury): Ekornes

Best Leather Upholstery Manufacturer: La-Z-Boy

Best LVT Manufacturer: Moduleo

Best Recliner Manufacturer: himolla

Best Accessory Supplier: Gallery Direct

Best Flooring Accessory Supplier: Interfloor

Best Rigid Floor Manufacturer: COREtec

Best Flatpack Furniture Supplier: Core Products

Best Mattress Protection Provider: Mattressgard

Best Furniture Wholesaler: Julian Bowen

Best Flooring Wholesaler: Floorwise

Best Customer Service (Furniture): Julian Bowen

Best Customer Service (Flooring): F Ball

Best Business Support (Furniture): BFM

Best Business Support (Flooring): ACG

Best Marketing Support (Furniture): NBF

it only takes a few minutes. As a thank you, one of you will receive a Fortnum & Mason hamper, so include your details: without them your vote will not count.

Best Marketing Support (Flooring): Metro Group

Best Retail Software Supplier (Furniture): Ordorite

Best Retail Software Supplier (Flooring): Company Dynamics

Best CGI Software Supplier:

Orbital Vision

Best Furniture Exhibition (UK):

Bed Show

Best Flooring Exhibition (UK): The Flooring Show

Best Warranty Provider: Castelan

Best Product Protection

(Furniture): Guardsman

Best Product Protection Provider (Flooring): Stroolmount

Best Flooring Website: Lifestyle Floors

Best Finance Provider: V12

Innovation of the Year: Abingdon Flooring – Love Story

Wild Silk

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Product of the Year (Flooring):

Beyond Wool – Furlong Flooring

Furniture Brand 2023: Tetrad

Flooring Brand 2023:

Greendale

Sustainability (Furniture):

Hypnos Beds

Sustainability (Flooring):

Associated Weavers

Outstanding Performance

(Furniture): Simba

Outstanding Performance

(Flooring): Likewise

Industry Contribution:

Jonathan Watts and Lord Kirkham

Thank you

ASSOCIATED WEAVERS

‘We as a company were very proud to receive this award and remain committed to highlighting the huge importance of sustainability in the industry,’ says Associated Weavers

CORMAR CARPET COMPANY

Ian Ford, Cormar md and David Cormack, Cormar marketing director celebrate being voted Britain’s Best Carpet Manufacturer for the past 11 consecutive years

STROOLMOUNT

Gill Finch, Stroolmount md has a hat-trick of Interiors Monthly awards

GREENDALE

‘Everyone at Greendale is delighted to have received this award for Best Flooring Brand, as is it recognition of all the hard work the team has put in over the past year,’ says Eamonn Prescott, Greendale chief executive.

ADJUSTAMATIC

‘We take great pride in continuously pushing the boundaries to create sleep solutions that truly enhance the way people rest and rejuvenate. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal customers for their trust and support, driving us to maintain the highest standards in the industry,’ says Ben Payne, Variamatic group marketing manager.

CORE PRODUCTS

The directors and staff at Core Products celebrating their success in winning two awards. ‘Everyone at our head office in Perth is delighted to yet again be recognised by Interiors Monthly readers,’ says Stuart Wallace, Core Products director.

AWARDS

NBF

‘We are thrilled that the NBF has not only been awarded Best Marketing Support (Furniture) again, but our annual trade exhibition, The Bed Show, has again clinched the Best Furniture Exhibition Award. We work hard to support the bed trade, and the show has strived to provide a high-quality platform for members to showcase products to bed retailers and specifiers,’ says Tristine Hargreaves, NBF executive director.

SMG

The SMG team is thrilled to have won the Interiors Monthly Award for Best Flooring Group. ‘We work very hard to give our members the best service and the best possible terms from their membership and this is a recognition of that. Thank you to everyone who voted for us.’

CASTELAN

‘Thanks again to all those who voted for us as Best Warranty Provider 2023. It means a lot to us and we value your trust in us to deliver the best, compliant warranty schemes to your customers,’ says Martin Napper, Castelan Group ceo, pictured centre with Stuart Armstrong, Castelan Group finance director and Ian Annand, Castelan Group chairman.

LA-Z-BOY UK

‘The award reinforces our brand’s presence within the industry. Our valued retailers have witnessed increased sales, further strengthening our bond with our dedicated La-Z-Boy consumer base and enhancing overall customer satisfaction,’ says Georgia De Courtin, La-Z-Boy UK ScS account manager.

LEBUS UPHOLSTERY

‘We are proud and honoured to receive this award. This is a huge achievement for us and it demonstrates the hard work and commitment from our workforce. Clearly our goal is to deliver value for money whilst retaining modern design, and this recognition from the interiors industry indicates that we are delivering on our promise. We would like to thank all our customers and readers who voted for us,’ says Karl Walker, Lebus md.

JULIAN BOWEN

‘As a team we are very proud of achieving these awards for another consecutive year. Delivering customers satisfaction is at the forefront of our business and we believe it is our place to ensure that we are providing a much easier and more accessible customer fulfilment. We are honoured that our customers continue to show their support,’ says Emmett Lenaghan, Julian Bowen md.

ORDORITE

‘Our team has worked tirelessly to provide a software solution that meets the evolving needs of the furniture industry. This award is a testament to their dedication, expertise and creativity. We’d also like to express our gratitude to our clients and partners, who have been instrumental in our journey,’ says Stephen Connolly, Ordorite ceo.

ORBITAL VISION

‘We are over the moon and cannot thank our clients, and the readers of Interiors Monthly, enough for voting for us for the Best CGI Software Supplier Award. This fantastic award is one to add to our ever-growing collection. It’s truly rewarding to be recognised by the furniture industry as one of, if not the, UK’s leading CGI agency for furniture and interiors,’ says Alice Clarke, Orbital Vision sales and marketing director.

F BALL

F Ball was delighted to win the award for Best Customer Service (Flooring). ‘It’s a reflection of the hard work of our team of retail representatives who are extremely dedicated to providing a first-class service to flooring retailers throughout the country,’ says Rachel Sorroll, F Ball retail representative.

STAINGARD

Rob Jones, Staingard national sales manager counts the group’s Interiors Monthly awards

HYPNOS

Richard Naylor, Hypnos sustainable development director celebrates the company’s sustainability award

BFM

‘We were particularly honoured winning the award for Best Business Support (Furniture). This award is a testament to the hard work of everyone at the BFM, including our staff, board and wider team. We are committed to supporting our members and the industry as a whole, and this award is a recognition of our efforts. We are proud to be recognised for our commitment to excellence. We look forward to continuing to support our members and the industry in the years to come,’ says Phil Spademan, BFM md.

AWARDS

METRO GROUP

Metro Group proudly displays its awards certificates

VICTORIA

Victoria scooped the 2023 Best UK Flooring Manufacturer award

GUARDSMAN

‘This is such a great honour for us to win this accolade again. I am so proud of everyone in our team, who work so hard to maintain our retail partnerships and make sure consumers are receiving the best possible service and outcome,’ says Mark Potter, Guardsman md.

SHIRE BEDS

Fara Butt, Shire Beds director with the company’s Best Bed Manufacturer (Value) Award certificate in the company’s showroom

A good fit

With 111 stores across Britain (it has yet to cross the Irish Sea), Wren Kitchens is a familiar sight on retail parks. What is less obvious is its diversification into fitted bedrooms. It opened its 41st bedroom display when the High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire store opened in late March. In 2022 (its most recent reported financial year), Wren saw sales break the £1bn mark, more than doubling since 2018. Pre-tax profits jumped 12% to £112m, allowing for more than £90m of investment and £35m of dividends.

Wren opened its first UK store in 2009 when the Healey family was shocked at the state of the UK’s fitted kitchen market, which in their view had gone backwards since they founded Hygena and then became the second largest kitchen manufacturer in the US.

It was not until mid-2022 that conversations began about the bedroom market. But by March 2023 the first cameo display was in-store, followed by the proper retail display five months later.

For Wren, manufacturing has always gone hand in glove with retailing: this

allows it to control production and what that entails. Bedrooms are produced at the converted kitchen factory in Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire. It also allows for quick delivery: ordering to fitting takes an average of five to six weeks.

Before the move into bedrooms was discussed, the chain had long been an

advocate of what we now understand as sustainability. Up to a quarter of its timber comes from sustainable local woodlands and 45% comes from local sawmills before becoming chipboard. Waste from worktop cutting – filling up to two trailers with sawdust every week – is sold to farmers and the horticultural sector.

Since August 2023 Wren has installed 41 bedroom displays in-store

The company is on target to achieve Net Zero by 2030, and its initiatives include reporting Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions annually while working on all areas to inset emissions as well as offset; sourcing all materials from sustainable resources; reducing the road delivery mileage of its transport fleet by about half through its TripleTrunking delivery process; working with energy suppliers and leading vehicle manufacturers on zero emission truck batteries; recycling all waste wood and plastic; switching solvent-based paints to water-based in 2023 along with reduced acetone use; installing energy management systems across stores and manufacturing facilities; installing solar panels on the roof of its 1.2million sqft manufacturing facility in Barton-upon-Humber, capable of producing 629.6 Megawatts an hour, and working in collaboration with Hull University to develop a carbon mapping tool, sponsored by Wren.

‘Sustainability is slowly but surely becoming a buzz word in our industry and we have long had an achievable programme of environmental initiatives – primarily based on insetting before offsetting – in place to ensure we are carbon neutral before 2030, while futureproofing our business for generations to come and helping to build a more sustainable and safer planet,’ says Joanne Dodsworth, Wren head of bedrooms.

‘Last year we embarked on a collaborative venture with Hull University to take our efforts to the next level. Together we are in the process of designing and building a unique measurement tool that will map the cradle-to-grave carbon footprint so that customers will soon be able to make informed environmentally positive purchase decisions when choosing their new kitchen or bedroom.’

For Dodsworth, competition comes from established names such as Sharps, Hammonds, B&Q, Howdens and Magnet alongside independent bedroom and kitchen retailers. But one chain is not on Wren’s radar.

‘We cover anything from low end to high end, selling bedrooms from as

little as £1,000 to £20,000. Wren is all about affordable luxury and therefore our customer profile is wide and varied. Our prices start from under £1,000 depending on the style, design and size, and through our expert design professionals we meet the needs of social housing, new developments, renovations, right through to high-end, premium property owners. We are not in the market for free-standing Ikeatype products, but other than that we have something for everyone. We also offer up to seven years’ IFC as standard, which is pretty unique in our industry.

‘Our fitted bedrooms offering is an ever-growing range of design options based on market trends and customer demands. We have more than 10 

Above and right: Parrott Street, the 1.2million sqft manufacturing facility at Barton-upon-Humber

Primo Textures by

Easy Clean, moth proof, loop pile carpet. Made from 100% Excellon polypropylene in a premium quality 3-ply yarn, this exciting new range is produced in both Ribbed and Weave designs in a palette of 20 popular colour options.

MOTH PROOF QUALITY CARPET

www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

different styles and just over 70 colour and mirror options within our Infinity and InfinityPlus ranges. From classic Shaker styles to traditional Georgian, minimalistic Autograph and Ultra to our recently launched walk-in and sliding wardrobes, there is something for every budget and taste.’

The bestselling range is Shaker Classic in lighter colours such as Cashmere, Cream and Pebble.

Putting in bedroom displays obviously reduces space for the chain’s core offer, but diversification has paid dividends.

‘We have seen a growing trend and sales increase for customers coming in for both kitchens and bedrooms, and we are very much on a trajectory to

become the one-stop-shop renovation and new-build “go-to”,’ says Dodsworth. Getting consumers to consider Wren for bedrooms relies on more than them also being in the market for a kitchen.

‘Until recently our promotional activities have focused very much on local marketing and awareness campaigns in conjunction with the respective showrooms – so, billboards, promotional signage, local leaflet drops. We have also used local radio advertising in certain areas, and social media continues to play a big part in raising awareness and brand promotion. From March we have introduced the bedroom brand into our

national TV and radio campaigns.’

Dodsworth is wary of publicly setting any targets for sales or market share, but it seems likely that bedrooms will only become a more important part of the business, and have established players watching with interest.

‘It’s still early days where interest and sales are growing rapidly and complementing our kitchen offerings, so it’s a case of watch this space. Our tried, tested and proven practices and processes are wholly transferrable to bedrooms, which is what enabled us to hit the ground running when we launched.’ Visit:www.wrenkitchens.com

Above: Joanne Dodsworth, Wren head of bedrooms Right: ‘Paul’ and ‘Molly’ feature in the latest TV advert, The Great Wrenovation

Comfort unparalleled

THE ORIGINAL RECLINER

Trent

- Deep-fill padded cushions o er a supportive and restful sit, and our power model features a smooth reclining mechanism with sensor switch. Available in both static and power variants as a chair, two or three seater sofa or love seat.

Trent

Overhaul

The Carpet Foundation is to overhaul the centrepiece of its consumer-focused activities – its Code of Practice – to prevent it bailing out retailers, facing potential financial ruin, and to reassure shoppers that it is fit for purpose.

One of the key planks of the Code is that consumer deposits of up to 50% of the value of the order made to members are guaranteed: the Foundation promises to complete the supply and installation

of orders in the event of a member failing. The money paid by consumers is not protected.

However, the collapse of one member has highlighted that the Foundation could be left in a position where it had to bail out ‘rogue’ retailers or face huge bills for their collapse, which would threaten the Foundation’s future.

Following discussions with administrators, lawyers and insurers,

Why you should buy your carpet from a Carpet Foundation retail member

the Code’s terms will be revamped to make sure members follow the rules, according to Andrew Stanbridge, Carpet Foundation chief executive.

‘Towards the end of 2023 we were informed of the collapse of one of our retail members, Cullingford Carpets of Wincanton. Within days we were inundated with calls from consumers telling us they had paid deposits for new carpets but were still waiting

Cullingfords had 108 creditors

Shoppers never received orders they had placed

100% Wool - 7 designs - 43 colour options

LETTER TO AFFECTED CONSUMERS

Further to our previous correspondence, I can confirm that the Foundation has now concluded discussions with the administrators of Cullingford Carpets and the Foundation’s insurers, and we have also taken detailed legal advice.

The conclusion of these enquiries is, I regret, that the Deposit Protection Scheme will not apply to your order.

The last statutory accounts filed at Companies House for Cullingford Carpets (December 2021) showed that the company had bank borrowings of £777,000 (up from £333,000 in the previous year) and a total outstanding to creditors exceeding £1m. The accounting period for the year to December 2022 was extended to March 2023, but no accounts were filed.

The directors, Mr and Mrs Cullingford, were issued with mental health breathing space certificates under the insolvency legislation in October 2023, and the company ceased trading. Administrators were approached, and formally appointed on 20 November 2023. The management accounts to 31 March 2023 showed that the company had incurred a net loss in the period of £128,889.

The Deposit Protection Scheme was implemented for retailer members of the Foundation, for the purposes of those members passing the benefit of the scheme to customers

who had paid 50% of the relevant order value, providing for the Foundation to complete supply and installation in the event of failure of the member business.

However, the benefit of the scheme is conditional upon the retailer members conducting their business in accordance with the Foundation’s Consumer Code of Practice, and maintaining commitment to the highest standards of retailing.

What has become apparent during the Foundation’s investigation is that Cullingford Carpets were in serious breach of its obligations under the Code of Practice. Whilst deposits of 50% of order value were received from a number of customers, Cullingford Carpets had failed to place any orders for these carpets with manufacturers, frequently over an extended period. The deposits had been received from customers many months ago, but no orders placed with manufacturers at any stage prior to the company ceasing trade.

The inevitable conclusion is that the directors never intended to place the relevant orders, but continued to take deposits from customers regardless. The deposits were not held in a separate account as required by the highest standards of retailing, but applied against the general overheads and increasing losses of the business.

for them, in some cases up to six months. Such was the speed and number of the calls that we began to get suspicious.

‘Subsequent investigations have revealed that: Cullingford Carpets had been knowingly trading while technically insolvent; they told every consumer buying a carpet that their deposit was protected by us; they received orders from consumers and took their deposits but, in many cases, never placed the order with the manufacturer.

‘Having taken legal advice, we will not be honouring these orders. Furthermore, if we were to, we would be using money to bail out a rogue retailer: the sums involved are considerable and amount to many thousands of pounds.

‘While there are moral and ethical issues, we fervently do not believe that the Carpet Foundation should be held accountable for the blatant abuse of the scheme by one of our retail members, nor should the malpractice

The Foundation has been advised that the actions of the directors leave the business liable to allegations of fraud and at the very least to wrongful trading as defined by the Insolvency Act 1986.

The Foundation is advised that the actions and defaults of Cullingford Carpets, and their breaches of their obligations pursuant to the Foundation’s Code of Practice, render the Deposit Protection Scheme in favour of Cullingford Carpets void. The benefit of that scheme arises from the contractual position between the Foundation and its members. Cullingford Carpets cannot pass a contractual benefit to its customers which has been rendered void.

As stated above, therefore, I regret to advise that the deposit protection will not apply in the case of orders placed with Cullingford Carpets, for the reasons set out above.

For further information we suggest that you approach the administrator:

Ms Claire Howell of Antony Batty & Company LLP, 3 Field Court, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5EF. Telephone: 020 7831 1234.

Yours faithfully,

On behalf of The Carpet Foundation

of one retailer threaten the viability of the Carpet Foundation,’ says Stanbridge.

‘The money entrusted to us by our law-abiding retail members should not be spent on making good the foul play of one rotten apple. As a direct result of the actions of Cullingfords, we will be making changes to the Code of Practice to avoid a repeat of this behaviour and to reassure both members and the public that it is fit for purpose.’

Visit: www.carpetfoundation.com

A Modern Classic

Whatever the room, Moduleo Herringbone Classic gives the perfect look. Choose from 12 wood looks designed and made exclusively in Belgium with selected floors available EIR for a true-to-nature floor.

As part of our Roots collection, this smartly sized herringbone can be matched to standard wood planks for an exclusive design floor. Or mix it up with unique stone, concrete and terrazzo looks.

Herringbone Classic is the smartly sized plank from Moduleo.

Progress

‘In our world of misinformation and apathy towards sustainability, the National Bed Federation is working hard to ensure that a near-ubiquitous product like a bed is as sustainable as possible. We know we cannot change everything but we can make our specific part of the world as sustainable as possible. At the forefront of this, lies our Pledge for Our Planet initiative, celebrating its second anniversary in May,’ says Tom Williams, NBF sustainability and circular economy lead.

‘The Pledge signifies a collective effort to commit to a journey of continuous environmental improvement at both company and product levels. Taking a

proactive approach will help the industry to future-proof for upcoming legislation and market changes. NBF members who signed up in May 2022 will soon reach the first milestone in their Pledge journey, where they will be checked against the requirements they signed up for.

‘The Pledge is by no means the only work we are doing at the NBF. Through our regular stakeholder meetings and general conversations and observations, we are looking at areas that could make the most difference to the sustainability of the industry. We do this in a variety of ways, from providing support to understand sustainability issues to instigating research to remove key

blockers to sustainability and circularity.

‘Last year, we embarked on a knowledge transfer partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University. We are working with a postgraduate who will look at ways to measure the cleanliness of recovered and recycled materials. We are aiming to create an easily replicable, laboratory-free test that will quickly and simply indicate the cleanliness of a filling and/or product. We hope this will allow more materials to be re-used and give consumers peace of mind that re-used does not mean dirty.

‘Recently we produced a comprehensive greenwashing guide for our members, designed to steer them from the



Pledge for Our Planet

The NBF’s Green Dream

How the NBF is responding to the Global Climate Crisis

To find out more contact info@bedfed.org.uk

Our aim is to support our members on their journey to become more sustainable businesses

Some of the things we have done to help include:

•Introducing the NBF Pledge for Our Planet

•Developing an ecodesign framework for mattresses

•Representing the bed industry and creating sustainable solutions

common pitfalls when marketing their products. We view addressing greenwashing as paramount for our members, not just from a legal perspective but to uphold the integrity of sustainability claims within our industry. It is also important that our members make accurate, substantiated sustainability claims to add credibility to the industry’s sustainability efforts.’

One of the areas the association believes is integral to achieving industry-wide sustainability goals is ecodesign. Ecodesign involves building ecological considerations into the design and development process, ensuring that products not only function as they should but are also environmentally friendly. Ecodesign encourages innovation, pushing manufacturers to rethink traditional approaches and find new ways to minimise environmental impact.

‘We have long recognised that sustainability is an extremely important area and have worked hard to identify the crucial areas for improvement and challenges to overcome. So far, we have: established the NBF Circular Economy Committee for industry guidance; released our 10 EcoDesign Principles Guide for the UK bed sector, which offers practical advice through three categories: people and relationships, products and services, and processes; developed the EcoDesign Toolkit for members to assess their products based on the EcoDesign Principles; published the NBF policy on the Sale of Used and Reconditioned Mattresses and Materials; collaborated with the mattress recycling sector to launch the Register of Approved Mattress Recyclers (RAMR);

set an ambitious target of 75% mattress diversion from landfill by 2028; conducted End of Life surveys since 2014. According to the most recent report, published in 2022, the topline recycling rate has reached 24%, while the real (materials-based) rate is just 14%. It could take 50 years to reach our target at the current rate without intervention; collaborated on an Outline Business Case for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) with Zero Waste Scotland and industry stakeholders; and kept governments informed about our progress, resulting in our work being highlighted in the Waste Prevention Plan for England (July 2023).

‘The need for a more sustainable approach to how the industry works

transcends individual companies and requires a collaborative approach: collaboration holds the key to magnifying the sector’s collective impact.

‘Our Pledge for Our Planet actively encourages this by helping our members move together towards a shared goal of effecting positive change, which is crucial for us as a trade association. We need to be visible and active in sustainability conversations to ensure that we not only represent our members’ interests but are not left behind.

‘The journey towards sustainability and circularity is a complex and ongoing process, and the NBF recognises that perfection will not be an immediate outcome. What we need is progress, not perfection.’ Visit: www.bedfed.org.uk

Ecodesign Principles Guide for the UK Bed Sector

Tom Williams

Cut from a different cloth

We’re passionate about making luxury mattresses and beds in the most responsible way. And for us, that means caring where everything comes from. It’s why we grow natural comfort fillings on our Yorkshire farm, weave fabrics in-house and make our own award-winning springs.

Our unique approach to luxury bed making makes us different. It’s why each and every one we lovingly handcraft is proudly cut from a different cloth.

HARRISONSPINKS . CO .UK

Importance of change

As a proud member of the National Bed Federation, Breasley is dedicated not only to crafting exceptional mattresses but also to upholding its responsibility towards the environment and the communities it serves. In an era where sustainability is paramount, Breasley recognises the importance of change within the mattress manufacturing industry. Today, Breasley continues to promote change, whilst championing initiatives that pave the way towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Central to its mission is Breasley’s commitment to the NBF’s sustainability Pledge for Our Planet: having set ambitious milestones to demonstrate the company’s dedication to sustainability, aiming to reduce its global warming impact, minimise waste and mitigate the environmental footprint of its products through a multifaceted approach, Breasley is actively implementing strategies to fulfil these goals while maintaining the quality and integrity of its products.

Sustainability is not merely a buzzword at Breasley: it is ingrained in every facet of operations. From manufacturing processes to packaging solutions, there is a desire to minimise the environmental impact at every turn. Breasley has implemented innovative recycling initiatives, such as repurposing foam waste to create crumb pillows and partnering with suppliers to recycle excess foam for alternative products. The business has also transitioned to packaging made from 30% recycled plastic, which underscores the commitment to reducing waste and promoting circularity within the industry.

Breasley recognises the importance of sustainable sourcing practices. By increasing the utilisation of plantbased polyol foams

across its manufacturing processes, the company is addressing the reliance on finite resources within the industry and reducing its carbon footprint. Dedication to sustainable sourcing extends beyond materials to encompass logistics operations, where efficient planning is prioritised to reduce fuel emissions and minimise environmental harm. Breasley has also set out to work with primary logistics partners that themselves have an understanding and focus on sustainability and the environment.

At the heart of the sustainability journey lies Breasley’s Green Mission Statement. Rooted in the principles of environmental stewardship and social responsibility, this guides its actions

as it strives to create positive change. Through adherence to the NBF Pledge for Our Planet and continual evaluation of practices, it is committed to fostering a healthier planet for generations to come.

‘However, our commitment to sustainability does not end here. We are actively exploring new partnerships and initiatives to further enhance our sustainability efforts and continue our journey as a responsible mattress manufacturer,’ says Sarah Khan, Breasley head of sustainability.

‘We understand that addressing sustainability within the business and the industry is a long-term plan, and it is one we are committed to tackle.’ Visit: www.breasley.co.uk

Breasley‘s Green Mission Statement guides its actions

The heart of design

The Vita Group is consistently pushing the boundaries of progress and sustainability in European flexible PU foam solutions. With a commitment to moving forward on sustainability and circularity, the company’s Orbis foams see a move to the next generation of materials.

‘Our commitment to product stewardship means substituting materials, improving their environmental performance and lowering the need for virgin, petrochemical-derived raw materials. We work relentlessly to reduce the amount of raw materials from non-sustainable sources. Our expanded research and development capabilities have enabled us to tune the chemistry and cell structure for different applications, making it one of the most versatile advanced materials around,’ says Mike Murray, The Vita Group chief technical officer.

‘Product stewardship to Vita is an environmental management strategy that places sustainable innovation at the heart of product design. The transition to renewable and recycled feedstock at scale is a high impact area for our industry. Vita continues to invest in R&D in this area and as a result, we are at the vanguard of multi-layered sustainability

breakthroughs. A key challenge is understanding the true environmental impact of the raw materials used to manufacture our products.’

Orbis is part-manufactured from recycled raw materials sourced from postconsumer foam mattresses, marking a shift towards circular economy practices. By transforming post-consumer foam into Orbis, the group is mitigating the need to send to landfill or incineration. This move leads to reductions in carbon footprint, utilising waste as a valuable resource while retaining the quality, durability and comfort inherent to traditional flexible PU foam mattresses, and expands the life cycle of the foam, reducing reliance on virgin raw materials.

‘Our recent advancements in product life cycle analysis mean we now have at our disposal a science-based allocation of their environmental impact. As an industry this is something we must keep communicating, utilising science-based data. We invest in innovation which embraces product stewardship and discovering materials and technologies with reduced environmental impacts. Additionally, a fundamental part of our innovation journey is finding ways to make products that can help solve existing problems in society, for example extending the life of foam, diverting waste from landfill and unlocking the value of waste as a raw material.’

Visit: www.thevitagroup.com

The Vita Group now has environmental impact information on each of its products

Orbis™, Europe’s First Step Towards Circular Flexible PU Foam crafted in part, from recycled raw materials, specifically sourced from post-consumer foam. The main driver behind the development of Orbis™, and other sustainable foams produced by The Vita Group, is to create a circular economy. For Orbis™, this means preventing post consumer products from ending up in landfill or being incinerated, thus creating a fully circular product.

Add on In-store rewards can help boost sales

After the winter sale is the perfect time to assess and review. Protect-A-Bed, the award-winning specialist in mattress protection, will have helped multiple retailers throughout the sale period to grow sales.

‘The Platinum Club has been extremely successful since its creation. We continuously build frameworks that are simple for retailers to implement in order to achieve extremely highsales in the category. The PlatinumClub is an

in-store rewards programme designed to build, recognise and reward this success. We create energy and excitement in a category often overlooked and our ability to turn this into sales growth is phenomenal,’ says Gowsh Shan, ProtectA-Bed national sales manager.

‘The Platinum Club is only one element. There are significant differences between Protect-A-Bed and other mattress protectors: every Protect-A-Bed protector includes a 10-15-year product guarantee

and, bought with a mattress, a 10-15-year anti-stain guarantee. Protect-A-Bed will have the mattress professionally cleaned to the customer’s satisfaction or buy the customer a new one if it fails and the mattress was bought with the protector. This promise is significantly powerful andis at the core of our philosophy.

‘It’s in both the store’s and the customer’s interest to purchase Protect-A-Bed mattress protectors. Our speciality is driving in-store performance, so linked mattress and mattress protector sales are extremely high. The customer benefits from a healthy and hygienic sleep zone while the store benefits from increased sales revenue. Every customer who walks through the door, if buying a mattress, needs to buy a mattress protector. It’s in their interest to do so for many reasons.

‘We can upskill your team and increase your sales revenue by maximising every sales opportunity. We can manage everystep of the process for you and build a reward scheme through The Platinum Club.’

Visit: www.protectabed.co.uk

Each of your customers buying a mattress needs to buy a protector

Creating energy in an overlooked category

Market Leading Mattress Protector Brand, Featuring Cutting-Edge Materials Including Copper, Graphene, Charcoal and Bamboo!

• Professional Sales Training & Motivational Programme

• Best in Class Product Innovation and Cooling Technology

• Genuine 15 Year Guarantee Programme

• State of the Art Dynamic Display Bays

• Award Winning Customer Service & Claims Resolution

The power of partnership

In its 120th year, and 95th as a Royal Warrant Holder, Hypnos is keen to celebrate its valuable relationships with retailers, premium hospitality partners, suppliers and strategic partners.

Hypnos is dedicated to proudly handcrafting luxurious mattresses and beds that meet the needs of each market sector without compromise, designing for the wellbeing of both people and the planet.

‘The business takes real pride in its established strong relationships with its retail partners, supporting independent buying groups for many years and, more importantly, is committed to developing these for years to come,’ says James Keen, Hypnos ceo.

‘Hypnos is featured by our retailers as abrand that offers a compelling premium proposition and opportunity for strong sales growth, thanks to our reputation for handcrafted, luxurious British-made mattresses and beds,’ says David Baldry, Hypnos group md.

‘The team have created exemplary collections of pocket-sprung mattresses to support these individual groups as well as offering a strong core collection.’

With product comfort, quality, longevity and environmental concerns all influencing consumer purchasing decisions, Hypnos offers a compelling narrative for retailers, with meaningful partnerships and stringent certifications,

coupled with an unrivalled product choice that champions comfortable and sustainable living for the future.

The complete range includes firmer feels, sumptuous pillow tops, and both seasonal and no-turn mattresses, but every Hypnos mattress has been ethically sourced, is foam free and FR chemical free and is designed to be recycled.

Its new Legacy Collection offers advanced standards of certification for British wool with the globally recognised Responsible Wool Standard, whilst the Eden Project Collection – which builds on Hypnos’ unique five-year partnership with this global sustainability pioneer – harnesses the power of natural plant-based fibres within its generous upholstery and proudly bears the Eden Project name.

Alongside this tailored approach to product choice, Hypnos also

nurtures its partnerships through its training andservice levels, and its newly launched website has increased consumer interaction with the brand by 37% – leading to a better consumer experience, improved user journey and exits to retailers’ websites. It also supports retailers with an improved asset portal and ready supply of campaigns.

Selected retailers will benefit from the new product offering, coupled with in-store visual merchandising that explains the brand’s 120-year legacy and values, and creates further opportunities for added value sales such as bedding and accessories.

‘The team are looking forward to seeing our retail partners at the INDX Beds & Bedroom Show on 23-24 April, and we warmly invite them to join us for a drink at the Hypnos bar,’ says Baldry. Visit: www.hypnosbeds.com

Hypnos is celebrating its 120th anniversary

Celebrating 120 years of british bedmaking

£57,000 has been raised for the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity

Doing good

Sleepeezee has raised almost £110,000 for its charity partners. £109,000 was shared by the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity and the British Heart Foundation from sales in 2023.

A £57,000 donation to Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity was amassed through sales of Sleepeezee’s Jessica mattress range in partnership with Jessica Ennis-Hill, where £20 of each

sale throughout the year goes towards the children’s hospital of which Ennis-Hill is a patron. Now in its third year of fundraising, Sleepeezee has raised more than £190,000 for the charity and plans to continue this through 2024.

‘Our partnership with Jessica and the Sheffield Children’s Hospital, which we know is incredibly close to her heart, continues to go from strength to

strength and we’re thrilled to be back for another year. Seeing for ourselves the invaluable work the children’s hospital carries out is an honour and we hope our donation from the Jessica Collection helps the hospital achieve its overall ambitions to supporting as many children within its care as possible,’ says Steve Warren, Sleepeezee md.

Sleepeezee raised £2,000 for the British Heart Foundation through sales of the Travelodge Dreamer mattress through its own website. ‘We’re proud to have reached this amount for the BHF, and it’s actually a record amount we’ve managed to raise in the five years we have supported it through donations from our Travelodge Dreamer mattress, which together is more than £160,000. The BHF provides life-saving research every year into all heart and circulatory diseases, and all the things that can cause them, so we’re pleased to be able to contribute towards this extremely important cause,’ says Amy Curtis, Sleepeezee head of marketing. Visit: www.sleepeezee.com

A century of quality sleep

International move

Purecare has achieved international success by prioritising wellness products tailored to enhance sleep wellbeing. After debuting in the UK and European markets at the January Furniture Show, the brand is continuing its outreach efforts by participating at the upcoming INDX Beds & Bedroom and Spring Furniture & Beds Show.

‘Our goal is to make home the heart of wellness. We are dedicated to the wellbeing of you and your family, particularly when it comes to sleep quality. With every aspect of our products, we prioritise the sleep quality and wellness of every individual. That’s why our products are designed with a single mission: to provide every sleeper enhanced comfort and sleep wellbeing. Because at Purecare we know when we sleep well, we thrive in our waking lives too,’ says Johan Bosman, Purecare senior vice president of global business development.

Purecare’s journey began in the US with a focus on mattress protection tailored to enhance each person’s unique sleep experience.

‘Today, our product lines specialise in five-sided protection and six-sided

encasements, providing bed bug-proof solutions with our flagship OmniGuard ranges. Our mattress protectors also feature high-quality fibres such as Celliant Recovery, utilising advanced infrared technology to promote restorative sleep and expedite recovery,’ says Bosman.

Purecare’s commitment to innovation extends to its wide range of state-of-theart pillows and premium bedding sheets. ‘Our flagship pillows utilise groundbreaking technology like mineral-based Frio fibres, engineered to dissipate body heat and ensure uninterrupted sleep.’

Sarah Bergman, Purecare cmo says the brand had a positive reaction at JFS, with retailers keen to learn what sets its products apart. ‘As consumer trends in the UK and Europe align with the growing demand for wellness products, we’re excited to expand our presence and partner with retailers seeking to enhance their offerings in mattress protection, pillows and premium bedding. Our partnership with [integrative medicine pioneer] Dr Andrew Weil has further deepened our understanding and development of core wellness products, contributing to our continued success.

‘Our commitment to innovation and wellness positions Purecare as leaders in the field, poised to make significant strides in the UK and European markets. This vast product portfolio combined with the powerful knowledge of how to increase sales within the soft bedding categories creates a powerful partner for any bed and furniture retailer. Visitors to the shows will have a great opportunity learn more and partner with a leading specialist in this category.’ Visit: www.purecare.com

Purecare has a vast product portfolio

Play it again

Replay, Tomasella’s latest bedroom collection, consists of modules that can be stacked or fitted side by side to create original combinations.

Volumes and geometries, enhanced by contrasting colours and materials, express themselves in the collection which comprises chests-of-drawers, tallboys, bedside tables and

arrangements that can be customised to give bedrooms a unique touch.

The textured, wood-effect finishes – available in many wood types – can be paired with a great number of combinations of glass and lacquers in a vast array of shades.

The collection will be expanded later this spring with a series of new

finishes, including Stoneware and Graphic Glass.

Stoneware lends Replay a warm, elegant and sophisticated appeal, while Graphic Glass is designed to be the utmost expression of modernity and innovation, enriching models with original decorative features.

Visit: www.tomasella.it

Replay can be arranged to personal taste with scores of options

Experience the next generation of mattresses, from the UK’s most awarded mattress brand, designed by sleep scientists.

Flourish

‘I’m a firm believer that our outdoor spaces are a gift. Recent years have shown just how important being outdoors can be: whether that’s for time relaxing, connecting as a family or entertaining. Being outdoors brings many benefits, so it makes sense that our outdoor spaces should reflect and extend our personal style, with the same focus as interiors,’ says Andy Baxter, Maze founder and md.

‘At Maze, we’ve worked for almost 15 years to develop a unique understanding of outdoor living needs, and create curated garden furniture collections based around customers.’

Baxter has worked in outdoor furniture since he was 15, starting at the local garden centre. ‘Now at 39 I’ve learned so much about how we actually use our gardens and patios, and more importantly, what is key in the customer journey. Possibly the most valuable learning experience came from setting up my own online garden retail business back in 2006, which then led to also branching into physical retail. Only when you speak to customers face to face can you truly understand what their vision is, and in the world of garden furniture, what they long for often isn’t a set, it’s a moment they want to create.

‘One clear message I’ve learned over the years is that in our gardens, people long to create spaces to spend time and

connect with those they love, an escape from the pressures of everyday life.

‘We believe style has no boundaries, and that’s part of Maze’s DNA. We’ve developed a unique understanding of shoppers’ needs and create furniture collections to not only meet but exceed them. Reflecting the latest design trends is an import part of this, which is why we offer a continually evolving range of collections for customers to enjoy in their own moments that matter,

whether that’s including all-weather fabric ranges, combining the benefits of comfort and convenience, or contemporary concrete finishes that complement natural wood frames.

‘Pergolas are a key growth area currently, and we have one of the widest and most customisable ranges – helping people to create their own outdoor garden room, to enjoy whatever the great British weather brings.’ Visit: www.maze.co.uk

Eden

Martinique

Ibiza

Guiding the way

With the first rays of sunshine promised, thoughts turn to restoring the garden and, hopefully soon, being able to enjoy it during the evening. Lighting is often overlooked, with indoor lights left on to provide illumination or security lights pressed into service – usually too bright to relax in.

But it doesn’t have to be like that. Lights that cast a glow and brighten the area you are using, not the whole space, allow intimate conversations,

family meals, earnest discussions or simple relaxation, without having to shield youreyes. No one light fulfils every need,so certain models become favourites depending on where they are located.

A trio of Balads provides soft lighting perfect for relaxing after dinner, while in common with many of Fermob’s other designs it comes in a variety of sizes, making it suitable for lighting the way, for example, or the whole dining area.

Mooon has a mission to cast its spell over areas large or small, while Oto provides more focused illumination: move it about where it is needed. Aplo can be a stand-alone bulb or a string of pendants: you decide.

Lamps equipped with Bluetooth technology can be remote-controlled via an app or the Ludo switch, so no more trying to make your way back from the bottom of the garden in the dark. Visit: www.fermob.com

Balad can fulfil a multitude of roles

Mooon is on a mission

Oto provides focused lighting

Open spaces

MDF Italia’s outdoor collection includes Arpa, consisting of sofas, armchairs, poufs and coffee tables, allowing endless combinations to customise space with style and functionality: comfort is ensured by soft, generous cushions. Visit: www. mdfitalia.com

Molteni&C’s Landmark collection includes Boboli, featuring a solid teak frame and seat and a backrest with a handmade weave of polypropylene fibre ribbons in Ecru, and the solid teak Fairmount, featuring a ‘floating’ tabletop. Visit: www.moltenigroup.com

Configured for comfort, stability and versatility, &Tradition’s Thorvald collection features a lounge chair, stackable side and armchair, and various sized complementary tables in Warm Black, Bronze Green or Ivory. Seat pads and cushions are available for extra comfort, in a neutral colour and pattern. Visit: www.andtradition.com

Bolia’s Arke, designed by Studio Nooi, features elegant, rounded volumes and removable covers for easy maintenance, allowing for customised sofa arrangements. Visit: www.bolia.com

Warli’s hand-woven Mirasol outdoor rug is made from 100% polypropylene, offering texture highlighted by colour mixes in delicate contrast of tones. Visit: www.warli.it

Flawless

Given the premium associated with LVTs and customers’ high expectations of the end results, it is useful to know how to ensure a flawless finish when installing them.

‘A long-lasting, visually attractive flooring finish when installing LVT involves following the basic principles of subfloor preparation, as well as taking precautions to avoid common causes of floor failure. This can be broken down into a few simple steps. Careful product selection at each stage of the process will also help optimise the installation,’ says Neil Sanders, F Ball technical director.

A levelling compound should be applied over the subfloor to create a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings and ensure that the visual appearance of an installation is not compromised by imperfections in the subfloor showing through.

‘Before you apply a levelling compound, the first step in any flooring installation should be to check that the subfloor is suitably sound, smooth and dry. Any laitance and contaminants should be mechanically removed,’ says Sanders.

A moisture test should be conducted to determine if the subfloor is dry enough to receive the LVT. Where Relative Humidity (RH) levels are higher than 75%, a moisture management solution will be required to prevent moisture attacking flooring adhesives and causing resilient floorcoverings to

blister and lift, potentially ruining the appearance of the installation. The usual solution for suppressing excess subfloor moisture is the application of a liquid waterproof surface membrane.

‘You also need to prime the subfloor. Primers promote adhesion between the subfloor and the levelling compound applied over it. Applied over absorbent subfloors, they also stop the unacceptably rapid drying of levelling compounds, which can result in insufficient strength build-up and a reduction in the open time or wet edge of the levelling compound.’

Another benefit of priming is reducing pinholing: small holes in the levelling compound that have the appearance of pinholes or blisters caused by the slow

escape of air from absorbent surfaces as the levelling compound cures.

‘To adhere the LVT to the levelling compound, pressure-sensitive adhesives, such as Styccobond F46 are usually the best choice. They form an instant grab upon contact, so installers don’t need to worry about tiles or planks sliding about when they are working, making them ideal for installations with intricate designs or patterns.’

Styccobond F46 is part of F Ball’s System LVT range of waterproof surface membranes, primers, levelling compounds and adhesives. Used correctly and in combination, F Ball guarantees an aesthetically pleasing floor finish that lasts the lifetime of the installation.

The range also features pressuresensitive adhesives with a variety of other specialist attributes, including moisture tolerance and the ability to hold LVT firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20degC to +60degC).

The compatibility of particular floorcoverings and adhesives should always be checked against manufacturers’ guidelines or F Ball’s Recommended Adhesives Guide, which lists adhesives recommended for use with more than 6,000 floorcoverings produced by over 200 manufacturers. RAG is available as a free app or a print booklet. An interactive version can also be found online.

Visit: www.f-ball.com

FLOORING INSTALLATION PRODUCTS

LOOKING AFTER FLOORS AND REPUTATIONS FROM THE GROUND UP.

F. Ball’s System LVT range is a comprehensive subfloor preparation system that helps you achieve the best results when installing LVT floorcoverings.

The range includes the full system of products that flooring installers need to ensure a perfect installation every time. Use the right products from the System LVT range and follow our installation guidance for a lifetime guarantee. Not only is the installation protected but so is your reputation.

On the road again

Cormar Carpet Company has added 10 new trucks to its fleet of delivery vehicles, with the latest investment ensuring it has one of the UK’s largest independently owned delivery fleets in the flooring sector.

Cormar’s fleet delivers across the UK, with more than 75 trucks. The fleet has been boosted by the addition of the DAF delivery vehicles, alongside an additional 15 demountable boxes.

The new units will operate out of

Cormar’s distribution centres in Bury, Lancashire and Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. All vehicles are fitted with DVS camera systems and sensor alarms to aid the driver in detecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists on the nearside of the vehicle.

‘We continue to invest in new trucks to ensure we achieve the high service levels that our customers have come to rely on, whilst complying with environmental standards. DAF trucks

are a favourite with our drivers and it’s great to work with another business local to our northern distribution centre,’ says Joseph Kiernan, Cormar southern logistics manager.

Operational in the coming months, these trucks will showcase the latest Cormar branding and will be responsible for transporting about 1milion sqm of carpet a year, ensuring Cormar continues to deliver to customers promptly.

Visit: www.portal.cormarcarpets.co.uk

The carpet manufacturer has invested in 10 trucks and 15 demountable boxes

INDX NATIONAL FLOORING SHOW SHOW GUIDE Natureborn Pure & Simple in Pasture

INDX National Flooring Show

Abingdon Flooring

STAND P180. Featuring the latest updates to the Stainfree family of easy-clean carpets, the luxurious quality of Stainfree Maximus and the popular Stainfree Ultra will be shown with updated colours. Big news comes in the preview of the new Stainfree Country Collection. Using a man-made Stainfree for Life yarn that looks like real wool, it is Stainfree’s answer to expensive wool carpet. Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

Cormar Carpet Company

STAND P430. Cormar Carpet Company is delighted to be attending the INDX National Flooring Show this year, showcasing its award-winning product portfolio alongside a selection of exciting new ranges, including the recently launched, easy-clean, loop pile carpet, Primo Textures. In addition to this much anticipated launch, Cormar will also be unveiling a new range for Spring. Visit: www.portal.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Associated Weavers

STAND P500. Gaia, Associated Weavers’ highly successful brand for smooth luxurious polyester carpet, now presents the next step for the brand, incorporating the ReVerse yarn.

The ReVerse yarn is made from postproduction waste that was destined for landfill, but thanks to AW’s use of the latest technology, the company has been able to create a yarn that is equal to virgin polyesters in performance, touch and appearance.

This new luxurious yarn can be found in the highly anticipated ranges Orinoco, Rio-Grande and Parana.

A carpet with ReVerse yarn also comes with ECO FusionBac, a textile backing made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles. These initiatives are all part of AW’s strong push towards environmental responsibility across all its operations. These include significantly reducing energy consumption and waste whilst also ensuring efficient re-use of water. In addition, AW uses green energy from its on-site solar plant.

The company contributes to raising consumer awareness by developing products made with

responsibly sourced materials such as Gaia and Sedna: a carpet made with regenerated nylon waste from abandoned fishing nets and industrial waste.

AW’s aim is sustaining our planet one thread at a time. Visit: www.associated-weavers.co.uk

Balta

STAND P470. Since moving its business to the UK, there has been plenty of hard work behind the scenes on the Balta retail offer, and this will be unveiled at INDX.

Alongside a new POS offer, several new product launches will be on display. Balta’s polypropylene products have been rebranded under the name Finishing Touch with a fresh new look and feel. The new Ultimate Charm is a 73oz 1/10th gauge carpet in a dozen shades. Noble has a refreshed bank of 12 colours to keep this bestselling range feeling fresh for today’s home trends.

The updated Shepherd Twist (pictured) and Super Twist roll offer, in a 1/8th gauge construction, have 12 colours and are available in Action back and 10 colours and Ultratex backing respectively. Both are available in 4m and 5m widths.

Joining the Gala family will be two new loop products: Gala Promenade (linear design) and Gala Strand (plain weave). Both designs are available in six classic neutral shades perfect for any room.

Visit: www.baltafloorcoverings.co.uk

INDX National Flooring Show

INDX National Flooring Show

Floorwise

STAND D150. Floorwise will showcase its diverse range of flooring essentials such as carpet, wood and laminate underlays; grippers; profiles and adhesives alongside its latest additions. And there is still time to benefit from the Floorwise Rewards scheme every time you buy any of more than 65 qualifying installation products. Visit: www.floorwise.co.uk

Furlong Flooring

STAND P510. Furlong Flooring presents its new sustainable ranges and exciting range launches at INDX. Featuring new ranges River (pictured), Chiltern, Fairway and Vinyl lines, it caters to diverse preferences. Furlong Flooring, a top choice for flooring solutions, emphasises sustainability with Beyond Wool and EcoSense ranges, echoing its eco-friendly commitment. Visit: www.furlongflooring.com

Invictus

STAND P500. In 2018 Invictus luxury vinyl flooring was launched and immediately became a trade favourite.

Invictus has scooped awards, including winning Best Branding, Best Marketing and Best Display in the Interiors Monthly Awards and Flooring Innovation Awards.

The attractive branding and visuals will be the highlight of any store, immediately attracting the customer’s attention. A passion for flooring through product knowledge and an eye for great design has enabled Invictus to become a challenger to be reckoned with in the world of luxury vinyl flooring.

Keeping a close watch on trends and innovations in terms of colour and textures, Invictus succeeds in standing out from the crowd with creative and contemporary flooring for the residential and commercial markets.

When it comes to delivering a great performance, nothing beats Invictus luxury vinyl flooring. The name is no coincidence: in Latin, Invictus means invincible. Visit: www.invictus.co.uk

INDX National Flooring Show

Hugh Mackay

STAND P270. Hugh Mackay is back with a plethora of products, new and existing. Its Infinity bespoke Axminster collection boasts new designs guaranteed to bring a showroom to life. It will also highlight its extensive wool portfolio, including the new Deco Collection of textured loops and modern flatweaves along with Durham Alternates, Natural Living and Dwelling. Visit: www. hughmackay.co.uk

LeoLine

STAND D130. LeoLine is showing its new premium display, created to lift cushion vinyl flooring into a new era. The free-standing wall unit ‘floats’ LeoLine’s stylish floors and features built-in lighting. A preferential package for retailers includes being first to receive new product updates, a dedicated brand manager, premier listing on the website and access to exclusive incentives and promotions. Visit: www.leoline.co.uk

Lano Carpets

STAND P170. One of the advantages of producing carpets for close to 100 years is that Lano Carpets has in its record certain qualities that have earned their spurs and have since become established names in carpet wonderland. The company is celebrating the 30th anniversary of StarTwist and HeatherTwist with a revamp worthy of their reputation and the heritage of Lano Carpets. Visit: www.lano.com

MasterPiece Systems

STAND P230. Visitors can see the scheduling diary, ability to work with accounting systems, ballpark estimator (within one minute of saying hello), part-fits manager, in-store sales handler, estimating from Rightmove floorplans and more. MasterPiece runs on Android, iPad and Windows, for on-site estimator and in-store operations, and is easy to pick up and run with. Visit: www.masterpiece-system.com

Moduleo

STAND D130. Moduleo Roots gives the chance to experience the freedom of choice that comes with its premium luxury vinyl floors. Including the versatile new Herringbone Classic plank, as well as XL tiles and planks, it’s a refreshing take on premium vinyl flooring for today’s design-minded customer. Moduleo will also bring LayRed engineered vinyl, with integrated underlay and Uniclic fitting. Visit: www.moduleo.co.uk

SMG

STAND P400. SMG will be talking to members about recent new suppliers to the group and launching its latest package of downloadable personalised in-store marketing and the new Support Independent Retailers campaign. ‘We look forward to seeing members to discuss new products and all the advantages exclusive to SMG members,’ says Linda Thomas, SMG head of group operations. Visit: www.smg-group.co.uk

NICF

STAND P190. NICF (National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers) will be highlighting the benefits of membership: for clients, assurance of quality workmanship; use of NICF logo; free NICF website listing helps to gain work opportunities; free technical advice and business support helplines; 15% of FITA standard training courses and workshops: improve your existing skills, learn to fit new flooring types, learn new fitting techniques; discounts on tools and workwear and free use of the NICF Guide to Domestic Flooring. Visit: www.fita.co.uk

Victoria Carpets & Design Floors

STAND P310. There will be lots to see on the Victoria stand this year including updates to First Impressions; the new EasiSisal range of 12 4m carpets which can be used indoors and out; Pure & Simple, Victoria’s first undyed British wool offer, available in a velvet cut pile and loop; the latest lectern and the 2024 LVT collection. Visit: www.myvictoria.co.uk

INDX National Flooring Show

In the country

British carpet manufacturer Abingdon Flooring has been a regular exhibitor at the Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show, and as the event enters a new era as INDX National Flooring Show, it continues showing market-leading carpet and vinyl collections.

The Abingdon Flooring stand will feature many of the company’s latest updates to ranges in its Stainfree family of easy-clean carpets. The luxurious quality of Stainfree Maximus and the popular Stainfree Ultra will be shown with updated colours. Both refreshed palettes will retain bestselling colours, with new ones introduced in-line with the latest interior trends.

Alongside these colour updates, the big news comes in the preview of the new Stainfree Country Collection. Using a man-made Stainfree for Life yarn that’s made to look just like wool, the Country Collection is Stainfree’s answer to more expensive wool carpet. It’s also a great choice for families worried that wool might be a little difficult to look after.

Country Collection’s de-lustred yarn has a berber fleck for a natural look and comes in three designs. Weave, herringbone and linear patterns give

more options than any similar collection available today. Each comes in six colours, a mix of trending greys and beiges, for a versatile look that brings the natural appeal of wool to any room.

British-made, the Country Collection is a first for Abingdon Flooring as a coordinated pattern range and comes with a 10-year warranty. Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

Herringbone in Paloma

Linear in Berber

Weave in Biscotti

More

Visitors to MasterPiece Systems’ stand will be able to see and try the latest additions to the estimating software.

New for the front end these include: Ballpark ‘quick quote’, generated within a minute of the customer saying hello, with an upper and lower bound. It enables both inexperienced and experienced sales assistants to produce a better ballpark figure, either over the phone or in-store. The customer is asked questions to characterise the building: for example, how many levels, how many bedrooms, bay windows? Additional services like remove and uplift are either included or not. Chosen underlay can be priced in.

From there are flexible options to: access Right Move floorplans for the

property and trace round the rooms of interest: the system automatically picks off the scale to dimension the rooms. The quote generated should be within £20-£40 of the finalised quote produced after a check measure.

Work from the customer’s own measurements, or ask further questions of the customer to characterise their room shape and dimensions: with this double bed in the room, does the room look about the right size?

Support for in-shop sales, ie sales that don’t require a visit to measure, and an estimator’s diary, with support for agreeing a time band for arrival.

New for the back end, beyond the estimator’s visit MasterPiece now offers: A diary for scheduling fitters, which

allocates fitters to events graphically, by drag and drop. The duration of a fitting event is automatically estimated from the total labour charge costing. Fitting events are allocated to a fitting resource according to capability: some fitters do roll materials only, others specialise in LVT. The time band of arrival agreed with the customer is captured. Ganged fitting teams and multi-day events are also supported.

The fitter is provided with their own diary via an app on their phone. They can take customer signatures, take photos and add notes: all these are transmitted back to the central diary.

The system manages split fits quickly and reliably. A user-friendly dashboard is used to set up each part-fit, and the warehouse is then automatically informed what to put on the van, while the ‘info for fitter’ defines fitters’ tasks, quantities and plans for each part-fit.

In addition, a function for working with the accounting system on customer payments, to prompt and check that entries have been made.

Visit: www.masterpiece-system.com

INDX National Flooring Show

INDX National Flooring Show

More and more

SMG has something for every retailer, large or small, long established or just starting out. Members run their business as they see fit but gain advantage from the most comprehensive package of benefits in the sector.

‘Independent retailers are attracted to joining SMG as the group guarantees that members can retain their complete independence but at the same time benefit from preferential discounts, rebate schemes and promotions from a comprehensive range of approved suppliers. Not only that, they can access products from any approved supplier via our Central Purchasing Scheme, even

without a direct account,’ says Linda Thomas, SMG head of group operations. As well as access to and preferential terms with flooring manufacturers, SMG offers members the chance to sell own-branded product without the need to commit to complete re-branding of their store. With new products added all the time and with the ability to ownbrand for retailers as required, there is always something new to add to the retailer’s arsenal in the fight against the multiples and Internet shoppers. With the group now representing more than 450 retail outlets in the UK, not only is SMG regularly adding to the

flooring proposition, it has developed a comprehensive business support package that rewards flooring retailers too.

‘Not only do SMG members benefit from great terms but SMG offers a business support package that is second to none. With a free-of-charge business support helpline, bespoke SMG retail insurance, discounted utility brokerage and preferential credit card rates it really is an all-round great deal.

‘The key driver for SMG has always been to create profitable partnerships between members and approved suppliers. They have the same goals and SMG is able to deliver more sales and greater profitability for both.’

At the show, SMG will be talking to members about recent new suppliers to the group and launching its latest package of downloadable personalised in-store marketing and the new SupportIndependent Retailers campaign.

‘We look forward to seeing members on the stand to discuss new products and all the advantages exclusive to SMG members,’ says Thomas.

SMG is on stand P400.

Visit: www.smg-group.co.uk

Lots to see

As always, there’ll be lots to see on the Victoria Carpets & Design Floors stand. Having sold more than 5million sqm of carpet since its launch, First Impressions remains a firm favourite. The latest colour update sees an introduction of 12 new shades which have been added to the eight bestselling colours from the existing collection. The addition of on-trend warm and neutral tones is designed to ensure that First Impressions is the perfect choice for

any location for years to come.

New for 2024 will be EasiSisal, a range of a dozen 4m carpets that can be used both indoors and out. Created using man-made yarn, EasiSisal offers the look of traditional sisal carpet, with the added benefit of being bleach cleanable: meaning it is beautiful to look at and easy to look after.

Pure & Simple is Victoria’s first undyed British wool offer, with the range encapsulating the origins of wool. With eight shades that symbolise nature’s rawest tones of browns, beiges and cool neutrals, the range is available in plain and loop designs. Plain, a velvet cut pile, is an 80/20 that sits alongside the 100% wool loop and will give any home a rustic, warm feel throughout.

To showcase these two new ranges, Victoria has a new lectern offer. This is a sleek, purpose-built unit that looks as good on its own as it does in a bank.

A clever pull-out drawer holds pattern books, whilst the bottom shelf has room for A4 product folders, perfect for colour consultations.

The 2024 LVT range will also be on display on stand P310. Visit: www.myvictoria.co.uk

Pure & Simple in Pasture

The new lectern

Victoria will have introductions across the stand

Say it in stone, work it in wood or create it in concrete; Studio Casa lets your customers have it their way in a cushion vinyl floor with performance that won’t let them down.

Studio Casa is coming to LeoLine stores this spring. Find out more from your LeoLine ASM.

Studio Casa

Sleep showcase

INDX Beds & Bedroom returns to Cranmore Park, Solihull this month with almost 40 exhibitors across beds, sofa beds, bedroom furniture and support services, including a quartet making theirdebuts.

Alstons; Bell & Stocchero; Disselkamp; Dreamworld; Dunlopillo; Flooring One; Furmanac; Gainsborough; Harrison Spinks; Healthbeds; Highgrove; HTL; Hypnos; Kaydian; Kaymed; Limelight; MA Living; Mammoth; Millbrook; Nectar; New Trend Concepts; Nolte; ProtectA-Bed; Pure Care; Rauch; Relyon; Rest Assured; Sealy; Silentnight; Sleepeezee; Sweet Dreams; TCH; Tempur; TFR Group; Trend Setter; Wiemann and X Sensor will be on show.

HTL, New Trend, Pure Care and X Sensor are exhibiting for the first time.

Exquisite from Sealy Posturepedic will be among the latest launches, alongside

Limelight’s Remi sofabed; Lagos and Genf ranges from Wiemann and a new static bed design from Kaydian. With a spotlight on wellness and innovation, the showcase will also present the latest latex technology and feature a new round bed design from Healthbeds.

The show will also play host to some notable industry anniversaries, such as Hypnos, celebrating 120 years in business, and Sleepeezee, celebrating its 100-year milestone.

The first day of the event is exclusive to AIS members, with non-members welcome on 24 April. Visit: www.indxshows.co.uk

HTL Beds

Limelight Remi

Silentnight

Disselkamp

Exclusive

INDX Beds & Bedroom

Following on from the successful launch of Sweet Dreams’ sustainable Landmark collection at the 2023 Bed Show, INDX Beds & Bedroom will see thecreation of an AIS-exclusive Landmark bed range.

The AIS Landmark collection showcases six beds featuring 100% recyclable foam-free mattress fillings and sleep surfaces made from chemicalfree eco-friendly sustainable fabrics. Foam-free, eco-friendly fillings include Platinum, free from chemicals with sustainability at the forefront and 100% recyclable at the end of life. A luxurious cotton mattress border completes the look.

The six mattresses are designed on three of Sweet Dreams’ bestselling spring systems, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 pockets, and are available as three no-turn quilted and three two-sided tufted models in each of the spring counts.

The Landmark base comes with a choice of six 100% Global Recycled Standard-certified 100% recycled base fabrics. The GRS standard applies to

the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, chemical content and labelling.

The base, border and headboard fabrics will feature 94% less water use, 59% less energy use and 32% less

CO2 emissions in the production process compared with standard fabric production as measured by GRS.

All the timber used in the bases is FSC-certified.

Options include platform top or spring edge bases; non-storage, two, four and Continental drawer options along with both side opening and end opening ottoman bases.

AIS Landmark is offered in double, king and super-king sizes.

Three headboards along with a selection of accent furniture including chairs, ottoman boxes and bedside cabinets complete the range.

‘The reaction from our agents when I presented it to them is really encouraging. We believe we are delivering a high-quality sustainable product range with great price points and value for money for AIS members. We are looking forward to the INDX show so we can showcase the new collection to members,’ says Nick Williams, Sweet Dreams UK sales manager.

Sweet Dreams will continue to offer entry-price point models in the AIS Dreamworld collection, with two open coil models along with three pocket sprung beds featuring the 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 spring units.

Visit: www.sweetdreamsuk.com

Base and headboard in Forest Glade with Landmark mattresses

Lord accent chair

Furniture Component Expo

Solutions

The Furniture Component Expo will host a comprehensive one-stop shop of the latest trends and innovations across the furniture supply chain. The show, held at the Telford International Centre, is sponsored by BeA UK (Fastening Systems), Carpenter and The Vita Group.

The event will feature interactive exhibits and demonstrations that bring the latest components to life. Visitors will be able to see these parts in action and learn how they can be used to create functional and innovative furniture.

The Innovation Trail offers exhibitors a unique platform to showcase their products and services to potential buyers. Attendees will vote for their favourite innovation, with the winner receiving extensive post-show publicity and the chance to present to a highprofile audience.

The seminar theatre has a programme for learning and discussion. A bespoke presentation will be given by Naomi Steemson, Department for Business and Trade international trade advisor, who will provide an overview of the services offered by the department while outlining the role of international trade advisors – the DBT’s experts in connecting businesses with export opportunities. She will also discuss initiatives such as the UK Export Academy, UK Export Finance and trade missions.

‘The session will provide a comprehensive guide to the advice, support and promotion available for British furniture businesses wanting to

grow and export, including the wide range of tools and resources provided by the DBT to assist businesses on their exporting journeys,’ says Phil Spademan, BFM md.

The seminar programme also features talks on best practice, sustainability, workforce and apprenticeships, alongside a workshop on carbon footprint and net zero. The opening day of the event will also feature two panel discussions: Automation vs Skills: Friend or Foe? and Fire Regulations: What Next?

‘This is a hugely important topic for our industry and the Furniture Component Expo 24. The session will see experts from their fields offering their perspectives and insights into the research, which has been conducted since the announcement of the Government consultation on the regulations. The BFM is seeking input into creating a round table discussion beyond the exhibition to present to Government as a further industry

EXHIBITORS

response. This will provide an invaluable opportunity to collate viewpoints across the sector,’ says Spademan.

BFM members will also have free access to Club BFM, an exclusive lounge where refreshments will be available. Visit: www.fcexpo.co.uk

AE Sewing Machines; Al-Rehman Fabrics; Anderton Board & Packaging; Assyst Bullmer; BeA Fastenings; Camco; Carpenter; Clockwork Components; Comfortex; CPS (Wales); CS Osborne; DispatchTrack; Fibre Components; Fibreline; Fryetts Fabrics; Glazpart; Go Workhorse; Handy; Höpke Möbelstoff-Handels; JJ Smith; Lavrasul; LCK-International; Leggett & Platt; Limoss; MotionItalia; Nagro Frames; Peak Converters; Pennine Labels; Ramsey Timber; RJ Binnie; SD Products; Sebatex UK; Sedac-Meral; Simpson Packaging; Tabatex; Talbotts Biomass Energy Systems; Tavelmo/Movelta; The Insert Company; The Sofa Specialists (Pathfinder); Trentside Products; Triumph Needle Company; Tyler Hardwoods; Verisio; Vetigraph CAD & Automated Cutting; Vita Group; Wade Spring; Westmid Logistics and Woods Packaging.

The show will offer a one-stop shop across the furniture supply chain

Into Orbis

The Vita Group is delighted to be exhibiting at and a lead sponsor of the Furniture Component Expo, being held at Telford’s International Centre from 24-25 April. At the show Vita will be showcasing its Orbis collection of more sustainable flexible polyurethane foams, made from recycled materials, which are reshaping the landscape of highperformance and eco-conscious furniture solutions.

The Vita Group will be exhibiting on stand 62.

Orbis is Europe’s first flexible PU foam manufactured in part with recycled raw materials, sourced from post-consumer foam mattresses. This breakthrough innovation doesn’t just represent a step forward; it signals a shift towards circular economy practices. By transforming post-consumer foam into Orbis, the group effectively mitigates the need to send to landfill or incineration. This strategic move leads to reductions in carbon footprint, utilising waste as a valuable resource, while retaining the

quality, durability, and comfort inherent in traditional flexible PU foam mattresses, and also expands the life cycle of the foam, causing less reliance on the virgin raw materials.

At the core of The Vita Group’s mission is a resolute commitment to fostering sustainability on a global scale. Its partnership with industry giants such as Dow, Evonik and Covestro amplifies its efforts to propel the industry towards a net-zero future.

The Vita Group’s dedication is a substantiated reality:

The Vita Group was the first flexible polyurethane manufacturer globally to have its emission reduction targets validated by independent climate scientists through the esteemed Science Based Target initiative (SBTi);

The group has a Gold Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis, a globally trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. This accolade positions The Vita Group amongst the top 3% of evaluated entities worldwide;

and the group is a proud signatory of the UN Global Compact and Race to Zero initiatives, solidifying its allegiance to shaping a sustainable future.

Vita’s dedication to innovation and sustainability extends beyond its products, embracing transformative partnerships and affiliations. This commitment aligns with its overarching mission: to drive positive change in the furniture industry while leaving a lighter environmental footprint. Visit: www.thevitagroup.com

Innovation.

Partnership. Comfort. Collaborative solutions that energise the market.

At Leggett & Platt, we deliver advanced comfort technology and support to customers across the UK furniture industry. Our “global, yet local” approach and “borrowed proven technologies” mindset allow us to deliver world-class professionalism and diverse, industry-leading spring component and speciality furniture foam solutions.

Furthermore, with expertise in high-quality seating systems, recliner mechanisms, and other motion hardware, we continue to energise the bedding market – as well as the wider furniture market overall.

Visit BeddingComponents-Intl.com/About to watch our corporate video and learn more about our diversified product portfolio.

View our advanced capabilities and product o erings at Furniture Component Expo 2024 | FCExpo.co.uk

Transformation

Leading foam and fibre converter Peak Converters will be making its exhibition debut at the Furniture Component Expo.

Following a whirlwind couple of years, which have seen the company embark on an impressive transformation journey, its presence at the show will focus on upholstery kits and cushions, as well as featuring some of its innovative foam and fibre fillings.

‘Having sold more upholstery kits and cushions than ever before in 2023, we remain ready to meet the needs of customers up and down the UK for the supply of upholstery kits on short lead times. Our focus for the exhibition will be to demonstrate the quality of

our products and the efficiency of our production, by incorporating a live link into our factory from stand 83,’ says Mike Crowshaw, Peak Converters md.

‘This will be the first time we have taken part in a show, and, as a BFM member, we are really looking forward to supporting this inaugural event.’

Since the company’s re-brand in 2022, it has invested across all areas of the business to modernise, increase capacity and ensure its commitment to technology and innovation as the driving force of the business. 2024 looks set to be another year of advancement for the company, with several projects in the pipeline that will continue its transformation. In the summer it

will undertake a significant machine refurbishment programme that will see major upgrades to every machine in the factory with the aim of reducing downtime, increasing efficiencies and providing an overall better experience for customers.

‘We also hope to engage with fellow component suppliers and upholstery manufacturers at the show who are looking for a development partner to assist with new product development projects, something Peak Converters has a strong history in. With so much going on, the show will be a fantastic way to bring our customers up to speed with what we have to offer.’

Visit: www.peakconverters.co.uk

Upholstery central

Hartmann will make its debut, showing the results of more than a century of solid wood furniture

New Long Eaton Guild member Andrew Paul will present modern designs with 1960s influences, 1980s designs with soft tonal fabrics and classic elegant traditional sofas with a modern twist

The show will feature the launch of the Hastings Sofa Company’s Legacy Collection of eight sofa designs featuring either floral print fabrics or washable loose cover options

Polish upholstery manufacturer Ramaro will make its show debut as it looks to tap into the UK and Irish markets. Pictured is Toscana.

Parker Knoll will unveil a leather range, created to redefine classic favourites with a contemporary twist and offering fresh perspectives on its beloved and bestselling collections

Alexander & James will add to its Mediums collection while sister brand Ashley Manor will debut a lifestyle sofa and modular seating range aimed at the middle market but with a high-end look. For AMX Design the focus will be on motion.

Success stories

For more than 40 years Deanna Comellini has experimented at the crossroads of artisanry and industrial design, working first on product design, then textiles. She then developed the idea of ‘imperfect design’, marked by the enhancement of imperfections to celebrate authenticity. She founded GT Design in 1977 and has been its creative director ever since. In the 1990s she focused on the concept of rug, using natural fibres and experimenting with avant-garde materials, challenging the industry with her disruptive collections. Golden Threads will be introduced in May.

Nao Tamura is a designer in the most modern terms. Her talents cross cultures, languages, disciplines, concepts and styles, with smart thinking always at the heart of her work. She is truly global in her insights and execution. As a product of Tokyo and New York City creative communities, her solutions are equally at ease in the world of 2D and 3D, with an uncanny ability to find that emotional connection with the audience. She originally studied communication design but her work today is extremely varied, taking in conceptual art, lighting, product and graphic design among others. Her Origata bench for Porro is inspired by the making of kimonos, brutalist architecture and pop culture.

Valentina Erba co-founded rug producer Carpet Edition in 2005, having grown up surrounded by the family rug business Indikon, started by her father Gianni four decades before. Since then the company has embarked on a path of continuous innovation by collaborating with well-known designers and offering versatile, customisable and sustainable products while cherishing ancient manufacturing techniques and outstanding craftsmanship. Such is the brand’s product mix you never know what will be next. Salone will see it introduce designs by the late Ken Scott, uniting fashion with art.

Chiara Andreatti’s CV reads like a roll-call of design brands: Glas Italia, Lema, Potocco, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, Radici, Fendi Casa and Arflex. Since 2021 she has been art director for Potocco and Radici while continuing to design for both, including seating, rugs and carpets, as well as having responsibility for their presence at Salone. Other recent work includes upholstery and cabinet for Fendi Casa. Salone will see Potocco take a path where indoor and outdoor settings complement without interrupting the aesthetic, the design characterised by architectural details and natural colours.

Gunilla Zamboni’s creative studio and brand Gupica uses a multi-disciplinary approach, involving decorative arts, interior and product design, contemporary experimentation and craftsmanship. Decoration becomes a tool to propose useful codes to explore the expressive and sensorial dimension of a project. Attention to detail and a constant dialogue between the contemporary and fragments linked to tradition are always distinguishing elements in her work. The Lucente lighting design will be debuted by Visionnaire at Salone. The light-diffusing bodies of the lamps, like coloured gemstones in sophisticated yet simple shapes, are made of a material obtained by recycling Plexiglass.

A year after it was founded in 2017, Milla&Milli debuted its breakthrough collection Offset at the Ambienta show in Zagreb. In 2019 Waves was awarded a Red Dot for Product Design. The Croatian manufacturer highlights its use of FSC-certified local timber, usually oak and walnut. ‘Milla&Milli started out as a brainchild of two art lovers; a shared dream of two souls in love with design, wood and each other. And to this day, that love and passion is still clearly embodied in every masterpiece we create,’ says Ksenija Pašalić, Milla&Milli ceo and co-founder with her husband Ivac.

Take

The world’s stage

an aluminium frame, maxi-cushions, modular elements and stoneware coffee table and you have Unopiu’s Davos. The only question is to have it indoors or out?

Right: Molteni & C’s outdoor collection has its first expansion, with the separation between outdoor and indoor continuing to blur, including the Sway modular upholstery

Left: Carpet Edition’s Ken Scott collection is inspired by the late US designer’s works which took influences from the art world into textiles. Eight of the 33 designs are of flowers, Scott’s favourite plant and the symbol he used on his labels during his career.

Above: Nagano Interior will make its European debut at the show, 78 years after its foundation. Specialising in solid wood, all products including Corona (pictured) are worked by hand, following the Japanese philosophy of Wa: harmony and balance.

Turri’s Atelier sofa and coffee tables celebrate Italian leather craftmanship

Talenti’s Allure chair, by Christophe Pillet, is designed to draw those in need of peace and relaxation, but outside

Left: ClassiCon’s Volkshaus chair and table collection has intersecting X-shapes for its timber frames, which give a differing look from each angle. The chair and stool/footrest have a light appearance thanks to the cord-strung seat (and backrest).

Right: GT Designs’ Golden Threads rugs are made from New Zealand wool, woven and painted by hand with fine inserts of gold foil, making each piece unique

Horm’s Torii is available as a choice of six sideboards and two dressers, in walnut with bronzed glass doors, as the company continues to embrace Japandi design

Inspired by inter-war Paris with Art Deco hints, laCividina’s Apper is Antonio Rodriguez’s sixth design for the manufacturer

Inspired by nomadic societies where cushions are made from hand-knotted textiles to make tents cosy and by Iranian outdoor furniture upholstered with carpet, Daydreamer is Jan Kath’s first furniture design, with the focus on individual well-being: make it your space however you want it.

Made in Scotland from girders? No. Porro’s Origata bench, by Nao Tamura, is inspired by the making of kimonos, where the flat and rectangular fabric is cut in straight lines and then sewn together with little to no waste. Here replace fabric with a sheet of aluminum and screws.

Proposte set for new exhibitors

The 31st edition of the upholstery fabrics, curtains, trimmings and wallcoverings show will be held at Lake Como from 2-4 May.

Of the 79 exhibiting companies, 31 will be from Italy and 48 from overseas. Among those making their debut are: Aquaclean; Belo Velvets; Harris Tweed Hebrides; Mariantonia Urru; Print4 Group; Tissage des Flandres and Tissage Mahieu.

Returning are EDA – Enzo degli Angiuoni, acquired in 2023 by Francesca Busnelli together with a pool of investors, and Seteria Bianchi, Italy’s oldest silk producer, after it was bought by Fermo Fossati.

‘We are proud of seeing new companies participating. They will increase the prestige of the trade show,’ says Massimo Mosiello, Proposte director.

‘Two important companies that have already presented their collections at Proposte in the past are coming back. This is another confirmation that our trade show is increasingly becoming a fundamental showcase for industry operators.

‘Aware of their role as world leaders in furnishing textiles, Proposte’s exhibitors are committed to creating cutting-edge collections that are up to face the challenges of competition, with the goal of offering customers insights and opportunities to meet every need.

‘Made in Proposte is a universal textile language that fears no competition. The trade show is a showcase of a unique savoir-faire that is difficult to imitate. The participating companies have been working – maybe as never before – to offer products of excellent quality that are the result of a perfect mix of creativity and technology.’ Visit: www.propostefair.it

EXHIBITORS

Alois Tessitura Serica; Antonio Ferre; Aquaclean Fabrics; B&T Textilia; Baumann Dekor; Belo Velvets; Burkay; Casalegno Tendaggi; Clerici Tessuto & C; Crevin; Danzo; D’Decor Exports; D’Decor Home Fabrics; Delius: Deltracon Van Maele; De Negri Luxury; D’Etoffe; Dilhan; Dinole; EDA – Enzo degli Angiuoni; Engelbert E Stieger; Evimteks; Fibertex; Francisco Jover; Froca; Gebr Munzert; Gemini Padana; Giber; Gio’ Emi; GM Fabrics; GM Syntex; Güleser Tekstil; Haezebrouck; Harris Tweed Hebrides; Hield; Italette; Italtessil; Lemaitre Demeestere; Libeco; Linder; Lodetex; Mallalieus; Mariantonia Urru; Mario Cavelli; Marteks Difference; Martinelli Ginetto; Monti Napoleone; MTL; Muvantex Bekaert Depla Fabrics; MYB Textiles; Nelen & Delbeke; Parà; Penelope Dokuma; PIF; Pozzi Arturo; Print4 Group; Ratti; Rossini Della Quercia; Seteria Bianchi; Sirio Tendaggi; Sirpi Wallcoverings; Standfast & Barracks; Toscane Ta-Bru; Tendaggi Paradiso; Ter Molst International; Tessutica; The Isle Mill; Thistle Mills; Tissage des Flandres; Tissage Mahieu; Tissus D’Avesnières; Torri Lana 1885; Vanelli Tekstil; Van Neder; Verbatex; Verstraete & Verbauwede Fabrics; Viganò; Wintex; and Yutes Natural Fabrics.

Visitors from 73 countries attended in 2023

THE 2024 COMPETITION FORMAT IS AS FOLLOWS

1).*You do NOT need to be an NICF member to enter this competition. Applicants must be aged 18 years or over on Sunday 30 April 2024. NICF Council members and previous Carpet Fitter of The Year winners are excluded from entering.

2). Deadline for entry is 23:59 on Sunday 30 April 2024.

3). Entrants are initially required to complete a questionnaire giving the most full and accurate answers possible. Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on the answers providedand 10 fitterswillbeselected to progress to theSemi-Finalpracticaltrials.

4). TheSemi-FinalswillbeheldonTuesday 25 andWednesday 26 June 2024 (fivefittersperday) at theFITA TrainingCentre,Loughborough.Fivefitterswillprogress to theFinalcompetition.

5). BriefinginformationforthefivefinalistswillbesupplieddigitallyinAugust.

6). TheFinalisatTheFlooringShow, Harrogate,onSunday 15 andMonday 16 September 2024.

The Final will be held at The Flooring Show, Harrogate, 15-16 September 2024

Fitter of The Year Carpet 2024 Competition is kindly sponsored by

Scandinavian celebrations

As part of Stockholm Design Week, Stockholm Furniture Fair took place alongside scores of events across the city. Combined, SDW is the largest celebration of Scandinavian furniture, lighting and design.

&Tradition continued with its mixture of new designs and archive classics.

Debuts included a modular version of the 2018 Develius sofa; Luca Nichetto’s

Sett table series showcasing marble and glass,inspired by a jewellery technique where precious gems are inlaid and precisely ‘set’ into a frame, to create designs alluding to the influence of Scandinavian functionalism infused with Nichetto’s Italian accent on objects with visual impact; and the Montera lamp, where Jamie Hayon draws inspiration from matadors’ hats.

Garsnas’ Bistro bench is ‘a workhorse that goes about its business without making a fuss’, according to designer Ralf Lindberg. ‘There is a great need for discrete furniture that can suit all possible settings,’ he adds. It can be extended in 1m lengths and the rear backrest can be upholstered.

CC-Tapis’ Laneway is one of seven designs in the Momento

Above left: Nuura Mass Productions Above: Garsnas

&Tradition



DESIGNED FOR THE FURNITURE & FLOORING TRADE

Massproductions Showing at Together X Tärnsjö Tannery were (clockwise from above): Ringvide, Olivia Ahman, Sami

collection, exploring the space between reality and dreams.

Lapalma’s Trail table features a diecast aluminium base where three smooth, zoomorphic-inspired legs are joined to form a single design. The round top extends to 3m.

Patch is Massproduction’s first large modular upholstery design, with distinctive lozenge-shaped backrest panels. ‘A massive sofa system isn’t the type of product that a young company would launch,’ explains Magnus Elebäck, Massproductions co-founder. ‘We are almost out of our teenage years now, and in the context of our collection Patch just seems to fill a space and fit.’ Nuura expanded its Anoli lighting with a Spot version, available as wall or ceiling mounted, recessed, track or pendant versions.

SDW returns in September and SFF next February. Visit: www.stockholmdesignweek.com www.stockholmfurniturefair.se

A SHARED PURPOSE

Department store NK Interior hosted the Made in Sweden and Together X Tärnsjö Tannery events

‘The Together scholarship and the collaboration with Tärnsjö have given my furniture new opportunities to explore materials and techniques. In the Leather chair, the focus is on the details. Through different dimensions, seams and colours, both the form and the conditions of the material are highlighted,’ says Olivia Ahman, winner of the 2023 Together bursary.

‘Time will show the beauty of letting furniture age. In my design, the connection between function, form, material and user is always of utmost importance. The form must not take over the original purpose – if it is functional, it is beautiful.’

Sami Kallio created a bench in solid smoked oak and Tärnsjö leather, and a stool in solid ash and Tärnsjö leather.

‘By using different directions and distances, the idea was to be able to braid in a new way through an innovative construction. This unique construction and flexible braiding technique can be used in different widths and materials to

create variation and contrast,’ says Kallio.

‘As a young woman, I worked as a groom with both trotters and jumpers. Hours have been spent cleaning and caring for equipment and preparing the horses for their training. The Piaff room divider is a tribute to Tärnsjö Tannery’s roots and expertise in saddlery and the love of horses,’ says Anki Gneib.

Made In Sweden participant Axel Wannberg’s key vision was to show the strength and presence of fine craftsmanship, by creating furniture that embraces a modern and elegant design with a nod to craftsmanship heritage andtradition.

Ringvide’s Individ is a furniture series consisting of items made from local ash, elm and storm-felled trees. By preserving the individual character of the wood and creating an artistic process between the carpenter, designer and customer, each piece of furniture in the series becomes unique and carries its own story of sustainability and beauty.

CC-Tapis

Kallio, Alex Wannber and Anki Gneib

Lapalma

Viva VIFA

The 15th edition of Vietnam International Furniture & Home Accessories Fair (VIFA EXPO 2024) took place from 26-29 February, firing the starting pistol on the South-East Asian furniture exhibition season.

VIFA EXPO 2024 attracted 13,149 visitors including 5,262 international visitors from 72 countries and territories, primarily from China, India, USA, Australia, Europe, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. This edition saw

a significant percentage of international buyers, with 66% from Asia, 14% from Europe, 11% from the Americas, 8% from Oceania and 1% from Africa.

The show was supported by a series of initiatives covering everything from transportation to accommodation, including complimentary hotel stays for VIP buyers; airport support service; shuttle bus service; discounts of 20%–50% on stays at official hotels of VIFA

EXPO 2024 and factory visits.

Following the success of VIFA ASEAN 2023, VIFA EXPO’s organiser will hold the second edition of VIFA ASEAN from 27–30 August 2024, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center. VIFA ASEAN 2024 aims to expand its scale and plans to attract more than 400 exhibitors.

VIFA ASEAN’s vision is to gather South East Asian furniture suppliers in Vietnam, so that international buyers just need to visit Ho Chi Minh City to meet all neighbouring countries, as well as making Ho Chi Minh City the furniture trade hub of the Asia region in the future.

The 16th edition of VIFA EXPO will take place from 5–8 March 2025 with the theme of One Show – Two Venues – Double Power, as the show expands from the Sky Expo Vietnam to include the SECC.

With an estimated scale of over 3,000 booths, VIFA EXPO 2025 promises to be the largest and most prestigious exhibition in Vietnam and the region. Visit: www.vifafair.com

SWIVEL RECLINER & FOOTSTOOL

he ar i ia i a er a e a t i h a i t a h e t re h a ra e abric eather a e it a er ect t r a c r he ar i ia a b a t a ea rec i e echa i a i e r i i ate c rt r hea t t e a ith it i a tar ba e thi chair a a t ch hi ca t a r

Market right

With the home and gardens sector predicted to see slow growth in 2024 – projected at 1.7% year-on-year to £46.42 billion – coupled with a decline in retail footfall, there has never been a more critical time to ensure the effectiveness of your marketing spend.

Brand performance marketing agency Door4 specialises in helping home and interiors businesses drive traffic, conversion and sales. ‘We have set ourselves apart with services and insights specifically tailored for the interiors sector, as well as hosting free events to help home and garden brands move from surviving to thriving as consumer confidence returns,’ says Leon Calverley, Door4 founder.

‘It’s no secret that it’s tough out there for home and interiors retailers. Not only is the economic backdrop putting pressure on sales: advertising costs are on the rise, competition is fierce and marketeers are learning how to navigate a cookieless world. Many business owners that we speak to in the sector are overwhelmed by the number of channels available to them: too focused on what their competitors are doing and lacking in understanding of how to reach their potential customers. We take these pressure points away with our expert knowledge of the interiors space,’ he says.

For Calverley, the key is having an in-depth understanding of each client’s target customer, especially audience sectors they might not have considered before, and knowing how to reach and persuade them.

‘It starts with insights and data into audience behaviours in the home and interiors space. We use a wide range of data to map the market, determining the right audience segments and using situational analysis to select the most attractive customer group to target with marketing spend. This ensures that budgets go further and brands are in front of the right people at crucial stages of the purchasing journey.

‘There is no one-size-fits-all in this sector. From driving footfall into stores, to creating SEO-optimised websites and driving click-throughs and conversions,

our creative approaches are original and fully tailored to the audience. Customer psychology plays a critical role too. Knowing what makes audiences tick is key to effective, profitable campaigns.

‘The last piece of the jigsaw is continually monitoring campaigns to ensure they are on track, optimising, adjusting and refining. Our approach is rooted in a cycle of constant improvement, where we gather insights, measure performance and review strategies to adapt and enhance a campaign’s effectiveness.’

Visit: www.door4.com

LEARN TO THRIVE

Door4 regularly hosts free events and workshops to help homes and interiors retailers maximise their marketing spend. Designed for modern marketers in leadership and strategic roles looking to expand their digital capability, the informal, interactive sessions are led by experienced consultants and ecommerce industry partners. The next event will take place in in June.

Door4 hosts free events and workshops

The Door4 team

A new age

‘The use of technology is only increasing within the interiors world – and Orbital is here to help. When it comes to selling products online, not forgetting in-store, customers want to see as much as possible before making a final decision. As time goes on, CGI is becoming the best and most popular option for imagery within the industry,’ says Alice Clarke, Orbital Vision sales and marketing director.

‘This isn’t just down to cost: the sheer number of assets, combinations and the creative freedom that comes with doing a lifestyle shoot in 3D rather than in real life has turned people away from photography and towards CGI. Our main aim has always been to supply the industry with the most photorealistic, and affordable, imagery. We are open and honest when it comes to whether something would be more cost-effective to photograph, and have always received excellent feedback, where clients have dropped photoshoots for CGI altogether. As technology develops, CGI is only getting better and more realistic.’ One asset can create hundreds of opportunities. Once your digital assets

have been built there are a variety of ways to use these and make the most of them across web, print and social.

‘We offer a wide range of services including, but not limited to, product cut-outs; styled lifestyle shots; spec sheets; line drawings; instructional videos/assembly instructions; social/TV animations; 3D configurations and AR sales presenters – the list goes on. As

the years have passed and our business has developed, our clients’ requirements have always driven us in expanding our services. With a wide range of skillsets throughout the team, we’ve always been open to learning something new that willbenefit our clients and their marketing campaigns.

‘From start to finish, our accounts team are always here to answer any

More companies are opting for CGI

questions or queries a client may have, and there’s never a stupid question. Most clients have never worked with CGI before, so we break things down into stages; models, fabrics and roomsets are all worked on by the team who specialise in that area. At Orbital, we keep it simple. We just need the overall dimensions and a few reference images to build a model: no line drawings, complex dimension requests or physical samples.

‘For years, we’ve been at the forefront of 3D material creation, with a variety of competitors contacting us to build their materials for them, so this really is our bread and butter. We’ve built just about every fabric, from furs to crushed velvets, cottons to embroideries, weaves to leathers – we have just about every material on file and ready to use. We’ve

spent a lot of years working mainly in soft furnishings, sofas, beds and footstools, but over the past couple of years this has widely expanded. Working closely with the likes of Oak Furnitureland has allowed us to develop our skills within wood and cabinetry, a process and finish a little different to our usual fabric builds but just as realistic.

‘From 3D product configurators and AR to 3D-walkthroughs of showrooms, the industry is gearing up for a new age of selling. We’ve been working hard over the past year or so, developing our 3D Product Configurator, Envision. This has increased our clients’ sales by an average of 30% and has had a great impact on their online presence. Envision allows users to endlessly customise a product. The size, body fabric, piping, buttoning,

leg colour and scatter combinations can all be changed to fit own personal styles. Envision uses 3D, 360deg models so customers can see every detail of a product, at any angle. They can also view products in their own home with our app-less AR feature, so they can test out whether a product fits the space without having to make a purchase. This means expectations are better managed, and our clients see a reduction in return rates.

‘Our team has only grown since starting Orbital Vision, in both size and skillsets. All our staff are based in our Long Eaton studio and all are full time and committed to providing the furniture industry with the best CGI imagery out there. We cannot wait to see how our 2024 progresses.’

Visit: www.orbital.vision

Looking for stunning marketing imagery, with a quick turnaround and affordable prices? Look no further.

Orbital: the one-stop-shop for the furniture and interiors industry. One digital asset can create hundreds of possibilities, from lifestyle shots to 3D product configurators, Orbital can create everything you need to market a product.

Targeted

In the competitive landscape of furniture and bedding retail, where customer satisfaction and operational efficiency dictate success, Ordorite is a valuable end-to-end solution for retailers. Since its establishment in 2015, Ordorite’s cloud-based software has been empowering retailers with tools that not only streamline their operations but also elevate the customer experience to new levels.

At the heart of this transformation lies Ordorite’s advanced business reporting capabilities, a testament to the company’s innovative approach and commitment to excellence. Leveraging complex business intelligence tools, Ordorite transforms vast datasets into actionable insights. These reporting tools are not just powerful: they offer clarity in the often overwhelming realm of retail data. By assimilating data from various sources within the Ordorite platform, these tools distil the information into easily digestible charts, graphs, heatmaps and alerts. This not only democratises data analytics but enables retailers to make informed decisions quickly and accurately.

The versatility of Ordorite’s reporting tools is further exemplified by its catalogue of more than 120 pre-built reports. These cover a broad spectrum of retail operations, ensuring that retailers can monitor and analyse performance

across multiple dimensions. Ordorite’s commitment to customisation allows retailers to request bespoke custom reports, tailoring the analytics to fit their unique needs and challenges. This level of personalisation ensures that the insights gained are not just relevant but also directly applicable to enhancing business outcomes.

Ordorite’s approach extends to data accessibility. With custom user access levels, retailers can ensure the right teams

have access to the right information, fostering a culture of transparency while not disclosing sensitive data. The introduction of daily automated emails featuring custom data insights like turnover and sales figures keeps retailers abreast of their business performance, facilitating swift strategic adjustment.

The ability for sales teams to visualise sales targets and progress through yearon-year reporting not only motivates teams but also cultivates a driven and goal-oriented culture. Features such as commission and SPIFF reporting for sales incentives and accurate commissions underscore Ordorite’s understanding of the nuances of retail sales management.

By providing deep insights into operations, customer behaviour and sales performance, Ordorite equips furniture retailers with the intelligence to not just navigate but thrive in today’s dynamic retail environment. As retailers continue to face new challenges and opportunities, Ordorite’s reporting capabilities will undoubtedly remain a cornerstone of their strategic arsenal, driving efficiency, enhancing customer experiences and ultimately contributing to sustainable business growth.

Visit: www.ordorite.com

GAIN

CRITICAL BUSINESS INSIGHTS AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON

GET CRUCIAL BUSINESS INSIGHTS WHILE MAXIMISING EFFICIENCY AND PROFITS

Generate a multitude of business reports and gain critical insights.

Clearly track and analyse sales with Ordorite’s sales management reporting.

Inventory reporting to see available stock, stock configurations and much more.

Procurement reports to stop minor inefficiencies from becoming significant issues.

Keep on top of your dispatches and ensure that deliveries reach their destinations.

Business intelligence tools to generate business reports, data analytics and KPIs on demand.

The right thing

The FCA’s Consumer Duty means just following the rules is no longer enough

‘With the recent focus of the FCA on insurance products such as Guaranteed Asset Protection and Premium Finance, it’s clear that we in the insurance sector must pay attention to what we are providing in our insured products, and that retailers must be confident that what they are offering can deliver on the promises made,’ says Martin Napper, Castelan Group ceo.

‘Through the Consumer Duty, the FCA is asking firms to do what is right rather than simply trying to operate within the rules, and everyone in the distribution

chain acting to deliver good outcomes for customers. In practice, this means improving value in the product and ensuring it is appropriate, giving clear information and offering support when the customer needs it most. Whilst this may sound onerous, inreality it makes us more focused on the evolution of our protection plans, making them the best they can be with the best levels of cover available in the market today.

‘We have worked extremely hard to pull together a protection plan offering that has led the way in improving the value offered to the customer. The highest levels of cover and the fewest exclusions mean that customers are receiving the most value they have ever had through our schemes (and in the sector). This makes for happier customers

‘We are aware that some of the conversations we have had in recent years around price and value have been difficult and represent a sea change in the traditional approach to protection plan sales. We’re delighted our clients

have understood and supported this change as we ensure that price and value are aligned in the sale of these products.

‘We’ve made our documentation easier to understand, and our protection plans cover so much more, so that the customer has less confusion, greater understanding and better outcomes: getting what they expected based on their experience at the POS.

‘We pride ourselves that we are able to back up our promises with exceptional after-care service: a 24/7 online claim facility, calls answered 90% of the time within 20 seconds and only 0.5% of calls to us are abandoned. Customers don’t want to wait on the phone and our average wait time of 10 seconds means they won’t. Couple this with more than 100 technicians getting to your customer within an average of five days, and we believe we lead the field in delivering first-class service,’ says Napper.

‘If your current supplier isn’t delivering this level of commitment, it’s time to talk to one that can.’

Visit: www.castelangroup.com

Trust has to be earned.

Compliant insured warranty schemes

‘First Year Liability’ service delivery

That’s why so many clients trust us, year after year, to provide:

Comprehensive Care Product ranges

Commercial build and refurbishment

To find out how we can help your business call our Business Development Team on 0330 024 0315 or email sales@castelangroup.com

Your customers love us too!

www.castelangroup.com

Partnerships

Guardsman prides itself on its deeprooted expertise in the market, which translates into tangible benefits for customers and retailers alike. According to the company, it’s this continued commitment to excellence and innovation that sets it apart, ensuring unparalleled value for all stakeholders.

Market expertise is centred around enhancing the customer experience.

‘We are proud of our brand, our expertise and knowledge in this fastchanging regulatory landscape, and believe we are well on the way to achieving our strategic vision to be the leader in the industry,’ says Lyndon Willshire, Guardsman commercial director.

‘Our approach is shown in the way we understand and work with our retail partners. This breaks down into three areas:

‘Compliance assurance: through meticulous control measures and stringent standards set by both the FCA and our own compliance team, consumers are provided with confidence when they purchase a product through a Guardsman retailer that they are

purchasing a product that is suitable for their needs and will assure satisfaction. The team is currently overhauling the customer documentation suite, both pre and post-sale, giving a modern look, using language that is plain English, ensuring consumers aren’t bamboozled by insurance phrases and words.

‘Innovative solutions: by leveraging the team’s extensive market knowledge and continually developing innovative solutions we are able to cater to the evolving needs and preferences of both retailers and customers, ensuring they stay ahead of the game. This is shown with the regular and ongoing training for the technician networks, as well as our our internal teams, who themselves complete mandatory training around regulatory changes, products and customer services.

‘Exceptional customer service: we have a dedicated customer service team who are equipped with the expertise to provide prompt assistance and guidance, ensuring that every interaction with them is seamless and appropriate.’

In addition to benefiting customers, Willshire says its expertise in the market

also empowers retailers in numerous ways. ‘We leverage our market insights to establish strategic, long-lasting partnerships with retailers, providing them with access to exclusive, customerfocused products that ensure customer satisfaction and brand protection.

‘Through our robust data analytics capabilities, we are able to give invaluable insights into market trends and consumer behaviour, empowering retailers to make decisions that optimise their operations and maximise sales. We recognise the importance of ongoing training and support, which is why we offer a comprehensive training programme that doesn’t just end after one session. Our dedicated, ongoing support includes annual elearning refresher courses, as well as regular monthly meetings with our regional business development executives. The aim of the training is to empower staff, giving them the confidence to sell to consumers effectively and compliantly: ultimately leading to achievable, sustainable sales.

‘Our success is intrinsically tied to the success of our retailer partnerships, and it is very much a collaborative approach when working with us. We continuously strive to deliver exceptional value and foster mutually beneficial relationships that endure the test of time.’

Visit: www.guardsman.co.uk

Retail staff and technicians receive regular training

First for Furniture Protection

Protection Plans

FCA regulated furniture insurance for every day accidental damage Products

80% first visit fix*

Insurance expertise

Furniture care products to complement our protection plans, or to sell as an add on

Highly experienced insurance professionals to support you with selling protection plans within the FCA requirements

Rob Fitzgerald

F Edmondson & Sons – European Furniture Transport

Specialising in the collection, distribution and delivery of high-quality furniture throughout the UK and Europe for manufacturers, retailers and private clients.

F Edmondson & Sons is a family-owned company with a proud heritage spanning six decades. We offer nationwide delivery service, bookings for all deliveries, home and trade deliveries, full and part loads, receiving containers and re-delivery of goods.

For further information and to discuss your requirements please call +44 (0)1524 382211 Or email sedmondson@edmondsonfreight.co.uk

laboratory specialising in ammability testing. LTS Ltd follows a business philosophy that is the soul of our company. It incorporates our mission and vision, high professional business ethics and values.”

•Curtains

•Bedding

•Protective

JOIN THE ASSOCIATED WEAVERS CARPET TEAM

AREA SALES MANAGER SCOTLAND

Associated Weavers - a leading, trailblazing carpet manufacturer at the forefront of broadloom carpets.

Our strengths are our passion for flooring, in depth product knowledge, eye for great interior design and forward thinking innovation. Over the years we have built strong and lasting relationships with our partners nationwide.

We have an opportunity for a Carpet Retail Area Sales Manager covering Scotland.

Job Description & Main Responsibilities

- To maximise sales on your area with both roll & cut length customers.

- To achieve monthly, quarterly and annual sales targets.

- To sell point of sale display into new and existing customers.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills

- Excellent communication, dedication, initiative and enthusiasm.

- Self-motivation, good planning and organisational skills.

- General IT awareness and a full driving licence.

The Package Competitive salary, sales related bonus structure, pension scheme, company car, laptop & mobile phone.

Interested applicants should send their CV and covering letter to stephen.kaye@associatedweavers.co.uk

JOIN THE INVICTUS LVT FLOORING TEAM

AREA SALES MANAGERS NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND NORTH WEST OF ENGLAND

We are looking for motivated & committed Area Sales Managers to join the team and enable the company to drive forward in the fast-growing Luxury Vinyl Flooring market. We have opportunities in the North East and North West of England.

INVICTUS Flooring is part of Associated Weavers family and has quickly become a serious contender in the UK LVT market in since its launch in 2019, this is an opportunity to join a dynamic forward thinking company at an exciting period in its development.

The ideal applicant will have proven detailed experience of Luxury Vinyl Flooring with a good understanding of the market, ideally living on the territory, you will be required to visit existing INVICTUS floors customers as well as sourcing new customers selling display stands, managing their Luxury Vinyl Flooring account and of course building the brand.

The roles are suited to someone who is a great communicator with good sales, IT and planning skills, you must be driven to succeed and enjoy working hard, you will also hold a full driving licence.

A competitive salary, attractive bonus structure, pension scheme with a company car, laptop & phone will be offered to the successful applicants.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Refreshed colour bank and new POS available now.