Interiors Monthly December 2013

December 2013

Interiors monthly

first for furniture, flooring and accessories

Carpet

Bestsellers of 2013

Interiors UK Preview

Stressless

City: New comfort for 2014 FURNITURE

FLOORING

BEDS

CARPET

RUGS

ACCESSORIES

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Andrew Kidd EDITOR

How are YOU? The return home of England cricketer Jonathan Trott from the Ashes tour brings the wider topic of mental wellbeing in business to the fore.

At a time when talk is generally of pre-Christmas trading and preparations for winter sales, it is easy for people to be caught up in the complexities of running a business: it is your livelihood after all.

Much has been written in the media about Trott’s return home from Australia and the impact the modern sporting world has on its participants. But what about the effects of business on its workers?

You don’t have 35,000 spectators screaming at your every decision all day.

But you do have the livelihoods of your staff, your family and the demands of your customers on your mind: be it how the company is performing, a late delivery,

Interiors

Editor: Andrew Kidd

December 2013

monthly

first for furniture, flooring and accessories

Carpet

Bestsellers of 2013

Interiors UK Preview

a complaint, or your cashflow. But how much is it on your mind? Can you switch off?

Does it keep you awake at night? Are you relying on whatever-it-may-be to get through the day?

If so, talk to someone who can help, be it a friend, partner, doctor, colleague or a group like the Samaritans. An estimated one in four people in the UK suffer from some form of mental illness in a year, according to Mind. So if you’re not feeling yourself make the step to being who you were or who you’d like to be.

Victoria Carpets’ £16m deal to buy Westex could transform the company. Westex has increased sales and profits in the past few years and made £3.7m from record sales of £17.5m in the year to 2 March. Compare that to Victoria’s £86,000 from sales of £34.5m in the six months to the end of September.

Westex will continue to operate as a separate company and its management have committed to staying for five years, bringing valuable management success to the Victoria group and an enhanced product offer.

It also shows that companies can access funding – Victoria had just over £3m in the bank – when the right deal comes along.

A merry Christmas to all our readers.

T: 01273 930 029 E: akidd@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Furniture advertising (South): Tim Boden T: 01732 783 561 E: tboden@interiorsmonthly.co.uk City: new comfort for 2014 from Stressless www.ekornes.co.uk

Furniture advertising (North): Jarrod Bird T: 01565 631 397 E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Carpet, flooring, lighting and accessories advertising: Joanne Paull T: 01732 783 561 E: jpaull@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

China sales agent: Jane Dai T: 00 86 755 8292 5229 E: jane@newbuddy.net Published by Interiors Media Limited Unit 11, Riverside Business Centre, Riverside House, Riverlawn Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1EP T: 01732 783 561 F: 01732 783 562 E: enquiries@interiorsmonthly.co.uk Registered in England no. 6397722 Print: Knockout Print Design by TSS DIGITAL © Interiors Media Limited ISSN 1756-2236

Stressless

City: New comfort for 2014 FURNITURE

FLOORING

BEDS

CARPET

RUGS

ACCESSORIES

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

3

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CONTENTS

ale-Bridgecraft

Extra Support!

INTERIORS MONTHLY DECEMBER 2013

INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS 6

Polyflor settles tax tweet row

10

Positive Headlam buys Fell’s Carpets

12

Victoria buys Westex for £16m

FEATURES 20

Carpet The bestselling carpets of the year; being cool

National Advertising Display Discounts Regional Support Show Centres Best Customer/Business Winners 2008-2013 Numerous order referrals Furniture Built to Last

28

A bolder look for Stressless in 2014

30

AWARDS

A W ARDS 2011

WINNER WINNER 2008 - 2013 Best customer service Best business support

Beds and bedroom Warning over ‘deathtrap’ and dirty mattresses; 20up’s success

36

Buying groups Benefits of joining up

44

Preview Interiors UK, Domotex, Home, Heimtextil, IMM Cologne,

Vale-Bridgecraft Show Centres at: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, 01422 885000 Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, 0191 4883682 Warrington, Cheshire, 01925 571982 Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 01142 618952 Loughborough, Leicestershire, 01509 218647 Draycott, Gloucestershire, 01386 700458 Nutfield, Surrey, 01737 822027 Hedge End, Hampshire, 01489 796479 Bristol, Almondbury Business Centre, 01454 614650 Felsted Nr. Chelmsford, Essex. Opening Jan 6th 2014

Upholstery

May Design Series

79

Review Brussels Furniture Fair

REGULARS 15

Opinion

16

New products

NEXT ISSUE Interiors UK show guide Warranties and protection Beds and bedroom www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

5

NEWS

New store? Have a party Roche Bobois celebrated the official opening of its new UK flagship store last month with hundreds of guests in Chelsea.

The 4,500sqft store was officially opened by Gilles Bonan, Roche Bobois ceo as the chain marked its 250th branch. The Chelsea branch is the ninth in the UK for the upmarket chain.

‘It’s exciting to be opening in Chelsea, a district long associated with eclectic design, fashion and style. Today it’s more of a hub for the design community than ever and we’re confident that our unique blend of creativity, savoir-faire and quality workmanship will appeal to central/west Londoners as much as it does to their counterparts in Hampstead, Wandsworth and Harrods where loyalty to our well-established stores continues to grow,’ says Martin Gleize, Roche Bobois international director.

The opening party

Polyflor settles tweet tax row with charity donation Polyflor has donated £50,000 to Children in Need to settle a legal action from Tarkett after Polyflor tweeted about Tarkett’s tax bills.

The Polyflor tweet in December included a link to a document called ‘The Starbucks debate’ prepared

by Gordon Oliver, finance director of Polyflor parent James Halstead. The document said Polyflor paid £18m in tax between 2009 and 2011 while Tarkett had paid nothing.

Tarkett said the tweet was defamatory and had been

widely read in the flooring industry. At the time Polyflor had about 800 followers.

Restructuring at Tarkett triggered a tax loss in 2008 that reduced its tax liabilities on subsequent years.

A Polyflor statement says ‘it did not seek to allege that Tarkett had avoided paying corporation tax in the UK for the financial years ending 2009-2011 through the use of artificial profit-shifting devices. On the basis of the information and assurances received from Tarkett, Polyflor accepts that Tarkett does not use such practices.’

Distributor fined for supplying illegal sofa A furniture distributor has been fined £4,000 plus £5,500 costs for supplying a sofa that failed flammability regulations.

Tests on a Carol sofa bought by Northamptonshire Trading Standards officials in February found that the foam filling was illegal.

The sofa was supplied to the retailer by UK Sofa Distribution, which pleaded guilty to contravening the Consumer Protection Act 1987 at Northampton Magistrates Court in November.

The company initially denied supplying the upholstery but pleaded guilty after Trading Standards seized documents and computer evidence.

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

The labelling on the sofa falsely stated that the foam had been tested to ensure compliance with the regulations.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire County Council said: ‘Research shows that these regulations save 54 fatalities and 780 casualties each year and therefore compliance with them is vital.

The company failed to take proper steps to ensure they only supplied safe products. We will continue to carry out proactive tests to ensure consumers are protected from unsafe products.’

The retailer that Trading Standards bought the sofa from recalled the other sofas it had sold.

US push for Furniture Clinic Growth in online sales has led to the opening of a US showroom for leather repair and cleaning company Furniture Clinic.

The company has opened a 3,000sqft premises in New York to allow it to offer its products to customers and suppliers across the US. ‘We felt like it was the right time to go ahead with our plans. Many customers in the US can be put off by a company that does not have a base in the country and we felt that the opening of this office would really help us to expand as a business and firmly establish our brand internationally,’ says Ben Staerck, Furniture Clinic founder.

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Look for the Buttery

Sophistication is a seasonal success story This years best selling saxony, Sophistication, offers exceptional levels of comfort combined with high performance in all areas of the home. There is still time to get it fitted on your customer’s floor before the Christmas rush. This carpet features a luxurious soft deep pile, using a high performance fibre that is smart and durable. Available in three weights 70oz

Sophistication, 45oz Promenade and 30oz Bellaire. All are supported by 20, 15 and 10 year StainAway warranties. Currently available in 10 up-to-date fashionable colours and manufactured in 4m and money saving 5 metre widths.

The perfect choice for any home.

Sales office open until Christmas Eve

Associated Weavers Sales: 01422 431100 Email: sales@associatedweavers.co.uk

To ensure you get the carpet you require our sales office is open until Christmas Eve, we are also open Saturday mornings throughout November and early December. We have invested in our delivery fleet throughout 2013 and will continue our programme of investment into 2014. This makes sure you carry on receiving your carpet on time and as efficiently as possible.

Ring in the New Year for 2014 We will make sure you are first in the queue for sales in 2014. Be the first to see the new Associated Weavers collection at Domotex - Hall 6, Stand A20. Alternatively your AW sales manager will be calling to give you a full new collection update. We will be adding new trend colours to many of our existing best selling products. We will be launching three innovative ranges to further increase sales in our StainAway brand. We will also be adding smart new POS material and finally we will build on our reputation for innovation with a brand new concept in carpet fibre development.

To all our customers have a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

Sophistication The high performance luxury saxony carpet

“

Sophistication is ideal for any home where comfort and style is paramount. The 20 year

StainAway Warranty and wear guarantee have made this the best selling range in 2013.

Simon Lewyckyj Commercial Manager Associated Weavers

�

Sophistication 34 Malm

NEWS

Positive Headlam buys Fell’s Flooring group Headlam has confirmed anecdotal evidence of an autumn upturn among independent retailers while adding to its distribution business.

The group says sales rose in October and that momentum has continued into November.

Like for like sales rose by 0.6% in the first three quarters of the year and by 0.8% for the 10 month period. The group has also maintained the 30 basis points margin rise it saw in the first half.

‘Notwithstanding the occurrence of monthly revenue volatility in the UK, as the year has progressed, trading for each successive quarter has shown continued improvement with the third quarter lifting the cumulative underlying UK performance into positive territory compared with last year,’ says Tony Brewer, Headlam chief executive.

‘Revenues in the UK during October maintained the positive trend, resulting in the 10 month like for like performance increasing to 0.8%. This upturn in market activity evident during October, the first month of what is traditionally the group’s most active quarter, provides encouragement particularly since the momentum has continued into November.’

The group says it can maintain its dividend if trading targets for November and December are met.

Meanwhile, it paid £1.3m for North Yorkshire distributor Fell’s Carpets. The 98 year-old company, which had sales of £6.7m in the year to 30 April, was founded in Castleford by Percy Fell, the great uncle of Fell’s Carpets’ md Tim Fell.

Headlam has proposed moving operations to its facility at Gildersome, Leeds, subject to staff consultation, while preserving the autonomy and identity of Fell’s Carpets.

‘Combining the two companies provides an excellent opportunity for Fell’s to grow and offer a broader range of products to our customers whilst offering a richer experience to our staff, with the backing and resources of a large group,’ says Fell.

Support centre for Essex: Upholstery manufacturer Vale-Bridgecraft is to open its 10th retailer support showroom in Felsted, Essex, eight miles from Chelmsford. Opening on 27 December, the showroom will support local stockists such as Hatfields, Fishpools, Roomes and Chelmsford Co-op and is also expected to attract consumers from London. The support centres will be backed by a £500,000 consumer advertising campaign during 2014.

Homewares boost After seeing consistent yearon-year growth in the first half of 2013 and a summer boost across July and August, growth in the homewares market increased significantly in September, with the strongest performance for more than a year.

According to GfK, the market grew by 9.4%.

Glassware (+10%) and crockery and china (+10.5%) continued their strong summer performances, alongside promotion-led growth in cookery.

For textiles, a 3.9% rise was boosted by a 6.7% increase in curtains. Although still down 2.6% over the last year, September was the second consecutive month of growth.

‘Forecasts are pointing to increased housing

transactions aided by Government schemes. It is therefore likely that, after a very subdued market over the last few years, more considered purchases such as made-to-measure curtains could benefit,’ says GfK. Focusing on home accessories, after negative growth for much of 2013, wall-art, pictures and frames saw flat growth in the month after an increase in August.

GfK says: ‘This indicates that the market is recovering just in time for the key Christmas run-in. With sales in Q4 2012 more than 25% higher than in the average in 2012, Christmas this year will be critical in determining whether the homewares market can further build on the recent momentum.’

Ups and downs for M&S Sales rose at new format stores

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

The roll-out of its latest homewares format helped Marks & Spencer achieve a double digit sales increase. The Cheshire Oaks branch was the first store to have the format in August 2012, since then it has been introduced at a further 54 stores. Home sales at these stores were 10% higher than non-refreshed stores.

The rise was not enough to stop a like for like general merchandise sales drop of 1.5% in the 26 weeks to 28 September.

B e a u t i f u l

h o m e s

d e s e r v e

b e a u t i f u l

f u r n i t u r e

NEWS

Victoria agrees to buy Westex Carpets for £16m In a deal that could transform Victoria, it has agreed to buy rival Westex Carpets for £16m.

Westex will continue to operate as a separate company and its management have agreed to stay for five years.

Westex made a pre-tax profit of £3.7m from record sales of £17.5m in the year ended 2 March 2013.

Victoria will make further payments if future profit targets are met. It says the enlarged group will benefit from a strengthened senior management team, with a clear and focused strategy for further turnaround and growth.

‘Westex is one of the finest carpet manufacturers in the UK and I am very pleased Victoria has been able to reach an agreement with the directors. As a result there will not be any changes to the existing sales, production and administrative operations at Westex following the acquisition. Westex will continue to operate its own brands within the Victoria group, maintaining the same level of high quality service for its customers,’ says Geoff Wilding, Victoria executive chairman.

Victoria’s Rosewood

Shareholders will vote on the deal on 13 December.

Victoria has returned to the black in the past six months after cutting costs and ‘focusing on selling product at an acceptable margin, rather than seeking sales at any cost,’ according to Wilding. UK and Ireland sales rose by 2% to £14.05m in the six months to 28 September. An operating loss of £235,000 became a profit of £1,000.

For its Australian operations, sales fell by 7.8% but profits rose from £752,000 to £918,000.

A group pre-tax loss of £1.1m became a profit of £63,000.

Wilding described the performance as satisfactory, saying a considerable amount of work had been done to remove unnecessary cost from the business and improve the group’s working capital position, although more remains to be done before the group starts to deliver acceptable results.

Net debt was cut from £7.51m to £2.97m. ‘Stock levels have been reduced, lowering the risk and resultant expense of obsolete product and materially improving the group’s working capital. Cash locked up in stock is dead money and this improved stock management position means that growth in the future will consume less capital than previously, allowing funds to either be deployed into productive assets elsewhere in the business or returned to shareholders,’ he says.

‘The market outlook remains mixed. Although there appears to be more positive consumer sentiment in both the UK and Australia, we share the view that conditions remain challenging. Wool prices, a key driver of our costs, have appreciated significantly in the last six months and, overall, consumer demand for carpet remains soft. However, residential construction and property sales activity continue to improve, which shows encouraging signs of growth in consumer confidence,’ adds Wilding.

Lee Longlands wins grant for new store Furniture and flooring retailer Lee Longlands has secured a six-figure grant, covering almost 10% of the cost of its new Derby store.

Lee Longlands is investing £1.7m in a 65,000sqft store in the former Co-op department store in Derby’s city centre.

The four-storey Exchange Street shop, which was closed in April, is due to re-open on Boxing Day creating 35 jobs.

The retailer has been awarded a £160,000 grant from the £20m Derby Enterprise Growth Fund, which is part of

12

Interiors Monthly December 2013

the Government’s Regional Growth Fund and run by Derby City Council.

Darren Campo, Lee Longlands financial director, says the support from the Derby Enterprise Growth Fund was the deal clincher in its decision to come to Derby.

He says the company will be investing heavily both in the refurbishment of the building and in the marketing of the new store.

‘We are confident that this will drive significant footfall into the city centre with knock-on benefits for all our

neighbouring businesses,’ says Campo.

‘We are therefore delighted that Derby City Council has recognised the wider positive effect that our plans will have on the city centre and have supported us through the Derby Enterprise Growth Fund,’ he adds.

Paul Bayliss, Derby City Council leader and chairman of the DEGF panel, says: ‘This is an iconic building at the heart of St Peters Quarter and it was vital that we attracted a high quality retailer to drive footfall to this part of the city centre.’

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OPINION

WHY CHOOSE GREENWOOD?

Suzie Ager

ASK OUR CLIENTS…

Interiors UK event director

A new wave of optimism for interiors News seems to be prevalent in the media that a renewed consumer confidence is under way, or at least, on its way. As we all tentatively emerge from the aftermath of a recession the industry has rightly been left cautious, perceptibly austere but perhaps most important, surfaced with a fresh enthusiasm.

Everything must work harder or it begs the question: why do it at all?

Recent data from the CBI suggests that the sales of furniture and carpets are growing at their fastest rate for years. At last, some enthusiasm, things are looking up. Music to an event director’s ears you might think, but experience tells us to proceed with caution: there is a new order in town.

The social effects of recession have been tremendous with a

Experience tells us to proceed with caution: there is a new order in town make do and mend culture now firmly transplanted within the home. Householders are doing more home improvements and spending money on their homes in a bid to, quite simply, make a house a home.

Industry will now need to adapt to safely navigate this new wave, rather than watch statically as time goes by.

Exhibitors at Interiors UK are often a steady barometer of the market. And it is evident from the feedback the Interiors UK team receives that the tide is turning towards better fortunes.

The team and I have worked tirelessly over the past few years to provide the best and most pertinent show for the industry. A platform, ever-relevant, for exhibitors to meet key independent and multiple retailers all under on roof.

Before we skip away into the sunset, the old adage, by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail, rings ever true.

As the UK industry becomes far more reliant on foreign trade it is essential that our show becomes more international in flavour, with a greater variety of exhibitors to give our visitors a better selection of products. In turn, by attracting more overseas visitors, exhibitors will gain more global export opportunities.

While the news is encouraging and certainly going in the right direction, it now calls the time to collect together our learnings for a more optimistic future.

Interiors UK is at the NEC, Birmingham from 19-22 January 2014, organised by UBM

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

15

“Having hired both the best known sales companies, I’ve learned a valuable lesson – which one is the best! With Greenwood you just get a better job. It’s in the detail, the preparation, and the guys they send to work in store are excellent.

Most importantly, the results are better. Based on my actual experience, I really can recommend Greenwood as the number one sales company.”

Neil Richardson, Hampton & McMurray, Glasgow

DON’T HIRE A SALES COMPANY UNTIL YOU’VE SPOKEN TO GREENWOOD… If you’re going to employ a sales promotion company, you’ll want to be sure to choose the best one. The only way to be sure, is to ask the opinion of those retailers who have previously employed more than one of the main firms. We can provide long lists of them.

Greenwood has planned and organised many more retail sales events in the UK and Ireland than our nearest competitor. Greenwood has become Britain’s largest and most experienced sales promotion specialist of its kind. This experience will benefit your business by way of sales results if you choose Greenwood.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GREENWOOD SALES...

Take a look at our website or call us now on 01625 521010, or, send an e mail enquiry, and we’ll gladly call you to discuss the exciting possibilities we can offer you, without obligation.

We are now booking events for 2014 on a first come first served basis. Book your sales event early to guarantee exclusivity for your business.

GREENWOOD RETAIL LTD Britain’s Leading Experts in Retail Sales Promotion 1 Wilmslow House, Grove Way, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AG sales@greenwoodretail.com www.greenwoodretail.com

NEW PRODUCTS

1

2

3

4 5 1 Magis has additional versions of its Troy chair by Marcel Wanders. There is an upholstered model in a choice of stacking chair with or without arms, five-wheel swivel and swivel and non-swivel four star base chairs.

Visit: www.magisdesign.com 2 Calia Italia’s Rio would fit into any contemporary and young living area, thanks to its unconventional shapes and its colours – from neutral to brilliant green and romantic wisteria. Its corner module has been designed to offer a seating place to fully enjoy the entire seating length.

Visit: www.caliaitalia.com 3 Carpenter’s Sleep Better brand has bold and vibrant mattress covers to complement

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

its Spring Link mattress range. The soft-feel polyester fabric provides mattress protection and comfort, while being stylish. It is available in a selection of designs and fabric treatments to suit individual requirements and tastes.

Tel: 01457 892 400 4 Hyder Living’s home delivery service is for online and independent retailers who cannot commit to high stock levels yet want to offer excellent service and fast deliveries. The service has seen huge success, providing retailers with peace of mind that customers will receive a seamless transition from

ordering to delivery straight to their door.

Tel: 01484 531 000 5 For an inspirational user experience, interior roomsets are displayed side-by-side in a modern, large grid format on the Gallery page, of Avenue Floors’ website. The entire range from natural wood and stone styles to contemporary bright stripes and patterns can be browsed, compared and selected.

Visit: www.avenuefloors.co.uk

NEW PRODUCTS

6

9

7

10

8

6 In October the Quick-Step Academy ran a Foundation course in wood and laminate fitting, with all attendees new to floor fitting with little or no industry experience. Many had never fitted or even cut a laminate floor, yet by the end of the two-day course all competently completed an entire installation.

Tel: 0161 877 6955 7 As a pioneer of floorcoverings suitable for allergy sufferers, Vorwerk has updated its product branding with the introduction of the Life Balance seal.

This seal stands for an approach towards environmentally aware and health-conscious manners and was developed in cooperation with leading German testing institutes.

Tel: 020 7096 5090 8 Cormar Carpets has added the Sensation Twist collection to its Sensation portfolio of luxurious easy clean carpets. It has been crafted from the same two-fold specialised yarn to

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

create a lustrous handle but with a finer twist definition. In 16 plain colours, it is available in 4m and 5m widths.

Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk 9 Crown Floors’ Roseland offers a fresh and modern interpretation on the traditional salt and pepper classic carpet; encapsulating a multi-tonal heather effect that harmonises small and large spaces alike, adding subtle visual interest to interiors. The carpet comes in 12 earth-inspired colourways that nod to the latest interior trends.

Tel: 0800 0773 301 10 Leoline has updated its www. leoline.co.uk website with a stylish layout featuring inspirational lifestyle photography showing the diverse range of styles from Leoline cushion flooring.

The website has a clear, streamlined design tailored for the needs of UK consumers, making it easy to explore the collections.

Tel: 0800 0323 970

SINCE 1914

Not All Sales Promotion Companies Are Created Equal.

We recognise that you have a choice in your promotional partner, which is why Lynch continues to innovate, developing new materials and techniques to attract customers through your doors. Below are clients who have tried “look-a-like” sales promotion firms, but found good reasons to turn to Lynch.

“The difference being that one is left with the lasting impression of a Lynch sale that the organisation is very much “batting for your side.”“ Richard Nunn Richard Cook Furnishers LTD, 14th October 2013

“The previous events were run by another organising company with different event managers, and I can unreservedly say that the Exeter event ran by Lynch was executed better than these previous two.”

Peter Betteridge The Bed Expert, 9th September 2013 “Congratulations on helping Habels to close our Andover store with pride and great aplomb – and thank you to Ray for a job done magnificently.”

Danny Habel Habels, 20th June 2013

For results that you can bank on, choose Lynch, the original Sales Promotion company.

Contact: Gareth Price 29 Warblington Road, Emsworth, Hampshire PO10 7HE Tel: +44 (0) 1243 378369 • www.lynchsales.co.uk Serving the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom Copyright 2013 Lynch Brothers Licensing Corporation

CARPET

The bestsellerslist Interiors Monthly asked leading carpet suppliers what their top three bestsellers of 2013 were, in terms of range and colour

BALTA BROADLOOM

1st

1 Gala – 82 2 Stainsafe Noble Saxony – 800 3 Stainsafe Shepherd Twist – 680

1st 3rd

IDEAL 1 Dublin Twist 2 Echo 3 Charisma 20

Interiors Monthly December 2013

KINGSMEAD CARPETS 1 Artwork 2 Ayrshire 3 Clean Easy Superb Saxony

Famous for bringing pure comfort, warmth and luxury to the home, Tredaire underlays are designed to offer outstanding levels of performance ensuring every carpet looks fabulous and gives that ‘new carpet’ feeling for longer.

That’s why Tredaire is the UK’s biggest selling underlay brand – the market leader!

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CARPET

ADAM CARPETS

1 Castlemead Twist – Cornish Heather 2 Kasbah Twist – Kazak 3 Fine Worcester Twist – Mitton Mouse

CRUCIAL TRADING 1 Mississippi 2 Pecos 3 Indulgent

1st

MR TOMKINSON 1 Tomkinson Twist 2 Classic Berber 3 Bowland 22

Interiors Monthly December 2013

1st

1st

Contact information T: +44 (0)1297 33533 F: +44 (0)1297 35241 E: sales@axminster-carpets.co.uk W: www.axminstercarpets.co.uk

News from

Meet our New Account Managers Axminster CarpetsTM is pleased to announce that we now have an account manager for every region in the UK & ROI. Please join us in welcoming our new team members.

Ian McDermid Northern Regional

NEW Account Manager

Account Manager

Dave Wood

T: +44 (0)7836 521658 E: i.mcdermid@axminster-carpets.co.uk

Account Manager

T: +44 (0)7702 208800 E: d.wood@axminster-carpets.co.uk

NEW Account Manager Mike O’Brien Account Manager

Seamus Foody

T: +44 (0)7702 208792 E: m.obrien@axminster-carpets.co.uk

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland Account Manager

T: 353 86 0400552 E: s.foody@axminster-carpets.co.uk

Dave Williams Account Manager

T: +44 (0)7702 208790 E: d.williams@axminster-carpets.co.uk

Marcus Bowes Account Manager

T: + 44 (0)7802 588758 E: m.bowes@axminster-carpets.co.uk

NEW Account Manager Nick Duīell Account Manager

T: + 44 (0)7702 208794 E: n.duīell@axminster-carpets.co.uk

NEW Account Manager Jamie Beddard

Rob Simpkins

Account Manager

Account Manager

T: + 44 (0)7500 847355 E: j.beddard@axminster-carpets.co.uk

T: + 44 (0)7702 208789 E: r.simpkins@axminster-carpets.co.uk

Marc Helliwell Southern Regional Account Manager

T: +44 (0)7734 558608 E: m.helliwell@axminster-carpets.co.uk

NEW Commercial Account Manager Steve Clent Commercial Account Manager

T: + 44 (0)7818 575652 E: s.clent@axminster-carpets.co.uk To unsubscribe please click here.

CARPET

2nd

1 Imperial Velvet – Gunsmoke 2 Options 288 Naturals – Ivory 3 Simply Heathers – Biscuit

1st GASKELL

VICTORIA

1 Waterloo 2 Summer Garden 3 Rusticana Original

CROWN FLOORS 1 Alderley Edge – Gothic Stone 2 Wembury Bay – Silver Crown 3 Crown Wilton – Persian Garden Evergreen 24

Interiors Monthly December 2013

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Luxury textures!

Unique to Axminster Carpets.

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Carpets™ is from Axminster rn.

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CARPET

Left: Tutti Frutti Right: Tess runner in pink Below right: Rock’n’Roll Purple Rain

Really cool The CoolBrand list includes its first exclusively flooring brand Alternative Flooring has become the first exclusively flooring brand to be named as a CoolBrand, in the annual initiative to identify the UK’s coolest brands.

The CoolBrands list, now in its 12th year, follows a vote by a combination of 3,000 consumers and a panel of 37 designers, style experts, media personalities and prominent figures from the worlds of TV, fashion and music. Helping rate coolness this year were the likes of TV chef Gizzi Erskine, musicians Laura Mvula and Charli XCX, Bestival founder Rob da Bank, and model Daisy Lowe.

‘The pressure on consumers’ disposable income is still considerable, so having a loved and desired brand can provide a much-needed edge in the battle for discretionary spend. The brand qualities we examine in the CoolBrands survey – such as authenticity and innovation – can be key influences on consumer purchasing, so performing well is not just a thumbs up for Alternative Flooring’s reputation, but an indication of its future success,’ says Stephen Cheliotis, CoolBrands Expert Council chairman.

Chris Brammall, Alternative md, says: ‘Alternative Flooring strives to be original, stylish and desirable, creating products and campaigns that reflect what we are all about. Being alternative and letting our brand’s personality shine was our goal and to have this recognised by CoolBrands is a brilliant endorsement of everything that Alternative Flooring stands for.’

The company has also updated its POS with the Beacon stand

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

displaying everything in one unit – wool, naturals, runners and Make Me A Rug – each headed by lifestyle images and graphics.

The sections have stories to tell with bestsellers, mix and match, fine and chunky textures.

The Be Stand has had a facelift with the latest lifestyle images and graphics designed to link with seasonal campaigns. Its latest brochure features a section devoted to runners and is accompanied by revamped Colourscapes and Borderlines leaflets and a new Runnerways pocket guide.

Alternative’s new range of runners now comes in pre-cut widths designed to create a cost effective option for consumers looking to have stand-out runners on their stairs.

Alternative’s runners comprise more than 80 designs from Quirky prints, Rock’n’Roll stripes, Fine Lines and iconic wools.

In wool there are 23 Quirky patterns, 31 stripes from Rock‘n’Roll, Pinstripe and Blocstripe and 11 plain Cord. There are 17 in natural fibres from Sisal Super Bouclé to Sisal Herringbone.

Quirky is available in 69cm widths with a selvedge, with other designs available in 66cm widths with a whipped edge.

A number of the runners also come as carpets so the same design can be used throughout the home.

The company has also produced a video celebrating its CoolBrand status: www.youtube.com/user/alternativeflooring.

Visit: www.alternativeflooring.com

Our New Next Day Express Delivery Service...

It’s as Wide as Our Range.

Our new Next Day Express Delivery has been designed desi to provide 1pm stating that you stockists with unbeatable service. Order before 1p wish to take advantage of the new express disp dispatch and goods will be delivered to you the next working day.* The new NATIONWIDE service will be ma managed by our own logistics team to ensure every aspect of the operation is handled to the highest of standards. It iis aimed at providing you with fast and efficien efficient delivery on orders – doing all we can to assist you in securing a sale and keeping your customers happy.

Next Day Express Delivery On All Orders Placed Before 1.00pm Please contact the Next Day team via: E: nextday@serenefurnishings.co.uk T: 0121 505 0278 F: 0121 505 4516 * Based on orders requesting the Next Day Express Delivery service and received before 1pm. The new Next Day Express Delivery service is based on the next working day (Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays). Delivery charge applies and varies depending on items being dispatched. Unless requested on order, deliveries will be dispatched on our usual 7-10 day service. Excludes delivery to: Isle of Wight, Scottish Highlands, Isle of Man, Channel Isles, Northern Ireland & EIRE.

UPHOLSTERY Left: Stressless City low back recliner in Paloma Clementine and Stressless Urban large table Below: Stressless Metro recliner and stool in Paloma Clementine and Stressless Flexi table Bottom: Stressless Metro low back recliner in Paloma Coffee and Stressless Urban large table

City brights Ekornes has adopted a bolder look for its 2014 designs Ekornes has taken a bold step in terms of design with the introduction of its Stressless Metro and Stressless City recliners. Both recliners feature slim, elegant lines and a metal base, which Ekornes has designed with a younger, more design focused consumer in mind.

‘The combination of the chrome rotating base and sleek lines is absolutely unique. All the ergonomic Stressless advantages and functions are of course included, plus the chairs can be ordered in two different seat heights’ says Arve Ekornes, Ekornes product development director.

‘The high back edition, with the matching footstool, gives perfect support to your body in every position. The low back edition works very well in groups,’ he says.

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

Like the other models in the Stressless collection, Metro and City can be ordered in both leather and fabric options plus numerous colours. Metro also features a unique headrest that can be adjusted to suit individual needs.

To complete the contemporary look, the company has also expanded its table collection. ‘Our new glass table, Urban, is the epitome of sleek and stylish looks,’ he says.

The tables have steel legs and a round tabletop in toughened glass and come in two sizes – large and a convenient small size that fits alongside any Stressless recliner.

‘The Urban table – either small or large – will give your living room a truly distinctive look,’ says Ekornes.

Metro, City and Urban from Stressless will be available from next spring.

Visit: www.ekornes.co.uk

ZAHRRA Divan Set

• 1000 pocket Mattress with a Latex top.

• Non turn available in Firm or Soft feel.

• Ultra soft knit Velvet fabric.

• Airflow border system.

• Hand tufted with woollen tufts.

• Hypo Allergenic.

• Six Divan Base Colours.

Dreamland Beds UK Ltd. Unit 4, Bertha Road Greet, Tyseley Birmingham B11 2NN Telephone 0121 771 3663 w: www.healthiposture.co.uk

DreamLand Beds

w: www.dreamlandfurnishings.co.uk e: orders@dreamlandbeds.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Call for action on death trap mattresses Bed firms are concerned about dangerous and dirty mattresses sold in the UK The UK’s largest bed manufacturer has hit out at what it calls ‘death trap’ mattresses that are proliferating the market and says retailers haven’t realised how damaging these could be to their businesses.

‘Many beds and mattresses are simply a death trap: this is an issue that the industry cannot shy away from and urgent action must be taken to ensure that UK consumers are not unknowingly being put at risk,’ says Steve Freeman, Silentnight Group md.

‘The consumer votes with their wallet and there are manufacturers out there trying to improve the bottom line so they will cut corners. Why should people get away with not testing? It’s a problem that needs to be flushed out.’

Freeman claims the non-compliant mattresses are mainly foam and spring products that can be rolled and are often imported from the Far East and Eastern Europe. He says they are also devaluing consumers’ view of what a quality mattress should be.

He stresses that retailers have failed to appreciate the damage selling such products could do to their reputations.

‘The retailer doesn’t perceive how important it is to their business. They are liable for what they sell. God forbid there should be a fatality, one death is too many, directly linked to a mattress. It could be very detrimental to the whole industry. We can’t afford that to happen.

‘We all saw the impact that the horse meat scandal had on the frozen food ready meal market with the negative impact and bad publicity that it had on the named retailers involved in selling these items. Clearly we do not want the same to happen within our industry, but unless we take action now – going into Christmas especially – this is exactly the situation we could find ourselves in.’

Silentnight Group has performed 977

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

After four minutes 75% of people will die as a result of smoke inhalation

After six minutes the room is destroyed

‘Why should people get away with not testing?’ flammability tests on raw materials and 2,778 tests on finished products this year.

To highlight the problem it has released a video comparing the difference in a controlled burn test of a compliant Silentnight mattress to that of a non-compliant imported mattress bought online from a UK retailer.

The compliant Silentnight mattress fails to ignite, but the non-compliant mattress sets alight and within three

minutes is filling the room with toxic fumes. After six minutes the room is completely ablaze: far quicker than the average of nine minutes it takes for firefighters to reach a fire.

According to statistics from the Department of Communities and Local Government, in 2011/12 fires in England and Wales that started in bedrooms accounted for 8.8% (3,315) of the 37,601 total accidental fires in dwellings, but they claim a much a higher proportion of casualties.

The 37,601 accidental dwelling fires caused 244 deaths, with bedroom fires accounting for 28.7% (70) of these deaths, with only fires started in

The mark of approval the public will be looking for.

Welcome to a new era of reassurance Now there’s a new way to be completely assured the beds you buy are everything they say they are. Every NBF Approved Member manufacturer has undergone rigorous independent auditing to certify that they have robust procedures in place to ensure they are complying with regulatory requirements for flammability, cleanliness of fillings and trade descriptions. Buy from an NBF Approved Member with confidence, safe in the knowledge that what you buy is safe, clean and honest.

• Flammability • Health & Hygiene • Trade Descriptions To find out more visit:

www.bedfed.org.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

After three minutes the flames on the Silentnight mattress have fully extinguished

NBF says its members’ products are safe

living rooms causing more fatalities.

Bedroom blazes claim a higher ratio of non-fatal casualties than fires started in other rooms (351 per 1,000 fires, compared with 292 per 1,000 for living/dining room/lounge fires and 201 per 1,000 for kitchen fires).

For all types of fires, 13 out of 287 deaths and 228 out of 8,926 injuries were caused by beds or mattresses. Where beds and mattresses were ‘mainly responsible’, they accounted for 2.2% of fires in 2010/11 (the latest statistics available) but 13.7% of deaths.

Freeman added that overseas manufacturers need to reassure consumers their products comply with the regulations, as long as the message was consistent with the National Bed Federation’s new code of conduct.

‘Honest trading has become a hot issue and as a result third party auditing is becoming more commonplace,’ says Stuart Hibbert, NBF president. ‘We want to reassure trade customers and the consumer that NBF members’ products are safe, clean and honest – that is, what they say they are.

‘It’s a mark of approval but not to be confused with a quality mark. We’re looking at best practice and processes within each company and helping them

32

Interiors Monthly December 2013

Steve Freeman says mattresses must be tested

‘The independent audits aren’t just designed to catch companies out – they are there to help them get it right too’ achieve acceptable standards. What we hope is that the code will reinforce the credibility of NBF members and help improve standards across the wider industry.

‘Most companies make every effort to do things properly. But it isn’t always all that straightforward. The flammability regulations in particular are both complex and in parts quite confusing.

The independent audits aren’t just designed to catch companies out – they are there to help them get it right, too, which is exactly what’s been happening.

The feedback from the auditors is that even the most assiduous companies may have had to make a few adjustments to get it right,’ he says.

The code of conduct will drive out

‘cowboy’ bed companies passing off old mattresses as new, according to Ebrahim Patel, Vogue Beds Group md.

‘There are cowboy bed/mattress manufacturers that have been behaving very badly and are bringing this industry into disrepute. Some of these companies are simply recovering dirty, soiled mattresses in new fabric and selling them to retailers. There’s been a massive influx of zipped mattresses in the market recently, they are a cheap and easy way to recover old, soiled mattresses without the need of any machinery,’ he claims.

‘It’s pretty clear that they don’t play by the same rules and probably don’t even fire test their normal mattresses – or even have a scheme set up to do this.

‘The code represents what’s good about the industry and to ensure that all retail customers will be aware that upon seeing this logo, it will mean they are buying quality, clean divans beds and mattresses. It will also start the process to stop these rogue businesses for passing off new mattresses for old mattresses.’

Under the NBF code of conduct introduced on 1 November, members are audited by an independent company covering flammability, cleanliness of fillings and trade descriptions.

Visit: www.bedfed.org.uk

individuality in its most beautiful form AVAILABLE FEATURES: • Schnepel multimedia S1 TV cabinets bring together the very essence of quality, design and technology. If their sleek, beautiful design doesn’t win you over immediately, then the abundance of features to personalise it will.

Website: www.schnepel.com Telephone Enquiries: 01270 586 236 Email: info@demagio.com

TV LIFT FUNCTION Enables your screen to vanish inside the cabinet via remote control.

•

LED LIGHTING Tactile mood lighting which can be controlled by touch.

•

INTEGRATED AUDIO Fabric-covered front panels & integrated iPhone docks. Heard but not seen.

•

MULTIPLE FINISH COMBINATIONS Completely personalise your unit with four cabinets body finishes and eight front panel finishes to choose from.

Showroom in Crewe, call for appointment

AV Furniture, C/ SG World, Duchy Road, Crewe CW1 6ND

See us at INTERIORS UK Hall 1 Stand F7

sales@arkanafurniture.com

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Upwards and onwards Rauch’s customisable bedroom collection continues to prosper Just over a year since it was revealed and 10 months since it was introduced to the UK market, German cabinet company Rauch is continuing to enjoy success with its 20up customisable bedroom range.

Part of its Steffen collection, 20up allows consumers to select a multitude of options, creating an almost bespoke bedroom.

‘20up continues to be a success story for us. After 10 months of actively offering 20up in the UK market, the programme has exceeded our expectations. The 20up concept has proven to be inspirational to both consumers and retailers alike,’ says Joachim Salomon, Rauch UK export manager.

Salomon points out that Rauch is also enjoying success across its other ranges.

‘20up is not Rauch’s only asset: in fact our

20up is part of the Steffen collection

versatility is our greatest strength.

Retailers are able to select their programmes out of the wide ranges of our four brands [Steffen, Dialog, Select and Packs]. This enables them to obtain their complete range requirements from one supplier. We can offer retailers a small wardrobe retailing at approximately £129, all the way through the hard to beat variety of mid-market models up to our top end range of 20up.

Retailers are in a position to give the end customers attractive, contemporary products at almost every price point.’

The products for UK stockists were decided by Salomon and the company’s UK and Ireland agents during its annual at-home show in October where about 200 new models, including updates and new colours, were shown.

‘We have definitely taken our time to look at all the models and to select the

More than 200 models were debuted in October and its latest UK products will be unveiled at Interiors UK

34

Interiors Monthly December 2013

best products for the UK market. Who knows better than the agents what is selling and what is not. The agents are in the market every day; they speak to retailers on a continuous basis. We also collect feedback from selected retailers, groups and key accounts,’ he explains.

‘Of course, if we were to select all the models available, our UK catalogue would explode, so we sometimes have to make tough decisions. But that said it is always nice to have something in reserve from which you can choose if there is an additional demand in the market.

‘Without telling too much, based on our latest selection in October, we are confident we have assembled a great portfolio for 2014 with a lot of interesting, surprising new models and colours which we’ll reveal at Interiors UK,’ Salomon adds.’

Visit: www.rauchmoebel.com

AT JOIN US S NEC

IN T E R IO R 4 1 9 .- 2 2 .0 1 .2 0 1 6 Hall 5, Stand 5F5

Stylish. Versatile. Universal. And amazingly easy. “20up” – a range of stand-alone wardrobes with multiple choices in design, colours, widths and heights that fits anywhere!

Experience “20up” and the new Rauch collection for 2014, perfectly suited to your needs. Join us at Interiors UK!

Through our agency we are close to your markets and thus always close to you: U.K. Agents · Easterhill Furniture · 86, High Street · Evesham, Worcs. WR 11 4 EU Telephone 01386 41333 · Fax 01386 765065 · www.rauchmoebel.com

BUYING GROUPS Flooring One’s website offers consumers information and details of where to find members

Reasons to join Being a member of a buying group can offer many advantages ‘For more than 30 Years AIS/Flooring One has provided excellent support for our growing membership. Year after year our services to members evolve and expand to meet their changing needs. As trade and technology progresses so do we, as we constantly adjust and evolve to meet the ever changing, challenging marketplace,’ says Glenn Harding, Flooring One controller.

‘Our main aim is to make members more profitable. We can’t sell the flooring for them but we can give them the tools to do the job.’

Harding highlights several services: Marketing: the marketing manual contains everything from an image library, templates and headlines, to complete colour advertisements for seasonal campaigns. The manual comes with easy to follow instructions and CDs allowing members to create their own individual yet highly professional campaigns.

Own label product: Harding says Flooring One is the only flooring buying group to offer a collection of ranges in a clear range plan structure enabling members to protect margins.

Annual rebate scheme: Many major suppliers participate in these schemes allowing members to earn more.

Central payment system: Flooring One’s centralised payment of accounts system guarantees regular payments to suppliers and the process greatly reduces the time members spend on administration. It also offers above industry settlement terms and preferential group prices, according to Harding.

POS: Flooring One has developed an innovative colourful style of POS, brightening and visually lifting displays dominated by beige carpets, all supported by features and benefits of each own label range, simplifying the buying process for consumers and staff alike.

Training: Courses or online training programmes are available to members from the group’s training partner.

Consumer website: To meet all of the multi-channelling needs of the Internet today, www.flooringone.co.uk is a comprehensive colourful website with lots of product

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

The Flooring One marketing pack

information, care, advice and a retailer locator facility.

Member trade show: The May event is supported by over 60 suppliers annually.

Harding stresses that: ‘As a member of our buying group you have 200 like-minded retailers all working together with you to compete and succeed in this challenging marketplace. We do not interfere in your business – we support and want to help grow your business more profitably.’

Flooring One, tel: 0121 683 1427

Be part of a professional flooring buying group

Join us today If you are interested in finding out more about Flooring One and all of the services available Please contact: Glenn Harding T: 0121 683 1427 E: glenn.harding@flooringone.co.uk

RETAIL

What customers want

The House range attracted more than 200,000 new customers to John Lewis

John Lewis reveals its understanding of UK shoppers John Lewis is now the second largest retailer in the £22bn UK home market, with a 5% market share, and 6.8% share in the smaller £10.8bn homewares market, according to Verdict. Its How We Shop, Live and Look report provides an insight into today’s consumer and John Lewis’ understanding of them.

‘We are meeting changing customer expectations with the launch of new ranges and activities such as Open House, a pop-up shop with a difference, which used cultural and culinary events to give customers an immersive John Lewis experience,’ says Andy Street, John Lewis md.

‘With recessionary times still fresh in the memory, our customers are looking for high quality pieces that are built to last. This is expressed through the durable statement pieces of our Design Icons collection, which is selling well.

These established pieces were cuttingedge when they were created, yet continue to stand the test of time. They

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

include the Noguchi coffee table, Herman Miller office chair and Eames lounger.’

Affordable home furnishings for those seeking value and design is also a key trend. Street says its House by John Lewis is a one-stop-shop for affordable furniture and homewares, offering a solid range of basics which can be built on in the future.

‘The range targets younger, urban customers, for whom space is a big concern. By offering them products that can fit comfortably into smaller living spaces, but without compromising on design, the sales of the range have rocketed. In fact, over 20% of new John Lewis customers over the past year have been acquired as a result of the House launch,’ he says.

Also responding to rising house prices and shrinking living space, John Lewis launched furniture designed for small homes, from multipurpose dining tables – such as those incorporating drawers for

extra storage space – to petite sofas, which from August to October 2013 sold almost half the total they did in the whole of 2012. Three-piece suites continued to fall out of fashion, with these making up just 6% of John Lewis upholstery sales.

Street says a slower housing market at the start of the year also led people to see their garden as a viable extension of the house and innovations such as garden spheres, which provide an additional ‘room’ outside the house, have proved popular in spite of their £7,000 price tag.

As the housing market began to show signs of recovery during 2013, sales of items associated with buying and selling a home rose for the company. Carpet sales are up 6% year on year, rugs rose by 4% and door knobs increased by 13%.

‘Customers today have a desire to stamp their own mark on living spaces and move away from the one-size-fits-all model. The quest to cater for customers as individuals has meant expanding choice in-store. We introduced the Any Shape, Any Fabric service, which reflects this appetite for personalised style, as customers can now choose from 400 fabrics to upholster an item of their choice. In total, John Lewis now offers a range of 112,203 combinations,’ says Street.

Further evidence of a desire to express individual tastes was seen in an explosion in the personalisation of art in the home, with a 14% rise in photo frames. Globes also had a major return, with sales 400% higher than last year.

‘We have also recognised that lighting is a key style statement for many of Britain’s homes, with sales overall increasing by 35%. And it wasn’t just grown-up living spaces that people invested in. With birth rates in the UK at their highest for 40 years, more shoppers than ever before were preparing their homes for the pitter-patter of tiny feet, with sales of cribs up 27%,’ adds Street.

In the year to October, the chain attracted 1million new customers. Some 64% of its customers shop online and in-store, 20% in-store only and 16% online only. Some 42% of customers have a household income of under £30,000, 56% of customers are women, 39% of shoppers are under 34 and only 28% are over 55.

Visit: www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk

!

Stock Management

Manage sales

Process stock and orders

Create products for any channel

Online Shop

In-Store EPoS

Control stock in-store and online

Happy Customers & Increased Sales

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sales@swanretail.co.uk See us at INTERIORS UK Hall 5 Stand D37

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RUGS Below: Sheep farming in Mazar Right: Rug weaving in Kabul

Force for good A flooring initiative is helping Afghan workers Following its launch at The Rug Show in New York in September, the AfghanMade Carpets initiative will unveil its first designs at Domotex next month.

AfghanMade Carpets is part of an initiative promoting indigenous industries in Afghanistan led by the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations of the US Department of Defense. TFBSO is working to revitalise the Afghan carpet industry by facilitating the cooperative work of international rug importers and Afghan producers.

It has hired industry experts to provide training on wool selection, spinning techniques, colouration and design. Two state-of-the-art facilities have been set up in Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat for the washing and finishing of rugs. All

Colouring wool with natural dyes in Kabul

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

employees receive training, so that premium quality washes according to international standards can be produced.

All this means that Afghanistan can now sell its finished products directly to international markets, rather than having the work finished, packaged, and sold by neighbouring countries.

AfghanMade has secured partnerships with Matt Camron, Oritop, Michaelian & Kohlberg, Ignacio Larrain, James Opie Collection and Eliko.

‘Afghan rugs have become the most modern and versatile,’ says Fritz Langauer, Oritop director, praising the Afghan industry’s ability to maintain old values with the use of hand-spun wool and natural dyes while embracing contemporary designs and colours.

James Opie, owner of the eponymous company, says he is proud to be connected with the work as he is helping to create positive change as weavers now earn a fair living wage. He says he prefers to have his rugs woven in a ‘nation where weavers instinctively understand and “feel” their work.’

As well as its first designs, AfganMade – which has also set up cashmere and jewellery projects – will be unveiling the winners of a design competition at Domotex with the creations of the three students and three young designers on show. Each has had their designs handmade in Afghanistan using handspun wool, all-natural vegetable dyes and traditional hand-knotted techniques.

Visit: www.afghanmade.com

State-of-the-art facilities have been set up for the washing and finishing of rugs

Est. 1986

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19 – 22 JANUARY 2014 NEC BIRMINGHAM

THE UK’S DEFINITIVE FURNITURE, LIFESTYLE AND DESIGN EVENT Register for your FREE ticket at www.interiorsuk.com Please quote promo code INT91

Trade only. No children.

Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

PREVIEW

Winter warm up More than 500 companies will be showing their latest furniture, flooring, lighting and accessories across five halls of the NEC next month. Here are some of the highlights Distributor Clifton Lighting will launch two modular ranges from Venetian brand Metallux featuring faultless chromation so they won’t become tarnished or discoloured. It will also be showing Voltolina’s

Metallux’s Circle from Clifton Lighting

Deknudt Decora’s Nick Silver mirror

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

handmade Murano fittings.

Dar Lighting is showing several designs including the Atticus 5 Light Ceiling Pendant, Equator 12 Light Ceiling Pendant, Ottaman 1 Light Pendant French Gold

Serene Furnishings is proud to be exhibiting its largest ever range of beds at INTERIORS UK. You are invited to witness the launch of new designs and view key collections in a variety of materials, including metal, wood, fabric and faux leather; accompanied by a wide choice of ottomans, sofa beds and headboards.

Visit stand A38 in Hall 5 and be among the first to see what will have so many people talking in the aisles of the UK's definitive Interiors event for furniture, lifestyle & design.

NEC, Birmingham, 19th - 22nd January 2014

HALL 5 STAND A38

sal

0121 505 0270

@

es

Innovative design and quality manufacturing, all at exceptional value. www.serenefurnishings.co.uk

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We Look Forward To Seeing You At

For copies of our brochures please call our Sales Team on: co

The Hevea Collection

The Upholstered Collection

The Metal Collection

The Faux Leather Collection

The Oak Collection

The Precious Metals Collection

Standards have never been so high, for our widest range to date.

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Follow us on

Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

PREVIEW

Egoitaliano’s Audrey

Kettle Interiors’ Pembridge Twist

Several of Tomasella’s designs will make their UK debut

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

and Phoenix 4 Light Pendant.

Deknudt Decora will uncover the Nick Silver mirror with its edgy design and reflective silver frame that is suitable for both modern and classic homes.

New to the show, Italian brand Egoitaliano offers its contemporary designs. The Alice Sofa makes its debut in the UK, renowned for its simple yet functional design.

Ercol is unveiling the Romana dining collection, with soft curves and solid pale oak. Also new to the show is the Teramo bedroom range in clear lacquered oak with a spindled headboard.

Mirror supplier Gallery Direct has expanded its offer by almost two-thirds to include furniture and accessories and will launch British-designed sofas and chairs, console tables and occasional furniture ranges.

G Plan Upholstery is introducing a leather version of its G Plan Vintage The Fifty Nine. It will also relaunch its iconic 6250, known as The World’s Most

Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

PREVIEW

nge of expand its ra Spires Art will

Julia Brendel’s Origins

G Plan Upholstery’s The Sixty Two

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

pictures

Comfortable Chair, with a version called The Sixty Two inspired by James Bond.

First-time exhibitor Hitch Mylius presents its award-winning designs alongside its latest models. Clean lines, strong shapes and bold colours are the calling card of the British furniture manufacturer.

One year old firm, Julia Brendel, makes its NEC debut with its Origins fabric collection. The range includes richly indulgent fabrics, with intricate patterns and refined colour palettes paying homage to a creative fusion of cultural influences in lavish silks and cottons.

Kettle Interiors will introduce a country-style oak collection. ‘Visitors to the show will be the first to discover the flexibility and diversity of this new living and occasional oak collection. We firmly expect this new collection to become one of our most successful, following on from the runaway success of last year’s launch, Oakham,’ says Simon Ainge, Kettle sales director.

Alongside the new collection, Kettle will showcase a metal handle, which is now a supplied option on the Chunky Oak collection. The handle helps to boost the contemporary look of the collection for modern apartments and new homes, while the existing wood handle still continues to provide a more neutral option. Both handles will be supplied with every piece of Chunky Oak. La-Z-Boy returns to the event with two new ranges going in a

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Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

PREVIEW Dar Lighting’s Atticus 5 Light Ceiling Pendant

Parker Knoll’s Seattle

Stil-Furniture’s Pad coffee table

Gallery Direct’s Niccolo

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

novel direction. The ranges will boast sleek designs and unique coloured leathers, with a second range centred on a popular vintage look and feel.

Parker Knoll will highlight its Seattle range while unveiling two additions to the Classic collection as well as two fabrics for its Glamour and Classic ranges.

Rug-Maker.com relaunches its website at the show to update the way customers are able to design their own bespoke rugs.

Spires Art will debut a range of glass design pictures.

A British designed range is being launched by Stil-Furniture. Inspired by the brand’s Anglo-Scandinavian roots, it will unveil a range of contemporary occasional furniture that melds functionality, style and design.

Italian cabinet and bed company Tomasella showcases its latest ranges not yet seen in the UK. Visit: www.interiorsuk.com

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Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

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‘There are no limits At the NEC, Serene Furnishings will celebrate a busy past 12 months and show off its latest designs Tasleem Tasab

Serene Furnishings likes to give its customers what they want.

This year has seen it increase warehouse space, enlarge stock levels and offer fast delivery, as well as introduce new ranges.

‘The arrival of the Oak Collection in the summer came at exactly the right time for retailers and is selling extremely well.

It’s a well thought out range, which though small in number, presents three core sellers that are testimony to our awareness of the market and design process,’ says Tasleem Tasab, Serene Furnishings founder and creative director.

‘As with all our collections, a beautifully put together brochure and sales support makes selling the Oak Collection as effortless as possible and retailers can take confidence in the large levels of stock held at our state of the art warehouse facility in West Bromwich. It’s from here that quick turnaround on orders helps retailers achieve a sale, helped by our next-day dispatch service and direct home delivery.’

The launch of this service followed the implementation of extensive software and logistical upgrades. ‘Systems were put in place to make this a viable proposition, giving Serene stockists even greater levels of customer service and support. It’s essential that we meet the increasing demand from consumers to receive their purchases as quickly as possible,’ Tasab says.

Warehouse space was increased, more staff were taken on and a sophisticated internal stock management system was introduced to optimise operational procedures, all to ensure Serene’s already high levels of customer service were exceeded.

‘A few months on since launch and the new service has received a very positive reception from retailers. Customers are glad we have again listened to their requirements and with the support of our new dispatch service, many have seen how it has contributed to an uplift in their sales,’ he says.

Plenty of fresh additions to the Serene portfolio will greet visitors at Interiors UK. ‘We’re keeping our plans largely under wraps until the doors open at the NEC. However, there will be welcome new arrivals across a series of collections, including designs offering inspired storage solutions, along with the launch of a range in luxurious faux leather, adding to the bestselling faux leather models that continue to perform extremely well,’ says Tasab.

The Precious Metals collection will also feature strongly.

Launched mid-way through 2013, it is a premium range of bedsteads presenting an eclectic revival of historic styles.

Solomon is one of the collection’s nine designs and captures the grandeur of a bygone era with the detailing in a choice of

brass or nickel finish making a charming statement piece for any bedroom capable of accommodating its distinguished proportions. The Victoria inspired design measures 1.5m in height and is available in two sizes (5ft and 6ft), with handpoured castings and a birch veneered slatted base.

There is an impressive talent for capturing the imagination with inspired design that resonates throughout the business, Tasab says. ‘This year we pushed boundaries to present an incredible portfolio in a wide variety of materials and as we look ahead to 2014, the passion for design and quality manufacturing will take centre stage once more. We will never run out of ideas, there are no limits to creativity,’ he adds.

Visit: www.serenefurnishings.co.uk

‘The passion for design and quality manufacturing will take centre stage’

Interiors Monthly December 2013

Faux leather models, Roma (above) and Tuscany (below)

PREVIEW

Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

to creativity’

Salisbury is part of the Oak Collection

Solomon

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

PREVIEW

Lucy

Continued growth Wholesaler Julian Bowen has seen sales climb this year Buoyed by a 15% increase in sales this year, Julian Bowen is looking forward to greater success in 2014, fuelled by products it will introduce at Interiors UK. ‘With the introduction of new products we are looking forward to significant growth during the coming 12 months.

The warehouse has been extended to 140,000sqft and plans are afoot to make further investments in our infrastructure and supply chain to improve their service to customers,’ says Emmett Lenaghan, Julian Bowen commercial director.

In August the company expanded its bedroom offer with the Marlborough Oak collection, a comprehensive range of chests of drawers, wardrobes and dressing tables featuring 30mm chunky tops, solid oak frame construction doors and dovetail joints in the drawer sides, with a waxed finish. This has proved to be a bestseller with the first containers already sold and more stock on the way.

Lenaghan also highlights the success of the Crantock and Lucy space-saving dining sets during 2013.

‘The stylish glass and chrome Boston and Tempo dining sets have also been among the top performers for Julian Bowen.

Children’s furniture continues to be an important product area for us and we have dominated the market with our sleepstations and cabin bed designs. The recent introduction of the Kimbo cabin bed, combining white and pink and white and blue, and the Scorpion Racer in a high gloss red are very eye-catching and selling well.’

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

He also says the Gold DHD service has enabled it to recruit retailers. ‘It’s proving to be a great success. We pride ourselves on providing a fully responsible door to door quality service with seven to 10 day delivery with a twoman room of choice option. Customers are contacted no less than 48 hours beforehand and given an am or pm slot. This hassle free service has attracted a lot of new customers in 2013.’

Visit: www.julianMarlborough Oak bowen.co.uk

Kimbo

Julian Bowen Limited

Marlborough Oak Bedroom Voted UK's Number 1 Furniture Wholesaler 2012

Voted UK's Number 1 Furniture Wholesaler 2013

Bentinck House, Park Lane Business Park, Kirkby in Ashfield, NG17 9LE Tel: (01623) 727374, Fax: (01623) 754555, e-mail: sales@julian-bowen.co.uk, www.julian-bowen.co.uk All products are available on the Julian Bowen Gold Direct Home Delivery Service

Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

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Idun

Diverse styles

Crocodile Mirror

Premier Housewares will unveil several looks Premier Housewares is part of a family run group of companies with more than 50 years of trading experience combined.

Founded in 1988, Premier has become a market leader in the housewares sector and has a 340,000sqft facility in Glasgow, including a 7,000sqft furniture and living showroom and an 8,000sqft kitchen and bathroom showroom.

Its extensive product portfolio has recently been expanded to include furniture, with the company building on the success of its kitchenware, tabletop, bathroom and decorative accessories, soft furnishings and lighting. Its aim is to provide retailers, both large and small, with a complete sourcing solution to housewares and home lifestyle retailing.

Premier will again be taking part in Interiors UK. It will bring the 1950s up to date with its Idun collection of coffee and square tables. For two of the Idun tables, the welcoming natural wood-effect veneer of the body is offset by pristine white drawers, bringing a pleasing contrast that highlights the angularity of the design recalling 1950’s chic.

Taking its muse from the 18th century grandeur of the French estate of the same name, the Chateau Chantilly collection brings a taste of bygone decadence and glamour into the modern home. Emulating the finesse of the great French craftsmen, each item is complemented by an understated cream finish.

With eight items in the range, including a graceful dressing table, chair, chests of drawers of varying sizes, a characterful corner unit, mirror and

Interiors Monthly December 2013

Chateau Chantilly and Valentina chair

console table, the Chateau Chantilly furnishings could be used collectively to transform a contemporary room into a classic boudoir, or lend character and a feeling of cohesion when scattered throughout a home.

Combining solid hard wood and cambric, Valentina is a positively regal range of seating. Consisting of a softly curving sofa and matching bucket chair, a characterful hooded armchair in the Orkney style, and a more classically ornate sofa and armchair, the collection combines archetypal design principals with modern aesthetics and the need for comfortable seating.

Taking equal inspiration from art deco and the 1980s, the Crocodile Mirror collection offers clean sharp lines and defined angles, highlighted by the rich

crocodile-effect insets and stainless steel detailing. Every item in this range speaks of glamorous minimalism while invoking glitter balls and urban chic.

The nine-drawer cabinet and fivepiece table and stool set vie for supremacy as the centrepiece of this collection, but with simple shelves, nested and console tables, storage trunks and wall mirrors to choose from, any room can be revamped with a touch of Crocodile Mirror flare.

Also on show will be the 1950sinspired Lighting Colours collection, the Cordoba occasional range, while the Industrial Cubic range has been expanded with metal chairs, chairs with arms, stools, tall stools and small tables in eight powder-coated finishes.

Premier Housewares, tel: 0141 579 2000

Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

PREVIEW

Panache

Attention grabbers Sweet Dream’s latest products are designed to stand out Sweet Dreams will be showing a mix of bedroom and living room products at Interiors 2014.

Almost all Sweet Dreams’ bed collections were revamped in September and many of the new models will be exhibited, including divans from the new, streamlined Pocket Spring collection comprising Showcase, Memory and Traditional ranges.

These are likely to include Admiral, a Traditional Pocket Spring bed with exceptionally high spring count and Celebrity Cool, a Showcase Pocket Spring bed featuring Sweet Dreams’ CoolGel filling.

Also on show will be popular upholstered hybrid beds from the Opulence and Vision (TV ready) ranges. All divans and hybrids are made by Sweet Dreams in the UK. In addition there were will be new sofabeds and sofas, including the British-made Illinois and Ohio, as well as Panache, a contemporary attention-grabber.

Panache, an imported model, comes in four vibrant colourways and features a clic-clac action and a concealed leg.

Sweet Dreams will also be showing an array of its latest occasional tables in pine.

Visit: www.sweetdreamsuk.com

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

Admiral

Opulence Chic

Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

PREVIEW

Talking shop… and more A host of industry experts will take over two stages at the NEC during Interiors UK: one stage dedicated to interiors, the other to lighting. The panel of speakers will approach all aspects of the industry – from business, retail and customer service, to the latest trends, designs and ecommerce.

George Davies, former Next chief executive, George at Asda and Per Una creator, and Andrew McMillan, former John Lewis head of customer service, head the list of speakers.

Davies’ seminar, What should George do next?, will focus on how to inject success into business, and how to make retailing work.

In his talk MacMillan challenges the concept of globalisation and web development and explains how to

differentiate your business from the competition. ‘Many retailers quite rightly focus on product when they try to differentiate themselves from their competition, but with globalisation and the Internet that is getting harder to do.

Inspiring curation of product assortment will make your brand distinctive, but what is the personality of your business?’ he asks.

The dedicated lighting stage coincides with the Lighting Show’s reintroduction as a separate event. Keynote speaker Mike Simpson from Philips Lighting delves into the Future of Light drawing experience from his role at the forefront of the lighting revolution with a global market leader.

Other speakers include Jonathan Rush, Hoare Lea associate lighting designer and Steve Allen, Connect Intelligence.

19 JANUARY 11am-11.45am The ghost in the machine: Charles Leon, Charles Leon Associates and British Institute of Interior Design council of directors.

12pm-12.45pm From interior design to the design studio: Simon Hamilton, BIID international director.

Hamilton speaks to one of House and Garden’s top 100 leading interior designers, Staffan Tollgard. Tollgard runs an award-winning architectural interior design service in London and has just opened Staffan Tollgard Design.

1.30pm-2.15pm Key colour and material trends for autumn/winter 2014/2015: Hannah Malein, Global Color Research

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

Charles Leon

colour and trend consultant.

Malein profiles four key colour stories for 2014/15: Blush, Frame, Axis and Herald.

Based on the forecast book Mix Trends,

she will explore the how these trends inform colour choices, inspire design concepts and influence material and surface application for interior and exterior decoration. The trends covered are two of those explored on the installation display at the Birmingham City University Institute of Design and Art stand.

2.30pm-3.15pm Ecommerce for independent retailers: British Independent Retailers Association.

BIRA has launched target200 with MyHigh.St to help retailers and their high streets to embrace the Internet to build sales, to build destinations and to inform future town development. The

Interiors UK 19-22 January Birmingham

PREVIEW

Staffan Tollgard

campaign will build an ecommerce network of 200 pioneering towns and thousands of retailers to ensure communities are embracing the digital marketing channels available to them.

3.30pm-4.15pm Launching an effective ecommerce website – a start up experience: Rob Pollard, Rock My Roost director.

Rock My Roost recently set up an ecommerce website, selling homeware, furnishings, gifts and fashion. During this session, Pollard will offer advice from his experience of starting up a website and the challenges surrounding the process.

20 JANUARY 11am-11.45am Grow your business with social media: Justyna Sowa, Decorum co-founder.

Sowa will discuss how to stop wasting time on social media and instead use it strategically, with the core focus on your business and its growth. Topics covered include: How to find your target audiences online; How best to reap the benefits of daily communications with your potential clients and customers; How to strategically use social media networks to contribute to your business goals and How to integrate social media with your overall marketing and sales activity.

12pm-12.45pm What should George do next?: George Davies.

Davies will focus on how to inject success into business, and his bite-sized formula on how to make retailing work.

1.30pm-2.15pm Enhancing your store: Unlock the potential of your store through the expertise of visual merchandising: Lynda Murray, International Visual founder.

Find out innovative ways to present your merchandise to encourage customers to buy. This presentation showcases great

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

ideas that attract customers to stores and the products inside. Discover clever techniques you can use to handle products. These ideas come from a variety of retailers across all product categories both in the UK and abroad.

During the presentation you will see ideas for windows and interior displays.

Get ideas for your store and gain inspiration for future merchandising projects.

3.30pm-4.15pm Retail in fashion: Anshu Srivastava, MRA Architecture and Interior Design, director.

Srivastava shares some of the firm’s recent high-profile projects and shows how these captivating environments convey the brands’ message and create spaces that sell.

4.30-5.15pm Lightning talks: Birmingham City University students.

Final year students from BCU’s Textile Design (Retail Management), Interior Design and Product Design courses are given five-minutes to share their imaginative ideas and concepts.

for customers? Is that personality engaging enough to stand out from your competitors and ensure your customers become loyal to your brand for your products and the experience of buying them?

1.30pm-2.15pm The house that £100k built: Piers Taylor, Invisible Studio founder and co-presenter of BBC2 series, The house that £100k built.

2.30pm-3.15pm Delivering exquisite retail experience: Richard Vickery, Harvey Nichols Birmingham general manager.

Vickery will talk about his experience of facing some of the challenges in restructuring struggling businesses and those when growing a new one as well as delivering growth in well established luxury businesses.

21 JANUARY 11am-11.45am How to utilise trend data to stimulate innovation and improve business performance: Simon Bolton, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, associate dean for research and enterprise.

12pm-1pm Differentiation through service: Andrew McMillan, former John Lewis head of customer service.

Many retailers quite rightly focus on product when they try to differentiate themselves from their competition, but with globalisation and the web that is getting harder to do. Inspiring curation of product assortment will make your brand distinctive, but what is the ‘personality’ of your business in terms of the sort of experience your staff deliver

George Davies

Andrew McMillan

4.30pm-5.15pm Keeping up with today’s digital consumer: Google.

Taking the best of the web in-store and vice versa through the smart use of digital technology.

22 JANUARY 11am-11.45am Lightning talks: Birmingham City University students.

12pm-1pm A guide to working with a retailer: Paul Tanner, Marks & Spencer furniture buyer and product developer.

Tanner will talk from experience on how designers can get their foot in the door, and how to keep the relationship alive.

Having been on both sides of the story, working for Habitat, Made.com and now Marks & Spencer, he will speak about the good and bad ways of working with retailers.

1.30pm-2.15pm Key colour and material trends for autumn/winter 2014/2015: Hannah Malein, Global Color Research colour and trend consultant.

Malein profiles four key colour stories for 2014/15: Blush, Frame, Axis and Herald.

19th - 21st January 2014

This is THE Show for all furniture retailers. AIS Ltd have brought together over 40 leading Brands and we’re opening the doors to non members to show the very latest in furniture and accessories.

THE Show takes place at one of the UK’s premier exhibition venues - Cranmore Park with unrivalled show facilities, excellent catering and ample FREE car parking just minutes from J4 M42, only 8 miles from the NEC. Complimentary lunch for all pre-registered guests.

19th - 21st January 2014 Scan now to register or visit www.thefurniture-show.co.uk for more information e: info@cranmorepark.co.uk Follow us: twitter.com/FurnitureShowUK Cranmore Park Exhibition Centre Cranmore Avenue, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4LF

Domotex Hannover 11-14 January

PREVIEW

Taking the floor Some 1,400 companies will make Domotex the centre of the flooring world next month. Here are some of the highlights

Granorte’s Vita

Crucial Trading’s Biscayne

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

Balta’s Sensit Glenmore

AfghanMade Carpets, the initiative to rebuild the carpet industry in Afghanistan through funding from the US Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, will show its progress and designs from Michaelian & Kohlberg, Matt Camron, Eliko, Ignacio Larrain and Oritop which are all having collections woven by the Afghan weavers.

Ball & Young is using the show to gauge customers’ reactions to its latest product launch, as it did with Connoisseur in 2012.

Balta Broadloom will display three Sensit collections: Supreme, Twist and Infinity. Also on show in Hannover for the first time will be Melrose Twist and Paramount Twist, featuring Balta’s newest X-Tron extra strong yarn. The berber classic Corsa will be updated and relaunched together with a the 65oz 80/20 wool twist, Royal Signature Twist.

British Wool will promote the fibre and British Wool products from licensed manufacturers.

Carpenter adds to the 14 ranges of PU underlay it already produces for the domestic, commercial and marine markets.

Chromatone will introduce a range of 60 Chromatone shades inspired by nature called Contemporary Style, display its full colour range and selected recent bespoke shades.

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Domotex Hannover 11-14 January

PREVIEW

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Alongside updates to its cork collections, Granorte will show the latest developments to its Vita range which uses advanced high definition digital printing, with several new colourways and surface texture options.

Interfloor will continue to target overseas markets at the show. It already has customers in more than 70 countries including China and South East Asia, and has been particularly successful this year in the Middle East. ‘Our international success has been based on the enduring strength of our brands, product quality, and product range. Major customers around the world know that they can rely on Interfloor to provide the optimum solution for underlay and flooring accessories wherever they do business,’ says Tony Capon, Interfloor export director.

Karndean Designflooring’s new Designflooring German subsidiary, will show its latest POS showroom concept.

Several new qualities from Lano Carpets will be at Domotex including Treasure; a luxurious cutpile consisting of Perlana fibres made from 100% recycled content. Three notable additions to current collections include a woven Venice Wilton design, Zen Heather showcasing a two-tone finish and Heavy Loop Bamboo joining the Bamboo family, featuring 40% Bamboo content mixed with soft polyamide. There are also several colour updates.

Wools of New Zealand has increased its stand giving greater exposure to its partners. The stand will have four main areas: the Laneve studio showing new and existing Laneve ranges; the Styling Studio showing WoNZ’s predictions for 2015 colours which will be shown in cutpile and loop pile carpets; the Innovation section and the nine partners.

The stand’s carpets will be a print made

by Halbmond inspired by the tiled floors of Italy’s great villas and a three colour 100% wool loop pile Wilton produced by New Franco Belge which is an abstract mosaic frieze design.

There will be nine partners: Crucial Trading will show its entire collection; Brockway celebrates its 50th anniversary with new concepts; Flock-Living launches three flatweave ranges – Classics, Contemporary and Retro; Cormar makes its Domotex debut; Westex will launch Exquisite, an 80/20 velvet Wilton in 60 colours and five colour-matching widths;

Interiors Monthly December 2013

Karndean’s latest POS

Lano’s Startwist Supreme

The Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, is among Interfloor’s overseas clients

Cavalier will showcase products including the new Couture Collection; spinner Danspin highlights its Laneve ranges; Martinelli’s new yarns on display include a wool braided lustre, a wool

boucle, space-dyed wool chenille, a wool cable and a wool/metallic; while Grentex – the only Laneve brand partner in Asia – will display its wool yarns and wool tops.

Visit: www.domotex.de

PREVIEW

Domotex Hannover 11-14 January Impressio Imperial Oak

Century maker Balterio will debut more than 100 decors Laminate company Balterio will use Domotex to introduce 110 decors across 20 collections in different plank sizes and thicknesses.

Among them the Tradition Quattro collection will be upgraded with six new decors and seven new decors are being added to the Impressio collection, complete with knots and cracks. A unique feature on Impressio is Panoramic Design: the decor optically continues from one plank to another creating the illusion of a never-ending plank.

The show will also see the launch of the Quattro Vintage range in 11 fashionable vintage style decors.

‘With True-to-Nature, the Balterio embossing-in-register technology, the laminate is hardly distinguishable from real wood and parquet. 3D-Wood technology further enhances this effect,’ says Franky Terrijn, Balterior marketing director. ‘3D-Wood not only ensures that the structure perfectly follows the underlying design, but also means that the decor shows depth thanks to varying degrees of gloss.’

The company will also introduce a number of new collections featuring Balterio’s PressXpress (PXP) click system, developed inhouse offering quick installation. PressXpress (PXP) won the Innovation Award at Domotex in 2011.

‘We will also be visiting three new families in different countries who have installed Balterio laminate for the 2014 brochure and updated website, which will be available from February,’ adds Terrijn.

Visit: www.balterio.com

Tradition Quatrro Carbon Black

Impressio Boathouse Pine

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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Home Earl’s Court London 12-14 January

PREVIEW

Spotlight on design Now in its third year, Home continues to grow

Above: Seletti Right: Plumen Below: Lozi

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

Home returns this January with one of the most comprehensive collections of design-led interior accessories ever presented at a UK trade event, according to Ian Rudge, Home brand director.

‘Home is the fastest growing event of its type in the UK. It has doubled in size since launching two years ago,’ he says.

Now in its third year, Home has become the go-to event for professionals seeking the latest and best in interior accessories and homeware, says Rudge.

Sitting alongside Top Drawer at Earl’s Court, London, and at the beginning of the trade show calendar, January will see the largest Home, with more new products, exhibitors and exclusive launches than before. More than 80% of the exhibitors aren’t exhibiting at any other UK event this spring, he says.

From furniture and lighting to wallpaper, soft furnishings, tableware and accessories, Home presents high quality design products from furniture and lighting brands including Coach House, Another Country, Assemblyroom, Wayfarer Furniture, HemingwayDesign, Seletti, Bloomingville, Garden Trading, Grand Illusions, Latitude 22, Lozi, PR Home, Broste, Parlane, 95%, Authentics and in its first UK appearance in many years, Artek.

Another Country, nominated for an Elle Decoration British Design Award 2013, has quickly established a loyal following due to its reputation for contemporary furniture and home accessories built to last. The brand has a strong British identity; the designs fit a British country kitchen setting but are also heavily influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese woodwork. At Home, you can expect to see its Series Three collection, a range of beech oak furniture which is its most functional to date. The collection is characteristically unfussy and hardworking yet also demonstrates stylish flourishes such as soft rounded corners and splashes of colour. It will also showcase the Soft Series, working with textile designer Ruth Duff. This collection fuses complex patterns with a diverse colour palette.

Lozi was founded in 2012 by Soroush Pourhashemi, a graduate of Brunel University with an MSc in Advanced Engineering Design. Pourhashemi’s passion for innovation and simplicity underpins the brand ethos of Lozi, and instructs all the pieces he creates

THE DEFINITIVE HOMEWARES AND ACCESSORIES EVENT 12—14 JANUARY 2014

EARLS COURT 2 LONDON

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST AT

WWW.HOME-LONDON.NET

FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES HAVE A NEW HOME HemingwayDesign- G Plan/ Assemblyroom/ Coach House/ Artek/ Ella Doran/ Grand Illusions/ Another Country/ House Doctor/ Garden Trading/ PR Home/ Jonathan Adler/ Pad Home/ By Nord/ Broste/ Eightmood/ Ferm Living/ Seletti/ Scarlet & Argent/ L-Living and hundreds more

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Co-located with Top Drawer & Craft

Home Earl’s Court London 12-14 January

PREVIEW

Top: PR Home Above: Latitude 22 Right: Graham & Brown Below: HemingwayDesign Below right: Another Country

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

as chief designer for the collection.

Lozi will be bringing a range of its products to showcase at the event, including bookcases, dining tables, shelves and chests of drawers. Every item is hand-crafted in its central London workshop, combining modern technologies with traditional woodworking methods, to produce pieces with a distinct character that no factory-made piece can deliver.

Since 2012, Home has championed British design talent, from the best emergent designers to the more established brands in the market. The Homegrown section is a popular part of the show: a dedicated space for new British designers that ensures buyers will be the first to catch the freshest talent and hottest trends. The best homegrown talent has been selected with a commercial eye.

Among the companies in Homegrown will be Assemblyroom, founded in 2010

by Peter and Cathy Wall. The duo have spent several years working in commercial interior design, which has highlighted to them the fundamental needs of their consumers. Creating pieces that both exude style and deliver comfort is the primary focus.

The Assemblyroom collection is manufactured employing the best of British craftsmanship using the highest quality materials that have been selected for their function, aesthetics and durability. Some of the products expected at the show are its Burgess compact table, Finsbury armchair and Hyde Stacking range – a collection of colourful upholstered stools.

Visit: www.home-london.net

Where next is now!

8 – 11. 1. 2014

Experience how textile interior design reinvents itself. Meet more big names, up-and-coming companies and creative individuals than anywhere else in the world. And gain direct access to a dynamic start to the season.

For information and tickets at advance sale prices visit: heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com info@uk.messefrankfurt.com, Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

Heimtextil Frankfurt 8-11 January

PREVIEW

Progress! – Generate Collision!

To accommodate the demand for unique, individualised products, designers increasingly experiment with novel materials and technologies. Computer algorithms and similar technologies facilitate the mass production of customised items because, for example, panels of fabric can be printed digitally without the design having to be repeated. Similarly, playful printing and marking techniques enable uncontrolled artistic expression. Colours are swiped over or drawn, dabbed or splattered on surfaces. Designers experiment with ways to allow production processes to determine the look and texture of the final product.

Science meets nature Heimtextil’s Trend Book panel has identified four key trends for 2014/2015

Progress! – Engineer Nature!

New textile techniques intertwine living systems with biological and texture technologies copied from nature to form novel fabrics. Designers technicise nature by copying nature’s processes. This innovative approximation of biology to materiality goes hand in hand with new responsibilities: designers are beginning to rethink the consequences of modifying their former lifestyles. Where the design sector turns biology into a new medium for creativity, scientists leverage the complexity of living systems using technical processes. A design trend that explores the concept of creating natural works using artificial means inspired by the interaction of science and design.

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PREVIEW

Heimtextil Frankfurt 8-11 January

Revive! – Exalt Purity!

As a response to mass production, the interest in objects that have personalities and are accompanied by stories is increasing. In the quest for meaning, this movement honours natural materials by embracing their imperfections and highlighting their origins deliberately. The results are primitive yet modern aesthetics. Wild and coarse nature with its unadulterated colours, textures and shapes acts as the generator of ideas. In this way, designers focus on the humble, the pure, the unadorned. Pristine, untreated materials are used, and resource-saving production processes and the longevity of products define the main criteria. Animism, essentialism, minimalism and reductionism prove to be the decisive trends.

Revive! – Rejuvenate Craft!

Designers work with recycled materials, conjuring up the concept of an improvised lifestyle as a counterpoint to our technology-dominated society.

Uniformity is replaced by the collage look to stage the unexpected and evoke alluring visual tension. Using the language of traditional craft techniques such as embroidery, weaving or knitting, designers tell stories about their lives. The revival of craftsmanship gives rise to a wealth of textures.

Visit: http://heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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May Design Series Excel London 18-20 May

PREVIEW MDS combines four shows, includes curated areas and is timed to appeal to busy retailers

London calling Plans are being put in place for the event’s second show in the capital With London being one of the design retail capitals of the world, May Design Series is timed to reach an exclusive set of London-based retailers who are often time poor, providing them with the opportunity to view new products and curated collections.

Andrew Vaughan, May Design Series event director, says: ‘May Design Series has been cleverly positioned at the end of the international show cycle to present shop-ready collections that retailers can buy – making their jobs much easier. The show brings a full spectrum of inspirational exhibitors and market leaders together, providing access to the best in British and international design all in one London location.’

He says organiser UBM is working hard to build on the

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success of the launch show and increase the number of quality retailers that attend by providing greater networking opportunities and packages.

‘The show marks a response to industry change and demand and, put simply, we are now better equipped to offer visitors a broader solution to their lifestyle needs,’ he explains.

Vaughan says MDS has moved the traditional trade event model forward and made the experience for visitors and exhibitors both enjoyable and profitable.

‘I think the team delivered one of the best shows possible with impeccable navigation, great design function and, perhaps most importantly, a show that is thoroughly commercially minded with plenty of business being done at the event and ample more built on the relationships since,’ he says.

According to Vaughan, MDS, which combines the Interiors LDN, kbb LDN, DX and ARC shows, signals a shift in the industry where there is a desire for bold, new, intelligent thinking wrapped-up in a commercially focused event.

‘We have strong ambitions for MDS and part of this will be improving and developing the show to fulfil longer-term strategy and goals. For example, we want to achieve significant growth in each represented product to keep delivering return on investment for both our visitors and exhibitors,’ he says.

‘The key to our success has been the ability to satiate the response from those companies diversifying in the market and we are keen, now more than ever, to adapt to this as it happens.

It’s all part of MDS’s unique charm,’ adds Vaughan.

Visit: www.maydesignseries.com

London’s Commercial Design Exhibition

May Design Series returns to ExCeL on 18-20 May 2014 The fresh, intelligent, commercially focused event for the architecture and design community, attracts over 10,000 contract & retail buyers.

Hitch Mylius, KKDC, Crosswater, Poggenpohl, Collección Alexandra, and SITS will be there amongst over 200 exhibitors.

Be a part of it in 2014 Call Joel Butler on +44 (0)20 7921 8712 or email joel.butler@ubm.com www.maydesignseries.com

May Design Series 18-20 May 2014 London ExCeL

Featuring: Organised by

IMM Cologne Germany 13-19 January

PREVIEW

Himolla

Bretz

New twist The 2014 event will see changes More than 1,100 companies from 50 countries will be on show at IMM Cologne next month, and the show will see several changes.

There will be an enlarged Pure design area with new formats Pure Elegance and Pure One-Design Injection. The traditional core of Pure and starting point of the Design Course remains in hall 11. From there visitors are guided to hall 3.2, the home of Pure Editions. The next stop is Pure Village in hall 2.2 with unconventional brand and product stagings of design oriented premium exhibitors. Pure Elegance – an exclusive range of luxury and high quality products – will also be in hall 2.2. It will also be the location of Das Haus, this year created by Danish designer Louise Campbell.

Another new format can be found in hall 1. Pure One-Design Injection is where young talents and selected participants of the international design competition (D3) contest present innovative ideas and interior design concepts – and transform the hall into a creative idea laboratory.

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

Home

With holistic living concepts becoming an increasingly attractive sales catalyst, Living Interiors, the event for bathrooms, flooring, wallcoverings and lighting, will focus on bringing furniture together to a harmonious interior design concept.

Due to the high demand of innovative sleeping concepts, the segment Sleep, hosting modern sleeping comfort in hall 9, will be extended to hall 5.2. This allows the presentation of furniture and accessories that transform bedrooms into recreation areas.

From the bed to a multifunctional sofa: Comfort, the world of upholstery, invites visitors to halls 6 and 10.2 to relax and test.

Classic setups with modern stylish aesthetics and high quality are located in hall 5.1 and 10.1.

Smart, the segment for young lifestyle, is in halls 7 and 8.

Global Lifestyles – another new segment – will be launched at halls 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1.

Visit: www.immcologne.de

REVIEW

Retailers were keen to place orders The Brussels Furniture Fair attracted 300 exhibitors from 3-6 November, and although the number of visitors fell fractionally to 19,713, exhibitors reported that retailers were keen to place orders and many increased sales on 2012. UK visitors rose by 12% to 556 with exhibitors reporting extremely positive reactions and results.

In the show’s Balthazar awards, the 2013 Best of Belgium award was won by Kreamat for its Sparta model, designed

by Studio Segers. The bed is put in a broader context, with lots of functional ways of personalising it.

The Country Today Balthazar, for a piece of furniture that is able to set a

rustic trend in a contemporary lifestyle, went to Kluskens for its Tense table: a super-slender solid wood table.

LS Bedding won the Most Green award for its Circulaire bed. This concept was devised on the basis of the cradle-tocradle philosophy, and is an example of far-reaching cooperation between firms.

At the end of its useful life each bed can be either composted – the bio range – or recycled (the techno range).

The Balthazar for the Most Innovative went to Mathy by Bols for Fusion designed by David Enthoven. The eco design for bedroom furniture in MDF and aluminium was also founded on a process of cradle-to-cradle thinking.

Natuzzi’s Re-Vive

LS Bedding’s Circulaire

The metal connecting parts are kept to a minimum, and the thin 4 mm aluminium extrusion was designed specially to provide sufficient stability and strength.

Natuzzi’s Re-Vive recliner range made its European debut at the show.

Designed and engineered in New Zealand by Formway Design Studio, the three models have no buttons or levers and use responsive reclining with a weight compensating mechanism to provide a natural reclining motion. It will be launched in March.

Next year’s event will run from 2-5 November.

Visit: www.furniturefairbrussels.be

Brussels Furniture Fair

Buying time

Kreamat’s Sparta

Kluskens’ Tense

Mathy by Bols’ Fusion

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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Greendale

REVIEW Adam Carpets unveiled two ranges: Revelation and La Dolce Vita.

Both ranges drew interest and are due to be launched shortly. It also highlighted its iconic Fine Worcester Twist range which has recently been coordinated with the Farrow & Ball paint colourbank.

Pictured is FW113 Mitton Mouse with 229 Elephants Breath paint.

Tel: 01562 822 247

‘The annual Greendale event is always something that we enjoy. We were further honoured by being awarded Supplier of the Year for the first time. We aim to not only live up to this, but to also ensure that we maintain and enhance service to our Independent retailers ongoing,’ says Phil Hartley, Edel Telenzo Carpets chief executive.

Tel: 01422 374 417

Westco used the show to demonstrate its wide range of laminate, cork flooring, vinyl, wood parquet and carpet tiles.

Tel: 029 2037 6700

Down the aisles Greendale’s suppliers attended the buying group’s annual show in Solihull

‘Many visitors commented that the new Sensation range was their top seller, which is a great achievement. I am sure that over the next 12 months the new extended Sensation family will continue to win the hearts and minds of Greendale retailers,’ says David Judge, Cormar md.

Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

Mr Tomkinson featured its new Gemstone Saxony display, which shows six North American Saxonies, in a variety of textures, weights and colours.

Visit: www.mrtomkinson.co.uk

Interfloor presented several of its flagship underlays such as Tredaire Colours Red and Sensation, and Duralay Timbermate Excel and Kensington Deluxe. Also featured were the unique Stikatak SpeedCatt creasing and tucking tool and a new knee kicker and tack hammer. The latest Stikatak metals boards were profiled, as was the latest Underlay Selection Guide.

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Greendale

REVIEW JHS’s new Manuscript, Commodore and Impressions are all produced on a scroll machine with a random format design. These 50cmx100cm tiles can be laid broadloom, herringbone, brick bond and in a number of other interesting ways. Installation of the larger tiles can take less time than traditional 50x50cms tiles.

Tel: 01827 831 400

Axminster’s stand featured its relaunched Axfelt premium underlay and the Devonia, Simply Natural and Moorland Heathers carpet ranges.

It also unveiled its updated Ready to Weave portfolio designed with hospitality businesses and boutique hotels in mind.

Tel: 01297 32244

Whitestone Weavers/Hugh Mackay spotlighted four new ranges at the show, with the wool loop ranges Valencia and Lumley Loop (pictured) joined by two additions to their growing Hasslefree Collection, Luxury and Luxury Heathers.

Tel: 01429 892 555

Carpet & Flooring has grown into one of the largest distributors of floorcovering products stocking and distributing products from Europe’s leading manufacturers, as well as its own domestic and contract floorcovering brands Vanguard Carpets and CFS Carpets.

Tel: 01527 511 860.

Anglo Recycling showed its range of flooring made from recycled fibres, including the RecoWool, FR Endurance, PolymerFelt and Felt-Rubber combination underlays. RecoWool uses carpet off-cuts that would otherwise have gone to landfil.

Tel: 01706 853 513

Ryalux showcased its Ultimate 18 velvet range. ‘Ultimate 18 is a true pinpoint velvet, and has an almost billiard table finish. Made from New Zealand wool, we can reproduce lighter, more delicate shades, which cannot be achieved with other wools,’ says Scott Lea, Ryalux North East sales representative.

Tel: 0161 762 3030

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Interiors Monthly December 2013

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