Interiors Monthly March 2015

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March 2015

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Andrew Kidd EDITOR

A new challenge Martin Harris’s return to flooring retailing and his desire to do what he couldn’t do at Carpetright will be fascinating to see Harris’s decision to open an as yet unnamed flooring chain in the summer (see page 6) is likely to need two opening days: one for consumers and one for the industry, because he has raised expectations of what we can expect.

Harris says he wants to excite shoppers and express himself in a way that he was unable to do in two decades at Carpetright.

This is to be applauded. If Harris can inspire consumers to think about what will be under their feet first, rather than as an afterthought to what goes with the sofa or curtains, he will have succeeded where many still fail.

By concentrating on the upmarket sector, he’ll avoid direct competition with the market leader, at least for a while, but it will

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

March 2015

Interiors

bring him into the territory currently occupied by the better independents and John Lewis.

Adam Carpets’ new marketing approach also deserves praise (see page 34), for tapping into consumers’ aspirations and love of branding.

Shortly DFS will follow in the footsteps of ScS and return to the stock market (see page 12). Although its valuation is significantly below what analysts were forecasting a few months ago, those buying the shares will hope that the price will follow that of ScS, which has leapt in recent weeks.

One of the great things about flotations is that companies usually have to reveal all sorts of information to would-be investors to make sure there is no comeback later if the share price dives. For ScS, one highlight was that carpet already makes up 12% of its sales and for DFS 36 months is the average credit term, with 15% of shoppers buying there because of the IFC offer.

The Oscars and Brits may have passed, but it’s time to vote in the Interiors Monthly 2015 Awards (see page 20). As ever the criteria on which you make your decision is entirely up to you: they are your awards.

Furniture advertising (South): Tim Boden T: 01732 441 130 E: tboden@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

first for flooring, furniture and accessories

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Carpet so soft you want to drag it into bed www.carpetyourlife.com

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

Carpet, flooring, lighting and accessories advertising: Joanne Paull T: 01732 441 130 E: jpaull@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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CONTENTS

INTERIORS MONTHLY MARCH 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS 6

Martin Harris to launch flooring chain

8

Dunelm targets furniture success

12

DFS poised for stock market return

FEATURES 20

Awards Time to vote for the Interiors Monthly Awards 2015

24

Service Delivering what matters

28

Best of British A round-up of the best the UK has to offer

39

Belgium

61

Beds and bedroom

News from the flooring kingdom

Latest developments in the sector

82

Flooring Mercado to host a trade day

84

Living and dining Porro celebrates 90 years

88

France A proud tradition

92

Review January Furniture Show, Heimtextil and Home

REGULARS 16

New products

NEXT ISSUE iSalone and Fuorisalone preview Royal Warrants BGNFS preview www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

5

NEWS

Forget bland, says Martin Harris: excite shoppers There is room in the UK for a second national flooring chain, and Martin Harris, former Carpetright group development director and son of the chain’s founder, says he will ‘express’ himself when he launches it in the summer.

Harris, who has yet to decide on the name of the chain, says he will target upmarket shoppers and wants the stores to be destinations and excite consumers on how flooring can transform a room.

Stores will range from 2,000sqft to 10,000sqft on out of town and high street locations, with up to 200 planned over five years.

He says there is room in the market for a second national flooring chain, targeting AB consumers. During his time at Carpetright he tried to widen the chain’s appeal, looking to attract middle-class shoppers such as the Margot Leadbetter character from TV series The Good Life.

‘I want people to get excited about the transformational

effect a new floor can have on their home. I want them to be inspired. Retail in flooring is a bit bland. I want the shopping experience to be a pleasure not a chore. I don’t think I got an opportunity to express what I wanted to do [at Carpetright]. Everything I’ve learned over 20 years I’ll be able to express,’ he told Retail Week.

Harris has recruited former Carpetright non-executive director Sir Harry Djanogly as chairman. Sir Harry was at Carpetright from 1993 to 2005, and has been chairman of Coats Viyella. His only listed directorship of a UK limited company is that of Wittington Investments, owner of Heal’s, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Primark.

Harris is listed as a director of CWH Projects, a company established on 3 October 2014, along with his brother Charles Harris, Paul Jacobs and Philip Saunders. All are also directors of Harris Ventures.

Harris says he has his father’s support in the venture.

Expansion for JFS and The Flooring Show Two of the UK’s interiors exhibitions are set to be bigger.

A fourth day will be added to next year’s January Furniture Show. The show’s organiser had planned to keep the three-day format, with the show running from 24-26 January as it moved to the traditional Sunday opening day.

But the extra day, Wednesday, has been added after demand from exhibitors, with more than 70% requesting a longer show.

‘While there was significant support for the three-day midweek slot, which proved to work well with a near 100% rebooking of stand space, a four-day show with Sunday opening will help support the carefully planned growth which will see the event take up Hall 4 and part of Hall 5 in 2016. The extra day will give buyers more choice and more time to get round the show,’ says Steve Richards, January Furniture Show director.

‘Many exhibitors were keen to return to a Sunday start as that was always a popular day for smaller independent businesses to visit the show. Extending it to four days also allows us, to some extent, to guard against the possible loss

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

The Flooring show’s Wools Trends Centre will be bigger in September

of a day of bad weather,’ he says.

September’s The Flooring Show is set to increase again with more floorspace, an expanded Wool Trends Centre and new exhibitors.

More space has been added to the show following demand from current and new exhibitors, with over 85% of the space already sold more than six months before the show starts.

After returning last year, Victoria Carpets is expanding its stand while Karndean will replace its two stands with one larger one.

New exhibitors include Asiatic, Gooch, Ryalux, MagiGlide and Malish & Steiner.

After the success of the Wool Trends

Centre, British Wool and Campaign for Wool will be staging it again in 2015, in an enlarged space. The manufacturers that featured in this area – Cavalier, Axminster, Brintons, Adams, Ulster, and Brockway – have all confirmed their 2015 participation, and will be joined by Westex.

The Manchester Furniture Show (19-21 July) has moved closer to filling its main hall with the signing of German bedroom manufacturer Nolte, and Serene Furnishings, which will exhibit its Serene Living recliner and dining brand for the first time.

The main hall at Manchester Central is now more than 90% booked.

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NEWS

Dunelm has high hopes for furniture Dunelm has targeted a major rise in its furniture sales as it looks to outperform the economy, boost like for like sales, and become more responsive.

For years the chain has thrown off cash, which it has banked, but with the return of Will Adderley as chief executive, the financial focus will be on returning that to shareholders. Dunelm will boost its next dividend by 10% to 5.5p and pay £141.7m in a special dividend this month, with the founding Adderley family receiving £77m.

After pre-tax profits rose by 10.7% to £68.2m in the six months to 27 December, with sales up 14% to £406m, Adderley wants sales to rise by half in the next five years, reaching £1.2bn.

‘We have a huge opportunity to drive growth for in-store sales. We need to focus on becoming an even better retailer. We can move our product ranges along more rapidly, taking a few more chances with new ranges and new designs. Furniture, because of its physical size, lends itself particularly to home delivery and we anticipate that furniture can be a significant contributor to our home delivery growth over the coming years,’ he says.

But David Stead, Dunelm finance director, warned that ‘whilst the opportunity to develop a meaningful revenue stream via furniture is potentially attractive, we are still learning about the dynamics of this market. At our current level of activity and with our current supply chain structure, this part of the business is only marginally profitable.

‘Given our investment in furniture inventories, there is a risk of gross margin dilution in the event that significant price action is required in the future to clear slow-moving lines,’ he adds.

John Lewis’ Fusion collection

Homewares boost John Lewis enjoyed a 7% increase in homeware sales in the second half of its financial year.

Home sales rose by 7% in the week to 31 January, helping to end the 27 week period up by the same amount.

‘Home rounded off its best year for many with a cracking week in furniture. Beds has

been the star turn all year – reward for a perfect assortment. Gifts and textiles also stood out,’ says Andy Street, John Lewis md.

‘Among the shops the At Homes once again led the way. Chester took up the baton [this] week (up 14.4%), but for the year Newbury, Chichester, Poole and Tamworth all cleared 10%.’

Hypnos sales increase Sales at bed maker Hypnos increased by almost a fifth last year.

Sales at Hypnos and Hypnos Contract Beds’ parent company Keen and Toms Holdings, rose by 19% to £36.7m in the 2014 financial year. Sales have risen by 57% in the past three years.

‘It has been a fantastic and successful 12 months for Hypnos.

We could not have wished for a stronger performance from the business which has seen international expansion, as well as growth in the UK, with our royal patronage, carbon neutral status and position as National Bed Federation Bed Manufacturer of the Year all helping to push the business forward,’ says James Keen, Hypnos director.

NBF code gets Trading Standards backing The National Bed Federation’s Code of Practice has been awarded the important Assured Advice status by Trading Standards.

This effectively gives NBF members following the code’s requirements reassurance that they are legally compliant when it comes to flammability regulations, cleanliness of fillings and trade descriptions.

For retailers the code takes the worry and work out of ensuring compliance

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

with legal requirements relating to the products they stock from NBF members.

Acceptance of the NBF’s code as Assured Advice comes on the back of setting up a coordinated Primary Authority Partnership with West Yorkshire Trading Standards.

‘We are thrilled to be able to offer NBF members a chance to join a coordinated Primary Authority Partnership,’ says NBF president Stuart Hibbert.

‘Members who join the scheme will

benefit from consistent and fair enforcement of regulations as well as access to robust and reliable regulatory advice which will apply to every NBF member in the scheme. Plus, having our Code of Practice adopted as Assured Advice means that regulatory authorities will accept our members are meeting their legal obligations in those areas it covers. If that doesn’t prove that our code has teeth, I don’t know what will,’ he adds.

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Share the success of softness We’ve certainly set the market standard in Super Soft Carpet since the launch of iSense last year and we are building on that success today with two new on-trend colours to complement the existing ranges – Serenity, Seduction and Splendour. Three new innovative ranges will be added to the iSense collection in the Spring this year. ‘Surprise’ will be a totally new idea where a lurex thread has been twisted into the soft polyamide iSense yarn to give it a glamorous sparkle effect. Surprise will be available in 10 colours 4m and 5m

widths incorporating our new Fusion Bac. Also to be launched will be ‘Satin’, a heavier version of our popular Seduction cloth available in 14 trend colours. To complete the set will be our new heavy weight ‘Hermes’ carpet – a soft chunky Saxony in 12 fashionable pastel shades. iSense has certainly hit the spot with the retail trade and now for 2015 we have introduced a 20 Year Wear Warranty to emphasis the that softness and durability can go together in one carpet.

Invictus: Soft Carpet – Invincible Performance

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Invictus is the latest revelation that will be launched by Associated Weavers in 2015. The collection comprises of four qualities offering unbeatable softness and performance. Invictus is manufactured using our new polypropylene yarn ‘iVinci’ and will incorporate our new fusion bac for further comfort and performance. ‘iVinci’ yarn gives the carpet super softness, lustre, high bulk and outstanding stain resistant performance. All Invictus products come with a 20 Year Stain Guarantee and 20 Year Wear Warranty.

Multi-Width Helping the consumer Save Money Associated Weavers have now introduced more Multi-Width ranges for 2015. 90% of all our ranges now include extra wide width 5 metres, giving more choice to the consumer and also helping to avoid those unsightly seams.

The Sensuality Collection

“

iSense will get even stronger with new product launches during 2015.

The ‘Surprise’ range is another leap ahead.

James Summerskill Marketing Manager Associated Weavers

”

NEWS

DFS value downgraded by £200m ahead of flotation DFS owner Advent International priced DFS at between £525m and £645m before its return to the stock market this month, up to £200m less than analysts had suggested just months ago as investor enthusiasm in flotations has eased ahead of the UK general election.

Advent hopes to raise £98m which will be used to reduce debts of about £200m when unconditional dealing begins on 11 March.

DFS, which also owns the Dwell and Sofa Workshop brands, had sales of £675m and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £85m in the year to November. In the 26 weeks to 15 January total sales rose by 9%.

‘Our vision is to take DFS from being a great British business to a world class business. This is an exciting time for us as we continue to drive growth initiatives that are already under way against a backdrop of an improving macroeconomic environment. We see significant opportunity to further increase the group’s penetration in the UK, strengthen our position as the market leader for online upholstered furniture sales, and we recently entered Continental Europe with the opening of our first store in the Netherlands,’ says Ian Filby, DFS ceo.

Meanwhile, ScS saw its share price climb from 175p to 214p in the weeks after its late-January flotation, valuing it at £85.6m The flotation raised about £35m for Sun European Partners, which bought ScS from administration in 2008.

Upholstery accounts for 88% of the chain’s £258.2m sales, and flooring 12%.

DFS has 105 stores

DFS in numbers 15% of DFS consumers buy from the chain because of its IFC offer and about two-thirds of sales by value are by IFC. 29% of sales by volume are produced by DFS and 88% of the remainder is manufactured by five suppliers.

60% of sales are from products manufactured in Asia and Continental Europe.

25.7% is DFS’s share of the £3bn upholstery market. £80m a year is spent on consumer advertising.

75% is spontaneous brand awareness.

18% in 2012 to 21% in 2014 is the market share growth in the £1.3bn ‘Quality Seeker’ sector, with Sofa Workshop providing another 1%.

20 further sites for 10,000sqft-15,000sqft stores have been identified.

The first of its smaller format 2,000sqft-5,000sqft stores will open at Westfield Stratford as it targets independent retailers in urban areas and market towns.

12% is the annual online sales rise between 2010 and 2014.

70% of online orders are from shoppers who have not visited a DFS store in the past three months.

36 months is shoppers average credit term.

MFI founder Noel Lister makes his final voyage Noel Lister, co-founder of MFI, philanthropist and sailor, died on 29 January, aged 87.

On leaving school he joined the army for six years, where his entrepreneurial spirit was already apparent: on a troop ship to Egypt towards the end of the Second World War he traded cigarettes and tea to other soldiers.

On returning home he got a job in a furniture store and met and married Sylvia in 1955: they had two children, Penny and Paul.

He built up his own furniture business,

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

popularising the concept of the dining room suite by selling tables with matching chairs, and introducing bunk beds to the home.

In 1964 he and Donald Searle launched MFI, focusing on flatpack furniture and out of town stores: two aspects he had seen Ikea successfully achieve.

MFI floated in 1971 and after rapid expansion merged with Asda in 1985, allowing Lister to sell his remaining 8% stake for £60m.

After selling MFI he then furthered his

passion for sailing, spending a decade double circumnavigating the world with Sylvia on their yacht Whirlwind XII. In 1987 he set up sailing charity the UKSA, the priority being to make an initial £4m charitable donation but then for it to run as a business.

During the late 1990s Noel and Sylvia settled in the Bahamas. He took on the leadership of rebuilding Treasure Bay when it was hit by a hurricane in 2001, but on the last day of rehabilitating Treasure Bay, he suffered a severe stroke and was in hospital for three months.

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1 Shaking aside the constraints of the 50 x 50cm carpet tile and reimagining a highly flexible 100 x 25cm dimension, Mix to the Max by Balta Broadloom is inspired by the format and patina of wood flooring, yet with the possibility for virtually limitless design and layout combinations.

Tel: 00 32 5662 2211 2 A unique addition to Polyflor’s Expona family, Expona Flow offers 50 heavy commercial sheet vinyl flooring designs in a 2m wide sheet format with a 2mm gauge and a 0.7mm wear layer. Designs include wood planks from a diverse range of tree species and wood treatments, with

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

2

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innovative abstract and fantastical materials, with vast colour and pattern combinations.

Tel: 0161 767 1111 3 Kährs’ Bloc Collection is an on-trend patterned wood floor created using individual oak staves in three different sizes and shades. Sections are easily joined using an oak tongue to create unlimited geometric designs – from traditional herringbone to modern brick – in single or multi-colours.

Tel: 023 9245 3045 4 Quick-Step master installer Mark Sands (right), along with his colleague Jack Slaughter, both of Kiley’s Carpets,

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Eastbourne, fitted more than 70sqm of Impressive laminate to House Beautiful’s Ideal Home Show Home for Life showcase in one day, testament to the speed of Quick-Step’s Uniclic profile and their skills as expert installers.

Visit: www.quick-step-academy.co.uk 5 Terrazzo decor has been added to the Tile Styles collection by Leoline. With a mineralised look, Terrazzo offers three colourways. From limestone through sand and into slate, it brings a new dimension to the collection of tile and stone looks.

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6 Luxury vinyl tiles from Polyflor’s high design and high performance Expona flooring range were used to create a statement floor design at the Harris + Hoole coffee shop in Slough recently. Expona Design PUR Light Elm 6182, Creme Matrix 8077 and Mocca Matrix 8076 tiles were installed for front of house and Expona Control PUR safety flooring for the back.

Visit: www.polyflor.com 7 Innermost has updated its bestselling Circus light with a shade of grey on the exterior and matt white interiors, rather than

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

its signature antique gold. It also has single and double Circus wall lights.

Visit: www.innermost.net 8 Woodnotes has introduced a version of its K swivel chair with arms. Suitable for both residential and contract use, it has a coordinating footstool.

Visit: www.woodnotes.fi 9 Exclusively available in rolls only and delivered from UK stock in just five days, Crown Floors has introduced Burton in a 100% bleach-cleanable polypropylene yarn

and Texflor backing. It is available in five colours and a 4m width with a 39oz weight.

It has seven-year wear and 10-year stain warranties.

Tel: 0800 077 3301 10 Balta Broadloom’s Royal Oxford brings a contemporary take on saxony. Super plush and with the benefits of Balta’s high performance X-Tron fibre, this is a carpet that brings lavish looks, softness and comfort to the home. There is a choice of a dozen colours and 4m and 5m widths.

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AWARDS

Pick your favourite The most coveted awards in the UK interiors industry will again be decided by you in the Interiors Monthly Awards 2015.

We want you to tell us who you think are the best suppliers, retailers and events in the 49 categories that you decide.

As ever, the judging criteria is entirely up to you,

be it quality of product, commercial success, customer service, design, or anything else – it’s your choice to reward the best in the business.

Just complete the entry form and fax it to 01732 362 919 – a copy will also be available to download online at www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk – or email: akidd@interiorsmonthly.co.uk.

2014 winners

Westbridge and Karndean were among the 2014 winners

Best Furniture Retailer (1-2 stores): Ponsford Best Flooring Retailer (1-2 stores): Milners Best Furniture Retailer (3 plus stores): Glasswells Best Flooring Retailer (3 plus stores): Martin Phillips Best Online Retailer: Loaf Best UK Furniture Manufacturer: Westbridge Furniture Best UK Flooring Manufacturer: Furlong Flooring Best Overseas Furniture Manufacturer: Wiemann Best Overseas Flooring Manufacturer: Balta Broadloom Best Customer Service (Furniture): TCS Best Customer Service (Flooring): Ulster Carpets Best Carpet Manufacturer: Cormar Carpets Best Leather Upholstery Manufacturer: Natuzzi Best Laminate Manufacturer: Quick-Step Best Fabric Upholstery Manufacturer: Ashley Manor Best Rug Supplier: Think Rugs Best Recliner Manufacturer: Stressless

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Best Underlay Manufacturer: Ball & Young Best Bed Manufacturer: Sealy UK Best Solid/Engineered Wood Manufacturer: Kährs (UK) Best Luxury Vinyl Supplier: Karndean International Best Children’s Furniture: Gautier UK Best Vinyl Manufacturer: IVC Best Accessory Supplier: Gallery Direct Best Accessory Supplier (Flooring): Interfloor Best Fabric/Soft Furnishings Manufacturer: Prestigious Textiles Best Bedroom Manufacturer: Rauch Best Home Entertainment: Jual Furnishings Best Living Room Manufacturer: G Plan Cabinets Best Dining Room Manufacturer: Willis & Gambier Best Furniture Buying Group: AIS Best Flooring Buying Group: SMG Best Furniture Wholesaler: Julian Bowen Best Flooring Wholesaler: Floorwise Group Best Marketing Support (Furniture): Silentnight Best Marketing Support (Flooring): Wools of New Zealand (UK)

Best Furniture Exhibition: IMM Cologne Best Flooring Exhibition: The Flooring Show Best Furniture Website: Silentnight Best Flooring Website: Balterio Best Software Supplier: RetailSystem.com Best Finance Provider: Creation Best Supply Chain/Logistics Company: Ceva Logistics Best Business Support (Furniture): Vale-Bridgecraft Best Business Support (Flooring): Flooring One Best New Supplier: Arkana Innovation of the Year: Wool Owners Warranty EDITOR’S CHOICE Innovation In Furniture: Re-Vive Recliner, Natuzzi Innovation In Flooring: iSense, Associated Weavers Flooring Brand 2014: Brintons Furniture Brand 2014: Ercol Furniture Sustainability (Flooring): Moduleo Sustainability (Furniture): Hypnos Outstanding Performance: Adam Carpets Best Furniture Export Support: Polish Foreign Trade

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Best of all, the exceptionally hardwearing top layer means that you can enjoy the stunning good looks of Moduleo® Transform for years to come.

www.moduleo.co.uk

AWARDS

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Best Vinyl Manufacturer

Best Customer Service (Furniture)

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Best Luxury Vinyl Supplier

Best UK Furniture Manufacturer

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Best Overseas Furniture Manufacturer

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Best Flooring Website

Best Furniture Buying Group

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Best Flooring Wholesaler

Best Accessory Supplier

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Best Bed Manufacturer

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Best Bedroom Manufacturer

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Best Dining Room Manufacturer

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Best Business Support (Flooring)

Best Living Room Manufacturer

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Best Business Support (Furniture)

Best Children’s Furniture Manufacturer

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Best Marketing Support

Best Fabric Upholstery Manufacturer

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Best New Exhibition

Best Leather Upholstery Manufacturer

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Innovation of the Year

Best Furniture Wholesaler

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Best Mattress Manufacturer

Best Fabric/Soft Furnishings Manufacturer

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Product of the Year

Best UK Flooring Manufacturer

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SUPPLIERS TO COMPLETE ONLY

Best Overseas Flooring Manufacturer

Best Flooring Retailer (1-2 stores)

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Best Flooring Buying Group

Best Flooring Retailer (3+ stores)

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Best Rug Supplier

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Best Laminate Manufacturer

Best Online Retailer

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Best Solid/Engineered Wood Manufacturer

Please fax your completed form to 01732 362 919

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or email your nominations to: akidd@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Best Underlay Manufacturer

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Why so many retailers ask a 101-year-old to help them retire.

At the Lynch Sales Company, we’re proud to have helped so many retailers retire. We’ve done so in a way that maximizes the value of their businesses while allowing for a smooth transition to the next generation of ownership.

Our copyrighted retirement sales plan can generate 50% or more of your store’s annual sales volume in 30 to 60 days. This provides the funds necessary for you to leave your business with peace of mind while you pursue your next “career.”

To learn more, call the Lynch Sales Company today for a complete outline, including a copy of our easy-to-understand, one-page contract, or visit www.LynchSales.co.uk

OVER 100 YEARS OF INTEGRITY AND RESULTS Serving the U.S., Canada and the U.K. *VU[HJ[ .HYL[O 7YPJL ࠮ ;el: +44 (0) 1243 37836 ࠮ www.LynchSales.co.uk Copyright 2015 Lynch Brothers Licensing Corporation

Introducing 12 NEW colours to our Simply Natural range.

Simply Natural Stunning textured carpets produced using our unique cabled yarn to produce hard wearing carpets that retain all the luxury of pure new wool.

NEW COLOURS available now

Simply Natural Ribgrass Stipple Breccia/Eggshell - 45113

made in GREAT BRITAIN

To see the full range or request a free sample please visit: www.axminster-carpets.co.uk or call us: 01297 33533 / 32244

www.axminster-carpets.co.uk

SERVICE

Focus on what matters Service is one of Julian Bowen’s core strengths and 2015 sales have leapt Julian Bowen has had an exceptional start to 2015 following the launch of its collections at the January Furniture Show. It has continued to focus on introducing new products and this has resulted in double-digit increases in the order intake over last year, with invoiced sales for the first seven weeks 18.5% higher than 2014.

These impressive figures are a clear indication that the company is growing its market share in 2015.

‘We clearly recognise the importance of customer service offering a complete package to meet customers’ needs. We are set up to deliver to the customer on direct container and multi-drops which are delivered on our commercial fleet

with no minimum order. We also have a growing demand for overnight collections with all orders received on the same day up until 2pm picked, labelled and loaded by a dedicated team on to the designated carrier for delivery to the consumer the following day,’ says founder Julian Bowen.

The company is experiencing significant increases in demand from new and existing customers for its direct home delivery and assembly service, which has seen the fleet double in recent months to keep up with demand.

‘A fully responsible door to door, room of choice, two-man service, offers the retailer and consumer a trouble free experience. We pride ourselves on having

There are always 95% of ranges in stock

24

Interiors Monthly March 2015

skilled staff, and a highly efficient IT infrastructure that enables customers to receive overnight/hourly stock information to ensure they have full transparency of the product stock position,’ he explains.

To ensure it can maintain service levels Julian Bowen has 95% of ranges in stock: worth £5m at trade prices.

‘Product innovation and quality are key to the Julian Bowen success story and we have produced many innovative and competitively priced products which continue to be market leaders. We have a clear focus on launching new collections every six months. There are overseas quality control teams based in all the countries where our products are manufactured and every element of the product is scrutinised from the packaging right down to the last screw and bolt.

‘We recognise the ever demanding needs of our customers and we are constantly looking at ways we can improve our service to meet their requirements,’ Bowen adds.

Visit: www.julian-bowen.co.uk

Julian Bowen Limited Unparalleled Service from the Leaders • No Minimum Order • Direct Containers • Full Truck Loads • Multidrop Deliveries • Direct Home Delivery with Liveried Trucks & Drivers • Same Day Dispatch For Next Day Delivery • Overnight Stock Reports as Required • Assembly Service • Courteous Skilled Staff • £5M Furniture in Stock • 95% “in Stock” Position Maintained • Innovative Commercial Designs • New Product Collections Every 6 Months • Competitive Pricing • Full Time at Source Quality Inspection Teams • Full Order/Invoice EDI Capabilities • Fit For Purpose Packaging Triple Award Winner Voted UK’s

Voted UK’s

Voted UK’s

Number 1

Number 1

Number 1

Furniture

Furniture

Furniture

Wholesaler

Wholesaler

Wholesaler

2012

2013

2014

Bentinck House, Park Lane, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts NG17 9LE

Tel: (01623) 727374

Fax: (01623) 754555 e-mail: sales@julian-bowen.co.uk www.julian-bowen.co.uk All Products are available for Direct Home Delivery

SERVICE

Delivering milestones Service and innovation is at the heart of Andrew Porter’s logistics business Furniture logistics specialist Andrew Porter is celebrating 20 years in the industry.

Based in Chorley, Lancashire, it launched its furniture division in 1995 and has since formed solid partnerships with some of the UK’s leading retailers, manufacturers and importers.

Andrew Porter began its furniture logistics provision with a small amount of deliveries for Cavendish Upholstery, which, at the time, was based at the same converted mill in Chorley.

Cavendish soon asked Andrew Porter to take on all of its retail deliveries – which the firm still does to this day.

White glove home delivery services began a year later, after a request from retailer Witham Furniture in Grantham.

In 1999 it relocated to a purpose built head office and storage warehouse – one of the largest in the north of England. It now has more than 80,000sqft of warehouse space, 7,500 pallet bays and an in-house training centre.

‘We are very excited to be celebrating the milestone of our 20th year in furniture logistics and would like to thank our loyal customers for their ongoing support,’ says Tim Aspey, Andrew Porter md.

‘Over the years our focuses have been, and continue to be, on customer service

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Andrew Porter has twice won the Interiors Monthly Best Supply Chain/Logistics Company award

and innovation. We have invested significantly in specialist handling equipment, stock management systems, vehicles and bespoke routeing and planning software in order to provide our customers with the smoothest and most professional of services.’

Employing 100 people, the company has 30 articulated vehicles for furniture retail delivery and 20 home delivery vehicles. It carries out 3,500 home and retail deliveries a week.

‘We continue to improve our customer offering, with a recent warehouse expansion and rolling refurbishment of all our retail delivery wagons and home delivery vehicles to ensure a consistently smart appearance,’ says Aspey.

The company has a full-package furniture logistics offering which is proving popular with customers, including Perfect Home, HSL and La-ZBoy UK. This includes warehousing and storage, pick and pack, home and retail

SERVICE

Timeline 1973 The company is launched as a home removals and storage firm.

1995 Furniture logistics arm launched, starting with a small number of deliveries for Cavendish Furniture which soon asks the firm to provide all of its retail deliveries.

1996 After being approached

by Witham Furniture in Grantham it begins providing home delivery services.

1999 Opening of Porter House, a purpose built head office and storage warehouse in Adlington, Chorley.

2001 A mezzanine floor is built at its furniture warehouse, taking total space to 80,000sqft and 7,500 pallet bays.

2004 Tim Aspey appointed md.

2004 Begins to develop a specialist turnkey furniture logistics package, offering warehousing, deliveries, planning and additional services.

The service is expanded and refined over the years and is now used by a wide range of clients including Perfect Home, HSL and La-Z-Boy UK. 2012 The company invests in a bespoke vehicle routeing and tracking system to minimise fuel wastage and encourage safer driving techniques.

2013 Refurbishes warehouse.

2014 Wins Growing Business of the Year at the Red Rose Awards.

La-Z-Boy is among its customers

‘We have invested significantly… to provide our customers with the smoothest and most professional of services’

The company has 30 articulated vehicles for furniture retail delivery

delivery, and handling of returned goods.

Specialist additional services such as coating or painting of furniture or preassembly prior to delivery are also available.

Last year it won the Growing Business of the Year 2014 accolade in the Red Rose Awards, which celebrates firms headquartered in Lancashire.

New business in the furniture sector came from clients including Costco, Dormeo Octaspring, Lebus Upholstery

and Chelsom Furniture, while existing customers increased their deliveries.

It has also secured a contract to deliver comprehensive logistics provision to dining and occasional furniture company Chelsom Furniture, based in Blackpool, including warehousing, route planning and retail deliveries.

Andrew Porter carries out about 250 deliveries to independent and multiple retailers throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland each week for Chelsom.

‘We had several meetings with the team and visited Andrew Porter’s headquarters to view the warehousing facilities first hand,’ says Mike Ledger, Chelsom director of furniture.

‘The company’s industry knowledge, forward thinking attitude and the high standard of facilities impressed us a great deal. It is also very useful from our point of view to be able to have “pay as you use” warehousing and logistics terms.’

Visit: www.andrewporterltd.co.uk

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

27

BEST OF BRITISH

Look into the future The Design Council has highlighted the next generation of designers who are likely to represent British design in the coming years The Design Council’s Ones to Watch 70 project, part of its 70th anniversary celebrations, spotlights the most exciting up and coming designers in the UK who together represent the future of British design.

‘We are proud to be marking 70 years of the Design Council in 2015 with the exemplary Ones to Watch line up of new

designers. Ones to Watch offers an exciting vision of our future, with fresh ideas from emerging designers that address important contemporary living challenges from sustainability to health, education to city living, and simple but effective ways to improve everyday life,’ says John Mathers, Design Council chief executive.

‘The variety of the designs illustrates the diverse nature of ideas coming out of the UK, and we hope to see these designers producing more exciting work over the coming years.’

Here are the interiors products from the two relevant categories selected among the 70.

Visit: www.designcouncil.org.uk

Material world As part of an ongoing conversation with material science young designers are setting new boundaries, unlocking the potential of advances in one field and cross-pollinating from another. Designers are getting excited about the possibilities of materials and processes, using them to break new ground. Here we see designers exploring relationships with nature, thinking differently about waste, and discovering materials at an atomic level.

Plag by Waël Seaiby Plag is a unique upcycling process in which plastic bags are used to create attractive art pieces reminiscent of ceramics and glass crafts. Plastic bags are considered to be some of the most wasteful products of modern society.

Seaiby melts down and moulds the plastic of valueless bags before powdering and reforming them. The resulting beautiful hand-worked vessels, evocative of the crinkly plastic bags they came from, make a clever eco statement.

From Insects by Marlene Huissoud The designer uses the common honeybee and the Indian silkworm as co-partners in the design process, crafting an extraordinary series of vessels and furniture from their byproducts. The bee produces propolis, a natural bio-degradable resin, which Huissoud finds has similar properties to glass.

The Indian silkworm discards its hard silk cocoon when it reaches maturity and from this she has developed ‘wooden leather’. As more people consider whether insects will become our future food source, From Insects goes that one step further.

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

The Sequence of Making by Rebecca Skelton Design does not necessarily have to be planned, argues Rebecca Skelton with her furniture kit design, The Sequence of Making. The work explores the human instinct for making, and gives users the freedom to react to texture, shape and colour in the process. A series of wooden and fabric components are provided that can be slotted and woven together in multiple ways, according to the preferences of the individual.

Our British furniture manufacturers are committed to providing the highest levels of comfort, safety and quality to their customers - just three of the traits that make Great British furniture ‘great’.

IT IS furniture for any age, style, budget or taste. IT IS for the traditional, contemporary, classical or modern home and office and contract markets. IT IS desired and admired the world over.

ASK if IT IS British or look out for the label

BEST OF BRITISH

Everyday living Design for everyday living is about simple and functional, yet often beautiful, design that offers solutions to the daily challenges that arise from fastpaced lifestyles. These smart and resourceful designs meet today’s routine needs.

Monochromatic Modifications by Hannah Lois Sangwin Shapes and patterns from everyday life inspire Hannah Lois Sangwin’s bold and brave printed textiles. The simplicity of shape intertwined with the intricacy of pattern make for a playful design. The monochromatic element of her hand-drawn designs leaves the viewer entranced.

Current Table by Marjan van Aubel The glass top of Current Table incorporates a dye sensitised solar cell. Unlike classic solar cells, these coloured cells do not require direct sunlight to work and can function under diffused light. Current Table effectively uses the process of photosynthesis to gather and harvest energy from daylight. This power is then applied directly to the domestic environment, where it can be used to charge up household appliances.

Freeform by Dan Hoolahan Freeform is a playful and multifunctional furniture range. These pieces, designed in ash timber, can take on varying roles, including seating, tables and shelving. Screw threads cut into the wood allow for quick and easy construction that is intuitive, tactile and doesn’t require tools to assemble.

Freeform has a limited impact on the environment and can be easily moved from home to home, taking on different forms or functions to fit the requirements of each living space.

Finn by Oliver Hrubiak With the Finn chair, Oliver Hrubiak challenges contemporary ‘disposable’ furniture. He was inspired by the enduring aesthetic appeal of mid-century Scandinavian design. Incorporating top quality British steel, the chair is compact and elegant as well as being supportive, warm and tactile. Crucially, Finn is designed to rise above fashion trends. Central to its appeal is its good proportions, simple shapes, soft lines and natural finishes.

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Store and Pour by Rebecca Price Store and Pour storage jars are designed to fit neatly into small kitchen spaces and make it easy to measure out correct portions of rice. The pour jar is designed to pour into the lid, which holds one portion of uncooked rice.

The storage jar shape is mirrored in the lid and therefore is easy to pick up and pour into the cooking pan. The jars are not just useful and compact, but also help to promote a culture of healthy eating.

Comfort

Style

Sophistication

Lebus Upholstery Ltd, Queensway Ind Est, Dunlop Way, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, DN16 3RN, United Kingdom

For more information contact:

t. 01724 407 751

e. sales@lebus.co.uk

BEST OF BRITISH

Seaton three-seater in Wickham Old Gold, chairs in Wickham Plaid Old Gold and Wickham Houndstooth Old Gold

Classic glamour Parker Knoll’s latest collections cover tradition and luxury Parker Knoll is a thoroughly British manufacturing company, with an enviable heritage and reputation covering 145 years.

The collection has always been of the highest quality with style and great design remaining at the heart of the brand in the 21st century, as it looks to lead the market in design, technology and innovation.

Above: Newark in Harris Stripe, Check Caramel and York chairs in Harris Stripe Caramel Right: Newark Grand pillow back and chair in Peru Ruby, two-seater in Peru Stripe Ruby and Sinatra in Dallas Tan

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

At the January Furniture Show, Parker Knoll launched two additions to the Classic collection, alongside a glamorous range of classic fabrics to accent the collection.

Seaton, with its casual inspired tailoring and contemporary pea arm cushion pushes the boundaries for Parker Knoll as a softer approach to glamorous seating. Classic and generously

proportioned, the Newark provides the ultimate seating experience with the help of large scroll arms and encore seat interiors for added comfort.

In addition, the contemporary LifeStyle collection was showcased, together with the mid-century inspired Montana, launched last autumn.

The show proved to be a great success for Parker Knoll: new models and fabrics were greatly welcomed and existing models were praised for their fresh new looks in luxurious new fabric collections.

Parker Knoll was positioned at the front of Hall 1, with a show-stopping Burlington Sofa from the Classic Collection taking centre stage. These models are set to arrive on retailers’ showrooms throughout the spring.

Visit: www.parkerknoll.co.uk

New Tomkinson Berber More weight, more colours

BEST OF BRITISH

I am Hugo I am Ella Consumer aspiration takes centre stage for Adam Carpets’ flagship range You probably haven’t met Hugo and Ella yet, but they are the centrepiece of Adam Carpets’ expansion of its Fine Worcester Twist as it looks to meet consumer aspirations rather than simply sell more carpet.

At The Flooring Show the company announced it would add colours to Fine Worcester Twist, known for its exceptional finish and array of colours.

Ten colours will be launched this month.

‘These colours have been designed with a totally new approach. We wanted 10 colours that reflected new trends: cool and urban and warm and chic. By

introducing the characters of Hugo and Ella, we want the customer to identify with their traits and what they aspire to be. Fine Worcester should be about luxury and quality. We think that we are all a bit of Hugo or a bit of Ella. They aren’t two people: they are all of us,’ says Eamonn Prescott, Adam Carpets sales and marketing director.

The launch of the colours will be combined with a presentation pack for its sales team. Each will have a mood board with which to talk retailers through the trends, ideas and fashions that inspired the new colours.

‘This will be combined with specially designed handouts for the retailer, who will be able to show their customers the thoughts and inspirations behind this stunning new collection.

‘Both Hugo and Ella will feature on the handouts and the forthcoming PR campaign. By introducing these names and people to the carpet we are making it more human. Yes, people choose carpet on colour, but we believe that customers also choose on lifestyle. That is what we want to achieve with Hugo and Ella,’ adds Prescott.

Visit: www.adamcarpets.com

Hugo and Ella form the centrepiece of the new colours

Consumers and retailers will be given information on the inspirations behind the new colours

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

BEST OF BRITISH

Sound sleep Sweet Dreams incorporates technology in its latest beds Sweet Dreams is catering for consumers who look for something more out of their British-made bed. Two surroundsound bedframes – Ambience and Verve – tap into the zeitgeist for lifestyle beds with technology forming an integral yet subtle part.

Each bed features two USB ports, one on either side rail; a Bluetooth port in the headboard; and speakers set in the footend offering high sound quality.

Comfort levels are also high – the beds can be selected with either a sprungslatted or an adjustable base, perfect for leisure lounging.

For those who prefer TV to surroundsound, Sweet Dreams manufactures five fabric-upholstered TV beds. Three styles of Vision bed – Classic, Chic and Sparkle – have proved popular for ottoman or drawer storage styles, while Ella and Griffin, like the surround-sound beds, have an adjustable base as an option to sprung-slatted.

And for those who want neither sound nor pictures but simply a good night’s sleep in a good-looking, British-made bed, Sweet Dreams launched two fabric

36

Interiors Monthly March 2015

Top: Ambience surround-sound bed Above: Vision Sparkle TV bed, shown as ottoman Right: Gloria upholstered frame

upholstered frames in January. For an opulent, boudoir look there’s Gloria, with button tufting, while Suranne’s clean lines murmur understated flair. All beds

are available from the Lancashire manufacturer for store or home delivery within 10 working days.

Visit: www.sweetdreamsuk.com

BEST OF BRITISH

Today and tomorrow Ulster Carpets is investing in the present and the future

Ulster Carpets boasts more than 75 years of carpet manufacturing experience and while the traditions of superior product quality, UK manufacturing and excellent customer service continue, the company is focused on the future.

Its commitment is confirmed with the recent announcement of a £30m investment into infrastructure at its Northern Ireland headquarters. This will include a new energy centre and dyehouse, which will not only enhance product quality, but also reduce its carbon footprint, in line with its environmental ethos.

Depth and quality of design is also key to Ulster Carpets’ plans for the future. It has recently launched a number of ranges including additions to the Open Spaces Collection and the Boho Collection, while just in time for spring it has added six colours to the York Wilton range. These muted neutral tones make this range of plains even more extensive, taking the number of colourways to 44.

Designers keep their fingers on the pulse for interior trends, as shown with the launch of the Braeburn plaid range.

The timeless pattern has been combined with on-trend greys, heathery purples, petrol blues and mossy greens which come together to create a contemporary 80/20 axminster that combines the warmth and luxury of wool with the hardwearing properties of nylon, to create a floorcovering that can withstand extra heavy domestic wear.

As with all Ulster products, Braeburn is

Above: Artist’s impression of the new dyehouse Right: Braeburn Petrel Below: York Wilton Squirrel

available to order in colour matching multi-widths.

Ulster Carpets is the only company in the UK and Republic of Ireland to offer multi-widths on all woven axminster and wilton stock ranges, with benefits including reduced wastage and lower costs for the consumer. All Ulster axminster ranges are offered in five

colour matching widths: 4.57m, 3.66m, 2.74m, 1.83m and 0.91m, while all wilton ranges come in 5m, 4m, 3m, 2m and 1m multi-widths.

The company has also recently revamped its website and blog, keeping consumers up to date with all the latest arrivals and interior trends.

Visit: www.ulstercarpets.com

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

37

BEST OF BRITISH

Timorous Beasties’ Platinum Grain Du Bois

Bell Twist Chalk

Catwalk trends hit the floor Brintons’ designs remain at the forefront of fashion This year’s interiors styles are inspired by trends coming straight from the catwalks and Brintons has long been at the forefront of the British design industry, developing all of its iconic residential carpets from its Kidderminster factory.

‘Renowned for creating the 80% wool/20% nylon blend, which became industry standard, the tactile texture of this, coupled with one of the season’s key trends, will make even the most faithful fan of hard flooring want to sink their toes into their very own Brintons carpet,’ says Natalie Littlehales, Brintons consumer marketing manager.

Bell Twist, now celebrating its 50th year, has been constantly updated by Brintons since its conception in 1965, with colours added and removed to reflect changing trends. This means if someone wants to create, for example, a monochrome scheme as seen at the Balmain and Givenchy Spring-Summer 2015 shows, or a denim influenced design as seen at Stella McCartney, Gucci and Burberry, they can.

Brintons has always worked closely with the fashion world. In 1993 it teamed up with Vivienne Westwood to create a dress made from the Finepoint and Bell Twist carpet ranges. In 2003, the ‘Most luxurious carpets in the world’ campaign featuring Bell Twist was launched, working with shoe designer Manolo Blahnik.

‘Further collaborations with iconic design brands such as Laura Ashley and Timorous Beasties have resulted in collections with timeless elegance and outstanding beauty, all exclusive to Brintons,’ she says.

‘Design is at the heart of everything Brintons produces. It is the key ingredient to our continued success within the carpet industry, and 2015 will be no different, with launches expected this spring,’ adds Littlehales.

Visit: www.brintons.co.uk

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Padstow Surf Spot

Belgium

Impressive: water-resistant laminate from Quick-Step

BELGIUM

Next generation To ensure consistent high quality Quick-Step is producing its latest LVT in Belgium and has raised the bar for making laminate suitable for all rooms

Livyn Cottage Oak Naturel

Livyn Canyon Oak Warm Grey

40

Interiors Monthly March 2015

Quick-Step parent Unilin has invested €45m in the group’s new LVT plant in Wielsbeke, Belgium, with a capacity to produce 6million sqm a year. Production includes hourly laboratory tests and keeping the PVC horizontal during the process to reduce stress and ensure stable LVT. The company wants to ensure its LVT range upholds its reputation in terms of product quality, and the new plant means it can control all aspects of production, rather then rely on imports from the Far East.

‘LVT is a product that is rapidly gaining popularity. This is an important growth market to Unilin. However, we can’t leave half of the job to someone else. We want full control over the entire production process, from raw materials to finished and packaged planks. This is the only way we can achieve the results we want,’ says Pieter Buyck, Unilin LVT general manager.

Planks can contain up to 60% of recycled materials and only bio-based and phthalate-free plasticisers are used.

Produced at the plant is Quick-Step’s second generation LVT, which will retail at a lower cost than the initial Livyn range. This uses the new Uniclic Multifit system to reduce fitting time by about 30%. The drop-down technology provides extra strength thanks to the vertical and horizontal click locking and it can be locked into place with a push of the thumb. Profiles are not needed when going from room to room. It has a Scratch Guard protective top layer – even marker pen can be removed if acted on quickly.

The new Livyn is available with an extra matt finish in 24 new decors. Balance Click and Balance Click+ (the contract specification) have 125.1cm x 18.7cm planks and Ambient Click and Ambient Click+ has 32cm x 65cm tiles. Accessories including underlay, skirting boards and tools are also available.

Livyn Vintage Chestnut Light

BELGIUM Alongside the updated LVT, the Impressive and Impressive Ultra (the contract specification) water-resistant laminate collections were debuted at Domotex with 16 decors, including the Scandinavian-inspired Natural Pine (1860), Concrete (1861) and Burned Planks (1862).

Inspiration for Burned Planks was the Japanese practise of hanging burnt pine outside homes to repel insects. Quick-Step’s design team was able to treat the surface of the wood with a burner and apply varnish but couldn’t scan it as the wood broke. But the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has developed a scanning technique called reliefography to scan paintings, and Quick-Step used a similar technique to scan the structure and gain a black floor with a unique and unprecedented structure of burnt wood.

Working alongside the Quick-Step design team, the research and development team was determined to create laminate suitable for use in all rooms, including bathrooms and kitchens.

‘We wanted our new laminate floors to be fully resistant to exposure to water and other liquids,’ says Laurent Meersseman, Quick-Step research and development director.

‘So we developed a technology that presses the floor’s joints into the surface layer during production. And on top of that, the HydroSeal finish keeps out the tiniest drop.’

Using the same material for both surface and bevel also makes the floors anti-static and fully chemical-resistant. Dirt and dust don’t cling to the surface, making the floor easier to clean and maintain and suitable for high traffic areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens and entrance halls.

‘The floors don’t just keep water out, they also offer a unique, authentic look,’ he says.

Edges are no longer a single shade that closely resembles the floor’s dominant colour. Its bevel technology ensures the wood grain, colour and structure of the planks blend seamlessly along all sides.

‘The result is so authentic and true to nature. Each plank comes with a different bevel, subtly adapted to the look and feel of its wood grain. Thanks to this genuine, modified shape of the bevel, the designs of the Impressive and Impressive Ultra floors are unique in every way,’ adds Meersseman.

Visit: www.quick-step.co.uk

Impressive Burned Planks

Impressive Ultra Oak Grey with saw cuts

Impressive Ultra Scraped Oak Grey Brown

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

41

BELGIUM

Time to have some fun This year’s launches put the playfulness back into vinyl Ranges based on the theme of play form a major part of Avenue and Leoline’s 2015 introductions.

‘Home interiors can be more cheerful again, so we have researched a lot with colours and patterns. The Avenue Bubblegum and Liquorice collection focuses on playful design ideal for kids and teenagers including letters, street maps, jigsaw pieces and paint splashes,’ says Victoria Hemelaer, Leoline and Avenue Floors product manager.

Alphabet comes in one colour and monochrome; York is a large diamond in monochrome or red and white; Cortile has a new gloss finish; City has an abstract street map look; Pieces has jigsaw shapes and Sagres is a geometric design in monochrome and grey and white.

The Ultimate Minerals collection was succeeded by Ultimate Elements, including three new colours for French Limestone, two for Rapallo Marble and five for Galerie including grey.

Leoline also updated Tile Styles with new colours including a grey/blue/green

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

mix for Isis and a light black for Alhambra. Woodmark saw the introduction of the Toulouse herringbone design in three colours; Azur, an aged painted pine look and Cardassian, a Scandinavian pine design.

In other launches, Alice is a new collection of five infinite decors ranging from marble to wool and wood.

‘This romantic, dreamy collection is based on the fantasy world of Alice in Wonderland with nothing but the skyline as a joint. In contrast, the more rugged, concrete look of Concreto offers a beautiful colour palette,’ she adds.

The new Scripto design in this

Right: Leoline’s Spotted Gum from Changing Roomz Below: Avenue’s Sagres from Bubblegum & Liquorice Below right: Avenue’s Sand from Ultimate Elements

collection caters to the emerging trend of using letters and text in interiors.

‘The continuing retro revival in the tile industry is the subject of the new Cube-It collection, which aims to strike a balance between form, structure and colour. If you are crazy about bright colours, you will love the Blush collection in white, black or grey but also colours like lush lime, pretty pink and posh purple. With its protective PU coating, the Blush collection is suitable for residential customers as well as stand builders or event agencies,’ Hemelaer explains.

Visit: www.leoline.co.uk www.avenuefloors.co.uk

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BELGIUM

Transform Latin Pine 24142

Transform Steel Rock 46940

Transformers Moduleo’s LVT offer is taking a more artistic route Moduleo is extending its Transform collection, in line with its next generation of products, this spring. It has headed in a more artistic direction with these products to provide more abstract and left-field options.

The collection is a development of the existing Transform range and will feature eight new designs in 42 colour options.

‘We have created the products as a reaction to where we believe the market is heading and to delve further into the commercial sector. We have further reinforced our “close to nature” ethos with some of the products, while also offering a number of much softer, warmer and urban/contemporary colours,’ says David Bigland, Moduleo UK and Eire md.

All Moduleo products contain up to 55% recyclable material of verified origin and are themselves recyclable and produced at its plant in Avelgem, Belgium.

‘We’re extremely confident the new

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

range and products will be a real success – and cannot wait to showcase them to our customers this month and we’re anticipating them to go down extremely well – particularly with those looking to make a statement with their flooring,’ he says.

Bigland says the company is overwhelmed by the success of its Impress range, highlighting the demand for more natural looking products. It comprises five designs in 22 colour options.

‘Each of the designs in the range are truly authentic and provide an uncanny resemblance to real wood but with a number of added benefits including increased durability and excellent heat insulation. We are proud to be flying the flag for eco-friendly flooring, not only with our manufacturing processes but by offering consumers realistic designs without placing a burden on natural wood stocks,’ adds Bigland.

Visit: www.moduleo.co.uk

Transform Fazino Maple 28950

BELGIUM

Design Function Ecology IVC’s future-proof investment does not forget the group’s main focus IVC Group, owner of the Moduleo, Leoline, Avenue, Balterio and ITEC brands, continues to invest in its facilities and environmental credentials.

It has constructed a fully-automated warehouse close to the Moduleo plant in Avelgem, Belgium, that has space for 10,500 pallets of LVT planks or tiles. A conveyor bridge transports the LVT from the plant to the warehouse, which operates 24 hours a day.

‘We expect a lot from Moduleo in the future. This warehouse was built to future-proof Moduleo by ensuring automated storage. With a peak volume of about 100,000sqm per day, we will be able to store about 1million sqm of Moduleo products in the warehouse,’ says Jan Vergote, IVC Group ceo.

Avelgem is also the home of the group’s €10m wind farm with three wind turbines expected to produce 13,3GWh a year; equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 2,000 families or a third of IVC’s energy consumption.

‘Design, functionality and ecology have been our focus from day one, and we’re delighted that the turbines are now

operational so we can expand on these values,’ adds Filip Balcaen, IVC chairman.

It also uses water from the nearby Scheldt river as a coolant, reducing by 80% the use of less environmentally friendly coolants.

In the US, construction of its $80m LVT plant in Dalton, Georgia – where IVC built its vinyl plant in 2011 – is nearing completion.

The 3million sqft facility is due to be fully operational in the second quarter of the year, employing 200 staff.

‘Just as we proved with vinyl, we will again demonstrate with LVT our capability to deploy state of the art manufacturing technology and combine it with operational excellence. Building the plant in the US will mean that 100% of IVC US’s LVT will be American made,’ says Xavier Steyaert, IVC US co-ceo.

Above: The Moduleo warehouse can hold 10,500 pallets of LVT Top left: The plant and warehouse are connected by a conveyor bridge Left: IVC’s wind farm

Since Balcaen founded the group in 1997 after selling Balta, IVC has grown every year, with sales and staff numbers increasing tenfold in the past 15 years.

Last year sales reached €605m with 1,200 staff as it operates in 110 countries.

In January Balcaen agreed to sell the group to Mohawk Industries, Quick-Step owner and already the world’s largest flooring company, for $1.2bn. The transaction is expected to be completed at the end of March.

Visit: www.ivcgroup.com

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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BELGIUM

Splash, bang, wallop Parcolys’ laminate range is strong and waterproof Dominique Santens almost fizzes with excitement when he describes Parcolys Flooring’s latest range, Ceramics by Aquastep, and how the waterproof laminate compares with LVT products on the market.

Santens joined as manager 19 months ago and last November bought the company from its founder.

‘The strength of the click is so much stronger than anything else available, meaning the planks will not move and it will last much longer. Such is the strength of the plank it hides unevenness in the floor, especially with the Aqua Base underlay. The backing uses the same PVC as in windows so there is no VOC emissions as well as being very strong,’ he says.

It is easy to remove stains, such as shoe marks and maintenance is easy – just wipe with soap and water. It’s also suitable for underfloor heating with heat resistance of more than 40°C. There is no indentation from furniture and it’s rated R10 for slip resistance.

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

BELGIUM Ceramics by Aquastep is suitable for all rooms and is supported by POS

He says: ‘It feels as if you are walking on a solid floor with no give.’

Available in 592mm x 297mm planks, with 1,200mm x 297mm planks in the process of being introduced, Ceramics

by Aquastep can also be installed up to 15m x 15m without an expansion joint.

‘Because it is manufactured horizontally, rather than in rolls, there is no risk of curling so it can be used in areas where LVT has traditionally performed poorly, such as conservatories,’ explains Santens.

New finishes include Copper Loft, Concrete and Anthracite. And thanks to the pushdown click on the short side, it can also be used on walls.

‘Transforming a bathroom is now easy, as it can be glued straight on to tiled walls without having to take off the tiles,’ he says.

Parcolys’ original Aquastep planks are now available in 15 decors while the Aquastep Mini tiles are offered in three colours.

Visit: www.parcolysflooring.be

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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Traditions for life With the collections Tradition Elegant, Tradition Quattro, Tradition Sculpture and Tradition Sapphire, Balterio sets the standard in 9 mm high quality laminate flooring.

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BELGIUM

Grand scale flooring Beaulieu Flooring Solutions made more than 2,000 introductions in Hannover Beaulieu Flooring Solutions launched 2,045 SKUs across its vinyl, vinyl plank, carpet, parquet, laminate, artificial grass and needle felt collections at Domotex and used many of them in four global mindset areas: Spirit, Future, Folk and Origin. The new collections are built up around the mindsets.

Beauflor will incorporate elements of

the 69 decor Wood Collection in the UK specific Ultragrip collection in May. Ultragrip will have four new ranges, partly drawing from the three Wood Collection ranges: Authentic, cosy rustic designs; Urban, contemporary woods in an urban colour palette; and Classic.

Marathon is a collection of timber

planks and tiles, with a Power Bac backing and 0.35mm wear layer.

Spectrum is a high-fashion, uni-coloured collection with 20 colours, from eye-catching primaries, like yellow and blue, to the more muted tones of soft grey and light beige.

BerryAlloc has moved vinyl plank production to Belgium. Pure features FUTURE: We live in a

SPIRIT: There is an information overload. We are continuously available: at work, on the road, in the car, or at home. Even at the weekend, from early morning to late at night. When we come home we want to relax for a while and make time for ourselves: for our thoughts and emotions, for who we are, for our spirit. Take a break from the busy world and enter a space that offers us peace. A space where we are not being drained, but where we can give voice to our intuition. In that space materials, colours and textures contribute to an environment that gives us inner energy.

Colours are soft and dreamy, with the emphasis on mild pastel colours, beige and grey. The textures are soft, sometimes weathered but always natural. The inspiration comes from skin, marble, porous materials, linen with or without a hint of erosion.

digital world. Apps, 3D printing, smartphones, smart watches, drones – technology is evolving at an accelerated rate and we want to keep up. We are looking only to the future: to technology that can improve our lives; to scientific solutions and new materials with unprecedented opportunities, such as graphene. The style of interiors is aligned to that: it is innovative, clean and high-tech, with a penchant for cutting edge design and futuristic materials.

Colours are innovative and ooze high-tech. The emphasis is on purple, blue and orange, on the basis of quieter colours.

Techno materials with special textures are combined with micro or macro motifs.

FOLK: We are young and creative and choose an ecological yet trendy lifestyle. You can find us anywhere in the world on blogs and social media.

We are the hippies of today, without borders, always on the move. We have a DIY mentality and are fascinated by craftsmanship. We pluck our inspiration from art, design and food. We share, sample and remix to our heart’s content and make it our own.

Simple yet clever innovations are our thing.

Colours are bright, but never artificial. The materials look like they were hand-made. Wood, reed and soft or tough woven textures play an important role.

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

ORIGIN: The speed of today’s society sometimes overwhelms us. In response we search for a slowness, genuine experiences and sensibility. We crave contact with nature. And so we choose a weekend of rambling in the woods over yet another city trip. Going back to the essential, to what has perhaps been lost in modern society. A touch of nostalgia, but that’s what we like: items from the past, vinyl records, materials with patina, decoration with a soul and story. We appreciate everything local and authentic.

Colours include a lot of brown, green and stone with rough textures such as bark, earth and fur.

BELGIUM Rigid Composite Board technology so little or no subfloor is needed and can be installed on top of tiled floors. It has an acoustic top layer and comes in gluedown or click versions.

The click version uses the DreamClick system for quick fitting and comes in two qualities: Pure Click 40 with a 0.4mm wear layer and Pure Click 55 with a 0.55mm wear layer. Gluedown planks come in the Pure 55 version. It is available in several tile and plank sizes.

Along with 43 new decors, three ranges were added to BerryAlloc’s laminate offer: Serenity features a vinyl top layer for reduced noise; Chic and Urban have ranges of narrow planks. The

full High-Tech laminate collection has been upgraded to class 34, suitable for contract use.

The brand also debuted three parquet ranges. Lodge has a raw cut appearance in 1,900mm x 190mm x 15mm and 2,800 x 260mm x 20mm (XL) sizes and six colours.

Emotions is inspired by the softness of wood with a matt lacquered finish and saw cut detailing.

Cosmo includes Ash, American Walnut and Sapele. Seven oak colours were also introduced, increasing the number to 44.

Ideal developed a new generation of supersoft carpets in polyamide: Satine

presents dense saxony and shaggy constructions in plain and chromojet overprinted versions. The plains come in vibrant colours and the prints are tonal.

Its solution dyed offer was expanded with the polyester Spectrum range’s Lucca, Monza and Sienna.

Real launched ‘noodle’ doormats. These PVC mats, which look like they are made of spaghetti, have seven standard colours and two sizes, 50cm x 80cm and 40cm x 60cm.

The Turfgrass collection of landscaping grass was unveiled and Oryzon domestic artificial grass saw more colour options and new constructions.

Visit: www.beaulieuflooringsolutions.com

Elegance laminate

Noble parquet

Elements of the Wood Collection will be included in Beauflor’s new Ultragrip collection

Pure vinyl planks

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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BELGIUM

Divine intervention Lano is focusing on its Premium Easy Care Collection Known for its Easy Care and Ultimo collections, the launch of Divine Twist, a 75oz deep pile saxony, sees Lano Carpets driving interest in its Premium Easy Care Collection, a range of carpets designed to deliver worry-free stain resistance in a more resilient and durable Lanoset two-ply yarn.

Use of 100% polypropylene Lanoset fibre, heat-set to offer better durability and also to give a wool-like appearance, helps give justice to its premium moniker while providing consumers with the reassurance of a bleach cleanable low maintenance carpet. Backed by a 10-year stain guarantee and with an Extra Heavy Domestic rating, Divine Twist is suitable for use in the busiest of family homes.

Divine Twist comes in 4m and 5m widths.

‘The Premium Easy Care Collection offers our very finest stain-resistant qualities so that retailers can offer their customers luxurious carpet that is also worry-free,’ says Birger Karlsson, Lano sales director UK. ‘Providing an alternative to the worry of wool and wool-rich blends, Divine Twist is also excellent value, a carpet that is typically Lano.’

Divine Twist is available in 10 shades, with a grey theme running throughout ‘As we once saw with beige, the demand for grey means that ranges need to be more sophisticated in their approach to the colour, offering homeowners more choice, from light shades through to rich velvet hues.

Divine Twist explores the potential of the palette beautifully,’ explains Birger.

Visit: www.lano.com

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Divine Twist

Introducing 4 stunning new ranges - the choice is endless

ELEMEnTS

SENSATIONS

ESSENTIALS

GALLERY

For more information about any of our product range contact us at: sales@beauflor.com

BELGIUM

High flying carpets Upgrading products has brought rewards for Balta

Above: Tynedale Twist Inset: Philippe Hamers Right: Royal Oxford

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Balta Group is to significantly increase investment this year after enjoying a double-digit leap in profits last year as owner Doughty Hanson looks to sell the company after a decade of ownership.

The group is to increase investment by €5bn to €31bn this year, including production in Belgium and Turkey, POS and sampling. Profits jumped by 15% as sales rose by 2% to €577m.

Philippe Hamers, Balta residential broadloom division general manager, says the group had an excellent year in 2014. ‘We grew by more than 10% in the UK and gained market share and we are ahead of our forecast for this year.’

‘Upgrading our products in 2014 helped to boost performance and we will continue with this this year,’ says Geert Vanden Bossche, Balta marketing director. ‘More and more better quality products are in development with demand for better end products increasing, which is where Balta wants to be. Soft and shiny carpets continue to be popular and we will be expanding this with heavier weight ranges.

‘We were rewarded by our customers for our service levels last year as they bought more. We have said we want to be the most reliable supplier and will be increasing warehousing space for polypropylene rolls

The most important twist of all.

The new Paramount Twist. Sumptuous underfoot, durable, resilient and with guaranteed stain resistance for 15-years thanks to two-ply X-TronÂŽ yarn, this is a carpet serious about performance. Available in 12 on-trend colours and four and ÄşYH PHWUH ZLGWKV 3DUDPRXQW 7ZLVW FRXOG EH \RXU PRVW LPSRUWDQW WZLVW RI DOO

www.baltagroup.com

BELGIUM Left: Mix to the Max Right: Lothian Wool Berber Below: Noble Heathers

from 35,000 to 40,000 rolls,’ he says.

Hamers insists that it is business as usual for the group during the sale process. ‘We’ve been with Doughty Hanson for 10 years [Doughty Hanson bought Balta in August 2004 in a deal which valued it at €600m] so people have probably been saying we’ve been for sale for the past seven. Whoever wants to buy Balta will come with a growth plan. We have a strong backbone and will have an even stronger backbone [under new ownership]. It will be better for Balta and better for our customers.

We definitely want to invest to grow in the UK, perhaps even with an acquisition to consolidate.’

Products shown at Balta’s autumn roadshow and Domotex will be introduced between now and the end of June, with Saxon King and Pop Art the first. Pop Art will follow the example of Big Hit by having a large display book.

Noble Heathers will debut in May and Tynedale Twist in June.

Mix to the Max puts aside the constraints of the 50cm x 50cm carpet tile and, inspired by wood flooring, uses a 100cm x 25cm dimension to offer virtually limitless design and layout combinations. With underfoot comfort, thermal and acoustic insulation and resistance to wear and stains, Mix to the Max carpet planks use 100% StainSafe yarn.

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

The four designs in oak, maple, walnut and pine are available in several colourways, make for different layouts with colour variety, popping tonal ascents, intermingled patterns, contrasts and highlights; with four designs and four colourways for each the choice is there for the taking.

‘We’ve created Mix to the Max to bring a new dimension to carpet for the home.

Neatly packaged for an off-the-shelf solution, Mix to the Max allows

homeowners the chance to enjoy riskfree experimentation, something other floorcoverings simply struggle to achieve. Should a combination not be working, simply lift, swap and replace.

This easy replacement also comes in handy on the off-chance that an area becomes stained or soiled beyond repair, just lift and replace,’ says Vanden Bossche.

The Royal Oxford saxony uses Balta’s X-Tron fibre and comes in a 64oz weight with a 14mm pile height. Available in 4m and 5m widths and 12 colours, it has 15year wear and 20-year stain warranties.

Royal Sovereign uses the Woolmaster Fibre and is available in Super (37oz), Deluxe (53oz) and Supreme (65oz) qualities, in 12 plain colours and in 4m and 5m widths and a stripe in three coordinating colours in a 4m width.

Lothian Wool Berber is made from 100% British Wool in eight plain styles available in 4m and 5m widths with four coordinating stripes in a 4m width.

The StainSafe Noble Heathers has 10 colours in 4m and 5m widths while Tynedale Twist has 12.

Other launches coming over the next few months include Traffic, Heather Twist and Mystic Wilton in June; Urban Legend will be updated in April, while Swaledale Twist, a heavier version of Tynedale, will be introduced in September.

Visit: www.baltagroup.com

BELGIUM

Showing off Storacon has added more display options Rug display specialist Storacon has had a busy past 12 months developing products and seeing growth at Domotex, where it also exhibits.

Domotex saw 60 exhibitors use its display equipment, an increase of five on 2014: as well as selling displays, Storacon also hires them for exhibitions.

After debuting a display for children’s rugs at Domotex 2014, the company has added new models in recent months, according to Filip van Acker, Storacon md.

‘We have developed a gondola shelving system that is easy to put together and can be used for promotions, for example without having to have a permanent display or rearranging the store,’ he says.

The company, part of French display and storage group Provost, has also developed a rug display that can hold 50 large rugs for a major rug company’s showroom in Belgium.

It is also developing a lighter display stand that will be easier to transport.

Thanks to Storacon’s expertise and scale it can offer bespoke systems for retailers where their premises are not

suitable for its standard displays, for example where ceilings are too low.

The company continues to target the upmarket segment with its quality offer rather than low end products.

‘A number of customers who switched to low end racks have come back as they only lasted two to three years and proved to be more expensive in the end,’ he explains.

‘We’ve seen an increase in the popularity of sliding rail systems compared with book displays as it is far easier, quicker and less effort to look at the rugs.’

As well as rug displays, Storacon offers systems for carpet rolls and warehouses – it provides the roll system for Millennium Weavers’ roll warehouse.

Visit: www. carpetdisplays.com

Filip van Acker says sliding rail systems are becoming more popular

A major rug company has a 50-rug display from Storacon

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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BELGIUM

Affordable authenticity Unilin’s latest planks bring wood styling to a wider market Consumers want the look and feel of real wood in their homes, but are deterred by its price. To counter this, Belgian retailer Pecceu Kitchens and Custom Interior Design has turned to Unilin Panels’ latest Evola planks.

‘Customers find authenticity increasingly important. That is why wood is so popular,’ says Yves Pecceu, Pecceu manager. ‘The final price tag often puts people off. Wood is quite simply a very expensive material.’

Unilin came up with a solution that combines the demand for authenticity with an affordable price.

‘There are plenty of alternatives to wood on the market, but the Evola designs are the most lifelike imitation of wood as far as I am concerned. Only a specialist would see the difference,’ he reckons.

Evola is more cost-effective than wood, but has an authentic feel thanks to the imitated grain, knots, vessels and cracks.

The planks are available in Royal Oak, Heritage Oak and Minnesota Oak designs and 10 colours.

‘Evola is perfectly suited to custom work. The decorative top layer is applied to extremely strong chipboard. I can saw, shape or process them easily with a CNC machine. Evola is also particularly wellsuited to corner work or slanted applications and, of course, it’s easy to keep clean with a quick wipe of the melamine,’ explains Pecceu.

Visitors will see Evola throughout the store which has13,000sqft of displays including kitchens, walk-in wardrobes and a complete flat.

‘We try to anticipate trends. Evola is bound to become a household name.

That is why we want our customers to get to know this new application. A sample does not tell you anything: customers only really get to know the product in recognisable applications such as a bedroom or kitchen. They are usually surprised when I tell them they it is not real wood they can feel beneath their fingers,’ adds Pecceu.

Visit: www.unilinpanels.com

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Evola Royal Oak in dark brown

Left: Heritage Oak in medium brown

BELGIUM

Raw materials go through several production processes before the melamine panels emerge

The panel game Unilin produces around 25million sqm of melamine panels a year Wood is not only a renewable raw material, but also its reuse as a secondary raw material has a favourable effect on emissions. So what goes into making the panels?

The industry draws on various types of wood products as the basic raw material.

This timber mix consists of trunks, wood scraps, sawdust and reclaimed timber.

Fresh wood arriving in large sections is broken down in a chopper, which can process 100tonnes an hour, into 5cm x 5cm pieces. When a tree is sawn, only 50% can be usefully used as planks and the side faces (slabs) and the sawdust serve as fresh wood for Unilin.

The differently sourced wood is then mixed together and chopped into chips and dehydrated, then dust and aerosol particles from the water vapour are removed. The chips’ humidity of 50%60% is reduced to a maximum of 3%

after 20 minutes in the dryer.

The dehydrated chips are then sifted until there are four types: dust is used as fuel for the drum dryer; fine chips are used as the surface sheet on the bottom and top surface of the chipboards; coarse chips are used as the core sheet of the chipboard and very coarse chips are crushed and resifted.

Quality checks are made during production, during finishing operations and at the plant’s laboratory. During manufacturing, the panel materials are tested on a range of different parameters: density; tensile strength; bending strength; surface tension strength; screw pull-out force; humidity; swelling and formaldehyde content.

After final impurities are removed the chips are mixed with glue. The dehydrated surface sheet chips and core sheet chips are separately mixed with a

glue and hardening mixture. The glue mixture may be adapted if specific properties are needed.

The chipboards are given their first surface sheet, a coarser core sheet and a top surface sheet on a forming belt.

Surface sheet spreaders spray fine chips that make up the sealed top and bottom surface of the panel. Core sheet spreaders spray larger sized chips that lend the chipboard its strength and solidity. The chipboard ‘cake’ that is produced is then fed into a press.

After the cold prepressing process, the chipboard cake is preheated and then fed through the press where it is given the required thickness and density by applying pressure and heat. The pressing process causes the glue to harden. The chipboard receives more than 30,000tonnes of pressure as it travels across the press at about three-quarters of walking pace.

The chipboard is then cut into 6m lengths for ease of handling.

After they have been left to acclimatise for a few hours, the panels are ready to be sanded by three grades of sandpaper to the required thickness. Each panel is checked for any faults, by visual inspection and an automated control unit.

After being sawn to the required size, the bottom and the top of the panels are covered with an impregnated paper sheet. Ionising the paper makes it stick better before it goes into the press for 15 seconds. The melamine resin starts running into the paper and starts setting, which sees the paper firmly attaching to the panel. At the same time, a chromed press head (comparable to a large waffle iron) gives the panel a specific texture.

Unilin offers its customers a number of wood textures – the darker the decor, the longer the presses – however each press head costs €100,000.

After melamining, the panels are separated and the excess paper edges are milled out. This is followed by a quality check whereby an operator appraises each panel separately, checking whether the setting and bonding meet quality standards.

Finally, the panels are stacked and packed, before they are taken to the finished products warehouse or further processed into furniture or home interior panels.

Visit: www.unilinpanels.com

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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Beds and bedroom

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Profile mattresses have a convex zone, that isn’t immediately visible, but your back will feel the benefits

Comfortable partnership Sealy and the British Chiropractic Association have a new partnership A bed needs to be a place of comfort rather than a source of pain and discomfort, so whether it’s buying for the first time or replacing an old mattress, Sealy Posturepedic and the British Chiropractic Association share a common goal in their ambition to encourage the British public to make the right choices when buying a new bed in an effort to improve everyone’s back health.

Sealy and BCA have worked together for the past few years and now Sealy is announcing a new partnership to promote their common objectives.

Chiropractors are primary contact health professionals specialising in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and overall management of many conditions that are due to problems with bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves, especially related to the spine.

The BCA is the largest and longest-

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

standing association for chiropractors in the UK. Chiropractic treatment and care offers hands-on pain management and mainly involves safe, often gentle spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly.

Apart from manipulation, chiropractors may use a wide variety of techniques to help their clients as well as offering advice about posture and lifestyle, and sleep can be a big part of this.

‘The partnership is further evidence of our continued commitment to providing healthy, orthopaedically correct beds. As a result customers, both trade and consumer and those in the hospitality sector, can rest well knowing Sealy continues to be at the forefront of developments in healthy sleep,’ says Neil Robinson, Sealy marketing director.

‘Our commitment to cutting edge sleep technology is well known and has resulted in the development of mattresses that support and provide a restorative and relaxing night’s sleep.

Posturepedic as a brand is synonymous with being the sought after bed for the discerning purchaser who understands that having a mattress that is both comfortable and supportive is critical for a night’s sleep to keep the spine properly aligned and prevent tossing and turning or waking up with aches and pains,’ he says.

The latest development to come from Sealy’s commitment to these objectives is the new Profile range. Ergonomic in concept, the Contour mattress is based on various anthropometric studies which detail and profile the proportions of the human anatomy. Directional and variable zoning along its length from head

Sealy are proud to announce the forging of a new partnership with the British Chiropractic Association.

Chiropractic is a primary health-care profession that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of conditions that are due to problems with the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves, especially related to the spine. The BCA is the largest and longeststanding association for chiropractors in the UK. This partnership is further evidence of our continued commitment to providing healthy, orthopaedically correct beds. You can rest well knowing Sealy continue to be at the forefront of developments in healthy sleep.

For more information on our orthopaedically correct beds, contact our Sales Hotline on 016973 20342.

Visit our website at www.sealy.co.uk or the BCA website at www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Contour Reflexion

Contour Support

to toe means the mattress doesn’t ever have to be turned, and the mattress pays special attention to offering exactly the right support to the head, shoulders and hips, which are the key pressure points that cause tossing and turning at night.

‘There are two areas of increased support to ensure the neck and spine are kept at exactly the right alignment throughout the night. It is these key areas of support that make this new and special bed so different,’ says Robinson.

‘When you lie down on a Profile bed, you can actually feel the slightly convex zone which sits laterally across the mattress and is just perfect for supporting the spine, whether you are lying on your side or your back, so this bed is a boon to anyone who feels the need for more support as they sleep, or indeed anyone who occasionally or permanently suffers from back problems,

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or wishes to prevent one from deteriorating,’ he adds.

In addition, although not quite as pronounced as the convex torso zone, the subtly convex head area is designed so users don’t need more than one good pillow to support their head: a far better arrangement for the user’s neck as it helps keep it better aligned with their spine to prevent waking up with back or neck ache in the morning.

With the BCA saying that 48% of people say sleeping caused them neck or back pain, there is a need for people to get themselves a properly supportive as well as comfortable bed, adds Robinson.

‘Testers who have already trialled the new Profile range are ecstatic at the benefits they have gotten from it right from their very first night’s sleep. The convex zones are not instantly visible unless you look for them, but when you

lie down on the bed your body can instantly feel and appreciate the difference,’ he says.

The beds also feature Adaptive technology, a dynamic response textile that reacts to temperature and moisture.

Hydro-functional polymers change shape, boosting evaporation and helping to maintain a constant temperature for the sleeper, even through the sheets.

‘With this new 21st century textile technology included in Sealy’s renowned Smart Fibres, which are also in the material covering the mattress and which are endorsed by Allergy UK, even the most fussy of sleepers will revel in the comfort as well as the support of this new style of bed,’ says Robinson.

The range has two beds: the medium support Contour Reflexion mattress and the slightly firmer Contour Support.

Visit: www.sealy.co.uk

A unique combination of Geltex and Springs.

All the pressure relief you would find in a memory foam mattress combined with all the support you’d expect from a Sealy Posturepedic.

www.sealy.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Sleep’s best friend Silentnight’s updated Diamond Collection is its most luxurious range yet Drawing on more than 60 years of experience, Silentnight’s bedmaking process is still relatively traditional and carefully considered to provide the perfect sleep solution. But, the manufacturer embraces new technology and continuously invests in new product testing and development to ensure consumers receive quality products.

Its latest collection is no exception. The Diamond Collection has been updated to be what it says is its most luxurious range of beds and mattresses. Every mattress in the premium range uses Silentnight’s Mirapocket spring system for comfort and support.

‘All products in the Diamond range are traditionally hand-made in the UK and feature sumptuous natural fillings to create the ultimate in luxury. The Diamond 4000 Pocket Memory Wool features a triple layer 4,000 Mirapocket advanced system for a deeper, more luxurious mattress offering ultimate support. The natural memory wool comfort filling provides superior comfort and has handles and air vents for maximum airflow,’ says Grace Moorhouse, Silentnight brand marketing manager.

There is a range of base and headboard options, an ottoman and a selection of colours to appeal to those looking for superior style and luxury as well as a great night’s sleep.

‘Having been a trusted brand for over 60 years, we are incredibly proud of our British manufacturing credentials. Each Silentnight bed and mattress is put through rigorous testing to ensure the brand consistently exceeds British manufacturing standards, which gives consumers the assurance of quality and firmly places Silentnight as the UK manufacturer of choice,’ stresses Moorhouse.

Visit: www.silentnight.co.uk

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Diamond 4000, as with all Silentnight beds, undergoes tough testing

SLEEP HAS NEVER FELT SO GOOD

The stunning Geltex mattress collection from Silentnight delivering triple benefits and the ultimate in support for a great night’s sleep.

Available with a choice of stylish base and headboards.

To find out more about our Geltex mattress collection contact your local area manager, our dedicated customer contact centre on 01282 851111 or visit silentnight.co.uk/Geltex

BEDS AND BEDROOM

The comfort of science More than 100 years of expertise goes into Kaymed’s latest models Kaymed has more than a century’s expertise at the forefront of sleep technology and is a leading innovator in the gel and viscoelastic memory foam sectors, using its knowledge and new materials to help provide the perfect night’s sleep. Kaymed is the only foam manufacturer in Ireland and develops bedding and components using cutting edge technology.

It has launched several materials developed, manufactured by and exclusive to Kaymed, including advances in gel and viscoelastic technologies, all designed to combine comfort, industry leading pressure relief and sleep surface temperature regulation.

K3Gel Gold

Therma-Phase Deluxe

Therma-Phase is a significant step forward for the company as it combines a high density viscoelastic with an infusion of unique phase-change gel crystals. The gel works constantly to absorb, store and release body heat to maintain the ideal sleep surface temperature of 30°C-32°C. ‘The result is an innovative material that provides the body with the optimum level of comfort, support and pressure relief – essential for a restful night’s sleep,’ says Jeremy Navrady, Kaymed UK marketing manager.

Therma-Phase offers a choice of pocket springs or as a solid block with optional base tensions, base colours, sizes and drawers.

‘K3Gel is a revolutionary therapeutic sleep system patented

by Kaymed that provides superior comfort and disperses pressure through its unique three-dimensional cell structure.

Manufactured using natural mineral oils, K3Gel responds to embrace your shape instantly, helping to relieve aches and pains. K3Gel cells create airpockets that enhance air circulation, regulating your body temperature for unsurpassed sleeping comfort,’ explains Navrady.

There are four K3Gel bed models in its standard range with a choice of specifications, contemporary waterfall mattress design, choice of base colours, 10-year warranty

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and all are available in standard sizes with storage options.

Available as a solid block or on pocket springs, the V85 is a superior grade viscoelastic that offers a level of comfort more usual on a premium priced bed, he says.

‘The V85 has a high level of density that gives a combination of support and pressure relief regardless of temperature. While some materials require heat for them to function, making them susceptible to environmental conditions, V85 remains consistently comfortable throughout the year,’ reckons Navrady.

The V85 carries a 10-year warranty and offers pocket springs or solid block with optional base tensions, base colours, sizes and drawer choices.

Mighty Bed is designed to be ultra-durable with a long-term performance. It has a reinforced spring system and extra-strong divan base giving it a durability level reflected in its 15-year warranty. It is available with a choice of seven base colours, sizes and drawer choices.

Visit: www.kaymed.co.uk

Mighty Bed Summit

A plan to grow sales that’s not a fairy tale

Sell happily ever after From Therma-Phase™ to Mighty Bed™, V85™ visco elastic to K3Gel®, Kaymed’s patented technologies have every base covered. We lead the way in the development of pressure relieving and temperature regulating materials, all created and manufactured in house. This allows Kaymed stockists to enjoy the benefits of being first to market with groundbreaking technologies, giving them the edge over their competition.

If you want to increase sales and realise the return on investment of innovation over imitation, contact us now via the ‘Become a Stockist’ link on www.kaymed.co.uk, and sell happily ever after.

BEDS AND BEDROOM Far left: NBF posters are designed to help members comply with the code Left: Template Code of Practice compliance certificate

Best practice How the NBF’s Code of Practice has fared The National Bed Federation’s Code of Practice has now been in operation for just over a year. Its introduction was a sea change in the association’s approach to its membership, and not without risk.

‘We weren’t really sure at the time what the reaction of the trade would be: whether retailers would embrace what we were trying to do – raising standards and hopefully inspiring confidence,’ says Jessica Alexander, NBF executive director.

‘But we knew it was the right thing to do as a responsible trade association, as there were so many stories circulating of unscrupulous companies cutting corners and not only deceiving consumers but breaking the law. The trade has embraced the scheme widely, with many retailers looking to ensure all the products they source come from NBF members.’

The NBF’s message to retailers has been that the code of practice takes all the worry and work out of ensuring compliance with legal requirements of the products they stock.

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‘Bearing in mind that, for retailers, the buck stops with them just as much as it does with the manufacturer, this has to make sense, especially for smaller retailers that don’t have the in-house resources to do all the necessary compliance checks themselves and have to take what their suppliers tell them largely on trust,’ says Alexander.

‘Interest in the code has increased and its introduction vindicated by widely reported transgressions: BBC TV’s Fake Britain’s focus on companies not meeting flammability regulations; the widespread incidence of so-called bargain surplus stock sold off the back of unmarked vans; and company directors embroiled in the human trafficking scandal,’ she adds.

The NBF takes implementation seriously. There are strict rules about what’s expected and the timescales to correct anything that is not right.

Some people might think the code does not have any teeth because no members have been expelled. But

Alexander says the process is thorough and vigorous.

‘The fact that we haven’t expelled anyone doesn’t mean they have all passed the audit with flying colours.

What it does mean is that they all want to be doing things correctly and if that has not been the case, they have worked hard to get it right. It’s an education process not just about punishment for transgressions – but we would not hesitate to suspend or expel a member who does not come up to scratch and we will remain vigilant and investigate any reports that a member might not be trading fairly or legally,’ she explains.

The NBF is considering additional areas the code might cover, such as health and safety or ethical trading. The EU Timber Regulations will be included in the audit from 2016 and the auditors are looking at other regulations relevant to the industry, such as textile composition labelling and the biocide regulations.

Visit: www.bedfed.org.uk

Rest assured it’s the bed your back would choose

Our new traditional pocket spring collection is designed for optimum back support and comfort. We’ve enhanced the range with the 2800 pocket sprung mattress for the ultimate in luxury.

We’re proud to say it’s been approved by The Good Housekeeping Institute too, testament that our beds provide the ultimate in quality.

To find out more call 01282 851 111 or visit www.rest-assured.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Long Eaton welcome Gainsborough has opened a second showroom The showroom will also be used to display prototypes and new designs of beds and sofabeds.

Long Eaton is associated with quality upholstery and the ground floor studio space will be shared with sister companies Collins & Hayes and Cavendish in time for the May Long Point show.

‘Long Eaton is synonymous with quality and craftsmanship, and so is Gainsborough. The Collins & Hayes customer would buy a Gainsborough bed and vice versa. So having the two side by side is perfect synergy,’ says Richards.

Having a permanent display space also means Gainsborough will be showing at Long Point for the first time.

Viewings are by appointment only.

Gainsborough Beds, tel: 07825 171 333

PHOTOGRAPH: DAVE BEVIS

Gainsborough Beds is the first of the Airsprung Group companies to take up residence at the group’s new showroom at Harrington Mill, Long Eaton.

For many years there has been a showroom at the firm’s headquarters in Wiltshire, but Andy Richards, Gainsborough sales director, says it is not the ideal location for many retailers, particularly those who are further north, and it is increasingly important that retailers have early access to new products.

‘We always try to see things from our customers’ point of view. With retail space under pressure it is very difficult to ask our customers to take a leap of faith: they need to see it and touch it. Retailers’ time is always stretched so anything that gets the product closer to them is going to be a real advantage,’ he explains.

Lancaster (left), Victoria (below) and Mulberry (bottom left) will all be on show at Harrington Mill

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

)PN ÄULZ *V\Y[ HJ[PVUZ :OH[[LYLK YLW\[H[PVUZ ;OL WYPJL VM ZLSSPUN PSSLNHS ILKZ Be completely assured the beds you sell 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 JVTWS`PUN ^P[O YLN\SH[VY` YLX\PYLTLU[Z MVY ÅHTTHIPSP[` JSLHUSPULZZ VM ÄSSPUNZ HUK [YHKL KLZJYPW[PVUZ )\` MYVT HU 5)- (WWYV]LK 4LTILY ^P[O JVUÄKLUJL ZHML PU [OL RUV^SLKNL [OH[ ^OH[ `V\»YL ZLSSPUN PZ ZHML JSLHU HUK OVULZ[ NBF Code of Practice now awarded ‘Assured Advice Status’ by Trading Standards.

Find out more and for an up to date list of NBF Approved members visit: ILKMLK VYN \R

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Above: Chic Weathered with Cane Right: Spire

Tradition with a twist Frank Hudson has been handcrafting furniture for almost seven decades Frank Hudson, which is now part of Gallery Direct, has been producing high quality furniture since 1947.

Beautifully constructed and meticulously hand-finished, the furniture offers customers the best of British design. All the collections are created by the in-house design team who update traditional pieces and produce unique, yet timeless designs.

The 10 bedroom furniture collections feature a selection of bedsteads and matching bedroom furniture, from traditional designs to updated classics with a twist.

The collections display handcrafted techniques, including inlaid marquetry veneers, hand-carving, selected timbers and intricate hand-painted finishes. Beautiful linen cottons, hand-cast handles and traditional hand-woven cane detailing, add finishing touches to the collections.

Sister brand Gallery Home’s range of home accessories, from mirrors and lamps to soft furnishings including linens, throws and cushions, can be used to give the complete look.

Visit: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

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Above: Maine Left: Safari Charcoal with cotton linen

MODEL SHOWN

ANNECY 5’ Bed Soft Grey

The Frank Hudson collection is designed to the highest standards and offers beautifully constructed and meticulously hand finished furniture, made with superb traditional craftsmanship. All Frank Hudson furniture collections are created by our in-house design team who update traditional pieces and produce unique, yet timeless designs.

The collections offer high quality bedroom, fine dining and occasional furniture, all created to suit individual lifestyles and interiors.

T - 01795 439159 www.gallerydirect.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

On the up

Above: A corner unit has been added to Loft Left: Eastside, shown in Havanna finish with mirrors, features hinged doors and external drawers

Wiemann is enjoying success at the premium end of the sector Having been in the UK market for more than a decade Wiemann can be a little more selective about its approach, says Peter Hewitt, Litmus Furniture md, sole agent for Wiemann in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

‘There is a shift going on in the perception of Wiemann by retailers, away from the promotional, budget end – which of course still has its place – and towards its premium ranges, which Wiemann calls its VIP products,’ he says.

‘It’s significant to us that our secondbestseller, after the ever-popular Luxor (which, incidentally, has always been in the upper end of our price and quality options) is now the VIP Loft.’

This shift was also much in evidence in its offering at the recent January

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Furniture Show. Alongside the Loft and Shanghai VIP ranges, Wiemann showed the new VIP range, Scarlett, in hinged and sliding door formats; the new sliding door range Westside, which opens from the centre in the larger, four-door options – along with Tokyo – a comprehensive offering of chests and cupboards to complement the VIP ranges.

‘Reaction to these new VIP models was so good that, following the Cologne exhibition, we have decided to add a further range into the VIP selection for 2015, the Eastside range, which

complements the Westside but has hinged wardrobes and external drawer options,’ explains Hewitt.

A feature that sets the Wiemann products apart are its glass door and drawer fronts – and in many cases, glass side panels, too.

‘We prefer glass over gloss as a finish because it’s much more robust and also offers a much smoother and consistent surface finish – which means less aggravation for retailers and their customers.

‘While white and cream are still popular colours, it is the darker, murkier colour Havanna which is proving to be the 2015 star turn. Havanna looks smooth and sophisticated and definitely appeals to a younger, fashion conscious consumer with money to spend on design led products. This gives our retailers an opportunity to grab new customers with Wiemann products,’ he adds.

Visit: www.wiemannuk.co.uk

Loft

Shanghai

Bedrooms to lust after Fashionable · Flexible · Reliable · Profitable

What’s not to love!

Eastside

Westside

Brought to you by Litmus Furniture 24 Melton Road North Ferriby East Yorkshire HU14 3ET T: 01482 635283 E: sales@litmusfurniture.co.uk Principal Agent to Wiemann & Gamamobel in the UK & Ireland www.wiemannuk.co.uk www.gamamobeluk.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Good iDea for sales

1

The Sleep Council sales course is to be available on iPads Next month will see the launch of the Sleep Council Sales Academy on iPads. Since it was launched almost six months ago, the National Bed Federation’s online course has only been available on computers.

The course, designed to help bed retail sales advisers learn more about the science of sleep, and how to use this knowledge effectively within their sales presentations to build trust with their customers, will also be updated after feedback from participants.

‘There is no doubt that sleep, or the lack of it, is gaining more column inches in the press, more coverage on the Internet and among Twitter users about how to get more of it and how to improve the quality of it: all of which augurs well for anyone involved in selling sleep products. Every retailer looks for a competitive edge over their rivals and ensuring that they have the most professional, knowledgeable staff with a recognised industry qualification will help them stand out from the crowd,’ says Simon Williams, NBF marketing manager.

Take-up of the Sales Academy among UK bed retailers continues to increase, with the latest participation being one of the country’s major furniture multiples.

Visit: www.sleepcouncilsalesacademy.org.uk

2

3

1 Natuzzi’s Dolcevita becomes the focal point of the bedroom, with a king-size leather headboard that emphasises the craftsmanship.

Available in four sizes, it has wood-look metal feet.

Visit: www.natuzzi.com 2 Siesta Beds has introduced the pocket sprung Savoy 1500 to its collection. It features bamboo which is a natural insulator, softer than cotton, highly durable, has anti-bacterial properties and is a natural deodoriser.

Tel: 0121 773 9969

Paul Keenan, manager of Linthorpe Beds, Stockton on Tees, with his Sleep Council Sales Academy certificate. All of Linthorpe Beds’ sales staff have now completed the programme.

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3 Team7’s Mylon bed combines compactness with delicacy and plays with the contrast between lightness and solidity. Hand-crafted details such as crowns and corner joints serve as refined design elements and lend the Mylon bed its solid yet light character.

Visit: www.team7.at

SIESTA BEDS COMFORT & QUALITY ASSURED Est 1986

BEDS AND BEDROOM 4 Dauphin Home now offers the opportunity to have its lacquered finish products in all classic RAL colours for the price of standard lacquer.

Visit: www.dauphin-group.com

4

5 Lema’s Hangar walk-in wardrobe, designed by Piero Lissoni, is versatile, with lit panels, equipment in Moka oak, and columns and beams finished in bronze.

Visit: www.lemamobili.com 6 Cattelan’s white painted polyurethane Nigel nightstand features a drawer and shelves in 5mm tempered extra-clear white or graphite painted glass.

Visit: www.cattelanitalia.com 7 Living Divani has expanded its Lipp upholstery collection to the bedroom.

With its characteristic and elegant sartorial detail on the headboard, it is a stylistic code but also a soft element to lean against.

Visit: www.livingdivani.it

5

8 Serene Furnishings’ Abigail is a blend of modern and traditional, combining an Ivory (pictured) or Black finish framed with dark brass. It is available in 4ft 6in, 5ft and 6ft sizes with a Birch slatted base.

Visit: www.serenefurnishings.co.uk

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SHOW THEM YOU’RE THE BEST Stand out from the crowd by gaining Sleep Council Sales Academy status – the new online qualification for bed retail sales professionals To find out more and to enrol, go to www.sleepcouncilsalesacademy.org.uk

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FLOORING

The big show More than 25 companies will be taking part in the Mercado trade day Mercado, BMK Flooring and Alvin Morris are to host a trade day at their Thornes Farm Business Park, Leeds depot on 30 March.

More than 25 suppliers and manufacturers will be taking part including Abingdon, Altro, Ardex, Associated Weavers, Balta, Balterio, Beauflor, Bostik, Carpenter, Egger, F Ball, Fungrass, Gerflor, Gradus, ITEC, IVC, Mapei, Polyflor, Quantum, Quick-Step, Tarkett, Tremco, Uzin and Wolff Tools.

Many of the participants will also be holding demonstrations, including Abingdon, Altro, Ardex, Gerflor, ITEC, Mapei and Tarkett. Egger will also bring its renowned Egger truck to the event.

All companies will also be offering competitions, giveaways, and promotions, including a prize draw and football competition. There also will be a facility tour and refreshments will be provided throughout the day including a hog roast.

Mercado, BMK Flooring and Alvin Morris, will also be debuting products across several categories, including additions to the Trouble Free collection.

Full details are available from local sales representatives.

Mercado will be joined by Egger and more than 25 others at its Leeds depot

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CARPET

VINYL

WOOD

RUGS

LVT

UNDERLAY

THE PLACE TO BE THIS MAY! Tuesday 12th May, 9:00 - 17:30 Wednesday 13th May, 9:00 - 17:00

“The Buying Group Show is second only to Domotex Hannover and is most certainly the best UK flooring show a must to visit for all retailers” Peter Pithie, Godiva Carpet.

Cranmore Park, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4LF

“Location, Location, Location... Professional show with the right suppliers, we look forward to this show every year” Simon Manley, Michael John Flooring.

“The Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show held at Cranmore Park in Solihull, is the ideal opportunity for Buying Group Members to meet all their approved suppliers mid-way through the year and get up to date with all the new carpet collections and in-store displays.” David Cormack, Cormar Carpets

To register visit www.bgnfs.co.uk

LIVING AND DINING

Grains of time Porro has had a love affair with wood for 90 years

Load-It Wolfgang Tolk’s Load-It bookcase is manufactured with high resistant, wax-finished steel or white painted shelves. The hanging panels are available in mongoi, hemlock, black stained hemlock, steel, mirror, all matt or glossy finishes and the cracked finish.

Modern + Load It An eye-catching mix of bookcase, container and display unit, the new Modern + Load-It composition combines the containing capacity of Piero Lissoni’s Modern system with the graphic impact of Wolfgang Tolk’s Load-It bookcase. In the living area, the matt moon white wall panels and the white-painted steel shelves of a full-length Load-It bookcase are proposed with a matt moon white board and a suspended shelf and hanging element in black stained hemlock belonging to the Modern system, creating ample equipped surfaces on the wall.

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Porro is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a collection of wooden spinning tops designed by Piero Lissoni, Porro art director, marking its enduring affair with wood. The five models, with alternate colour tones in several combinations of materials and woods, are hand-made, by turning the 16 essences of Porro’s collection, with the simple, yet precious taste of daily, hand-made objects and of artisanship.

The tops mark the flow of time with their spins, showing new faces time after time, and enchanting with their shapes, materials and colours as they recount Porro’s history of contemporary design and wood research.

Porro was founded in 1925 in Brianza, the traditional birthplace of Italian quality furniture sandwiched between Milan and the Alps, when brothers Giulio and Stefano Porro established their first workshop dedicated to the production of classical style furniture for the newborn Milanese bourgeoisie.

The company turned to modern style in the 1950s with the transition to the second generation of the Porro family with cousins Carlo, Arturo and Silvio, that marked the transformation into an industrial company rather than workshop. Participation in the

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LIVING AND DINING System

Storage

Piero Lissoni’s System bookcase plays on the irregularity of open units partially closed by transparent glass siding doors with Iron profile.

The expressive finishing of mongoi alternates on both sides of open modules to modules closed by iron doors in transparent glass with iron-look varnished metal profiles. Thanks to internal customisations and accessories, keeping clothes in order has never been so easy with Storage by Lissoni and the Porro research centre. A shoe cabinet with inclining lighting shelves, noninclining lighting on internal shelves, glass shelves enclosed by a wooden profile, the drawer with tilting removable mirror, the tie rack to hang on the panel, the removable clothes hanger hook, the bag compartment and the fabric boxes for inside drawers, all add a warm, inviting touch.

Introduced in 2014, the Acquario drawer unit, in transparent glass with burnished brass profiles, is divided into three shelves and customisable with wooden trays which leave the contents visible.

recently launched Salone del Mobile was fundamental for Porro to start building its reputation.

Constant stylistic research was strengthened by the cooperation with some of the most important Italian designers, such as Bruno Munar who created the company’s logo in 1966. In the mid 1980s, with the third generation of Lorenzo, Fabio, Giovanni and Danilo Porro, design assumed a leading role including appointing Lissoni in 1989.

A graduate in architecture at Politecnico di Milano, Lorenzo Porro, president, brought attention for design and the taste for geometrical forms. In the 1990s the company specialised in modular systems for living, sleeping, home and office areas, which currently make up about 70% of production.

For decades, Porro has been renowned for its capacity to select, work and interpret wood, calling upon the most recent technology for glossy and matt lacquers or rediscovering prized manufacturing techniques from the past.

The selection of woods is renewed each year and curated by the Porro family with Lissoni, who suggests nuances and new uses, creating a palette of 16 finishes.

Continuing this research into wood, Porro will celebrate its 90th birthday with a collection of wooden boxes designed by those who have contributed to its success together with new names chosen from the worlds of art and decoration. They can freely use the 16 essences of the new collection of Porro woods, playing with shapes and experimenting with particular modes of opening. The Porro wooden boxes will be presented throughout 2015 during major events in the international furniture calendar.

Visit: www.porro.com

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Round Synapsis Round Synapsis is a circular version of the Synapsis table designed by Jean Marie Massaud in 2005. Its uniquely designed legs, made with a chrome plated or white and black painted rod iron structure, are paired with a thin top, available in different finishes: matt and bright lacquers in various colours, white or black high resistant matt lacquer, Pral, mongoi and black stained hemlock.

Ferro Lissoni’s Ferro table is made of soldered curved sheet metal, painted glossy white or black, bronze effect finish or in stainless steel.

DESIGNED FOR BUSINESS

London ExCeL 17–19 May 2015 Be part of it now maydesignseries.com/im

Trade only. No children

The May Design Series is the UK’s definitive interiors event. Meet British and international suppliers across five show sectors: Furniture | KBB | Lighting | Decor | DX The May Design Series welcomes previously unseen international suppliers alongside the best of new British talent. No other UK event provides such a diverse and evenly split floorplan, representing over 24 countries worldwide.

Organised by

FRANCE Left: Preface Below: Premium

Style ambassadors Modular living and upholstered beds are driving growth at Gautier while others target the UK with more traditional designs For more than 50 years Gautier has been designing and manufacturing its contemporary furniture in the Vendee region of western France. This rich manufacturing history continues to drive the global success of the business, with the company continuing to focus on producing the finest quality furniture for living, dining, adult and children’s bedrooms, 95% of which is manufactured in France.

‘Gautier today is most definitely an ambassador of stylish French living,’ says Harvey Roberts, Gautier UK md.

‘In the UK, the Gautier brand has now been established for more than 30 years, and the last year has witnessed unprecedented growth in sales across the market, as the ongoing introduction of a raft of new ranges over the past two years really started to drive success.’

Roberts says the latest modular living ranges such as Preface have been a major commercial hit, with consumers

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delighted by the flexibility of the products to fit into any living space while retaining a highly contemporary and stylish design for the home.

Last year saw Gautier invest in new manufacturing facilities at its Le Boupere factory so that it could manufacture upholstered beds for the first time. The result was the launch of the Premium range, which sits at the top of a highly distinctive and luxurious modular range of adult bedroom collections.

‘Gautier is now well placed to strategically expand our dealer network by introducing our successful concept

within retailers in targeted locations across the UK. Indeed we are actively looking for furniture retailers with who we can partner and develop a great business and who share our spirit of entrepreneurialism and passion to exceed customers’ expectations. With a proven in-store concept, a pipeline of further beautiful new products, extensive marketing activity, and a dedicated support team in St Albans, there is every reason to believe that the success of Gautier in the UK will continue,’ says Roberts.

Gautier, tel: 01727 875 114

ARTIGO Collection

FRENCH MANUFACTURER

Be inspired by our stylish range of kids, adult, living and dining room furniture at www.gautier.co.uk

GAUTIER UK - Unit 9, Park Industrial Estate St ALBANS - AL2 2 DR Tel. 01727-875114 / Email: uksales@gautier.fr 100 STORES WORLDWIDE

DUBAÏ

PARIS

DELHI

GENEVA

MOSCOW

LONDON

TORONTO

RIYADH

CASABLANCA

FRANCE

Boissigny’s top selling range Ariege

Bernard Siguier’s Belle Helene

Akante has introduced taupe to the colours for its wood and glass furniture.

The Celia coffee table is available in taupe, lacquered grey and black and three sizes. The Oxana coffee table in two sizes comes in a polished or brushed finish and colours include orange, grey, clear, and black and white. The Olivea nest of tables is available in smoky mahogany, grey, sand blasted, low iron and blue glass.

While Artcopi’s solid oak furniture has a standard finish, champagne oak, brushed atelier oak, brushed standard oak or old oak finishes are options.

Ateliers Berniolles has manufactured occasional furniture for four decades and each piece is available in a variety of colours and sizes.

Bernard Siguier’s passion for manufacturing bespoke furniture has conquered foreign markets with its selection of more than 30 colours and finishes and its in-house production ability to make to measure. Belle Helene combines elegant details and harmonious shapes.

Boissigny’s top selling range Ariege can be entirely customised thanks to the choice of four levels of distressing and

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

the combination of 12 colours of wood or painted finishes. The solid oak range includes dining room and occasional furniture, with five dining tables in various standard sizes plus the possibility of made to measure. Its solid oak Fabrik collection takes you back to the 1960s and offers a graphite or white lacquer finish.

Couture specialises in traditional oak

Kok Maison’s bestselling Loom

furniture and its Berangere dining collection features solid oak or thick veneered panelled tops for the dining table. The available finishes are taupe, ivory, grey, blue, black, red, slate grey, pearl grey and off-white.

For three generations the familyowned Kok Maison has focused on woven products and since 2004 it has concentrated on design and new material developments such as the use of 100% recyclable synthetic fibres.

Its bestselling Loom offers infinite combinations of colours while the new Brighton range has a chaise longue which is especially made for conservatories and country homes. It is available in standard colours including ash and putty as well as on demand colours including chocolate, pastel pink, ruby red and peacock blue.

Visit: http://glpc.co.uk

January Furniture Show Birmingham

REVIEW

Makasi Imports supplies oak and teak root furniture and home accessories.

Forte Furniture’s St Tropez (left) combined wood frames, high gloss fascias and lighting while Bronte’s (above) comprehensive range and mellow oak decor attracted attention.

The Saltash dining collection was a highlight on the Rowico stand, including an extending dining table, choice of sideboards (pictured), coffee, console and lamp tables, TV unit, rattan dining chair and stool, and buttoned and studded upholstered dining chair.

Crowd pullers Highlights of the inaugural event Visit: www.januaryfurnitureshow.com

Upholstery and bed manufacturer Baotian Furniture made its NEC debut, with designs on show including the 0618 modular threesectioned sofa (pictured), round chaise and matching ottoman.

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

REVIEW

Avoiding playing it safe with just neutrals, Time Living introduced two fabric bed frames, Naxos (below) in bright green or grey with rounded edges in woven linen and Opalia in red or grey.

January Furniture Show Birmingham

Rauch’s Nice 4 Home range was an example of one room living combining lounge and bedroom.

‘It’s our task to bring new ideas to the retailer to help generate sales.

Only if they sell, will we do well,’ says Sven Schreiber, Rauch export director.

Wiemann’s Westside, pictured in Havanna glass, opens from the centre in the larger, four-door options.

PD Global debuted the living and dining room Granary Royale, a twist on its original Granary collection with a lighter finish to show more of the natural grain of the fruitwood timber.

Pictured is the extending Butterfly dining table and chairs.

Lebus Upholstery’s Camden uses contrast to stand out from the crowds.

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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January Furniture Show Birmingham

REVIEW

Lighting company WestLite introduced all new lines including table lamp bases, shades, and ceiling lights, both crystal and LED. Wade Upholstery showcased nine new designs, 10 new leathers and six new fabric collections. Designs included Fraser, a buttoned-back version of Dillon and the addition of a chaise longue (pictured) to Radley, creating a corner unit.

Seconique debuted a plethora of ranges and its 2015 catalogue, encouraging a high number of new and existing customers. The standout line was Tortilla: a chunky, solid pine collection in distressed waxed pine, attracting customers with its modern twist on the bestselling Corona range. Also popular were the additions to its bed range: Amber, Celia (left with Charisma bedroom) and Corbin along with the new side-opening Franklyn storage bed (above with Charles bedroom) as it continued its long-established policy of offering quality products at value for money prices.

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

REVIEW

January Furniture Show Birmingham

Record orders James Hudson, business development director – furniture (left) and Mat Penney, product director, with The Furniture Award trophy for Dexter (below)

Gallery Direct started the year on a high at the January Furniture Show.

‘Our double-decker stand and accompanying additional space were the talk of the show. We were able to use the extensive space available on the two stands to great advantage to beautifully display a wide selection of our 1,000-plus SKUs that are available across our brands, Gallery Home, Hudson Living and Frank Hudson,’ says Peter Delaney, Gallery Direct md.

Two catalogues – Gallery Home Volume 1 and Frank Hudson Collection 2015 – were launched, complementing the existing Gallery Big Book and Soft Furnishings Collection.

‘Gallery Home Volume 1 includes: Gallery’s 2015 mirror collection, a signature range of diverse individually designed mirrors; Hudson Living furniture, made from the finest timbers and unique materials; and new soft furnishings, an inspiring range of textiles and accessories to add the finishing touch to interiors. Frank Hudson Collection 2015 features an updated and simplified offering of its furniture.

‘The stands and new collections all received incredibly positive feedback from new and existing customers, which was reflected in record orders being written during the event,’ he says.

As well as the achievements on the order front, Gallery won the The Furniture Award Mid-Level category for its Hudson Living Dexter side tables and accompanying range.

Dexter was designed to create a statement piece that could enhance the feel of different room settings, using high quality materials and traditional carpentry techniques. It is available with either an inlaid parquet top or faux concrete resin top.

This versatile mindy ash product was praised by the judges for being on-trend, well-proportioned and likely to stand the test of time.

‘The whole team put in a tremendous amount of time and effort preparing for the show, but it was worth it. We wrote record orders and we are delighted to have won the Furniture Award 2015 MidLevel category,’ adds Delaney.

Visit: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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January Furniture Show Birmingham

REVIEW

Elm goes Urban Furniture Origins unveiled a collection of styles and products brought together in the Urban collection, using reclaimed elm to give a distinctive look and natural finish for customers seeking a true rustic appearance.

The collection is further enhanced by using blue stone inserts on the sideboard, console, coffee and lamp tables, for a timeless appeal.

Furniture Origins, tel: 07702 603 971

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

The Urban Collection. For enquiries, please contact barry.webb@furnitureorigins.co.uk or call: 07702 603971

to your success

dedicated Available on Containers and Wholesale through your Furniture Origins Area Sales Manager

Heimtextil Franfurt

REVIEW

True Brits It wasn’t just the Oscars where the Brits were out in force. Here’s a selection of UK companies that exhibited in Germany.

Visit: http://heimtextil. messefrankfurt.com

Rozz Connor produces a diverse collection of designs including geometrics, florals, Jacobeans, stripes, checks and embroidery.

British Velvets showed its collections of stock and custom-made velvets, including digital prints alongside a new digitally printed cushion collection.

Clarke & Clarke debuted three embroidery/jacquard collections: Traviata, Zanzibar and Manor House; the Dimensions velvet collection; the wide-width Structures Trevira range; the Reflections embossed vinyl wallpaper collection and four plain/semi-plain ranges: Casanova, Palais, Monsoon and Moire.

The Isle Mill introduced Tummel Bridge and Clunie Burn, both inspired by the Scottish Highlands.

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Introducing 5 NEW colours to our Devonia range.

Devonia Collection A collection of opulently rich high-wool-content carpets available in an extensive range of solid colours that enhances any interior.

NEW COLOURS available now

Devonia Eggshell Blue 1306/76000

made in GREAT BRITAIN

To see the full range or request a free sample please visit: www.axminster-carpets.co.uk or call us: 01297 33533 / 32244

www.axminster-carpets.co.uk

Heimtextil Franfurt

REVIEW

Lincrusta debuted Tapestry wallpaper, inspired by its design archives and featuring leaf trails set within a classical ogee and embellished with stitch highlights. Also on show were Neo, a contemporary striated graphical texture, and Passeri, a traditional all-over floral design, and existing ranges including Edwardian dado panels (pictured).

Walltastic exhibited its collection of designer wallpaper murals and decor kits for children, ranging from tots to teens.

Ashley Wilde introduced 10 collections including Lotta (pictured).

Banafshe Schippel Design specialises in both CAD and hand painted designs from designers across the globe and showcased its latest collection which includes florals and geometrics.

Abraham Moon showed its wool fabrics for the fashion and home interior and fashion markets, made at its Yorkshire plant.

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SMD Textiles launched the Botanica collection of prints and weaves inspired by nature under its iLiv brand (pictured) alongside Henley, a mix of cotton prints, checks and stripes and the Imperio velvet collection.

T H E

N E W

S H O W

L O N D O N

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Date: End of February 2016 Venue: Chelsea Football Club After the success of The New London Fabric Show 2015, the BFM are pleased to announce that the exhibition will take place again at the end of February 2016.

For further information visit

http://www.bfm.org.uk/londonfabric or contact Jackie Bazeley on 01494 569124

Home/Top Drawer/Craft London

REVIEW The shows filled four halls Bottom: Loveramics

Olympian success Relocating to a new venue resulted in bigger and better shows The move to London Olympia in January for Home, Top Drawer and Craft saw the shows expand to cover four halls and two levels.

Home, which consisted of two key elements, Modern Home Cook & Dine and Decorative Home, was the exclusive UK event for BlissHome, Grand Illusions, LSA International, Alessi, and Forma House. There was also saw a strong intake of new exhibitors, with Joseph Joseph, Apollo Housewares, Deadgood, George East Housewares, ICTC, Grunwerg and Skagerak joining established exhibitors including Gilberts, Stelton, Iittala, Universal Expert, Robert Welch Designs, Marimekko, Mini Moderns and Crown Trent.

A number of successful events, including the debut of the New Talent area, were also run over the three

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Home/Top Drawer/Craft London

REVIEW

Above: Will Hobhouse (left) and Sebastian Conran (right) drew visitors Left: Fanny Shorter Below: BlissHome

days. A programme of retail masterclasses with guest speakers including Heal’s chairman Will Hobhouse, and designer Sebastian Conran, drew appreciative full-houses.

‘The move to Olympia has been tremendously received, buyers were highly complementary about the new format and with Home, Top Drawer and Craft utilising the entire venue on two levels, it was obvious that the show has grown significantly. With a whole floor dedicated to Top Drawer and a popular new space for Craft, which had doubled in size, this was without question the most successful event we have run to date,’ says Ian Rudge, Home brand director.

Home and Top Drawer will return to London Olympia from 13-15 September.

Visit: www.home-london.net

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Interiors Monthly March 2015

Encore cushions.

Guaranteed performance for 4years.

What’s not to love?

Retailers and their customers love Encore. We're not surprised because unlike almost all other cushions Encore-Fibre and Encore-Feather both come with a four year guarantee against flattening.

All that is needed to maintain their performance is regular turning. And that isn't difficult as they are lighter than similar feather or fibre cushions. The secret is in their unique construction. Encore cushions are constructed using a core of foam and either fibre or feather. This allows the cushion to

“spring” back to its original shape again and again.

And that is something you'll find very comforting.

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Tel:01535 606846

See our new website & video at: IT JUST KEEPS ON PERFORMING

www.encorecushion.co.uk

IT JUST KEEPS ON PERFORMING

BE YOUR OWN BOSS

Regional Sales Manager

If you are self-motivated, hard working and believe that you can run your own business then we can offer you a joint venture Carpet and Flooring Warehouse franchise.

A highly rewarding opportunity with great earning potential, to join a chain of like-minded franchisees. Majority funding can be made available and we can also offer a preliminary Management position as the first step toward this exciting role.

Reporting to the Managing Director Significant salary to reflect the responsibility A rare opportunity to join at a senior level Cormar Carpets, the ‘UK Manufacturing’ brand leader, in tufted carpets. Over the last few years, Cormar has continued to expand and require a self-motivated, positive and enthusiastic individual to join their Senior Sales Management team.

IN-STORE CONCESSION SPACE Are you looking for the right outlet for your business, but struggling to find anywhere suitable in size, price or location? Look no further!

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and working with a team of Sales Representatives who sell to independent carpet retailers. The role involves working with the Managing Director and three other Senior Regional Managers to develop and implement sales and growth strategies. Ideally the applicant should have good commercial skills and a proven track record.

We can provide your business with 1,000 to 10,000 sq ft of shop floor space.

Various locations and easy in, easy out terms offered.

Applicants must have good written and spoken communication skills, along with the ability to get on with people and work as a team player.

Much of this role will involve motivating, supporting and developing the team. Applicants must also be able to prioritise work and respond well under pressure.

Knowledge of the carpet trade is not essential, although the ideal applicant would have experience in managing and directing a sales team.

Relocation is not required because the sales team will be based around the position. As such, applicants are invited from anywhere within the UK.

So, if you sell Beds or Dining Furniture, Fabrics or Upholstery, Tiles or Sanitary Ware, you can join the Carpets4Less success!

If you are interested in joining a family run business in this varied and challenging role then please forward your C.V. with a hand written covering letter summarising your relevant skills and experience to Carla Pickford, HR Manager, Cormar Carpets, Brookhouse Mill, Bury, BL8 4HR.

For an informal chat regarding either of the above business opportunities, please call Malcolm or Carl on 01234 220077.

Close date is Tuesday 31st March 2015

Surplus stock?

End of lines?

Tuesday / Wednesday 19th / 20th May 2015 Kidderminster Golf Club - one of the best courses in the Midlands and host for the past 58 years!

Stay overnight and play golf on the second day All newcomers welcome Closing date for entries May 2nd 2015

FORMAT FOR 2015 DAY ONE Four Ball Team Event DAY TWO Two Ball Team Event OTHER ATTRACTIONS s Bacon roll and coffee courtesy of the Committee s Prizes for Top 3 teams on both days s Nearest the Pin s Longest Drive s Tombola s Secret Auction Largest carpet manufacturing / retailer golf tournament in the UK. Over £1,000,000 has been raised for charity.

The Bridge Trust, Tonbridge, Kent Registered Charity No. 1050291 www.thebridgetrust.org.uk Design: kingsfordcreative.co.uk

Email: t.jones@brockway.co.uk Tel: 01562 824737 Fax: 01562 752010

Please consider donating it to our Charity Furniture Warehouse, the sales from which help to fund our work with single homeless adults. Contact our Warehouse direct on 01732 365988.

THE BIGGEST FLOORING DISTRIBUTOR PRESENTS THE BIGGEST TRADE OPEN DAY! BIG Discounts across all product categories...

BIG Name supplier support: Abingdon, Altro, Ardex, Associated Weavers, Balta, Balterio, Bostik, Egger, Gerflor, Gradus, Mapei, Polyflor, Quantum, Tarkett, Tremco, Uzin...

BIG Giveaways and Competitions...

BIG Prize draws for sporting events & electrical goods... ...refreshments available throughout the day including BIG Hog Roast

It’s gonna be BIG! Contact your local rep for details: Mercado Leeds • Thornes Farm Way Thornes Farm Business Park • Leeds • LS9 0PS

Join us on

Monday 30th March 2015

Reassuringly resilient and famous for being the hardest-wearing, Duralay underlays are engineered to be tough in every flooring situation.

The Duralay range features our renowned recycled crumb rubber plus specialist solutions for wood, laminate, underfloor heating and contract applications so every floor can be protected by Duralay.

UK Sales: 01706 238 810 www.interfloor.com

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