Interiors Monthly May 2023

Home heroes

Beds and bedroom

Reasons to be cheerful: part 2

Shoppers continue to spend but is one major manufacturer preparing to cut debts rather than buying?

I mentioned in the previous issue that it was remarkable that, given the cost of living crisis, shoppers are continuing to spend so much on furniture and flooring. And in March they did it again, spending the second and fourth highest totals respectively since records began. Yes, obviously price rises have played a part in lifting the spend, but retailers are obviously offering shoppers what they want.

It was interesting that among the latest update from Victoria Group – a decade of growth in both turnover and underlying operating profit – was a word that I can’t remember it using before: deleveraging.

In its most recent half-year results it had net debts of £651.4m and a debt to EBITDA ratio of 3.4. With it still in the process of absorbing Balta, is this an indication that the expected profits of c£200m will now be going to reduce the debt rather than adding to its portfolio of brands? Geoff Wilding’s keen eye for a deal across the world means you can never say acquisitions are off the table, but until the Balta integration is further down the road, I think the cheque book will be staying in the drawer. (Cue an announcement about a week after writing this.)

Congratulations to Tristine Hargreaves for becoming executive director at the NBF. Having worked there before she’ll know the size of the shoes she is filling, with Jessica Alexander stepping down after 36 years at the association. What Alexander has done for the UK bed sector – both retail and manufacturing – is remarkable and surely it is about time somebody nominated her for an honour, especially in this coronation month.

Congratulations also to those behind setting up the Register of Approved Mattress Recyclers. Retailers have long needed assurances that mattress recyclers are doing what they claim, and what the retailers tell their customers that they are doing. May its membership grow now standards have been set.

INTERIORS MONTHLY MAY 2023

NEWS

4 Near record sales for furniture and flooring

8 Hargreaves takes the helm

12 Victoria to meet £200m profit target

FEATURES

18 Service 20

24 Awards

time ahead

Vote today in the Interiors Monthly Awards 2023

25 B est of British Home -grown heroes

45 B eds and bedroom

The latest from the sector

62 LVT

In the detail

68 Wood and laminate

Finding freedom, fitting rules

74 Rugs Exclusives

76 Preview imm Cologne, Long Point

80 Review

CIFF, MIFF, Proposte, VIFA

Editor: Andrew Kidd

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

Furniture advertising (South): Tim Boden

M: 07976 122 150 E: tboden@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Furniture advertising (North): Jarrod Bird

T: 01565 631 397 E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Carpet, flooring advertising: Joanne Paull

M: 07817 624 922 E: jpaull@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Representative in India: Amarjeet Singh Gianni

T: 0091 98390 35458 E: as_gianni@yahoo.co.in

Published

Registered

Retail sales see almost record spending in March

Furniture and flooring saw near record levels of retail spending in March.

March saw second best month for retail furniture sales.

March saw the highest value of retail sales of furniture and lighting in the past five years.

Sales in England, Wales and Scotland totalled £1,675,690,000, according to the Office for National Statistics’ first estimate.

This was a 31.5% increase on February and a 4.39% increase on March 2022.

Sales were 52.9% higher than March 2021, 65.88% higher than March 2000 and 22.38% higher than March 2019.

Of the 447 months since comparable records began

Furniture inflation drops below 10%

Retail furniture price inflation dropped below 10% for the first time in more than a year in March.

The rate for household furniture dropped from 10.4% to 9.6%: the seventh consecutive drop.

The rate for garden furniture dropped from 10.8% to 9.8%, while lighting saw the rate drop from 2.3% to 1%.

Furnishing fabrics and curtains dropped from 0.7% to -2%, the second drop in three months.

Flooring inflation creeps down

Retail flooring inflation edged down in March, but still remains above 10%.

Prices rose by 10.3%, down from the 10.4% annual rise witnessed in February.

The fall was because of a lower increase in the price of carpets and rugs, which saw the increase drop from 11.4% to 10.7% – still the third highest figures in the past year.

In contrast smooth flooring saw the rate increase from 7.8% to 9.3%.

in January 1986, March was the second highest and just £43.648m below the record month of December 2022.

Flooring sales totalled £268,127,000 in March. This was 28.56% higher than February 2023, but 3.59% lower than March 2022. It was 143.4% higher than March 2021, 148.1% higher than March 2020 and 95.98% higher than March 2019.

Of the 447 months, March was the fourth highest and just £22.278m below the record month of March 2008. Only March 2022 (£278.13m) and September 2007 (£270.75m) have seen higher sales.

The figures are not seasonally adjusted, do not allow for inflation and are subject to revision.

Easter ‘encouraging’ for Bensons

Bed chain Bensons for Beds has said sales growth accelerated in the past quarter.

Growth in the three months to the end of March was 9%, compared with 7% in the previous quarter. Online sales jumped by 32%.

Trading across Easter was described as ‘encouraging’.

The chain says it wants to open more branches to build on the momentum, both in new locations and in areas it has previously closed stores in.

‘This has been a quarter of real innovation and pace for the team. Despite the UK’s economic challenges, it’s clear

our investment in our stores, online and in product innovation, is being warmly received by our customers,’ says Nick Collard, Bensons chief executive.

Elite expansion

A West Yorkshire flooring retailer has opened its third store. Trading as Elite Floor Coverings, the 10,000sqft outlet occupies a former coach works at Low Mills, near Westside Retail Park.

‘The new showroom and warehouse provides the ideal facility for us to continue to grow and expand, meeting the needs of both our longestablished client base and the growing demands of the region’s expanding new-build housing sector,’ says co-director Simon Thomas.

Haworth adds ‘shining star’ Zanotta to portfolio

Italian furniture manufacturer Zanotta has been bought by US office furniture group Howarth.

The deal sees Zanotta join Cassina, Cappellini, Ceccotti, Karakter, Poltrona Frau, Luxury Living, JANUS Et Cie, Luminaire and Interni as part of the US$2bn manufacturer’s brands.

Haworth entered the Italian furniture market in 2014, paying US$270m for a 58.6% holding in Poltrona Frau Group (rebranded as Haworth Lifestyle Design), which previous owner Charme had expanded by buying Cappellini and Cassina.

Zanotta – best known for iconic designs such as the Maggiolina chaise-longue, Sciangai coat stand, Sacco armchair, Tonietta chair, Mezzadro stool and Leonardo table – has sales of €25m.

Introducing the new Tudor Co-ordinates.

20 plain and 4 co-ordinating stripes make up our newest 100% wool range, Tudor Co-ordinates.

Taking the best selling colours from our beloved Tudor Twist range, creates a modern colour palette with a splash of colour.

POS available to order now, contact the sales office to find out more.

Tel: 01562 749300 / Email: sales@myvictoria.co.uk

WOOL

Hargreaves takes the helm at NBF

The National Bed Federation has recruited Tristine Hargreaves, its former technical manager, as its new executive director.

Hargreaves was technical manager for four years before leaving to work for research and technology organisation SATRA. She has spent most of her working life in technical roles within the furniture industry, having previously worked at Silentnight, Next and FIRA.

She succeeds Jessica Alexander, who announced her decision to step down last October, after 17 years in the role. Alexander will, however, be staying on in a part-time consultancy capacity to support the team.

‘It’s been an absolute joy and a privilege working for the NBF and The Sleep Council for the past 36 years, but now feels the right time to step back a bit and allow others to take up the reins and lead the NBF into whatever future challenges and opportunities lie ahead,’ she says.

‘I am delighted to be returning to the NBF as executive director. Having worked closely with Jessica over the past five years, I have been involved in many of the NBF initiatives and projects aimed at helping the industry, including increasing its knowledge with regard to sustainability and the environment. l’m looking forward to building upon the great work that has been achieved so far,’ says Hargreaves.

‘Jessica has worked for the NBF for an incredible 36 years, initially on the PR side, introducing the hugely successful marketing initiative National Bed Month and then running The Sleep Council for more than 10 years before taking over the running of the NBF itself in 2006. She has been an inspiring leader of the NBF, overseeing its transformation into the modern, forward-thinking, leading trade association it is today – we can’t thank her enough for all that she has done for the industry and we are really pleased she has agreed to stay on and give us the benefit of her experience, passion and drive in a consultancy role for a while longer,’ says Jim Gerety, NBF president.

‘Equally, we are thrilled to be welcoming Tristine back and feel sure her knowledge and enthusiasm will ensure the continuity of the good work the NBF is already doing, and that she will bring her own individual and fresh perspective to the role. Our members can rest assured that they continue to be in safe hands.’

Kenbro gets green light for flats development

Southend flooring retailer Kenbro has secured planning permission to demolish its store and warehouse to build 34 flats.

The plan will also see three retail units constructed on the ground floor, one of which Kenbro intends to use.

‘Kenbro has downsized the store, still in the same location, and condensed all the stock down and is still open. The land has not been sold yet to any developer and the plan for the company is to relocate only for a while – 18-24 months – when the time is correct, whilst redevelopment takes place with three large new retail units, and then return to the original Kenbro site,’ says

Clerk avoids jail sentence after £22,500 fraud

A payroll clerk at flooring company Airea has avoided a prison sentence despite defrauding the company of more than £22,500.

Part of Sadie Lodge’s role at the manufacturer was to prepare payroll spreadsheets, but management discovered names that ‘should not have been there,’ Leeds Crown Court was told.

The bank details for the names were all linked to Lodge, with payments between January and March 2020 ranging from £150 to £5,244. She made payment to Wakefield Council to pay her rent, while the company credit card was used to buy goods with various online accounts at Argos, eBay and Virgin Media. In total she had defrauded the company of £22,508.

Lodge admitted fraud and an offence of stalking linked to her partner’s former partner: she had sent messages, made false complaints to social services and damaged her car.

Lodge has 13 convictions for 20 previous offences, from 2008 to 2021, including fraud.

Although Lodge pleaded guilty on 6 April, judge Robin Mairs told her that he needed time to consider her sentence and remanded her into custody at New Hall prison in Flockton, West Yorkshire.

Tony Mason, Kenbro owner.

‘Retail has changed a lot over the years and a lot of companies have downsized. We have too – we are working in about half of the shop and it’s a sign of the times. Everything has gone up in cost, and lots of businesses are working from showrooms and do not need such big units. We have a massive name and customer base in Southend, and a nice relationship with many customers.’

The plans will see eight one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom and seven threebedroom flats built on the Sutton Road site, with the two-storey building replaced by a three and four storey-building.

Sentencing her on 11 April, he told her: ‘You richly deserve to go back to HMP New Hall. That’s what prison is like, you have had four days of it. If you breach the order I give you, I will, without hesitation, send you back to New Hall. If you stick your hand in the till of any new company, you will comeback before me and go back to New Hall.

‘This was not a spur-of-themoment offence, it was calculated. You doctored those spreadsheets so you could take away £22,508.’

He sentenced her to 20 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, 200 hours of unpaid work, and ordered a restraining order of indeterminate length in relation to the stalking.

RECRUITMENT

If you are looking to recruit staff for your furniture or flooring stores, looking for sales staff or reps for your manufacturing outlet, then INTERIORS MONTHLY offers a great package!

Our online package is just £175. Your advert will appear in our jobs section on the website until the position is filled or you ask us to remove. Our weekly newsletter, which is mailed every Thursday to 7000 industry professionals, also includes a list of these latest jobs.

If you have both online and quarter page recruitment advert in our magazine, the cost will only be £250!

Costs for larger recruitment adverts are available upon request.

Please contact Jarrod on E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

T: 01565 631 397

TAKE YOUR SHARE OF THE MARKET…

“We took around 30% of annual turnover in two weeks…”

“We were very apprehensive about holding our first Greenwood Sale and we just couldn’t quite believe the sales projections.

We had a figure in mind for the two-week event that we would be happy with but, we surpassed it in the first few days! Overall, we took around 30% of annual turnover in the two weeks. [Sale held in March 2023].

Your Event Manager was absolutely incredible and at the end of the sale we didn’t want him to go! We would certainly hold another Greenwood Sale – once we’ve caught up!”

Andrew Bright, M.D., Soundsleep Ltd, Diss, Norfolk.

“Don’t Hire a Marketing Company Until You’ve Seen Greenwood…”

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Learn all about the new super-effective Greenwood Digital Sales Campaign. Call me on 07771 700247 to discuss the exciting possibilities for your next big sales event without obligation or, send an email enquiry with your contact details and I’ll call you…

DISCOVER OUR REDEVELOPED CASSIUS & DARIUS RANGES

Cassius and Darius in our renowned Invictus brand will get a fashion update this year.

14 updated colours in a 70oz and 50oz pile weight respectively offer a soft saxony product with a heathered appearance, one of the few products to offer this in the market today, the recoloured ranges are planned for launch in May.

Please ask your local area sales manager for more details

20232026

‘Laser-focused’ Victoria to meet £200m profit target

Victoria Group says it will meet its profit expectations of about £200m.

The group says it will achieve expectations of sales of £1.364bn–£1.519bn and a range of £196m–£203m for underlying EBITDA.

It says it will deliver its tenth consecutive year of revenue and underlying operating profit growth. Total volume sold will exceed 200million sqm for the first time, for the financial year ended 1 April.

‘The directors’ conviction that Victoria is well-positioned to deliver further earnings and cash flow growth in FY24 and beyond is underpinned by the known synergy gains from completion of the Balta re-organisation,’ it says.

‘Furthermore, whilst the group is not immune to the external factors that impact consumer demand or inflationary pressures, the board is confident that Victoria's inherently low operational gearing, combined with price increases (where essential), cost savings, and tight supply chain management, will mitigate the financial impact

of any macro-economic uncertainty in the year ahead. Victoria remains competitively very well placed in its markets to defend its position and capitalise on opportunities where gaps appear, and the directors are confident in the company's ability to continue to create wealth for shareholders,’ it adds.

‘We are laser-focussed on the reorganisation of Balta and the integration of other recent acquisitions. Completion of these projects is expected to deliver a significant uplift in productivity and cash flow, even during a period of economic uncertainty, which underpins our confidence in outlook for FY24 earnings growth and deleveraging,’ says Geoff Wilding, Victoria Group executive chairman.

The re-organisation will save it at least €15m a year. Production of Balta’s carpets is being moved to the UK, with lower production and transport costs and quicker delivery. 295 jobs will be lost. Rug production is being centralised at the Sint-Baafs Vijve, Belgium site, along with moving some production to Turkey, with the loss of 220 jobs.

White: We’ll keep John Lewis unique

Sharon White, John Lewis Partnership chairman says she will ‘preserve what makes the Partnership unique’ as she tackles the cost of living and sustainability.

‘We know that if retail in the UK is to thrive, we cannot ignore the pace of change going on in the world. We’re adapting just as others must. Our main efforts to change are about how we serve customers, and how we ensure we are on a strong financial footing to continue to do so,’ she told the Telegraph

‘So, while we and our customers adjust to a changing world, we will act while preserving what makes the John Lewis

Portfolio move

Home textiles supplier Portfolio Home has introduced a trade portal, allowing customers to order online, check stock availability, download marketing material and see algorithm-powered suggestions based on purchasing history.

‘We’re committed to helping our customers find the right product at the right price and we’re confident we’ve

Buying habits are changing, says White

Partnership unique: being the retailer built on social purpose – the biggest employee-owned business.

‘It is critical that we listen and act on

created a best-in-class website to always get our customers everything they need instantly: it’s essential in such a changing retail market landscape,’ says Bradley Robinson, Portfolio Home IT director.

‘The website is designed to be accessible, with a responsive design that makes it easy to use on any device,

what our customers tell us,’ she says, adding that the rising cost of living and the environment are top of the minds of the group’s customers.

‘These worries are affecting habits as customers try to balance managing their spending while living more sustainably. Our customers are now more financially prudent, shopping more of our value ranges and spending a bit less. But they still want to do the right thing. Only 6% of consumers have cancelled their regular charity donations. Instead, people are shopping in a purposeful manner.’

desktop, tablet or smartphone, allowing stockists to order anywhere, 24/7.

‘The new website will support our ambitious plans for further growth. It has become the ideal platform for us to communicate our brand story and communicate the value we provide our customers whilst highlighting our expertise in our market.’

www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Bar stools make a practical addition to your kitchen island or breakfast bar, they add height and elegance to an area and make use of an existing higher surface, without taking up too much room.

Our Cafe Stools (shown) are perfect for enjoying your morning coffee and croissants. With an elegant cross back design, curved leg detail, solid wood frames and hand woven rattan, perfect for bringing a little French cafe touch to your home.

1 Nothing can quite match the elegance of a refined cut-pile carpet, and with Abingdon Flooring’s new Stainfree Timeless, homes can enjoy a carpet that epitomises the classic look. Available in a palette of 11 tones that reflect modern taste, Timeless has a dense 1/10th-gauge construction and inviting pile, for a Stainfree carpet that’s luxurious to walk on as well as eminently practical.

Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

2 Moduleo’s new Roots collection brings six interior themes: Escape to the Desert, Breeze in the North, Echo the Sea, Orbit the Future, Awaken the Forest and Rock the Classics, allowing homeowners to find

the perfect luxury vinyl floor to make a space uniquely theirs and create a home inspired by the latest interior trends.

Visit: www.moduleo.co.uk

3 Maxdivani’s elegant and scenic Sospiro is a modular sofa with an airy, harmonious look, thanks to its soft and sculptural contours, minus any corners. The rounded back, seat and armrests are a defining feature, recalling pebbles smoothed by time and the slow action of the elements.

Visit: www.maxdivani.it

4 With BerryAlloc’s refreshed laminate flooring collection, homeowners can enjoy the same wood look in the herringbone

of Chateau, Ocean+ 100% water-resistant laminate or the versatility of Connect. That means a beautifully unified look with the freedom to mix features and different laying patterns from room to room.

Visit: www.berryalloc.com

5 While some fitters rely on the false economy of a basic gripper and double runs for their installations, savvy installers recognise that a single pass of Floorwise’s Diamond Gripper does a superior job and looks far more professional. Using it has become a mark of a high-quality carpet installation carried out by a professional who’s proud of their work.

Visit: www.floorwise.co.uk

ALL NOWSTANDSSOLD OUT!

Eye for detail Richard Renouf

Questions of alignment caused concerns for a draughtsman

The flight attendant performed the compulsory dance to the soundtrack of the airline’s safety recording. I always find it amusing that the recording instructs those who can’t hear – because their ears are full – to take their earphones out. This time I noticed a slight change in the script. It was now important that if I lost my phone ‘in the framework of the seat’ I was to call for help immediately. I felt smug for spotting the change and went back to reading my book.

The flight was uneventful and the hire car pick-up went smoothly, so I rang ahead to agree an earlier appointment time. Soon the customer was taking me through the features of his leather corner group.

The customer was a draughtsman who trained in the days when drawing boards were real desktops, but he had moved into the virtual world in more recent times. He had not, however, lost his sense of precision, and to him the suite had seams, cushions and backs that did not align. There was only one way to reassure a customer of this type that I was taking his complaint seriously and that was to get out the cross-line laser.

I projected some horizontal lines along the seams and some vertical lines at the junctions of the seating sections

and snapped away with my camera. I was amazed that the upholsterer had, in fact, managed to get very good alignment, considering that upholstery is largely reliant on hand skills rather than engineering. But there was one exception.

On the corner group, a corner section linked the two side sections. On the right-hand side, the cushion overlay fitted closely against the adjacent unit, but the left-hand side had a significant gap that was more than capable of swallowing much more than a mobile phone. If you’ve ever tried to rescue your phone or wallet from the side of your car seat, you’ll appreciate how inconvenient this could be.

I’d recently inspected a sectional sofa which had moved apart because it had become disconnected and had caused injury to the user. Recovering wedged items is hard enough, but the potential for issues if this customer inadvertently unlinked the sections in

the process was all too obvious.

Looking at the seating more closely, the issue appeared to be a stitching fault rather than uneven tension. The upholsterer ought to have noticed this and sent the covers back, as they must have been aware of the problem as they worked on the unit. But this is simply speculation as everyone has a different idea of ‘satisfactory’.

There is no industry standard for what is acceptable when it comes to the alignment of seams and cushions. I tend to use the old inch (25mm) as a rule of thumb, and in this case the gap was rather bigger than this, so it was straightforward to deal with.

The rest of the suite was, in my opinion, perfectly acceptable to what the law calls a ‘reasonable customer’, even if not to a precision draftsman.

Visit: www.richard-renouf.com

Richard Renouf is an independent furnishings consultant

The right-hand side was a close fit

There was a definite issue on the left-hand section

Busy times ahead

Hard work is required as shoppers seek alternative channels, but retailers still offer unique qualities, says our correspondent

When I say, ‘Busy times ahead,’ I don’t mean that we will have lots of customers spending lots of money. I mean that we are going to have to work very hard to get orders, and the day of the easy sale is gone.

Although there seem to be fewer flooring retailers in our high streets and retail parks, we are now being faced with an increase in competition from trade counters who deal directly with the end consumer. It seems that the majority of people buying this way do not realise that they will need a fitter to deal with that aspect of the job.

Over the past few months we have received a surprisingly high number of requests for ‘fitting only’ jobs. Then the follow-up comment: ‘We have the underlay and gripper on site for your fitter to use.’

When we turn down the opportunity to do a no-profit job, the customer will occasionally get annoyed, and more than once I have been told that it is ‘not a surprise that carpet shops are closing down as they obviously don’t want the work.’

Independent flooring retailers must remember that we have some things that money can’t buy. There is not a line on the sales invoice for ‘great service’ or ‘fitting guaranteed’. We don’t mention that, included in the invoice, the customer is getting sales assistance based on a wealth of knowledge and a genuine interest in what the customer wants and needs to purchase for their home. Perhaps we should advertise under the banner of ‘Great service and advice – free.’

Look to provide accreditation, for example membership of The Carpet Foundation. It offers free consumer and technical advice, a conciliation and arbitration service and branded POS posters, all of which underline the benefit of buying a carpet made by a Carpet Foundation manufacturer. Also, Checkatrade, Trust a Trader and the like will generate some potential sales enquiries, as well as providing a level of assurance for a prospective customer.

Customers are more likely to purchase

from someone who asks about the customer’s project and discusses colours, textures and qualities that the customer may be considering. An independent retailer will need to provide a much better customer experience compared to buying carpet from a trade counter. But you need to put in some hard work on every sales opportunity to change an enquiry into a sale.

Pricing is increasingly an issue. A good 75% of our quotes are being challenged by customers and we are being asked if we can beat another retailer’s price. In my mind this means that the customer does want to buy from us but we just need to negotiate a deal that both we and the customer are happy with.

The next few months could be difficult with the May bank holidays and the Coronation break interrupting the retail flow that we saw last year.

Let’s hope that we all have busy times ahead.

Andy Laird, Fludes Carpets md

THE RETAILER Fludes Carpets

Some shoppers don’t seem to realise they need their flooring fitted

FLOORING INSTALLATION PRODUCTS

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New beginning

Pappelina has begun producing rugs using Biovyn

More than two decades after it introduced its Vera rug, Pappelina has introduced a greener version. Vera 2.0 Bio-edition uses Biovyn, Ineos’ alternative to traditional PVC, and is the first plastic rug to use the material.

Biovyn has the same characteristics as traditional PVC in terms of durability, flexibility and recycling, but uses woodbased tall oil. Crude wood-based tall oil is a residue of the pulp-making process used for paper production and

has a carbon footprint 90% lower than conventional PVC.

However, Pappelina’s use of the new material is restricted, with Vera 2.0 described as ‘a limited edition’, due to supply constraints of Biovyn. Instead, the company is looking to incorporate it where it can.

The design has also been given a tweak, with Lina Rickardsson, Pappelina founder, increasing the gap between the dots slightly and creating a sharper

contrast between the dots and the rug background.

Pappelina has made its rugs in the same weaving mill in the Swedish town of Leksand since Rickardsson began designing table mats and linen rugs in the late 1990s – she switched to PVC after discovering ribbons of it at the mill, and it sold much better than linen. Today the company makes 100,000 rugs a year.

Visit: www.papalina.com

Lina Rickardsson

Vera 2.0 uses Biovyn instead of traditional PVC

Who gets your vote?

RETAILERS TO COMPLETE ONLY

Best Customer Service (Furniture)

Best UK Furniture Manufacturer

Best Overseas Furniture Manufacturer

Best Furniture Buying Group

Best Accessory Supplier

Best Lighting Manufacturer

Best Mattress Protection Provider

Best Bed Manufacturer (Upmarket)

Best Bed Manufacturer (Mid-market)

Best Bed Manufacturer (Value)

Best Bed Manufacturer (Adjustable)

Best Bed In A Box Supplier

Best Bedroom Manufacturer

Best Dining Room Manufacturer

Best Living Room Manufacturer

Best Children’s Furniture Manufacturer

Best Fabric Upholstery Manufacturer

Best Fabric Upholstery Manufacturer (Luxury)

Best Leather Upholstery Manufacturer

Best Leather Upholstery Manufacturer (Luxury)

Best Recliner Manufacturer

Best Home Entertainment Supplier

Best Flatpack Furniture Supplier

Best Furniture Wholesaler

Best Furniture Website

Best Customer Service (Flooring)

Best UK Flooring Manufacturer

Best Overseas Flooring Manufacturer

Best Flooring Buying Group

Best Carpet Manufacturer

Best Rug Supplier

Best Laminate Manufacturer

Best Solid/Engineered Wood Manufacturer

Best Underlay Manufacturer

Best Flooring Accessory Supplier

Best Vinyl Manufacturer

Best Luxury Vinyl Supplier

Best Rigid Floor Manufacturer

Best Flooring Website

Best Flooring Wholesaler

Best Software Supplier (Furniture)

Best Software Supplier (Flooring)

Best CGI Software Supplier

Best Finance Provider

Best Business Support (Furniture)

Best Business Support (Flooring)

Best Marketing Support (Furniture)

Best Marketing Support (Flooring)

Best Exhibition

Innovation of the Year

Best Warranty Provider

Best Product Protection Provider (Furniture)

Best Product Protection Provider (Flooring)

Best New Supplier

Product of the Year

SUPPLIERS TO COMPLETE ONLY

Best Flooring Retailer (1-3 stores)

Best Flooring Retailer (4+ stores)

Best Furniture Retailer (1-3 stores)

Best Furniture Retailer (4+ stores)

Best Online Retailer

You can download a copy of this form from www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk Email your nominations to: akidd@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Name: ...........................................................................................................

Company: ....................................................................................................

Position: Tel: ..................................... Email: ...............................................................

Best of British

New chapter

Community and sustainability are key to Barker and Stonehouse’s flagship store

When Charles Barker and Alex Stonehouse opened their first store in Stockton on Tees in 1946, they could hardly have imagined that 77 years later the company would be opening a £5m flagship store that embraces sustainability and society. But this is what it did on Good Friday, with Joanna Lumley officially opening the 50,000sqft store in Gateshead.

The branch, its 14th along with four

pick-up centres, has been two years in the making and has a number of innovative features. In line with the retailer’s eco-friendly approach, it has been designed with sustainability ingrained in its blueprint and a number of unique features.

It features an events and co-working space called The Nook. Featuring complimentary wi-fi, it’s a space that encourages visitors to stay a while, relax,

meet friends or work from the specially designed oak and glass hot-desk bar and lounge area.

Leading designers and makers, along with interior and design influencers, will be delivering an ongoing programme of special events and activities in The Nook, for customers and the public.

The top floor has a stunning indoor/ outdoor cafe bistro, run by leading North East restaurateur Daryl

Chadwick. The space seamlessly blends a large outdoor terrace with richly planted raised borders and an interior of terrazzo flooring, marble tables and dark wood cladding.

‘While Barker and Stonehouse is a national brand with stores across the country, the North East is very much still our home so we’re thrilled to be investing in the region and to be bringing our latest ideas and products to its people,’ says James Barker, Barker and Stonehouse md and Charles Barker’s grandson.

‘The Gateshead store opens a new chapter in the company’s history and has some fantastic unique design features. I’m hoping our customers will really enjoy making use of our co-working lounge and bistro. The store has been designed as a restful, organic space and showcases some truly exceptional furniture. It will be great seeing how customers respond to what we’ve done with the store and the mix of furniture, lighting and accessories we’ve sourced.’ Visit: www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk

At the heart of business

Graham Marshall, Abingdon Flooring sales director, national accounts and contracts division, on wishes for a government-led advertising and information drive

other marketing assets. It’s at the heart of our business and something we’re rightly proud of.

Do you think UK retailers understand sufficiently the advantages of sourcing from UK manufacturers?

There are many factors that go into the decision-making process for consumers, but ‘Made in Britain’ is certainly something our retailers use. The reassurance and confidence that come with a product that’s made in the UK and that has gone through rigorous quality control should not be underestimated. Consumers know they are more likely to receive a product they’re pleased with and that the support and back-up are there if they need help. Do retailers make enough of the fact to their customers that they are selling UK-made products?

What do you see as the main advantages of being a UK manufacturer?

Being a UK manufacturer puts us at a definite advantage when it comes to our customers. We’re closer to understanding their needs and we’re also more able to react quickly to changes. Heavy investment in both

manufacturing and logistics means that we are also able to offer high quality ranges, in many cases delivered the next day.

What efforts do you take to promote these advantages to UK retailers?

We believe strongly in what ‘Made in Britain’ represents to consumers and promote this throughout our POS and

For the retailer that appreciates the benefits of buying British – certainly so. We hope that the prominence of ‘Made in Britain’ on our branding helps in this and that it directs consumers to a wide range of carpets with something to offer everyone, if buying British is a key part of their decision.

What would you like to see the UK government do to help UK manufacturing?

A government-led advertising and information drive to get consumers thinking about buying British would be immensely helpful to all manufacturers, not just those making carpets. It would help to put British products in the public consciousness and help consumers to understand just what they will gain from choosing to invest in UK-made goods. Do you have overseas markets, and if so how has this changed since Brexit?

Our only overseas market is the Republic of Ireland, and trading has certainly become more complex since Brexit. However, the country represents an important customer base that we rightly value and support.

Visit: www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

Wilton Royal Charter Berber Loop

Wilton Royal Charter Plain Loop

Shout out

Mike Aramayo, Buoyant Upholstery md on making more noise and a forgotten trade

to buy a full container and pay in advance. I think that many retailers know that dealing with non-UK companies presents more challenges than solutions.

Do retailers make enough of the fact to their customers that they are selling UK-made products?

No, personally I don’t believe they do. We do not fly the ‘Made in UK’ flag enough. Both the manufacturing and retail sectors of the UK furniture industry need to be making more noise about their British-made products. I am a director of the BFM and am constantly pushing the Made in the UK campaign. What would you like to see the UK government do to help UK manufacturing?

What do you see as the main advantages of being a UK manufacturer?

There are three main advantages to being a UK manufacturer: the first is the flair for design we have. Designers across the country, including my own design team, are at the forefront of current trends and styles that shape the way we create furniture. Secondly, UK manufacturers can offer quick delivery, with fantastic transport systems and large fleets at their disposal. Finally, there is the quality workmanship that goes into every piece of furniture we make. The UK is renowned the world over

for fine craftsmanship in our products. What efforts do you take to promote these advantages to UK retailers?

We make a constant effort to keep our customers up to date with new designs and ideas. Our sales and marketing teams work hard to communicate with our customer base through many forms of social media, advertising in trade publications and direct marketing in the form of e-shots and newsletters.

Do you think UK retailers understand sufficiently the advantages of sourcing from UK manufacturers?

I think this depends mostly on their size. The majority of retailers cannot afford

Manufacturing upholstery in the UK often feels as though it has become a forgotten trade to the powers-that-be. We are not pushing job opportunities, the furniture market as a whole or the simple fact that UK manufacturers need all the help they can get.

Do you have overseas markets, and if so how has this changed since Brexit?

Our overseas market deals mainly with the Republic of Ireland. This has only become stronger after Brexit and Covid. We are seeing an increase in demand for quality UK-made furniture. Visit: www.buoyant-upholstery.co.uk

Miller

Harlow Austin

This year we unveiled a number of leather collections including the Ren Leather shown above. All our leather models are hand-crafted in the UK using ethically sourced and environmentally friendly Kind Leather®.

To learn more about the amazing benefits of Kind Leather please visit kindleather.com or scan the QR code:

www.buoyant-upholstery.co.uk

Insurance policy

Andrew Stanbridge, Carpet Foundation ceo on supporting independent retailers and communicating to consumers

What is the purpose of the Carpet Foundation?

Independent retailers are a vital route to market for manufacturers and our role is to support them and promote them to consumers. This is particularly relevant at the moment as there is renewed interest in ‘buying locally’. We can do things collectively that most companies can’t do on their own, such as promoting carpet to consumers nationally; running a code of practice for retailers; giving independent and impartial advice; dealing with negative stories about carpet, and talking to government.

How do you know your message is getting through to consumers?

We can see that when we advertise, for example on consumer websites, visits to

our website shoot up – and one doesn’t visit a carpet website for fun. While the code of practice may not be a ‘deal opener’ we do know it is a ‘deal clincher’.

As for advice, again looking at our website statistics, by far and away the most popular pages are ‘Find your local retailer’ and ‘General buying advice’.

Without us, independent carpet retailers wouldn’t have a consistent, collective voice or be promoted nationally, while for suppliers, our benefit is best summed up by the ceo of a manufacturer: ‘The Carpet Foundation is like an insurance policy. You never know when you are going to need it but when you do, you thank your lucky stars you have it.’ What does the future hold? Digital is the way forward in terms of

communicating, both with consumers and with the industry at large. We’ve been around for 21 years and adapting our business model has stood us in good stead.

How many members do you want?

We are a ‘Marmite’ organisation – we know that. Obviously, we would like more members but we just want to be big enough numerically to make a meaningful contribution for our retail and patron members.

If you could wave a magic wand, what would you like?

A greater understanding of the role of trade associations within an industry of our size. As one member said to us: ‘If you didn’t exist, we’d have to invent you.’ Visit: www.carpetfoundation.com

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

The Carpet Foundation highlights the benefits of buying from independent retailers

● Generous rebate scheme.

● Preferential trading terms.

● Exclusive ranges.

● Opportunities to share containers and access value markets.

● Over 100 suppliers UK and globally.

● Two networking events and exhibitions per year with free hospitality.

● High calibre buying expertise.

● Multiple categories including upholstery, dining and bedroom, cabinets, beds, rugs, lighting & accessories.

● The benefits of independence but still being part of a large group of companies.

An independent buying group for independent retailers

Pride

David Cormack, Cormar Carpet Company marketing director talks of UK manufacturing, supporting jobs and removing stress

What do you see as the main advantages of being a UK manufacturer?

Especially evident over recent years is the advantage of being able to supply carpet ranges within a matter of days to UK retailers. As we have experienced, you never know what challenges lie ahead, but having stock only a matter of hours away certainly helps, and takes away that added stress from our customers.

Then there’s the relationships that have built up over the years. We’ve been producing carpet in Lancashire since 1956 and delivering it nationwide. Our customers have come to rely on our service and quality and we do our level best to deserve that level of trust. Equally it’s great to be able to invite customers to visit our mills and for them to fully realise that they are supporting British jobs and carpet made here in the UK.

What efforts do you take you take to promote these to UK retailers? We’ve always promoted the fact that we

manufacture in Britain. It’s been on our vans since the 1970s and still is today. We make a point of adding our ‘Made In Britain’ messaging to our sampling POS and displays, as well as promoting our UK credentials online. The aim is to ensure that all retail customers and consumers who interact with Cormar are aware of how proud we are to be a British manufacturer.

Do you think UK retailers understand sufficiently the advantages of sourcing from UK manufacturers?

I think that the Covid outbreak brought home to many people how important it is to have their suppliers close to hand. There was once a supply chain maxim of ‘just in time’, which given the global shipping problems following the pandemic became ‘just too late’. At Cormar we particularly focus on service. We like to think that our warehouse is our retailers’ warehouse: that’s why we developed an online trade portal more than 10 years ago, so that our customers are able to get a ‘window’ into our stock, sitting here in the UK, which they can access quickly.

Do retailers make enough of the fact to their customers that they that are selling UK-made products?

Most UK manufacturers promote their Britishness so it’s there to see at POS, and our sales team do point this out when introducing new ranges. While there is cheap imported carpet coming into the country these days, it’s more important than ever that retailers advise customers where the product comes from and

provide a bit of background about the supplier. We believe we also have a duty to ensure Cormar ranges are competitively priced and offer value for money. What would you like to see the UK government do to help UK manufacturing?

UK manufacturing is crucial to the economy, employing over 2.5million people and accounting for around 10% of economic output, so investment is more crucial than ever. UK manufacturing has experienced a tough few years following Brexit and the rollercoaster of the pandemic, plus we have faced increasing inflationary pressures, like all businesses across the UK.

In our sector, though, we are particularly affected by the housing market. Anything the government can do to stimulate that would help UK carpet flooring manufacturers – whether that is re-introducing Help to Buy, encouraging housebuilders to build more new homes or sensibly relaxing building regulations.

Do you have overseas markets, and if so how has this changed since Brexit? Although we tend to be focused on the UK and Irish markets, Brexit has certainly introduced barriers and disruption to trading in terms of both our imports and exports. The administrative and logistical issues caused by Brexit, though easing now, have undoubtedly made trade with Ireland and Northern Ireland more difficult.

Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Then and now… Cormar has long promoted its UK manufacturing on its delivery fleet

New

Primo Ultra by

A firm favourite in family homes for over 10 years, Primo Ultra has been re-launched with a fresh palette of on-trend colours.

Stain resistant and bleach cleanable, Primo Ultra is now available in a range of 20 heather and plain shades and is made from 100% Excellon polypropylene.

MADE IN BRITAIN

SINCE 1956 www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Double success

Harrison Spinks has received two King’s Awards

Harrison Spinks has achieved two King’s Awards for Innovation and International Trade, bringing the company’s royal award total to seven.

The bed brand, which is active in 13 European countries, plus the USA, Canada, Korea and Australia, secured the King’s Award for Innovation thanks to significant work as an industry leader in innovation and design, including its design and manufacture of glue-less fine-wire pocket springs, used in its 100% recyclable mattresses.

Since its last successful Award win in 2019 – the Queen’s Award it holds for Sustainable Development – the business has made progressive leaps in innovation, developing and patenting new technology and design. To reach the goal of affordable, ecological luxury, it has focused on developing an innovative

pocket-sprung mattress design, leading the way in which it transforms raw materials into world-leading innovation.

Harrison Spinks also secured the King’s Award for International Trade thanks to its continued focus on manufacturing premium, sustainable handmade beds in international markets.

‘It is a huge honour to be recognised with two inaugural King’s Awards this year, which sit proudly alongside the Queen’s Award we hold for Sustainable Development. These awards are a reflection of the hard work the team has delivered, ensuring we are constantly championing innovation and highquality, sustainable design,’ says Simon Spinks, Harrison Spinks chairman.

‘From an international trade perspective, we’re proud that our British values of sustainable innovation and

quality have truly set us up for success in a global marketplace. These awards are especially important to us as a British business – we are a company that champions homemade and homegrown materials, supports businesses that manufacture in the UK, and one that works with organisations such as British Wool on campaigns like the Traceable Wool Scheme.

‘Our team has put in a lot of hard work this year and we’re proud this has been recognised with an award for international trade. We’re also thrilled to have been awarded the title for innovation, as we continue to be industry leaders while maintaining the highest standards of production.’

The two King’s Awards follow a standout year for the company, which saw it awarded Bed Manufacturer of the Year at the 2022/23 NBF Awards as well as becoming C2C accredited, a process that verifies products are safe, sustainable and ethically sourced, and consists of a rigorous, 18-month thirdparty product certification programme.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise was previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, and the new name reflects Charles III’s desire to continue the legacy of Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding UK businesses.

Now in their 57th year, the awards are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with successful businesses able to use the King’s Awards emblem for the ensuing five years. Visit: www.harrisonspinks.co.uk

Miller

Harrison Spinks was presented with the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development in 2019

Marquis

We’re honoured that our commitment to innovation and international trade has once again been recognised, with two King’s Awards for Enterprise. We are delighted to retain these two awards, which sit proudly with our Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development.

A family business since 1840, and holders of seven Enterprise Awards in our time, we’re committed to making the most luxurious beds in the most sustainable way. It’s why we have developed our own unique spring technology, grow our natural fillings on our farm and weave our FR chem free mattress fabrics for a cleaner night’s sleep.

HARRISONSPINKS

. CO .UK

An honour like no other, for beds like no other.

Virtue

UK

What do you see as the main advantages of being a UK manufacturer?

With so many finished products now arriving from across the world, it has become a challenge for UK consumers to buy products that are UK made. The UK has a long history of manufacturing carpets, and we are proud to be part of a home-grown industry that is still thriving and contributing to our economy. Retailers confirm that many consumers want to buy British and see it as a positive, and many ask: ‘Where is it made?’ We manufacture our carpet products in Bangor, Northern Ireland and that gives us direct control over the specification and quality of the finished product. Our customers want products that are problem-free, and having control over the manufacturing process enables us to ensure that happens. Once made, our products are shipped within the UK to our distribution centres in Dartford, Preston and Stonehouse, to ensure that we have the stock available when our customers need it. We are not impacted by borders or customs clearance issues and have control over the delivery date. What efforts to you take you take to promote these advantages to UK retailers?

We are closely connected to our customers by our team of 24 area sales

managers covering all areas of the UK. They know the importance and heritage associated with being a UK manufacturer and it is an important part of our sales approach. Our award-winning POS and literature carry a ‘UK manufactured’ logo. We are proud of our UK heritage and use the logo to communicate this to our customers and consumers alike. Do you think UK retailers understand sufficiently the advantages of sourcing from UK manufacturers? We get a great deal of support from the majority of our customers but there is room for improvement. Many customers have noticed the difference in the past couple of years: they don’t have to wait for weeks for their orders to come in and they can get direct contact with our distribution centres to identify stock availability and delivery times. This means they can fulfil their customers’ orders quickly.

Do retailers make enough of the fact to their customers that they that are selling UK-made products?

We would definitely like to see an increased use of UK manufacturing as part of their sales approach. Consumer knowledge of flooring products is limited, and they rely on retailers for guidance and advice. Clearly, we would love to see UK manufacture promoted as a high-status virtue.

What would you like to see the UK government do to help UK manufacturing?

Our retailers confirm that the consumer prefers to buy a UK-manufactured product because of a reputation for quality and service, and also because it is providing jobs for the UK workforce and helping to improve the economy. We would like to see the government recognising this desire to buy British by taking a proactive and visible stance, promoting the benefits of buying products bearing the UK logo. Do you have overseas markets, and if so how has this changed since Brexit? We service the UK and Ireland, and our base in Northern Ireland makes both markets easy to service. Brexit has not impacted this.

Visit: www.furlongflooring.com

manufacturing allows quality, speedy delivery and service, says Malcolm Gibson, Furlong group md

Carpets are made in Bangor

Marlow in Marsh

Trident in Rose Quartz

Proud

Victoria Carpets has been manufacturing for almost 130 years

Victoria Carpets stands proud as a British carpet manufacturer and today the company is an exciting, vibrant employer, with a team that is passionate about the brand and the products it represents. Established in Kirkcaldy, Fife in 1895, the company has evolved into one of the UK’s leading flooring brands.

‘The company is going from strength to strength, and with every range launch we are bringing something new and fresh to the market. The products we have launched have well thought-out specifications, and above all, deliver the quality that everyone expects from Victoria Carpets. Every product earns its place through its value proposition or luxury offering, or its colour and design, and each range is available on dedicated POS,’ says James Caldwell, Victoria Carpets sales director, who joined the business in 2018.

Looking forward to 2023, Victoria is focusing on new wool launches within its Natureborn family. The newest member is Tudor Co-ordinates, comprising 20 plains and four coordinating stripes. Taking the bestselling colours from the Tudor Twist range, this collection delivers a modern colour palette with a splash of colour.

It has also recently refreshed the Strathmore Berber range. The

construction has been updated to include melt bond. This gives the product a precise look that helps show off 12 colours in a rustic finish.

Having gained the Royal Warrant in 2013 for providing the carpet for the Prince and Princess of Wales’ wedding in 2011, Victoria Carpets is incredibly proud still to be working with the Royal Household. Recent installs have included both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

Visit: www.myvictoria.co.uk

Tudor Co-ordinates in Mink

Victoria Carpets staff celebrating the late Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953

Victoria Carpets provided the carpet for the Prince and Princess of Wales’ wedding in 2011

Strathmore Berber in Misty Sky

Promotion

Michael Turner, Westex sales and marketing director on the need for more information

What do you see as the main advantages of being a UK manufacturer?

The ability to support the UK economy, the depth of market knowledge in the UK, the environmental benefits of being more local, and being able to hold factory visits for training.

What efforts do you take to promote these advantages to UK retailers?

We have monthly factory visits and we put on all POS the message ‘Made in UK’. Do you think UK retailers understand sufficiently the advantages of sourcing from UK manufacturers?

No, but we are doing more to promote that. The commercial customers do understand more and it is usually one

of the first questions asked. Do retailers make enough of the fact to their customers that they are selling UK-made products?

No, but the UK manufacturers need to supply more information for the retailers to use.

What would you like to see the UK government do to help UK manufacturing?

Not a lot, is the short answer. Do you have overseas markets, and if so how has this changed since Brexit? We have a small export business but Brexit has definitely made exporting more challenging and the paperwork more onerous.

Visit: www.westexflooring.com

Beds and bedroom

A sophisticated performance polyester foam alternative for bedding or upholstery, providing superior comfort and support

Milestones

Ahead of Charles III’s coronation, the NBF takes a look back on some of the key events in its history since Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation

1953-1959

The National Federation of Bedding president at the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was Frank Milton of Price Brothers, manufacturer of Relyon Beds.

‘Amongst the key concerns at the time was the continuing shortage of raw materials. It’s good to know that some things never change,’ says Simon Williams, NBF head of marketing and membership.

In 1955, the NBF relocated from its increasingly expensive offices at 222 Balham High Road, SW12 (telephone Balham 1011) to 157 Victoria Street, SW1 (Victoria 5303), where it would remain until the late 1960s. The same year saw the introduction of BS 1877, detailing the minimum specifications for such items as bed sizes, the number of springs and the quantity of fillings. NBF members voted to adhere to this new standard, although it was hotly debated, with some arguing that it would stifle innovation.

1959 saw the launch of the Bedding Information Bureau: designed to educate consumers on the importance of buying a good quality mattress. Then NBF president Arthur Robinson of Somnus reported it an unqualified success, one that would give the Federation the confidence to embark on more ambitious public relations exercises in the future.

The 1950s had also seen the emergence of the Dunlopillo latex

Dunlopillo advertisement from 1953

The federation celebrated its golden jubilee in 1962

mattress, a hygienic alternative to the traditional sprung mattress. Consumers could buy a 4in deep single Dunlopillo mattress for £10 and 18 shillings.

‘Announcing total UK bed sales of just short of £25m, the NBF president warned members against conducting a price war. Members who persuaded the public to buy on price rather than quality, he said, did a disservice both to themselves and the industry. Once again, nothing changes.’

The 60s

The federation performed a dramatic U-turn on BS1877 during an extraordinary general meeting in the Park Lane Hotel, London in 1960. It voted to revoke the stipulation that members must abide by BS1877; members could see the fastchanging fashion and trading conditions facing the industry and the evolution of new materials and production methods.

To meet the demands of consumers, the federation set aside £200 for a public

awareness campaign, distributing leaflets on the subject of sleep and health and mattress dumping.

In 1962, the federation celebrated its golden jubilee in Blackpool with a supplier’s mart and a livelier agenda than previous conferences which had lasted up to five days. To demonstrate this new sense of purposefulness, it updated its name to the National Bedding Federation.

One major issue in the mid-60s was Retail Price Maintenance, with some manufacturers suggesting withholding supplies from retailers who sold their goods below the accepted resale price. The NBF dropped any objections to RPM, stating that it believed RPM was in the customer’s best interests. In reality, it had no corner to fight: all 11 members who had been using the price mechanism had pulled out of the RPM.

Due to poor trading conditions, amalgamations and liquidations, member numbers were dwindling fast. The NBF relocated once again, this time to trendy Knightsbridge – 251 Brompton Road, SW3 (telephone 01 589 4888). Two highly successful conferences in 1966 and 1967 saw president John Marriott formally thanked for lifting the federation ‘from the doldrums’ as he passed the role to Jim Secombe of Slumberland.

The 70s

Metrification was estimated to cost the NBF more than £2,000, most of it on publicity. New trading conditions and methods in the UK were emerging, with out-of-town developments featuring no-frills units. At an NBF conference in the early 1970s, guest speaker Jennifer Stone, Evening Standard shopping editor

attacked the industry’s ‘boring shops, dull furniture and sales staff who tried to sell you HP.’

Fleet Street exposed the scandal of double pricing of beds with the headline ‘Wake up to the big bed con’. It was raised in parliament, with Leicester Northwest MP Greville Janner saying: ‘This American practice that has recently invaded the shops in this country should be driven back across the Atlantic.’

‘If we think today’s inflationary pressures are demanding, back in the 1970s it hit 27%, with one NBF member recalling “We had to change our price lists three times a year.” The gloom was lightened by the media, especially the burgeoning colour supplements and lifestyle sections. Casting around for copy, editors reached gratefully for the latest press releases from the NBF’s publicity consultant Joan Catesby, and thanks to her efforts the NBF became less of a clubby talking shop and more of a dynamic promoter of the bed industry’s interests,’ says Williams.

In 1977, the NBF held its final annual ball, traditionally held at the Dorchester.

The 80s

There was plenty to celebrate: Live Aid, the ending of the Cold War – and the NBF was three-quarters of a century old. It launched its most ambitious PR campaign to date, to discourage consumers from buying second-hand beds. Publicity costs, rapidly rising rents and pension arrangements for the outgoing director of 26 years, Kenneth Reid, plunged its finances into deficit.

In 1982, as British troops were heading for the Falkland Islands, NBF

Double pricing caught the attention of the press

John and Jenny Marriott at the 1967 conference

The 1957 conference in Llandudno

Limited o er King for a Queen.

Highgrove has produced ‘Majesty,’ quite simply the nest mattress in our collection, our crowning glory. Majesty features natural llings, 2000 Pocket Springs and is also designed to be fully recyclable. e luxury mattress also includes woollen tu s and Highgrove’s Dynamic Active Side Support, with extra springs strategically placed that adjust to body pressure and maximise the sleep surface. Majesty is available in a wide range of sizes and for a limited time only there are Big Savings Available* with our King Size (150cm) for the same price as a Queen (Double 135cm) promotion. In addition, for every Majesty bed sold, Highgrove will donate to the National Trust Nationwide tree planting initiative to plant a tree on our customer’s behalf. At the end of the promotion Highgrove will match the total number, so doubling the number of trees planted.

*Promotion includes all Majesty King Size (150cm) mattresses bought with a Highgrove base (including Ottoman storage and drawer options) and Majesty King Size (150cm) Mattresses bought on their own.

members set sail for the Channel Islands for conference, where the day-to-day running of the NBF fell to Patrick Quigley.

In 1984, news of plans to create the Channel Tunnel heightened concerns over the quantity of mattresses, exempt from Britain’s Rag Flock legislation, being shipped to the UK. The government planned to repeal the 1951 version of the Rag Flock Act, which was met with lobbying from NBF members and MP Elizabeth Peacock. It was finally repealed in 1997 following the publication in 1991 of BS 1425: Cleanliness of fillings and stuffings for bedding, upholstery and other domestic articles.

In 1986, the NBF held a meeting with the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs on the issue of flammability (following the 1979 Manchester Woolworth’s fire), introducing BS 6087 on the method of testing mattress flammability, which members had agreed to follow. A spate of fires around Christmas 1987 and the subsequent press coverage of ‘killer foams’ led to the introduction of the 1988 Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations, which banned the use of standard polyurethane foams. Mattresses, divans and bed bases however, were not brought fully into scope of the regulations. BS 7177 was introduced in 1989 to cover the finished product, and therefore only the filling materials of these items were in scope

of the regulations.

In 1986 the NBF produced a ‘Buying a Bed’ fact sheet and following an appearance by Joan Catesby on BBC TV’s Bazaar, more than 10,000 viewers called the BBC requesting a copy.

In 1987 Catesby retired and Jessica Alexander joined the NBF as publicity consultant. Together with Ray Cadman, she proposed a generic advertising campaign to mirror the Better Sleep Month in the US, and her vision was rewarded a couple of years later with the birth of National Bed Month in 1990.

In 1988 at a general meeting in York, the National Bedding Federation disappeared and re-emerged as the National Bed Federation.

The 90s

National Bed Month, the NBF’s annual awareness campaign, launched in March 1990 with the theme ‘Time for a new bed?’ At the time, people replaced their beds on average every 20 years. It featured an in-store competition to win a trip to New York in Concorde or on the QEII.

To help fund the campaigns, a 10p levy was introduced. Providing the retailer paid a 10p levy on each piece of bedding invoiced, the manufacturer would match it. The levy was the brainchild of John Hancock, Sealy md who referred to it as ‘the magic widget’.

In 1995, The Sleep Council was created as a separate entity to the NBF. It was described by president David Croll as ‘instrumental in the remarkable growth in the bed market in 1996’.

1998 saw the launch of the NBF’s website www.bedfed.org.uk. The Internet opened up a ‘massive issue’ for the bedding industry, according to 2011 president Simon Spinks, because ‘it allowed consumers to shop around.’

2000-2009

National Bed Month and the ongoing consumer activity of The Sleep Council had helped reduce the bed replacement cycle to 10 years. By the middle of the decade, several large manufacturers had pulled out of the levy system and with too few retailers committing to funding, it looked doomed until the NBF took on the running of The Sleep Council.

In 2000, the NBF offices relocated to Taunton and then in 2006, after Patrick Quigley stepped down as director after 27 years, it moved again to its current home in Skipton, North Yorkshire and Alexander became its executive director.

2006 also saw Peter Keen of Hypnos elected as NBF president. Keen was instrumental in the idea for the NBF to hold its own Bed Show, launched in 2010.

2010 to date

The launch of the Telford show in 2010 produced a useful new income for the NBF and attracted new companies to join. Today it is firmly established in the exhibition calendar as the must-attend event in the bed industry.

Joan Catesby

Jessica Alexander joined in 1987

Tristine Hargreaves has succeeded Jessica Alexander as NBF executive director

National Bed Month began in 1990

The Sleep Council’s Marketing Newz from 1997

On 11 May 2012, the NBF held its Centenary Ball at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne.

2013 saw the launch of the NBF Code of Practice, designed to encourage good practice in the industry and reassure consumers that they can buy ‘NBF Approved’ beds with confidence.

In 2014, Simon Williams joined the NBF as marketing manager and helped launch The Sleep Council Sales Academy online training course. The NBF re-branded with a new logo, featuring the ‘NBF approved tick’.

The Introduction to Beds online course was launched in 2016, designed as an ideal induction module for anyone new to the industry, whatever their role.

To strengthen its code of practice, the NBF introduced a Due Diligence Random Testing Programme, purchasing a number of member and non-member products for independent flammability testing and examination for trading standards compliance.

In 2019, a ‘discovery project’ resulted in the biggest rebrand to date. The NBF’s signature orange-red, white and blue branding is now recognisable across all online and offline channels.

In 2020, to enable it to focus entirely on all-things beds related, the NBF

parted ways with the Sleep Council as it merged with The Sleep Charity, with Lisa Artis moving to become deputy ceo.

The NBF launched ‘Bed Advice’ – a separate consumer-facing website and social media presence to promote the importance of buying a good mattress or bed made by an approved NBF member.

In 2022 it launched its Pledge for our Planet, asking companies to take steps to address global environmental damage. The Pledge covered five key areas of

commitment for each business who signed up: to become a more sustainable business; reduce their global warming impact; reduce waste; reduce products’ impact on the environment and take responsibility for their actions. To support and monitor progress, Tom Williams was appointed as NBF sustainability and circular economy lead.

In late 2022, after 36 years in the bed industry and 17 years as NBF executive director, Alexander announced that she would be stepping down. In April 2023 Tristine Hargreaves, former NBF technical manager, re-joined the federation as its new executive director, to lead the NBF into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Visit: www.bedfed.org.uk

Pledge for our Planet was introduced in 2022

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the debut Bed Show

The Sleep Council Sales Academy debuted in 2014

The current NBF team

The 10p levy was the brainchild of John HancockPeter Keen was instrumental in the idea for the NBF to hold its own show

Platinum standard

Polyester can be used as an alternative to traditional foam

John Cotton Nonwovens is a leading supplier of mattress components, winning multiple awards for its innovative solutions over many years. In 2021 and 2022 it won Component Supplier of the Year at the NBF Awards, for the development of its polyester foam alternative products under the Platinum brand name.

Through investment in its proprietary technology, it is now possible to create the same level of comfort and support as foam with polyester fibres. Using the company’s new state-of-the-art ovens, and technically advanced fibres, it has engineered polyester foam products suitable for beds and upholstery.

The first in this series was Platinum Eco, launched in March 2021 as the ‘only’ credible performance polyester component able to replace foam within a mattress or upholstery. The company wanted to enhance the product further and increase resilience and comfort with multi-directional support, and in 2022

Platinum 3D was launched as the next generation in the series. With a threedimensional supportive structure, it is engineered to provide unparalleled comfort due to its unique and technically advanced blend of spiral crimped conjugate fibres and a superior Japanese elastomeric binder fibre. Platinum 3D also retained the benefits of Platinum Eco:

Platinum 3D provides the same recovery and durability as foam, and to ensure a long-lasting performance,

John Cotton has employed numerous testing protocols in its UKAS-accredited laboratory including EN1957 – On mattress roller testing, EN1725 – Edge seat testing and BS7397 – Severe impact bespoke triangular roller test.

Using its Custom 8 technology, coupled with infrared, the company is able to demonstrate the favourable microclimate that Platinum 3D offers. The open nonwoven structure allows moisture vapour to migrate freely throughout the layers and offers increased breathability and comfort.

Platinum 3D does not require the addition of FR chemicals and has been tested to ensure it adheres to the required FR standards. It is made from

an eco-friendly blend, is 100% recyclable at end of life, with the option to upcycle into an alternative such as loft insulation.

Platinum 3D brings superior quality and performance as an alternative component to foam within a mattress. Bed brands such as Millbrook, Hypnos, Aspire and Sleepeezee are replacing components within their mattresses that would have once been foam with Platinum 3D, as they believe the added benefits and new approach to environmentally sustainable design alleviate any requirement for designing hybrids and so bring value to any mattress range – for the first time, without the need to use foam.

Visit: www.johncotton-nonwovens.co.uk

Platinum 3D has been put through its paces at John Cotton’s in-house UKAS-accredited laboratory

Sustainability matters

Vita’s sustainable options in flexible PU foam are driving change

The Vita Group is one of Europe’s leading flexible foam solutions providers and is constantly working to push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability. Its desire to remain at the cutting edge of the industry has led to the development of the next generation of sustainable foams, which ensure that a wider variety of highperformance and environmentally friendly furniture products are available.

Vita First is an innovative mattress design made from all of Vita’s latest sustainable technology, containing two sustainable foam products: Orbis Plus MB and Novus. Sustainability is at the heart of this mattress design, in combining its latest foam technology, using no adhesives for easier end of life recycling and covering the finished product with a Global Recycled Standard (GRS) sustainable cover.

Novus is constructed through a process of bonding granulated postindustrial trim, which is re-introduced into the production cycle. Vita First mattresses use a new Novus grade with only 40kg per cum density for enhanced comfort and durability.

Orbis Plus MB is the latest iteration of Orbis, which was recognised with Interzum’s ‘Best of the Best’ award in 2021. Orbis foam was Europe’s first flexible polyurethane foam made with raw materials sourced from recycled post-consumer foam mattresses.

Vita partnered with Dow for the Renuva mattress recycling programme to produce a flexible PU foam containing Renuva polyols: a raw material created from recycled mattress content.

By using recycled polyols, a significant share of fossil resources is replaced at the beginning of the

supply chain by bio-circular material, for example from plant waste. These renewable resources have a much better sustainability profile and lead to a significant CO2 reduction profile for the mattress and a decrease in the dependency on fossil resources. By doing so, Vita can offer both a reduction of the impact on the environment while ensuring the same quality, durability and comfort as a traditional flexible polyurethane foam mattresses. Mass Balance is the certified methodology to bring more sustainable raw materials into complex production chains.

Vita’s commitment to sustainability is also demonstrated by its alignment with several leading international companies, including Dow, Evonik and Covestro, to further drive its global net-zero ambitions. Examples include becoming the first and only flexible polyurethane manufacturer to have its emission reduction targets validated by independent climate scientists through the carbon-cutting Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). This approach has contributed to it being awarded a Gold Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, ranking it in the top 3% of assessed companies worldwide; and becoming a signatory of the UN Global Compact and Race to Zero initiatives.

Visit: www.thevitagroup.com

Vita First combines Orbis Plus MB and Novus

Containing two foams,OrbisPlusMB&Novus, thisinnovativemattressdesign keepsongiving!

Sustainable Recyclable Comfortable

Made100%fromVita's sustainabletechnology.

Fit for the King

‘As the only bed manufacturer actively supplying all the royal households, Hypnos is extremely proud to provide the royal family and visiting dignitaries with mattresses and beds, as well as undertaking special upholstery commissions,’ says James Keen, Hypnos ceo.

‘It is thanks to Hypnos’ quality and design that we’ve held a prestigious Royal Warrant since 1929. George V presented the first, and Queen Elizabeth II granted the warrant to my grandfather, my father and most recently to myself, part of the fifth generation of our family to run the business.

‘Royal Warrant holders today are strictly re-evaluated every five years for their value, service and sustainability and we are proud to have held a Royal Warrant for almost 94 years.

‘It’s with great pride that Hypnos is, this coming year, celebrating 120 years of success and innovation. In the past 20 years, we have been focused on creating beds that are healthy and natural, responsibly made, recyclable and from materials that are renewable.

‘This strategy has led to a pioneering partnership with the Eden Project, and a new awareness of the fibres we use, resulting in the development of the luxury Origins Organic collection, which is certified by the Soil Association, something we’re incredibly proud of.

‘As pioneers in sustainable and ethical bedmaking, our approach is to make a positive environmental and social impact, investing in sourcing traceable fibres that support the communities and the land they come from. Responsible innovation, naturebased circular designs and initiatives will help to combat climate change.

‘We are most proud of our relationship with British wool farmers and being the first brand in any industry to support British wool certified to the Responsible Wool Standard. But we also support farmers in other countries by buying materials such as cotton, nettles, latex and timber through initiatives that support sustainable farming, including Better Cotton Initiative, CottonConnect, Himalaya and the FSC.

‘To be a Royal Warrant holder is truly

an honour and means a great deal to me, my family and everyone that works here. We’re looking forward to celebrating and commemorating the coronation at our sites in Castle Donnington and Princes Risborough.’ Visit: www.hypnosbeds.com

In the coronation month of King Charles III, James Keen, Hypnos ceo reflects on the brand’s history and why this connection is so special for the business

Miller

James Keen, Hypnos ceo

Hypnos has held a Royal Warrant since 1929

Peter Keen, former Hypnos chairman meeting Queen Elizabeth II at a Royal Warrant holder’s event

It started with a spring…

Tradition and innovation combine as a centenary approaches

Established in 1924, Sleepeezee is best known for its mattress ranges, as well as bedding, divans, headboards and now its new bed-in-a-box offering, Jack. Through innovation and design, it has grown into one of the most well-known bed manufacturers in the world.

Founded by the Price family in Croydon, London, the company quickly became one of the first manufacturers

in the world to produce pocket spring interior mattresses. Today, at its factory base in Kent, traditional and timehonoured techniques remain its focus, alongside high-quality materials.

As a Royal Warrant holder since 1963, Sleepeezee’s team of expert craftspeople are dedicated to combining innovative practices and traditional techniques to produce market-leading designs, providing the best bed and mattress solutions for its customers.

With strong family values at the heart of the business, Sleepeezee aims to support national and local charities across the country. A recent donation saw it contribute £57,000 to The Children’s Hospital Charity in partnership with the brand’s ambassador Jessica Ennis-Hill. The donation was funded by sales of its Jessica range, with £20 going to the children’s hospital with each sale.

Striving for quality and great value in what it does, the company is also further committed to supporting sustainable efforts. Having been carbon neutral

since 2017, Sleepeezee has continued to strive for sustainability. The company’s 591 energy-saving solar panels have produced 249,160MWh of electricity since 2021, reflecting its commitment to a sustainable future. Beyond this, Sleepeezee continues to make conscious efforts to further its sustainability progress, for example by installing electric car charging points at its factory site as well as replacing older diesel forklift trucks with refreshed electric models.

As it approaches its centenary year it is planning to further boost its range.

‘At Sleepeezee, we are proud of our heritage and Royal Warrant. This year, we are excited to continue developing our product offering, with a number of new product launches planned for later in the year. We also look forward to building further relationships with our retailers and customers alike at trade shows throughout the year,’ says Amy Curtis, Sleepeezee head of marketing. Visit: www.sleepeezee.com

Sleepeezee will celebrate its centenary next year

Quality comfort, naturally

LEAVE THE REST TO US

Brand values

GNG offers a UK-made trio of brands

and, therefore, the best performance.

GNG also represents Nectar Sleep. With a focus on exceptional comfort, combined with a 365-night trial and lifetime warranty, Nectar Sleep mattresses are designed to meet the demands of modern living. With more than two million satisfied sleepers, the brand can help boost your retail revenue by driving customers that want to ‘try before they buy’ directly to your store.

As an NHS-approved supplier, GNG manufactures to the highest standards. All mattresses are made in the UK to National Bed Federation standards and come with a 10-year guarantee. It also prides itself on being an environmentally responsible organisation.

Mattress manufacturer GNG Group is continuing to lead the way in British-made products, with its innovative portfolio seeing growing demand from retailers.

With a 40-year manufacturing heritage, all of GNG’s products are developed and made in the UK. The company last year marked another important milestone with the opening of a 40,000sqft factory and warehouse dedicated to its fast-growing mattress division. Its reputation as a leading UK manufacturer and international brand leader was also recognised with a number of award wins during 2022.

GNG’s extensive portfolio includes well-known British brands such as the Komfi range, developed in response to consumer concern for sustainability and recycling. It features Ecofoam,

which is made from 100% recycled and re-engineered foam, resulting in a much ‘greener’ product and providing a range of environmentally friendly options for retailers. The long-term benefit of an Ecofoam mattress comes when it reaches the end of its natural life as it can be entirely recycled. Last year, GNG added the affordably priced Unity vacuumpacked mattress collection.

The company also offers luxury Sonlevo mattresses with a unique gridsystem TrueGel technology, giving maximum support while minimising pressure and regulating temperature. The range is recommended to its members by the Football Medicine and Performance Association as products offer correct posture support and ultimate comfort, for the best sleep

‘With a proud heritage in British manufacturing, we are committed to leading the way in product innovation with our expert in-house R&D team helping to keep us at the forefront of the industry. For example, we are continuing to focus on sustainability by developing greener options in response to demand from consumers and retailers,’ says Darren Potterton, GNG md.

‘Global supply chain issues in recent years demonstrate the importance of buying local, with British-made products giving customers the peace of mind of knowing they are buying high-quality, ethically manufactured products, delivered on time, every time. British manufacturing is at the heart of the UK economy and we are proud to be investing in the facilities and jobs that will enable it to continue to flourish.’

Tel: 01924 950 300

Sonlevo

Nectar Sleep

Komfi

Down to detail

Karndean Designflooring is introducing designs from around the world with gluedown and rigid-core format convenience

Karndean Designflooring is expanding its Van Gogh range with a dual format collection of contemporary designs, giving versatility to conceive personalised interiors. The launch introduces stone designs to the range for the first time, as well as wood designs in on-trend herringbone and chevron options.

The expansion will offer Karndean’s widest collection to date with 70 unique wood and stone designs. The collection oozes character and elegance with options to suit individual tastes, from traditional English country style to modern minimalist, in an extensive variety of colourways and tile sizes as

well as a convenient choice of formats to suit different installation needs.

Inspired by the beauty of the natural world and materials from different countries, the refreshed collection offers highly realistic wood and stone designs in a range of warm, neutral and cool colour palettes.

Milanese Slate

Hayfield Oak

Glenmore Oak

The range introduces nine new wood designs, from characterful Highland Oaks and rustic Farmhouse Oaks to warm American Cedars, as well as 15 new stone designs featuring the striking veining and natural variation of marble, slate and terracotta.

‘Our new designs have been created to authentically replicate the charm and individuality of each sample of wood and stone sourced from places as diverse as a school in San Diego, a railway station in the Scottish Highlands and mountain quarries in Italy,’ says Gavin Smith, Karndean marketing director.

‘We understand that people are looking for surfaces that not only look like real wood and stone but also come with the convenience and flexibility of cuttingedge flooring. Our latest collection has been designed to bring these organic colours and textures into homes so we

can benefit from the healing powers of nature, while a choice of tile sizes allows for interesting laying patterns.’

Adding warmth and comfort to off-white monochrome spaces or a mature timber look to a traditional home style, new designs Glenmore Oak and Croftmore Oak feature the distinct grain details of the original timbers in rich honey or pinky-beige tones. Enhancing this authenticity, a natural wood grain emboss matches the surface texture to the grain patterns, bringing the floor to life.

Introducing a mid-range tone to Van Gogh’s brushed oak designs, Neutral Brushed Oak has a warm grey wash designed to suit pale, earthy palettes. A full-sized plank, a smaller herringbone tile and a chevron option have been created for those looking to take a single colourway from room to room.

For shoppers looking at grey-inspired interiors, the addition of new wood and stone designs in cool tones offers a wide choice to add depth and character. Inspired by time-worn painted floorboards, Silver Farmhouse Oak presents a unique rustic patina with white paint remnants for a shabby chic feel.

Introducing stone designs into the range for the first time, Karndean has created a collection of marble, slate and terracotta designs in cool tones, from the fresh white colouring and distinctive veining of Palazzo Marble to the clean charcoal hues of Milanese Slate. Four Breccia Marbles feature the natural stone’s characteristic embedded fragments in a new large 18in x 36in tile that amply highlights the natural variation of the product.

The range offers the ultimate selection of beautiful designs with most available in a rigid core and gluedown format to cope with common subfloor conditions. Quick and easy to fit, rigid core is suitable for uneven floors such as existing floorboards or tiles and can be installed over new floors that are still drying. Consumers looking for bespoke designs with inset feature zones and coordinating borders will find the flexibility they need with the collection’s gluedown planks and tiles.

As an alternative to real wood and stone, Karndean’s flooring has all the charm without any of the practical downsides. Waterproof, easy to keep hygienically clean and comfortable underfoot, it is a flooring designed for busy modern life.

Visit: www.karndean.com/newfloors

Luna Breccia Marble

Texas White Ash

Palazzo Marble

In style

Dine, relax and entertain outside or change the look

Gallery Direct has expanded its outdoor living collection with new furniture lines, along with accessories, textiles, mirrors and lighting.

‘People tend to be spending more time outside these days and don’t just want a table and chairs, they want stylish, yet practical living spaces. They have therefore become more focused on styling their outdoor areas, as they do their homes. To cater for this, we have developed our range of design-led outdoor living products, from large furniture sets to garden cushions, to help customers make the most of their outside spaces,’ says Carole Nolan, Gallery Direct category manager – outdoor furniture.

‘To cope with the variable British weather our outdoor collection includes a pergola which can have the roof louvres open to let the sunshine in or closed to offer shade on hot sunny days, as well as shelter if it rains, thanks to its watertight roof with incorporated drainage system.

‘We have dining sets featuring a built-in fire pit and a selection of free-standing fire pits and chimineas, so outside areas can be enjoyed for longer, on cooler days or when the sun goes down.’

The chimineas feature a pizza shelf –and Gallery also offers the Sassari Pellet Pizza Oven in a choice of three colours. The oven’s compact size and ease of use make it suitable for a wide range of outdoor areas.

For consumers who want to dine, relax or entertain outside, the furniture collection offers a wide selection, from compact bistro sets and bar sets to large lounge and dining sets and tables, sun loungers and seating, including the Adanero Hanging Chair. The range available varies from traditional to contemporary, in a variety of materials including teak, rattan and aluminium.

To complement the furniture, Gallery offers a selection of outdoor mirrors to add interest to garden areas. They can be used to make smaller spaces appear larger and to brighten darker corners. Solar lanterns offer a practical way of adding light and ambience to outside spaces and can be easily moved around, whilst fixed outdoor lighting gives a practical solution for illuminating pathways and patios as well as adding interest and light to other areas of the garden.

To complete the look, Gallery offers a range of outdoor cushions, a rug and a floor cushion in subtle jute and sage tones, along with accessories. The cushions have a swing tag that highlights the triple benefits of water, UV and mould resistance. Highly durable, they feature fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, in a range of designs and with water-repellent liners. Accessories such as pots, planters and ornaments can add the finishing touch to outside areas, and include the Carlos Wall Planter, which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Visit: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Carlos wall planters

Sassari pizza oven

Above: Adanero hanging chairs

Above left: Outdoor mirrors

Pipeline

Julian Bowen has a host of product launches planned for 2023

Julian Bowen continues to go from strength to strength with an extensive pipeline of new product development across several categories. It is the company’s ethos to provide the highest quality at each price point. This is supported by a heavily invested supply chain, incorporating an experienced in-house buying and design team, with domestic and international quality control teams who work in close partnership with a select group of leading manufacturers.

Together they have forged a new product development capability that has created a platform for significant growth and an enhanced customer

proposition with a huge focus on FSC, reclaimed materials and a robust sustainability policy.

‘The recently launched FSC Mallory Oak bedroom and dining collection has been a great success, offering both exceptional value for money and classic timeless styling. This is one of many new ranges focused on sustainability we have planned for launch in 2023,’ says Emmett Lenaghan, Julian Bowen md.

Product development is backed up by a continuous ongoing investment programme across the business in its marketing support, customer service, supply chain management and IT infrastructure, to maximise business

efficiency through automation from stock feed management to ordering and distribution. This is further enhanced with tailored individual solutions with the new self-service customer portal, which enables customers to log on and have access to all their details including live-stock, outstanding invoices, product details and ability to order products at any time.

The company is an acknowledged leader in children’s furniture and this remains a key product area, with innovative, modern and highly functional new designs. Dining and bedroom have been particular areas of focus in terms of FSC and reclaimed materials, with a development pipeline to launch several new ranges this year. Huge attention has been paid to supply-chain and stock management to mitigate overstocks and warehouse space constraints, which places it in the enviable position of having the optimum stock with sufficient capacity to meet its aggressive new product launch plans for 2023.

Julian Bowen’s emphasis on bespoke solutions and customer support has been a key factor in the development of its successful direct container business, which offers a well-managed one-stop solution from product development through quality control, shipping and in-bound distribution and ongoing stock management support, while leveraging the firm’s significant buying power to its customers’ advantage. As across the whole business, the emphasis is on making the buying process as easy, efficient and pain-free for its customers as possible.

‘Everything that we do is designed to get the best possible outcome for our customers. Everybody in our business knows that the customer comes first and we work together to continually enhance our proposition, be it a wider and better product offering, flexible distribution solutions, stock availability, bespoke development, and even project management. We are totally committed to offering the best quality and value at all price points,’ says Lenaghan.

Visit: www.julian-bowen.co.uk

Mallory is the company’s first FSC collection

Find freedom

Create a unified look mixing features and different laying patterns from room to room

differently, giving customers the freedom to choose a floor that fulfils their practical needs across beautiful and authentic wood looks. The collection’s ability to let customers choose herringbone for living areas, Ocean+ for moisture-prone areas and Connect for all-round use, in a perfectly coordinated natural wood look, shows how we’re thinking about our floors as part of a bigger interior design journey.’

With the refreshed BerryAlloc laminate floor collection, everyone can find the start of their beautiful flooring adventure. Consumers can enjoy the same wood look in the herringbone of Chateau, Ocean+ 100% water-resistant laminate or the versatility of Connect. That means a beautifully unified look with the freedom to mix features and different laying patterns from room to room.

In Chateau, BerryAlloc has captured the elegance of historic parquet flooring in 15 natural wood designs. The uniquely small and narrow planks are perfect for recreating herringbone, as well as ladder, shipdeck and mosaic laying patterns.

Ocean+ is a 100% water-resistant laminate floor that’s available in all 15 matching wood designs of Chateau, as well as 35 other original wood looks. Sealing joints with Hydro+ hydrophobic technology guarantees a lifetime of water-resistance and makes Ocean+ suitable for bathroom use. Alongside Ocean+ 8 V4, the collection comes in a selection of planks with integrated underlay, XL planks and the superior performance of 12mm floors.

Connect is a versatile, everyday option that brings the natural beauty of wood in a surface that’s dependable and easy to live with. All 50 designs, including the 15 wood looks of Chateau, come in a standard plank size, with a few styles

also in BerryAlloc’s XL plank. Shoppers can also choose from the minimalist look of a floor with no bevels or the classic plank effect of fully bevelled edges.

‘Laminate flooring is loved for its durability, scratch resistance and easy maintenance. As a living proposition, it’s a floor that lets homes concentrate on the more important things in life, particularly with innovations like Hydro+, but that certainly shouldn’t mean having to compromise elsewhere,’ says Scott Arundell, BerryAlloc sales director.

‘We’ve thought about our new-look laminate flooring collection a little

BerryAlloc also takes design a step further with these collections with the Harmony Lab, which helps guide consumers to a flooring choice that is complementary to the chosen colours in their interior. This tool has analysed different colours together with the undertones of all BerryAlloc floors in countless ways, providing a highly accurate method to determine the most compatible combinations for a wellbalanced interior.

This tool also goes beyond laminate floors and is available for all product groups for BerryAlloc. Together with its digital simulator tool, Floorfit, which provides a simulation of any BerryAlloc floor in a home, BerryAlloc aims to support its end customers throughout their entire decision process as they redesign their interior. Visit: www.berryalloc.com

BerryAlloc is approaching floors as part of a bigger interior design journey

The start of a new adventure.

Premium quality laminate floors.

The premium quality of the BerryAlloc laminate floor collection is made in Belgium for all kinds of people and all kinds of lifestyle. Choose the 100% water-resistance of Ocean+, classic herringbone of Chateau or the affordability of Connect, matching or mixing styles for a beautifully coordinated floor that brings something special to every room.

BerryAlloc

North: Richard Comboy

T + 44 7496 293150 richard.comboy@berryalloc.com

berryalloc.com

Midlands & South West: Ross Tooth

T + 44 7949 151269 ross.tooth@berryalloc.com

London & South East: Guy Ferguson

T + 44 7940 455917 guy.ferguson@berryalloc.com

laminate.

Unique considerations

Laying a wood floor presents specific challenges

of wood floorcoverings because they are better able to withstand the added strain exerted by the natural movement of the wood. Finally, contractors must select a specialist wood adhesive to install wood blocks or planks. Utilising the latest technology, flexible wood-floor adhesives provide an elastic but strong bond, which will accommodate natural movement of wood flooring over its lifetime, ensuring a long-lasting, visually attractive floor finish.

‘One such flexible wood-floor adhesive, Styccobond B95, provides good initial tack whilst also allowing for repositioning of floorcoverings during the initial stage of drying, a particular advantage when installing wood blocks,’ says Sanders.

Apart from being desirable for its natural appearance, wood flooring can outlast textile and man-made alternatives, potentially withstanding generations of wear and even improving with age, providing it is installed properly.

‘Achieving a long-lasting, visually attractive finish with wood floorcoverings demands that the same basic principles of installation are followed as when installing other types of flooring. However, wood is more susceptible than textile or resilient floorcoverings to damage from moisture. It can also expand and contract significantly as a result of changes in atmospheric conditions, including temperature and humidity, exerting strain on adhesives and the surface to which floorcoverings are bonded. This demands a few unique considerations when installing this kind of flooring,” says Neil Sanders, F Ball and Co technical director.

A subfloor must be suitably sound, smooth and free of any contaminants, including any old adhesive residues. Furthermore, it is essential that it is checked for moisture to determine if it is dry enough to receive a floorcovering by undertaking a moisture test. F Ball

recommends this as a routine procedure as part of any flooring installation. To comply with British Standards, subfloor Relative Humidity (RH) levels should always be measured using a calibrated digital hygrometer.

If unmanaged, excess subfloor moisture will cause wood to warp and attack adhesives, potentially resulting in the floorcoverings cupping or buckling and, ultimately, complete floor failure.

Normally, a liquid waterproof surface membrane will be required to suppress excess subfloor moisture when subfloor RH levels are above 75%. However, the maximum permitted figure is 65% where wood floorcoverings will be installed because of the sensitivity of this type of floorcovering to moisture.

‘After checking subfloor moisture and deploying a moisture management solution where necessary, contractors can proceed to apply a smoothing underlayment to ensure a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings, remembering to prime the subfloor beforehand. We usually recommend using a heavy-duty smoothing underlayment, such as Stopgap 300 HD, prior to the installation

To ensure the correct choice of adhesive for the floorcovering, F Ball recommends checking the compatibility using its industry-leading Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG), which lists adhesives recommended for use with more than 6,000 floorcoverings, produced by over 200 flooring manufacturers. The RAG is available on the F Ball website, downloadable as a free app, as well as a printed booklet. Alternatively, see floorcovering manufacturers’ instructions for advice. F Ball guarantees that its products will perform for the entire lifetime of a flooring installation, as long as subfloor preparation and installation recommendations are followed.

F Ball’s technical service department is on hand Monday to Friday, 8.30am–5pm, to answer any questions you might have about installing wood floorcoverings or floorcovering/adhesive compatibility. Visit: www.f-ball.com

Styccobond B95 provides a luxury finish at One Hyde Park

Stopgap 300 HD

On the up

The past 12 months have seen a considerable increase in sales of darker finishes for Core Products, and going by this year’s sales to date, the trend is set to continue.

Two ranges that capture the essence of darker finishes are Boston and Dunkeld, both from Core’s Highland Home collection of traditionally styled, easy-to-assemble furniture.

Boston has been a popular product within the Core Products portfolio for more than 10 years and the range has been expanded this year. Made from a combination of softwood, hardwood and ash-veneered inset panelling, it is finished using a deep wood stain, which is followed with several layers of rich semi-sheen lacquer. This creates a surface finish that is hardwearing and easy to clean, while the look is completed with real metal handles.

Dunkeld offers another dark finish, based on the Boston design but in a Midnight Blue semi-matt paint finish, with contrasting tops made from solid hardwood frames with ash-veneer inserts and a warm antique wax finish. To complete the look, brushed steel effect cup handles are used on the cabinet pieces. An extensive choice of bedsides, chests, dressing table, wardrobe and bookcases is available.

Visit: www.coreproducts.co.uk

Dunkeld

Boston

Darker finishes are proving increasingly popular for traditionally styled furniture

Winning duo

Introductions are proving successful

Wiemann’s 2023 introductions Denver and Split are proving successful options. Featuring a unique deckingstyle panel to add interest to this sliding and hinged VIP wardrobe, Denver is available in a range of bestselling finishes, each offering a different look to suit any bedroom. The range will be on show at Long Point (9-11 May)

and the Spring Furniture & Bed Show on 16-17 May.

Split is a contemporary sliding and hinged door range which features a smoky opaque glass panel incorporated into the slider. Split is available in graphite and pebble grey.

‘Denver has already established itself as a sought-after range and Split

has fast become a trendsetter since its launch earlier this year. Both these ranges sit well alongside our everpopular VIP Monaco range,’ says Simon Hewitt, md of Wiemann’s sole agent for the UK and Ireland, Litmus Furniture.

‘All our products are well-made to last, representing fantastic value for money. We pride ourselves on providing top quality goods backed up with our five-star customer service, including high-standard delivery and installation.’

Visit: www.wiemannuk.co.uk

Denver

Exclusive

The limited editions are inspired by Jocelyn Burton’s work

Jaipur Rugs has collaborated with one of Britain’s most distinguished silversmiths and jewellery artists, the late Jocelyn Burton, to create a collection of limitededition rugs inspired by some of her most exquisite pieces.

The Jaipur Rugs – Jocelyn Burton collection is made from 100% pure silk by more than 30 artisans across two workshops in India, using traditional techniques passed down through generations. Each rug involves 90 people in different stages of weaving, dyeing and finishing.

The collection features 11 striking designs, with a limited run of only 10 pieces each. Jaipur Rugs and Jocelyn Burton chose the Tibetan and Persian construction techniques to suit each individual design, applying different weaves to confer a distinct range of textures and tactility. A single rug can take up to 180 days to produce, a testament to the skill and dedication of the artisans who created them.

Burton first travelled to India in 1990 and quickly became enamoured with

the colour and sophistication of the architecture in Delhi and Jaipur and the quality of the craftsmanship on display. Developing a profound attachment to the country and its

culture, she visited regularly until she died in 2020.

‘Jocelyn’s life ethos, guided by the Buddhist principles of fairness and kindness, very much resonated with our

Ammonodia and Arborium

Porcella Tapestry

own beliefs, and her fascination with peerless craftsmanship found a natural receptacle in the ancestral art of rug making. The collaboration fell into place very organically, and I am so grateful for Jocelyn’s heartfelt commitment to the collection, from creating the original drawings for the rugs to making design comments right up to the week before she passed away,’ says Yogesh Chaudhary, Jaipur Rugs director.

Lirio’s delicate floral pattern is based on Burton’s original painting, made when producing a 2m long tulip centrepiece in sterling silver and fine enamels, commissioned by the Chelsea Arts Club in London.

Ammonodia take cues from her fondness for the sea and its most intriguing creatures. The corner designs depict an ammonite fossil shell from the Jurassic period, which became her favourite shell design and is still used by

her studio as its corporate letterhead. Tessell’s intricate design, which originated as an inlaid stone tabletop, boasts an exuberant wreath motif adorned with an effusion of botanical elements.

Belomancy evokes an extract from a quiver of alabaster arrows featuring in one of Burton’s iconic lit sconces.

Neptune draws from the notable Fishmongers Wall Sconce, a piece commissioned by Lord Inchcape to commemorate his father, a former Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, which now sits in the Fishmongers Hall at London Bridge. Crystallum’s design emanates from a wall sconce made in gold, lapis and cast glass.

Secretum and Arborium were inspired by manifold coral shapes from Burton’s found collection, which she gathered in the course of her travels around the

world and fondly called her ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’.

Tapestry is a perfect replica in silk of a design Burton had originally conceived for an inlaid stone table.

Porcella displays the ammonite shell motif found in much of Burton’s work. The collection will be on show at the Nehru Centre, London from 9-12 May. Visit: www.jaipurrugs.com

Tessell

Arborium

Neptune

Belomancy

Lirio

Crystallum

Secretum

New fields of vision

Next month’s event promises to be different

With its novel exhibition concept, Pure Galleries, the Special Edition of imm Cologne is proving to be experimental, and different from its traditional January version – a date it will return to in 2024. A first-class event programme offers manifold networking opportunities.

Trade fairs live from the personal exchange: the discovery of new products and trends, as well as unique business opportunities. imm Spring Edition focuses on the priority needs of the participants: business initiation; building up networks and gaining inspiration. However, the show not only serves as a business meeting point, it is conceived as an industry event that also invites guests to stroll around, discover and celebrate. The interfaces between inspiration, networking and business are to be even more strongly accentuated in the scope of the new trade fair format: Pure Galleries.

This sheds a new light on furnishing items as an aesthetic expression of living culture and design competence. Like in a large, open-plan gallery, the new concept in Hall 11.2 offers compact spaces for minimalist presentations of brand identity, visions and current products. Wide aisles invite guests to stroll between the exhibited furnishing solutions and the examples of heritage products highlighted on small presentation islands that convince with their durable design.

‘Because we have designed the exhibition architecture based on a

gallery, the individual brand spaces create new perspectives for visitors. In this way, the furnishing elements and presentations appear in different spheres of vision,’ says Bernd Sanden, imm Spring Edition director.

To underline the gallery analogy, the new exhibition format will open with a vernissage on the first day of the trade fair. Accompanied by background music, visitors can experience the artistically staged furnishing solutions and network in the unique atmosphere of Pure Galleries.

The focus of the congress at the imm Spring Edition Summit will be the Circular Economy. The summit was organised together with the Furniture and Kitchens Trade Association (BVDM) and the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM) and offers participants the opportunity to engage

in an exchange with key players of the German furniture industry on the first day of the fair.

The official opening event of imm Spring Edition, the Sundowner, will take place on the Piazza on the evening of the first day. Directly following the day’s events, the vernissage and the summit, guests can celebrate in the open air with a barbecue buffet, drinks and music and raise their glasses to the re-start of the international furnishing trade fair.

The communicative centre of Pure Galleries, The Circle – including Speakers Corner, a bar and a lounge area – will ensure visitors can network in a relaxed atmosphere throughout the show. The Speakers Corner programme includes Architonic Live Talks presented by chief editor and host Simon Keane-Cowell on the first and second days of the show.

Visit: www.imm-cologne.com

Miller

The show will take place in June, rather than its usual January timing

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Artistic Upholstery

Spring returns

Long Point will have more than 20 exhibitors

The Spring edition of Long Point returns to Long Eaton from 9-11 May with more than 20 companies taking part. As ever, the majority of exhibitors will be at Harrington Mills, with others located around the town. All locations are within a mile of the town centre and railway station. Visitors arriving by train can be met by contacting the helpline in advance on 0115 973 4481.

Visit: www.longeatonguild.co.uk

EXHIBITORS

Alexander & James, Artistic Upholstery, Ashley Manor, Ashwood Designs, Bree’s New World, Carlton Furniture, Contrast Upholstery, Couch & Co, David Gundry, Duresta, Ercol, Gascoigne Designs, G Plan, Hunter Night Upholstery, Iain James Furniture, Parker Knoll, Richmond Interiors, Siren Furniture, Steed Upholstery, Tamarisk Designs, Violino, Warwick Fabrics and Wiemann.

Iain James Furniture

Wiemann

Warwick Fabrics

Siren

Record time

Almost 400,000 people attended CIFF

Visitor numbers at the 51st edition of CIFF Guangzhou leapt by more than a quarter compared with pre-pandemic levels. Compared with CIFF Guangzhou 2019, the last edition held before the pandemic, the 18-21 and 28-31 March exhibition saw numbers rise by 27.88% to 380,763 visitors.

Visitors from 166 countries were able to see 4,000 exhibitors, covering

700,000sqm of exhibition space.

The 51st CIFF Guangzhou 2023 was held in two phases, effectively divided into three exhibitions: Home Furniture, Office and Commercial Space, and CIFM/Interzum Guangzhou.

For the first phase, from 18- 21 March, the spotlight was on the world of the home: from interior furniture and decor to outdoor living.

Home Furniture provided original solutions for the customisation of domestic spaces, increasingly understood as multifunctional and fluid environments, characterised by accessible design and quality as well as approaches to sustainability. These included the use of natural materials for new furnishing solutions, integrated with artificial intelligence and dedicated to improving people’s quality of life.

Homedecor & Hometextile presented the latest trends in interior design: furnishing accessories, lighting, decorative paintings, and artificial flowers to enhance any environment. Outdoor & Leisure offered interpretations of open-air lifestyles, featuring increasingly sophisticated solutions to extend the quality and comfort of indoor environments beyond the home.

The second phase of the exhibition from 28-31 March, featured the world of work and commercial spaces, with a new focus on the sphere of education and healthcare facilities, as well as technologies essential to the furniture industry.

4,000 exhibitors took part

More than 380,000 visitors attended

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During Office and Commercial Space, which also expanded to occupy six pavilions in the new Area D, the sector’s leading companies showed countless flexible and innovative solutions capable of meeting the needs of ever-evolving companies, with the aims of improving performance and productivity and

increasing well-being and safety. Much room was dedicated to public commercial spaces, healthcare and facilities for older people, as well as schools.

The range of technology and semifinished products for the furniture industry at CIFM/Interzum Guangzhou 2023 was comprehensive. The major

Chinese and international brands for machinery, materials, surfaces and hardware offered a convincing response to the needs of an industry that is constantly growing and attentive to the most innovative solutions for producing quality by optimising production.

Visit: www.ciff.furniture

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Record breaker

The value of orders at MIFF soared

Exhibitors at the Malaysian International Furniture Fair saw the value of visitor orders soar.

The 1-4 March show reported a total of US$1.21bn of orders: a 19% increase from its pre-pandemic peak of US$1.01bn

in 2019, with an unprecedented record of 673 exhibiting companies and trade visitors spanning 136 nationalities.

This year’s show gained traction from the pent-up demand as exhibitors and buyers took over the trade floor to

reconnect and transact orders from the wide selection of new products and fresh designs on display for the first time after the pandemic.

With buyers coming from all over the world, MIFF has become an attractive gateway for exhibitors to seek new international buyers and markets. This year’s show presented exhibitors from 11 countries and regions -- Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Returning to a full-scale event spread across two venues at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) and World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), MIFF welcomed 19,275 trade buyers with nearly 30% foreign buyers and 40% first-time visitors. The highest numbers were from Asia, followed by North America and Oceania. China took the lead, ahead of Singapore, the United States, India and Australia.

The bullish momentum was supported by the 81% of attendees who came to source for new products and place orders. Top sellers were furniture for the dining room, bedroom, living room, office, plus upholstery and kitchens.

‘MIFF 2023 has exceeded expectations. We’re grateful for the tremendous support of the global furniture industry,

exhibitors and visitors,’ says Kelie Lim, MIFF general manager.

‘Industry professionals were back in full force to see their suppliers and new products. The wide range of exhibitors and products added a lot of energy and generated a positive new feel to the show. We are looking forward to welcome everyone back next year at

our 30th anniversary, which will be stronger and better. Our focus remains on delivering good quality growth to reinforce MIFF as the best trading platform for our customers.’

A large number of exhibitors have already registered for larger stands for 2024 when the show returns on 1-4 March. Visit: www.miff.com.my

The show had a record 673 exhibitors

More than 19,000 visitors attended

Johann

Carpets 4 Less is a highly profitable company in retail flooring running a group of Corporate and Franchised stores.

Buying Assistant (Bedford)

We have an opportunity for a self-motivated and competent person to join our Purchasing office. The ideal candidate will be adaptable with the ability to turn their hand to a number of interesting tasks. The role will involve dealing with the Manufacturers and Suppliers on a daily basis covering purchasing, merchandising and customer service.

Candidates must be numerate and computer literate. This position offers an attractive salary with the opportunity of advancement into senior management

Store Managers – (St Neots & Huntingdon, Cambs)

We are looking for a highly motivated, customer focused and above all friendly Store Managers ideally experienced in Carpet and Flooring. They will need to have the ability to serve and advise customers, organise the everyday running of the store maintaining basic health and safety and good stock levels.

There will be some physical work each day and the hours would be 9am – 6pm with an amount of weekend and Bank Holiday cover required.

Franchisees

If you have an entrepreneurial flair you might want to consider a highly profitable Franchise in the London/Home Counties/South East area. Assistance with funding considered.

Email CV to info@carpets4less.com

To strengthen the sales department of our broadloom division and to make a better & stronger Balta, we are currently looking for a:

Sales Representative

Scotland, N.I, Cumbria & Northumberland

Your Challenges:

• Managing key retailers and buying group members in your area

• Expansion of the exisiting customer base

• Increasing the product ranges with exisiting customers based on a clear sales strategy combined with a wide range of new products

Your Talents:

• Experienced Sales Manager looking to challenge themselves and thrive in a busy and fast paced environment

• Eager to drive sales and able to spot opportunities for growth

• Excellent time management with the ability to work with numbers and data

• Able to travel approximately 4 days of the week

• Experience in carpet & flooring industry preferrable but not essential

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to have a direct influence on accounts in your area

• The chance to be a part of a world leader in broadloom

• A working environment based around sustainability, safety and strong communication

• Attractive salary and other excellent benefits

To register your interest, please send you CV to careers@baltafloorcoverings.co.uk

RECRUITMENT

If you are looking to recruit staff for your furniture or flooring stores, looking for sales staff or reps for your manufacturing outlet, then INTERIORS MONTHLY offers a great package!

Our online package is just £175. Your advert will appear in our jobs section on the website until the position is filled or you ask us to remove. Our weekly newsletter, which is mailed every Thursday to 7000 industry professionals, also includes a list of these latest jobs.

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Celebrations

Proposte celebrated its 30th edition

The 30th edition of Proposte enjoyed an increase in visitor numbers as well as exhibitor satisfaction. Attendance was very high, especially on the first day, as buyers visited Villa Erba to discover the excellence of furnishing fabrics, curtains, trimmings and wallcoverings.

This year ICE, the Italian trade agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalisation of Italian companies, confirmed its collaboration with Proposte, organising visits from international buyers and journalists from China, India, Korea, Slovenia, Tunisia, the US, Japan and New Zealand to promote trade relations between Italy and other countries.

The four start-ups located in the Ala Cernobbio drew much attention. CDC_Studio, Flocus, Fody Benefit Society and Nazena were concentrating on the

promotion and development of new materials solutions and textile upcycling. In addition to the Start-up Area, other interesting proposals were showcased in the Ala Lario: Cometa Formazione, Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp, and Fashion Room.

At the end of the second day of the show, Proposte celebrated its 30th edition with exhibitors, visitors and journalists with a light dinner and live music in the elegant surroundings of Villa Antica. Addressing the guests, Proposte president Alessandro Tessuto reiterated his belief that the success of the event – which in the space of 30 years has become the point of reference in the world of furnishing textiles – is mainly attributable to the participation of those who have continued to support and believe in

Proposte over time. The president also warned about the situation outside Villa Erba, where companies had been taking advantage of Proposte’s organisation and displaying their collections, in some cases just days before the opening of the show.

‘On balance, this 30th edition is positive: 23% more foreign visitors compared to the 2022 edition. More visitors came from the US (+26%), the UK (+33%), France (+12%) and Germany (+13%); the performance of China was also positive,’ says Massimo Mosiello, Proposte director.

‘ComoCrea recorded a positive performance overall. The 18 designers expressed satisfaction with visitor numbers and new contacts established.’ Visit: www.propostefair.it

The show saw more visitors

The 30th edition was marked by a celebration dinner

Villa Antica provided the backdrop to celebrations

JOIN THE Furlong Flooring Sales team

Furlong Flooring is a dynamic, ambitious, award winning, familyowned company that produces and supplies a wide range of high-quality flooring to leading retailers across the UK.

Due to the strength of the group and continued growth we are now looking for an additional 11 high calibre Area Sales Managers to join our teams across our UK operations and take our successful business to a higher level.

You will be responsible for managing, nurturing and developing current customer relationships, your knowledge of product, the industry and contact-book will help you to develop and grow new business in the retail and commercial sectors.

In return we will support you with:

•A company that cares about customers and high levels of service.

•A growing product portfolio that covers industry leading Carpet, LVT, Engineered Wood, Laminate and Vinyl flooring.

•Over 500,000 2 of stocked warehouse space. (Dartford, Preston & Stonehouse)

•Our own fleet of 40+ delivery vehicles.

•A friendly and supportive working environment where people stick around because they believe in working for a company that is always striving to be the best.

•A competitive salary and uncapped commission structure, company car, phone and laptop.

So if you are a great communicator with great sales and planning skills, hardworking and driven to succeed plus a full UK driving licence, you should send your CV and covering letter to dowen@furlongflooring.com today.

Record time

The 14th Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair – VIFA Expo 2023 – attracted 18,180 visitors, of which 5,729 were from overseas. The show, at Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City had 612 exhibitors covering 40,000sqm, making it the largest edition so far.

With the goal of enhancing Vietnam’s position to become the global hub for furniture trading, as well as promoting the furniture brands of ASEAN countries to new heights, the organisers will hold the VIFA ASEAN 2023 – Vietnam

ASEAN International Furniture & Home Accessories Fair at the SECC from 29 August-1 September.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Gathering all best South East Asian furniture’, and it is expected to attract more than 350 companies across 20,000sqm.

VIFA ASEAN will gather and showcase the best modern and traditional furniture, furnishing, home decor and handicrafts, especially eco-friendly products from Vietnam and South East Asian countries. It will feature national

pavilions of South East Asia countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Visit: www.vifaasean.com

VIFA was the largest yet

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