Staying calm under pressure is sound advice for any business. For this year’s Best of British feature, we asked several industry spokespeople why buying British continues to appeal to consumers despite the challenging economy, and what makes them hopeful for the sector’s future.
Key themes emerge. Quality. Reliability. Assurance. Flexibility. Innovation. All qualities which any supplier or retailer must look to impart when times are hard.
At the heart of all this is the product. In July’s issue, trend forecaster Shelley Bou Chrouch explains that consumers are (understandably) cautious about making big purchases right now, so a retailer’s product portfolio needs to exude confidence – while Clare Bailey explains why retailers need to get better at managing the ranges they stock, rather than being managed by them.
There’ll be another chance to evolve that offer as the Manchester Furniture Show returns from 5-6th July. You’ll find our preview here, plus reasons why the Women in Furniture Network session should
