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Interiors Monthly November 2011

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November’s issue of Interiors Monthly looks at how underlay manufacturers are helping retailers avoid consumers trading down; reveals how one LVT company is determined to build a brand; shows how after sale service is becoming key; looks at the latest news in the beds and bedroom sector and the exhibition guide profiles must-see shows. Plus the latest industry news, new products and comment.

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Page 1: Interiors Monthly November 2011
Page 2: Interiors Monthly November 2011

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INNER_IM_1111 28/10/11 09:25 Page 1

Page 3: Interiors Monthly November 2011

The decision by Silentnight Group toconsolidate its non-Sealy bed manufacturingoperations (see p60) can’t have come as ashock to many. In a market that has seenrivals reduce their workforce in the face oflower demand it was only a matter of timebefore closure was on the cards.

Batley’s fate has been a topic of conjecturefor several years but while those at theSilentnight facilities in nearby Barnoldswickcan celebrate the creation of up to 100 jobs, the 250 manufacturing staff expectedto be made redundant at Rest Assured must be wondering where they go fromhere.

Staff at Airsprung may also be forgiven forbeing a little unsure themselves after therecommendation of the £7.9m takeover of

the group by property tycoon Andrew Perloffthrough his pension fund (see p6). Perloff iswell known in the property sector for hiscandid remarks in the accounts of his PantherSecurities firm (well worth reading). It willtake at least six years to earn his money backand one wonders if it is a long-term buy or ifhis undoubted property skills will beemployed sooner than expected.

Finally on beds, it was interesting to seefirms try to differentiate themselves throughtechnology at The Bed Show (see p70).Greater uptake of these ideas may see somereversal in the process that has seen bedsbecome commodities for many consumers,driving prices in only one direction.

Away from beds, Carpetright has sufferedanother slip in sales, wiping an expected£5m off of its bottom line (see p6). It too ishoping that improved bed sales will helpoffset lower carpet sales.

In contrast, Carpet Foundation membersseemed to have enjoyed a better 2012, withsales ahead in the first half of the year (seep10).

It does suggest there are still shoppers outthere willing to spend – if you’re able to getthem through your door.

EDITOR’S COMMENT

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk 3

Bed gains and losses

Andrew KiddEDITOR

Cormar Carpets has added to itssuccessful Easy Clean collectionwith the launch of the 50ozPrimo Delight, available in 12 shades.Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Editor: Andrew KiddT: 01273 930 029 E: [email protected] advertising (South): Tim BodenT: 01732 783 561 E: [email protected] advertising (North): Jarrod BirdT: 01565 659 414 E: [email protected] and accessories advertising: Joanne MillerT: 01732 783 561 E: [email protected] executive: Ben WatkinsT: 01732 783 561 E: [email protected] sales agent: Jane DaiT: 00 86 755 8398 1616 E: [email protected]

Published by Interiors Media LimitedUnit 11, Riverside Business Centre, Riverside House,Riverlawn Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1EPT: 01732 783 561 F: 01732 783 562E: [email protected] in England no. 6397722Printed by Headley Brothers Design by TSS DIGITAL © Interiors Media Limited ISSN 1756-2236

The closure of the RestAssured factory in Batleywill hit the town hard butthere will be celebrations inBarnoldswick.

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Page 4: Interiors Monthly November 2011

Vine Mill, Brookside Ind Est, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3PX

T: 01254 306670 | F: 01254 306671 | E: [email protected]

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01254 30 66 70www.bmfurniture.co.uk

BM Furniture_Layout 1 17/10/2011 13:50 Page 1004_IM_1111 1/11/11 15:03 Page 1

Page 5: Interiors Monthly November 2011

CONTENTS

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk 5

GREENWOOD RETAIL LTDBritain’s Leading Experts in Retail Sales Promotion

1 Wilmslow House, Grove Way, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 [email protected] www.greenwoodretail.com

OPTIMISE YOUR NEXT BIG SALE

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input, it was Really PhenomenalBusiness. Plus, I was expecting it

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the sale! ”Graham Costigan, General Manager, ROOM TO

ROOM & DUCA Furniture, Dublin and Dundalk.

DON’T HIRE A SALESCOMPANY UNTIL YOU’VESPOKEN TO GREENWOOD

There are good reasons why Greenwood now plans moresales events, for quality independent retailers across the

UK & Ireland, than any other sales company.

The benefits of holding a ‘Greenwood Sale’ are many.Firstly, your sales event will be a huge financial successby generating instant cash and profit. Plus, you’ll clear

stock, and, the long term benefits include increasedfuture market share.

Realise the optimum sales potential of your business.Find out more about Greenwood Sales. Why not takelook at our online brochure at greenwoodretail.com?

Then call or e mail Bernard Eaton or Terry Bridger now,and we’ll explain the possibilities and options we can

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BOOKING NOW FOR 2012. CALL 01625 521010

G

INSIDE THIS ISSUENEWS6 Carpetright sees sales slip further

8 CSL goes national

10 Carpet Foundation members hold steady

FEATURES20 Underlay

Preventing trading down

28 LVTBuilding a brand

30 Living and diningOak rules

32 ServicesDealing with post-sale issues

37 Exhibition GuideMust see international shows, exhibition diary,

MoOD, Decorex and 100% Design reviews

58 RugsNatural instincts

59 Beds and bedroom supplementTackling unwanted guests, sector news

and The Bed Show review

78 EnvironmentSustainability and new standards

REGULARS3 Comment

13 Opinion

14 New products

80 Entertainment

82 Final polish

NEXT ISSUEBuying and marketing groups

Interiors UK, Heimtextil, IMM Cologneand Domotex previews

INTERIORS MONTHLY NOVEMBER 2011

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NEWS

6 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Express Collect doubledCormar Carpets has doubled the number of its Express Collect centres to10. Retailers can arrange next day pick up of orders placed by 12.30pm.

‘The launch of Express Collect has been a great success. We often deliverorders within 48 hours but this service adds another dimension, in mostoccasions, allowing retailers and contractors a next day service,’ says CraigMarshall, Cormar logistics manager.

‘There is obviously a demand for this free service – whether it’scustomers that need an early start or retailers and contractors workingoutside their locality – which is why we have expanded the number ofcentres. Also more centres means less travelling so it saves on fuel which isa big plus.’

Craig Marshall

Mobile successDwell is achieving a sales conversion rate of morethan a third on its recently launched mobile websitefor smartphones.

In its first month the website had 35,000 uniquevisitors with 35% of them placing orders.

Aamir Ahmad, Dwell md, says it is hassle freeshopping for customers.

‘With mobile shopping becoming a crucial area ofgrowth in retail, we have set out to offer an easy wayto browse, request a catalogue and buy,’ he says.

Barker & Stonehouse and online retailers BedzRusand Footstools2u are among those that have alsolaunched mobile versions of their websites.

BedzRus has seen mobile visits rise from 3.87% ayear ago to 11.7% last month.

‘We recognised the importance of the mobilemarket at the start of the year and we’ve watchedtraffic levels increase each month. At the rate it isgrowing, in another six months mobile couldrepresent up to 25% of our total traffic,’ says MarkMoore, BedzRus md.

Footstools2u is seeing 12.8% mobile traffic.

Bed and upholstery group Airsprung hasagreed to a £7.9m takeover offer fromproperty tycoon Andrew Perloff.

Perloff had originally offered £6.45mfor the group after building a 42% stakein Airsprung last month.

The manufacturer’s directors, who own 26.2% of shares, have nowrecommended the increased bid to othershareholders.

‘The Airsprung board believes that theincreased offer being made represents agood opportunity for Airsprung’sshareholders to realise the full value oftheir shares in cash. As a result of theassurances that the board has receivedregarding future intentions for thecompany, its employees, pensioners andother stakeholders in the business, weare satisfied that [Perloff ] will be a

suitable owner of the company,’ saysStuart Lyons, Airsprung chairman.

Airsprung’s senior management willremain in place after the takeover andhave been told its new owner has ‘nospecific plans’ to relocate manufacturingfacilities. Perloff’s property firm PantherSecurities has been the largestshareholder in department store chainBeales since February 2010.

Airsprung agrees £7.9m takeover deal

Carpetright has warned that profits for the current year will

be some £5m lower than forecast as UK sales slipped further

in the past quarter.

UK sales fell by 6.8% in the 12 weeks to 22 October and by

3% on a like for like basis. This compares with declines of

-2.3% and -0.2% in the previous quarter.

Sales were described as volatile, with shoppers only

buying when promotions increased. Because of the lower

prices and higher proportion of lower margin bed sales –

now making up 6% of sales – it expects gross profit margins

to fall by 4% in the half year and by 3% for the full year.

Profits had been forecast between £11.8m to £16.9m, and

the chain says they will be at the ‘lower end of expectations’.

Lord Harris, executive chairman, says the company

continues to cut costs and has successfully transferred sales

to stores near the nine it closed in the period.

‘We are adapting our ranges and promotional activity to

continue to offer the best prices to our customers while

simultaneously working with our suppliers to reduce the

level of margin investment,’ he says.

The revamped bed offer (Interiors Monthly October 2011)

will be an important part of sales and profit recovery, says

Lord Harris.

‘The roll-out of our new laminate offering is progressing

and we continue to develop our website to help drive store

footfall.’

Like for like European sales, including the Republic of

Ireland, fell by 1.7%.

Carpetright warns on profits

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NEWS

8 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Crowning glory: Interest from retailers in its product ranges and point of sale marketing havesurpassed expectations, according to Crown Floors. The brand now has almost 500 stands in place atretailers nationwide.

Ryalux choosestraceable LaneveRyalux has become the latestmanufacturer to sign up for the fullytraceable Laneve carpet collection.

Provenance and authenticity are keyfor today’s consumer, says Carl Quail,Ryalux sales director.

‘The Laneve collection ticks all theboxes for the environmentally consciouscarpet buyer. Sampling will be going outin the coming weeks and we lookforward to a fruitful partnership withWools of New Zealand,’ he says.

Made from 100% ethically producedwool, each carpet sold has a unique tracecode enabling the consumer to trace itsorigins back to the farm where the woolcame from and follow its progress fromfarm to the factory floor.

Upholstery retailer CSL is to offer nationwide delivery

after investing in distribution and its online offer.

‘The first of its kind in the furniture retail industry, CSL’s

online retail experience will allow consumers to browse a

virtual store from the comfort of their own home, with a

fully trained personal shopper guiding them through

their sofa options on the telephone,’ says Jason Tyldesley,

CSL md.

‘This fully consultative advice service means that

consumers can learn about exclusive online ranges and

order via the website.’

As well as the £500,000 online investment, two London

distribution centres are now in operation.

The chain’s first move into the south of England, at

Brent Cross, north London has been hailed a success with

sales ahead of budget. A second store – in Croydon – is

scheduled to open before Christmas.

While the online offer includes Scotland and Northern

Ireland, England remains the focus for the company’s

store programme with 15 more planned by 2015.

‘Our new London staff are all attending our training

academy and they’ll be equipped with the latest iPad

technology to guide customers through their choices with

a discreet and personalised service,’ adds Tyldesley.

‘The online consultants have had the same level of

training to ensure all our customers, whether in-store or

online, receive a service that is second to none.’

CSL goes national with its virtual stores and distribution

CSL plans further expansion

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Page 9: Interiors Monthly November 2011

Call 0800 375 5501or email [email protected] quoting ‘INTERIORS’

Minimum CriteriaIf you would like to apply please see below some ofour criteria:

• Minimum two years trading history

• Annual turnover £1 million or more

• Tangible net worth £100,000 or more

• Confirmation that you are trading profitably

©pa

ulpr

esco

tt-F

otol

ia.c

om

www.hitachicapital.co.uk/retail-finance

Half price set-up feefor November

• Normal price is £360. With 50% reduction price will be £180 including VAT

• Setting up will give you, the retailer, the ability to offer flexible payment terms to your customers

• Reasons to offer Point of Sale Finance:

– It is promotionally strong and willdrive footfall instore

– Increases your customers buyingpower as they can spread the cost oftheir purchase

009_IM_1111 2/11/11 13:12 Page 1

Page 10: Interiors Monthly November 2011

NEWS

10 Interiors Monthly November 2011

peo

ple

Paul von der Heyde has

become the British

Furniture

Confederation’s second

chairman, succeeding

Martin Jourdan who has

stepped down after six

years.

Ekornes has named

Clive Parry as national

sales manager,

succeeding John

Walach, who retired in

September after six

years in the role.

Carpet Foundation members have seen largely stable sales

of carpets from the CF’s 10 manufacturing supporters this

year.

Since the start of the year sales have varied from +2% to

-1%, averaging about +1.5% compared to a year earlier.

Although not a constant indicator, due to changes in the

Carpet Foundation’s retailer and manufacturing

membership over the period and the different number of

manufacturers stocked by each retailer, the figures do

indicate consumers are still spending on carpet.

Members have seen higher sales of the 10 brands for the

past 18 months.

The stabilisation of sales contrasts with the past three

years, which mirror the state of the economy.

In April 2008 sales were running at 6% higher than 2007,

before starting a slide to -18% by April 2009. That month

marked the low point, with sales then climbing, albeit

against weak comparisons, and returning to growth in May

2010.

The value of sales continued to increase, peaking at

+2.5% in August 2010, before slowing down and falling

back into negative territory at the end of 2010 and then

picking up again.

CF members’sales stabilise

Con-tempo purchaseCon-tempo furniture has completed the purchase of its12,500sqft Warminster factory. The company has beenmanufacturing in the unit in for the past 10 months since beingset up by former Pinetum founder Dean Robbins.

The company began selling the Robbins designed Quercusrange through its own store but is now selling to retailers andhas developed painted and pine collections.

‘I still have the ethos to design and create innovative furniturethat stands out from the imported crowd, therefore having toconstantly produce fresh new designs in order to stay a stepahead of the competition,’ says Robbins.

Con-tempo is also offering a made to measure service

Furniture Village has transferred its repairoperations to support specialist Castelan.The deal sees the chain’s 26 techniciansjoin Castelan.

Eamon Wyne, Furniture Village salesand operations director, says customerswill benefit from Castelan’s expertise.

‘Furniture Village and Castelan share

the same business ethos, both focusingon high levels of customer service. Thiswill enable us to concentrate on our corestrengths,’ he says.

Richard Gretton, Castelan commercialdirector, says the company will bestrengthened by the Furniture Villagetechnicians.

‘Castelan will ensure excellent servicedelivery, strong customer serviceprinciples and flexible managementinformation solutions,’ he says.

Castelan was formed in July after amanagement buyout of the retailwarranty and care divisions fromHomeserve.

Furniture Village repairs move to Castelan

Award for green achievementsBritish manufacturers that becomegreener will be recognised by theWorshipful Company of Furniture Makers’new Furniture Makers SustainabilityAward.

The prize will be given to the companywhich, in the judges’ opinion, has madethe most notable improvements insustainable manufacturing during 2011.It covers such areas as environmentalwaste, energy, packaging and transportmanagement, purchasing policies,

employment, training and education.Meanwhile, the WCFM and the

Furnishing Industry Trust havecompleted their merger.

‘The merger makes huge financialsense and will produce a stronger singlebenevolent organisation supportingpeople across the industry in times ofneed and will also support the training ofindividuals by means of studentbursaries,’ says Hugh Garforth-Bles,WCFM master.

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Page 12: Interiors Monthly November 2011

Palatine Beds manufactures and sellsmattresses, divans and electric beds intheir state of the art 150,000 square footfactory in Newcastle upon Tyne. Theircustomers include both private andpublic sector organisations as well as anumber of retailers across the UK.

Palatine’s beautiful range of retail bedscome in a variety of specifications fromopen coil mattresses to high end luxurymattresses featuring pocket springs,memory foam and natural fillings such aslambs wool, horse hair and coir.

For your nearest agent, to become a stockist,or for more information about these bedsand the rest of the Palatine bed range,contact the Palatine Beds sales team on

0191 2772559 or 0191 2772544www.palatinebeds.co.uk/trade

Office opening hours:8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday

Pandora

Athena

Palatine Beds, Stamfordham Road, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 5HHTel: 0191 2772544 (Switchboard) 0191 2772559 Fax 0191 2772550

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Page 13: Interiors Monthly November 2011

OPINION

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk 13

Wool prices are at a 25-year high and with no sign of the marketoffering a change in direction, there is concern from wool-richmanufacturers. Is wool pricing itself out of the market? That iscertainly the thought of some as they battle with raw materialcosts that have soared within a short time.

There is less wool available due to a decline in the globalsheep population, so demand is high. The Bradford wool salesare stronger than ever with the most recent sale seeing 96% ofwool sold and an average price of £1.87 per kilo. These pricesare reflected across the world. Wool is not the only fibre to seeincreases though, cotton, the fibre that allowed us the cheapT-shirt, is climbing too, as is silk.

The volatile manmade fibre market is also causing problemsin the USA where manmadecomposition is the lion’s share ofcarpet and clearly shows there islikely to be no long-term securityin turning to wool alternatives.

Shifting sands createuncomfortable footings for anyindustry and as the British farmerfinally gains enough money toshear his sheep, the main user ofhis wool is pondering its options.

Will we see devalued quality ofwool in carpet as our industryturns to ever reducing woolpercentages? Adding just

enough wool to tap into the fibre’s marketing potential, butperhaps not enough to allow wool to do its job?

In reality, the carpet industry has long underplayed thefantastic performance value of wool – the consumer may noteven really know why 80/20 is better. And yet it is almostuniversally accepted by the industry that good wool carpet isthe best choice for flooring.

The reason is that it can robustly resist the constant pressureof footfall and maintain good appearance for many years, so itlooks good for longer, recovers well and cleans easily.

So does content and performance matter to people? Ofcourse it does, the two are inextricably linked: people chooseleather shoes rather than plastic for this reason.

We also live in an age where added value is charged forbecause people increasingly understand that capacity toperform offers long-term benefit and while not always visible tothe eye, is definitely worth paying for.

We should start pushing wool carpet for all it has to offer andsing its praises as the fibre that will truly perform on the floor.

Bridgette KellyBritish Wool Marketing Board press manager

Promote wool’s qualities– whatever the price

The carpetindustry haslongunderplayedthe fantasticperformancevalue of wool

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013_IM_1111.qxp 1/11/11 17:06 Page 13

Page 14: Interiors Monthly November 2011

14 Interiors Monthly November 2011

1 2 3

4 5

1 Trouble Free is a 12-strong carpet

collection from Mercado with eight styles

available in 1m to 5m widths. Trouble Free

Twist, Saxony Supreme, Saxony Sovereign

and Saxony Ultimate are in 4m widths only.

Stain warranties range from five years to a

lifetime.

Tel: 0113 380 2836

2 The shaggy pile and striking on-trend

colours of Bayswater from Crown Floors

make it a head turner for consumers

looking for the latest in fashion-focused

carpet for their home. Available in 4m

widths, the 100% polypropylene carpet

can be cleaned with bleach and has a

10-year stain resistance warranty.

Tel: 0800 077 3301

3 Hard wearing and low maintenance,

Cormar Carpets’ Primo Delight

heavyweight 50oz range is made from 100%

stain resistant Excellon polypropylene fibre

in a choice of 12 non-fade, heather shades

including on-trend Violet, Raven and Steel.

Primo Delight is bleach cleanable and comes

with a 10-year stain warranty.

Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

4 Prestigious Textiles has extended its

select PT Exclusive portfolio with the

introduction of New England, an eclectic

collection of linen-rich fabrics for curtains,

cushions and upholstery. New England is

based on a balance of natural textures and

tasteful tones with three embroidered

designs, a geometric jacquard, herringbone

tweed stripe and plain-dyed linen blend.

Tel: 01274 688 448

5 Velda Metropolitan uses Aegis Premium

technology to ensure its beds are fresh,

clean and free of dust mites. Aegis

technology is completely safe for human

contact and the environment. The covers are

also washable at 60°C. Metropolitan beds are

comfortable, healthy and hygienic.

Tel: 00 32 89 366 657 ���

NEW PRODUCTS

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16 Interiors Monthly November 2011

6 7

6 Built-in stain resistance and a fibre made entirely from

recycled plastic bottles, makes True Winner from Mohawk a

carpet likely to appeal to a wide audience. Part of the

EverStrand collection, the luxuriously deep cut pile brings

high levels of underfoot comfort and opulence not generally

expected from carpets that are good for the environment.

Tel: 01480 479 830

7 Jaymart’s Matrel range of 100% coir natural fibre carpeting

is available in rolls 15m long x 4m wide and is offered in four

designs: Diagonal, Herringbone, Boucle Kalif and Panakalif

(pictured). Matrel is a natural fawn colour and is machine

woven with a thick latex backing.

Tel: 01373 864 926, visit: www.jaymart.co.uk

8 Available from Floorwise distributors across the

country, the Max, Classic, Woodfloor and Flexible PVC

ranges deliver retailers and contractors high

performance and value profiles straight out

of the box. Joined by the Stair Nosings and

Trims collection, as well as the PVC Skirtings

range, the profiles collection covers most

requirements.

Tel: 01509 673 974

9 Barbara Coupe’s cushion offer includes the

Union flag collection of hand-embroidered

cushions, made from felted wool or hessian.

Tel: 020 7720 1415

10 Vorwerk Carpets’ Esprit Home Islands POS

unit captures the iconic brand of Esprit in white

with red graphics. With inbuilt AV, the unit

captures the creativity and freedom of the

collection. Once consumers have chosen their

texture and colour, they can withdraw their box of

choice and take it away to consider.

Tel: 020 7096 5090 ���

NEW PRODUCTS

8

9

10

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Page 18: Interiors Monthly November 2011

18 Interiors Monthly November 2011

11

12

13

1411 Available in two heights,

Authentic Models’ unusual and

attractive architect desk is designed

with many practical features,

including extended side flaps,

vertical folder slots and subtle yet

functional drawers. Its adjustable

work surface contributes to a

completely new work experience.

Tel: 01403 734 999 or

visit: www.authenticmodels.com

12 Finaframe’s Bloom armchair is

available with a choice of wood or

metal legs in each design. Also, the

customer’s own material can be used.

Tel: 020 8204 1118

13 Balterio’s DropXpress floor-

laying system raises ease and speed

of installation to new heights. Simply

lock the laminate boards into place

end-on. Thanks to the U-profile, the

boards fit seamlessly. With DXP, floors

from the new Stretto collection can

be laid quickly, and it’s ready to be

walked on straight away.

Visit: www.balterio.com

14 For versatility, value and quality,

Edel Telenzo’s Chelsea has been a

runaway success in 2011. This dense,

low-level loop Brussels bouclé-style

carpet in 100% three-ply wool, with

Scotchgard stain protection, comes

in eight on-trend earthy colours in

both 4m and 5m widths.

Tel: 01422 374 417

15 Barbican has been added to Edel

Telenzo’s ever-popular striped

collections. The Scotchgarded 100%

two-ply wool design performs as well

as it looks. A two-tone plain, it is

available in 4m and 5m widths and in

six subtle, contemporary shades. The

multi-stripe is also available in 1m

width for stairs, landings and

hallways.

Tel: 01422 374 417

15

NEW PRODUCTS

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Page 19: Interiors Monthly November 2011

Here at Mystique we constantly strive to supply a fantasticproduct at a competetive price.

Please feel free to visit our show room or speak to ourstaff who will be more than happy to assist you with any

imfomation you may require.Please contact by Telephone: 01663 767 912 or email us on

[email protected].

Mystique Interiorswww.mystiquewholesale.co.uk

The lighting range has been the driving force for our wider furnishings business since we gainedexclusivity of the products in the UK.

Mystique is a successful independentinteriors business,

which has expanded toaccommodate

the� wholesale of theseexciting products

Experience a sales upturn with this new wholesale lighting range* Agents required – contact us to discuss • Distributor for Ireland wanted *

Amazing consumer feedback and our direct-to-manufacturerapproach has reinforced our belief that these versatile

products will be beneficial to manyretailers, from small independents

to large national chains.

019_IM_1111_MYSTIQUE wp 01/11/2011 15:12 Page 1

Page 20: Interiors Monthly November 2011

UNDERLAY

20 Interiors Monthly November 2011

New products and

brand values are being

used to respond to

consumers’ shrinking

budgets

���

As purse strings are tightened, retailersface dealing with customers keen totrade down. So how are suppliershelping retailers counter this?

‘When Carpenter launched an entrylevel underlay – Magic – this summer, itwas with the economic squeeze and aretailer’s need to offer ever morecompetitive products in mind. And thetiming proved perfect,’ says HelenRowberry, Carpenter national salesmanager.

‘We knew there was an opportunity fora competitively priced, well-madeproduct that retailers could brand astheir own, and the response has beenphenomenal.

‘Consumers are being squeezed fromall directions at the moment andsearching out products that offer realvalue. They don’t want to compromise onquality but they have to really watch outon price. Our new Magic range hasclearly hit the spot.’

Rollplay

Carpenter’s Magic is unbranded

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kersaint cobbRequest a brochure or samples on-line

www.kersaintcobb.co.uk Telephone: 01675 430 430

Hand-crafted wood flooringOak engineered & solid planks14mm – 20mm

KERSAINT COBB wp 23/6/10 14:21 Page 1021_IM_1111 1/11/11 15:16 Page 1

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UNDERLAY

22 Interiors Monthly November 2011

products are up to 10% denser thanother leading brands, so you get morefor your money. While somemanufacturers have cut back on theirproduct densities, we haven’t.’

Products are colour coded for ease ofidentification, and to add perceivedvalue for the consumer. The bestbackings, such as Textron, are used toprovide extra strength and structuralintegrity.

The second reason is sales andmarketing support, including thesampling service and sales team.

‘Unlike many manufacturers, we haveaccess to our customers’ purchasinginformation so we can help themunderstand what’s selling and what thesales trends are. We regularly discuss this ���

Floorwise’sAcoustica Best(above) andAcoustica Good(right)

The unbranded line allows stockists tobe competitive and, being British made,reduces delivery time and costs. Thishelps the retailer offer a prompt, efficientservice to their customer, she says.

Suitable for general domestic use,Magic is a polyurethane underlay withplain black laminate on both sides and isa 9mm 85kg/m3 density product.

For Steve Woodhead, Interfloormarketing director, it’s a question ofbrand strength. He says consumers will,even in today’s harsh economic climate,consider and buy leading brands if theycan see what they get for their money.

‘We have identified three areas ofdifferentiation that allow the brand to besold with confidence to the consumer,’ hesays. ‘First, product performance. Our

with customers and advise them on theright mix of products to suit their needs,’says Woodhead.

‘Finally, Tredaire has the highestconsumer brand awareness for underlayso the products can be sold withconfidence. Tredaire underlays have beeninstalled in millions of households forover half a century. The brand has afantastic heritage and this gives theretailer a helping hand when they areselling the benefits of underlay to theircustomers,’ he stresses.

For Richard Bailey, Floorwise md, thelaminate and engineered wood sectorsprovide a sales opportunity that somestores are missing out on. He saysretailers should adopt a positive attitude when it comes to selling

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24 Interiors Monthly November 2011

underlay for wood and laminate floors.‘Consumers are still concerned with

the noise and moisture problems thatcan occur with wood and laminate floors,so selling a specialist underlay,particularly given the proportional costvalue, should be a relatively easyproposition providing that the benefitsare communicated clearly. After all, awood floor represents a significantinvestment so who wouldn’t want toprotect it?’ he says.

The Acoustica range was developed toallow retailers to clearly define thepositive benefits of selecting a betterquality underlay, with Good, Better andBest offering clear performanceadvantages under the majority of woodand laminate floors, he says.

With the Acoustica collection,consumers can quickly ascertain thesound performance benefits of Good,Better and Best, making the decisiondevoid of technical jargon and reduction

values that are difficult to understand. Consumers can select their underlay

on the basis of budget or requirementsfor a quieter home. For the quietesthome, pick Acoustica Best and wherenoise is less of an issue opt for AcousticaBetter or Good.

‘In an ideal world most home ownerswould opt for Acoustica Best, but atFloorwise we appreciate that not everycustomer has factored in a suitable

quality underlay to their budget, nor hasthe money to invest in the very bestquality underlay to reside under theirnew wood or laminate floor,’ says Bailey.

‘With this in mind we have developedthe Acoustica collection to provide valueright across the range and to introduceperformance wood and laminateunderlay at a low entry point.’

Woodhead says sales of laminateunderlay have increased for Interfloor.

‘Many consumers are aware thatlaminate floors can be quite noisy. Agood quality, sponge rubber, acousticunderlay can reduce in room noise by upto 30%,’ he says. ‘Our Duralay Timbermaterange, which includes Timbermate Exceland Silentfloor Gold, have seen salesincrease by over 25% this year based ontheir proven success in cutting in-roomnoise.’Carpenter: tel 01457 861 141Floorwise: tel 01509 673 974Interfloor: tel 01706 238 810

Not everycustomer hasfactored in asuitable qualityunderlay to theirbudget

Tredaire marketing support

UNDERLAY

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WOOD AND LAMINATE

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Stock in tradeWLD North says holding high stock levels has helped its success

It is the sort of beginning any new business wants, but probablysomething few have managed in the past year. Since its launchin November 2010, WLD North has enjoyed unbroken month onmonth sales growth with sales doubling between August andSeptember.

Kevin Lapthorn, WLD North director, attributes the success tostock availability, good service levels, breadth and depth ofoffer and its dedicated sales team. ‘Our major suppliers areKronospan and Balterio. A major strength is that we hold everydecor in stock with more than 1,000 pallets at any time. Anotheris we also hold an extensive range of accessories in stock, withaccessories matching all the laminate decors we hold. Somesuppliers don’t, but we’ve always seen accessories as an added-value product for retailers.’

Oak accounts for 60% to 70% of sales but across a wide rangeof shades.

‘We’ve seen an increase in more mid-higher end products, forexample embossed in register and 4V groove ranges, but I don’tsee any change in the popularity of oak. We’re working closelywith Kronospan in developing value-added ranges for the UK,’Lapthorn says.

About 10% of sales are tiles, followed by walnut and otherexotic woods in various plank sizes, with narrow planks gainingin popularity.

WLD North, part of the WLD Group, also offers several typesof underlays, and says more retailers are getting consumers totrade up from thin foam. ‘More people want it to sound like areal wood floor,’ he says.

Growing in popularity are XPS (expanded polystyrene)boards. The 5.5mm boards are quick to lay, clean to cut, save onweight and have high thermal and soundproofing qualities.WLD North: tel 01785 818 005

Oak, such as Balterio’s Traditional Sculpture Prestige Oak (right) andKronospan’s Harlech Oak (below right) and Cinnamon Oak (below) accountfor more than 60% of sales

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LVT

28 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Brand designs For one manufacturer, creating a label is

more important than short-term sales

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LVT

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk 29

Targets are a constant presence foranyone involved in sales, but for JohnWakefield things are different with theCavalio LVT brand. He would rather takea long-term approach and build theCavalio brand than seek rapid short-termgrowth.

‘We are still young and small in themarket, and unique in the sense that wedon’t need to chase the contract sector,because [sister company] Polyfloor doesthat,’ says Wakefield, md of PhoenixDistribution NW, part of the £213mturnover James Halstead group.

‘We are very specific, we are a retailbusiness looking after retailers to givethem the service they want and deserveas an independent outlet. We’re over themoon with the business we have.

‘We don’t want to be Amtico orKarndean. We’re focused on what we aredoing and we won’t move away from ourfocus. When Cavalio started I lookedonline at everybody’s discountedproducts and they are the retail prices ofours. We went to market and said toretailers: “We’re going to look after youwith retail prices that compete with thediscounted prices of our competitors, soyou’re making full margin,”.’

For Wakefield and Wendy Hearns,marketing director, Cavalio is at theposition car and motorcycle helmet firmArai (Jenson Button and Lewis Hamiltonare among the wearers) was once at.

They are putting the experiencegained building the Arai brand to gooduse with Cavalio.

‘It’s the most expensive helmet on themarket, it takes four to five months toproduce in Japan from the time of order.We don’t have the biggest helmet marketin the world, yet we are the biggestdistributor of the brand in the worldbecause we built it to be this brand thatpeople aspire to,’ says Wakefield.

‘We want to grow gradually and keeppushing, as we did with Arai,’ Hearns says,revealing that it does not supply onlineonly retailers.

Wakefield says the difficulty with largeturnovers is that you have to maintainthem and when the job gets hard peoplestart doing things that eventuallydevalue the brand and retailers’perception of it.

‘It’s the retailer who sells to theconsumer. People will walk into a storeand say they want to buy Amtico andcould walk out with anything – Amtico is

now another word for LVT. Because ofwhat has happened with the Amticobrand and the Karndean brand in themarketplace, the majority of consumerscannot perceive it as a £70 per sqmproduct,’ he says.

Wakefield is doubtful the UK LVTmarket can support all the recententrants seeking to follow in thefootsteps of the two market leaders andis keen to point out he doesn’t expectCavalio to appeal to every retailer.

‘All we can do is to ensure our share issafe and pinch someone else’s share,although the potential market may beincreasing as more people think abouthaving LVT in rooms they previouslywouldn’t have thought of,’ he says.

There are retailers who don’t wantCavalio as it’s not expensive enough. Hecites one store near its Newcastle-under-Lyme head office that has thrivingAmtico sales at £100 per sqm fitted.

Some people will not be able to affordthese prices, but they could affordCavalio, he says. ‘It is those middlemarket customers we want.’

While oak finishes dominate sales, thecompany is seeing a trend towards grey,which Hearns attributes to its latestdisplay stand that allows the consumerto handle the product rather thanimagine how it will look based on thebrochure.

She says it is important to have a widechoice, for example the Projectline rangehas 90 shades, with next day delivery onthe core colours and seven days on theothers.

Next year will see the introduction ofan UK specific brochure with UK lifestyleimages and an expansion of its bordercollection as it settles in for the long-term.Phoenix Distribution NW, tel: 01782 569840

Top left: Conceptline FrenchNutBottom left: ConceptlineLakeshore beechRight: Lightline Classic OakBelow: Projectline RusticCherry

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30 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Oak is still dominant in living rooms

Oak shows no sign of relaxing its grip on the dining room sector. Woodside Furniture’s latest oak collection is Gunbarrel, with a warm

mellow finish and gunbarrel turnings as a design detail. The diningrange is complemented by an extensive range of occasional pieces.

G Plan also opts for a mellow finish with its Rembrandt collectioncombining classic styling and oak veneers. Pieces include circular andrectangular tables, slat-back or pad-back chairs, sideboards andconsole tables.

Zone’s City combines dark oak with contemporary features to createan impact while Kettle Interiors’ Chunky combines contemporary stylewith the warmth of oak and is one ofthe first ranges to be manufactured inits £400,000 50,000sqft factory in HoChi Minh City, Vietnam.

Simon Ainge, Kettle Interiors salesdirector, says its dedicated productionfacility brings more flexibility andcontrol, allowing it to serve theretailer better.

‘Not only is quality control andsupply more consistent on some ofour most popular ranges, but it alsohelps us to develop collections anditems more rapidly and easier thanbefore, giving us the opportunity torespond to market shifts evenquicker,’ he says.Kettle Interiors, tel: 0845 678 1155G Plan, tel: 0141 300 7300 Woodside Furniture, tel: 0114 229 0741Zone, tel: 0141 300 7200

Top of the tree

LIVING AND DINING

Kettle’s Chunky G Plan’s Rembrandt

Zone’s City

Woodside’s Gunbarrel

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Feel free to contact us directly or speak with your local agent for more information and a brochure pack.

If you would like to see the ranges in our Dronfield showroom, please contact us for an appointment.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Scotland: - Ian Crowther 07930314077 North West: - Harry Burton 07872902726South East: - John Coll 07766220531 South West: - Neil Bonnick 07967660715Northern Ireland: - Douggie Yeates 07850313237 Midlands: - Chris Smith 07882651325Yorkshire and North East - Terry Davies 07768 448460

Woodside Furniture Ltd., Unit 4, Wreakes Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire S18 1LN T: 0114 229 0741 F: 0114 229 0740 W: www.woodsidefurniture.co.uk E: [email protected]

The new Fox Creek range

Carefully handcrafted from warm toned Mindi wood, and then waxed and polished to a richpatina, the new Fox Creek range is a great addition to the Woodside Dining Collection.

Carefully proportioned for British homes, it is sure to be a success.

WOODSIDE_WP 31/10/11 11:01 Page 1

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SERVICES

32 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Handling post-sale issues is helping furniture retailers get the edge on rivals

Customer care is increasingly being usedby retailers to differentiate themselvesfrom rivals, and one of the mostimportant aspects of this is dealing withpost-purchase complaints and faults.

Last month Furniture Village hiredCastelan to perform its under-guaranteefurniture care operations. Castelan,formed through a management buyoutof Homeserve’s furniture care andwarranty division in July, has employedthe chain’s 26 technicians, bringing thenumber of its Furniture Care Networktechnicians to 84.

For Richard Gretton, Castelancommercial director, a key aspect of the business is offering detailedmanagement information on the claims.

‘I think it’s the best in the industry. Thatonly comes at having employees, so wedon’t use any contractors – everyone inour field network is fully employed, wemanage them and we train them. Interms of consistent delivery of fix and theinformation that follows it, you can’t100% accurately get that unless youcontrol your people properly,’ he says.

All technicians have a PDA to provideinformation on their assignments and onwhich they complete the post-visitreport, allowing the retailer to see theresults online minutes after the visit. Thesystem ensures all information iscompleted and that the consumer hassigned to say they are happy.

‘The addition of the Furniture Villagestaff means they will be working on bothfirst year guarantee clients and warrantycustomers. We’re operating at optimumcapacity, so it’s a fantastic boost,’ saysRob Sawyer, Castelan sales andmarketing operations manager.

‘The thing that has been an eye-opener for us [since the mbo] is thereaction to having our own employeenetwork. We never made a big thingabout it as in some aspects that was theHomeserve model of selling policies andfulfilling those policies yourself, but itdoes matter to the retailers,’ he explains.

‘Single store retailers might want touse the local guy as that’s who they’vealways used and they trust him, andthat’s fine. But Castelan can provide a

consistent standard across the country,with properly trained staff who turn upin a liveried van with a liveried uniform,’says Gretton.

The time from the consumer making acomplaint to a technician visiting, and inthe overwhelming majority of casescompleting the repair, is 3.6 days.

‘When it’s a first year repair that reallymatters, especially if it is shortly afterdelivery. If you can’t use your newfurniture you want somebody out therequickly. And by not having to wait forcontractors we can do that,’ he says.

Castelan has a dedicated furniture callcentre in Western-super-Mare, Somerset.On products covered by its PremierCarewarranties, accidental damage is themost common. Clients include CSL, DFS(leather), mail order giant Otto and 400independents, for example Leekes.

‘Since the mbo we can make decisionsquickly and we want to be moreresponsive to our retailers’ needs to allowus to be perceived as the experts we thinkwe are in this industry,’ adds Gretton.Castelan, tel: 0800 408 4241

The fixers

Furniture Care Networktechnicians completereports on PDAs

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that the benefits of using the serviceoutweighs the cost tenfold,’ he says.

This should come as no surprise, hesays, when you realise 30% of productscomplained about have nothing wrongwith them, eliminating the need to takeback and reorder a large number ofproducts.

‘A large part of it is educating theconsumer and telling the retailer thatperhaps they need to change what staffare telling customers in-store,’ he says.

Companies also use the informationfrom the inspections – the individualreports and photographs can be viewedonline – to change how they operate andprevent future problems. For example, aregular complaint may be caused byhandling issues.

Retailers want to have an advantageby providing good customer servicewhile consumers have moreopportunities to publicly voice theircomplaints, for example on Twitter andother social media.

‘Some 90% of products remain in thehome, either as they have no fault, theyhave been repaired, or the consumer hasaccepted a part refund,’ explains Oliver.

Dealing with complaints quickly isimportant and consumers are generallyvisited by a technician in under five days

once an appointment is agreed.Oliver says he has seen three major

changes to what retailers ask about inthe past few years.

‘We are increasingly being asked tolook at outdoor furniture. Retailers arestarting to see that we can add valuewith products that previously they mightof thought of as too low end, forexample £150 garden furniture,’ he says.

Second, retailers want to know ifconsumers have put flatpack furnituretogether properly. If there is a problemand a technician visits, it gives thecustomer the service levels they like andenables the retailer and supplier to see ifthere is a problem with the instructionsthat needs changing.

Thirdly, technicians are examiningwarehouse returns where the retailerdidn’t use a service inspection, whichcombined with the data from the homevisits, gives a complete view of what theyare doing and what may have to change.

If a consumer and retailer cannot finda solution to a complaint, The FurnitureOmbudsman’s dispute resolution schemecould be the answer. TFO’s membershipcovers 4,500 outlets including DFS,House of Fraser, Laura Ashley, B&Q, andTesco.

Full members must abide by TFO’sdecision on the complaint which, saysKevin Grix, TFO head, gives consumersconfidence to shop with members.

‘We see ourselves as the ABTA of thefurniture industry,’ he says.

Grix says its members are keen tofollow the example of the CarpetFoundation and gain an OFT approvedcode of conduct, which will giveconsumers even greater confidence tobuy from members.

The draft code submitted by TFO tothe OFT builds on its existingmembership rules by adding depositprotection, a consumer feedback facilityafter every purchase, and research intosales staff’s knowledge of the code. FIRA Service Technicians, tel: 01438 777 700 Guardsman, tel: 01235 444 754The Furniture Ombudsman, tel: 0845 6532064FIRA Service Technicians has 80 technicians

SERVICES

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk 33

Sales of furniture protection plans arerising as consumers look to protect theinvestment in their furniture investments,according to David Wright, Guardsmanmd.

‘We are also seeing an increase in thefrequency of claims as consumers takefull advantage of their cover and contactus when an accident occurs,’ he says.

Protection plans are valued by retailersas a great way to increase turnover,provide superior satisfaction for theircustomers and, with no inventoryrequired, have a positive impact oncashflow.

‘Consumers are more discerning thanever and they expect us to know all thereis to know about furniture and deliverfirst class repairs when the moment oftruth arrives and they need to use theirGuardsman protection plan,’ says Wright.

FIRA Service Technicians has 80 FIRAtrained contracted technicians across theUK and Republic of Ireland dealing withfurniture complaints for 150 companies.

John Oliver, FIRA Service Techniciansmanager, says companies areincreasingly seeing how using such aservice helps them understand the costof dealing with complaints and reducingreturns.

‘Two multiple retailers have told me

Protection plans are valued by retailers as agreat way to increase turnover and providesuperior satisfaction for their customers

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HOME OFFICE

34 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Classic worksFor those in search of a retro look, Melin Tregwynt has reupholstered officechairs in its iconic Welsh fabrics for a touch of contemporary vintage. Melin Tregwynt, tel: 01348 891 225

Sweetpea & Willow’s walnut finished Kidney chairswivels on a hand-carved base with carving detailson the arms and seat. It coordinates with the Kidneydesk that features a monitor lift.Sweetpea & Willow, tel: 0845 257 2627

Combining storage with style, Oficina Inglesa’scherry Tessa secretaire desk has a distressed honeyfinish and details in ebonised wood. It has threelarge drawers at the bottom, a moveable topcovered in black leather and golden pyrographyalong the edges of the tabletop. Oficina Inglesa, tel: 020 8883 8876

Halo’s Wentworth corner desk is part of a seven strong collection that alsoincludes a bureau.Halo: tel 0161 923 0500

Traditional styling doesn’t mean any

lack of functionality in the digital age

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HOME OFFICE

36 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Executive precisionWhether working from home or in an office, Gecko Furniture’s desks add style

The collection offers a variety of sizes –the compact 1.6m, medium-sized desksfrom 2m to 2.8m, with larger desks of3.2m to 3.8m – and a choice of darkwalnut or mahogany finishes. A numberof models feature front panels with fauxleather or carving.

Colosseum can provide a compact

The Colosseum Officecollection of executivedesks and storagesolutions is the latestline to be introduced inthe UK by Gecko Furniture.

‘The range satisfies aclear need for aestheticallytraditional, qualityexecutive office furniture,’says Paul Nicholas, GeckoFurniture sales manager.

‘In a world of lightweight modernoffice furniture, Colosseum immediatelystands out on first impression andcontinues to impress upon closerinspection. The solid structure, chunkypanels and quality real wood veneerfinishes combine to create executivedesks and office storage units whichsimply exude quality.’

home office solution or acentrepiece for a lavish

director’s office. Thedesks are designed to

be functional. Each hasa mobile pedestal withlockable drawers and adesk return, ensuring aplethora of storagecompartments, cupboardsand drawers. Anotherfeature is a sliding

keyboard tray that is completelyconcealed when retracted. Cablemanagement ports when combined withfront panels, which almost reach thefloor, conceal unsightly cabling.

A collection of reception desks,bookcases and coffee tables completethe range.Gecko Furniture: tel 0844 8797 535

Some models feature carving

Desks are available in several sizes

There is a choice of walnut or mahogany finishes

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C A R P E T S

F U R N I T U R E

R U G S

B E D S

L A M I N A T E

U P H O L S T E R Y

V I N Y L

A C C E S S O R I E S

IMM CologneKick-starting the furniture year

Exhibition guide

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EXHIBITION GUIDE

38 Interiors Monthly November 2011

MIF

F

NetworkgatewayThe Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) marks its 18thyear in 2012 when more than 500 exhibitors will displaycontemporary styles and perennial favourites for a range ofindoor and outdoor residential and contract furniture.

Taking place from 6-10 March 2012, the show will cover morethan 75,000sqm of the Putra World Trade Centre and nearbyMatrade Exhibition & Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

More than 20,000 visitors from 143 countries and regionsincluding Asean, Australasia, Europe, the Far East, Middle

FAST FACTSWhat: MIFF

When: 6-10 March 2012

Where: Putra World Trade

Centre/Matrade Exhibition &

Convention Centre, Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia

Contact: www.miff.com.my

East, Africa, and North and South America will attend. Visitors do not only source products, but also use MIFF as a

chance to expand their businesses through networking andexploring new business opportunities.

MIFF exhibitors meet the market demands of all interestedbuyers by producing products designed to suit their targetmarkets and catering to any orders, big or small. The exhibitorsare known for their flexibility in taking orders for mixedcontainers to accommodate niche markets.

Buyers should also keep an eye on the Ideation Award 2012, ashowcase for young designers. Their challenge will be to comeup with a market appealing product under the theme, MyFavourite Chair. A special gallery will feature the prototypes ofthe finalists.

MIFF 2012 is a core part of many retailers’ business plan forthe year ahead as they can source products, expand theirbusiness and meet the world’s most important industry playersall under one roof.

More than 500 companies will take part

A wide range of styles will be on offer

PHO

TO: K

INH

ENG

PHO

TO: G

OLD

EN T

ECH

FU

RNIT

URE

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EXHIBITION GUIDE

40 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Inte

rio

rs U

K

Brand plans‘We have a refreshed branding this year, Interiors UK, cementingour position as the largest national interiors industry event, witha new logo and creative,’ says Tony Crinion, Interiors UK branddirector.

The new website – www.interiorsuk.com – will be its hub,where both visitors and exhibitors can find the latest industrynews, exhibitor stories and show highlights.

‘In line with the product categorisation we have beenprogressing over the past few years, we have sub-branded areasto give each part of the show an individual identity includingFabric, Design Elegance, Décor, Living Lifestyle, ContemporaryDesign, Flooring and Lighting,’ he says.

Feature areas have always been an important part of the NEC,Birmingham, show and Crinion says the 22-25 January eventwill be no different.

‘We will have a number of signature spaces across the hallscurated by some of the industry’s celebrated designers toshowcase their style and influence across the various identitieswithin the show. We have also invited Designersblock to createthe Design Village which will incorporate a unique bar, ademonstration area, lounge areas, shops, markets and anentertainment area which will offer visitors a vibrant, relaxingand stimulating hub,’ he says.

Ptolemy Mann, who has run her own textile and designstudio for 14 years and was the Fabric, Flooring and Wallpaperwinner of Homes & Gardens Designer Awards 2011, will design afabric specifically for the show which will adorn thesurroundings of the Fabric area. There will be 16 graduate

Tony Crinion

finalists for the New Design Britain competition, and a fullseminar programme.

There will be a contract trail through the show to enablecontract buyers to find relevant exhibitors quickly and easily.

‘I can’t wait to see the Designersblock area come to life as the Design Village and will definitely try to catch a couple ofseminars, the programme is looking great at the moment, withOliver Heath, Dan Hopwood, Ptolemy Mann and Global Color allsigned up to speak,’ adds Crinion.

Visitors can pre-register at: www.interiorsuk.com

FAST FACTSWhat: Interiors UK

When: 22-25 January 2012

Where: NEC, Birmingham

Contact: www.interiorsuk.com

Areas will have sub-branding

New Design Britain will again see the country’s

top student talent

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EXHIBITION GUIDE

42 Interiors Monthly November 2011

IMM

Co

log

ne

InternationalinvitationIMM Cologne and new sister event LivingInteriors kick off thefurniture show year in 2012 from 16-22 January, with signs thatthe venue will be completely sold out – as it was this year whenLivingKitchen made its debut.

The show will again have a large Italian presence with B&BItalia, Cierre, Desalto, Driade, Living Divani and Kartell alreadyconfirmed in the Pure halls. Thanks to the strength of theGerman economy, new and returning German exhibitorsinclude Form Exclusiv, Wackenhut, Truggelmann, Disselkamp,Easy Chair, Staud, Meise, Wima and Nolte Delbruck.

IMM Cologne is a highly international event, with exhibitorsfrom more than 50 countries expected. The biggest contingentswill be from Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland,but many other countries will be represented with Greece andSlovenia both planning joint stands.

‘The number of international companies who have neverbeen represented in Cologne before or are returning after along absence is definitely set to increase. That is partly due tothe good results of the 2011 fair, but also to the positiveeconomic forecasts for the German-speaking countries,’ saysFrank Haubold, IMM Cologne director.

The Prime section, dedicated primarily to high end livingroom and bedroom furniture, has an extra hall in response todemand for more space. The Comfort upholstery area continuesto have more upholstery on show than any other exhibition.

The Pure Village hall is the venue for new design project: DasHaus – Interiors on Stage, created by husband and wife teamNipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien.

‘With Das Haus, Koelnmesse and IMM Cologne want to showhow people can live and what possibilities there will be forcreating an interior in the next few years,’ says Dick Spierenburg,the project’s creative director.

Das Haus will show how designers with a visionary approachwould furnish their own home, how they would use materialsand innovative furnishing items including things alreadyavailable and things that will be available in the near future.

FAST FACTSWhat: IMM Cologne

When: 16-22 January 2012

Where: Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany

Contact: www.imm-cologne.com

More upholstery will be on show than anywhere else

The organiser says the 2012 show is likely to be sold out

Jonathan Levien and Nipa Doshi will create Das Haus

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WWW.IMM-COLOGNE.COM

CREATE. FURNISH. LIVE.THE INTERNATIONALFURNISHING SHOW16 – 22. 01. 2012

The event forbathrooms, flooring,wallcoverings, lightingat imm cologne.

International Business Media Services Ltd., 2nd Floor, Prince of Wales House, Bluecoats Avenue, Hertford SG14 1PBTel. +44 1992 510 950, Fax +44 1992 510 951

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IFF

S

Talking pointIn response to industry demand for a knowledge-basedplatform at International Furniture Fair Singapore 2012/29thASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2012), Deco Asia 2012 andHospitality Asia 2012, this year sees the introduction of aconference segment, Hospitality.Design.Furniture Converge Asia2012.

This is designed to take the trilogy of furniture trade events togreater heights. Working with The Pinnacle Group International,Singapore’s leading conference maker, Hospitality.Design.Furniture Converge Asia 2012 is expected to attract more than200 professionals from 9-10 March 2012, including developers,architects, designers, purchasers, retailers, manufacturers andhoteliers.

‘The hospitality and design industry is going throughunprecedented change, and we are positive that this newconference will help to explore untapped opportunities in theconvergence of the three distinct yet related businesses ofhospitality, design, and furniture,’ says Clement Ng, IFFSbusiness development director.

‘Within these industries, we’ve witnessed significant crossapplication of ideas throughout the years, so we’re lookingforward to bringing the complementary sectors together in a

single pivotal location within a professional conferenceprogramme.’

Reflecting the emerging trend of industry convergence,participants in the conference can discover ideas and marketswhere partnerships can be forged and profitability achieved.

An international panel of experts and industry leaders willshare their insights on future trends and innovations during thetwo-day programme. Speakers include: Arthur Kim, Banyan Treemd; Robert Lagerwey, Capella Hotels and Resorts Singaporegeneral manager; Mark Philips, High Point, NC Furniture andDecorative Accessory Company founder and president; andTerence Ronson, Pertlink md.

‘With the conference, IFFS’ enviable reputation as Asia’s one-stop furniture and furnishings sourcing platform will bereinforced, in addition to its strong position as a must-visitevent for international buyers and industry players on thecalendar,’ says Ng.

Melvin Chan, TPGI senior director, says the conference is thefirst of its kind where speakers will share their views on how thethree industries can work effectively together for future growth.

‘Together with IFFS, we are confident that this inauguralconference will debut in a successful way,’ he says.

FAST FACTSWhat: IFFS/AFS

2012, Deco Asia

2012/ Hospitality

Asia 2012

When: 9-12 March

2012

Where: Singapore

Expo, Singapore

Contact: www.iffs.com.sg

EXHIBITION GUIDE

Admira (left) and FalconInternational (above) willshow at Hospitality 2012Below: The DesignInevitable area is designedto nurture talent

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Working the floorThe 12th Eurasia Floor exhibition will have a new home nextyear when it moves to the Gaziantep Middle East Fair Centre,one of Turkey’s newest and largest exhibition centres.

Gaziantep is one of the major carpet producing areas ofTurkey, exporting more than £435m of carpets in 2006 and withmore than 100 manufacturers in the area. Situated in south-eastTurkey, the city offers easy access from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,Jordon, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Europe.

Thousands of sector professionals are expected to attend,including carpet manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, tradebuyers, purchasing departments of hotels, restaurants, schools,architects, interior designers, interior contractors anddecorators.

Among the plethora of products that will be exhibited,visitors will have the opportunity to view some of the followingproduct groups: wall to wall carpets, individual carpets, hand-woven carpets, leather carpets, shaggy carpets, rugs, coco mats,Berber carpets, coco coir brush mats, sisal carpets, machinemade carpets, kilims, area rugs, wool carpets, laminate parquetflooring, laminate flooring, solid wood parquet flooring, parquetvarnishes, underlay for parquet, wood coated skirting boardsand linoleum.

A feature of the fair will be educational workshops andpresentations covering cleaning, maintenance, and fixing ofproducts.

FAST FACTSWhat: Eurasia Floor

When: 8-11 March 2012

Where: Gaziantep Middle East Fair

Centre, Gaziantep, Turkey

Contact: www.eurasiafloor.com

tel: 00 90 21 2296 3304

Workshops and presentations will be afeature of the show in its new location

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Global hubMarch will see the eighth Export Furniture Exhibition inMalaysia, as the event continues to expand.

‘EFE continues to grow and progress each year and has somuch to offer to global buyers,’ says Regina Lee, EFE seniorevent executive.

‘Buyers can feast their eyes on the best and most completeexhibits of furniture and accessories from the topmanufacturers of Malaysia and around the world who will cometogether for the 7-11 March exhibition.’

EFE is the gateway for international buyers to penetrate theregional furniture market waves, showcasing outstandingdesigns and quality with a variety of world class furniture,according to Lee.

More than 500 exhibitors will showcase high quality andinnovatively designed furniture.

There will be more than 80,000sqm of exhibition space underone roof at the state of the art Malaysia Agro Exposition ParkSerdang, with a free shuttle service between Kuala Lumpurairport, the city centre and relevant hotels.

‘Trade directly with manufacturers. EFE is a one-stop buyingcentre offering furniture with uncompromising quality anduniqueness,’ says Lee.

FAST FACTSWhat: MIFF

When: 7-11 March 2012

Where: Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang, Kuala Lumpur

Contact: www.efe.net.my EFE is an international event

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Buying zoneThe Furniture and Home Accessories Fair is Ireland’s largest andmost important furniture and interiors trade event. Withthousands of keen buyers expected to visit the show there arepositive signs the Irish economy has turned a corner with bothbuyers and suppliers feeling more confident about the future,according to the event’s organiser, Irish Services.

There are a number of key developments for the next show.An Interiors and Gift space will be launched showcasing thisvibrant sector of the economy. The show experience has beenimproved with a VIP preview evening allowing exhibitors toinvite their most important customers to an exclusive eventprior to the show opening; a new floorplan and a number ofshow features including the popular New Design Ireland – the

dedicated space on Irish designed furniture and interiors.The Furniture and Home Accessories Fair is Ireland’s definitive

event for buyers who want to source the latest furnitureproducts, interior design and trends for the year ahead.

For exhibitors, the event will have a visitor marketingcampaign that is second to none – from targeted ticket drops,direct marketing and advertising to digital marketing, emailcampaigns and telephone marketing.

The show is the best opportunity of the year to get face-to-face with the industry’s key buyers.

‘The Furniture Fair has given us a fantastic opportunity toexhibit some of our newest innovative window coverings,’ saysTM Blinds’ Cathy Robinson.

FAST FACTSWhat: Furniture and Home Accessories Fair

When: 25-27 March 2012

Where: RDS, Dublin, Ireland

Contact: Tel: 00 353 1 288 8821

[email protected]

www.irishfurniturefair.com

www.facebook.com/IrishFurnitureHomeGift

Twitter: @FurnFairIRL

The largest furniture show in Ireland will have a new layout for 2012

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World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home andhospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex.The state of the art campus showcases furniture, decorativeaccessories, gifts, lighting, rugs, home textile and relatedsegments and also includes the Las Vegas Design Center, openyear-round.

Las Vegas Market is approaching its seventh year andcontinues to inject a sense of fun into the whole exhibitionexperience. Because of where it’s situated, it’s extremely easy toenjoy the highlights of Las Vegas.

The show continues to evolve and grow, learning frombuyers’ feedback on what they’re looking for. As well as the keyfurniture and furnishings areas, the Gift + Home showcase hasbeen developing apace, with 200 exhibitors in that section atthe August 2011 event.

Now under the banner of the new International MarketCenters, Las Vegas Market has increased international effortsaimed at hosting large overseas buying delegations, furtherboosting attendance and translating into strong orders for exhibitors. In all, 95 countries were represented at Las Vegas Market in August and more than half of these

FAST FACTSWhat: Las Vegas Market

When: 30 January – 3 February and 30 July – 3 August 2012

Where: World Market Center, Las Vegas, USA

Contact: www.lasvegasmarket.com

Business classinternational buyers and designers were first-time attendees.

International Market Centers is the world’s largest network ofpremium home furnishings, gift and home decor showroomand exhibition space. The company, formed in April, investedmore than $1bn (£636m) to unite iconic showroom assets inHigh Point, North Carolina and Las Vegas, and create aneffective, efficient and compelling world class business tobusiness platform for both buyers and sellers.

Las Vegas Market includes both permanent showrooms andtemporary exhibition space and takes place twice a year inJanuary and July. As well as special events and seminars, thereare week-long resources open to all attendees including HotSpot, the social media bar where experts can help visitorsincrease their social media presence and get the hottest tipsand techniques about this ever changing medium.

Las Vegas Market continues to grow with some 95 countries exhibiting at the last event in August

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EXHIBITION GUIDESh

owd

iaryJANUARY 201211-14 Heimtextil, Frankfurt, Germany14-17 Domotex, Hanover, Germany16-22 IMM Cologne, Cologne, Germany20-24 Maison & Objet, Paris, France22-25 Interiors UK, Birmingham, UK24-26 Surfaces, Las Vegas, USA26-29 Macef, Milan, Italy30-3 February Las Vegas Market, LasVegas, USA31-4 February IMOB, Istanbul, Turkey

FEBRUARY1-3 AIFF, Sydney, Australia5-9 Spring Fair, Birmingham, UK7-11 Stockholm Furniture Fair, Stockholm,Sweden10-14 Ambiente, Frankfurt, Germany29-1 March ARC, London, UK

MARCH6-10 MIFF, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia7-11 EFE, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia8-11 Eurasia Floor, Gaziantep, Turkey9-12 IFFS, Singapore11-14 VIFA, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

©2011 World Market Center LLC. All rights reserved.

LVM 2012

Las Vegas MarketJanuary 30 - February 3July 30 - August 3

DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT REFRESHINGLY NEWDISCOVER AN INSPIRING COLLECTION OF NEW PRODUCTS AT LAS VEGAS MARKET

REGISTER NOW ATWWW.LASVEGASMARKET.COM

14-17 Cebu Next, Cebu, Phlippines14-18 TIFF, Bangkok, Thailand15-18 Inhouse, Porto, Portugal18-21 CIFF, Dongguan, China19-22 SIFE, Shenzhen, China25-27 Furniture and Home Accessories Fair,Dublin, Ireland

APRIL17-20 Coverings, Orlando, USA17-22 iSalone, Milan, Italy18-21 FIMM, Madrid, spain21-26 High Point Spring, High Point, USA

iSalone is from 17-22 April

PHO

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The home fashion showcase for spring/summer collections willopen its doors on 20-24 January at Paris Nord Villepinte asMaison & Objet continues to present the best of home trends tointernational buyers.

The September edition of the show closed with an 8.2%increase in the number of international visitors, confirming thepositioning of the event as a key reference point in the globalhome fashion market.

January’s exhibition will have the best of what constitutedthe former events and more: Scenes d’interieur, Maison & ObjetEditeurs in hall 7, along with Now! Design a Vivre in hall 8.

Maison & Objet Editeurs has become the privileged meetingplace for all decoration professionals to see at the start of theyear the new collections from all the editors of fabrics andwallpaper. The finest of the finest in European upholsteryfabrics, from the top houses to the most cutting-edge creators,are now choosing Paris for the first exclusive showing of theircreations for the year.

The excellence of high decoration expresses itself at Scènesd’interieur. Each session of this event is a new marvel. Alldecorative techniques and forms from the past reappear in themost sophisticated versions of contemporary trends.

At Scènes d’intérieur, custom-made is the standard, andluxury is for everyday life. Each exhibitor develops the spirit of abrand.

Classical or contemporary, conventional or avant-garde, theystand out through attention to detail, a sense of work broughtto perfection and above all the fresh creativity that sets thepace of the trends. Ethnic Essence: ethnic chic.MIC, gets back tothe art of living’s roots; Ultra-contemporary: an ever-richer offer,the only one of its kind in Europe, at Actuel in hall 5B; DesignDNA, everything in design with Now! Design a Vivre, and 100%Furniture – Meuble Paris is back with a specific offer.

Maison & Objet will capture the latest trends like never beforeand bring to its high quality audience the best of textiles,furniture and home decoration in January 2012.

FAST FACTSWhat: Maison & ObjetWhen: 20-24 January 2012Where: Paris Nord Villepinte, Paris, FranceContact: www.maison-objet.com

Trend setterSeptember’s event saw an increase in visitors

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Special selectionFabric and textiles show Meet only Original

Designs this year highlighted the best 50

products at the show, before selecting the

best of the best to receive a Blue Drop Award

BEST INNOVATIONThe judging panel wasunanimous in naming Hyosung asBest Innovation. This windowcovering is woven as a singlepiece on the weaving machine,meaning the system is ready tobe hung immediately. It can beused in two positions: open orclosed, which lets in more light. ‘Itis ingenious and never seenbefore,’ said the judges.

BEST WINDOWCOVERINGDeltracon took home the prize forBest Window Covering, with the100% linen fabric selected for itssubtle print in indigo. ‘It is producedso elegantly that it looks as though itis done by hand. The repetition ofthe pattern is barely noticeable. Thequality is both superior andluxurious,’ said the judges.

BEST PREMIEREHulshof Royal Dutch Tanneries wasawarded Best Première. ‘The firstgenuinely organic leather in theworld. This Dutch tannery examinedall the harmful substances usedduring the tanning process andreplaced them with organic products.The result is the first ecologicallymanufactured leather that is totallybiodegradable,’ said the judges.

BEST OUTDOORPRODUCTTorri Lana won Best OutdoorProduct both for the fabric andthe overall concept of thisoutdoor acrylic material.Thejudges said: ‘Its soft touch isexceptional for solution-dyedacrylic, while the design istimeless and harmonious, not tomention highly contemporary.’Visit: www.moodbrussels.com

BEST UPHOLSTERYDe Poortere Frères won Best Upholsteryfor its ingenious weaving techniquethat produces a special visual effect: aslub yarn is woven into the pile andthere is also a slub in the weft. Thejudges said: ‘This combination creates arelief that visually looks even deeperbecause the slub in the weft is black.The fabric is not merely a technicalstand-out, but is also of great quality.’

BEST WALLCOVERINGKonrad Hornschuch scooped BestWallcovering. ‘When it is used as awallcovering, this bio-synthetic leathercreates a very special effect. It looksjust like real animal hide, but in actualfact is an imaginative imitation thatmakes high demands on the printingtechnique used,’ commented thejudges.

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De

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Interiors trends often filter down from the

high end interior design market.

Decorex provided several clues for

what to expect in the coming seasons

Chelsea set

Sandberg’s Cecilia isdesigned forconsumers looking fora cosy, homely feelingthat the companycalls ‘softly modern’

Visit:www.Decorex.com

Lapicida unveiledits Passion inStone consumermarketingcampaign

MichaelNorthcroft’s Bellooffers almost 100designs,complemented bya choice of 14finish options�

�Luke Irwin’sethereal 22-piece

Fresco and Nimbusrug collection usesthe visual triggers

of Italianplasterwork and

frescoes

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Ian Mankin used the show to launch its first upholstery collection, with theclassically styled high-back Chatburn, the low-backed York (pictured), andits first wallpaper range

Inspired by Victorian oil lamps,Christoper Hyde Lighting’s Victoriancollection has two ceiling lights andtwo table lamps, including the ArgentOil Lamp in antique bronze finish(pictured)

Morris & Co celebrated its 150th anniversary with fourarchive collections, including Acanthus, designed in 1875

EXHIBITION GUIDE: REVIEW

Dare Studio has expanded its Katakanarange with the introduction of a sofa in achoice of three sizes. A webbed baseallows the frame – available in walnut oroak – to give an air of grace and solidity

LouiseBody’s StillLife fabricandwallpapercollection

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Left: Orlando Gatica Studio’s WingBelow left: Lorna Syson’sWorcesterberry and ElderberryBelow right: Tania Johnson Design’sHaze

Opposite page, clockwise from

top: Clay Designs’ Squill; AdrienneChinn’s Grating; Suzie Button’s NoNews is Good News; Tuttotondo’sConvertible; Spell it out with Tabisso; Brigid Strevens’ wallcoverings

Adrienne Chinn debuted her Urban London collection of rugs,furniture, fabrics and wallcoverings, taking inspiration fromobjects such as manhole covers and grilles that most peopleignore. ‘The beauty may not be as obvious but it is there and isall the more appealing for its hidden quality,’ she says.

Brigid Strevens Studios added Stiletto Chair to its collectionalongside the Wrap and Tower lights while partnering with hersister Helen, an illustrator, to create three wallcovering scenes.

Clay Designs was launched at the event, showing Sqill –Square Illumination, a cable-free coffee table that lights up inthe evening using long-life LEDs.

Lorna Syson Textiles, best known for the designer’s oversized wallflowers, launched the Bradbury wallcoveringcollection. It echoes the colours of the award winning BritishHedgerow collection with the Worcesterberry print picking up on slate and mulberry colours while Elderberry brings out the colours of green acorns and grayish blue hues.

Orlando Gatica Studio’s Wing modular bookcase can beindividualised by changing the angle of the dividers, includingsome that spin.

Suzie Button showed her New Designers 100% Designwinning, No News is Good News, collection of bundles ofnewspapers dipped in rubber latex that can be used as tables,chairs or display units.

Tabisso’s typographic lounge furniture uses the full alphabetand numbers one to nine for its upholstery and more than 20punctuation mark designs for its lamps.

Tania Johnson Design celebrated its first anniversary with thefour-strong Reflected Light rug collection combining differentshades of wool and silk to create interplay between matt andshine.

Tuttotondo Design’s Convertible workstation folds down tobecome a 1950’s style dining table that seats six.Visit: www.100percentdesign.co.uk

Mixed thrillFrom newspapers to the alphabet,

inspiration was aplenty at Earls Court

EXHIBITION GUIDE: REVIEW

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Nature inspires designer Lesley-Ann Donnell

Lesley-Ann Donnell, Oriental Weaversdesigner, enthuses when you ask herabout her time at the company, butmodestly.

It is apparent she loves what she’sdoing. But you suspect part of her stillcan’t quite believe she’s been in this rolesince July 2010 after graduating with aBSc in textile design at the University ofHuddersfield. Since then OrientalWeavers has launched four collectionsfeaturing her designs.

For Donnell research is almost a full-time job, before she even thinks aboutdesigning.

‘The design process begins withresearch. I’m always researching interiorand fashion trends via shop visits,Internet blogs, visiting design shows,magazines and trend books. This allowsme to pinpoint trends and colours andwhat I think will be a strong lasting trendthat I should continue on into design,’she explains.

After this she sketches different ideasand patterns, developing those she feelsare strong.

‘Sometimes a design will completelychange and end up looking nothing likewhat I originally planned. Once a design isselected I’ll then select colour referencesfor the manufacturer to follow. I usually dothis a few times making sure the coloursflow in the design and throughout thecollection. And then we sample. This is themost exciting part of the job – seeing mydesigns come to life,’ she says.

Many of Donnell’s influences centrearound nature, florals and organic forms,but she also ‘absolutely lovesarchitecture,’ with a lot of her universityprojects based around architecture andstructure. But she insists ‘it’s important acollection offers something for everyonewithin the patterns and colours.’

Her favourite collection is Viola and herfavourite design within this is 826X.

‘It began as a large flower design butended up looking completely different,almost abstracted. We’ve captured a lotin this collection and used quite a trendycolour palette. I think it will besuccessful,’ she says modestly.Oriental Weavers, tel: 0113 380 5330

Natural instincts

RUGS

Left: Lesley-Ann DonnellAbove: Bloom

Above: ViolaBelow: Festival

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C A R P E T S

F U R N I T U R E

R U G S

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L A M I N A T E

U P H O L S T E R Y

V I N Y L

A C C E S S O R I E S

Beds and bedroom

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60 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Bedroom talkA round up of the latest news in the sector

���

Production moveRest Assured’s Batley factory is to close with production movingto the Silentnight factory at Barnoldswick. While up to 100 jobswill be created at Barnoldswick, 250 jobs will be lost at RestAssured.

Silentnight Group says it has too much manufacturingcapacity and Barnoldswick can handle production for theSilentnight Beds, Layezee and Rest Assured brands.

‘We are operating in an extremely tough climate forconsumer-facing businesses and Barnoldswick is large enoughto potentially absorb the forecast production requirements ofboth these facilities,’ says Adrian Fawcett, Silentnight Groupchairman.

‘It is with great regret, therefore, that we are now having toconsider the closure of Batley. We are extremely grateful to thehard work of all our colleagues at the factory over the years andwe will do our utmost to support our people should they haveto move on. We are, however, very pleased that Barnoldswickwill remain at the heart of our business and are delighted thatLancashire County Council has been instrumental in makingthis happen.’

‘We’ve agreed a support package for the company which ithas confirmed will lead to significant new investment inBarnoldswick including the creation of jobs,’ says Geoff Driver,leader of Lancashire County Council.

In a statement the group says it will also be developing itssales and support service areas to better meet changingcustomer needs.

‘In practical terms this will mean new investment for thebusiness in people at Barnoldswick as well as new marketingand trade support for 2012 to support a planned upgradedrange and product portfolio.’

The group has entered into a 90 day consultation period withRest Assured employees.Silentnight Group, tel: 01282 815 888

Wood ideaThree years afterbuying a farm so itcould rear sheepfor its own wool,Harrison Spinkshas purchased a50acre wood andhopes to use thetimber in its divanframes next year.Following ForestStewardshipCouncil guidelinesa tree will beplanted for everyone used. Harrison Spinks, tel: 0113 2055 200

Barnoldswick will handle production for Silentnight and Rest Assured

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64 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Hypnos, which launched the Regency and Orthos Support(pictured) collection at The Bed Show, has been appointed asthe Preferred Partner for the supply of mattresses and beds tothe Condè Nast Johansens global portfolio of four and fivestar properties. This comes after Hypnos’s four star hotelcustomer, Casa Hotel in Chesterfield, was awarded the

Comfiest Bed in the annual Best Kept Secret Awards byLateRooms.com. ‘Our Hypnos beds are always the hot topic ofconversation at breakfast time and we constantly receivepositive comments about it being the best night’s sleep ourguests have ever had,’ says Steve Perez, Casa Hotel owner.Hypnos, tel: 01844 348 200

Hotel contract

Panel machineKingstown Furniture has made further investmentsin machinery. The new Biesse Rover C Edgemachine means it is possible to completeprocessing of shaped and edge banded panels ona single machine. The Biesse Skill allows theprocessing of different size panels from a singlebaseboard, eliminating the need to cut panels withan independent cutting machine. As most workcan be completed on one machine, consistentquality and accuracy can be guaranteed making itideal for small batches of bespoke panels.Kingstown Furniture, tel: 01482 717 314

Seal of approvalMillbrook Beds has become an approvedsupplier to buying group SMG, offering threeexclusive floor model promotions.Millbrook Beds, tel: 0845 373 111

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66 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Britannia rulesWBH targets UK customers who

embrace the company’s products

being manufactured in Britain

Caxton has always been big on bedroom furniture. As a result itcan now boast a wide range of collections, from the classic tothe ultra modern, many of which have become bestsellers andhousehold favourites, says David Evans, WBH brand manager.

‘After 60 years of manufacturing furniture in the UK we havebeen able to build an enviable reputation for giving ourcustomers, both trade and consumer, just what they want –consistency in quality, design and manufacture, supported by alevel of customer service that is second to none,’ he says.

By playing to these strengths, Caxton constantly deliversideas and fresh ways to help retailers capitalise on marketopportunities.

‘Always aware of how British lifestyles and tastes change soquickly these days, we are continually looking at ways of addingto and improving existing collections,’ says Evans.

‘Take, for instance, the introduction of sliding wardrobeoptions to our bestselling Strata and Melody collections. Sliding doors are particularly appropriate for the second orguest bedroom, where space utilisation is at a premium – withthis in mind we have also introduced special low height

Caxton’s Juliet bedroom

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wardrobes to most of our collections. As well as thesedevelopments we have added fresh storage and hangingconfigurations, giving customers a wider choice of storageoptions.’

This autumn sees the launch of three Caxton bedroomcollections, including the Pippa. Designed exclusively for the UKmarket, these new collections will feature details, dimensionsand a quality that is uniquely British.

Having recently been awarded a Gold Standard by the AIS forservice and quality and voted Best British FurnitureManufacturer by Interiors Monthly readers for the second year ina row, Caxton’s commitment to the British retail trade is therefor all to see, says Evans.

‘As well as offering an efficient and flexible UK manufacturingfacility, we also offer unrivalled support and service to helpretailers meet the highest customer expectations,’ he says.

Thanks to its UK manufacturing, the company is guaranteeingpre-Christmas delivery on all orders taken before or during thefirst week of December.

With a fully integrated support service, retailers can also

typically benefit from guaranteed 28-day delivery via thecompany’s nationwide direct home delivery service.

Evans says it takes care of retailers’ customers from receipt oforder to final delivery and provides marketing support materialto help promote brands in-store.

Using a dedicated customer portal, retailers can log on totheir account, place and track orders, plus monitor stock levels.This saves having to do everything by phone, and gives theretailer more flexibility and control.

‘It’s a much more progressive and professional system – onethat enables retailers to give a far higher level of service to theircustomers, and something that very few other manufacturerscan offer,’ he says.

Many furniture importers are finding it increasingly costly andchallenging to buy from abroad, while a number of other UKmanufacturers are reducing their offering, but not WBH.

‘By contrast we’re able to offer more and more, in terms ofproduct range, commercial pricing and a flexible service thatretailers can really rely on,’ adds Evans.WBH: tel 08700 600 555

Caxton’s new Pippa bedroom Inset: the bestselling Strata bedroom

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68 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Indoor Allergy Week runs from 14-20November and gives retailers theopportunity to highlight beds designedto tackle house dust mites and bed bugs.

Sealy’s latest collection of beds andmattresses is endorsed by Allergy UK asthey contain Smart Fibres that keep awhole range of allergens at bay,including house dust mites, bacterialcolonies and fungi, which can causedisturbed nights for the thousands ofasthma and allergy sufferers in the UK.

An average mattress can contain tensof thousands of house dust mites andtheir waste – 10% of the weight of a twoyear-old pillow can be composed of deadmites and their droppings.

In addition to Tencel, which helps keepthe body cool and dry as it sleeps, Sealy’sSmart Fibres include Purotex, whichcontains probiotic friendly bacteria toreduce house dust mites and allergens.

Purotex’s probiotic microflora areincorporated into the fabric as micro-encapsulated inactive spores that arereleased by friction between thesleeper’s body and the mattress,prompting the bacteria to activatespontaneously.

During this germination process theyabsorb moisture and eat the food

bacteria from gaining a foothold in theticking material. As a favourable sideeffect, the fibres neutralise unpleasantodours in the mattress.

The microflora used consist of friendlymicro-organisms that are not geneticallymodified and are guaranteed non-toxic.

Sealy Smart Fibres meet stringentstandards, meaning they are evensuitable for mattresses for babies. Incontrast to solutions that use antibiotics,

material present in the fabric, includingflakes of skin, dead bacteria and fungi,and dust mite excretions.

Friendly bacteria grow rapidly,multiplying by a factor of 100 in 24hours, preventing dust mites gettingenough food and moisture to sustainthemselves. Moulds too are denied achance to develop.

Also, the mass presence of the friendlybacteria prevents harmful or pathogenic

Not sleepingwith theenemyA range of beds, bedlinen and

mattresses that keep you cool

and free of nasty bugs

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Duvets have hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibres

Eliminating mites aids sleep

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk 69

noxious bacteria do not become immuneto the probiotic bacteria.

Probiotic bacteria are also self-regulating: the more dust mites there arein the mattress, the more the friendlybacteria multiply. If there is no more foodfor them, then about a quarter of thebacteria revert to spore form. The cyclethen repeats itself as often as necessary.Thanks to the large number ofencapsulated bacteria, the favourable

action should easily last for a decade.Complementing the Smart Fibres bed

range is Sealy branded beddingdeveloped by John Cotton, including theSealy Posturepedic Pocket Spring Pillow,dubbed the sprillow.

‘We all have different tastes when itcomes to the pillows we sleep on,’ saysNeil Robinson, Sealy marketing director.‘Some of us like feathers or down, andsome foam or hollowfibre, but at the end

of the day we need a pillow that staysperfectly comfortable and supportive allnight. This is just what our sprillow does.’

It contains 40 miniature pocket springsencased in foam. As the sleeper’s headmoves, the springs compress and expandto circulate fresh air inside and aroundthe pillow and head.

‘This enhances the sleep environmentto keep you cool and comfortable allnight so you wake completely refreshedin the morning. To further advance thesleep experience, this hypoallergenicpillow is covered in a luxury 100% coolcotton twill,’ adds Robinson.

Other pillows in the range are anti-allergy and contain a wicking fibre thatkeeps the sleeper at the correcttemperature and stops them sweating,so they wake completely refreshed.

To match the new technology in thepillows, the latest Sealy duvets containclimate control fibres that usetechnology called Cirrus fibre. Thesefibres are hydrophilic and hydrophobic,moving the water vapour around toallow more effective evaporation. All therange is hypoallergenic and most of thepillows and duvets are also anti-allergySealy, tel: 01697 320 342John Cotton, tel: 01924 496 571

Mattresses keep allergens at bay

The sprillow contains 40 pocket springs

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BEDS AND BEDROOM: REVIEW

70 Interiors Monthly November 2011

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If one thing summed up The Bed Show itwas technology. Innovation was aplenty,be it in fabrics, springs or foam, withmanufacturers turning even more toapplications of science that only a fewyears ago would have been almostunthinkable.

Breasley introduced the Saluscollection using Cocona fabric, designedto improve breathability. Derived fromcoconut shells its pore structureincreases the fabric’s surface area by800% for faster moisture evaporation.The Duette with a seasonal topper wasalso debuted.

Carpenter unveiled a plethora oftoppers and pillows incorporating fabricsusing the latest technology.

The Sleep Better Premier Blissfulltopper features seven zones of 50kg/m3

memory foam and the Celliant cover. Aresult of research in alternative therapies,Celliant is made from a speciallycomposed material incorporated into thecover that is clinically proven to increaseoxygen levels in muscle tissue.

Celliant has been shown to improvecirculation, helping to regulate bodytemperature, promote better sleep andeven reduce pain. The topper is alsooffered with a Maxi-cool moisturemanagement fitted sheet.

The EcoShield five-zone topper useseucalyptus to tackle bed bugs andinsects while the Four Seasons usesViscolux foam, which is like memory

foam but has the feel and touch of latex.The cover has a soft fabric for warmth onone side and on the other a phase-changing Thermaspa material thatregulates body temperature in hotweather.

Among the pillow launches was a dualsurface pillow using Viscolux on one sideand memory foam on the other with achoice of Celliant or EcoShield cover.There is a Four Seasons pillow. Anotherhas 72 Posturfil springs encased inmemory foam with a 300 thread countjacquard weave washable cover, whichcontains a low denier microfibre filling.

‘The sleep accessories sector hasbecome an increasingly fast moving onein terms of innovation and high

Technology rules as bed manufacturers seek to keep ahead of their rivals

Hi-tech comfort

Carpenter’s Celliant topper and pillow

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performance fabrics,’ says Gillian Finch,Carpenter national sales manager.

Harrison Beds introduced HD, what itsays is the first pressure relieving pocketsprung layer, in the Topped and Tailoredand Memory Tailor ranges.

Topped and Tailored combines HD, theRevolution spring system, natural fillingsand a choice of three toppers: integraltop, pillow top and box top. Top of therange Utopia and Eden have 8,000 and10,000 springs respectively.

Memory Tailor combines HD,Revolution, Posturfil and a layer ofContura, combining the benefits ofpocket sprung and memory foam.

Contemporary Orient and Andaluciabed frames with pocket sprung edgeswere also introduced.

Palatine Beds showcased six models,including the pocket sprung Pandoraand Athena with natural fillings includinghorsehair and lambs wool, and the Oasishypoallergenic mattress.

The Sleep Council unveiled The SevenYear Hitch campaign, intended to getconsumers to replace beds after sevenyears, not 10. The campaign will includeadvertisements in the national pressintegrated with online activity andiPhone apps. Retailers can get marketingmaterials from www.sleepbiz.co.uk.

Somnus added Diplomat to itsSupremacy collection combiningCumbrian Fells Herdwick wool with 4,500Sensa Pocket Plus springs in the mattressand 550 pocket springs in the base.Herdwick sheep are prized for being oneof the hardiest of British hill sheep withthe coarse fleece having excellent naturalinsulation properties.Breasley, tel: 01629 821 510Carpenter, tel: 0161 627 0044 Harrison Beds, tel: 0113 205 5200Palatine Beds, tel: 0191 277 2559The Sleep Council, tel: 0845 058 4595 Somnus, tel: 0113 205 5200

Above: Somnus’ DiplomatBelow: Harrison Beds’UtopiaRight: Palatine Bed’sPandora

London chain Beaumont Beds won the

Independent Bed Retailer of the Year

award at the show. John Lewis was named

Multiple Bed Retailer of the Year. Hypnos

took the award for Bed Manufacturer of

the Year and Maes Mattress Ticking

scooped Bed Supplier of the Year.

Left: Beaumont Beds’ Ed Friend and Tony Payne(centre) collect their award from Stuart Hibbert,Breasley Consumer Products md, and awards host,impressionist Jon Culshaw

Best in the bedroom

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BEDS AND BEDROOM: REVIEW

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Sweet Dreams showed a wide range ofits bestselling Well Being, Moonflower,Pocket Spring, Sleepzone and Nature’sFresh collections along with promotionalmodels and bedroom furniture.

The Pandora Ortho, which is made in anew soft-handle fabric to mattress baseand border, has a knitted top and aframed 12.5 gauge spring unit. It comesin three sizes, 90cm, 135cm and 150cm,and is sold as a platform top set withvarious drawer storage options, or as amattress.

Sweet Dreams is now the UK mainlanddistributor for bedroom cabinetmanufactured by Gleneagle Furniture,and has launched a full brochure for thecollection.

There are seven ranges of cabinet,including the minimalist white Hepburn.It includes several wardrobes, chests,dressing tables, bedside units, blanketbox and stool. Also featured areheadboards in four sizes, in commonwith all models in the range.

In an oak finish, Duvall, with cut-outsrather than handles, is a modern take onbedroom cabinet and offers a differentlook.Sweet Dreams: tel: 01282 830 033

A modern take on bedroomcabinet offers a different look

Top: Hepburn Above: Duvall Right: Pandora

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74 Interiors Monthly November 2011

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Vi-Spring launched what it describedas ‘a new level of comfort’ with its rangeof Heaven, Heaven Luxury and HeavenLuxury Supreme mattress toppers.

To partner and enhance the feel of Vi-Spring’s collection of hand-mademattresses and divans, the range isdesigned to create a supremely softsleeping surface, without compromisingon the correct level of tension andsupport.

Each topper in the Heaven range isgenerously filled with the finest naturalfibres, such as 100% Platinum CertifiedBritish fleece wool, cotton and SouthAmerican horsetail, for softness,breathability and bounce. Covers are in achoice of Belgian fabrics, stitched tocreate a quilted surface and finished withbronze, silver or gold piping.

The Shetland Superb, from the new

Natural Luxury Collection, isan all-wool bed using a mixof Platinum Certified realShetland wool and pureBritish fleece wool.

Soft and supportive, themattress has more than2,000 Vanadium steeldouble pocket springs and is finishedwith hand-tied woollen tufts. A selectionof all-wool fabrics are available to coverboth divan base and headboard to createVi-Spring’s signature look.

Wool is uniquely suited for mattressupholstery thanks to a combination ofsoftness, warmth and resilience. A highlyeffective insulator, it helps maintain thecorrect temperature to keep the bodywarm in winter and cool in summer. It’salso healthy to sleep on, as wool is abreathable fibre that draws moisture

away from the body, releasing it into theair for a clean, fresh and hypoallergenicsleeping surface.

‘Every Vi-Spring bed is hand-filled andstitched by master craftsmen, using moreBritish fleece wool than any other bedmaker. This is part of Vi-Spring’s supportfor the Campaign for Wool andcommitment to using one of Britain’sfinest resources to increase demand forwool and preserve this precious industry,’says the company. Vi-Spring, tel: 01752 366 311

Every Vi-Spring bed is hand-filledand stitched by master craftsmen

BEDS AND BEDROOM: REVIEW

Each bed is hand-filled and stitched Above: Shetland Superb hasmore than 2,000 springs Below: Three toppers are available

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Page 75: Interiors Monthly November 2011

Ad

vertising feature: H

itachi Capital (U

K) plc

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk 75

As disposable incomes continue to shrink, it is

becoming more and more important to offer

your customers a range of payment options to

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Point of sale finance is often overlooked as

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Fortunately, Hitachi Capital Consumer

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Gone are the days of overly complicated

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Helping you to help

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tomers’ details within minutes and get a deci-

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What’s even better is that all of Hitachi

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With more than 29 years of experience in

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We already support many of the UK’s most

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75hitachiAD_IMnov11.qxp 28/10/11 12:56 Page 75

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BEDS AND BEDROOM: REVIEW

76 Interiors Monthly November 2011

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The Shire Bed Company stood out atthe show as the only firm to launch ananti-bed bug collection: ecoShire.

‘Modern life throws enough things ourway to stress and bug us. We certainlydon’t need the creepy-crawly varietyinviting themselves into our beds. Theycan result in some pretty itchy skinirritations but worst of all, they cause real anxiety and experiencing phantomitching is common,’ says Fara Butt, The Shire Bed Company marketingdirector.

‘Shouldn’t we be drifting off into

dreamland rather than having ourimaginations run wild?’ she says.

The ecoSnug, ecoSound, ecoDrift,ecoDeep and ecoEasy models featureEcoShield which uses eucalyptus oil.

‘Thanks to microcapsule technology,all fibres and textile materials treated byEcoShield are wash resistant. Thistechnology permits the active ingredientto be released gradually over time, sincethe capsules only break open whenusing the mattress,’ explains Butt.

‘Eucalyptus oil is well known to giverelief from sinus infections, the common

cold, bronchitis, flu and other respiratoryconditions. Eucalyptus oil has anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties,which is why it’s often used in perfumes,lotions, soaps and other hygieneproducts.’

Some 2.5% of the profits of everyecoShire mattress will go to charitiessupporting the global fight againstmalaria by providing nets and support.

Such was the interest in the collection,says Butt, that 90% of orders taken at theshow were for ecoShire.The Shire Bed Company, tel: 01924 439 898

Some 90% of Shire Beds’ orders at the show were for ecoShire models

76shire_IMnov11.qxp 31/10/11 18:11 Page 76

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Ad

vertising feature: G

reendale Carpets

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk 77

Greendale Carpets and Flooring

Tel: 01432 852 000

Visit: www.greendalecarpets.co.uk

Some 50 exhibitors including Abingdon,

Adams, Associated Weavers, Axminster, Ball

and Young, Carpet Foundation, Cavalio,

Cormar, Crucial Trading, Edel Telenzo,

Furlong, Interfloor, Mohawk, Lano, Lifestyle,

Ryalux, Thomas Witter, Ulster Carpets and

Victoria Carpets were among the companies

taking part in the Greendale Carpets and

Flooring show and dinner last month.

Some 235 people attended the event, two-

thirds of which were members of the buying

group.

Before the dinner visitors enjoyed drinks at

an event sponsored by Tedd Todd. The

evening was topped off with a raffle that raised

almost £2,500 for Macmillan Cancer Care and

the Furnishing Industry Trust.

‘Our 2011 event has once again shown the

loyalty and commitment of Greendale’s mem-

bers and suppliers to this unique buying

group. We have had a great day of business

and a lovely evening of celebration and look

forward to an even bigger and better event

next year, which will mark our 50th anniver-

sary. My thanks to everyone who contributed

to making this a day to remember,’ says Rob

Harding, Greendale chief executive.

A day to remember

Lano, Lifestyle and Cavalio were among the suppliers taking part

LIFE

STYL

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O P

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77green_IMnov11.qxp 28/10/11 17:50 Page 77

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ENVIRONMENT

78 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Mohawk’s SmartStrand carpet is playinga role in low cost affordable housingmade from renewable materials thatachieve Level 4 of the Code forSustainable Homes.

The Renewable House was created in2009 at BRE’s Innovation Park in Watfordto show that sustainable social housingcan be built at a competitive price andwith renewable materials. Now leased bythe not-for-profit InCrops Enterprise Hub,the house is undergoing refurbishmentin partnership with renewable productmanufacturers including Mohawk.

SmartStrand’s carpet fibre is madefrom 37% Bio-PDO, a derivative of corn,and reduces CO2 emissions by 63%compared to an equivalent amount ofnylon 6 fibre. With 30% less energy usedin its production, SmartStrand offers amore sustainable residential carpetoption.

‘SmartStrand fits in well with ourmodel to produce sustainable low costhousing using renewable materials,’ says

Ben Binns, InCrops business innovationmanager for the built environment.

‘Reducing reliance on resources thatcannot be replenished is vital in thedevelopment of future sustainablehousing, but it is also important that itremains affordable.’

Some 80 homes will be built inSwindon, Wiltshire, with a further 114 inDiss, Norfolk, proving the methodologyof affordable homes at high volume thatoffer significantly minimised embodiedCO2 and achieve Level 4 of the Code forSustainable Homes.

SmartStrand fits the bill forsustainable housing scheme

Global carpet tile manufacturerInterfaceFlor has made a European-widepartnership agreement with wastemanagement group SITA to collect andrecover end-of-life carpet tiles from itscustomers, as part of its Mission Zeroscheme.

The tiles will then be reused by thecompany’s social partners or recycledinto new tiles in its ReEntry2.0 closedloop system.

Initially the partnership will operate inthe Netherlands, then be extended toGermany, France, Scandinavia and theUK.

For tiles that can’t be recycled, SITA willrecover energy from them.

Since the mid-1990s, InterfaceFlor hasreduced the amount of manufacturingwaste it sends to landfill by 82% and saved more than £275m in avoided waste costs. Also, more than40% of the raw materials used for its

GreenhousestandardsTwo international standards have been

launched that allow businesses to

better measure, manage, and report

their greenhouse gas emissions

throughout their supply chains.

Created by the World Resources

Institute and the World Business

Council for Sustainable Development,

the Product Life Cycle and Corporate

Value Chain Protocol standards will

enable companies using them to save

money, reduce risks and gain

competitive advantage.

‘These standards are a breakthrough

for business. For the first time,

companies will be able to measure and

manage the full scope of emissions in

their value chain and products, so they

can take advantage of new

opportunities as they reduce

greenhouse gases,’ says Manish Bapna,

WRI interim president.

Tiles will be recycled or reused

products are recycled or bio-based.Under Mission Zero, the company

wants to eliminate any negative impact ithas on the environment by 2020.

InterfaceFlor has saved more than £275m in

waste costs

SmartStrandis being usedin theRenewableHouse

78environ_IMnov11.qxp 28/10/11 10:30 Page 78

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079_IM_1111 1/11/11 15:28 Page 1

Page 80: Interiors Monthly November 2011

Difficult

Medium

Easy

ACROSS 1 It’s owed5 Oscar de la ___10 Manipulates14 Dextrous, lively15 Icelandic coin16 Mature17 Green land18 Chimes19 La Scala solo20 Heavy hammer22 Argot24 Division of geologic time25 Not as much26 Almond flavoured liqueur30 Assumed attitudes35 Test site36 Chow down37 Sidestep, circumvent38 Floating mass41 Mosque tower43 Hoodshaped anatomical part44 Stimpy’s pal45 Where ___?46 Negates47 Turkish sabre50 I could ___ horse!53 Last Israelite judge before the ruleof the kings54 Spanish magistrate58 Cloud of interstellar gas62 Rude person63 Equipped66 Brought up67 Building for storing hay68 Tomb69 This, in Tijuana70 Actress Heche71 Relaxed72 Soviet news service

DOWN 1 Stains2 British nobleman3 Soft cheese4 Not tough5 Revolver6 Organ of sight7 Heston’s org8 San Paulo feature9 Upbeat, in music10 Orsk’s river11 Male parent12 Monumental13 Show to a table21 Greece’s FIFA code23 Colorado resort25 Used car locale26 Straighten27 Port near Hong Kong28 Clear as ___29 Label31 Female gametes32 Mother of Isaac33 Accumulation of fluids34 Take hold39 Babylonian title40 Stand used by painters41 Give ___ break!42 Prospective44 Handwoven Scandinavian rug48 Beer49 Gallows51 Proverb, saying52 Earth54 Dancing Queen group55 It may be floated56 Maize57 Rule Britannia composer59 Bear up there60 Permits61 Autism test64 Italian motor torpedo boats65 Woman created from the rib ofAdam

SUDOKO CROSSWORD

Answers can be found on p82

ENTERTAINMENT

80 Interiors Monthly November 2011

80ent_IMnov11.qxp 28/10/11 10:31 Page 80

Page 81: Interiors Monthly November 2011

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081_IM_1111 1/11/11 17:01 Page 1

Page 82: Interiors Monthly November 2011

FINAL POLISH

82 Interiors Monthly November 2011

Entertainment answers

Easy DifficultMedium

Sky high chair: Among the highlights of theQubique exhibition at the former Templehofairport in Berlin (itself a highlight) wasMaarten Baas’s The Empty Chair as part of theVentura Berlin section. Designed for AmnestyInternational, it may not be practical but it’s aconversation starter at any dinner table.

PHO

TO: F

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K TI

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S

A bed maker, an upholsterer and a carpetfitter are among the people who havebeen helped by the Furnishing IndustryTrust (FIT).

Among those to benefit from the totalof £4,700 approved in one-off grants atthe charity’s latest Grants and WelfareCommittee meeting was Mr C fromPlymouth, who worked as a bed makerfor more than 20 years before beingmade redundant in 2009. He used hisredundancy money to help fund abusiness to provide a living, but it wasclosed down earlier this year.

Mr C suffers from depression, dependson Job Seekers Allowance and lives in ahomeless hostel. FIT granted him £400 tocover the advance rent on a flat and aJohn Lewis single duvet to help him getback on his feet.

Upholsterer Mr M, in his 40s, also losthis job, his relationship and his home,resulting in clinical stress. He would liketo work again, but being homeless hasmade finding a job difficult. FIT offeredhim a grant of £500 to cover the deposit

on a flat, as well as a single duvet.Mr O, a carpet fitter from Ryedale, was

also forced to live in a hostel followingthe recent loss of his mother who hadbeen of great support to him. He wasoffered a housing association flat and FITeased the transition with a grant of £200for essential household items including aduvet for his new home.

Mr F from Cumbria had his workinghours cut earlier this year and his partnersuffers from depression, meaning thecouple are facing financial difficulties. Inhis 40s, Mr F has worked as a driver for afurniture company for many years.Thanks to a FIT grant of £600, he couldafford essential vehicle repairs so hecould continue working.

The committee also provided help fordamp proofing, respite breaks, travelcosts and an electric cooker.

‘For many, charities like ours are theironly avenue of help,’ says CharlesKerrigan, FIT chief executive.

More than £3,000 was raised for FIT atThe Bed Show in September.

Tigers score with Tile DepotIt may not be the Champions League, but new teamWycombe Tigers Youth FC are getting noticedthanks to sponsorship from wood flooring and tilechain, Tile Depot. The football club comprises finalyear pupils from the Royal Grammar School in HighWycombe.

‘We’re extremely grateful to Tile Depot for itssponsorship, which has helped us get the teamstarted with 34 kits as well as match balls, trainingand first aid equipment,’ says Ed Henderson, who at17 must be the country’s youngest club chairman aswell as its right back.

At the end of the season, the club will go to pupilsmoving into their final year to continue it into the2012/13 season with Tile Depot’s sponsorship.

Light ideaVelux is offering £25,000

to the winner of the 2012

International Velux

Award.

The competition

explores the theme of

daylight in the built

environment and the

brief has been designed

to allow them to create

their own interpretation

of ‘Light of Tomorrow’.

Visit iva.velux.com.Will Rygalski, Wycombe Tigers Youth FC strikerand secretary, David Fitzgerald, Tile Depotoperations director and Ed Henderson

FIT provides a helping hand for those in need

82fp_IMnov11.qxp 28/10/11 19:00 Page 82

Page 83: Interiors Monthly November 2011

For further information please contact Paul or David:T: 0161 203 6191 • F: 0161 203 6270 • E: [email protected] or [email protected] • W. www.ianmichael.co.uk

IanMichael Auctioneers Ltd, New Street, Miles Platting, Manchester M40 8AA

DINING-LIVING-BEDROOMFor over 30 years IMA have been supplying discounted furniture direct to the trade. Whether you are looking for continual lines, end of lines, clearance lines or factoryseconds, IMA can meet you demands. All stock is available daily on a cash & carry basis with clearance stock and factory seconds also being sold at monthly auctions.

Stock is available from now until Christmas shut down with new lines becoming available in the New Year. Gain a competitive edge..contact IMA today!

Aniline leather sofas in stock Semi-Aniline leather suites in stock

3+2 only £309 Painted bedroom from only £38 135cm with memory foam only £69 3+2 only £169

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Solid oak king-size only £129 Rustic bedroom range from £42 In stock Reclining chairs from £80

Calligaris Vegas bar stool only £49 Only £65 while stocks last Only £145 while stocks last In stock

Only £139 Only £16 Oak triple wardrobes only £299Extra large extending dining room

tables only £199

3+2 only £350 Only £165 while stocks last 3+2 factory seconds from £259 D-Bodhi Ferum

Solid wood table + 4 chairs only £149 Calligaris Motion table + 6 Vegas chairs only £399

D-Bodhi Trapesium Only £299 Only £109 D-Bodhi Tubeline

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Page 84: Interiors Monthly November 2011