Interiors Monthly

International affair: more than 20,000 visitors from 35 countries will be at the NEC  ‘As a fellow event organiser, it was a shame to hear that imm Cologne won’t be going ahead this January. Losses to the industry calendar like this reinforce the importance of shows like the January Furniture Show, which will once again solidify its position as the meeting place for the industry,’ says Paddy Wallace, The Furniture Shows head of sales.  ‘JFS has always been the UK’s premium trade event for furniture design, manufacturing and retail, but in recent years it has become a truly international affair. For the 2025 edition, 35% of the show floor has been booked by international brands, including himolla, Fama, Nicoletti Home, ALF, Ego Italiano, Marinelli, Kristensen:Kristensen, Aquinos, Furninova, Wiemann, Nolte Mel, Violino, Hooker Furnishings, La-Z-Boy, Maxfurn, Actona, Skovby, Aleal, SanMartino, Incanto, Bernhardt, 3C Candy, Venjakob, X8 Chairs and Grafu Baldai.  ‘JFS sets the benchmark for exceptional design, attracting a global audience: 20,000 visitors travel from 35 countries to explore more than 500 brands and suppliers. Set out across four distinct sectors - Premium Design; Home & Lifestyle; Living, Dining & Cabinet; and Upholstery & Beds - JFS showcases the best in classic, innovative and contemporary modern design, from standout pieces to accessible, mass-market options. Discover the perfect mix of new and established brands including Ashley Manor, Whitemeadow, Alpha Designs, G-Plan, Tetrad, Widdop & Co, Hartman, High Grove Beds, Premier Housewares, Trampoline, Westbridge, Hill Interiors, Ashwood Designs, Buoyant Upholstery, Scatter Box, Lebus, Shire Beds, Birlea, Willis & Gambier and hundreds more.  ‘With registration launching only a few weeks ago, we have had a record number of visitor registrations and look forward to welcoming back top buyers including members of our enhanced VIP Programme who have a combined buying budget of more than £3bn. We look forward to having the likes of Dunelm, Marks & Spencer, Next, Furniture Village, Sofology, Oak Furnitureland, Wayfair, Bensons for Beds, Sainsbury’s, Fenwicks, DFS, ScS and more join us at the show.  ‘Visitors can enjoy multiple networking events across the four days including the Show Party, Happy Hour and the Women in Furniture Network event, making JFS a no-brainer for any retailer, designer, manufacturer, architect or design professional.’ To register click here. https://lnkd.in/eXt_KcaG

John Lewis adds Made.com Made.com is to open a series of concessions within John Lewis stores. The Next owned brand has opened the first at the department store chain’s revamped Oxford Street, London flagship store. John Lewis will begin selling Made.com ranges online and increase the number of concessions. The move is part of an overhaul of the home offer at Oxford Steet, with new roomsets and brands, including Ruggable. https://lnkd.in/eEvzfMyz

Spring Fair wants your memories for hall of fame The Spring Fair is seeking memories of the show as it looks to create a hall of fame compilation of memories, pictures and stories as it marks its 75th anniversary next February. The show’s timeline, a large digital screen of pictures and stories, and a selfie wall will create a celebration of retail’s past and present. ‘Were you an exhibitor or visitor in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s…? Do you have any memorable stories or pictures to share? Were you at the show in 1975 when Queen Elizabeth opened it at the NEC? Do you have any great then and now pictures from the show or of stands? Can you chart any memorable moments at the show that stick in your mind or defined your business? Did you make new connections with brands that you still work with today? What were the highlight product launches over the decades? Are any products that became bestsellers still available today and how have they evolved over the decades,’ says Soraya Gadelrab, Spring Fair event director. ‘This milestone event will bring the retail community together – to celebrate the past, present and future of retailing and put the spotlight on the people and businesses who have made Spring Fair a part of their retailing journey. We would love to receive all your memorable memories and pictures, and we will create a place where the community can take a nostalgic look back on the years gone by. I can’t wait to see pictures from the past and hear the stories.’ Show memories and pictures can eb sent to Reka Rasko at reka.rasko@hyve.group for consideration. https://lnkd.in/ery6ehGt

Consolidation continues as Driade finds Nemo  Consolidation in the upmarket furniture sector has continued, with NemoGroup adding to its portfolio. The lighting group has acquired furniture manufacturer Driade and lighting and furniture company FontanaArte as part of its expansion strategy among Italian brands. The Italian group, founded by Federico Palazzari in 2012 with Nemo Lighting, bought ILTI Luce in 2020 and Reggiani last year. The five companies in the group will continue to operate as separate entities ‘but within a broader framework of synergies and cooperation that will strengthen the global competitive positioning to respond to increasingly varied and sophisticated market needs,’ according to the group. It already has sales structures in the UK, US, China, France, Denmark and the Middle East with its products sold in more than 80 countries. https://lnkd.in/ePnrrdAV

Tempur is now supporting Zarach Mattress brand has Tempur has teamed up with child bed poverty charity Zarach. Zarach delivers brand-new mattresses, pillows and bedding to families at need around the UK as part of its mission to guarantee that every child in England has a bed of their own. Bed poverty can affect a child’s education due to increased tiredness and illness, with the charity working to ensure that every child has the best chance of learning and succeeding at school. There are 4.3m children living in poverty in the UK, with almost 900,000 children in bed poverty specifically. Tempur has donated single mattresses and pillows to the charity as part of ongoing support for the charity. ‘Many of us simply can’t fathom the devastating decision to either pay for food and fuel, or to buy our child a bed which is why, when Zarach founder Bex Wilson reached out to me via a handwritten letter, I knew that the work they did was special and that Tempur had to be a part of its mission. Sleep forms the building blocks of mental and physical health and development, it’s the time for our brain and body to rest and recharge and it also allows us to retain the information we have learned throughout the day – especially important for children. However, we live in a time where beds have become a luxury item for hundreds of thousands of families. Ending bed poverty so that all children in the UK can have safety, comfort and a quality night’s sleep is the aim for all of us and we are proud to be supporting Zarach on their mission to achieve this worthwhile goal,’ says Tobin James, Tempur UK md. https://lnkd.in/eB2Ft3r8

Spring Fair wants your memories for hall of fame The Spring Fair is seeking memories of the show as it looks to create a hall of fame compilation of memories, pictures and stories as it marks its 75th anniversary next February. The show’s timeline, a large digital screen of pictures and stories, and a selfie wall will create a celebration of retail’s past and present. ‘Were you an exhibitor or visitor in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s…? Do you have any memorable stories or pictures to share? Were you at the show in 1975 when Queen Elizabeth opened it at the NEC? Do you have any great then and now pictures from the show or of stands? Can you chart any memorable moments at the show that stick in your mind or defined your business? Did you make new connections with brands that you still work with today? What were the highlight product launches over the decades? Are any products that became bestsellers still available today and how have they evolved over the decades,’ says Soraya Gadelrab, Spring Fair event director. ‘This milestone event will bring the retail community together – to celebrate the past, present and future of retailing and put the spotlight on the people and businesses who have made Spring Fair a part of their retailing journey. We would love to receive all your memorable memories and pictures, and we will create a place where the community can take a nostalgic look back on the years gone by. I can’t wait to see pictures from the past and hear the stories.’ Show memories and pictures can eb sent to Reka Rasko at reka.rasko@hyve.group for consideration. https://lnkd.in/ery6ehGt

SPRING FAIR INVITES YOU TO SHARE YOUR STORIES Spring Fair & Autumn Fair, the UK’s largest home, gift, fashion trade show which celebrates its 75th anniversary on the 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, needs your help to bring together a Hall of Fame compilation of nostalgic memories, pictures and great stories from the show’s 75-year history. The Hall of Fame will be brought to life at Spring Fair, offering the show’s community the chance to reminisce and remember seven decades of its history as well as a snapshot of memorable past events and current affairs between 1950 - 2024. The show’s timeline, a large digital screen of pictures and stories, and a selfie wall to capture the industry’s biggest trade show gathering in 2025, will create a celebration of retail’s past and present. Were you an exhibitor or visitor in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s…? Do you have any memorable stories or pictures to share? Were you at the show in 1975 when Queen Elizabeth opened it at the NEC? Do you have any great then & now pictures from the show or of your stands? Can you chart any memorable moments at the show that stick in your mind or defined your business? Did you make new connections with brands or retailers that you still work with today? What were the highlight product launches over the decades? Are any products that became best-sellers still available today and how have they evolved over the decades? Are you also celebrating a big anniversary in 2025? If so, Spring Fair would love to hear from you. Please send your memories and pictures to Réka Raskó at reka.rasko@hyve.group to be considered. Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director of Spring Fair says, “This milestone event will bring the retail community together – to celebrate the past, present and future of retailing and put the spotlight on the people and businesses who have made Spring Fair a part of their retailing journey. We would love to receive all your memorable memories and pictures, and we will create a place where the community can take a nostalgic look back on the years gone by. I can’t wait to see pictures from the past and hear your stories.” About Spring Fair Spring Fair is the UK’s leading retail event attracting 38,000 attendees with a combined budget of £2.25bn. It hosts the largest, highest-spend assembly of retailers in the country and is the ultimate destination for buyers. Over 1,200 exhibitors across Home, Gift, Fashion, and Everyday categories, will showcase over a million new and exclusive products. Spring Fair sparks connections, broadens horizons, and enables opportunities for the wholesale home, gift, fashion and everyday retail communities to thrive. As the ultimate hub for forecasting and innovation, Spring Fair delivers essential trend insights to keep retailers informed and ahead of the curve. https://lnkd.in/ecUyra5k #furniture #furnitureshow #furnitureindustry #springfair

Whitemeadow celebrates anniversary Upholstery producer Whitemeadow has celebrated its 30th anniversary, promising much more to come. ‘This is a major milestone for our company, which started from humble beginnings in a small warehouse in Nottinghamshire, back in 1994. We have climbed the ranks within the industry over the years, from scaling production space to bringing design and development in-house. Despite our growth, we stay true to our roots. We’re proud to practice a grounded, practical and approachable attitude – it’s the passion for our craft that inspires us and a genuine care for our customers that drives us. It’s always been this way, and as we continue to grow, our core values will always remain,’ says Dan Oscroft, Whitemeadow sales & marketing director. ‘We have more in the pipeline to look forward to, as we continue to evolve, learn and grow.’ To mark the occasion, the company organised a staff event with food, games, live music and early Friday finish. ‘Our 30th anniversary celebration was a brilliant day for all. It was a great chance for the business to socialise together and reminisce on our achievements together. It was the perfect way to celebrate - with employees that are just beginning their journey with us and with those that have been with us from the start, we’re excited for what the future holds,’ says Oscroft. https://lnkd.in/e_2iBEYA #furnishings #upholstery #textiles

Dreams: this is the future Dreams has unveiled a high street concept store that it says will be the future of its retail offer. The store, in East Sheen, south-west London, is designed to deliver a more premium in-store experience and features a collection of branded mattresses from Flaxby, TEMPUR UK Ltd, and @TheraPur. The 4,000sqft branch is spread over two floors and includes upgraded Sleepmatch technology presented with illuminated lightboxes and floating shelves, enhancing the customer and product experience ; the introduction of two 55in digital screens - a first for Dreams - which showcase campaign and service messages and premium in-store ambiance with Dreams' signature blue perimeter walls, mood lighting, and textures, designed to create a calm, stylish environment. ‘The opening of our new concept store in East Sheen demonstrates our dedication to giving customers the best possible experience when shopping for a bed. We've designed a welcoming, premium environment where our bed experts are on hand to guide customers and help them find the perfect bed for their needs. By bringing this experience to smaller high street locations, we're making Dreams more accessible, without compromising on quality. I’m excited about what’s to come as we continue to bring new, elevated store formats to customers across the UK,’ says Jonathan Hirst, Dreams ceo. The launch forms part of Dreams’ wider expansion and growth plan, with further store openings expected in the coming months. Additionally, the chain is recruiting 50 staff who will benefit from Dreams’ latest ‘Consumer Journey’ training, designed to ensure an ‘exceptional customer experience’ across all locations. https://lnkd.in/e5AEDT9G #furniture #furnitureindustry

CMA takes Emma to court The Competition and Markets Authority has launched legal action at the High Court against Emma – The Sleep Company, claiming the mattress brand has failed to take sufficient action to prevent shoppers being mislead by its online countdown timers and high demand prompts. The CMA began an investigation into online selling practices in November 2022, before telling Emma in July 2023 that it had concerns about the use of countdown timers for offers and claims that consumers might miss out on a deal or product because demand was high. In May it told Emma it would take legal action unless the company changed its methods. ‘Emma Group has not made formal commitments to change its online selling practices and address the CMA’s concerns, and the CMA is accordingly seeking a court order to ensure that consumers are not misled by those practices,’ says the CMA. ‘We have given Emma sufficient opportunity to alter the way it does business to address our concerns. They have failed to make all the changes that we require, which is why we’ve progressed to court action. We are concerned that when sales tactics such as discounts and countdown clocks are used in a misleading way, they can pressure shoppers into making quick purchases and spending more than they otherwise would, for fear of missing out,’ says George Lusty, CMA interim executive director for consumer protection and markets. Emma can still agree to change its practices by consenting to an order or giving undertakings to the High Court ahead of the case being heard. It is for the court to determine a date for the hearing. The CMA has been monitoring sales practice across the sector and in July Simba Sleep agreed to change it online selling practices. https://lnkd.in/eF3Q7v7h #furniture #furnitureindustry