Published on : Monday, February 13, 2017
The 2017 January Furniture Show reported another successful edition, which ran from January 22 to 25, where thousands of visitors enjoyed 5 packed halls at the Birmingham NEC, with over 500 exhibitors, affirming the importance of the show to the UK furniture industry.
Co-event director, Laraine Janes was delighted with the show, and stated, “There’s a significant momentum to the event, visitors and exhibitors were impressed with the standard of product and presentation, resulting in orders taken at the show reaching record levels. This has been reflected in the number of rebooking’s we have received so far. We are already looking forward to a sell-out show in 2018.”
Many exhibitors reported record order days and the successful introduction of new ranges. Collaborations were a stand-out feature and shown at their best with the Whitemeadow and Conran tie-up in the Content by Conran collection, and the Tetrad and Ralph Lauren alliance with the new Lauren collection, also launched at the show.
As well as collaborations the lively show was full of texture combinations with 1000s of new products launched and well received in every sector.
Notable at this year’s show was the number of high-end European exhibitors. Hall 2 was bursting with Scandinavian cool, Italian chic and German engineering expertise.
The show organisers have confirmed that the 2018 show is likely to see other high-end European companies join the sophisticated Hall 2 line-up.
Interior furnishings and decorative accessories in Hall 3 again proved to be a huge draw for visitors, with Gallery Direct and Culinary Concepts both reporting bumper order days. Volume and Contract in Hall 4 treated visitors to a wealth of new ranges, both VIDA Living and Global Home had large-scale stands full of new products, German majors Nolte and Weimann reported excellent show days and Hall 5 saw Buoyant among others bustling with buyers and bed companies reported 4 days of great selling.
As the doors closed, fellow show director Theresa Raymond expressed, “This show works, it works for the exhibitors and it works for the buyers from every sector of the furnishing industry who come to see what’s new and to buy. Many exhibitors have outdone themselves this year with jaw-dropping stands and a high standard of products. We have received many highly complimentary comments from buyers who attended the show and it will be back next year delivered by the same dedicated team who are committed to making the 2018 show bigger, better and even more successful.”
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