Our cover star this month is HUMZ and they talk all about being a trusted trade partner following a successful January Furniture Show. And on that note, March edition features our recap of JFS25 as well as insights from a number of exhibitors and some feedback from two independent retailers. In keeping with show reviews, INDX Furniture also features, as well as an insight from the Las Vegas Market – if you’ve never been, it’s certainly worth a read!
From reviews to the next trade show brings us to the Furniture Component Expo, where we highlight what to expect to see during the event in Telford this month, as well as deeper dives with some of the exhibitors taking part. From components to machinery, the Expo is set to be another bumper event following a successful debut year in 2024.
We feature the latest updates from Adjust-A-Bed, Gallery Direct, Presti and Purecare, with the latter using JFS as the perfect platform to introduce its new mattress range PureLay – more on that inside the issue. Furthermore, World of Beds reflects on the past 40 years, Mattress Online details the key personnel behind its sleep revolution and we sit down with the Sleep Geek in a new series of content all about sleep, plus much more.
The Bed Expert is back, alongside letters from China, Vietnam and America, while the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman explores retailer’s obligations under the Consumer Rights Act and what manufacturer’s need to know. With March being National Bed Month, we share some handy toolkit tips from the NBF, as well as finding out more about Bensons for Beds’ new practical apprenticeship scheme with WEBS Training, where they are looking for the future managers of the business to enter the organisation at grass-roots level.
As for our regular features, Cherelle Curtis, Managing Director at independent beds retailer Linthorpe Beds, takes our Big Interview and talks about the need for more diversity in the industry, changing colour trends and her passion for the family business. Meanwhile, Retail Focus features Elphicks of Huntingdon, where they share more about recent investments, why younger blood is needed in the industry and the importance to back British products. We also spoke with Elinor Lewis in our latest Meet the Agent/Rep series, who talks about the day-to-day, sustainability, travel and why being open-minded is key.
We also have a special feature celebrating International Women’s Day, with this year’s theme: #AccelerateAction. To help add to the celebrations, we spoke to nine furnishing industry women who share their respective thoughts on what International Women’s Day means to them and the industry. To wrap things up, we take a look at the upcoming Spring Furniture & Bed Show, while Furniture Sales Solutions shares some tips on the customer buying journey and how understanding considered purchases transforms sales success.
