With over 500 brands on display, this year’s Interiors UK had an extensive range of relevant, high-quality product on offer, and an increased visitor count of 21,114. With the news of major changes in the show’s identity being the talk of the event, the last edition of Interiors UK as the industry knows it was full of vibrancy and innovation. Victoria Noakes reports on her time spent at the show ...
The best of British and international brands came out in force to present new product and designs to the trade at Interiors UK, representing a comprehensive cross-section of the furniture industry. Halls 1-5 of the NEC hosted exhibitors from varied sections of the industry, resulting in a wide choice for visitors.
Hall 1 was home to Design Elegance, housing several firm favourites including Ercol – which launched two new furniture collections, including the timeless Teramo bedroom set – and G Plan, which reintroduced an all time classic, once nicknamed ‘the world’s most comfortable chair’. Renamed The Sixty Two after the year in which it was originally launched, this new chair comes in a variety of fabrics and combines comfort with luxury.
Contemporary design names were located in Hall 2 – this year featuring many new exhibitors. First-time Italian exhibitor Tomasella gave its extensive collection its official UK launch at the show. Highlights included the Morfeo bed, which is produced and assembled in Italy from raw materials to create a stylish product of high quality.
The Lighting Show returned to Hall 3 this year, welcoming new brands such as Dar Lighting. Dar brought along a number of new products, including the Blighton range, made up of a three-light ceiling pendant, a table and a floor lamp, and a single wall light. In addition, Dar introduced its Fiesta spherical crystal pendants, which come in three sizes and will form a striking centrepiece wherever they are placed.
Also in Hall 3 was the Decor section, where Deknudt Mirrors presented its new Quartz range. The mirrors come in diamond form, feature bevelled edges, and are available in two different sizes. Gallery Direct was another favourite in this hall – its stand made up of predominantly completely new products that are now available to buyers for the very first time.
Halls 4 and 5 showed an array of product within the Living & Lifestyle category – a particularly noteworthy exhibitor being Global Home, which introduced four new collections. This included the striking Concrete collection which combines city and country elements to create a unique final product. Featuring a wooden table with a concrete top and chairs woven from water hyacinth, the collection is unique in its use of contrasting tactile surfaces.
On top of the event’s diverse product offering, an interesting programme of seminars took place over the duration of the show, with industry insiders taking to two stages to share their knowledge and expertise with the trade – one stage dedicated to interiors, the other to lighting. Talks on all areas of the industry were delivered, from retail, customer service and business to design, e-commerce and the latest trends.
Interiors UK also expanded on its special features, which provided greater opportunities for an enhanced visitor experience whilst helping to bring the design sector closer to the commercial side of the industry. This year, old favourites were teamed with new features to allow for inspiration and creativity to flow. The Designer Makers section was just one example, which promoted new talent and ideas in the form of 30 British craftsmen and designers skilled in making contemporary and bespoke furniture.
Exhibitor comments regarding the show were highly positive. Spanish upholstery and bed manufacturer Gamamobel – the name brought to the UK market by Litmus Furniture – celebrated its first show this year. Litmus Furniture MD Peter Hewitt said: “We were really pleased with Gamamobel’s first UK show. The reaction from retailers was very positive – they were impressed with the quality. We had a number of orders and a full book of contacts to follow up.”
Ross Charlton, head of product and design at family-run firm Charltons Furniture, said: “After several years of the sector being in both the financial and inspirational doldrums, no-one is getting carried away. However, we sensed an urge for change and a sense of optimism at the show – it has been a real positive.”
Suzie Ager, brand director of Interiors UK, commented: “This year’s Interiors UK has been an outstanding success. It has reaffirmed that there are some incredibly innovative interior designers and retailers operating across the country who know the importance of discovering new brands at events such as ours that will keep them ahead of their competitors.
“We were incredibly pleased with the support we received on site for our relocation to London. With this we are excited to be able to build upon both the heritage of Interiors UK and its popularity, uniting an enviable portfolio of exhibitors and visitors, to present an even better proposition with The Furniture Show at May Design Series.”
This report featured in the March issue of Furniture News magazine.
