The January Furniture Show is set to return in full force to the Birmingham NEC next year, welcoming more than 350 brands and an expected 15,000+ buyers from 22nd-25th January 2023.
Across four halls, visitors will be able to explore contemporary furniture, innovative design concepts and homewares to suit all retailer and customer styles. There will be over 50,000 products – some 10,000 of which are new – and exclusive launches from many of the best brands in the industry.
New for 2023 is a partnership with trend expert, The Better Trends Company, to provide the buying community and attending brands with tangible and adaptable trends advice.
There will also be on-site installations showcasing trends for 2023 and 2024, including: Permacrisis, a defiant design response embracing joyful, nostalgic, and creative outlets through bright colour and bold pattern; and Psychedelia, surreal expression and dreamlike movements, with layers of colour and morphing shapes which create a hypnotic and surreal aesthetic.
Becoming increasingly diverse, the show will see furniture and interior brands from more than 18 countries exhibiting – including Australia, the US, Italy, and Germany. There will be several international pavilions, representing Vietnam, Portugal and Poland, plus more than 350 brands signed up so far to attend.
The Furniture Talks Stage will see a number of engaging topics across the four days, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, trends and insights. The schedule features masterclasses, panel discussions and interviews with renowned makers and designers, industry trailblazers and recognised thought leaders.
The line-up so far includes: John Hubbard, technical consultant for FIRA International, on leveraging the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP); Franky Rousell, founder and creative director of Jolie Studio, on working with sensory design; and a panel discussion hosted by Made in Britain CEO, John Pearce, featuring founders of British brands including The Soho Lighting Company and Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.
The VIP programme has also been remodelled for 2023 following consultation with key buyers, and will focus on those with spending budgets of £500k and above – in particular international buyers. The programme offers networking opportunities with bespoke content and insight, fast-track registration, free parking near the NEC, as well as access to The Suite, a new VIP lounge where complimentary lunch, beverages, refreshments and invitation-only roundtables will take place.
Following the success of last year's showcase, the Young Furniture Makers will be back, showcasing even more emerging designers and new talent in the industry. There will also be a focus on sustainability, with live furnituremaking and demonstrations from renowned designers, with further details to be announced.
Meanwhile, The Furniture Awards programme will identify the suppliers leading the sector, across several thematic categories.
James Howard, show manager, says: “The 2023 show promises to be one of our biggest and best yet, with exciting new launches, fresh brands, industry insights and emerging trends. Our talks programme will be tackling some of the most pressing issues in the furniture and interiors market, from sustainability to the impact of Brexit on import, export and storage, and the importance of skills sharing for future generations.
“We are committed to offering our audience the most valuable takeaways possible, and it’s a unique opportunity to be able to provide small businesses with trend content and forecast information that would usually be unobtainable. The Better Trends Company provides digestible and aspirational reports, inspirational new installations, and expert sessions to deliver ‘shop-able’ trends on the show floor as well as informative digital content that is easily adapted to suit each business’ needs.
“The UK furniture industry is now worth £15.8b, with +3.8% growth YoY (Statista Furniture Report, 2022.) More international brands than ever before are being attracted to the UK, and our show is a key place for brands to showcase their products, learn more about how to make their businesses more successful, and make valuable industry connections.”
The January Furniture Show has been running for 32 years. More than £500m is spent there, says organiser Clarion Events, and it is attended by professional retail buyers from independent retailers, department stores and multiples, online retailers, architects, interior designers, garden centres, contract buyers, procurement managers, hoteliers and property developers.
The brands exhibiting will be displayed across four halls: Premium Design; Interior Accessories & Furniture; Living, Dining & Bedroom; and Upholstery & Beds. Many brands are returning, such as Abbeylands Furniture, Buoyant Upholstery, La-Z-Boy UK, Highgrove Beds, Tetrad, Breasley UK, Forte Furniture, Alpha Designs, Bluebone, Mindy Brownes, Pacific Lifestyle, Kettle Interiors, Wiemann, Rauch, Lebus, Mlily, Breasley and Westbridge.
A wide range of new names will also be in attendance, including 3C Candy, Aquinos Sofas, Pole Position, Merlino International, Arredoclassic, PF Furniture, Duxiana, Gruppo Mastrotto, Composad, Harrison Spinks and idzczak Merle.
Register to visit here.
