With a bright Country Fair theme, this year’s Manchester Furniture Show (17 – 19 July, Manchester Central), promises to be a fun show with serious exhibitors and new designs that will have buyers eager to take in all the attractions.
The 2015 Show was a big success for both exhibitors and visitors and as a result the main hall for the up-coming 2016 show had a rapid sell out. The exhibitor list is again full of some of the leading names in furniture and interior furnishings from the UK and Europe, including Baker, Westbridge, Buoyant, Gallery Direct, Lebus, Morris, Nolte, Kingstown, Rauch, Furmanac, Wood Brothers and Whitemeadow, all of whom return having had a successful show last year.
Sales Director for UK upholstery major, Westbridge, Nicola Bell said, “We were pleasantly surprised to find that at the end of each day we had taken more orders that the same time last year! We had a great show and it was good to see other new faces there. We will be back next year!”
Michael Tatterstall, Sales Director for the German giant Nolte, said, “We are very pleased with the results of the Show, it has been a well organised and good Show to do and has a really nice feel to it. Our stand has been very busy with existing and new customers and we’ll be back.’
As furniture and interior furnishings become more and more fashion conscious, consumers are increasingly electing to follow colour and texture trends not just in the contents of their wardrobes, but in their home decor as well. A summer show, in tandem with the January Furniture Show, allows suppliers and buyers to tailor their offering to either a winter or summer offering. Show director Theresa Raymond said “The Manchester Show is becoming increasingly important to exhibitors and visitors alike. It gives exhibitors a second opportunity in the year to launch new ranges and trial new products, and it gives buyers the opportunity to select new collections for the important autumn/winter trading period.”
New exhibitors in furniture for 2016 include Essex based leather and fabric upholstery manufacturer Panacea, whose modern, stylish designs won many fans at this year’s January Furniture Show. Devonshire Pine & Oak from Bideford, who are one of the few remaining cabinet manufacturers in the UK, will display collections from their varied portfolio of painted, waxed and lacquered bedroom and living & dining ranges.
In interior furnishings new exhibitors include family business Hookes Interiors, who will bring a wonderful array of their stylish, unique and often alternative decorative items for every room of the home. CIMC, well known for their attention grabbing mix of lamps, mirrors, frames, clocks and decorative items, in styles from Art Deco to swish Manhattan, as well as furniture items will have a large stand in the Main Hall.
Also in the Main Hall and crossing the line between furniture and interior furnishings supplier, returning exhibitor Gallery Direct will show a wide variety of their stylish and design led furnishings. Launching both furniture and homeware items at Manchester their impressive stand will be a big attraction to show visitors. Also returning are upholstery giants Lebus and Buoyant who never fail to disappoint with fresh new designs and colourful fabrics, both are introducing new collections this year and are looking forward to a good show with Karl Walker, Lebus MD commenting, “Manchester remains firmly on our show fixtures list, the quality of presentation continues to improve and the timing and location suits us from a new product launch perspective. It is a great springboard into the important back end of the year business.”
It isn’t just big names that cause a splash at Manchester, smaller companies who are some of the most imaginative furniture and accessory companies in the UK, including DB Mirrors, Flair Rugs, Wire Lamps and Wilde Java are all bringing new designs to tempt buyers. They will be showing everything from rustic furniture hewn from tree stumps to highly stylised individual pieces in silver and antiqued finishes, as well as lamps, mirrors, art, rugs and decorative accessories.
Despite the Manchester Furniture Show becoming an all together more serious affair, it retains its playful side with a relaxed atmosphere that allows exhibitors to spend more time with existing and potential customers. This year’s country fair theme adds to the attraction of the Show as it runs through the marketing and show presentation.
As fellow show director Laraine Janes says “The Manchester show always has a great buzz about it. We wanted to capture that with the marketing and presentation of the show, demonstrating that the very important business side – which has an abundance of new products that will be irresistible to buyers, is against the backdrop of a smart and relaxed venue, in a vibrant city”.
For a full list of exhibitors, details on how to get there, where to stay and further information visit: www.manchesterfurnitureshow.com
