The January Furniture Show (JFS) closed its doors on 25th January, after welcoming a +25% increase in buyers YoY, reports organiser Clarion Events, stating: "After years of disruption, the success of the event is testament to the resilience of the industry and huge appetite for face-to-face interactions.
"The launch of the new Home Interiors Show was met with enthusiasm from exhibitors and visitors, also evidencing the demand for creating those trade show connections."
Highlights included: over 1000 VIP buyers in attendance, with £1m+ buying budget; senior buyers in attendance from companies including DFS, Furniture Village, John Lewis, Wayfair, Next, M&S, Sainsburys, Furniture Direct, Very Group and Dunelm; and +84% increase in international buyers (including the likes of Steptoes Home Furniture and AA Home from Cyprus, Benjamin Furniture from the Netherlands, Aqatha from Nigeria and Jesper Pedersen and Tradepoint Buying from Denmark); and a +33% increase in attendees with decision-making power.
This show saw new and established initiatives and special features continue to bolster the event's appeal. A partnership with The Centre for Excellence in Creative Making (CECM) delivered a focus on sustainability, while advice from The Better Trends Company on what to watch in 2023/24, plus advice and strategy planning for digital growth in 2023 from experts in marketing, social media and SEO, enriched visitors' experience.
Meanwhile, exhibitors such as La-Z-Boy UK and Mlily created their own buzz, with appearances from celebrity sportspeople.
Commenting on this year’s show, Dunelm buyer Michelle Downs said: “January Furniture Show is a great place to visit if you would like to see everyone, catch up with suppliers and see new trends.”
Fabb Furniture's senior buyer, James Hollas, added: “JFS 2023 was a really good show. We spent two full days seeing all the suppliers, there were some great new designs, great new fabrics, and great new dining sets, we’re really excited to get these products into the store for springtime.“
Tristan Lynch, CEO of Roseland Furniture, stated: "The show was filled with optimism and visibly had a stronger attendance. It’s been a tough year for our sector, but the team at Roseland held very positive and productive conversations with all suppliers and manufacturers."
Many exhibiting brands also found the four-day event a success, a feeling reflected in a significantly higher rebooking rate compared to previous years (of 74%), confirming their participation in next year’s show. Brands already signed up for 2024 include Bluebone, Tetrad, Westbridge, Buoyant Upholstery, Pacific Lifestyle, Bontempi and Kettle Interiors, as well as returning brands such as At the Helm, Ashley Manor, LPD and Paulus & Brown.
Zoë Bonser, portfolio director of Clarion Retail, says: “To see such positive numbers and rebooking commitment for next year tells us that the industry is ready to return to live events, and we’re delighted to have delivered a successful show for the furniture and interiors industries.
“We set out to revitalise our offering this year, building on 32 years of successfully bringing together businesses and buyers to make key purchasing decisions, while also inspiring and surprising our audience with new and exciting content, takeaway advice and practical information.”
The event saw the launch of a new offering from Clarion Retail, the Home Interiors Show. Created for the interiors, accessories and lighting industry, the show has been produced in collaboration with key brands including Gallery Direct, Pacific Lifestyle, Riva Home, där Lighting, CIMC home, Hill Interiors and Libra.
Home Interiors Show will take place biannually at the January Furniture Show in Birmingham, to serve the retail buying community, and co-located with Top Drawer in London in September, to target premium buyers who may not travel to events outside of the capital, as well as new international VIP delegations. The Home Interiors Show will be back for its autumn edition at Olympia London from 10-12th September, 2023.
Next year's January Furniture Show will take place from 21st-24th January at Birmingham’s NEC. Register interest to visit here.
