What do you think? From emerging trends to the latest business principles, Furniture News is setting out to gauge the trade’s feelings on a variety of industry-specific topics. Today, we’re asking: “What’s the most significant change you’ve made in your business in the last 12 months?”
Mike Murray (Land of Beds): The biggest investment we’ve made in the past 12 months is in our logistics infrastructure – linking our website to our stores to provide a seamless overview of stock and delivery options that are available to the customer. Our intention is always to get the product to the end consumer at a time that’s convenient to them, in the most economic and efficient way possible. Land of Beds’ in-house software development team are, therefore, working on a bespoke package that provides great customer service, delivers significant cost savings and reduces overheads for the business
Jessica Alexander (NBF, AKA PR): Creating the Circular Economy Committee and all that entails in terms of engagement on sustainability and circularity
Emma Leeke (Leekes): The appointment of a director of omnichannel marketing to ensure we embrace this approach
Dids Macdonald (ACID, The Furniture Makers’ Company): In my role as master I have spearheaded a campaign called One Step at a Time (OSAAT) which the Furniture Makers launched in May. OSAAT is about reminding individuals and businesses that for more than a century The Furniture Makers’ Company has cared for the people who work, or have worked, in the industry, and we want companies to sign up to become One Step Champions – who’ll be given the tools and information they need in order to understand what our welfare support can achieve and – vitally – to spread that message to colleagues, employees and industry peers. With my ACID CEO hat on, we have introduced a new, streamlined and deliverable Intellectual Property Strategy Review, which is available to all our corporate members free of charge
Steve Adams (MattressOnline): We’ve just completed an MBO, and the process forced us to look deeper into our business, analysing every cost, opportunity and threat. Think of it as a spring clean for your business! It has provided MattressOnline with the opportunity to build on our strong foundations, and the culture changes are already beginning to filter through into our output
Rob Scarlett (Scarlett Design): Increased staff to push productivity
Roy Beagent (Minerva Furniture Group): Marketing stands at Manchester, January Furniture Show and the Bed Show have been very successful in recruiting new members. We have subsequently increased our staffing levels
Nick Garratt (BFM): Restructuring to set up a platform for growth
Royce Clarke (Grampian Furnishers): Building a new business premises in uncertain times!
RPS Global (@RealRPSGlobal): Seeing investment return to focus on people, who make all the difference in retail. We’ve won the business of a major UK retail furniture group and are implementing an 18-month tailored Retail People Performance programme to increase store KPIs.
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