North West interiors store Arighi Bianchi has announced its 170-year anniversary, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s history.
The furniture business was established in 1854 by Antonio Arighi and Antonio Bianchi, and is now ran by the fourth and fifth generations of the Bianchi family.
Arighi Bianchi was founded when Antonio Arighi fled the Italian civil war and set up shop in Macclesfield selling clocks and barometers. He chose Macclesfield due to its reputation as a thriving silk-hub and today it is still home to Arighi Bianchi’s landmark 70,000 sqft store. He was soon joined by his nephew-in-law Antonio Bianchi, a master craftsman and cabinetmaker, and the furniture business was born.
After securing a prestigious client roster which included royalty, the business moved into a former silk mill in 1883. After a number of renovations, the mill was transformed into the now-iconic store. The four-storey structure, with grand Italianate plate-glass windows, has been successfully maintained for the last 150 years, and due to its location next to the Macclesfield rail station, is a stand-out feature of the town's urban skyline.
The building, which is now Grade II listed, is the most iconic representation of the Arighi Bianchi brand, and has been a familiar sight from the Manchester-to-London railway line for over 100 years, with a selection of decoration adorning the 150 building facade, including the North’s “biggest advent calendar”.
Since opening, the brand has been a pillar of the community, prevailing through hardships including both world wars, recessions, electricity blackouts and more recently the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the last 170 years, the business has supported the national war efforts, guiding customers in-store with oil lamps and safely serving customers throughout the pandemic.
The brand was also the first store in Macclesfield to use a motorised vehicle, following years of depending on a horse-drawn carriage launching this in 1912. These vehicles have become a staple part of the Arighi Bianchi brand, visible nationwide with a special campaign in 2007 painting the vans pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness.
Sarah Bianchi, CEO of Arighi Bianchi, says: “Reaching such an incredible milestone is something we are hugely proud of. The Arighi Bianchi brand has been such a big part of the UK retail sector for so many years and it's a pleasure to have helped so many UK consumers make their house a home for almost two centuries. As we continue to listen to our customers’ needs, we’ve embarked upon a new strategy which is taking Arighi Bianchi beyond the interiors sector, as we evolve into a trusted lifestyle brand.”
The company’s new growth strategy has included a revamp of the store and the launch of a new accessories lounge selling brands such as Paul Smith Design, Assouline, and LA-based PF Candle Co, as well as a new look for fan favourite Caffè AB, which is open seven days per week.
The brand has also launched several new campaigns such as the ‘Postcards From’ series which bring the best of interiors, food and drink and a ‘how to get the look’ from global leading destinations including Beverly Hills and Sicily, and is launching in July.
The brand will also host a special birthday party on 29th June at the store. This will feature a day of entertainment, family fun, exclusive offers, freebies, drinks, food vans, games and a number of special pop-ups within the showroom.
