In response to calls for a more central setting, the British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) has announced that its fabric show is merging with the new Furniture Component Expo in 2024.
A long-standing date in the industry’s calendar, the BFM London Fabric Show is being moved from its traditional location in the capital to run alongside the Furniture Component Expo at the Telford International Centre on 24-25th April.
The BFM says the new arrangement will answer calls from across the industry to have a location that is more accessible to the whole of the UK, as well as international visitors, with easy rail, air and road connections, as well as ample parking. It will also provide more space for visitors and exhibitors, coupled with the opportunities and convenience of having two industry events in one format.
The move comes as the BFM sees the Furniture Component Expo go from strength to strength, with two headline sponsors, BeA UK (Fastening Systems) and The Vita Group already in place.
The BFM launched the Furniture Component Expo after feedback from its members identified a gap in the market for furnituremakers to browse the marketplace and seek out new innovations coming into the sector in a face-to-face setting.
Phil Spademan, BFM’s MD, says: “We’ve taken on board the opinions of industry and our members and the consensus is that the location of the Furniture Component Expo is a great opportunity for the BFM London Fabric Show too. We are already seeing an exciting level of take-up from companies who are keen to be involved with the component expo – not only sponsors, but exhibitors, too – and the addition of the BFM Fabric Show will broaden the appeal and create the opportunity for a wider audience to attend.
“Both are B2B exhibitions, and there’s going to be a real opportunity for a number of visitors to reduce their time out of their businesses by having two industry events in one location.”
