Two years ago, Furniture To Go (FTG) and Actona Group joined forces, forging a partnership that they say has “transformed” the UK and Irish B2B furniture market – and with the launch of a new upholstery programme, there’s more to come, explains FTG’s director of sales and operations, Paul Sheldon …
FTG, already a leading supplier of cabinets, occasional furniture and dropship solutions, has leveraged this collaboration to expand its category offering and strengthen its next-day delivery proposition.
“The results have been outstanding,” says Paul. “Actona’s design expertise, combined with our UK warehouse and fulfilment capability, has given retailers fast access to stylish, high-quality furniture – without the usual stock risk.”
Since the partnership began, FTG has stocked Actona’s full range of chairs, tables, storage and occasional pieces in its Portsmouth warehouse, ensuring next-day delivery to stores and direct to customers. With over 2000 SKUs across more than 100 commercial ranges and a 98% on-shelf availability rate, retailers benefit from a comprehensive, one-stop solution.
Actona’s UK regional manager Mike Devey adds: “Making our UK commercial assortment instantly available through FTG has strengthened our presence in the market and helped retailers respond quickly to growing demand.”
Building on this success, FTG and Actona are now launching a.upholstery, a stock-free sofa concept designed for modern UK retail.
“Retailers asked for the same speed and flexibility they get from our dropship model, applied to sofas,” explains Paul. “With a.upholstery, they can display in-store or list the range online, and we handle delivery straight from our warehouse, within 24 hours – without the need for the retailer holding stock.”
The collection combines European design heritage, contemporary styling, durable fabrics and versatile colours, offering pieces suitable for a wide range of interiors. And this is just the beginning – FTG plans to expand the a.upholstery offering with more ranges, giving retailers even greater choice and flexibility.
By merging Actona’s design capabilities with FTG’s logistics strength, a.upholstery aims to provide a high-quality, risk-free way to sell sofas, while maintaining competitive pricing and reliable next-day service, says Paul: “FTG continues to cement its position as the UK’s one-stop shop for next-day home delivery, providing retailers with a comprehensive offering across living, dining, and now, upholstery.”
Pictured: Paul and Mike
