A busy January Furniture Show – and the ensuing follow-up interest – has seen furniture care and repair specialist Staingard's expertise and passion in great demand …
The January Furniture Show was a fitting end to another year of growth for the leading UK provider of furniture care plans and products, with a record number of new retail partnerships formed, alongside the launch of several new product ranges.
Much of Staingard’s success can be attributed to its close working relationship with its retail partners. Through its field sales team, the company is constantly working on ways to provide customers with additional ways to increase margins and improve customer service.
“Furniture is in our blood,” says Staingard’s MD, Paul Aiston. “We have the most experienced team in our sector, and that is reflected in the enduring partnerships we have forged since we started the business in 2006.”
Staingard is a family business, with Paul’s sons James and Tom already an integral part of the operation, and lined up to take charge in the future. Many of Staingard’s customers are family businesses themselves, and the shared culture this creates provides confidence that Stainguard is building for the future, and not just here to profit and sell.
There is no doubt that the market for insured care plans and the associated protection products has evolved enormously over the last 20 years – however, Staingard’s flexibility and innovation has ensured that it continues to lead the way.
“Having the ability to change is one thing,” says Paul, “but having the desire and drive to do so is another.” Staingard continues to innovate, and is constantly introducing new products and service developments – regardless of the attempts at mimicry by some of its more established rivals.
Staingard says that its product range is the most comprehensive on the market, and the commitment and flexibility that are integral to the company’s culture ensure that the time taken from idea to market is short.
Staingard has the largest field sales team in its sector, which means that customer contact is never compromised. Its proposition is also enhanced by the perpetual development of its systems and compliance – which will become even more apparent in the coming year as retailers gear up to meet the challenges of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD).
GDPR will affect the way data is handled and used, while IDD will ensure that the sales process for insured products is tightened up, leading to less chance of mis-selling. “We are ahead of the curve on this,” says Paul, “and will work very closely with all our retail partners to minimise any disruption and ensure compliance.”
