The Furniture Awards return in January to recognise and celebrate the industry’s champion suppliers. The awards – developed by Furniture News in partnership with the January Furniture Show – offer the event’s exhibitors the opportunity to put the best of their new products before a panel of expert judges. Furniture News looks at how the 2017 edition is shaping up …
“The exciting and diverse range of products on view at the January Furniture Show is in itself a celebration of the British furniture industry,” comments January Furniture Show director Theresa Raymond. “The Furniture Awards takes the best of these products, from all levels of the marketplace, and lifts them above the rest.”
The awards scheme, which is now approaching its third year, aims to identify and reward the best new products launched at the January exhibition, the principal launch platform for new models and ranges into the UK market.
Each exhibitor is permitted to submit an entry within one of the four product categories – Bedroom, Dining, Living or Decor – which will be evaluated based on criteria such as value, quality and marketability. The most promising entries will be shortlisted and inspected on site, before the suppliers of the winning entries are recognised and revealed on the first day of the show (Sunday 22nd January).
The awards are co-ordinated and chaired by Paul Farley, editor of Furniture News magazine, and the 2017 judging panel comprises a mix of new and returning judges: Malcolm Walker, director of buying for Furniture Village; Diana Celella, award-winning interior designer and president elect of SBID; Rob Scarlett, furniture designer; and Royce Clark, MD of Grampian Furnishers.
The winners will be able to employ The Furniture Awards branding across their marketing and retail PoS, and will benefit from promotional items throughout the year.
“The Furniture Awards grow in stature and popularity each year,” says programme co-ordinator and judging panel chair Paul Farley. “We expect the changes made for this edition to encourage even greater participation, and to grant the winners – and their stockists – leverage for greater promotional activity.”
Previous winners include Think Rugs, Bentley Designs, Nicoletti Home, Gallery Direct and Henderson Russell.
Sam Tippett, buying and design manager at Think Rugs, comments: “The Furniture Awards 2016 were fantastic for business. The exposure that the awards provided – especially to top buyers from large retailers – directly generated sales for the rest of the year. I hope we can benefit as much from the 2017 edition!”
Nicoletti Home’s sales manager, Domenico Scarola, was just as enthused, saying: “After the NEC 2016, we launched the model at the Milan show – it was sold to customers from 42 different countries. Since than, between display orders and repeats, it has become our third best-selling model worldwide. We will certainly put another model forward for the 2017 edition.”
Ray Davies, design manager for Bentley Designs, adds: “Our hope is that we’ll have another worthy entry to be part of The Furniture Awards again. The great thing about the awards is that they are something extra to work towards as a designer and add a bit of competition, which is not a bad thing!”
The deadline for entries is Friday 9th December. “I would encourage every exhibitor to enter a product – if only for the promotional opportunities available to winners and the prestige that comes with an award of this stature,” concludes Theresa.
The online entry form – and competition guidelines – can be accessed here.
