Last year, Ireland-based Furniture Link International acquired long-established furniture retailer Wilkinson Furniture, launching its existing catalogue in the UK under the name FLI Furniture. Victoria Noakes visited the new UK-based showroom during the Manchester Furniture show to find out more about the brands.
Boasting more than 30 years in the UK furniture wholesale industry, last year Wilkinson Furniture expanded after its acquisition by Furniture Link International, bringing the newly-launched FLI Furniture brand into the UK market. This move resulted in Wilkinson Furniture moving into a new base in Cheadle, Manchester, enabling increased productivity and room for further growth.
Furniture Link International has been designing and producing furniture in Asia for over three decades, and now handles more than 1000 containers a year. In fact, MD Niall Wogan claims that the business was one of the first within the industry to import from Asia.
Many of its models are designed in Ireland by a creative design team, and manufactured in modern facilities in Asia, taking into account strict UK and European standards. The company uses high quality solid hardwood frames and foam or pocket sprung seats for extra comfort.
Niall’s decision to establish new brand FLI Furniture was born from his passion for furniture, carrying on the family tradition from his father, John Wogan. John developed Furniture Link International to be one of the main wholesale suppliers of furniture in Ireland, and now FLI Furniture will aim to maintain the reputation of the original company by producing high quality pieces for the UK.
Both the Wilkinson Furniture and FLI Furniture brands are motivated by this passion, with the aim to be the best they can be and to make an impact within the industry. Wilkinson realises that in order to maintain a strong position, it must meet the needs of today’s challenging marketplace, and as such, is constantly evolving. In addition, it employs its own furniture designers, interiors specialists and quality controllers, and tries to always be present in the factories where its products are made.
With the mix of Wilkinson Furniture’s contemporary, design-led appeal and FLI’s mainstream, traditional feel, together the brands present a wide spectrum of product – from bedroom to living and dining room furniture, in leather, fabric, marble and oak. The brands have a loyal customer base, attracted to their excellent customer service and broad offering.
Niall concludes: “It’s certainly been a busy year since the launch of FLI Furniture into the UK! My main aim now is to focus on improving the service offering, and this will be put into action by investing in personal trucks and continuing to launch new product every month to keep our offering as fresh as possible.”
