The Furniture Awards are bestowed on the industry's champion suppliers at the January Furniture Show each year. Organised by Furniture News in partnership with the event, the awards aim to recognise the businesses leading the way in various categories.
This year's Design Innovation category winner was Gallery Direct.
This category is for any business that puts original design at the heart of its strategy. Winner Gallery stays ahead of the curve through continual range development, guided by emerging trends. Atop this is the supplier’s Design Project Series, which seeks practical solutions to everyday problems – to date, it comprises a Sofa in a Box Collection, and Packed-Flat, a flatpacked value line with a designer feel.
“Over recent years, Gallery Direct have expanded significantly, with a huge increase in the number and type of products offered, plus record-breaking YoY sales growth,” states Gallery. “We are continually developing exciting, innovative products to bring to market, to stay ahead of trend and offer stylish, practical design.
“Our Sofa in a Box collection was launched in October and has been incredibly successful. We wanted to offer customers a range of sofas which could be easily delivered where access is tight and awkward – we therefore developed the collection of six models which are delivered flat-packed in a box. Where space is especially tight, the pieces can be unboxed and taken in separately.
“The second Design Project, Packed-Flat, features a wide range of furniture, which, as the name suggests, is packed flat, to offer easy access to any room, but doesn’t compromise on quality. The collection offers design and quality without the price tag, with a wide choice to suit different interiors. The products are quick and easy to ‘build’, resulting in practical, high-quality finished items which look fantastic.”
MD Peter Delaney comments: “Exciting design is at the heart of our ethos, and so it is fantastic to have this recognised and rewarded by The Furniture Awards judges. Winning the award, and so being able to use the winner’s logo, has been fantastic for our marketing. We featured it on the stand at the show, as well as on videos, adverts and eblasts.”
The judges said: “Gallery have always pushed the boundaries and approached their business from creative directions. They appreciate that good design should not be out of the consumer’s reach.”
Pictured, from left: Paul Farley; Gallery’s commercial director, James Hudson; awards sponsor Forte’s director of sales and marketing, Andreas Disch; portfolio director of Clarion Events’ Retail Division, Zoë Bonser; and Gallery’s MD Peter Delaney
