What do you think? From emerging trends to the latest business principles, Furniture News is setting out to gauge the trade’s feelings on a variety of industry-specific topics. Today, we’re asking our panel: What’s your favourite industry social event?
Steve Adams, Mattress Online: I always enjoy the Furniture Makers’ Yorkshire Curry Nights – great networking, with the bonus of being local
Bernard Eaton, Greenwood Retail: The NBF Bed Industry Awards gala dinner
Clare Bailey, Retail Champion: I live in Algarve these days, although I do come to UK loads ... but my favourite event was when I invited several of the team over for a strategy day blended with some tourist stuff. We got a lot done, we reimagined the brand (hence the rebrand/relaunch) and I also got to act as tour guide for a couple of days. It went so well we’re planning to do it again! I know it isn’t an open social event, but it was my favourite!
Gareth Mayhew, Roundhill Consultancy: Wine tasting at the Furniture Makers’ was pretty good. I also used to really enjoy the House of Lords event hosted by FIRA
Ian Priestley, Furntech: I’ve always enjoyed the week around the NEC show. Whilst the event has morphed over the years, it remains a focal point for the UK trade that everyone strives to attend. Consequently, you get to see trade people both during the day and the evening – enabling development of new and existing relationships, garnishing business with pleasure
Jan Duckworth, Cox & Cox: It’s got to be the Women in Furniture Network (WIFN) events … but we do need more generally, if I’m honest
Kathryn Lukehurst, Lukehursts: I always enjoy the Minerva dinner and entertainment at the biannual events
Peter Harding, Fairway Furniture: I don’t attend many – always too busy ‘at the coal face’, as they say!
Wayne Robbins, Iconography: The January Furniture Show, in the hotel bar with clients
This article featured in our March issue.
