BEST FURNITURE, FLOORING AND ONLINE RETAILERS

HOUSING UNITS Best Furniture Retailer (1-3 stores)

2024 is the store’s second success in this category. It completed its five-year refurbishment plan a year ahead of schedule with the installation of its 1,800sqft contemporary European furniture department earlier this year, increasing the space dedicated to furniture to more than 60,000sqft.

The store has also seen a new beds and bedroom department inspired by travel; a modern living department offering furniture and accessories: a ‘one-stop shop for urban living’; and the main Emporium furniture department saw the removal of the previous low ceiling to create a sense of light and space, and 1,600sqft dedicated to Dutch brand Eichholtz, with seven roomsets.

GREENDALE FLOORING Best Flooring Retailer (1-3 stores)

Torquay’s Agatha Christie may be the Queen of Crime, but there is no mystery why the town’s Greendale Flooring is a leading retailer: its customers love it.

Founded by Tony Perkins in 2009, its online reviews are fulsome in their praise for the quality of product knowledge, service, fitting and after-sales. ‘From start to finish an outstanding customer experience’; ‘Tony went above and beyond with the help we needed and we were grateful for his expert guidance. The fitting team were nothing short of excellent’; ‘Absolutely brilliant service, I cannot recommend highly enough’; ‘I have used Greendale Flooring on a number of occasions over the years because quite simply they are fantastic’ and ‘Wonderful customer service. Good prices and great quality’ are just some recent comments. All reviews are five-star.

In 2017 Perkins expanded along the English Riviera, opening Dartmouth Flooring. Unsurprisingly its customers are equally effusive in their praise.

Appropriately the company takes full advantage of its buying group membership: Greendale Carpets.

FURNITURE VILLAGE Best Furniture Retailer (4+ stores)

Furniture Village continues to set the benchmark for family-owned and run furniture retailers across the country. And having recently opened its 56th branch – in Lincoln – its reputation is reaching a wider business audience.

It was named Retail Family Business of the Year and London and South East Family Business of the Year at the 2024 Family Business of the Year Awards, and was runner-up in the Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year category.

‘Furniture Village is a family business bursting with the energy, passion and ambition of its founder, which continues into the current generation and the leadership team. Like all great family businesses it achieves success by creating and sustaining a holistic culture for the business that serves the needs of all its stakeholders,’ says Paul Andrews, Family Business United co-founder.

KRISTOFFERSEN CARPETS & FLOORING Best Flooring Retailer (4+ stores)

In 2022, Kristoffersen scooped this award, but this year there is a significant difference: Norrie and Kim Kristoffersen retired from the six-store retailer in February 2023. Managers Daniel Stuart, Lee Ross and Chris Stevens took control of the company and have largely kept things as they were.

‘We’ve kept on doing what we do – concentrating on our customers,’ says Stuart. ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’

ARGOS Best Online Retailer

Its presence on practically every significant high street across the country may be a thing of the past, but Argos remains a significant player in the furniture market. Swapping shops for Sainsbury’s kiosks saw the chain move online, developing a USP for low-cost delivery (or a visit to the supermarket) and lead times superior to many rivals. Its sister brand Habitat plays a key role in delivering exclusivity.

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