UK manufacturing allows quality, speedy delivery and service, says Malcolm Gibson, Furlong group md
What do you see as the main advantages of being a UK manufacturer?
With so many finished products now arriving from across the world, it has become a challenge for UK consumers to buy products that are UK made. The UK has a long history of manufacturing carpets, and we are proud to be part of a home-grown industry that is still thriving and contributing to our economy. Retailers confirm that many consumers want to buy British and see it as a positive, and many ask: ‘Where is it made?’ We manufacture our carpet products in Bangor, Northern Ireland and that gives us direct control over the specification and quality of the finished product. Our customers want products that are problem-free, and having control over the manufacturing process enables us to ensure that happens. Once made, our products are shipped within the UK to our distribution centres in Dartford, Preston and Stonehouse, to ensure that we have the stock available when our customers need it. We are not impacted by borders or customs clearance issues and have control over the delivery date.
What efforts to you take you take to promote these advantages to UK retailers?
We are closely connected to our customers by our team of 24 area sales managers covering all areas of the UK. They know the importance and heritage associated with being a UK manufacturer and it is an important part of our sales approach. Our award-winning POS and literature carry a ‘UK manufactured’ logo. We are proud of our UK heritage and use the logo to communicate this to our customers and consumers alike.
Do you think UK retailers understand sufficiently the advantages of sourcing from UK manufacturers?
We get a great deal of support from the majority of our customers but there is room for improvement. Many customers have noticed the difference in the past couple of years: they don’t have to wait for weeks for their orders to come in and they can get direct contact with our distribution centres to identify stock availability and delivery times. This means they can fulfil their customers’ orders quickly.
Do retailers make enough of the fact to their customers that they that are selling UK-made products?
We would definitely like to see an increased use of UK manufacturing as part of their sales approach. Consumer knowledge of flooring products is limited, and they rely on retailers for guidance and advice. Clearly, we would love to see UK manufacture promoted as a high-status virtue.
What would you like to see the UK government do to help UK manufacturing?
Our retailers confirm that the consumer prefers to buy a UK-manufactured product because of a reputation for quality and service, and also because it is providing jobs for the UK workforce and helping to improve the economy. We would like to see the government recognising this desire to buy British by taking a proactive and visible stance, promoting the benefits of buying products bearing the UK logo.
Do you have overseas markets, and if so how has this changed since Brexit?
We service the UK and Ireland, and our base in Northern Ireland makes both markets easy to service. Brexit has not impacted this.
