Interiors Monthly Awards retail winners recognised

The UK’s best furniture and flooring retailers have been recognised by Interiors Monthly readers.

   This year’s Interiors Monthly Awards retail winners are:

   Smiths of Harrogate: Best Furniture Retailer (1-3 stores)

   This year Smiths of Harrogate is celebrating 120 years since Frederick Smith began a second-hand furniture business. Five generations later, the company is still entirely owned by the Smith family. Mention the retailer to shoppers across Yorkshire and the industry, and the words ‘The Rink’ will shortly follow. In 1935 the company moved to the former roller-skating rink on Dragon Road, where it has remained.

   Family continuity has helped shape the business for more than a century, with each generation building on the work of the previous whilst continuing to invest for the future. Customers at the 30,000sqft store highly rate their experience, with Smiths scoring five stars on Trustpilot.

   Couch Flooring: Best Flooring Retailer (1-3 stores)

   Couch Flooring is a family affair: owners Tim and Ben Couch were introduced to the industry by their father Steve, helping out during school holidays and then becoming apprentices and ultimately taking over. The company operates three stores in Cornwall: Bude, where it has its regular store and an outlet branch next door, and nearby Wadebridge.

   Unlike many retailers who will offer as many manufacturers’ products as possible, Couch Flooring has a highly focused core of suppliers, including top names.

Having been apprentices, the brothers have been keen to support the next generation, training local school leavers to be fitters.

   The Cotswold Company: Best Furniture Retailer (4+ stores)

   For the past 24 months, The Cotswold Company has been on an upward trajectory that has verged on vertical. In the year to February 2025, sales jumped by 19% to £100.2m. This accelerated to 30% last summer as it continued to attract customers with its message of quality furniture that will stand the test of time. The financial year ended with sales 23% higher at £123m. 

   It has invested in expansion – now totalling 16 branches and three outlet stores – along with upgrades to logistics, service and product offer.

   ‘With our enhanced delivery and distribution capabilities, proven AI capabilities, and expanding range of characterful and unique products, we have an 

even stronger foundation,’ says Ralph Tucker, TCC ceo.

   1to1 Flooring: Best Flooring Retailer (4+ stores)

   Colin Hawes, 1to1 Flooring founder and md had little choice to be in the industry: his father Keith took him carpet fitting at the weekends. By 15, he was fitting on his own and joined his father’s business after leaving school.

   1to1 has seven stores within 50 miles, from Barnet, north London to Shefford, Bedfordshire via St Albans, Berkhamsted, Harpenden, Luton and Leighton Buzzard. Many staff have two or more decades with the retailer – a result of Keith’s emphasis on the value of training.

   Sofa Club: Best Online Retailer

   The past year has been one of expansion for Sofa Club, in sales, management and its physical presence. The retailer saw sales leap from £11.18m to £33.5m in the year to 31 March. Pre-tax profits rose from £736,092 to £3.04m. A dividend of £325,000 was paid.

   It opened its third showroom – its fifth retail outlet –
last November in Glasgow, followed by openings in Croydon and Gateshead.

   It has recruited a group operations director, brand and creative director, md and fd as it strengthens and scales up further.