For Leggett & Platt participation was ‘a great success’. All exhibiting divisions, including Leggett & Platt Springs UK, Leggett & Platt Home Furniture, Kayfoam and partner Clockwork Components entertained a high volume of new and existing customers as it showcased its advanced capabilities and product offerings.
‘With this opportunity to display our innovative furniture and bedding technologies, we were able to gain a substantial number of introductions and leads – especially for the upholstery trade. This expo was an excellent opportunity to highlight our expertise in delivering advanced comfort technology and support to customers across the UK furniture industry. Our “global, yet local” approach and “borrowed proven technologies” mindset allow us to deliver world-class professionalism and diverse, industry-leading spring component and specialty furniture foam solutions. With expertise in high-quality seating systems, recliner mechanisms and other motion hardware, all exhibiting Leggett & Platt divisions were able to provide an up-close view of how we’re energising not only the bedding market but the wider furniture market as well,’ says Paul Hindle, Leggett & Platt Springs UK sales manager.
‘As the show came to a close, all parties were excited about the possibilities and benefits of a Leggett & Platt partnership. We look forward to attending this FCE in years to come as it was well organised and in a great, centrally located area.’
‘It has been buzzing. We’ve seen a lot of people we know and we have made some new contacts as well. An event like this, specifically for components, has been long overdue,’ says Mike Crowshaw, Peak Convertors md.
‘The focused nature of this show is really quite interesting. It’s about people coming through the door, people who know about foam, who are interested in foam, so you have some very positive conversations with people. It’s good for the industry to have something that is targeted like this,’ says John Davies, Peak Convertors sales director.
Next year’s show will be held from 19-20 March, again at Telford International Centre.
‘A lot of people have said to us this is what the industry needed. The question was, could somebody deliver it and could somebody deliver it well? The feedback we have had is that we have achieved that. I have lost count of the number of exhibitors who have stopped me and said they want to come back next year, or can we make sure we get our space again next year? Could we take a bigger space next year,’ says Phil Spademan, BFM md.
‘The exhibitors have done us proud: there are some fantastic stands out there and people have invested in a difficult market. They have done a lot of work to entice people to buy their products and the visitors are genuine buyers who are looking to buy. The show looks really professional, the exhibitors have done such a good job, the hall is good, the facilities are good, and it’s so easy to get to.
‘The vision is for people to start to recognise British furniture. It’s what we need. Currently we’re using a push strategy, but if you turn that into a pull strategy and get consumers looking for British furniture when they go in-store, that’s a great place to be. It’s going to take a very long time to get there, but there’s nothing wrong with having that as a long-term ambition to move towards.
‘We are a trade association, so we are not trying to make a profit. What we are doing is what we think is the right thing for the industry. This is the only show of its type, and the industry said it wanted it. We have created this for the industry, so it’s for the industry by the industry. A few people have said to me that it feels as though the show has been here for ages. It’s a great foundation for us to grow from. This is phase one and the BFM board have committed to do this for up to five years. We are here for the long term, and we are going to drive it forward.’
