The retailer winners of the Interiors Monthly Awards have been revealed. Full information on the winners can be found at www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk/awards
Readers voted Arighi Bianchi as Best Furniture Retailer (1-2 stores).
Faced with a post-pandemic drop-off, the Macclesfield retailer, lead by Sarah Bianchi, decided it was its own best asset. It invested in own-brand collections for the first time and rethought how it talks to its target base. This has seen higher margins, increased footfall (and given shoppers more reasons to linger in-store) and strengthened the Arighi Bianchi brand. Being part of the community is steeped in the retailer’s DNA, shown by the partnership with Chester Zoo which adorns its store front as part of its Postcards From… campaign.
Knot & Grain won Best Flooring Retailer (1-2 stores).
Knot & Grain has played its cards differently from most retailers: it makes its own products. Founders David and Nat Mudd and Sam Carter are near neighbours and the families bonded during Covid lockdown. The intention was to simplify the wood floor buying process for customers and offer bespoke options if that was what was needed to ensure total satisfaction. Online provides a way of consumers finding them, with the Worcester showroom offering the chance to see the floor in the flesh – and being made.
Dunelm was voted Best Furniture Retailer (4plus stores).
Furniture has been a key driver of growth for Dunelm, with shoppers responding to its push to target the market. Furniture ‘performed particularly well’ in the first financial quarter of the year, said the retailer, helped by bolder designs and outdoor collections. Maximalism has been a trend the chain has embraced, as it collaborates with Sophie Robinson.
Flooring Superstore won Best Flooring Retailer (4plus stores).
For Flooring Superstore, persistent expansion but with prudence has been the mantra, as it approaches 50 branches: Hove, West Sussex is scheduled to open in early August. This will be the seventh opening this year. The chain saw profitability return in 2023/2024 after restructuring. This has been backed by investment in operations, most recently at its North-East of England warehousing.
Best Online Retailer was win by Sofa Club.
There probably isn’t an interiors retailer that knows what it stands for better than Sofa Club. In its own words: ‘Sofa Club was born from a vision to flip the script on the sofa shopping experience. Fast, trend-led and always ahead of the curve, we’ve built a community of style-conscious shoppers who expect their living spaces to evoke feeling, not just function.
‘We don’t just sell sofas – we make statements. Every collection is crafted with a blend of elevated design, accessible luxury and modern lifestyle in mind. And because we know that style waits for no one, we offer next-day delivery, making fashion for the home faster and more accessible than ever.’
Full information on the winners can be found at www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk/awards
