Retailers warned of further pricing surge

Retailers have been warned that they face a further surge in the cost of UK-made furniture.

The BFM has says its members have faced, and continue to meet, significant price rises from suppliers. A wide range of materials used in furniture are rapidly increasing, including hard woods such as birch, beech and oak, along with fabrics, foam, fibre, steel, MDF, plywood and OSB.

‘This is a national and international issue. Our members are reporting a constant flow of increases, which are impossible to predict and difficult to absorb. We’ve seen a pattern of material increases over the past two years, but the situation has escalated significantly in recent weeks,’ says Sean Holt, BFM md.

‘Compound price hikes of up to 100% are not unusual, and this is on top of the energy cost increases affecting manufacturing, which need to be managed to operate and maintain production. Fuel and labour costs are other factors which are compounding the current situation.

‘Our members are committed to making their quality products in Britain and to address the challenges ahead, but they face economic factors that are beyond their control. We appreciate that the situation will bring disappointment and inconvenience to retailers and their customers.’ 

Holt says the organisation plans to introduce a regular update to support retailers. ‘Hopefully this will go some way to help them plan accordingly and provide insight so they can inform their customers of the current situation too.’

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