Best in show? The Furniture Awards are back!
With the return of the January Furniture Show in 2022, The Furniture Awards are back to celebrate the industry's champions.
Launched in January 2015 by Furniture News in partnership with the January Furniture Show, The Furniture Awards are an integral part of the exhibition.
The 2022 awards will follow a new format, with entrants asked to explain why their business is leading the pack in one of the following categories: Sustainability; Best of British; Value; Design Innovation; and Global Player.
"Do your products or process make you a natural winner, or is original design at the heart of your business strategy? Do you offer unbeatable value, or feel you represent the best of homegrown or import approaches?
"For this year's awards, we're looking to recognise the industry's champions across new categories, and make an even bigger deal of their achievements at the event," says awards co-ordinator, Paul Farley (Furniture News). "For suppliers putting their best foot forward at the upcoming exhibition, the awards are a great opportunity to stand even taller in the sector - so don't miss your chance to enter!"
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED, THANK YOU TO ALL THAT APPLIED
Launched in January 2015 by Furniture News in partnership with the January Furniture Show, The Furniture Awards are an integral part of the exhibition.
The 2022 awards will follow a new format, with entrants asked to explain why their business is leading the pack in one of the following categories: Sustainability; Best of British; Value; Design Innovation; and Global Player.
"Do your products or process make you a natural winner, or is original design at the heart of your business strategy? Do you offer unbeatable value, or feel you represent the best of homegrown or import approaches?
"For this year's awards, we're looking to recognise the industry's champions across new categories, and make an even bigger deal of their achievements at the event," says awards co-ordinator, Paul Farley (Furniture News). "For suppliers putting their best foot forward at the upcoming exhibition, the awards are a great opportunity to stand even taller in the sector - so don't miss your chance to enter!"
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED, THANK YOU TO ALL THAT APPLIED
2022 Categories
Sustainability: Environmental and ethical concerns are more important than ever – do your materials or manufacturing processes make you a natural winner? This category is for any business that champions sustainable practices and demonstrates the will to make the world a better place.
Best of British: As British-made goods gather momentum, are you delivering the best in homegrown design and build? This category is for businesses that principally manufacture in the UK, and demonstrate high standards of output, with regard for their place in the local economy and industry.
Value: Price and perceived value are critical. Are you offering commercially minded products, at margins retailers can get excited about – and do you have the figures to prove it? This category is for any business that prides itself on offering good value, and giving customers the best possible bang for their buck.
Design Innovation: You may push the boundaries of creativity, or simply deliver impeccable style – but are you leading the way when it comes to good product design? This category is for any business that puts original design at the heart of its strategy – entries should include visual evidence of these directions, plus detail of their route to market.
Global Player: The pandemic has been tough on importers, forcing them to work tirelessly to ensure they have the product and processes to succeed. This category is for any business that majors in imports, and their entry will need to reflect their strengths in product development, pricing and fulfilment, plus details of how their offer is tailored to the UK marketplace.
Best of British: As British-made goods gather momentum, are you delivering the best in homegrown design and build? This category is for businesses that principally manufacture in the UK, and demonstrate high standards of output, with regard for their place in the local economy and industry.
Value: Price and perceived value are critical. Are you offering commercially minded products, at margins retailers can get excited about – and do you have the figures to prove it? This category is for any business that prides itself on offering good value, and giving customers the best possible bang for their buck.
Design Innovation: You may push the boundaries of creativity, or simply deliver impeccable style – but are you leading the way when it comes to good product design? This category is for any business that puts original design at the heart of its strategy – entries should include visual evidence of these directions, plus detail of their route to market.
Global Player: The pandemic has been tough on importers, forcing them to work tirelessly to ensure they have the product and processes to succeed. This category is for any business that majors in imports, and their entry will need to reflect their strengths in product development, pricing and fulfilment, plus details of how their offer is tailored to the UK marketplace.
Meet the judges
For more information on our judges, click on their pictures
Royce Clark (retailer, Grampian Furnishers)
Grampian Furnishers is an independent retailer, founded in 1975 and based in North-east Scotland. Returning judge Royce, a former football chairman and hotelier, has run the family business for over 25 years, and in 2018 expanded it into a 30,000 sqft purpose-built premises in Elgin.
- MD, Grampian Furnishers
Grampian Furnishers is an independent retailer, founded in 1975 and based in North-east Scotland. Returning judge Royce, a former football chairman and hotelier, has run the family business for over 25 years, and in 2018 expanded it into a 30,000 sqft purpose-built premises in Elgin.
Deirdre Mc Gettrick
In 2018, after raising £1.8m in seed investment, Deirdre founded ufurnish.com, an online search and comparison engine which enables consumers to search, compare and shop furniture from across the retail market. In 2020, she won the New Entrepreneur of the Year accolade at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards.
- Founder, ufurnish.com
In 2018, after raising £1.8m in seed investment, Deirdre founded ufurnish.com, an online search and comparison engine which enables consumers to search, compare and shop furniture from across the retail market. In 2020, she won the New Entrepreneur of the Year accolade at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards.
Paul Farley
- Editor-in-Chief, Gearing Media Group (Furniture News)
The awards' co-ordinator and chair of the judging panel, Paul developed the awards in 2014 in partnership with the January Furniture Show, and has overseen six editions to date. As well as editing the industry's leading trade magazine and helping the show's exhibitors maximise their visibility, Paul is the Vice President of the International Alliance of Furnishing Publications (IAFP), and a member of The Furniture Makers' Company's Communications Committee.
Mike Murray
Returning judge Mike’s family business is one of the UK’s leading bed retailers. He was awarded the Shell LiveWire Young Entrepreneur of the Year award early in his career, and his business has won awards including the High Sheriff Award for Enterprise, NBF Independent Retailer of the Year, and the National Family Retail Business of the Year.
- MD, Land of Beds
- Non-executive Director, Associated Independent Stores (AIS)
Returning judge Mike’s family business is one of the UK’s leading bed retailers. He was awarded the Shell LiveWire Young Entrepreneur of the Year award early in his career, and his business has won awards including the High Sheriff Award for Enterprise, NBF Independent Retailer of the Year, and the National Family Retail Business of the Year.
Dids Macdonald OBE
Returning judge Dids has over 35 years’ experience in the design industry. She co-founded ACID, which today represents thousands of designers in the creative industries. She is also a Past Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, where her One Step at a Time campaign enlisted trade representatives to convey the charity’s welfare provision to their employees. Current Master David Woodward will be present at the show to outline Step 2 It, the campaign’s new stage.
Dids says: “In a highly competitive world within this sector, stealing the march with a coveted January Furniture Show award, which champions quality, value and design, is highly sought after. I will also be looking at those who have a clear IP strategy as well as being able to demonstrate sustainability credentials, as we all try to do our bit to save the planet. Year on year, these awards set a high bar, and I am delighted to join my fellow judges.”
- CEO, Anti Copying In Design (ACID)
- Past Master, The Furniture Makers Company
Returning judge Dids has over 35 years’ experience in the design industry. She co-founded ACID, which today represents thousands of designers in the creative industries. She is also a Past Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, where her One Step at a Time campaign enlisted trade representatives to convey the charity’s welfare provision to their employees. Current Master David Woodward will be present at the show to outline Step 2 It, the campaign’s new stage.
Dids says: “In a highly competitive world within this sector, stealing the march with a coveted January Furniture Show award, which champions quality, value and design, is highly sought after. I will also be looking at those who have a clear IP strategy as well as being able to demonstrate sustainability credentials, as we all try to do our bit to save the planet. Year on year, these awards set a high bar, and I am delighted to join my fellow judges.”
Malcolm Walker
For nearly 50 years, judging panel mainstay Malcolm’s career has revolved around retail and home furnishings. Formerly director of product for Furniture Village, Malcolm now runs his own consultancy business, and works on retail strategy with the likes of Sterling Furniture, and with industry suppliers in the UK, Europe and Asia on product design, development and concept realisation.
- Owner, FIRST MW
For nearly 50 years, judging panel mainstay Malcolm’s career has revolved around retail and home furnishings. Formerly director of product for Furniture Village, Malcolm now runs his own consultancy business, and works on retail strategy with the likes of Sterling Furniture, and with industry suppliers in the UK, Europe and Asia on product design, development and concept realisation.
2020 Winners
The results are in for The Furniture Awards 2020, as the UK’s top suppliers present their latest products at the January Furniture Show.
After inspecting the shortlisted entrants at the exhibition, a panel of top retailers and other industry experts has picked this year’s winners:
2020 Winners:
Living & Dining Cabinet
Winner: Fortune Woods (CM)
Highly commended: Gallery Direct (Madrid Walnut)
Bedroom Cabinet
Winner: Wiemann UK (Glasgow)
Highly commended: Arte-N Furniture (Bed Concept)
Upholstery
Winner: Collins & Hayes (Bailey & Banks)
Highly commended: Cintique (Mayfair)
Accents
Winner: Gingko Electronics (Octagon One Desk Light)
Mattresses & Divans
Winner: Silentnight Group (Yours&Mine)