Tag Archives: furniture

News

Knightsbridge Furniture welcomes new National Business Development Manager

Bradford-based contract furniture company, Knightsbridge Furniture, expands its team with the appointment of Vicky Taylor as the new National Business Development Manager. 

Vicky will be supporting the Knightsbridge Furniture team to grow the business across all sectors, with a particular national focus on mental health and healthcare environments. Her new role will involve exploring trends across the contract furniture industry and analysing how those trends positively influence interior choices within care settings. 

Since achieving her BA (Hons) Interior Design degree at the Manchester Metropolitan University, Vicky has collaborated on a vast range of interior design projects, including residential, commercial, retail and care schemes. She has a wealth of experience in design, stakeholder engagement and project delivery, and is well versed in creating inspiring environments that support well-being and enhance the user experience.  

Speaking about her new appointment: “I’m thrilled to have been appointed as the National Business Development Manager at Knightsbridge. This is a great opportunity for me to utilise my skills and previous experience to grow the business even further. I have a huge passion for furniture, and enjoy collaborating with partners across multiple sectors, so this role is the perfect fit. I’m looking forward to working alongside a dynamic and forward-thinking team.”

Knightsbridge Furniture is one of few contract furniture suppliers in the UK to design and manufacture its furniture pieces in-house. The Yorkshire furniture company has over 80 years of experience creating furniture for the healthcare, hospitality, workplace, care and challenging environments sectors. 

Charity & CSR, News

Furniture donation boosts coffers of homelessness charity

A homelessness charity which lost £250,000 in revenue during the pandemic has received a timely boost from a Cambridgeshire housebuilder.

Bellway donated all the showhome furniture from its sold-out The Furrows development in Warboys to Emmaus Cambridge, for sale in the charity’s shop in Landbeach.

The charity, which was founded in Cambridge and is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, now has 29 ‘communities’ in the UK which are helping more than 800 people work their way back into society.

Diane Docherty, chief executive of Emmaus Cambridge, said: “We have a site in Landbeach, near Cambridge, which is a social enterprise community.

“We are providing homes, work and support here for 44 people who have found themselves homeless due to a variety of reasons which can include family breakdown, spells in prison or addiction to drink or drugs. What we do is offer long-term support to our ‘companions’ by giving them a full-time job in our shop or café or by teaching them how to drive or allowing them to study for college qualifications.”

Diane said that the charity, which is self-funded, lost a quarter of a million pounds in revenue due to the coronavirus crisis.

“We had to close for seven months and had to furlough staff and we reckon that we lost about £250,000 due to that whole situation,” said Diane. “We need about £1.3 million to run this social enterprise each year so you can see that is a massive hit.

“This donation from Bellway is very much appreciated. We have a shop where we sell second-hand goods and people were wanting to buy the furniture before we had even got it off the van.

“The furniture was brand new and so stylish and lovely. It beautified our shop and made the place look good. The furniture flew out of the shop and made us more than £1,000. We need to try to make up what we lost during the pandemic and this is a great boost.”

Emma Thomson, Sales Manager for Bellway Eastern Counties, said: “Emmaus Cambridge does amazing work to try to help people get their lives back on track.

“As a local housebuilder we are always looking at ways we can support the local community. This charity, like most, was very badly hit by the pandemic. It receives no central funding and has to generate its own income to survive.

“We were happy to be able to donate the furniture from a showhome and are delighted to hear that the sale of it raised more than a thousand pounds.”

The Furrows development has sold out, but Bellway is currently building new homes at two other developments in Cambridgeshire – The Vickers in Witchford and Bassingbourn Fields in Fordham.

For information about these developments, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/eastern-counties.

CAPTION:

  • Bellway Sales Manager Emma Thomson and Head of Sales Rhiannon Jones with Emmaus volunteers Graham Haynes and David Westhead
News

Cox & Cox joins Ombudsman as Sales Soar

Online homeware store invests in consumer protection as strong growth continues.

Homeware retailer Cox & Cox has joined the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman (FHIO) as it’s reported sales growth of +74.5% year on year for its financial year ended January 2021. As this ‘extraordinary’ growth continues whilst people across the UK continue to spend more time at home and embrace a hybrid working culture, Cox & Cox has demonstrated their ongoing commitment to raising standards and promoting consumer confidence by joining the Ombudsman scheme.

For more than a quarter of a century, the independent, not-for profit and government approved Ombudsman scheme has offered a range of services to its members and their customers including alternative dispute resolution, training and advice. The Ombudsman helps to provide consumers with additional peace of mind and supports businesses and their customers in finding solutions when disputes occur, without the need for costly and lengthy litigation.

Launched in 2001, Somerset based Cox & Cox ‘arose from a desire to create a unique collection of homeware products that couldn’t be found elsewhere, with customers encouraged to find their own style and to love every corner of their home.’

By joining the FHIO scheme, Cox & Cox demonstrate a commitment to raising standards by signing up to a Code of Practice and promoting consumer confidence in the sector in which they operate, adding another layer of protection for their customers.  In addition, membership underlines industry best practise and an undertaking to manage complaints formally and at a level that is higher than the law prescribes. Access is provided to an established City & Guilds learning and development programme, and a dedicated Ombudsman team who are have expertise in dispute resolution and consumer law.

Equally, consumers benefit as they will be able to raise a complaint with the Ombudsman for free, if they are unable to resolve the complaint through existing channels or internal procedures.

Kevin Grix, CEO and Chief Ombudsman, the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman said, “Knowing that a business subscribes to an Ombudsman helps to provide an additional layer of protection and reassurance to customers and businesses alike. Customers like to feel confident when they’re spending and they want to know that if something goes wrong, there is a mechanism in place to help put it right. Consumers want to know that the business they are buying from is committed to getting it right for them.

“For years businesses have improved and learnt from the Ombudsman and Cox & Cox have now demonstrated a very tangible commitment to raising standards. By joining the Ombudsman, they are serious about their responsibilities to consumers and we’d therefore like to commend them as new members of our independent, government approved scheme. “

Audrey Huot, Head of Customer Experience from Cox & Cox said, “We are delighted to join the Ombudsman and look forward to the additional training and support that accompanies membership. Customer satisfaction and peace-of-mind has always been at the heart of what we do, and this next step signifies best practise and an ongoing commitment to protecting consumers’ rights.”

To find out more, visit www.fhio.org.

 

 

 

 

Charity & CSR, Logistics, News

ArrowXL Delivering Solutions for the Next Generation at the Read School

On 31st March,  ArrowXL, the leading two-person delivery company, supported The Read School in Drax, (North Yorkshire) with the delivery of a large consignment of office furniture donated by a local business which was closing its local operations.

A team from ArrowXL’s Doncaster base spent the day loading and transporting the goods from the donor to the School, with support from Read’s sixth form students who ensured all of the goods were delivered to the correct departments ready for re-assembly and future use.

The Read School’s mission is to create a warm and welcoming school for pupils of all abilities and walks of life.  It has strong links with local and national businesses through its excellent careers department.  Following a virtual careers fair and through networking events with parents, the school secured the furniture as part of a local green project to recycle and provide benefit to the pupils and other users of the school’s facilities.

Head Ruth Ainley said: “We are incredibly grateful to ArrowXL for giving up their time to deliver this extremely generous donation.  The team worked tirelessly with our sixth form students to ensure all of the furniture was delivered to the correct departments.  We feel very proud to be part of such a fantastic community and to be part of the recycling project.”

Craig Kavanagh, Sales Director from ArrowXL said: “It was a pleasure to be involved in such a great initiative.  ArrowXL are committed to innovation and continuous improvement, and we were very glad to be part of this repurposing project.  The Read School is an important part of our community and we were delighted to be able to offer them our services.”

For more information about The Read School, please visit www.readschool.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract Wins, Logistics, News

Leading Mattress Specialist Chooses ArrowXL

ArrowXL, the leading 2-person delivery company, has secured a significant commercial client during a busy and unprecedented time in the market. Specialising in the collection and delivery of large goods from some of the UK’s biggest manufacturers, ArrowXL is now delivering for mattress and sleep accessory specialist OTTY Sleep.

The contract, signed during lockdown, has seen ArrowXL provide storage in their Wigan head office as well as delivering award winning-mattresses, pillows and bed frames for OTTY. OTTY Sleep now has access to the nationwide 2-person delivery network to distribute their products within a 48-hour delivery timeframe.

Michal Szlas from OTTY Sleep said: “We were in conversation with Arrow XL for around two years prior to signing the contract, which was agreed upon after our existing couriers unfortunately had to pause their operation during the lockdown. Although current circumstances have proven difficult and unprecedented for many, Arrow XL have provided a great service and we have had very minimal issues.

“Their systems are much more sophisticated and allow us to track our inventory and stock movements more accurately. The delivery and customer service have also been fantastic, allowing us to effectively deal with the surge in volume during Covid-19. As a whole, Arrow XL offer a full-service supply chain solution, including warehousing our products and looking after the entire delivery procedure for our award-winning mattresses, pillows and bed frames, which of course, we are very pleased with.”

ArrowXL, the UK’s largest multi-user 2-person delivery specialist has secured large scale commercial contracts with household names in recent months, including Argos and JLL fitness.

Craig Kavanagh, Sales Director from ArrowXL said: “OTTY Sleep really care about the customer experience, something we also prioritise significantly. Their product is one of the leaders in their market, so delivering it is a huge part of the full cycle from the moment of purchase to the unwrapping. We are very proud to be working with OTTY Sleep and having shared values and priorities makes for a strong partnership. We look forward to many years of successful deliveries of their award-winning products.”

Contract Wins, News

Scandi-inspired Nursery Furniture Specialist Gaia Baby Chooses ArrowXL

ArrowXL, the leading 2-person delivery company, has secured another significant contract. Specialising in the collection and delivery of large goods from some of the UK’s biggest manufacturers, ArrowXL is now delivering for Gaia Baby, which provides sustainable, beautiful nursery furniture with a Scandi-inspired design.

The contract, which started just six weeks ago, has seen ArrowXL provide storage in their Wigan head office as well as delivering the innovative nursery furniture. Gaia baby now has access to the nationwide 2-person delivery network to distribute their products within a 48-hour delivery timeframe.

Karl Millergill, Founder at Gaia Baby said: “Priding ourselves on quality, we wanted to find a delivery service that matched our products. Being a small family run business we were crippled with painful lead times and inconsistency by previous delivery partners. ArrowXL stores and delivers our products from one place meaning our customers receive their goods to a room of choice within two days. It was a no brainer turning to ArrowXL. “

ArrowXL, the UK’s largest multi-user 2-person delivery specialist has secured largescale commercial contracts with household names in recent months, including Argos and OTTY Sleep.

Craig Kavanagh, Sales Director from ArrowXL said: “We are delighted to be working with such a dynamic management team at Gaia Baby who share our core values. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service, the flexibility we can provide and the introduction of new services.”

News

Guaranteed in Time for Christmas?

With the festive season upon us, and only six weeks to go until the big day ‘Guaranteed in time for Christmas’ is a phrase which consumers usually expect to see on promotional materials.

Retailers are likely to be careful about any sweeping statements, for example in advertisements that they make about Christmas delivery this year in light of lockdown 2.0 and the closure of all but essential shops; as 2020 has seen supply chains in the retail and furniture industries experience major disruptions and delays due to lockdown restrictions both at home and abroad. However, the internet will remain a sales channel to which many of us will turn for our Christmas purchases.

With many of us working from home and unable to travel internationally, home improvement projects and furniture purchases will remain at the forefront of consumer focus as we contemplate a different festive season. We expect, therefore, that even beyond the festive period, consumers will be looking to apply their usual holiday budgets to home improvements.

When using online channels to purchase furniture, especially when consumers are not used to online shopping, it is always worth double checking specifications, perhaps asking for fabric swatches and dimensions to be certain that the item is what they wanted and that it will fit into their property. There are rights to return goods that are enhanced for distance purchases (as outlined below), but checking first will avoid disappointment later.

What are the legal consequences of late delivery and what can we do to ensure that goods ordered will arrive in time?

Whether customers can rely on statements made in advertising, depends upon what is said and how detailed those statements are. Consumers are advised to check carefully to make sure the promise relates to the specific item that is being ordered and notify the retailer of any requirements that they have in relation to their order.

In the event of items not arriving in time for Christmas, if that was promised by a retailer, there are several things that a customer can do. If the item was ordered online, then there is a 14 day right to cancel which starts on the day after goods are received or alternatively there may be a the right to withdraw; but that’s not much use if the order was a gift for someone else, or if their dining table has already been given away to charity.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods should be delivered within 30 days of the order being placed, unless agreed otherwise. This can sometimes be in the terms and conditions or specified on the order documentation. Often with large items of furniture otherwise known as ‘big ticket’ items, there can be a longer lead-time because the item is being made to fulfil an order, or parts may be shipped from abroad. Particularly at the moment, it is very important for consumers to check these lead times and ask the retailer for details of anything that might cause a delay.

At the Ombudsman, we believe there are some practical steps that consumers can take when ordering furniture, that are particularly relevant at the moment.

Top tips for festive furniture orders:

1. Check the projected delivery date for the furniture and keep a note of the estimated timeframe and make sure it is suitable, before placing the order.
2. If the retailer agrees to delivery for a date that is essential to the consumer, they should both keep a written record.
3. Keep in touch with the retailer – regularly check that they are going to be able to deliver on time.
4. Despite best endeavors, things sometimes do go wrong. Shopping with a member of the Ombudsman can ensure there is a level of protection for consumers and we advise that they check our list of members before making their purchase at www.fhio.org/members.
5. Have a back-up – don’t dispose of any old furniture until the new items have arrived.

What if the contract cannot go ahead at all due to the Lockdown Laws?

In the presently uncertain landscape, a retailer may be unable to meet its obligations due to circumstances that are outside of their control. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provided some guidance on the application of the legal principle of “frustration” to contracts that are prevented from going ahead as agreed, or at all, due to lockdown laws.

This sets out the CMA’s expectation that the consumer will be entitled to a full refund, without necessarily having to ask for it, including any deposit that they have paid. Retailers should not ask the consumer to take “unreasonable or unnecessary steps” to obtain the refund and will be in breach of consumer protection law if they do so. That said, there is nothing to prevent a consumer and retailer coming to an arrangement that is suitable to both of them and this can be one advantage of alternative dispute resolution at this time.

Kevin Grix, CEO and Chief Ombudsman, Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman said,

“As we approach the festive season, customers are offered an additional layer of protection when shopping with retailers enrolled with an Ombudsman scheme; it reinforces a commitment to manage complaints formally and at a higher level than the law prescribes. Our members demonstrate responsible retailer practise by helping to raise industry standards, promoting fair trade and trusting us with their most prized asset; their customers”.

To find out more, visit www.fhio.org.

Jobs, News

ScS creates hundreds of jobs nationwide as orders rocket by 92%

ScS has created hundreds of new jobs around the UK to cope with a huge increase in orders since the easing of lockdown.

The sofa and carpet specialist hired 150 new employees in August and currently has 150 live vacancies for roles in various areas of the business.

The recruitment drive is in response to a recent surge in sales, with the company reporting a 92% increase in order intake for the period from May to July 2020. This trend has continued in August and September, with sales up by 51% over the last six weeks.

ScS is looking to fill a range of both permanent and fixed-term positions, with vacancies in its retail stores, distribution and contact centres.

Jobs available include:

● Sales professionals

● Delivery drivers

● Meet and greet roles

● Contact centre advisors

● Online sales team members

In August, ScS withdrew from the government’s furlough scheme and successfully returned all of its staff to work, having topped up their wages to 100% throughout the period. Those who continued to work over lockdown have been rewarded with an extra seven days of holiday entitlement.

Further showcasing its growth, the interiors firm recently relocated its distribution team from Warrington to a new warehouse in Knowsley, near Liverpool, which is 40% larger than the previous location.

David Knight, CEO at ScS, said: “Due to a sharp rise in orders, we are in the fortunate position of being able to add to our existing workforce. In the six weeks leading up to September, our like-for-like order intake grew by 51%, equivalent to £19m of additional revenue.

“We’re delighted to be able to invest some of this into new staff members, as we continue to navigate our way through these unprecedented times.”

For more information about the roles available and to apply, visit: https://www.scsjobs.co.uk/