First of all, a big thank you to all those customers who braved the snow and ice to visit Interiors in Birmingham – the weather definitely had an impact on visitor numbers but, if our results are anything to go by, it didn’t deter serious, quality retailers. While our overall order intake was down on the past year, order value was actually up – because new and existing customers were all plumping for our exciting new “Best” products – in particular the new walnut and black combo, Monza and the smart, versatile Loft – both from our VIP range – and, much to my delight, the oak Faro, our first foray in the UK into semi-solids.
I can’t help wondering if we have missed a trick, not pushing our top end products more!
These three are of course only a small part of the new offerings we brought to Birmingham – and I’m pleased to say that all 11 of them are in production and will be delivered according to normal delivery periods over the coming weeks. We’ll also be distributing the comprehensive new catalogue that Wiemann have just published in English for the UK market, which features all the new ranges. (This website will be updated with them shortly, too!).
It was great to welcome Peter Westbrook to our team at his first show for us. Peter works with his father Norrie as Westbrook Agencies (Norrie’s been our Scottish agent since the year dot) and together they have now also taken on both northern and southern Ireland for us. I know they’re already very well connected over there so we’re sure to see some good Gaelic Connections developing!
Our home delivery and installation service is becoming increasingly important – I think consumers expect this sort of service when they are investing in better quality products and there’ll be an announcement of exciting new developments in this department soon.
And last but by no means least, many congratulations to Wiemann who achieved the accolade of top supplier to international furniture brand operator Musterring (which outsources its designs to manufacturers and sells to retailers throughout Europe and Asia). It’s the first time Musterring have presented this award, in honour of its 75th anniversary this year – and Wiemann came out top out of all its 44 suppliers, as voted on by its own staff, across a whole host of criteria relating to product and service. Quite an honour!! (Our Santos product is a Musterring design, which they allow us to sell in the UK).
Meanwhile, by the time you read this, Elaine and I will have departed for a long-planned and long-awaited trip Down Under to visit Hobbit Land (in honour of a special ‘anniversary’ we celebrated not so long ago). It’s going to be an action-packed trip, although not in the same vein as the Epic Cycle Ride – I’ll look forward to telling you all about it when I get back!