It’s that time of year again – the shows! To me, it feels almost as important as the Oscars!
After Cologne (which is Wiemann’s major show in Europe) comes the Interiors show at the NEC and we’re very excited about this year, as we’ll be unveiling an impressive 11 new ranges.
That’s partly because, in Hall 5 on stand E40, we’ve got 25% more space than in previous years, so we can display more ranges. Another reason is that we liked so many of the ranges previewed at the MOW showroom shows in Germany last autumn. The team (that’s me and all the other UK sales agents) sat down and went through all the new ranges and that’s how many we thought could sell over here in the UK this year.
Call me optimistic, but I think 2103 is going to be the year of the bedroom – and I think we’ve got the range and choice to really make our mark!
We’ve divided our collections into three key areas, which I’ve called Good, Better and Best.
Missing IMage – Honey
When I say ‘Good’, I’m really referring to our hugely successful promotional ranges, such as Como and Dakar. They’ll be joined this year by the lovely Honey, with a hinged door robe in rustic oak with Havanna finish door and drawer front combination options; and the more traditional Meran, a hinged robe with profiled edges to the doors, in a choice of light ash or rustic oak finishes, ideally suited to the more mature market.
Under the ‘Better’ category, I’ve got high hopes for an exciting new concept for the UK, the Miro programme, a wide selection of chests and cupboards in an equally wide range of finishes, along with a couple of bedsteads. These will mix and match with virtually any of our wardrobes, extending retail sales options magnificently.
I still think black will be a popular colour in 2013 and Aruba is just the ticket, darkly seductive, combining matt black and black glass and a wide ripple effect inset panel option. Aruba also features an exciting new addition of a freestanding headboard as part of the range. Also featuring the new headboard concept is Helsinki, a sliding robe design with chunky handles, in a combination of matt and glass finishes (white, black, silver and Sahara).
We’ve got some fabulous new options under what I call our ‘Best’ category. Loft, for instance, is an exciting new concept featuring robes with bi-fold doors and a wide range of storage arrangements including built-in external drawer packs and swivel shelving for TVs. Loft comes in a variety of finishes, including black and white glass doors.
Manhattan
Manhattan, from Wiemann’s exclusive VIP range, is an extra tall 240cm sliding wardrobe concept with either full length doors or the addition of full width drawers at the base of each robe. It’s available in a wide choice of finishes.
And – last but not at all least, for the first time, we are offering one of our semi-solid ranges – so important to Wiemann in the rest of Europe – to UK buyers. Faro comes in a lovely, warm oak finish, with a choice of sliding or hinged door robes and a matching bedstead, chests, wall hung cupboards and shelving.
There’s loads I haven’t had room to mention here so I hope retailers will flock to our stand in Hall 5 on stand E40 at the NEC from 20-23 January, to see all these and other exciting new additions to our range. Because – and I’ve saved the best news to last – all these new ranges are in production and will be available for delivery from the end of January.
How’s that for a Happy New Year’s gift from us to you!