In its tenth anniversary edition, INDX Furniture was able to record one of its most-well attended shows to date, despite a backdrop of market challenges.
Curated by buying group, Associated Independent Stores (AIS), the show achieved a 60% increase in visitor numbers since its previous edition, and welcomed 35 suppliers across two showrooms at Cranmore Park. This figure includes 9 first-time exhibitors and 11 major furniture brands.
Following the appointment of leading trend agency Scarlet Opus in 2022, member day visitors were also able to engage with specialists Phil Pond and Shelley Bou Chrouch for one-to-one sessions throughout the show, offering insight on the retail landscape for 2023, consumer buying trends and more.
Emma Rackley, Director of Furniture & Home at AIS, said: “Despite forecasts of a difficult year, the furniture industry is already proving to be incredibly resilient, with a real buzz around the show from Friday through till Monday.
“Across the event, various exhibitors and visitors remarked on the high-quality nature of this year’s offering, which is testament to our ongoing efforts to create the most focused order-writing environment possible.”
The show also marked the debut of a number of major brands, including the sustainably-sourced Bell & Stocchero, Italian upholstery manufacturer Cala Italia, and luxury Swedish bed company Mattsons.
Charlie Bell, Director at Bell & Stocchero, said: “We joined AIS as a member just a week before the show and are already beginning to reap the benefits. The intimate showroom environment was really welcoming, and meant that we were able to put the USPs of our products front and centre, alongside allowing us to get face-to-face with buyers who are serious about doing business.”
Oscar Mattson, Vice President at Mattsons Beds, said: “INDX was our first time bringing our products to market in the UK and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Everyone at the show was really friendly, making it the perfect place to strike up new business opportunities, which allowed us to exceed our initial targets as a result.”
Chris Everist, Commerical Director at Parker Knoll, said: “The show has proved to be an excellent launch platform for our new AIS-exclusive Chicago model. The attendance on Friday in particular was excellent, and in general the buyers were in good spirits. The show atmosphere was a nice blend of friendly yet professional, with a high standard of presentation and a good mix of products.”
Greg Bachelor, Sales Director at TCH, said: “We’ve been attending INDX Furniture since the very first show 10 years ago, and it’s amazing to see how it has adapted over this time to keep in line with industry demand.
“Throughout this time though, the low-pressure environment has been a constant mainstay, meaning we can focus on letting our products do the talking. We’ve already signed up for the June show, so we’re looking forward to seeing both old and new faces later this year.”
