Gary Broom, Sales, Marketing & Design Director at Sherborne Upholstery, reflects on the current year while sharing what’s to come as the business enters 2024.
One word that has dominated the furnishings industry in every corner this year has been “tough”. For Sherborne Upholstery, the business has echoed the phrase but reaffirmed that despite operating in challenging conditions, the company has once again prospered.
As part of the makeup at Sherborne, the business thrives on delivering quality products alongside a second to none service, often going unrivalled by its competitors. Where Sherborne stands out, and has since its inception some 90 plus years ago, is its ability to forge and maintain key relationships with customers, as well as constantly innovating from both a product and processes point-of-view.
In fact, Sherborne is no stranger to product development, even with its most trusted ranges, as Gary Broom, Sales, Marketing & Design Director at Sherborne Upholstery, explained: “It’s been a tough year all round in the upholstery market but with the combination of a good product portfolio and great relationships with our independent retail base we have weathered the storm and are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter.
“At the last NEC (January Furniture Show 2023) we brought back into the fold a redesigned Comfi-Sit, the name really does suit, and this has been a real hit with our customers bringing excellent repeat business that has continued strongly throughout the year.
“One of our most popular Recliner/Suite ranges has been totally remodelled and is now reintroduced in its new, improved form. This wonderfully comfortable and generously sized design is offered in both Soft Covers and Leather, in Small and Standard sizes throughout. Suiting both traditional and contemporary homes, it features soft, fibre-filled backs and soft ‘pillow’ arms. We’re delighted with the progress it continues to make.”
In keeping with the product side, Gary added that the business has seen a significant spike in higher-end products, being one of the key categories of growth for the company during this past year. “We are seeing more growth in the higher-end products, with leather and our launch of a new range of Aquaclean fabrics selling extremely well.”
Away from products, Sherborne has continued to invest within the business as well as implementing practices to improve sustainability. “We continue to look at ways within the company to reduce our carbon footprint and reducing the impact we make to the planet, whether that is through investment in efficiencies or physical investments we have made in the past such as LED lighting, wood recycling for heat and solar panels,” Gary said. “It all leads to a better future where Sherborne Upholstery will continue to be one of the strong brands within this exciting industry.
“The other substantial investments we have made in new machinery and also in key personnel are giving us a strong base to continue supporting our retail base going forward and we are looking forward to the NEC in 2024,” Gary added.
With an outlook to next month’s January Furniture Show, which takes place from 21 to 24 January 2024 at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, Sherborne revealed that new launches will be on display, including a product that is set to be a show-stopper.
“We will be launching new products and fabrics that we know will excite our customer base including a new riser that is guaranteed to be a winner,” Gary said, continuing: “I can’t reveal too much at this stage but we want to invite you all to come and see us on our stand to find out more. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been busy developing.”
