The Birmingham NEC has announced that it will host a new Furniture Show from 18-20th January in 2015 and beyond. The Midlands venue - currently host to UBM show Interiors UK which, it was reported today, is relocating to ExCeL - has announced it will be supporting an alternative well-known organiser to recreate this important event in the furniture buying calendar.
Stephen Richards, who was responsible for the launch of the original Furniture Show 23 years ago and steered it into the industry’s most successful trade event, is now the sales director at the NEC, and will be personally involved in the new show development going forwards.
"Naturally we are disappointed that UBM have decided to relocate Interiors to ExCeL from 2015,” he says. “We have to recognise that the decline in the Interiors show over the last few years has not just been a function of the difficult high street, and we would obviously prefer to be working with them to revive the offer for the UK and International trade here in Birmingham.
“From my experience, a London event will satisfy a relatively small niche of suppliers and buyers who might well feel more comfortable in a designer/interiors kind of environment – it will not, however, satisfy the vast majority in the industry who need to reach all retailers from throughout the UK."
As the UK’s premier venue for consumer shows, and home to a number of successful home and interior shows including flagship events Grand Designs and Spring Fair, Stephen is confident that the NEC can present an exciting new concept in 2015.
“I am totally convinced we can rebuild a strong Furniture Show giving the exhibitors and visitors the service they deserve, by working with a team of experienced individuals who have a deep understanding of the furniture industry and furniture events,” he says.
The NEC’s industry award-winning marketing insight team has highlighted that for both the exhibitor and visitor population, the quality and ease of transportation links, international accessibility and appeal, and also visitor and exhibitor drive times are all vitally important.
“Our marketing intelligence all points towards the fact that the natural home for this type of event is the NEC in Birmingham, and we firmly believe that’s the case,” says Stephen. “We are by far the best located venue in the UK by road, rail and air, and we’ll soon benefit from the new Birmingham Airport runway extension which will make the NEC accessible to even more long haul destinations.
“In addition, with the building of the new Resorts World entertainment complex and other major venue improvements now underway, we will be an exciting 24/7 destination and a lot more fun to play with too.”
