Month: April 2018

And the finalists are….

After a record-breaking year for nominations, the finalists in this year’s BITA Industry Awards can now be revealed.

Launched in 2017, the BITA Awards recognise excellence in creativity and service across the sector.  The finalists range from the best designers and suppliers right the way to the best sales agents.

Diane Harding, BITA Director & Secretary said “The BITA Awards offer a credible endorsement of excellence which allows winners to stand out from the crowd.  There is no better recognition than that of your contemporaries and with winners decided solely on the votes of those from within industry the BITA Industry Awards set a standard of excellence by those who know best.”

Caroline Adam, Sales and Marketing Manager at Pike Textiles, sponsors of this years awards, said….“Pike Textiles have been at the forefront of fabric, wallpaper and window blind sampling solutions for 126 years with Excellence and Innovation being the two foundations of our business. 

Working with world leading brands and market leading retailers, we always have an eye on best practice and are pleased to be sponsoring an award recognising the best in field Sampling Solution through BITA.”

Winners will be announced at a Summer Ball, which will be held later in the year.  Details will be announced in due course.

Here are the BITA Awards 2018 finalists…..

Best Fabric Brand
Zoffany
Prestigious Textiles
Jacqueline Milton

Best Blind Supplier
Diffusion
Rol-Lite
Green & Brown

Best Pole & Track Supplier
Hallis Hudson
Bradley Collection
Jones Interior

Best Made to Measure Service
Windmill Workroom
English Rooms
Regal Blinds

Best Trimmings Supplier
Jones Interior
Troynorth
Silverdale

Best Cushion Supplier
Fine Quality Feather
Hallis Hudson
Margo Selby

Best Wallcoverings Brand
Cole & Son
Harlequin/Style Library
Sandberg

Best Independent Sales Agent
John Northwood
Steve Houghton
James Thomson
Andrew Bennett

Best Employed Sales Rep
Peter Barnett – Green & Brown
Stephen Green – Prestigious
Jon Ashdown – Clarke & Clarke
James Vardy – iLiv

Best Supplier for Customer Service
Jones Interior
Hallis Hudson
SMD/iLiv

Best Sample Design
Ashley Wilde
Olivia Bard

Best Readymade Curtain Supplier
Ashley Wilde
Rectella
iLiv

Best Bedlinen Supplier
Style Library
The Portofino Studio
Ashley Wilde

 

January Furniture Show 2018 – A Huge Success!

The UK’s biggest furniture and interiors event, The January Furniture Show took place on 21st-24th January at the NEC, Birmingham, attracting over 20,000 trade and retail buyers, including 5,000+ interior designers and contract specifiers seeking high quality, commercially focused fabrics and soft furnishings.

BITA were proud to partner up with organisers of the show to offer BITA members with an affordable platform to exhibit in the fabrics and soft furnishings pavilion.  Attending BITA members were Art of the Loom, Norfolk House Consultants, Edmund Bell and Jacqueline Milton.

BITA member, Interior fabric designer, Jacqueline Milton said “…It was the easiest trade show I’ve ever done! BITA took care of everything for me, from setting up the display to manning the stand. I had daily updates, leads and a full visitor list after the show. I was delighted with the results, not only were the leads really positive, I’ve already had new customers sign up!”

Building on the success of 2018, organisers of the event have released dates for 2019: 20th to 23rd January.

Event director, Cleere Scamell of Clarion Events said “We were delighted to work with BITA this year as there is great synergy between the show and the interests of the BITA members which we are very happy to support and help with growing their client base.

The January Furniture Show is a diverse event which serves the whole of the UK furniture industry, including fabrics, textiles and interiors which are all key parts of a sector with which BITA helps us connect.”

Further information can be found at www.januaryfurnitureshow.com.  BITA members who wish to express an interest in the 2019 show can do so by contacting karen.mcgeeney@interiortextiles.co.uk.