Author: BITA

Bollington Insurance Announced as Appointed Broker for British Interiors & Textiles Association

September 2015, Bollington Insurance has recently been appointed as the insurance broker for the British Interiors & Textiles Association.

Established in 1973, Bollington is an award-winning independent insurance broker based in the North-West of England, with a nationwide presence.  Bollington will offer BITA members access to business insurance quotations over the phone or face-to-face, while their competitive premiums come with an additional 10% discount for members and showcase visitors.

Clients also have access to 24/7 claims support should the worst happen.   Alongside insurance advice, Bollington also provides health and safety assistance at a favourable rate should the business require it.

Bollington will be supporting the upcoming BITA showcase in September in Manchester.  Staff will be available at the show to discuss any insurance related matters that may concern members or showcase visitors.

Paul Moors, Chief Executive of Bollington, commented: “We are delighted to be working with BITA, and to be in a position to offer their members a useful discount on their insurance premium.  We are confident that BITA members will be very happy with our service offering, as our friendly team offer advice on a full range of insurance products.”

“Bollington is known for taking the time to develop relations with customers in specialist markets in order to offer them a high quality of cover and great value for money.”

“We are looking forward to attending the September BITA Showcase events and building relationships with businesses working in this exciting industry.”

BITA’s Accounts Manager, Gary Ferguson, remembers how Bollington supported the company after suffering a serious fire in 2011, which completely destroyed their office, “We know how important it is to have the correct insurance policy set in place. Bollington Insurance Brokers were able to assist us in identifying the right cover, specific to our business, and also provide quotes from several insurance companies. Their process is simple and easy to understand- they are more than happy to help with any queries. I would highly recommend Bollington to anyone, especially those who are afraid of shopping around in case their quality of cover maybe affected.”

BITA members can get a quotation for their insurance through www.bollington.com/bita, or by calling Bollington on 0845 601 3852.  Remember to mention you are a BITA member when calling to obtain a discount on your insurance.

BITA HITS THE ROAD IN JUST 1 MONTH: HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US…

Only one month to go! The 13th of September marks the beginning of BITA’s annual September Showcase Roadshows and we couldn’t be more excited.

We begin in Manchester at the contemporary Lowry Hotel (13 – 14 September) before moving to the stylish Belfry Hotel in Nottingham (16 – 17 September), finally we conclude at the luxurious Hilton, Syon Park, in London (20 – 21 September); optimise your experience at Syon Park by visiting Decorex, which is right next door!

We have an array of exhibitors joining us at the September Showcase, ranging from those specialising in fabrics, poles, trimmings and blinds to those who have stunning accessories, and lots in-between! With brands such as: Archroll, BBSA, Chatham Glyn, Edmund Bell, Emily McGuiness, Ena Shaw, Foster Lane, Integra, Jones Interiors, Montgomery, Novatec, NV Blinds, Prestigious Textiles, Richard Barrie, Rol-lite, Silent Gliss, Silkland, Simta, Streets, Swish, Tulip Blinds, Universal, Wendy Cushing Passenterie and Wise Windows – you are sure to be inspired!

If our exhibitors don’t fully quench your creative thirst, we’re also holding Masterclasses, with a different specialist seminar held by a range of professionals in the mornings and afternoons of the shows! This is a great opportunity for you to gain some tips on window blind safety and making curtains, blinds and lampshades. Entry to Masterclasses is free to all guests but you will need to book your place. Make sure you have pre-registered to receive all the latest class and booking information.

As always entry to our trade only show is free and we’re also offering free tea and coffee all day! Dependent on the venue, a complimentary canapé or buffet lunch will also be available for you to enjoy. And…if you pre-register for the show you will be entered into our Grand Prize Draw.

Sign up today at www.interiortextiles.co.uk; we can’t wait to see you!

Trade charity, FTCT, launches its second national poster campaign with the backing of industry leaders

Trade charity, the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust (FTCT) has sent personal letters to CEO’s and HR managers of 130 of the UK’s top retailers, with the support of industry leaders Meg Lustman, CEO of Hobbs and Chair of FTCT, and Dave Shepherd, COO of Arcadia and Trustee of FTCT.

The aim of this year’s campaign is to increase awareness of FTCT’s grant programme that supports the education and wellbeing of children whose parents work in any aspect of UK fashion retailing, manufacturing and textile trade, including those who work in the interior textiles industry.

FTCT are currently working with BHS, M&S, Hobbs and NEXT however, they are keen to reach more companies – big and small – to help ease financial pressure off those families in the industry who have hit hard times.

It only takes one instance such as illness, disability or bereavement to put family in financial hardship,” says FTCT director, Anna Pangbourne. “This can have a detrimental effect on their personal lives and performance at work.

“We have grants available to help children with their education and overall wellbeing; these grants act a bridge to help families support them during difficult financial times,” she continues. “With the help of FTCT trustees such as Meg Lustman and David Shepherd we aim to encourage more employers to jump on board and work with us to support their employees and their children throughout the UK.”

 The charity welcomes contact from all employers who wish to get their company involved. To find out more, simply call the FTCT team on 020 7232 1876 or email anna@ftct.org.uk.

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BITA Members benefit from partnership with Utilitywise

BITA is proud to have selected Utilitywise as the preferred Energy Partner for BITA (trade association for the UK interior textiles industry).

Thousands of businesses of all sizes rely on Utilitywise for their energy and water management needs, whether at one site or across the UK.

They have access to prices from major gas and electricity suppliers in the UK, allowing them to find an energy price for your business and removing the hassle of dealing with your energy account.

Why choose Utilitywise…

They provide a one stop service for Electricity, Gas and Water.

  • A dedicated Account Manager will work with you to tailor a plan to match your organisation’s needs, delivering time and cost savings to your business.
  • You can gain free and impartial advice from our free phone Utility Helpline – 0845 653 1034.
  • All BITA members are offered our free Bill checking service (Electricity, Gas and Water), providing peace of mind and ensuring you only pay for what you need.
  • A free Energy Health Check is available to BITA members which will allow you to benchmark your business against those in the same industry and of a similar size, we may uncover savings opportunities during this process.
  • Using their market knowledge and buying power, they research the market and provide a range of tariffs (fixed, flexible or portfolio) – to save you money and time.
  • Your Account Manager will remind you when you are due to renew your contracts, offering you peace of mind and time saving when managing your accounts.
  • Your dedicated Account Manager will walk you through the switching process. Taking care of all of the paperwork.

Frequently asked questions…

Do we pay Utilitywise or the supplier?

Your contract will always be with the supplier.

How is Utilitywise paid?

Utilitywise is paid a commission from the energy supplier. This varies by energy supplier and is often a fixed fee per meter.

Are Utilitywise regulated by an official body?

No, but we are regularly audited by the energy suppliers to ensure we are adhering to their codes of practice. In addition, we have an in-house compliance team.

 Which energy suppliers do Utilitywise work with?

We are truly independent and we place contracts with the widest range of suppliers including some of the smaller new entrants to the market.

What information do you need from me?

All we require is a signed Letter of Authority (LoA) and a scanned copy of your most recent bill. The LoA does not oblige you to do anything moving forward – it simply allows us to begin the analysis process. You are not obliged to work with us beyond that.

Who manages the handover?

Utilitywise manages the whole transfer process.

Key Benefits:

  • Fixed price contracts for up to five years.
  • Reduction of energy consumption through a wide range of auditing, monitoring and reduction services.
  • Central billing – for customers with multiple sites
  • Excellent customer service

To find out more about joining BITA from £50+VAT a year please email laura.jones@norfolkhouse-uk.com or call 01908 410598 (ex 5)

Already a member?

Contact our BITA energy experts on 0845 653 1034 or e-mail bita@utilitywise.com

Join us at BITA’s BIG SHOOT!

The British Interior Textiles Association is delighted to announce:

 BITA’s BIG SHOOT

Friday 17 July 10am – 2pm

We are so excited to be inviting you to BITA’s BIG SHOOT!

A great way to network with other companies in the Interior and Textiles Industry and have a spot of good old fashioned fun in the English countryside!

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                       JOIN US IN                          Just £79 per person

      Warwickshire             (plus VAT)

Tickets include:

  • Breakfast (bacon roll & tea/coffee)
  • Shooting (guns, clays & cartridges)
  • Tuition
  • A touch of competition to sate your competitive streak
  • A BBQ lunch with refreshments

THE NITTY GRITTY:

Location: Just off the M40, a short drive from Coventry. Full details will be provided at time of booking.

Timings: Arrival is 10.00 – 10.30am and breakfast will be served at 10.30am. We will shoot from 11am – 1.30pm and after you have enjoyed prize giving and the BBQ lunch you will be free to leave at about 2pm.

What do I need? Yourself and any guests, a sense of fun and an appetite: we will provide the rest!

How do I book? Email Laura: laura.jones@norfolkhouse-uk.com

Looking ahead to BITA’s September Roadshow: 4 months to go!

We are already getting excited about September’s Showcases and we know, with March’s resounding success still ringing in our ears, that it will be upon us before we know it.

We start in Manchester at the opulent Lowry Hotel on Sunday 13th & Monday 14th September, travel down to the chic Nottingham Belfry Hotel for Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th September and finally culminate at London’s stunning Hilton Syon Park on Sunday 20th & Monday 21st – where you can make the most of your day by visiting Decorex at the same time!

With venues up and down the country you can come and see us at a place convenient to you and, if your appetite hasn’t been satisfied by the many brands that are showing with us, enjoy free tea & coffee and maybe even time it just right to enjoy our complimentary canapé or buffet lunch (depending on where you visit us).

With many of the UK’s top brands already signed up, including: Archroll, Chatham Glyn, Eclectics, Emily McGuiness, Foster Lane, Integra, Jones Interiors, Novatec, NV Blinds, Prestigious Textiles, Rol-Lite Blinds, Silkland, Simta, Streets, Swish, Tulip, Universal, Wendy Cushing and Wise Windows you are sure to leave with inspiration galore and a BITA goody bag too!

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To pre-register as a visitor and keep up to date with the latest show information please visit www.interiortextiles.co.uk

Thinking about exhibiting?

For more information and an exhibitor information pack, please contact Laura Jones on 01908 410 598 ext.5 or email laura.jones@norfolkhouse-uk.com

BITA’s Spring 2015 Chelsea Harbour Showcase: “Our Most Successful Yet!”

The British Interior Textiles Association is proud to announce yet another record breaking showcase with its 92nd one day showcase in 8 years!

With the stunning backdrop of London’s Chelsea Harbour, the exhibition on 8 & 9 March, at The Chelsea Harbour Hotel, showcased over 30 exciting brands – some brand new! Over 600 visitors were treated to free entry to the popular trade show and exhibits of fabric, cushions, blinds, poles, upholstery, trimmings as well as complimentary Masterclasses.

Many new, high end exhibitors such as Olivia Bard, Diffusion, Artistic Upholstery, Today Interiors and Warwick Fabrics joined our already extensive list of exhibitors and brands, including Prestigious Textiles, Simpson Interiors, Evans Textiles, Chatham Glyn and Edmund Bell, to make this another hugely successful and exciting BITA show.

Victoria Hill, Victoria Hill Bespoke Soft Furnishings, commented that, “Olivia Bard’s new collection is stunning, and the accessories are too, the way they had laid it out was very attractive. I liked the Yorke stand very much too, with their inclusion of the upholstered pieces.”

While Janette Thomas, Verity Threadgold Curtains and Blinds thought that, “accessibility and appreciation of the needs of the newcomer at Ashley House and Streets were definite highlights.”

Many visitors also commented on how passionate the exhibitors were about their products, that the product ranges were fresh, innovative, varied and up to date and how friendly and informative staff were.

Nyki Jones, Darley Design, was excited by the, “really gorgeous high end looking fabrics on offer at many stands, such as Warwick, at a very reasonable price.”

Guests were also impressed by House of Robinson’s Loose Covers Masterclass on Sunday afternoon, where Sallyann Rolfe demonstrated the intricateness of loose covers by covering pattern placement, tuck aways and easing fullness. On Monday visitors were also treated to two Moore & McCabe Masterclasses. The Cushion Cover Master Class included ‘top tips’ and the Upholstered Pelmets Master Class discussed the materials and assembly of professional pelmets.

Evrin Skyers, Skyers Furnishings, who visited the BITA CHELSEA HARBOUR SHOWCASE on Monday, said that, “The whole exhibition was excellent and welcoming. Being able to talk to so many exhibitors on a one-to-one basis was very beneficial. He also commented that the Masterclasses were, “Fantastic and professional, they really delivered and I was so impressed. I am already looking forward to the next ones.”

Diane Harding – Secretary & Marketing Director of BITA and Show Organiser was delighted with this season’s event, “This was our 3rd showcase at Chelsea Harbour and our most successful yet! A perfect opportunity for exhibitors, who can’t have a permanent showroom in the Chelsea Harbour area, to show their ranges in the busiest week of the year! We expect this Showcase to be even bigger and better next year! Now we are looking forward to exhibiting at the Hilton at Syon Park – next door to Decorex – in September.”

Our exhibitors enjoyed the best visitor to exhibitor ratio in BITA showcasing history and were full of praise for the showcase:

Graham Bateman, Prestigious Textiles, felt that, “The confidence we are currently experiencing in the general market-place was reflected in the positive comments received from our visitors. A number of new accounts plus new enquiries added to the interest expressed by our existing customers. A very good show.”

“10/10 for the venue and location.” Lindsy Wilson Haddow

When asked what had gone well, Gary Millican, Rol-lite, couldn’t have been clearer, “Everything!”

While both Fibre Naturelle and Simpson Interiors commented on the excellent organisation of the show.

Visitors to the trade event also enjoyed free tea and coffee, complimentary canapés and afternoon tea as they browsed the show in the exquisite harbour setting.

Karen Roberts Woodrow Bespoke Soft Furnishings summed up the show’s atmosphere perfectly, “It was fabulous and every effort was made to make me feel welcome and to get the most out of my visit.”

Both visitors and exhibitors have already seen the benefits of BITA membership since visiting the show. BITA is pleased to welcome Dorset Chairman, Classic Curtains, Moore & McCabe and House of Robinson as its newest members.

Regular satisfied exhibitors have already signed up for our September 2015 Roadshow, three 2 day shows in Manchester, Midland and London’s Syon Park (during Decorex).

For more information and photos please contact Laura Jones, Marketing Manager on 01908 410598 ext.5 or email marketing@norfolkhouse-uk.com

The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust: Aisha & Jo’s Story

Aisha, 11, lives with her mother Jo. Jo is a single parent who works part-time at Tesco and receives no additional support. Due to this, finding cash for everyday essentials is a huge challenge. 

Jo told us: “I heard about the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust (FTCT) through an email I received from Gingerbread – a charity that supports single parents. As a single parent myself on a low-income, I needed help buying a kitchen table, along with essential clothing and a wardrobe and drawer set for Aisha.
“When I contacted FTCT, I felt like I was being heard and not judged. They were very understanding, helpful and friendly. I really appreciate their thoughtfulness as it can be difficult asking for help.
“The process of getting a well-being grant for Aisha was easy. Giving the charity the information they needed, and waiting for a decision whether the grant would be approved went very quickly.
“I am happy and very relieved my daughter got the grant. Aisha is very happy with her wardrobe and drawers. She loved going clothes shopping; it was great to treat her and do something nice together.
“The grants given by FTCT are so important for single parent families on a low income. When all of your money is going on rent and food it is impossible to afford essential items that are vital for a child’s self-image. It is hard paying the bills; with the cost of living going up people are just getting by.
“It’s so kind that charities such as FTCT are reaching out to help families such as mine. Now, Aisha and I are very happy and have started to enjoy life.”
The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust are an associate member of BITA.

TURKISH TOWELS EXHIBITION FEBRUARY 2014

The DENIB Home Textiles Group and The British Interior Textiles Association (BITA) have collaborated this year to create a unique opportunity. On Tuesday 24 February at Manchester’s Radisson Blu Edwardian & Thursday 26 February at London’s Westbury Mayfair Hotel, the premium comfort of Turkish Home Textiles will be exhibited for large retailers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and designers to view.

With the superior quality offered by 18 distinctive producers of luxury towels, bathrobes, bedcovers, table cloths and other premium products and excellent exhibition management, provided by Norfolk House Consultants www.norfolkhouse-uk.com this event is must see exhibition.

INSPIRED BY ANCIENT WONDERS; DESIGNED FOR TODAY’S LIFESTYLE

With historic roots dating back to ancient times, the Denizli Home Textiles Group, Turkey, are proud to be showcasing their gorgeous collections of towels, bathrobes, bed linen, tablecloths and other premium products.

In our age of fast food and throwaway clothing, the concept of ‘quality’ has increasingly eroded; but traditional techniques, tested through time, have not been lost.

The Textile Industry has existed in Turkey for thousands of years. In particular, the city of Denizli is known for its 4,000 year old history as a textile producing hub. Having manufactured high-end textile products since ancient times, Denizli remains a world leader in this sector today.

Visitors from large retailers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and designers are invited to join us to view these top quality products. Enjoy: free entry, complimentary tea & coffee and light snacks.

Show Details:

Manchester: Tuesday 24 February 2015, 10am-6pm, Radisson Blu Edwardian

Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5GP

London: Thursday 26 February 2015, 10am-6pm, Westbury Mayfair Hotel

Bond Street, London, W1S 2YF

For further information please see: http://www.interiortextiles.com/turkish-towels-uk-showcase.php

Or contact Diane Harding:

E: diane.harding@norfolkhouse-uk.com

T:07912 379739