Wayne Hollis, Managing Director at Celebrity Motion Furniture, sits down with Big Furniture Group and reveals more about its new SmartSense™ technology that was officially unveiled at the January Furniture Show (JFS).
During JFS, Celebrity launched the new SmartSense technology. Can you share more information on this?
The launch of SmartSense™ Technology at the January Furniture Show was a real highlight for us. The initial reaction has been extremely positive, with strong interest from both existing customers and new visitors to the stand. Customers were particularly engaged with how SmartSense actively monitors chair movement in real time, automatically responding if resistance is detected during operation. What was especially positive was the focus on the long-term advantages, improved reliability, smoother performance, and added reassurance, rather than seeing it purely as a technical feature. This response reinforced our belief that the market is ready for smarter, more intuitive motion furniture.
SmartSense™ Technology is exclusive to Celebrity Motion Furniture within the UK market, which is a major milestone for us. This allows SmartSense to remain a distinctive and valuable feature of the brand.
How much time and investment has gone into the technology?
SmartSense represents a significant investment in both time and resources. The development process has been ongoing for some time and has included close collaboration with our overseas suppliers, alongside extensive testing and refinement. While the level of investment has been significant, innovation of this kind is essential for us as a business. As a market leader, we believe it is important to keep moving forward and to help set the standard within the industry, particularly as expectations around motion furniture continue to evolve.
How was the show?
Overall, the show was extremely successful, with consistently strong engagement throughout. While SmartSense™ Technology generated a lot of interest, the launch of the Ashfield range was the clear stand-out. Its classic, traditional style and focus on comfort really generated a lot of interest with customers. Ashfield reflects the core values of the brand quality craftsmanship, classic styling, and enhanced comfort. The reaction at the show confirmed its importance within our collection.
Looking ahead, what is next for Celebrity?
We are pleased to say that performance remains strong, with increased turnover and profit compared to the previous year. Continued investment in product development, our employees, and infrastructure reflects a stable and confident outlook for the business.
Our focus for 2026 is on building momentum. That means continuing to innovate, refining our product offering, and advancing our technology while maintaining the quality and service our customers expect.
We would like to thank our loyal customers and partners for their continued support. Their feedback and trust play a vital role in shaping the direction of the business, and we look forward to building on these relationships throughout the year ahead.
