This month we’re asking retailers: Did you visit INDX and/or JFS during January and what we’re your thoughts?
Home World – Mattress & Bed Centres
We visited the JFS in January for the 35th time, from a retailer’s perspective it is still a very good show to visit for UK retailers in my opinion. Although I still hear people reminiscing about how much better & bigger it was in years gone by, the thing is we are here now with the current market not the old one. Not going to this show is not something that crosses my mind for long to be honest; I can visit & come back all in a day now that it’s smaller which is far easier than booking hotels etc. that we used to do.
We don’t feel that visiting any longer would benefit us as a business. I can see why general furniture retailers may spend more than a day there though. It was definitely worth visiting for us again, we spoke to some existing suppliers & also found a new one to bring in some fresh ideas. It’s also nice to keep in touch with people in the Industry, I got to know a few things that will help us further.
The show pretty much met my expectations as it was very similar to last year. We specialise in Beds, so the JFS has plenty of products that we are not interested in but there were enough bed related suppliers for us. In my opinion there are more “volume” bed suppliers at the JFS than at the bed specialist shows, which can be useful. The smaller bed suppliers can be great with customer service & offers.
Looking at the show from the angle of what they could do to improve it; the show would be easier to navigate if they used the halls from 1 to 4, rather than halls 1 to 3 & then hall 5, closing hall 4. Coming in & out of the halls & having to go through security again feels a bit disjointed & bureaucratic, although it’s no real hardship it’s not really customer friendly.
This year the carparking was not as customer friendly too as it used to be having to enter a code when leaving or be charged a quite an expensive fee, it’s always been free & very easy to use. I’m a big believer in keeping things simple with less bureaucracy to help improve the customer’s experience. To sum up; I always feel that the time & effort of visiting the JFS is paid back handsomely throughout the year. Long may it continue.
Carters Furniture
I visit the January Furniture Show every year. Even though there aren’t a lot of beds. I think it’s a good chance to look at trending colours and to look at bedroom furniture.
M6 Beds
We attended the January Furniture Show. It’s important for us to visit key industry exhibitions such as JFS to stay informed about new product launches and emerging trends in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The breadth of exhibitors provides valuable opportunities to establish new supplier relationships while also strengthening existing partnerships. The event being hosted at the National Exhibition Centre is an added benefit, as it’s a well-organised, accessible venue that supports productive meetings and efficient navigation of the show.
Fairway Furniture
INDX provided a good range of product, along with welcoming intimate surroundings compared to JFS, which enables proper time to be spent looking at product. Some of our larger suppliers showed extended ranges which was very helpful, and there were some new exhibitors providing food for thought.
JFS was a very curious and somewhat disappointing show. Sunday afternoon was reasonably busy, but Monday was far quieter – perhaps the quietest we’ve ever seen it. Plenty of suppliers were showing cut-down ranges or disappointing collections, reflecting the broadly flat market conditions. There were some interesting new collaborations to stimulate interest however, but the continued sparsity of good cabinet ranges was frustrating. We came away feeling that the overall attendance and interest levels were well down on previous years, and the odd layout, with no Hall 4, meant that it lacked any real flow.
Now to Bed
We visited the JFS on Tuesday and had a very productive day with VIP parking near the entrance which added to the enjoyment of the day. Lots of new products in our sector to see with the Highgrove stand making a bold statement. Huge selection of proven best sellers and new lines that were well priced and very commercial. We also enjoyed our time on the Shire Beds stand with some new Models backing up “The Brand behind your Brand” story. Catching up with the Staingard Team is always a pleasure and very informative. As a Bed Specialist business we would have liked to see more Bed suppliers represented, however the Suppliers that were there seemed busy enough.
The Good Sleep Company
I thought that JFS was worth visiting but the downward trend relating to show size we’ve seen over the last few years was really evident. Smaller stands and big gaps on the floor were pretty sad. I think the organisers need to look at whatever they’re charging for stands and maybe lower the costs to entice more exhibitors.
Dreamland Bedding
We attended the January Furniture Show for the awards evening and one of the final days, and while overall footfall appeared more subdued than in previous years, the quality of attendance was notably strong. Those who were present were clearly there with intent, and many were actively purchasing and engaging in meaningful business discussions. As we work exclusively with British suppliers for our beds and mattresses, the show is not where we conduct the majority of our core sourcing. However, it remains an important opportunity to observe emerging trends, gain broader market insight, and maintain strong relationships across the industry.
It was also interesting to observe certain product strategies on display. In one instance, a brand appeared to be closely replicating a well-established product that stands apart in the market due to its distinctive USP. While imitation is often said to be the sincerest form of flattery, in this case the resemblance felt particularly overt and raised questions around originality and long-term brand differentiation.
Overall, the event provided valuable opportunities to reconnect with existing partners, meet new suppliers, and exchange perspectives on the evolving retail landscape. In that respect, the show continues to play a vital role in fostering collaboration and forward-thinking within the sector.
Cox & Cox
The January Furniture Show is always a great way to kick-start the year. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with many suppliers all in one place. For our brand, we’d love to see even more new trends and forward-thinking ideas showcased, but of course, there’s always Milan for that, and who wouldn’t want to go there?
