Our cover star this month is Purecare as the brand continues the conversation, and insight, into sleep wellness and how it can lead to retail success. Staying with sleep, the Sleep Geek, aka James Wilson, returns with an in-depth deep dive on what he actually does and how his services can help your business.
July features the first of our two-part Big Furniture Awards 2026 specials, where we shine a light on the winners, as voted by the industry, and gather their respective thoughts. From awards to the next event in the trade brings us to the Manchester Furniture Show. We found out more about what’s on display from a number of exhibitors including ScatterBox, Beehive, Windsor Bed Frames, Image and West Midlands Upholstery. Meanwhile, Loxa has a special competition to share where you can experience a famous Christmas market.
Making his Big Furniture Group debut is Ben Wain, Founder of Wain Consultancy & Coaching, who talks about the importance of the human connection and how evolving technology fits in. We also spoke with the family behind Lenley’s Home, who are celebrating a big birthday milestone, while Kenneth Sexton, Head of Projects & Operations at Snooze Mattress & Wellness in Ireland, talks about how the business has settled in just over a year from launching in the Irish market and why the franchise model works.
We meet Highgrove Beds’ new Head of Digital Marketing, Kate Harry, while the showroom manager of independent bed retailer Newport Beds reveals the launch of a new book focused on sleep. Julian Bowen joins the Big Furniture Group community, Staingard highlights Protect6, Gallery Direct talks about personalisation and Furnilytics explores the US furniture market. We caught up with Marc Downer, Co-Founder of Sofalistic and Repurch, who explains why its new platform is a game changer for retailers.
We share the latest updates from IFD, Higgys, Willis & Gambier, SleepSoul, GIE, Annaghmore and MPD, as well as a first look at next month’s Irish Furniture & Homewares Show and the INDX Furniture event. Guardsman talks heritage, Fox Williams details the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and we explore why furniture suppliers need more than just a website through WebSystem’s TradeDirect.
Steve Moffatt, Sales Manager UK & Ireland at Spinks, talks about his role and why discounting needs better control in our latest Big Interview. Meanwhile, Steve Whitcombe, Retail Director at Gardiner Haskins, talks about recent investments, a new showroom concept and its long-serving history in our Retail Focus feature. David Hewitt, RetailSystem Group CEO, talks about building the next generation of furniture and flooring technology, while George Sinclair shares more Bed Expert advice and Furniture & Choice talk trends.
Max Longmuir sits in the Agent hotseat and letters from China, Vietnam, Ireland and USA detail respective market updates. Furniture Sales Solutions rounds off the edition by explaining why conversion rate is one of the most misunderstood metrics in furniture retail. Finally, a last note to all the Big Furniture Award 2026 winners – congratulations to you all.
