Rif & Zak Lalani reflects on the recent January Furniture Show as well as Big Furniture Group’s earlier visit ahead of the event.
For Bentley Designs, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading furniture suppliers with almost four decades of expertise, 2026 has started just how the business envisioned. Fuelled with the knowledge of a successful in-house event back in December, the Bentley Designs team went into the recent January Furniture Show (JFS) full of optimism that its new ranges across multiple product categories – including the introduction of its debut sofa programme, would resonate well with buyers. It’s fair to say that expectations were beyond exceeded.
The wooden cabinetry received positive feedback at JFS, hitting competitive price points, promising volume sales to retail partners. The Gallery collection, including ceramics, metal chairs and barstools, also performed well. Meanwhile, the Elara and Odessa sofas were standouts, with the Elara being a compact and contemporary three-seater and the Odessa a dual recliner.
The Bentley Design’s stand design, which impressed BFG’s editor, was praised for its coherence and engagement. At each entry point, products were strategically placed to showcase the freshness of new designs, while creating an inviting, yet enclosed, space for visitors to browse the products in a relaxed ‘Bentley Designs room’ setting – designed to offer a private experience within a busy show.
It was also double the size of the previous year and had a consistent buzz with buyers buying into the fresh concepts and products Bentley Designs had to offer. “In terms of our wooden cabinet, they were all well received, and obviously we’re known for that, so it was great to have a positive reception there,” says Zak.
“Something that was important for us during the show was the Delta, which took the centre piece of our stand. It takes this oiled, rustic oak look that we’re known for, but it hits a more commercial price point, which was important for us, and we see real potential in the volume we can do with that range.
“Our Gallery collection, featuring ceramics, metal chairs and those nice, adjustable occasionals were all really well received too. To have savvy buyers look at the work we’ve done and knowing how much effort has gone into the design, the craftsmanship, and to know that what we’re offering is competitive in terms of the value was really pleasing.
“We’ve managed to replicate our reputation for quality and craftsmanship within this area. The metal chairs and barstools are flying, so it feels like we’re taking a stake in an important part of the market that has seen serious growth in the past few years.
“Finally, with sofas, there was strong interest, which is really promising. The feeling that the work over years of preparation has gone into a successful launch where buyers that trust us, that know us, saw what we were doing in this area, that is ultra-competitive, and clearly believed in it.
“Our sales team has already sent us back multiple display orders for businesses up and down the UK and in Ireland. We’re looking forward to stocking sofas from July and fulfilling the orders that we’ve already booked.”
The momentum is clear. From Big Furniture Group’s visit during December last year, where we got a first look at the new products, to post-JFS, Bentley Designs has set a course to nail down lead times and supply its customers with the service the company is known for – a reputation it has built for almost 40 years.
It’s this reputation, trust and reliability that drives Bentley Designs and has also been fundamental to its growth. This was clear to see when visiting the company. The purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility – constructed back in 2017 – features 88,000sqft and holds over 1,000skus in its warehouse. This means Bentley Designs are positioned perfectly for its next phase of growth.
With a dedicated lead time of delivery in two weeks for bulk offers, the warehouse itself is well maintained and provides an effective simple solution with a seamless process to make sure everything runs smoothly. In fact, driver turnarounds on collections are in and out within two minutes – as rapid as an F1 wheel change!
Bentley Designs’ packaging also regularly receives high praise, with a damage rate of “half a percent, well below the industry standard”, says Zak, while ongoing company investments in people and processes keep the business in the fast lane. “A new ERP system is going live in May 2026, which we expect to further boost efficiency, helping us to serve customers in better way. This also feeds into our new logistics system too.”
Alongside company investments, staff training and development is also a big pillar at Bentley Designs, as Rif – whose father founded the business back in 1988, explains: “We’re seeing more and more how staff are keen to develop their own skills, including the recent shift into using AI tools. It’s really promising to see people become more and more efficient and motivated. We encourage our staff to feel like you can go out there and learn yourself and solve problems yourself, it’s a great feeling.
“It’s also a great feeling personally too to see how much Bentley Designs has grown over the years. For me, from where we started the business in Greenford, London, to where we are now in our recent investment here in Bicester, it has been a wonderful career to date – one that has seen me reach almost 40 years. I look forward to celebrating 40 years and the next generation evolving the company into the next decade of growth.”
Zak echoed his father’s sentiment on Bentley Designs’ evolution. “It’s been quite inspiring to see the company grow and the people with it. The one thing that we’ve really pushed over the last few years is automation through the website, the transactional website that we run. That’s been a great benefit to the business, which has also created huge amounts of efficiency.”
As Zak highlighted, the last couple of years have allowed the business to push towards its next phase of growth. From product development and expansion – with the Gallery collection five years in the making and its sofa launch over two years in planning – to finetuning and streamlining systems and processes, Bentley Designs continues to raise the bar in its product offering and service.
“Customers can procure our entire suite of products together from UK stock in Bicester and benefit from a bulk discount of 10% on orders over £10,000 excluding VAT, with delivery in two weeks,” Zak concluded. “We’ve also enhanced the value of our Gallery Collection with a UK stock promotion, offering 10% off all Gallery products on orders over £2,500 excluding VAT.
“On the back of such a great show for us, we’re excited about the work ahead and to grow the company to the next level. We turn 40 in 2028, so between then and now we will continue to do what we are renowned for: Quality craftmanship, dependable supply and premium design at competitive price points. Contact us today to join us on our journey.”
