It is that time of year again the whole of the furniture trade congregates at the NEC in Birmingham to see the latest styles designs and ranges in the furniture industry. It used to be called the Furniture show but now has the grand  title of ‘interiors’ which really is more sensible as it covers everything for the home not just furniture but lighting, rugs, electric adjustable beds, mattresses and specially those new ranges of memory foam mattresses, as well as recliner chairs, electric recliner chairs, chairs of all sorts, soft furnishings and everything that covers the home. It is a fantastic showcase and I always feel it is such a pity that it is restricted to the ‘trade’ only such a wonderful show should be enjoyed by everyone. However  it has been discussed so many times and the exhibitors still want it kept to just trade visitors and so it will remain.  I hope my trusty walking stick will survive as I try to walk round five halls of the NEC taking in all the products on show if not then perhaps I will have to see if I can hire an electric wheelchair it needs to be an electric one as I will be there one my own without any one to push me. One of those power chairs around the NEC might be fun! One of my problems though is that having been in the furniture trade since 1959 I do know one or two people and so as well as looking round at products it is a matter of saying ’hello’ to some old friends and acquaintances and looking the other way when I see those that I don’t want to speak to. You can imagine I’m sure that during that time I have seen lots of changes in the  furniture industry lots of them that have improved it and many that haven’t, from the public’s point of view prices are more competitive now than ever and the range of items available is much better, unfortunately though there are more big companies and group stores all selling the same sort of products and less and less of the smaller private retailer to give the individual service. You will find lots of retailers, well the larger ones, advertising settees and sofa’s at very attractive prices but few of them will also be able to offer you a riser recliner chair or if they do their staff will not have the sort of information you require, it is the same with bedding specialists as well stores that promote sales by price but don’t have the staff with knowledge to help you find which mattress or adjustable bed is right for you. However this show at the NEC will showcase the new products and trends for 2010 and you will see them reflected in your glossy home  magazines and in store over the coming months. It is amazing when I first started in the trade this show was held in London about the same time of the year but was on for two weeks. For various reasons over a period of time it became less successful and eventually closed. Then several attempts were  made to resurrect the show but all failed for one reason or another until a group of Representatives and Agents in the Midlands started a show that was held in January in Stafford, just a small show at first and then it grew and became more successful but with all sorts of problems the venue was right on top of a hill and when the winter winds blew several of the  large tents that had been erected blew away, because the car parking was mainly on fields cars got stuck people got covered in mud but despite all this the show continued to flourish and the committee who were running it took the very brave decision to move it to the NEC and it has grown from strength to strength.  More exhibitors than ever and from all over the world it really is a great show and I just hope my trusty stick and I make it all the way round. If not I will  just have to find various stands with a chair or perhaps even a mattress for me to relax on for a little while.

Tags: Bedroom, Birmingham, Chairs, Electric adjustable beds, electric beds, electric recliner chair, Electric recliner chairs, Electric riser recliner chairs, Furniture, Home and Garden, mattress, memory foam, memory foam mattress, Mobility scooters, NEC, Power Chairs, Riser recliner chairs, Shopping, Wheelchairs

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 4:30 am and is filed under MOBILITY PRODUCTS, Mattresses, Riser recliner chairs, Wheelchairs, ajustable beds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.