I love the patriotic feeling
the jubilee and now the Olympics has evoked over recent months. The whole country has embraced the British
theme and are proud to fly the British flag and drape bunting to celebrate.
It’s time now for the nation to get behind the country and buy British. We can see the effect that the recession is
having on our high street shops, it’s so sad to see so many of our favourite
shops closing down and either remaining empty or pound shops taking their
place. It’s no wonder consumers are
being forced to shop on line. It is very
clear to me that now more than ever the British public must get behind their
local retailers and support them in order they survive and continue to provide
employment.
Shoppers
are being urged to "Buy British" in an attempt to boost the UK
Quality and style are
important factors when choosing new furniture and buying trends are about to
change. Five years ago consumers
wouldn’t think twice about buying into the latest look with the intention of
renewing again in 2-3 years price and value was therefore key. It’s easy to see
why the demand for cheaper furniture was fuelled and made even easier to purchase
on interest free credit to have it now and pay later basis.
Having been in the soft
furnishing business for nearly 25 years I know that if you asked the same
question 15 years or more ago people would expect their furniture to last much
longer at lease 10 years or more. Sofas
were reupholstered, dining table tops were sanded down, re-varnished and chairs
re-covered. Customers bought into a
brand like Ducal, G-Plan, Ercol, Stag to name a few and collected pieces of
furniture over time and made it last.
The current “nostalgic
look” for interiors means that so many pieces of once loved furniture are
having a new lease of life. Loose covers on old chairs are recovered in faded old
chintz and sit alongside their contemporary counterparts. Rather than being
discarded for modern flat pack Ducal pine is being painted in French greys and
shades of neutral to get the look. G
plan has become collectable along with some of the better quality furniture of
the 1960’s and 70’s for the more modern interior.
Expectations have changed,
however, with an emphasis on the environment and the strain on land fill
consumers are buying more conscientiously again. The recession has meant that sadly not
everyone can afford to just throw away their furniture and start afresh. People are looking at investment pieces of
furniture again in a view to them standing the test of time – this is great
news for British manufacturers of fine furniture.
So before you rush out to
buy new have a look at what you’ve already got and think about how you could
use it differently. Make do or mend may just be the order of the day, but if
you have to buy new BUY BRITISH!
Proud to be non high street
Honeysuckle Interiors are a customer focussed curtain and furnishing business
established in 1988. Beautifully hand
tailored curtains and furnishings made with care and pride is what they do
exceptionally well. From a metre of
fabric to a complete make-over no job is too small. Why not pop along to their lovely showroom in
Oakley and meet the Design Team where
you’ll always receive a warm welcome. They boast one of the largest fabric and
wallpaper libraries out side of
Showroom Open Tues-Sat 10.00am until
4.00pm
Tel: 01256 780831
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