upholsterer & soft furnisher

Soft Furnisher

Official journal of the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers www.upholsterers.co.uk

March/April/May 2014

ApprenticeshipsYour views on a promising

new scheme

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Comment

Jan TurnerEditor

The alarming number of non-FR compliant sofas and mattressesbeing sold with fake FR labelling was highlighted in a BBCdocumentary at the start of this year. And it was followed lastmonth by a National Bed Federation campaign warningconsumers of the dangers of buying, from the back of a van,potentially dangerous and dirty old mattresses that have simplybeen popped into new covers.

What the Fake Britain programme in January, along with theNBF’s campaign (see page12 for full story) remind us is that wework in a trade where trust is paramount. Consumers have tobelieve that, what they are told has been put into upholsteredfurniture and mattresses, is what has actually gone in.

Just a year on from the horsemeat scandal, which first setpublic trust in doubt, consumers were once again faced withwondering just who they could believe any more. And while thethought of eating horsemeat when they thought they were eatingbeef might be repulsive, it’s unlikely to be dangerous.

Non-FR compliant sofas and mattresses most certainly aredangerous. In fact highly dangerous. A non-compliant sofa canbecome an uncontrollable inferno within a couple of minutes ofbeing ignited, giving off deadly – and usually fatal - black toxicfumes.

It’s why Britain’s strict FR regulations were introduced back in1988. And since the introduction of the UK Furniture andFurnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations, the number of fatalities inall accidental dwellings nearly halved in the period between 1988and 2005, dropping from 731 to 376.

While the Fake Britain programme highlighted the availabilityof non-compliant sofas being sold with counterfeit FR labels frombig name retailers, the outcome has inevitably been to undermineconsumer confidence across the board.

So they may now be as nervous about buying fromindependent upholsterers and soft furnishers as they are about buying from shops they had believed to be reputable, multi-national retailers. Indeed they may be even more nervousabout buying from a small trader rather than a ‘big name’.

It means upholsterers everywhere need to be proactivelyreassuring their customers that the goods they make, repair orrenovate, comply with all FR regulations.

You could do this by putting a prominent notice in yourworkshop or showroom stating this is the case. Or perhaps byincluding on all written material (not forgetting your website) thefact that you take compliance with all FR regulations extremelyseriously and customers can be assured that, as a responsiblebusiness, you will only operate within the legal requirements.

We know that AMUSF members do take FR issues extremelyseriously because of the number of wide and varied questions onthe subject dealt with by head office. It’s why the Ask FIRA sectionof this magazine deals with so many FR questions.

This commitment to compliance and safety now needs to becommunicated – widely and loudly. The AMUSF would urge all itsmembers to proactively get that message about their business outthere.

You may be the best, most reputable, longest establishedbusiness there is. But you still need to remind customers that theycan trust you. Implicitly.

Until the next time….

Jan Turner

Upholsterer&Soft Furnisher

Upholsterer & Soft Furnisher

Editor: Jan Turner, AKA PRT: 01756 795374 F: 01756 798789E: [email protected]

Sales: Joanne MillerT: 01732 783561 E: [email protected]

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Printed by Headley Brothers

Soft Furnisher

Official journal of the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers www.upholsterers.co.uk

March/April/May 2014

ApprenticeshipsYour views on a promising

new scheme

� ��

Visit the January Furniture Show

13 – 15 January 2015www.januaryfurnitureshow.com

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Contents

6 & 7 AMUSF News Update andBranch Briefings

8 Industry News

10 Ask FIRA

12 Feature: New NBF Code ofPractice

14 – 15 Insight: Apprenticeships

16 Heico Awards: Winners Special

18 Member Profile: LinteriorDesign

20 Feature: AMUSF Fabric BuyingService

22 Profile: Ecosofas

24 Memory Lane: LanguageLessons

26 In the Hotseat: Janet Potton

News

Features

AMUSF ContactsHead Office

Association General Manager: Richard Ranklin Email: [email protected] Assistant: Susan Tyler Email: [email protected]

Wycombe House, 9 Amersham Hill, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 6NR

Tel: 01494 452965 Website: www.upholsterers.co.uk

Branch ContactsBeds, Bucks, Herts and North London – Wendy Shorter

Tel: 01727 824358Email: [email protected]

Hants & Dorset – Kevin Lee – Tel: 01489 572108Kent – Davin White – Tel: 020 8854 4402

London – Wynne Gilham – Tel: 01708 752333Surrey – Ron Mercure – Tel: 020 8941 4521

Scotland – Sandy Stewart – Tel: 01555 772052

Regional ContactsYorkshire – Mavis Baddeley – Tel: 0113 2633031

West Midlands – Bob Bishton – Tel: 01543 418127(daytime)Email: [email protected]


6 Upholsterer & Soft Furnisher March/April/May 2014

AMUSF news roundup

The AMUSF is on the move – again!Following its move from Cardiff to High

Wycombe in 2011, the association ismoving to an office at the ClareFoundation Charity Centre in Saundertonnear High Wycombe. Manager RichardRanklin expects to be fully moved in bythe end of March.Specifically targeted at charities and

not-for-profit organisations, the ClareFoundation centre is based at a formerJohnson & Johnson site, built in the 1950sand well known locally for producing thefirst British contraceptive pill!Said Richard: “The facilities there are

really second to none and include serviced

offices, meeting rooms and conferencefacilities. The premises are also veryspacious and well maintained.”The 55,000 square foot building is set in

12 acres of picturesque Chilterncountryside and has been refurbished toprovide flexible serviced officeaccommodation for charities at subsidisedrates. Other tenants include the NationalTrust, Child Bereavement UK, Mencap,MapAction, Kids in Sport and WycliffeBible Translators.Said Richard: “Our office will be about

the same size as the one we have now atWycombe House. The move is largelydriven by our current Landlords, BFM,

wishing to relocate to somewhere moreappropriate to their employee’s location.“The AMUSF will forever be grateful forthe help and support the BFM has giventhem in the last few years, ensuring thatwe could build back up to the stability wenow enjoy.”The AMUSF will retain its current

telephone number, for the moment, butin addition can be reached on 01494569120. The new address is: The ClareCharity Centre, Wycombe Road,Saunderton, Buckinghamshire. HP14 4BF.

A MOVING EXPERIENCE

OFSTEDRECOGNITIONWendy Shorter Interiors hasbeen featured in a bestpractice case study jointlyreleased by Ofsted and theCommission on AdultVocational Teaching andLearning (CAVTL). The featurehas been published on theOfsted website, as part of apackage to promote examplesof excellent practice invocational teaching andlearning. It features as one of 10 case

studies from across thevocational education andtraining system, to highlightkey characteristics anddistinctive features ofvocational teaching, learningand leadership. Said Wendy Shorter: “We

are delighted to have beenselected for inclusion in thisbest practice showcase. Wework hard to achieve the bestpossible outcomes for ourstudents and we hope that byreaching a wider audience thisexample helps others toachieve similar results.”

Q. I am workingon a projectwhere there isvery little spaceeither side ofsome patiodoors – whichcurtainheadings needthe leaststackback?

A. If the room iscontemporary instyle, then consider either an eyelet or wave-effect heading. Eyelets hang from a pole and take up very

little space when the curtains are open. Ifyour pole needs a centre bracket, then makesure it is not too chunky as it will prevent thecurtains meeting when they are closed. A wave-type heading also stacks back

neatly and can be made with special heading

tape, pin hooks in a buckram-headed curtain,or a dedicated system which includes specialtrack and tape.Otherwise use a handmade heading –

single pleats take up the least space, ordouble pleats which also fold neatly whenopened. Avoid headings like cartridge orgoblet pleats which take up a lot of roomwhen drawn back.

HELPFUL HINTS FROM

In this issue we take a look at what MyDecozo – the UK’s largest online soft furnishingsforum – offers in the way of tips and hints for working with a tricky patio door problem.

Easyflex wave style system from Evans Textiles

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Upholsterer & Soft Furnisher 7

AMUSF news roundup

� The next meeting of the Beds, Bucks, Herts and NorthLondon regional networking meeting will be held onWednesday April 23 when there will be a visit toWaddesdon Manor for a behind-the-scenes tour of thehouse and visit to the textiles conservation department.Places are limited and will be issued on a first come, firstserved basis. Anyone interested should [email protected] for further details.

� The Kent branch December 9 meeting took place atPeter Finch’s workshops in Maidstone. Members thankedthe dinner dance committee for a successful Christmasevent. It was reported that Peter and Alex’s 10 weektraining course has been booked up for next term. Therewas some discussion by members on foam from certainsuppliers which has not been cut properly and formswaves. The New Year lunch was held on January 12 atHowarth Manor near Canterbury. It was organised byKeith and Julie Cleal.

The first ever meeting ofAMUSF approved trainingcentres and verifiers took placeon January 25, hosted byLouise Boyland at TheShoreditch Design Rooms inLondon.

Representatives from acrossthe country met to considerkey issues around currentAMUSF qualifications. Theydiscussed how thequalifications might be evolvedto ensure their relevance to thecraft today while maintainingthe key elements of trainingtraditional upholstery skills.

A number of ideas were putforward to add to the workbeing prepared by WendyShorter, director of training forthe AMUSF. At time of going topress these will have gone backout to the training centres forfurther comment and be back

with the board forconsideration. It is anticipatedthat any revisions to thequalifications will beimplemented from September2015.

Delegates were also broughtup to date with the latest newson the Livery CompanyApprenticeship scheme. It isvery much hoped that anyrevised syllabus will be used inthe training of young people asthe scheme progresses.

Said association managerRichard Ranklin: “It was anextremely useful andworthwhile meeting. Wecovered a lot of ground andhope to repeat the format at afuture date. Our thanks mustalso go to Louise’s partnerDuncan who kindly preparedand served lunch andrefreshments during the day.”

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Branch briefings

Kent Branch New Year get together

Kent Branch meeting

Following the success of the Kent branch organised weekendAGM get-together last year, a 2014 event has been organised forSeptember 6/7and will again be held at Wyboston Lakes,Cambridgeshire. This year’s function will include an OGM andAGM and will be followed on the Saturday evening by a dinnerdance which will replace the Kent branch dinner in November.Plans are also afoot to hold a fabric and furnishings exhibition onthe Sunday – watch this space!

FOR SALEIf anyone is interested in buying a double drum cardingmachine, bought some years ago but never used, pleasecontact head office for more information.

WYBOSTON LAKESWEEKEND

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Industry roundup


EXHIBITION ROUNDUPReviews� Interiors UK (NEC, Birmingham,January 19 – 22): organised by UBMLive Built Environment. The show sawover 500 brands being exhibited anddelivered more than 21,000 visitors tothe four day event. Now in its 29thyear, the exhibition featured a host ofestablished names along with workfrom up and coming new designers.There was also a full programme ofseminars including such luminaries asGeorge Davies (of Next and George atAsda fame). � Heimtextil (January 8-11, MesseFrankfurt): with further growth in thenumber of exhibitors and more visitors,Heimtextil provided a successful startto the new furnishing season. Almost67,000 trade visitors from 133countries saw the latest products ofthe 2,718 international exhibitors from61 nations. With a strong reputationfor its insight into future trends, thebuzz words for 2014/15 were Progress(in which science and technology arethe driving forces behind innovation)and Revive (being the importance oflearning from the past).� imm Cologne (January 13 –19): Inits overview of new trends, theInternational Furnishings Showdemonstrated that comfort is key. In

the bed and mattress sector as well asin upholstered furniture, the moderncustomer is moving away from the‘hard lying and sitting ideal’. Today, thecustomer associates comfort withcosiness and a softer lying and sittingconcept.

Previews� BITA (March 9-10): The BritishInterior Textiles Association holds itsnext roadshow at The Wyndham GrandHotel, Chelsea Harbour, London.Celebrating the seventh year of itstouring roadshow, some 35 brands willbe exhibiting at the two day event.� Proposte (May 7-9): At Villa Erba inCernobbio (Como), the world previewof furnishing fabrics and curtains,Europe's leading home textilemanufacturers will be exhibiting theircollections to an internationalaudience.�Manchester Furniture Show (July13 -16): The iconic halls of ManchesterCentral will once again host the annualSummer furniture event, welcomingmany well-known and brandedcompanies, including Lebus,Westbridge, Corndell, Baker Furniture,Buoyant, Furmanac, Furniture Origins,Morris Group, Greenapple, Kingstownand La-z-Boy.

BIG SHOTS HEADSNORTH The furnishing industry’s most popularfundraising event - Big Shots clay pigeonshooting - is coming North for the firsttime on April 10.The venue is Coniston Hotel and

Country Estate near Skipton in theYorkshireDales.The aim is

to provide atop classplatform forthe trade toteam build ornetwork withcustomerswhile alsoraising much-needed funds forThe FurnitureMakers' Company. The furnishingindustry's charity provides help to those inneed, supports and educates the nextgeneration of designers and makers, andchampions excellence for the industry.Expert guidance will be on hand for

novices, and there will be prizes for allabilities. The day includes breakfast and asit-down lunch with wine, prize giving,charity auction and raffle. Individuals orteams of four are welcome. Northern Big Shots is one of a number

of new events being organised in aid ofThe Furniture Makers’ Company by thenew northern fundraising group. For moreinformation about the day or if you areinterested in supporting the groupcontact Louise Hicks on 07442 012216,[email protected] Thenational Big Shots day will be held in HighWycombe on June 12. For details [email protected]

SKILLED WORKProskills UK managing director, JonathanLedger, is now a member of the BritishCouncil’s International Skills Partnership’sAdvisory Forum.

Get ready for the first everNorthern Big Shots

DOUBLE TAKEInteriors UK, which has traditionally beenheld at Birmingham NEC in January, ismoving to London as The Furniture Showand will be held on May 17–19 2015 atExCeL. A new show, the January FurnitureShow, will be held at the NEC fromJanuary 13-15, 2015.

AXEDThe BA (Hons) Furniture and FDAFurniture: Conservation, Restoration andDecorative Arts courses are among anumber to have been axed byBuckinghamshire New University.A statement released by the University

said “This follows a comprehensive reviewof the University’s course portfolio whichtook into consideration student numbertrends in recent years alongside the costsand investment required to deliver theprogrammes.“ A student- led social mediacampaign to drum up support for thefurniture courses can be accessed onlinethrough www.proskills-academy.co.uk/university-furniture-courses-axed/

CLOSERTwo leading furniture industry tradeorganisations have announced a newpartnership for the benefit of members. The British Furniture Manufacturers

Association (BFM) and the FurnitureIndustry Research Association (FIRA) haveagreed a new co-operative workingarrangement based on a reciprocalexchange of information.

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QAre there any circumstancesunder which a fire retardantspray purchased from a

hardware shop can be used to satisfythe requirements of the regulations?

AAny fire retardant (FR)chemical/application used to treatthe cover material must be

permanent and durable, and a consistentcoating must be achieved across the entireproduct. Any type of treatment can beused providing that the final cover meetsthe requirements when tested inaccordance with the Furniture andFurnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations (asamended). The cover material would haveto pass the requirements of schedule 4part 1 which is the cigarette test, and alsoschedule 5 part 1, which is the match test.

FR coatings are normally applied to thefabric by means of a ‘back coatingprocess’. This is where the FR treatment isapplied to the back of the fabric in acontrolled process where the amount ofchemical coating applied can bemonitored and controlled effectively toensure a consistent application.

FR coatings must also withstand awatersoak procedure to ensure that theycannot be washed out of a product. Mostspray on solutions are water soluble andso will not meet the requirements of theRegulations.

QIf my top fabric is 100% cotton,linen or wool what, if anything,do I need to use under it to

make it comply to fire regs for fixedupholstery or loose covers?

AIf you wish to use a non match resistant cover materialthen there are certain criteria

which must be met.

1) The cover must meet certain fibrecontent rules. It must be at least 75 percent by weight of natural fibres cotton silkmodal flax viscose or wool whether usedseparately or together2) The cover material must not be coatedwith polyurethane or any polyurethanepreparations3) The cover must be used in conjunctionwith a schedule 3 interliner4) The cigarette test requirements of

schedule 4 part 1 must still be met The cigarette test is a requirement for

all upholstered furniture productswhichever route to compliance has beentaken and so any business must ensurethe product is compliant.

The appropriate labelling must also beconsidered if you are taking this route tocompliance. You will need to use apermanent label that states compliancehas been achieved by the inclusion of afire resistant interliner and also use the redwarning triangular shaped display label.

QIf my top fabric is made of 100%polyester does that make itinherently FR ?

A100% polyester fabrics are notalways inherently FR. You shouldcheck with your fabric

supplier. Even if your supplier states thatthe fabric is inherently FR, you are stillrequired to test the fabric to ensurecompliance with the Furniture andFurnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations (asamended).

Due to the fibre content being 100%polyester, you would have to ensurecompliance with schedule 4 part 1, whichis the cigarette test, and schedule 5 part 1,which is the match test.

Whether the fabric is inherently FR, orcoated with FR chemicals, the covermaterial must be compliant to the matchtest, as specified in schedule 5 part 1. Allbusinesses have an obligation to ensurethe material is compliant and to carry outtesting to ensure compliance.

HOT TOPICSYour questions answered by Tristine Hargreaves of FIRA

Ask FIRA


For more information call 01438 777 700, or email [email protected]

FIRA furniture flammability testing

Match test



Advertorial

PAPERBACKWRITERComponents and sundries supplier Peter Cook International (PCI) is buckingthe trend for all things digital with a return to a hard copy catalogue.

The company, which has been tradingsince 1977, took the decision toinvest in the design and production

of its first paper based catalogue forseveral years following customer feedback.Said general manager Martin Cave:

“After listening to our customers and theirfeedback, it became clear that the oldfashioned method of flicking throughcatalogue pages was still very much cravedand desired. Once we decided the

catalogue was the way forward it seemeda great opportunity to refresh the brand atthe same time. Although we’ve changedour company colours our message stillremains the same; to be approachable,flexible and keep business simple.“The last couple of years have seen a

large increase in the variety of items wenow hold in stock. We felt we hadsomething new worth shouting about. Inparticular our wooden and metal leg

ranges have grown significantly along withdecorative studding, fabrics and chromebases.”The next project for PCI will be the

design and implementation of a newwebsite in keeping with the catalogue.Look out for www.petercookint.com

PCI recently celebrated its eighth yearbased in Leeds after the company was takenover in late 2005 and subsequently movednorth from Gloucestershire.

To request a copy of the latest catalogue or for any information on PCI, including its trade counters at Leeds and Long Eaton, please call 0113 2351111 or email [email protected].

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Advice

CODE COMES IN TO PRACTICE Hot on the heels of the BBC’s Fake Britain programme - which revealed the alarmingnumber of sofas and beds sold by major retailers which do not comply with UKflammability regulations but carry counterfeit FR labels - the National Bed Federation(NBF) has launched a new scheme designed to restore consumer confidence in buying anew mattress…

The shock waves from Fake Britain’salarming TV documentaryprogramme in January rumble on –

but for the NBF at least, it meant theofficial launch to the consumer of the tradeassociation’s new Code of Practice onFebruary 17, couldn’t have been moretimely.

The new code has been introduced in abid to reassure consumers that the mattressthey are buying is safe, clean and exactlywhat it says it is; and to that end, the NBFhas introduced an ‘NBF Approved’ logoscheme.

It follows months of vigorousindependent auditing of the association’smembers to ensure they follow theprocedures that comply with flammability,health and hygiene and trade descriptionsregulations. Only certified manufacturerscan carry the new ‘NBF Approved’ logo ontheir beds.

Said Jessica Alexander, executive directorof the NBF: “Our members were really putthrough the hoops to comply with our newCode of Practice and earn the right todisplay the ‘NBF Approved’ big tick logo.Anyone who buys a mattress carrying thislabel can be confident they are buying areputable product.”

In order to further highlight the ‘roguetrading’ currently rife in the world of beds,the NBF marked the consumer launch of itsnew NBF Approved scheme with the releaseof a news video highlighting the number ofsupposedly ‘cheap’ mattresses being soldfrom the back of vans.

It warned that the so-called ‘bargainmattresses’ were being sold by rogue traderstouring neighbourhoods and looking foropportunist sales. But they are not bargainsat all, said the NBF - simply discarded

mattresses that have been recovered byunscrupulous dealers who then sell them on‘as new’. At worst they could be fire hazardsand at best uncomfortable and dirty.

Said Jessica Alexander: “What we haveuncovered is an illegal and dangerouspractice. Some of the mattresses being soldwon’t meet UK flammability regulations –others are just plain filthy and worn out.

“Unfortunately a lot of consumers arebeing fooled into thinking they are buying anew mattress as the old ones have beenrecovered and, on first inspection, appear tobe new. What they are actually buying is amattress that had been discarded,intercepted on its way to disposal andsimply put in to a cheap new cover.”

Trading Standards also warned of thepractice with Tony Downham, TradingStandards Officer with West YorkshireTrading Standards quoted as saying:”Trading Standards across the country areprobably finding mattresses that aren’t up

to standard on a daily basis.“People can get very good deals on the

High Street and from the internet.Realistically, with something that is beingsold to them door-to-door, when they can’treally check the provenance of it and won’tknow who to send it back to, they shouldtake great care.”

Said Jessica: “These rogue traders must bestopped. We aim to help the authorities todo this by making people aware of thepractice and offering people a scheme thatenables them to buy with confidence.”

The British Furniture Confederation (BFC),representing all the furniture industry’s tradeassociations, including the AMUSF, hasissued a statement confirming itscommitment to supporting the flammabilityregulations and calling for betterenforcement. It also recommended thatconsumers buy furniture from members of arecognised trade association committed tohigh standards.

Old fillings in a new mattress

Jessica Alexander,executive director of

the NBF with newCode of Practice

leaflets and labels



Feature

APPRENTICSHIPS:THE KEY TO THE FUTUREThe Court of the Worshipful Company of Upholders gave its official approval in January, toinvolvement in a Livery Companies apprenticeship scheme. It represents excellent news forAMUSF members who will now be able to recruit and train apprentices in the traditionalcrafts and receive government funding for doing so.

The scheme will allow all training totake place in the workshop with a‘Master’ upholsterer or soft furnisher

following the AMUSF qualificationframework that may be delivered “in-house” over a three year period. A separate committee, formed by the

Worshipful Company and involvingAMUSF representatives, has been meetingto formulate all the necessary contractsand procedures needed to move thisforward – and a good number of membershave already expressed an interest intaking part. Under the scheme,apprentices will follow the AMUSF 3 Stageprogramme of work which, with regularassessments, will lead to an apprenticeshipcertificate on completion of their threeyears of training. As U&SF discovered when it spoke to a

cross section of members, this is agovernment initiative that is not onlywelcome – but welloverdue!

MaureenWhitemoreWhitemore andThwaytes, CumbriaI actually need anapprentice right nowbut have beenhanging fire to seewhat the new LiveryCompanyApprenticeshipScheme brings. We’vealways trained ourown staff as we wantpeople who work toour way of doingthings – but in thepast we haven’t beenable to provide a

formal qualification for that training. Atbest people have had to take a weird andwonderful qualification to get an NVQ,because there really isn’t one for softfurnishings: and I can’t get a governmentgrant for training anyone, even though –after lecturing on the subject all over theworld and running my own private coursesfor years - I know how to do it! A Liverytraining scheme would mean that peoplecould get a high level of training and aqualification at the end of it

Phil BurnThames Upholstery, EssexAn apprenticeship scheme would give usan extra pair of hands with someone to betraining up and learn the skills. There arenot many people or places offeringtraining and many of those that do offermainly leisure courses for people whowant to do upholstery as a hobby rather

than a career.Anapprenticeshipscheme wouldhelp toencouragepeople in tothe industry.There isnowhere tosend people onday releasecollege coursesin our area sowe reallystruggle totake ontrainees and ifthere was thatsort ofavailability itwould really

help. Even the minimum wage of around£250 a week is a lot of money to find forsomeone who, to start out with, mightonly rip up and sweep up. Plus there’s allthe time you have to spend with them toteach them the skills. An apprenticeshipscheme would be good for the long termfuture of the industry.

Dale PainterThe Upholstery Rooms, HampshireI’ve been working on my own for about ayear. Prior to that I had someone who waswith me for about 10 years – and I spentthe first five training him up. In total I’vetrained up three people over the years. Atthe moment my brother-in-law is helpingout in the business – but just with bits andpieces – and I really need another personto train up now. It takes a lot of time andmoney to train other people. The newscheme, as explained to me, would bereally useful as one of the bug bears in theMaureen Whitemore

Phil Burn

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past has been that the trainee has had togo away to college. For me, nothing beatshands-on, on the job training and learningby your mistakes.

Thelma HughesStewart Interiors, MerseysideWe design, we sell and we make and notmany people do that now. It means, interms of training and all round experience,we have a lot to offer anyone wanting togo in to softfurnishings.Wedesperatelyneed youngpeople tocome in tothe trade andare currentlylooking totake on a newsewer, butvery oftenpeople may be good at certain aspects ofthe job – such as hand sewing andstitching – but they don’t know how to dopattern matching or estimating. With anapprenticeship scheme we would be ableto give them good, all round experienceincluding learning about fabrics and themaking up of soft furnishings.

Raymond DixonWilliam Fountain, LondonI think apprenticeships are really important- it’s how I started my career in theindustry in the early 1980s. I got a Cityand Guilds in upholstery and softfurnishing by doing one day a week at the

London College of Furniture (now LondonMetropolitan University) over three years. Ispent the other four days a week in theworkplace. I’m now trying to find anapprenticeship scheme for a young traineewe have here. He has just started with usand is very skilful with lots of potentialand an apprenticeship would not onlybring out the best in him but would alsogive him a formal qualification to show forhis training. My apprenticeship certainlyset me up for life.

Jonathan GreenJB Green Upholstery, LeicestershireThere are seven of us at JB Green,including three highly skilled upholsterersover the age of 50 and two young traineesin their twenties. The latter have beenwith us for a few years and we’ve been

training them up from scratch – but canoffer no formal qualifications which,understandably, a lot of youngsters want.An apprenticeship scheme would meanthat training did get recognition with aqualification. Some government fundingwould also make apprentices a lot moreaccessible to small upholstery businesses –and they are vital to the future of theindustry. Businesses like ours need newblood coming through but at the momentthe cost and amount of time needed tospend training them can be prohibitive.

Wendy ShorterDirector of Training for the AMUSFI am delighted that we are able to workwith the Worshipful Company ofUpholders on this new apprenticeshipscheme. The AMUSF has been pursuingthis goal for a long time and this will makea tremendous difference to our industry.The scheme is open to upholstery and soft

furnishing businesses wanting to take on ayoung person by July 2014. It is a threeyear apprenticeship scheme with fundingavailable to offset some of the costsincurred when delivering the training. The“Master” upholsterer or soft furnisherwould be required to deliver the AMUSF 3stage qualification programme over thisperiod, which could be done “in-house” orin conjunction with one of our existingtraining centres.Our members have long wished for an

incentive to train young people, and this isan excellent opportunity. However, thereis only a very short window of opportunityso I would urge anyone who is interestedto contact Richard at head office as soonas possible.

• It’s not too late to join in! ContactRichard Ranklin at Head Office for moredetails.

Dale Painter Raymond Dixon

Wendy Shorter

Thelma Hughes

Jonathan Green

14-15_USF_March-May14.qxp:14-15 05/03/2014 13:37


Feature

CROWNING JEWELSU&SF reports on the winners of the fifth annual HeicoFasteners UK Design Competition awards, announced atthis year’s Interiors Show at the NEC, Birmingham.

Creativity was once again the name ofthe game in the annual challenge todesign a miniature chair

incorporating Heico’s crystal nails andbuttons.From a candy striped ‘sweet’ chair to an

eye catching crystal number, a selection ofshortlisted designs from upholsterystudents studying at London MetropolitanUniversity and Wendy Shorter Interiors ofHertfordshire were showcased at the NECInteriors event.As AMUSF president Ron Mercure pointed

out at the official awards presentation: “Thisis a great opportunity for students to gainrecognition for their work and showcase itto a wider audience.”Next year’s competition is expected to

include students from even more AMUSFtraining centres. The winners for 2014 were:Winner: Electra Read-Dagg (Wendy

Shorter Interiors) for her Crystal Chair. SaidElectra: “I really wanted to embrace the glassand crystal within the design and combine itwith lots of natural materials such a silk,linen and wool. I then wanted to give theoutline a rough, jagged feel and achieved

this using thick garden wire to provide astrong angular shape.” Electra won a BambiCompressor and staple gun from Heico.Runner up: Fiona Sutherland (Wendy

Shorter Interiors) for her Beehive Chair. SaidFiona: “I chose a beehive theme becauseboth my father and grandfather arebeekeepers! I used a wood effect print andfold down back to emphasise the beehivetheme which was also reinforced with theuse of studs.” Runner up: Francine Roberts (Wendy

Shorter Interiors) for her Sweet Chair. SaidFrancine: “I originally started out wanting todo a Victorian style chair and this developedin to a sweet shop theme. The tasslesfeature designs that resemble liquoriceallsorts and the decorative buttons havebeen wrapped to look like sweets. I alsoincorporated a scroll back and bolster intothe design.”Both runner’s up won a staple gun from

Heico.

Highly commended: Dragon chair by Lisa Yau-Alfredson(London Met)

Highly commended: Green Road Chair by Vanessa Hardy (London Met)

Highly commended: Screen printed chair by ValerieDeutsch (London Met)

Winners l-r: Francine Roberts, Electra Read-Dagg and Fiona Sutherland

16_USF_March-May14.qxp:16-17 05/03/2014 13:37

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Contact Dawn Hogg: 07702 345305 | Tel: 0844 879 3691 | www.furnitureclinic.co.uk


Member profile


How long have you been doing your job?Officially since 2006 in my own right.Before that I worked for Laura Ashley, herein Cornwall, covering the same type ofwork. I also worked for a large propertydeveloper, specifying from build rightthrough to finish.

How long did it take to really learn theskill? My aunty and mum are big ‘sewers’ and Istarted at a very young age. I’ve alwaysbeen very arty and practical but we are stillalways learning. Each window/room is verydifferent: as we always say, there is noaverage window !

Do you consider yourself a craftspersonor tradesperson? Both! I guess partly due to the fact thatsoft furnishings is a craft but as we offer afull fitting service, Nick is the tradesperson!

What makes up the bulk of your work?Soft furnishings, curtains, blinds andcushions alongside the gift and furniturewe also sell.

What keeps you motivated? I am always motivated and full of energy.One thing that helps is visiting the tradeshows - Decorex and Chelsea Harbour -viewing and buying new collections andstock and networking in the Curtain, Blindand Furnishing Maker’s Friendly Forum(CABMFF), sharing stories and problems.

What aspect of your work do you mostenjoy? Visiting the beautiful houses we have theprivilege to work on and of course thecustomers who become friends! Also

choosing new fabric collections andworking with our brilliant team. We workhard but also have fun.

Professionally, what is your greatestfrustration? The internet where customers are pricecomparing certain things......

Tell us about the most challengingproject you have ever undertaken.We have worked on the full design ofnursing homes, a spa and hotels, but ourchallenge at the moment are the largetriangular windows that architects arebuilding for the ‘sea’ view houses. Or a hugeseven foot circular window in a triangulargable - maybe that was the hardest!

And the most unusual/bizarre/funnyrequest you have ever dealt with?Horse box curtains, a narrow boat, butweirdest of all was a beautiful Romo linensupplied by us, which the customer wantedlined in Orange cheetah fabric. It wassupplied by the customer for lining ......

What are the most pressing issuescurrently facing your business?At the moment the hot topic is the newblind safety rules coming into play. Much ofthe information is unknown or not freelyavailable, but our suppliers are doing theirbest to keep us informed.

How long have you been a member ofthe AMUSF and how important has thisbeen to your business?We have been members for about twoyears. The crest is very recognisable and weare also Made in Cornwall approved - solots of validation of our work.

Professionally, who or where do youturn to for advice/ a second opinion?I also run the CABMFF, a large, growinggroup of industry professionals andsuppliers , a countrywide network wherethere is always someone to help day ornight as we have American memberstoo! www.cabmff.co.uk There is also anever growing database of pictures anddocuments to refer too.

When you talk to a fellowupholsterer/soft furnisher, the talkalways turns to....?Standards of curtain making - or lack of- at times!

How do you keep your skills andtechniques updated?Using the forum where work and ideasare shared on a daily basis. Also meetups - we run two large networking daysat Cheltenham Racecourse each year,which have training seminars such asSilent Gliss running throughout the dayand training days when offered. Lastweek, for instance, a group of us werelucky enough to visit Byron and ByronLtd in London where we had training onpole fitting and specifying, and thegroup felt much more educated on theamazing product they sell and how wecan use this in our clients’ homes.Although this is not directly sewing itdoes go hand in hand with the curtainswe make and it is always good to growyour knowledge.

Contact details: Tel: 01872552910Website: www.linteriordesign.comEmail: [email protected]

HOMES ANDLINTERIORSName of business Linterior DesignWhen established 2006Owned by Nick and Lindsay RichardsLocation CornwallSpeciality Soft FurnishingsNumber employed 4 and Lexi the miniature dachshund!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR BUSINESS TO BE FEATURED ON THE MEMBER PROFILE PAGE, CONTACT EDITOR JAN TURNER AT [email protected]

Lindsay and Nick Richards

18_USF_Mar-APR-MAY14.qxp:18 05/03/2014 13:39

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H. Webber & Sons

58 Dene Street, Dorking,Surrey, RH4 2DP

Tel. 01306 740433Fax. 01306 740811www.hwebber.co.uk



Feature

FUSS FREEFABRICSThe AMUSF’s fabric buying service is just one of the many benefits offered to members.U&SF takes a look at how it started…and why it remains so popular.

Alegacy of Second World Warshortages, the AMUSF’s fabricbuying service is still going strong

– nearly 70 years on!Furnishing and Upholstery Support

Services Limited – better known tomembers as FUSS- is a wholly ownedsubsidiary of the AMUSF. And while itwas established to help membersovercome the difficulties of war timeshortages, it’s a member service thatremains as relevant today as when it wasfirst introduced.There’s always room for more business

but FUSS continues to be a Win Winservice for the association and membersalike – it gives many smaller membersaccess to fabric companies with who theywould otherwise be unable to open anaccount; and it brings in a modest butimportant revenue stream for theAMUSF.Says association administrative

assistant Susan Tylor, who manages theday-to-day service: “Fabric buying is still avital part of what our members do and aswell as giving many of them access tocompanies that would otherwise beunavailable to them, they can benefitfrom good discounts on recommendedretail prices.”Members, associate members and

students alike can take advantage of theservice which typically offers a saving ofbetween 20% - 30% on usual prices andprovides access to nearly 70 leadingfabric brands.Said Susan: “We hold accounts with

many companies but can normally obtainfabric from most designers and fabricsuppliers – and a sampling service is alsoavailable.”Companies dealt with include Colefax

and Fowler, GP & J Baker, Crowson,Harlequin, Jim Dickens, Kobe, Monkwell,Muirhead, Nono, Panaz, Prestigious,Sanderson, Villa Nova and Zoffany.

There is also a supplementary list ofcompanies – such as Osborne & Little –who deal with larger AMUSF membersthrough which the service can source aneven wider choice of fabrics.“It’s a very personal service and we’ve

even been known to help members trackdown a specific type of fabric by puttingout feelers to a number of differentcompanies,” says Susan. “We can alsohelp them to establish which fabrics arefire retardant and which need aninterliner and I make a point of ringingmembers to check an order has arrivedsafely.“Although fabrics are now widely

available on the internet, a lot of

members would rather deal with us thana potentially dodgy online company. Aswell as getting help from people whounderstand the trade, orders take justone or two days to be delivered and comedirect from the manufacturer.”To place an order, all members need to

do is contact head office with details ofthe fabric they would like to buy.Payment by debit or credit card can betaken over the phone.For further information about FUSS,

visit the AMUSF website –www.upholsterers.co.uk Members willneed a user name and password to accessthe Members Only area under whichinformation about the service is listed.

Susan Tyler - fabric buying service

20_USF_MAR-APR_MAY14.qxp:12 05/03/2014 13:39

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GREEN SOFAIN ANY COLOURTrent Upholsteries boss Roger Paulson has found traditional fillings and upholstery skillsare the perfect solution for ‘Right On Loft Living’. U&SF finds out why he’s on a ‘ROLL’ withhis new online brand, ecosofa.co.uk

Feature


When Roger Paulson first set out tomake a range of environmentallyfriendly sofas, he assumed the

use of such traditional fillings as horsehair,wool and coir fibre meant it would be aproduct aimed at the ‘more mature’market.Wrong!Students from Nottingham Trent

University – with whom Roger has alongstanding and mutually productiverelationship – soon put him right. Aftersome in-depth research by a group of PhDmarketing students, they concluded thatthe market for his eco-products was verymuch at the younger end. As in young,trendy and Loft Living Apartment types.“It wasn’t what I was expecting at all,”

said Roger, “but there is clearly anopportunity here for other skilled,traditional upholsterers who want to breakin to the younger end of the market.”The results of the market research

findings led Roger to develop twocontemporary designs – Mozart and Cadiz– which have now become part of his newonline ecosofa brand of totallybiodegradable sofas and chairs.They use only environmentally friendly

fillings with a choice of many differentcushion interiors including coil springs,latex, rubber, feather, horsehair, wool,layered flock and recycled plastic bottles.Said Roger: ”Trent Upholsteries has been

using modern alongside traditionalmaterials for more than 50 years so I havean insight into how to source mostproducts. Being only three miles down theroad from Long Eaton where upholsterysupplies are readily available certainlyhelped, but I also searched further afield toget a complete selection.“As well as the ‘eco-credentials’ of

natural fillings, there are the addedbenefits of breathability, making for ahealthier life as well as being more durablethan the foams more often used inmodern upholstery.“The students’ research findings

suggested that younger people wouldindeed be interested in environmentally

friendly furniture but wanted designs thatwould fit in with contemporary living at anaffordable price.”With prices, for the Mozart model,

starting at £672 for a chair and going upto £986 for a three-seater sofa, Roger nowsells the sofas online, using his own vanand couriers for delivery. It has providedthe business with an additional incomestream – and a new market which hesincerely believes other skilled upholstererscould tap in to.“I believe that skilled upholsterers used

to working with traditional fillings are bestplaced to serve this market,” says Roger.“It’s a real opportunity that others couldtake advantage of.”

Cadiz

Mozart

Natural fillings

22_USF_Mar-Apr-May14.qxp:24 05/03/2014 13:40 Page 24


Advertorial

NEW LOOK, NEW FEELJANUARY FURNITURE SHOWThe all-new 2015 January Furniture Show will be a three-day event held from TuesdayJanuary 13 until Thursday January 15 in Halls 1,2,3 and 3A at the Birmingham NEC.

Exhibition directors, Laraine Janes andTheresa Raymond of Furniture Fairs,say that in arranging the new-style,

new-format show they have slightlyaltered the timings to reflect the changingneeds of exhibitors: and that includesmoving away from a traditional weekendstart now that Sunday trading has becomea critical fixture for retailers.

Said Theresa Raymond: “The JanuaryFurniture Show will be a new-look, new-feel event that will provide a platform forthe furnishings sector to showcase itsproducts. We’ve also reduced the show’sduration from four days to three, again toreflect the evolving preferences ofexhibitors. And to ensure the event is atightly focused, relevant show, we’veadjusted the way in which the halls will beused.”

The BFM and a raft of big names havealready signed up for the all-new wintershow. Withconfirmationthat ParkerKnoll, Duresta ,G PlanUpholstery,Westbridge,Baker, Lebus,Ercol, FurnitureOrigins,Sherborne,Alstons, MarkWebster,Breasley, Vogueand manyothers will beexhibiting, it means that well over half thespace available has already been booked.

The BFM is also committed to the

January show. Said mdJackie Bazeley: “We arevery happy with theoutcome of the recentmeeting with the neworganisers of the JanuaryFurniture Show. Therecent exhibition underthe auspices of UBM washighly successful formany members andmany were keen toretain a January show atthe NEC. The workingrelationship betweenThe January FurnitureShow and BFM will bemutually beneficial toboth organisations andprovide on-goingbenefits for BFMmembers.”

Said LaraineJanes: “We’redelighted with the way inwhich the industry has soquickly shown its support forthe January Furniture Show.We’ve listened to whatexhibitors want, altered thedates to accommodate otherinternational trade eventsand revisited the way inwhich we use the halls at theNEC.

“It is clear that theindustry wants a Januaryevent to showcase its

products to retailers who are looking tobuy at that time of the year in order to seenew product being delivered in to store for

the Spring.”As co-directors of Furniture and Gift

Fairs Ltd, Theresa and Laraine havecollectively worked in the furnitureindustry for over 60 years, deliveringfurniture shows in all major UK venues.

Said Stephen Richards, who launchedThe Furniture Show with the BlenheimGroup in the early 90’s and is now salesdirector of the NEC: “We are confidentthat with Laraine and Theresa’s unrivalledcommitment to the industry spanningmany years and their industryconnections, combined with theirexhibition know how, we can build theJanuary Furniture Show back to itsposition of strength.”

Theresa Raymond and Laraine Janes

For further information contact Theresa Raymond, Director, Furniture & Gift Fairs Ltd, Tel: 020 8387 1270 (direct dial 020 8387 1272). Email: [email protected]

“The industry canhave absoluteconfidence that theNEC will continue tobe the home of thefurniture trade inJanuary at the keypoint in the furniturebuying calendar.”

Stephen Richards, NEC Sales Director

23_USF_March-May14.qxp:14-15 07/03/2014 09:42 Page 17

LANGUAGE LESSONSMore fascinating material from the AMUSF archives! Digging back to May 1958 wediscovered this article from ‘Bedding & Upholstery’. The report comes from the 10th annualconference of the AMU at Cromer in Norfolk.

Memory Lane


With a membership of some 600upholstery firms across the UK,AMU president George Hensher, in

his conference address, said it proved “anearnest desire” for an associationconcentrating exclusively on upholsterymatters.“We cannot escape the conclusion that our

particular trade is not represented by acorporate body,” he said. “In fact, it is noteven given equal status with sections of ourindustry which are far less important in everyway.”In a speech that pulled no punches he

went on to assert that the LFM had donesome excellent work while the BritishFurniture Manufacturers (BFM) had become“hidebound and bureaucratic”.A clear issue at the time was sales by

manufacturers or wholesalers to the public attrade prices. It was felt that by “continuouspublicity of this evil” they would at leastsucceed in limiting the practice. Another matter exercising minds at the

time was the issue by some warehousemenof patterns and swatches, from whichmembers specialising in bespoke or specialwork obtained orders, only to find thewholesaler did not hold stocks. Given it couldbe months before stock was received - bywhich time orders were sometimes lost -members were advised to buy from “firms ofrepute”.Mr Hensher concluded: “We should like to

see more of the larger firms joining us. I amsure it is in their long term interest to supporta body working exclusively for upholsterers.”But for any firms who felt to do so would bean act of disloyalty to the BFM, he said theAMU would need to convince them that “thisis fallacious”.The numbers and the language may have

changed. But some things have not!

IF YOU HAVE SOME INTERESTING ARCHIVE PICTURES OF YOUR BUSINESS, A PROJECT OR PERHAPS OLDMACHINERY OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS, PLEASE CONTACT EDITOR JAN TURNER AT [email protected]


25_USF_Mar-Apr-May14.qxp:Layout 1 07/03/2014 13:32 Page 1

Q & A


How would you most like to beremembered?As a feisty woman who was answerableto no-one, but essentially a mum whohas brought up three fantastic children.

How would classmates at school havedescribed you?As a bit of loner – who was always askingquestions!

And the teachers?I’ll mention two. Miss Bright – theEnglish teacher who introduced me toliterature and the arts – who assessed apiece I had written about two giantsfighting as “very good, veryimaginative.” And Mrs Smart, theneedlework teacher, when assessingfreehand Christmas decorations we madeusing bits of ribbons, buttons, etc. saidof mine: “Ah! Janet Lewis (maidenname). She’s always got to be different.”

How did you get into this business?By accident. It stemmed from a need toearn a lot of money so I turned a hobbyinto a job.

What would you class as your greatestachievement?Despite all the ups and downs, it has tobe still being in business 45 years on, andlooking forward to the next challenge.My biggest risk so far has been buying alarge derelict house, with land, at auctionand then moving in to camp and restoreit during the middle of winter. The wallswere standing, but there was no roof orwindows, etc.

Your greatest regret?Over to Frank Sinatra: “Regrets, I’ve had afew but then again too few to mention. Idid what I had to do, and saw it throughwithout exemption. And more, muchmore than this, I did it my way”.

Who has been your greatestinspiration, and why?Three ladies – Angela Burgin and Penny

Dixon (who both, like me,came into the trade byaccident, and by sheer hardgraft and determinationmade a great success oftheir business). The thirdlady is Margaret Thatcher,who showed by example,what foresight, singlemindedness and will power,can achieve.

Your perfect day?A day spent in the countrywith my children andgrandchildren when we allfeed the ducks.

Your desert island disc?‘Let it be’ by PaulMcCartney.

If you weren’t doing whatyou do now, what wouldyou be doing?Garden design. Inspired bythe original landscape ofthe wooded garden of the derelict houseI bought - which had become completelywild after 40 years of neglect - I learnedthe enjoyment of garden design. Therewere 110 mature trees on the site. Myparents and I, together with the threechildren, cleared the garden by hand:Mum and I in charge of secateurs and asmall saw; Dad in charge of the bonfire;and three children running back andforth between us.

What’s in your living room?Antique pine furniture, a large Chinesepatterned table lamp and a dark greensoapstone rhino from Swaziland. There isalso a collection of large glass napkinrings with animal heads and tails inpewter, which also came from Swaziland.

What winds you up?People who follow other people blindly,like sheep, without using their brains towork things out for themselves.

What gives you the greatest satisfaction? Conservation work – restoring old fabric.

Doer or talker?My mother was constantly telling mewhen I was young “Whistle and ride,Janet, whistle and ride”. In other words,both, at the same time.

Best piece of advice to someonestarting out?Always be honest with your client. If thereis a problem, find the answer and then goto the client with the answer, not theproblem. And they would do well toremember these three maxims:There is only one place where success

comes before work and that is in thedictionary.The secret of success: 10% luck, 10%

the skill to recognise the opportunity and80% hard work.Behold the turtle – he only makes

progress by sticking his neck out.

IN THE HOTSEAT...….WITH JANET POTTON, FAMU AND FORMER AMUSF BOARD MEMBER


ibc_USF_Mar-Apr-May14.qxp:Layout 1 07/03/2014 10:59 Page 1

obc_USF_Mar-Apr-May14.qxp:Layout 1 07/03/2014 13:39 Page 1

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