Sorry for the delay. We’ve only recently returned from a fabulous couple of weeks in Florida. It was a big family occasion, Elaine’s auntie’s 80th (although you wouldn’t know it – she looks and acts 20 plus years younger!). It’s been nine years since we got together with the American arm of the family ( along with a couple of good friends out there, Andy and Becky) so it was really good to catch up.

Since returning I’ve had long conversations with our sales team and many customers, both independents and nationals all over the country, and the view is pretty well unanimous, that we’re facing the worst economic and confidence levels most of us have ever known. Ouch!

We’re all blaming everything – the weather, the world cup, government cuts, economic climate – let’s hope that things will pick up a bit come September. We’re certainly doing our bit where we can to support customers and work with them. I recently spent a day with one of our independents on the first day of his Greenwood promotional sale. It was manic. Customers were queuing for 50-100 metres outside the door before opening and within minutes I was busy writing orders for Wiemann products on their behalf. Actually I also sold a picture, a mirror and a competitor’s bedroom set – however hard I tried not to!!

More than ever in this current climate we must innovate, show initiative and, above all, work together to get through. For our part we are trying to give everyone as much help as we can with good products, competitive prices and good service. Our promotional ranges – Kiruna, London, Phoenix and the new Java and Denver – all sell through well. But so, too, do our better end products like Santos – which are really competitively priced for the look and quality compared with other products.

So, onwards and upwards – we are now preparing for the round of autumn events in Germany where new products are revealed and tested and of course for our next show at Silentnight, Salterforth in early October. And last, but not least, can I just welcome Lynn Clarke to the fold. Lynn has just joined us as our agent covering Northern Ireland and Eire. Welcome, Lynn.