Thanks to everyone who came to visit us at the NEC.  As usual it was all pretty exhausting for the team and this time both Elaine and I were ‘off site’ while our new bathroom at home was being fitted (and, phew,  they did get the right taps sorted in our absence!)

The show is a massive investment and obviously the reaction from customers sets the tone for the year to come. Now we have had a chance to recover and take stock I’m delighted to say that, while numbers were definitely down compared to last year, quality was definitely up! 

Last year orders were focused on ‘promotional ranges’. But this year it was the new ranges at the top end of our offering which did the business, with the three best selling slots going to Santos, Rosanna and Toscana.  As well as attracting support from existing customers, we opened a fair few good new accounts with these models too. Perhaps it’s a sign that where people are spending now, they really want to invest in the best. Lot’s of support, too,  from Ireland – both north and south.  Is there a particular Irish appeal to our products, I wonder?

All our new ranges actually did well, which is gratifying:  Tahiti, Skyline, New Dorado and New Malmoe as well as the top three. I can’t help thinking it’s because we had trumpeted their arrival quite a bit through our pre-show marketing.

We now have, as always after a show, a significant number of leads to follow up (more than last year) which will keep us busy for a while.  However Elaine and  I are managing a few days’  recovery time at the end of February, when our group of 10 pals head for Marrakech to celebrate a ‘significant’ birthday!