Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) takes place between the 23-25 May 2023 and this year the CFA have become a partner for the flooring section. This compliments CFJ’s sponsorship as a media partner.

Clerkenwell is a unique area of London for all sorts of reasons. They claim it is home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than in any other area on the planet, making it an important design hub for the world. Richard Catt CFA CEO commented:

‘I have to be honest in that I only discovered it a few years ago and was delighted to find that flooring is very well represented. In fact, probably one of the best represented finishing sectors. When I say ‘represented’ I am indicating is that there are lots of flooring showrooms that clients, architect, designer and specifiers can visit to gain inspiration. In fact, I last counted thirteen permanent flooring related showrooms, and I am pleased to say that we can boast that nine of them are CFA members.’

All of the showrooms at CDW are fantastic spaces with creative displays, samples and meeting rooms from member companies such as Altro, Forbo, Interface, Junckers, Karndean, IVC, Mapei, Modulyss and Shaw Contract. For Clerkenwell Design Week you can add a couple more CFA member names to the list in the form of Burmatex and Valinge who will inhabit pop up exhibition spaces.

For those based in London, the Clerkenwell district provides a fantastic resource all year round to arrange to meet clients or to send them for inspirations when making all important choices. Clerkenwell Design Week adds another dimension in that it acts as an exhibition for our sector. ‘I think this is much needed for the contract flooring industry and with that firm commercial base CDW offers a brilliant opportunity,’ Richard said.

The organisers (Media 10 Group) have developed it over the last ten years and it is now quite fairly described as a festival. Based around 140 fixed showrooms in total they add an incredible variety of additional exhibition spaces (ten in total) and then some great features to attract a specifiers and clients to visit. There are presentations, workshops, demonstrations, installations and food and drink. Plus, in the evenings there are a whole host of events including drinks receptions with a party vibe and entertainment that you can visit. Not forgetting of course that you are within the metropolis.

Richard Catt added – ‘Last year, I spent a great day with our President Carl Harper, and what really struck me was the number of contractors from our industry who attended. Lots of manufacturers’ representatives were entertaining and I saw the most commercial flooring contractors at an exhibition type event for a very long time. Some went to update, some to visit a particular company, and many just to browse and network. Clerkenwell Design Week has an energy and a vibe, and I came away with that refreshed feel of having broken out of the norm and reminded myself of what I most enjoy about the flooring industry. People and inspirational products.’

‘Our message is go to Clerkenwell Design Week, you won’t regret it and as a CFA member you will be recognised as part of the supply chain being promoted. Our purpose in supporting is not only to provide access to members, but also to promote the CFA directory and handbook driving quality installation and traffic to member companies. The CFA directory is being promoted by the organisers.’

Additional reasons specifiers will engage with the CFA will include our technical support for specifications through the CFA Guide to Contract Flooring and the CFA Sustainability Guide. Both are again being promoted by the organisers and are available for free in the downloads section of the CFA website and as page turners on CFJ’s website. They offer the specification community huge value and promote CFA members expertise.

‘The CFA represent a quality supply chain and Clerkenwell Design Week is another way that we are working to showcase that. Through this collaboration, I feel certain many visitors will be using the CFA directory to identify good quality suppliers and installation companies going forward. If you are a CFA member you will have been receiving regular updates. But you can also visit the Clerkenwell Design Week website to register as a visitor and get all the information you need. See
www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com.’

The CFA is a leading trade association representing the flooring Industry. If you would like further information, please contact the CFA offices.
0115 9411126
info@cfa.org.uk
www.cfa.org.uk