In September, The Flooring Show welcomed hundreds of brands, and thousands of visitors, to the Harrogate Convention Centre for the UK’s only event dedicated to the flooring industry. Between 17-19 September, three days of innovative products, industry breakthroughs, and the latest and greatest in flooring ranges were seen.
With more than 400 exhibiting brands showcasing everything from carpet, LVT, laminate and wood flooring, to accessories, adhesives, tiles, and underlay, plus a range of exciting onsite features, the 2023 edition of The Flooring Show was a jam-packed experience.
Brands
More than 400 brands featured at this year’s show, across five halls and one hotel. There was an impressive showcase of stands from leading flooring manufacturers. The passionate minds behind the flooring industry displayed everything from unique stair-runners to a mosaic of different flooring types right under your feet. Visitors had the opportunity to see and feel thousands of different flooring samples, exploring a range of colours, textures, materials, and styles.
Suppliers had the opportunity to showcase their latest and greatest collections, launch any new products and meet stockists face-to-face. Many of the exhibitors at this year’s show pulled out all the stops with their interactive stands, hosting a range of games, prize draws and live demonstrations for visitors to get involved with.
The Demo Zone
Across all three days of the show, the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA), supported by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (NICF), hosted the Demo Zone. This show feature showcased industry experts demonstrating the latest innovations and techniques in flooring. Instructors Jason Draper, Doug Castle, Jamie Addison, and Rob Fitzgerald, hosted informative and insightful demonstrations on topics such as carpet underlay installation and subfloor moisture solutions.
On Tuesday 19th there was an opportunity for visitors to request demonstrations or ask specific questions in an open forum. This feature allowed visitors to discover solutions to installation challenges they’ve been facing and gauge the effectiveness of various flooring concepts.
Fitter of the Year
The NICF Fitter of the Year competition took place across Sunday 17th and Monday 18th, in the King’s Suite. Five finalists, Dean Dickinson, Mathew Parkinson, Wesley Brocklesby, Daniel Jones and Darrel Emery, went head-to-head focusing on LVT installation.
After two nail-biting days, Dean Dickinson was ultimately crowned the Fitter of the Year 2023. There was also a ‘judges’ challenge’ in which the finalists were instructed to create a sport scene out of flooring. Daniel Jones’ impressive entry wowed the judges the most.
The Wool Trends Centre
The Campaign for Wool and the Wool Carpet Focus Group brought the Wool Trends Centre to life with this year’s theme ‘Keep Warm with Wool’. Visitors were invited to Hall C to explore the benefits of wool carpets, with an emphasis on how this material can keep ever-increasing utility costs to a minimum.
The creative space featured a range of carpets from leading manufacturers, showcasing the latest shades, design constructions, types and qualities.
LVT Pavilion
The LVT Pavilion was a brand-new feature for 2023, and it didn’t disappoint. Visitors were able to visit this new space, located in Hall B, for a one-stop-shop to find all the latest and greatest LVT products. As this durable and versatile flooring solution becomes increasingly popular, visitors were able to peruse a selection of some of the most innovative LVT ranges from leading flooring manufacturers. Brands that were featured in this new space include One Flor UK, Leoline, Moduleo, Quick-Step, GT Floor BV and Uny Group BVBA.
Tombola
This year, visitors had the opportunity to win big in our tombola prize draw. All the event’s attendees were automatically included in this exciting prize draw, with the opportunity to walk away with prizes worth up to £6,000. There were nine lucky winners, who walked away with prizes including a £500 voucher to spend with any exhibitor of their choice and a free night’s stay at The Flooring Show 2024.
Sustainability
At The Flooring Show 2023, exhibitors were encouraged to highlight any eco-friendly practices and measures they take to reduce their impact on the environment. A sustainability trail across all areas of the show highlighted each exhibiting brand that was committed to sustainable practices.
On Sunday 17th, at the exhibitor drinks reception, the very first Sustainability Award winner was announced. Ulster Carpets was crowned the champion, following its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. To do so, Ulster Carpets have targeted five key areas to reduce carbon emissions: energy, water consumption, waste and packaging.
More content from this year’s show will be revealed over the coming months. Be sure to keep an eye on The Flooring Show’s website and social media platforms to stay up to date with the latest happenings. Also be sure to save the date for next year’s event, taking place from 15-17 September at the Harrogate Convention Centre.
www.theflooringshow.com
