Introducing the Inaugural Excellence in Furniture Awards

The most inspiring furniture professionals will take centre stage alongside a soon-to-be-announced celebrity host, on Monday 19 January, at the NEC Birmingham. Held in conjunction with the January Furniture Show, this glamorous evening will welcome 350 leading brands, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers for an unforgettable night of recognition and celebration.

Awards categories include:

• Best Furniture Start-Up
• Best Marketing Campaign
• Best of British
• Design Innovation
• Global Player
• Independent Retailer of the Year
• Retailer of the Year
• Sustainability Award
• Superior Service
• Woman in Furniture Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award

A distinguished judging panel of industry leaders, representing decades of expertise across retail, manufacturing, and design, includes:

• Brian Ahern, Immediate Past Master, The Furniture Makers’ Company
• Sarah Bianchi, Managing Director, Arighi Bianchi
• Diana Celella, Interior Design and Director, The Drawing Room Interiors
• Paul Farley, Editor-in-Chief, Furniture News
• Andrew Goodacre, CEO, Bira
• Debbie Johnson, Master, The Furniture Makers’ Company
• Joanna Knight, Chair of Climate Change & Sustainability, The Furniture Makers’ Company
• Gisela Lancaster, Head of Buying, Sofology
• Emma Leeke, Managing Director, Leekes
• Deirdre McGettick, Founder, U.Furnish
• Nicola Snell, Managing Director, Press Loft
• Malcolm Walker, Director, First MW

Industry voices on the launch:

Malcolm Walker, Director of First MW, commented:

“Having been involved in the judging of The Furniture Awards for many years now, I believe the timing is absolutely right to introduce the ‘Excellence in Furniture Awards’. This fine industry of ours deserves a celebration of the quality in our retail, manufacturing, and design arenas. Recognition, and encouragement of talent now, will protect the future of our wonderful industry.”



Paul Farley, Editor-in-Chief of Furniture News, added:

“Having co-ordinated The Furniture Awards alongside the January Furniture Show for over a decade, I’m looking forward to helping take the programme to the next level in 2026 and celebrating more of the businesses and people that make our industry so special.”

Entries are free and open now. Complete your submissions before the deadline, Friday 3 October 2025 at 23:55 (BST).

Portfolio Director, Zoe Bonser, shares the excitement surrounding the launch:

“We’re proud to open the awards up to the entire furniture industry, with categories designed for brands, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers alike. This is more than just an awards ceremony – it’s a chance to honour the individuals and businesses shaping the future of furniture, and to come together as a community to recognise true excellence.”

Discover the criteria for each award and submit your free entry. Tickets for the awards will go on sale early September. Sign up for an early bird discount today!

About the Excellence in Furniture Awards:

The Excellence in Furniture Awards is brought to you by The Furniture Shows, in partnership with Furniture News. Held in conjunction with January Furniture Show, the awards ceremony will take place on the evening of Monday 19 January at the NEC, Birmingham. This inaugural awards ceremony will gather 350 leading brands, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers to honour the brightest stars in the industry.

As part of Clarion Events' portfolio, which includes the January Furniture Show, the Manchester Furniture Show, Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival, Top Drawer, and the digital platform Retail Revealed, the Excellence in Furniture Awards will provide an unforgettable evening of recognition and celebration of the furniture industry.

Discover the criteria and submit your FREE entry here.

Contacts:

• Entry enquiries: hello@excellenceinfurnitureawards.com
• Press enquiries: Georgia Walkden, georgia.walkden@clarionevents.com
• Table and sponsor enquiries: Paria Mercer, advertising@thefurnitureshows.com