Forest - Race for Life

Cancer Research UK 

It's with great pleasure that we announce a member of the Forest Sofa team entered the Race For Life 5K earlier this month, raising over a hundred pounds for Cancer Research UK.

Michelle Mohieddin, who has been with the company for a little over a year completed her first 5K run on the 14th July.  This was a personal achievement for Michelle who only started running a couple of months early.

"I wanted to get fit, but I took inspiration from supporting a friend that took part last year.  I wanted to do it this time whilst trying to raise as much money as I could, for this great cause"

The team rallied round and helped Michelle raise money for Cancer Research and who battled through the 32 degrees Manchester sun, to complete the race is 30 minutes.



 Michelle has been collecting sponsorship in the office but also created a just giving page which is still open, so if you want to support this worthy cause please follow the link below :

 http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/michellemohieddin


"Thank you for all you support"
Michelle Mohieddin, Forest Sofa Ltd

Forest Sofa Staff News

After 6 years of working for Forest Sofa here at our Salford sofa manufacturing site, Susan Davies from our accounts department has finally decided to put her feet up and have some ‘me’ time. Taking semi retirement, Susan will work 2 days a week from the office and job share with our new member of staff Jackie Peachment, who will be learning the ropes from Susan with a view to taking on the job full time when Susan decides she want all her work days as ‘me’ days. We wish Susan a relaxing and chilling time on her  days off and Jackie a long and happy future here at Forest Sofa.

It's a Family Affair - Forest Sofa Staff News

There has been a number of changes at Forest, most significantly the recently published acquisition of a new production site in Accrington to supplement Forest Sofa's continued growth.

The new site brings added capacity and a wealth of experience to the production team.  The 23 new staff that work out of the Accrington site have been together as a team for many years, and some for life !  David Riley (General Manager) runs the Accrington site and we are pleased to have his son as part of the product team.

A recent family connection has been to welcome Lewis Foster Son of Managing Director Dave Foster to the Salford Branch.  Lewis is currently supporting the Salford sales team before going back to University in September to complete his third and final year at University.  Who knows we might see Lewis once he has completed his degree.

There are rumours of another family connection that may soon be announced, but we will save that for another day.

The new product range manufactured from our Accringron factory will be a mix of contemporary and traditional fabric sofas and existing Forest customers will be given an advanced preview of the designs.

If your interested in finding our about vacancies at Forest Salford or Accrington, please check our website for the latest postings.

Upholstery Sewing Machinist - A dying profession ?

Forest sofa is proud to be able to provide a commercial and competitive range of upholstered seating solutions with our full range manufactured in Manchester, England.

Whilst proud to employ over 50 local staff, we are challenged by the apparent lack of skilled workers in the field of Upholstery Sewing / Machinist as well as Deep Buttoned Upholsterers.

Upholstery Manufacture in the North of England was a significant contributor to the UK's Manufacturing output as recently as 20 years ago. Increasingly UK Manufacturers have switched their own production from sites in the UK to the Middle East or Eastern Europe, or have been forced out of Manufacturing all together. Some UK manufacturers have adopted a mix mode approach, offering a limited range from their UK factory, but producing the majority of the range overseas, at the expense of local workings. Workers in Preston were affected significantly in recent years by one well known manufacturer moving it's production to maintain margin and remain competitive.

Forest Sofa Ltd is pleased to be one of the few UK Manufacturers that are able to grow in this challenging economic climate, and can do so by offering a good quality UK sofa at a fair price. "It's no about being the cheapest when times are hard, it's value that families are looking for." Whilst Forest 2012 sales continue to impress and exceed expectations, the business is challenged in it's growth by the apparent lack of skilled upholstery workers in the Manchester area. The downturn in local skills in manufacturing in general is as a result of the change in the manufacturing landscape in the UK and the North of England, a consequence of the effects of increased imports.

Chesterfield Sofas are a true British product that requires craft, skill and guile, the traits often past down through families from generation to generation is slowly being eroded through a period of short time working and years of disillusion. Getting skilled staff back into UK manufacturing is a challenge for Forest Sofa, but also many other UK manufacturers attempting to grow their business. The reach and search for the recruitment for the positions of Upholstery Machinist and Deep Buttoned Upholsterers is becoming wider, with adverts currently placed in the Bolton, Bury, Accrington and Macclesfield press.

Agencies propose a solution to the shortage, regrettably however often with workers based outside the UK.

If you are interested in being considered for either position and would like more information on the available jobs of – Deep Buttoned Upholsterer or Sewing Machinist, please send your CV to info@forestsofa.co.uk

Wanted in Manchester - Permanent Vacancy - 
Manchester Jobs - Chesterfield Upholsterer
Manchester Jobs - Upholstery Sewing Machinist

British Furniture Manufacturers Bucking The Trend

Forest Sofa Ltd has certainly had a good start to the year with January 2012 sales up by over 30% compared with 2011 sales, and up a staggering 55% on 2010.  

Building and maintaining relationships with key retail partners is a basic requirement for all successful businesses.  Forest Sofa Ltd sales uplift this year is testimony to the benefits of ensuring that this is done well.

Investment in advertising and the expansion of the sales team in 2011 has also contributed to the uplift.  

"2010 and 2011 were reasonable years given the climate, but we felt it was necessary to invest further in our promotions at a time when many others were cutting back. I feel we are seeing the benefit of that decision now."  says Ryan Mohieddin - Marketing Manager.

It is clear that 2012 can be good for UK manufacturers as a number of UK manufacturers from differing sectors report sales uplifts and a general level of increased positivity around UK manufacturing.

Increased labour costs from China, increased transportation costs, combined with UK manufacturers taking the lead on new product developments has helped create the circumstances for retailers and trade partners to look again at the UK for product supply.  

UK Engineering which suffered periods of contraction in the middle of 2011 is also on the up; there has been a general boost in the number of people being employed in manufacturing jobs, as the sector continued its recovery from the economic downturn, it has been revealed.  Data published in the JP Morgan Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index shows that conditions in the global manufacturing sector improved for the first time in four months in December, and now stands at 50.8, up from 49.7 in November.  Source The Sales Engineer.

With the Olympics on the horizon there are further opportunities for UK manufacturers, Forest Sofa keen to be a part of the approved sofa manufacturers supplying the Olympics with first estimate news that the venue with require approx 600,000 sofas before the summer of this year.

Another UK manufacturer that is also experiencing an extremely busy January 2012 is Mattinson Contract beds, another business that is also expecting to benefit from the hotel and accommodation refurbishments and new builds taking place in light of the hospitality boom expected for the Olympics.

Fabric Chesterfield Sofa - Changing Trends

Changing Home Styling Trends - Fabric Chesterfield Sofa

Recently internal reports have revealed an emerging trend from consumer and retailers for the requests for a Fabric Chesterfield Sofa.  

Fabric Chesterfield Sofa - The Clarendon

A Chesterfield sofa is traditionally upholstered in antique leather and more recently in premium aniline or vintage distressed leathers.  However increasingly requests have been made for a range of linen and velvet fabrics. 

To satisfy the demand Forest Sofa has recently introduced a velvet chesterfield sofa, based on the Original Chesterfield Sofa Design - The Clarendon Chesterfield.  



The Clarendon Chesterfield Sofa shown in black crushed velvet and with optional Swarovski Crystals create a truly elegant bespoke personal finish to a timeless classic design.

For more info on a wide range of fabrics available for a fabric chesterfield please contact a member of the sales team.

www.forestsofa.co.uk
info@forestsofa.co.uk

Chesterfield Sofa Upholsterers Wanted

Two Skilled Chesterfield Sofa Upholsterers Wanted -

Forest Sofa's unprecedented January sales has forced a requirement to bring in two new permanent members of the upholstery team.  

Black Chesterfield Sofa

Sales of Chesterfield sofas have been particularly strong in January, and this has pushed lead times up.  The additional detail and skill of the upholsterer that is required to produce this type of furniture is one associated mainly with upholsterers from the North of England, with Manchester, Blackburn and Bolton traditionally strong in training and producing quality deep buttoned upholsterers.

The vacancy will be advertised locally and the two positions once filled will help reduce lead times which have currently rose to 8 weeks, back to an acceptable 4 - 6 weeks from date of order.

The positions on offer are full time and permanent with working hours of 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:00am - 1:00pm on Fridays.  Occasional weekend working is available but not a requirement of the position.

As well as Chesterfield Sofas, Wing Chairs and Scroll Wing Chairs have been particularly popular, with the deep buttoning and hand studding making this chair particularly impressive and appealing.

Forest Contract, the contract division of the company has also had an impressive start to the year.  From the 30th January a additional joiner will join the team to help bolster the companies banquette seating or fixed seating with on site venue installations becoming an increasingly important focus for 2012.

To apply for the vacancy applicants must have previous deep buttoning experience of at least 5 years, and CV's should be sent to info@forestsofa.co.uk