BFC’s ‘Buy British Furniture Event’
The ‘Buy British Furniture Event’, which promoted domestically manufactured furniture and furnishings, ran from 19 September to 18 October. The campaign encouraged consumers to ‘Buy the Best, Buy British, Save Jobs’ and thanks to the efforts of furniture retailers up and down the country, it gained support from a number of media outlets and politicians.
Paul Scully MP, the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, tweeted about the event stating that it was great to see support for high quality British manufacturing through the Buy British Furniture Event. Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group, Mark Eastwood MP, also raised the campaign in Parliament on 9 September 2020 during a debate on the protection of jobs and businesses. Mr Eastwood said:
‘The British Furniture Confederation is soon to launch its “Buy British” campaign, urging consumers to buy the best, buy British and save jobs. This is an excellent campaign, which places a focus on the value of British manufacturing and highlights the importance of retaining these high-quality jobs. Every £1 million spent by consumers buying British furniture could secure an additional 50 manufacturing jobs and many more in retail. I therefore urge manufacturers and retailers, not just in furniture but in all industries, to consider taking up this campaign to get the public into shops, buying British goods and supporting jobs.’
All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group Meetings
On 15 September 2020, the All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG) met to discuss the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the furniture industry as well as the Buy British Furniture Event. The meeting was well attended by MPs and the representatives of the principle furniture industry trade associations. MPs present congratulated the BFC on the Buy British Furniture Event and the valuable support it offered to domestic manufacturers.
The APPFIG is due to meet on 9 December 2020 to discuss a range of issues facing the furniture industry. The meeting will be led by Mike Wood MP, Chair of the APPFIG, and attended by other parliamentarians, including Vice-Chair of the APPFIG Mark Eastwood MP.
APPFIG and BFC Activity on Foam Shortages
Following reports of shortages of polyurethane foam, which were causing significant problems for the domestic furniture manufacturing industry, the BFC contacted officials in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and worked with members of the APPFIG to raise with the Government. Members of the APPFIG highlighted the issues facing the industry and the importance of an uninterrupted supply of foam for the construction of sofas and beds.
BFC trade association members have also engaged extensively with the suppliers of polyurethane foam and have been keeping officials in BEIS up to date on the latest developments.
On 3 December 2020, Hillary Benn MP asked the Government about the impact of foam and particleboard shortages in a Written Question. In the Government’s response, Minister Nadhim Zahawi MP detailed the causes of the foam shortages and stated that the Government would continue to monitor and engage with the furniture sector to understand its impact.
Letter to the Chancellor on the Stamp Duty Holiday
On 2 December 2020, the BFC Chairman wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to call for a phased withdrawal of the Stamp Duty Holiday. The BFC highlighted the strong correlation between housing market sales and furniture sales. The BFC has asked that instead of removing the Stamp Duty Holiday in March 2021, the Government should introduce a phased withdrawal that allows consumers to slowly acclimatise to its reintroduction and avoid a cliff edge end that could deter home buyers from completing purchases and buying furniture.
Letter to Paul Scully MP, Minister for Small Businesses, Consumers and Labour Markets
On 2 November, the Chairman of the BFC, Jonathan Hindle, wrote to Paul Scully MP urging him to ensure that the guidance for the second lockdown was clearer due to the confusion that existed in first lockdown over the definition of ‘homeware’. Mr Hindle stated that if ‘homeware’ retailers were allowed to remain open during the second lockdown, it would allow the manufacturing businesses that supply them to continue manufacturing.
Letters on Law Commission’s Transfer of Ownership Consultation
Over the last few months, the Law Commission has been consulting on legislative changes to consumer sales contracts and transfer of ownership rules. On 28 October 2020, the BFC wrote to both the Law Commission and Paul Scully MP about the consultation and outlined the impacts that any changes could have on the furniture industry.
The BFC stated that in the domestic furniture sector, most manufacturers have terms and conditions within their supply contract which require that they retain ownership of goods that are supplied to retailers until they are paid for by the retailer. The BFC has stated that if the law changed to prevent this method of trade it would cause a major shift in the manufacturer/retailer relationship.
Letter to Mims Davies MP and meeting with DWP officials on Kickstarter Scheme
Following the Government’s announcement of the new Kickstarter Scheme, the BFC Chairman wrote to the Minister responsible for the scheme in the Department for Work and Pensions, Mims Davies MP, to highlight the work of FIESTA Skills Plus. The Chairman stated that FIESTA was giving young people a valuable opportunity to join the furniture industry and asked what the Government could do to recognise and support the initiative going forward.
On 14 October 2020, representatives from the BFC met with officials in the Department for Work and Pensions to discuss the Kickstarter scheme and other training initiatives led by the Department.
Regular calls with Paul Scully MP, Minister for Small Businesses, Consumers and Labour Markets
As part of the BFC’s ongoing engagement with BEIS, Jonathan Hindle has been attending regular calls with Paul Scully MP. Mr Scully is the Minister for Small Businesses, Consumers and Labour Markets. In the calls, Mr Hindle continues to raise issues of concern to the furniture industry including the recent shortages of foam, the ongoing Brexit negotiations, and options for generating demand for British furniture and furnishings.
The BFC has also continued to liaise with Civil Servants in BEIS to ensure that the concerns and issues facing the industry are brought to the immediate attention of ministers.
Keeping Members Updated on Brexit Developments
The BFC trade association members have taken a number of actions to keep their members up to date on the ongoing Brexit negotiations and the necessary preparations for 1 January 2021. BFC representatives have attended virtual meetings with BEIS, where they have been briefed on the work of the Government and, using this insight, briefings have been disseminated to members. Jonathan Hindle has also raised a number of issues with the Minister, Paul Scully MP, including customs clearance, VAT and other taxes, and the supply of steel.
Meeting with DEFRA on Bulky Waste
Representatives of the BFC met with officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 9 September 2020, to discuss the treatment of bulky waste in the furniture industry. In the meeting, BFC representatives discussed extended producer responsibility schemes, the impact of legacy chemicals and the EU’s plan for a circular economy.