In August 2011, sofa retailer Seriously Sofas opened its doors for the first
time. Twenty months later they will be opening their new expanded shop with the UK’s first FamaLiving concept store – a
partnership with Spanish independent upholstery manufacturer, Fama.
So how did this come about and what lessons can we learn?
Lesson 1. Be
Innovative
Seriously Sofas is an independent retail specialist focusing
on bespoke UK and customisable European upholstery. They started working with Fama 15 months ago
when they wanted to add to their European product range. Fama products are well priced, nicely
designed, colourful, flexible and different and they knew we could sell it in the
UK. They experimented with colours, fabrics,
designs and customisation - something few of their other stockists had asked
them to do before
Within 12 months, Fama products became some of the best
selling pieces.
Lesson 2. Get
Talking
Spanish upholstery manufacturer Fama is an independent owner/managed
business, established in 1972. They have
developed a reputation for comfortable, stylish furniture. Over the last two and a half years Fama have
opened a number of FamaLiving concept stores across Europe and North
America.
In January, Seriously Sofas took the chance to meet up with Fama’s owners
while visiting the furniture show at Birmingham’s NEC and used the opportunity to closely inspect a
wider range of their products. Despite
the language differences, they were impressed by Fama's attention to service and
quality and similarly, they by Seriously Sofas genuine passion for what they do.
Lesson 3. Believe
in your business
Although working at opposite ends of the furniture business
(Fama a manufacturer – Seriously Sofas a retailer) it was clear that they both shared the
same ethos.
Both believe that it’s not just about business – it’s more
than that. It’s about putting the
customer first and only selling it if it’s right for the customer.
Lesson 4. Be Passionate!
Fama have chosen Seriously Sofas as their partner for their
very first FamaLiving store in the UK and will be opening FamaLiving London, from their newly extended premises in Kingston,
south west London, on 25th April 2013.
Fama chose to work with Seriously Sofas not because they were their largest
stockist, nor because they sold the most pieces for
them. They chose to work with them because they shared their ideals and their passion.
