This 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. From 17th-19th, there were three days of innovative products, industry breakthroughs, and the latest and greatest in flooring ranges.

With over 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

Over 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 colors, 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 the19th, 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 have 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 the 17th and Monday the 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. 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, G.T. Floor B.V. and Uny Group BVBA.

Tombola

This year, visitors had the opportunity to win big in our tombola prize draw. All event attendees were automatically included in this exciting prize draw. There were nine lucky winners, who walked away with prizes including a £500 (about 609 USD) 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 were crowned the champions, following their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint. To do so, Ulster Carpets have targeted five key areas to reduce carbon emissions: energy, water consumption, waste and packaging.