Following the 2016 Referendum, Brexit saw the United Kingdom withdraw from the European Union on the 31st January 2020. With much uncertainty surrounding the move, one can only predict the consequences to follow.

We can relate to Brexit, in the way that our Supacord carpets were launched in 1973 – the same year that Britain joined the EEC. This goes to show that some things remain, while others don’t.

As a commercial carpet manufacturer with UK production at its core, our customers based in Great Britain will not see any changes to our products or services, and we see Brexit as an opportunity to offer solutions to those who may have previously looked towards overseas suppliers.

However, our vision is not shared by others in the flooring market. Here are some ways we think Brexit will impact the flooring industry.

Tricky business

Brexit will cause the flooring industry to lose many of their customers, even here in the UK. For example, retail and high-street chains, in particular, will have anxieties of their own surrounding Brexit and may choose to cut back on interior design renovations. However, sectors that go ahead with renovation are likely to opt for British manufacturers.

Also, as the UK is one of the main markets in the European carpet industry, if importing becomes a luxury many European countries will lose out on business. To combat this, those in the UK carpet industry must conduct extensive research into the requirements of British customers, to widely appeal to them.

In order to do this, UK flooring companies must reconsider factors such as the materials, colours and patterns of the carpets they manufacture. Carpets that are available in a selection of colours and designs will be favoured, such as those in our Array collection.

Struggling supplies

Most of the raw materials used in carpets are purchased from abroad. This means that more money must be invested in UK manufacturing – a trend seen across a number of other industries which heavily rely on importation.

Our UK carpet manufacturer holds significant stocks of fibre raw material, alongside finished carpet rolls and tiles – with our manufacturing processes operating throughout the year to provide the latter. Almost 90 percent of our suppliers are also based in the country, meaning that we should be in a comfortable position for the future.

Changing tastes

In the five years since the Brexit vote, it’s safe to say that a lot has changed. Tastes are just one of the trends that have altered dramatically over the years. We can reflect and learn from them to predict what is to come.

For example, in interior design, carpet tiles have soared in popularity due to their versatile, durable and movable properties. They can be interchanged with ease, and be installed and removed with minimal disruption. The coronavirus pandemic has fueled this demand, as customers look for practical solutions.

The industry must think fast to meet demands, a trait that was reflected in the quick launch of our Social Distancing Carpet Tiles last year. We quickly identified that the customer wanted a stylish, more permanent, interior alternative to hazard tape and stickers during the pandemic, that would stand the test of time until no longer needed.

Contact our expert team for more information about our extensive product range. Call 01924 406 121 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.