Member Article

Nest Bucks Retail Trend Amidst 21% Increase in Sales

Yorkshire-based retailer Nest has reported a 21% uplift in sales in the six months ending October 2019, with an influx of new commercial contracts and increased demand for its complimentary home consultations with a dedicated product specialist being attributed to its success.

The luxury design destination, which was one of the early adopters of online retail within its sector, says revenue year-to-date now exceeds predicted end-of-year sales figures by more than £600k.

The increase is being attributed to an influx of commercial work which now accounts for 20% of revenue, and which sees the team deliver furniture, lighting and accessory design and installation services to property developers, hoteliers and tourist destinations across the UK.

Completed contract projects to date include the furnishing of Sheffield’s Park Hill show flat, as well providing furniture for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s new £3.6m visitor center, the Weston, which opened in March and was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize.

Jack Spivey from Nest’s Contracts team, said: “It’s been a very strong six months for the contracts team which has received a number of significant lighting, furniture and accessories orders from major hoteliers and developers who were looking to furnish signature rooms, as well as high-end serviced apartments and show homes.

“Much of the work reaches us as a result of word of mouth, and as our reputation for delivering a full service offering, including the emphasis we place on customer service as part of the planning and installation of the furniture we procure. We anticipate the number of commercial projects that we are working on will continue to grow.”

Further growth in sales is being attributed to Nest’s complimentary home consultations, and its design destination showroom which attracts people from across the region who are looking for ‘furniture, lighting and inspiration’.

A trend the retailer’s sales team leader said was indicative of a ‘wider shift’ in shopping habits amongst consumers of luxury products.

Ashlee Sanderson, sales team leader at Nest said: “Online is still a driving force for sales in retail, with many consumers opting for the speed and convenience that comes with making a purchase online.

“However, like many other purveyors of luxury products we are finding that our customers are shifting away from online-only buying and are looking for a much more tangible, hand on experience. They want to get a feel for the quality of a product, they want to understand its story, and they want to get some insight and advice on what might work in their own individual homes.

“Our design destination showroom in Sheffield, and our home consultations, offers that, and that’s proving increasingly popular.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Brittany Guymer .