The Independent Hotel Show team paid a visit to Havwoods' showroom in Clerkenwell, London to learn about how they've earned themselves the pole position in the market. We spoke to Simon Myatt, Havwoods Brand Ambassador, who discussed with us the history of Havwoods, how Havwoods aims to work towards true circularity and what we can expect from their stand at IHS22. 

Tell us about Havwoods and what sets you apart from competition? 

Havwoods started in 1975 by the Whiley family, who still own the company today. While we are now operating in over 20 countries worldwide, we are still very much a family business at heart. Havwoods customer experience is one of the things that sets us apart. We thrive on inspiring our clients and making it easy for them to choose the right product for their project. Our highly knowledgeable showroom staff can offer you a wood flooring consultation in one of our five UK locations, or via a virtual appointment.

What is also important for us is that we work only with the finest mills establishing great partnerships and working with them to develop new ranges. This also makes it possible for us to change direction fast with our full bespoke capabilities.

We are also very proud of our global reach. We are now present all around the world so wherever you are and whatever project you are working on we offer you the same level of product quality and service.

Are you seeing any changes in wood flooring trends at the moment? 

Trends seem cyclical in some ways. There are fashions and trends which come and go but there are also some classics that stay. Our Fendi product for example has been a favourite for years, and still when I go out to meet clients they always remind me how much they love the product!  

In terms of some of the trends, about five years ago light oak and greys and blues were very popular. After these dark woods became trendy while the greys and blues stayed on. Today more intricate patterns and forms work for many, and I think it’s more to do with the cultural trends in the location where the client is based in.  

The old trends aren’t going away though. It depends on different types of architecture, whether it’s Brutalist or Edwardian or even Modern, we have a product that's right for any type of building.

What steps are you taking towards sustainability? 

Timber as a product is fundamentally very sustainable. FSC Certification, PEFC, Cradle to Cradle, Floor Score and EU Eco Label, including many other certifications all help us to be on the correct trajectory.  

We are proud to be FSC certified as an organisation and are working towards true circularity. This means that when buildings come to the end of their design life, the products that we have supplied can be truly recycled and reused. We may be able to supply a sustainable and recyclable product, but it’s important to have an impact in the end of life. We know exactly what the materials are that go into each of our products. We make sure to communicate to our customers which parts can be broken down and recycled, used for composting or used for pellets for heating or firing up factories. 

The great news is that everyone is so much more aware of the importance of sustainability today. I think there should be a scheme to incentivise people to recycle things after they’ve used them or to investigate what happens next so that we can achieve true circularity.

What can our hoteliers expect to see and experience at Havwoods' stand at the show? 

We are very excited to be showcasing our new fluted wall panel collection. This is a new product we have brought in that is perfect for hotel lobbies and restaurant areas! We will also be showcasing a carefully selected range of some of our most popular products within the hospitality sector.

We will take our customers on a journey to understand where our products come from, how they are made and what sustainability means to us. Look forward to seeing you at stand 1818!

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Guests at Independent Hotel Show can find Havwoods on Stand 1818.

Visit their website: https://www.havwoods.com/uk/

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