We are delighted to see the promotion of the independent retailer today in the form of Independents’ Day. Independents’ Day is a national campaign that promotes and celebrates independent businesses across the UK. As independent retailers, John Dick & Son fully support this important initiative organised by People 1st, you can read more about the campaign here.

In an age of mass production and multi-national retailing, it’s nice to see a celebration of the smaller independent retailers that highlights the wealth and depth of experience and value they offer. John Dick & Son are celebrating 60 years in the furniture trade this year, yes we’ve been selling furniture as a family business since 1954!

While we may not have the buying power of the large national retailers, we do have experience, and long established working relationships with the most admired furniture manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

Perhaps the best example of this is our long association with John Sankey, one of the finest sofa manufacturers in the world. We have a special John Sankey studio in our showroom where you can see, and try, the quality sofas they produce. In all the years we’ve been dealing with John Sankey, we’ve never had two sofas the same; every piece they manufacture is unique – something you will only find when dealing with smaller independent retailers.

Of course, 60 years experience doesn’t mean we only have excellent relationships with the best sofa makers; we have equally good relationships with the finest wall covering designers, fabric producers, and cabinet makers. And, all of these can be brought together to create a truly wonderful interior by our in-house interior design team.

So, we appreciate the work done by the organisers of the Independents’ Day campaign and we look forward to celebrating it for the next 60!

Listed below are just some of the independent associations supporting Independents’ Day 2014.

• Association of Cycle Traders
• Association of Town and City Management
• Act Smart
• Beverage Standards Association
• British Independent Retailers Association
• Booksellers Association
• British Council of Shopping Centres
• British Sandwich Association
• Entertainment Retailers Association
• Guild of Fine Food
• Horticultural Trades Association
• Hospitality Guild
• Independent Retailers Confederation
• National Association of Goldsmiths
• National Federation of Meat and Food Traders
• National Federation of Retail Newsagents
• Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association
• National Market Traders Federation

Please feel free to drop in for a coffee and a browse around the showroom where you’ll be able to see the John Sankey and Fam studios and a whole host of other fine quality furniture. We will be delighted to see you.