Arranging a biz trip to Ireland, I could spend all day listening to the Irish accent…

The last of the show orders are heading out of the door, phew!   The vast majority we delivered on the show vans, but the larger delieveries like this one we use our friends at DHL.  http://www.dhl.com Even the snow can’t stop us!

I’ll get straight to the point. 1 week as standard, 2 weeks max.   Doesn’t sound too quick in the overnight era I hear you shout?   Here’s why:

As our range is so diverse and we change it constantly to match trends, we carry very low stocks, (this also gaurantees you won’t ever see 50 of YOUR beloved picture in the discount clearance sheds)  Each order is made to order, no sitting on shelves collecting dust, and most importantly, made together so pairs match, the foil or woodgrain is from the same batch,  they mountboard is from the same reel, so they will all carry on living together for ever.   These things matter to us,  and we hope to you too.

The next part is delivery.  Pictures with glass really don’t like being stood on by men. Call us sexist, but they do seem to do the lions share of standing on boxes marked “Fragile-DO NOT STAND ON”  So we like to delivery our pictures ourselves, on our purpose built, carpet lined, vans.  The pictures, and previous customers love it. No unpacking, no damage.  We cover the UK,  and try to get round most area’s every 2 weeks.

So now you know whats  involved, 1-2 weeks is like lightning!

As everything in lfe, there are exceptions so if you have an urgent job, still get in touch, if we can , we will!

I can’t remember who said, “the only way to guarantee an English summer is to have it framed behind glass on your wall”……. how true, and it works in winter too! We are lovely and cosy here at Fort Marshall surrounded by landscapes of the med in summer, ahh, it’s true, summer IS coming.

Just done the Spring Fair in Birmingham http://www.marshall-art.net/spring-fair/

playing on the internet

Just got back to base 11 hours after setting off in the blizzard, York to Birmingham, to visit the Spring fair at the NEC.  Now that is commitment to the cause!  www.springfair.com

With nothing but Slipknot www.slipknot1.com on the stereo we arrived keen to be inspired and find fresh new idea’s to work on.

We did find that, a couple of great things to move Arte Noir into the next phase, but the overall feeling coming away from the show was the lack of any bold new designs, and a gloomy, defeated mood there.

Yes I know we’re in a reccesssion,  but we are all still selling stuff, so lets concentrate on what is selling, and stop harping on about what isn’t.  Just like the snow,  this too will pass………. Time to start making it happen!   Rant over! I’m off home!

Having just launched our new range for the Birmingham Interiors NEC 09 show,  which was well recieved by  existing customers and newcomers,  and put alot of time and effort into a new website,  we have not taken a stand at the Spring Fair.  “We feel investing more time and energy into our website, that can be accessed 24-7 is a better way to reach our customers.   Shows are changing,  alot of supplyers are simply not being bold and bringing out new product that gets the buyers exited enough to visit.  We have to find the next new way forward rather than doing things because we’ve allways done them”

Had a big day in the factory today, keeping up with sales who had a monster day Wednesday.  As we make everything to order through lean manufacturing, a busy sales day has to be immeadiately matched by production, and we did it!

Just finished the last of the editing of the new range from the Interiors Birmingham show at the NEC. If you didn’t get there, don’t panic!! Sit back, relax and check out the latest from the worlds best publishers, with added magic from the Marshall Arts design team.