KITCHEN RANGES & COMPONENTS
Trade Mouldings Damien Connolly
s 2025 comes to a close, Trade Mouldings’ sales Director, Damien Connolly, reflects on a year that tested many across the furniture sector, but ultimately reinforced the value of flexibility, control and strategic investment.
A
“As we complete another year, 2025 in the furniture industry was a challenging one for many, with several distribution and manufacturing companies ceasing to trade, many of whom had years of successful trading,” explains Damien. “Within the Trade Mouldings Group, we have been fortunate in that we both manufacture and distribute our products so we can service any level of demand, from large projects right down to Made to Measure doors in job lots.” That dual capability has proven critical in responding to shifting market conditions. “It is the flexibility to accommodate the current demand that has been a key to a successful 2025,” Damien adds. “The fact we have three strategically located distribution centres in Cookstown NI, Rochdale UK and Dublin ROI means we have our products in the markets they are needed with no MOQs and next day delivery, which gives us a unique proposition to the market.”
Focused growth and evolving tastes Rather than chasing rapid expansion, Trade Mouldings’ approach throughout 2025 was
BKU’s Matt Broughton spoke with Damien Connolly, Sales Director at Trade Mouldings, about navigating a challenging market, new product innovation, and the opportunities ahead as the company enters 2026.
rooted in consolidation and staying closely aligned with design trends.
“Our key goal in 2025 was to consolidate what we do, continue to do it well, and at the same time keep in touch with the market trends,” says Damien.
Several targeted launches helped achieve that balance: “We had a full rebrand during the year with new company Logo’s and the successful launch of our new independent retailer brand for Kitchens and Bedrooms, called Studio Vivre. This has been very well received and fully backed up with branded kitchen and bedroom brochures and a dedicated web site
www.studiovivre.co.uk where retailers can direct their customers for inspiration and ideas when choosing their new kitchens and bedrooms. We also had a successful launch of our Buckingham and Balmoral 5-piece ash embossed doors in the popular Reed green finish. This has proved very popular with sales increasing steadily throughout the year. “We launched Taupe as a finish in our MTO vinyl wrapped door range as earthy colours continue to be on trend. We introduced Made to Measure Timber doors to our timber portfolio offering more flexibility to designers using our products.”
One trend stood out in particular… “The re- emergence of oak in all formats was apparent and also widely on display at the various European exhibitions towards the end of the year,” Damien
notes. “Woodgrains have been out of fashion for a few years now, but there is definitely a re-emergence, with oak leading the way.”
New launches and ambitions for 2026 As the industry looks ahead, Trade Mouldings is entering 2026 with renewed momentum and a strong product pipeline. “We are exhibiting at KBB 2026 for the first time since the pandemic and will be launching several new product ranges, as well as exhibiting many of the current ranges to new and prospective customers alike,” says Damien. “Hopefully in 2026 we continue the momentum we have achieved in 2025, and the market shows positive signs towards growth in all sectors.”
Among the highlights is a significant expansion of the Fenton range. “We will add to the hugely successful Fenton range of painted slab laser- edged doors with the introduction of two new matt finishes, Porcelain and Black. We will also introduce it in an oak veneer which will mix well with the current seven unicolours.” The technical credentials of the range are central to its appeal. “The Fenton door has a unique Excimer paint application making it anti- fingerprint, anti-scratch resistant and extremely robust. We buy this material in sheet format and cut to size and laser edge in-house, giving a seamless finish.”
Sustainability and looking ahead
Sustainability remains deeply embedded in Trade Mouldings’ operations.
“Our factories are covered in solar panels generating 35% of the electricity required to power our 350,000 sq ft facility in Cookstown,” Damien explains. “We also have a biomass boiler which converts all our wood waste and dust into heat. Nothing leaves our site for landfill.” All materials are responsibly sourced, with FSC certification across the portfolio.
Looking forward, the company is positioning itself to respond quickly as opportunities arise. “As 2026 starts we want to position ourselves to take advantage of any opportunities that arise in the market,” Damien concludes. "That includes the independent retail sector, components for the new build and contract, student accommodation and healthcare across all KBB markets in NI, the UK and ROI.”
36 BKU FEBRUARY 2026
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
