INTERVIEW WITH NEXT125 Q&A
Matt: Are you using the South Lakes store in ways none of the others have allowed? Stuart: Every store is unique and while we are really involved in all stages, we don’t dictate at all how retailers run their businesses. That’s why we select only the best retailers to work with because we have total trust.
Markus Schüller, Managing Director of Schüller Möbelwerk GmbH, put it well when he said to Mark Butler, “As a company we established our corporate values around four years ago. It’s about COURAGE, which is certainly needed for decisions of this kind. It’s about TRUST – in oneself, in one’s team, in the market environment and in the customer. It’s about RESPONSIBILITY, which we must assume with this investment. And it’s about APPRECIATION for all those we encounter in our daily lives. You and your team have demonstrated these qualities in bringing this project to fruition. I thank you for the many years of trust and collaborative partnership.”
Matt: What led you to choose this location? Mark: We know this location really well. It’s perfectly positioned near the popular Lake District town of Kirkby Lonsdale. While we are surrounded by fields, we have access to a wide, rural and affluent catchment area of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Lune Valley and the city of Lancaster. Having retailed in the region for nearly 20 years, the team understands that customers, particularly at the premium end of the market, are willing to travel for quality and design.
Matt: What can you tell us about the planned Schuller showroom?
Liam Butler, Director, next125 South Lakes: Moving our Schüller showroom wasn’t part of the original plan but it makes perfect sense. We can develop both brands independently, while ensuring we can meet the needs of every customer who visits us. next125 appeals to the premium and aspirational consumer, while Schüller offers a broader range and more accessible price points. What remains consistent is the same high standard of service, design and installation delivered by our team. It’s set to open in late summer 2026, making this our busiest year yet!
The showroom is an enormous space and will give us the opportunity to showcase the range of furniture styles and options available with Schüller. What’s interesting in our location is that you have customers who are looking for high-end ultra contemporary designs, those who are on a budget but don’t want to sacrifice quality or features, and those with more traditional tastes. That’s what keeps it interesting as every customer and every design is totally different.
Matt: You recently held your grand opening; who visited, and what kind of reception did it get? Mark: The grand opening was a brilliant occasion and a real celebration. It was great to have the support of appliance brands Bora and V-ZUG giving cooking demonstrations and showing the versatility of their fantastic appliances.
BKU JUNE 2026 7
As retailers, it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day of running the business. The launch of next125 South Lakes gave us the perfect opportunity to thank our team, our partners and most importantly our customers for all their support and to show off the showroom to prospective clients. It took a lot of work, which couldn’t have been done without our team and next125 but it was well worth it.
Matt: Now that this is finally up and running, where is your focus turning to next? Stuart: We’re already in discussions with other retailers for next125 concept stores and we will have some news to share on this shortly. Let’s just say that we’ve done England and Scotland
so far. And the next launch will be in a new location.
Matt: Anything else you can tell us about the rest of 2026? Stuart: We’ve just returned from EuroCucina where we saw some of the biggest launches from next125 for their 2026 collection. There are some really exciting innovations in terms of lighting, new creative maker campaigns, colours and new additions to the range.
I’d also like to add that this is a really exciting time for next125; there’s so much innovation, creativity, drive and determination in the company. That’s what makes it so exciting. Watch this space; there’s more coming!
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