Harrogate Christmas & Gift: Hall M Stand M22
Konstsmide started their business over 80 years ago and from the very beginning insisted on quality over price.
The saying ‘Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten’ is still as true today as it was when Konstsmide first began manufacturing their lighting products.
So it was that I drove up the M1 to their offices and showroom in Clay Cross, just a few miles from Chesterfield to meet up with U.K managing director Oscar Johansson.
Konstsmide have been true innovators over the years and were the first company to introduce ‘Welcome lights’ in the early sixties. Over 60 years later and there are many different versions available, but the original design is still very popular. Oscar informs me that in Sweden, young householders are buying up Konstsmide’s old, original Welcome Lights on ebay to re-paint and decorate to their own choice of colours and patterns. Could this catch on here in the U.K.?
Solar power lights
Oscar believes that this is the future for outdoor lighting. Their sales of solar powered lights are growing and as with any truly new innovation, it takes time for the great British public and possibly for that matter their customers’ buyers to recognize the potential. Sustainability is on everyones’ lips.
This surely has to be the way forward!
Konstsmide’s designers have created a way to do away with having to connect to a mains socket. Simply The solar powered battery can be charged by either from your laptop or mains plug.
Once fully charged and placed in the garden next to the Christmas figure, you simply remove the transformer and 13amp plug lead and then plug directly into the solar-powered battery.
Also available is a battery box that uses 4 ‘D’ sized batteries for the same purpose.
The range is growing and comes with USB charger.
Another original design introduced a couple of years ago was their Cable reels. How many of us remember each year having to untangle our string lights. Certainly, I do. For me their cable reel does away with this problem.
Around 300 new products will be introduced at Harrogate and Oscar told me “I am looking forward to Harrogate and to see and hear what our customers are saying and how they see moving forward and want to work with us in the future.”
The lighting sector of Christmas is constantly evolving and Konstsmide are right up there in the forefront leading the way.
It has been a challenging year for the industry, but Konstsmide seem to have plenty of product that will keep both old and new customers coming back for repeat business.
Harrogate Christmas & Gift: Hall M Stand M22
