Lidia Kane on Grant Westfield's new showroom space at its Edinburgh HQ

As Grant Westfield opens a showroom within its Edinburgh HQ for its Multipanel and Naturepanel brands, we catch up with marketing manager Lidia Kane to find out how it will appeal to a trade audience.

Q: Tell us about the dedicated showroom space – why have you decided to invest in one now?
A: There is a growing demand for wall panels over more traditional surface options such as tiles, particularly as homeowners and trade professionals alike move towards products that are both practical and environmentally conscious. With that shift in mind, it felt like the right time to invest in a dedicated showroom space. We wanted to create an environment where customers can experience the quality and variety of our products first-hand.

The showroom not only showcases our commitment to sustainability and innovation but also gives homeowners, retailers and installers the opportunity to really engage with the brand in a tangible way. It’s a physical space that represents everything Multipanel stands for – style, substance and smart design.

Q: What are you highlighting in the showroom?
A: The showroom has been designed to highlight our most in-demand products, alongside the latest additions to the range. We’re showcasing our bestselling wall panels in fully styled displays to help visitors visualise how they might work in their own homes. Our latest collections – Off-Set, and our exciting collaborations with leading designers – are presented in inspirational room sets to demonstrate their versatility and visual impact.

We’ve also included examples of our flooring products to show how they pair effortlessly with our panels, creating a cohesive look. To support the decision-making process, the space features interactive tools including our Room Visualiser and Carbon Reduction Calculator. These help customers understand not just how the products will look, but also the positive impact they can have from a sustainability perspective.

A full sample wall is also available, with every décor presented in A4 format for a tactile, hands-on experience.

Q: How did you decide on the layout, displays and which products to showcase?
A: When planning the showroom layout, we wanted to make the space as inspirational and immersive as possible. The goal was to showcase a wide range of looks while still creating a seamless and engaging visitor journey. We took cues from current interior design trends – such as spa-style bathrooms, bold colour statements, botanical-inspired spaces and soft neutrals – to create aspirational displays that reflect the ways people are styling their homes today.

The displays have been carefully considered to show our most popular wall panel décors in situ, helping customers see how they can work in real-life settings. All of our décors are also available in A4 sample format, making it easy to browse the entire collection.

We’ve allowed flexibility within the showroom too, with additional wall space being installed to accommodate new product launches as part of our ongoing NPD process.

Q: Who are you hoping will visit the showroom?
A: The showroom has been designed to appeal to a broad audience. We welcome everyone - from homeowners looking for bathroom inspiration, to installers and tradespeople wanting to get a feel for the product before specifying it. Interior designers and architects are also a key audience, particularly those working on residential or commercial projects where practical, high-quality surface solutions are required.

We’re also keen to support our retail and merchant partners, giving them a space where they can bring clients for product demonstrations or browse the full range in a relaxed, well-designed environment.

Why should retailers and other trade customers visit?
For our trade customers, the showroom offers a valuable opportunity to experience the full Multipanel product range in an inspiring, real-world context. It’s a place where they can see how our wall panels and flooring products look when installed and how they work with different styles of sanitaryware and design schemes – be it contemporary or more traditional.

The showroom also acts as a resource for staff training, client consultations and design planning. We have a dedicated Showroom Advisor on hand to offer expert guidance and product knowledge, ensuring every visitor gets tailored support.

Ultimately, it’s a space designed to make it easier for our trade partners to sell, specify and install Multipanel products with confidence.