SGD Conference – Sampling The Best - read more about our attendance at this year's event

We know what to expect at SGD Conferences now, the latest of which took place in London last weekend. In the breaks between lectures, we’re always super busy as delegates swoop in to say hallo and check out some of our latest additions to the range.

Our stand at the conference - for designers, nothing beats getting their hands on the materials that they specify

And it’s always enjoyable. For Chris Durnford, our Customer Experience Director, it was his first time staffing our stand at this event, along with Estimator Ryan Burge. “There was high demand from people wanting to pick up a sample box,” says Chris. “Designers who either hadn’t got one or were getting a new one because theirs was a couple of years old and they were keen to get samples of our new products. On the breaks we were really busy - one of the most popular stands out of about twenty.”

The conference took place at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington Gore, London, and, for those who don’t know, the Society is housed in a building with bags of character. Grade II* listed, and one of the finest Victorian buildings in London, the original house was designed by Norman Shaw and only the best materials were used. It feels a privilege to be able to display our own materials in such surroundings.

DesignBoard was a popular choice - and much better viewed 'in the flesh'!

Drawing particular enthusiasm this time were our new range of Florence porcelains. “They look very nice, with a limestone effect,” says Chris. Also rousing interest were DesignClad and, taking a starring role on the stand, DesignBoard. “As one person said,” says Chris, “product shots of composite decking can look good and then, when you see the product, it looks like plastic.” That certainly isn’t the case we DesignBoard and we fielded plenty of questions about what it’s made of.

Events like these also offer the opportunity to pick our brains on the spot. “People show us their designs on their phone and ask what we recommend,” says Chris. So, make a note to come and say hallo at the next event. You won’t be alone! “We’re always welcoming,” says Chris, “and lots of people like to come for a chat!”