The UK’s leading manufacturer of Salon, Spa and Barber equipment is leading the way to achieve Net Zero with the appointment of their new compliance officer.
REM UK based in Nelson, Lancashire, have been on a 10 year mission to manufacture as much as they can in their UK plant. Over the period REM imported goods have been reduced from 30% to just 5%, which brings with it many other advantages.
The shift from importing has meant the team at REM have massively reduced lead times, created more local employment and significantly reduced their carbon footprint.
With a Heritage dating back over 100 years, REM has established itself as a leading supplier of furniture & equipment to the salon, barber and spa industries. The REM team of professionals create practical, stylish products and together with the Design Team create stunning working interiors for Salons and Spas around the Globe.
The company produces in-house all furniture and fittings from reception desks to wash units to motorised beauty couches. Soft furnishings can be supplied with a vast range of material furnishings and can even be bespoke with your brand. REM has an in-house design facility that works from plans to create the style colour and personality that the modern beauty and hair salon wants.
To continue their move to achieving Net Zero, the company has recruited Nina Akrigg as their compliance officer. Nina’s experience will be invaluable in continuing to drive REM’s processes and systems towards being leaner, and greener future.
Nina commented ‘I’m proud to join a company that is looking into its own impact and looking at different ways we can change. We are documenting our waste on ERP waste management which is highlighting which areas of waste we need to tackle first. We are working closely with the Chamber of Commerce to guide us in the correct direction for us as a company to minimise our carbon footprint and aim for Net Zero.’
The Salon, Spa and Barber Industry has changed significantly over the past 15 years. The market, still flooded with cheaper imports from the Far East has been hampered by huge lead times since the Covid pandemic. With that and the increase in container prices, Customs Clearance and Maritime Insurance the prices have risen by up to 50% and supply chains become less reliable.
During this time REM have reduced lead times on bespoke orders from 6-8 weeks to just 3-4 weeks without the need for huge price increases and is now well-positioned to cement its place as the industries leading Manufacturer. In addition to this REM carry an ‘Express Range’ which can be delivered in 7 to 10 days delivered direct to your door.
Chris Blakey, the Finance Director of REM said ‘We’re committed to UK manufacturing, training new staff and growing our business here in Lancashire. A place we’re proud to live and work in. Leading the industry on the Net Zero agenda has allowed us to develop an exciting new range that we’ll be launching over the next 6 months’
In addition to recruiting Nina the company is also on the lookout for several new apprentices to help grow their talent from within.