TOP STORIES

• Loaf sales rose again ahead of regional showroom expansion

  Expanding clicks-to-bricks retailer Loaf made further top line gains as it began its rollout of showrooms across the UK. Profits fell on narrower margins, investment costs and foreign exchange.

• Eve to cut marketing spend, ask investors for cash amid strategy rethink

  Eve Sleep will lower its investment in marketing and try and generate more repeat business, its new CEO said yesterday. The direct-to-consumer business also plans to raise £15 million in equity funding before the end of the year.

• UK sofa sales fall, margins widen in Q3 for Ashley Manor, Alstons owner

  The Thai owner of sofa makers Alstons and Ashley Manor has reported lower third quarter sales for its combined UK sofa business unit but wider margins, leading to improved profits.

• Second Sofa.com concession under threat as House of Fraser heads out of Intu

  House of Fraser is to close its stores at Norwich, Nottingham, Newcastle's Metro Centre and Lakeside Shopping Centre at Thurrock in early 2019 after rent talks with the property owned failed to yield an agreement.

• More than 59 weeks since John Lewis managed consecutive home growth

  Negative year-on-year home sales returned for John Lewis & Partners in a tough overall week that saw total sales across the chain drop by just over £8 million.

• Dining, exports and higher throughput lift Baker Furniture sales

  Early export wins, dining ranges and higher sales with existing customers were behind Baker Furniture's top line growth in 2017–18, according to managing director Mark Callaghan.

• Southern expansion boosts Barker & Stonehouse sales

  Privately-owned furniture retailer Barker & Stonehouse grew sales double-digit in 2017–18 with the impact of new stores and online combining to deliver a sixth straight top line gain.

• 82% of mattress imports hail from just five countries

  Year-on-year mattress imports advanced for the fourth straight month in September with a 9.9 percent increase driven by the two largest supply nations.

• Investors build large stake in flooring group Victoria

  An Atlanta headquartered investment giant has built more than a fifth share in Victoria, the acquisitive floorcoverings giant, after a series of transactions over the past year.

• UK sofa importers turn to Italy as China drop-off continues

  The turnaround in Italian sofa imports gathered pace in September with the value of goods from the country rising by a third, countering weak figures from elsewhere including China.