Friday, December 13, 2019
TOP STORIES
Retail partnerships remain key to Swoon, but Debenhams concessions will close
Furniture retailer Swoon — sold to its co-founders in an insolvent buyout earlier this week — will continue to work with third-party retailers but says that its concession partnership with Debenhams is nearing its end.
Respite for export-oriented British mattress makers after first rise in eight months
U.K. mattress makers collectively grew exports for the first time in eight months in October despite continued weak trade with E.U. countries.
Emma says it sold 3,000 mattresses in U.K on Black Friday
Black Friday mattress sales jumped 80 percent year-on-year for direct-to-consumer bed brand Emma, with the Frankfurt-headquartered company saying it made a sale every eight seconds during peak hours.
U.K. buyers turns to Malaysia for wood cabinet furniture
Living, dining and bedroom cabinet imports into the U.K. have returned to growth in 2019 and a large part of that is down to the rise in the value of goods shipped from Malaysia.
Euro bed retail group Beter Bed 'releases' CFO, hires replacement
Pan-European mattress retailer and distributor Beter Bed Holding has a new chief financial officer after the current incumbent, Hugo van den Ochtend, was released from his duties and responsibilities.
Carpet, rug imports rise as Turkey continues year-long trend
Britain imported more carpets and rugs in October despite weaker numbers from Belgium and the Netherlands, the two source nations that together represent half of all imports.
Danspin offers to sell carpet yarn spinner to appease competition regulator
Danspin, the Danish carpet yarn spinner that bought Lawton Yarns out of administration this summer, has offered to sell the business to avoid the U.K. competition regulator escalating its antitrust inquiry.
Kaymed wins two awards at annual Harvey Norman ceremony
Mattress specialist Kaymed was a winner at the annual awards ceremony of major retailer Harvey Norman earlier this month, gaining success in two categories.
John Lewis finds furniture growth despite overall home sales fall
Furniture and flooring were bright spots in a week that saw overall home sales fall back for John Lewis & Partners, the department store chain.
High end Scottish furniture company closing as owner retires
Upmarket Scottish retailer Shapes Furniture, based just outside of Edinburgh, is clearing all stock ahead of its planned permanent closure.
Designs of emerging talents to get Hall 1 entrance exposure at January Furniture Show
The January Furniture Show will include a feature showcasing a selection of the winning designs from the Young Furniture Makers' Awards. It follows the show sponsoring the awards ceremony this October.
Defendant settles pre-trial after being accused of copying best-selling Portfolio Home design
The textile designer and distributor behind the Portfolio Home brand has won what it described as a "bitterly-fought" copyright claim after an unspecified defendant agreed to settle on the morning of the trial.
INTELLIGENCE
Market Data
Detailed market information about each of the Upholstery, Beds, Cabinet Furniture and Floorcoverings sectors at suppliers' prices.
Discover the up-to-date value of:
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UK production
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Imports
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Exports
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Key Trading Partners
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Total UK market size
BEST READ IN THE PAST MONTH
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Marks & Spencer names ex-BHS md and current Tesco apparel boss as new head of Clothing and Home unit
Experienced retail executive Richard Price is to swap Tesco for Marks & Spencer after being named managing director, Clothing & Home.
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Why foam suppliers are now a less accurate bellwether for the health of the mattress and sofa markets
The U.K. sales figures for the major producers of foam — suppliers to the big upholstery and mattress manufacturers in Britain — were once perhaps the best catch-all measure for the performance of...
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Six and a half years on, administrators prepare to close the file on retail bedco insolvency
Ernst & Young (EY) has completed its work on one of the biggest insolvencies in the furniture trade of the past decade, divvying up the last proceeds from asset realisations to outstanding...
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Victoria finds growth in carpets amid jump in profits
Underlying half-year earnings jumped nearly a third for acquisitive floorcoverings distributor and manufacturer Victoria as it grew sales at its existing businesses and integrated acquisitions.
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Headwinds persist but ScS says rate of order decline has narrowed slightly
Upholstery and flooring chain ScS Group says like-for-like trading is declining but at a narrower rate than it reported earlier this autumn.
INTELLIGENCE
Retail Sales
Up-to-date monthly UK retail sales data spanning total furniture and lighting sales PLUS detailed breakdowns for each of the Upholstery, Beds, Cabinet Furniture and Floorcoverings sectors.
Proprietary granular data covering:
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UK retail sales value and y/y delta. Monthly and annual
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Breakdown by product category
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Historical data
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Monthly and annual figures
OPINION & ANALYSIS
RH could do for high-end U.K. furniture retail what IKEA did for the entry-level sector
Many overseas furniture retailers have launched in the U.K. with big plans. Some have crashed and burned, others have stayed the course and for some, the jury is still out. Whatever the outcome for RH, the retailer formerly known as Restoration Hardware whose launch here inches closer, it seems certain to leave its mark.
Why foam suppliers are now a less accurate bellwether for the health of the mattress and sofa markets
The U.K. sales figures for the major producers of foam — suppliers to the big upholstery and mattress manufacturers in Britain — were once perhaps the best catch-all measure for the performance of both markets. Not so any more.
Goodbye Steinhoff, Hello Blue Group
The new name for Steinhoff's divested U.K. furniture and beds operations explained, and why the deal differs from some the South African conglomerate has completed in recent times.
Bensons/Harveys takeover: Alteri Investors opts for the Full English (and Welsh)
Steinhoff has agreed to sell its U.K. furniture and beds assets to the turnaround investor Alteri Investors. A deal has been a long time coming, and few will be surprised at the detail.
DATA & LISTS
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The Insolvency Report: Corporate bankruptcies in the furniture trade in the week to December 6, 2019
Three insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry were announced in the period November 30–December 6, 2019.
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Creditors of insolvent furniture industry companies: Debt Report December 6, 2019
Today's list contains five insolvent companies leaving combined debts of c. £1,600,000. Names all c. 30 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
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Corporate Insolvency: Appointments in the week to November 29, 2019
Two insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry were announced in the period November 23–29, 2019.
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Debt Report: November 29, 2019 — Who was owed cash by insolvent furniture industry companies
Today's list contains six insolvent companies leaving combined debts of c. £2,600,000. Names all c. 40 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
TOP STORIES
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Retail partnerships remain key to Swoon, but Debenhams concessions will close
Furniture retailer Swoon — sold to its co-founders in an insolvent buyout earlier this week — will continue to work with third-party retailers but says that its concession partnership with Debenhams is nearing its end.
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Respite for export-oriented British mattress makers after first rise in eight months
U.K. mattress makers collectively grew exports for the first time in eight months in October despite continued weak trade with E.U. countries.
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Poland, China drive increase in autumn upholstery imports
Upholstery imports climbed at the beginning of the final quarter of 2019 on the back of double-digit climbs from Poland, China and Vietnam.
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Furniture distributor Baker sales, profits jump but says currency is a headwind
A third consecutive year of double-digit sales growth helped North East cabinet wholesaler Baker Furniture book higher profits in 2018–19 in spite of rising overheads.
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Revenue climb bolsters Barker and Stonehouse amid tech investment
Privately-owned furniture retailer Barker and Stonehouse achieved a seventh straight year of revenue growth in the 12 months to end March, a period that saw it continue to upgrade its technology infrastructure.
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Founders rescue furniture retailer Swoon via prepack buyout
Furniture and homewares retailer Swoon has been sold to its co-founders via a prepack administration deal that leaves prior backers of the business facing the loss of their investment, The Telegraph reported.
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New life for North East bed shops after predecessor co. liquidation
Former employees at the former Monomarket regional retail chain in the North East — which ran four prominent bed stores and the MrMattress online shop — have launched a new beds retail business.
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Ex-Argos CEO joins board at Debenhams
Department store retailer Debenhams has appointed former Home Retail Group CEO John Walden as a non-executive director.
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Downsized Original Factory Shop hails impact of CVA
Off-price department store retailer The Original Factory Shop says its company voluntary arrangement (CVA) last year has transformed its balance sheet, cutting debt and ongoing store costs.
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Steepest drop in out of town shopping park footfall since turn of the year
Footfall declined in November as heavy rain kept shoppers away from key retail destinations last month, according to a closely-followed survey.
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OTHER NEWS
Emma says it sold 3,000 mattresses in U.K on Black Friday
Black Friday mattress sales jumped 80 percent year-on-year for direct-to-consumer bed brand Emma, with the Frankfurt-headquartered company saying it made a sale every eight seconds during peak hours.
U.K. buyers turns to Malaysia for wood cabinet furniture
Living, dining and bedroom cabinet imports into the U.K. have returned to growth in 2019 and a large part of that is down to the rise in the value of goods shipped from Malaysia.
Euro bed retail group Beter Bed 'releases' CFO, hires replacement
Pan-European mattress retailer and distributor Beter Bed Holding has a new chief financial officer after the current incumbent, Hugo van den Ochtend, was released from his duties and responsibilities.
Carpet, rug imports rise as Turkey continues year-long trend
Britain imported more carpets and rugs in October despite weaker numbers from Belgium and the Netherlands, the two source nations that together represent half of all imports.
Danspin offers to sell carpet yarn spinner to appease competition regulator
Danspin, the Danish carpet yarn spinner that bought Lawton Yarns out of administration this summer, has offered to sell the business to avoid the U.K. competition regulator escalating its antitrust inquiry.
Kaymed wins two awards at annual Harvey Norman ceremony
Mattress specialist Kaymed was a winner at the annual awards ceremony of major retailer Harvey Norman earlier this month, gaining success in two categories.
John Lewis finds furniture growth despite overall home sales fall
Furniture and flooring were bright spots in a week that saw overall home sales fall back for John Lewis & Partners, the department store chain.
High end Scottish furniture company closing as owner retires
Upmarket Scottish retailer Shapes Furniture, based just outside of Edinburgh, is clearing all stock ahead of its planned permanent closure.
Designs of emerging talents to get Hall 1 entrance exposure at January Furniture Show
The January Furniture Show will include a feature showcasing a selection of the winning designs from the Young Furniture Makers' Awards. It follows the show sponsoring the awards ceremony this October.
Defendant settles pre-trial after being accused of copying best-selling Portfolio Home design
The textile designer and distributor behind the Portfolio Home brand has won what it described as a "bitterly-fought" copyright claim after an unspecified defendant agreed to settle on the morning of the trial.