Monday, January 21, 2019
TOP STORIES
White-label South Coast sofa maker placed into liquidation
Hastings sofa maker B&S Upholstery is to be liquidated a little over a year after it emerged from the embers of what was once one of Britain's busiest upholstery factories.
Parker Knoll, Sealy among winners of The Furniture Awards
Judges named the winners of The Furniture Awards at the NEC today (Jan. 20) with Parker Knoll — celebrating its 150th year in 2019 — among the winners.
North East furniture maker launches into retail market with Ayla brand
"We're probably the biggest furniture manufacturer you've never heard of," says Mark Dolder, md of a North East seating company launching into the retail market with the introduction of the Ayla brand this week.
Dino Rocos retiring from John Lewis May 2019
John Lewis & Partners operations director Dino Rocos is to leave after 43 years with the department store retailer. He will retire at the end of May 2019.
Monthly bed retail sales top £200m for first time
Mattress and bed retailers ended 2018 on a high as the value of sales in December topped £200 million for the first time, a record high for a single month.
Vispring owner Flex acquires Canada's Marshall Mattress
Flex, the £300 million bedding group that owns And So To Bed and Vispring, has agreed to buy Canadian bed maker Marshall Mattress from its private shareholders.
Debenhams said to be seeking rent cuts across estate
Embattled department store retailer Debenhams has begun talks with landlords with a view to cutting its rent bill, according to the Financial Times.
Home24 hits order target but revenue misses
European furniture etailer Home24 said a record Black Friday event meant it hit full year order targets in 2018 but revenue will be lower than forecast after some deliveries were delayed until January.
Airsprung investment affirms commitment to upholstery, headboard sectors
Beds and furniture group Airsprung has invested £250,000 acquiring new machinery for its Cavendish Upholstery and Swanglen business units, underscoring its commitment to the upholstery and headboard sectors.
Price pressures intensify for furniture retailers
Furniture retailers discounted at deeper levels in December according to new official data but price pressures further down the supply chain threaten to push costs up.
Sales fall for JD Williams owner but higher interest payments soften blow
Third quarter product sales fell for the company behind the home shopping retailers JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo, but the overall revenue fall was lower because of extra income from financial services.
Bed retailers, makers urged to aid research into end-of-life mattresses
The National Bed Federation (NBF) is calling on companies across the beds supply chain to participate in a survey that will inform future planning policy with regard to used mattresses and improving recycling rates.
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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Home declines for fifth straight week at John Lewis
John Lewis & Partners' home categories ended 2018 on a low note while fashion and electrical items meant the retailer's overall business closed the year out on a high.
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New AHF owner made seven-figure capital contribution as part of takeover
Sales fell, margins narrowed and losses widened at retailer Anglia Home Furnishings (AHF) ahead of the change of ownership that secured its future last summer.
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Sales up at The White Company despite reduction in discounting
Bedroom, home and fashion retailer The White Company built out sales last year but profits fell because of upfront costs expanding two of its international businesses.
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Silentnight to open concessions in Homebase stores
Silentnight, Britain's biggest bed maker, is to expand distribution further after signing an agreement to open concessions inside home improvement chain Homebase.
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Dunelm takes multi-million pound Fogarty hit in period of faster growth
Sales growth accelerated for Dunelm in the retailer's second quarter as it managed to transition sales from its now-closed Worldstores brands to its main website. It also said the failure of the...
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
Who would buy Sofa.com and how much would they have to pay?
When Sofa.com debt-holder LGT European Capital took over the equity element of the upholstery vertical last year there was perhaps only ever one certainty.
If John Lewis has the cash, can it actually afford not to pay partners a bonus?
Partners at the department store chain John Lewis face the possibility of a bonus-free year for the first time since the 1950s. But not paying might end up being more costly.
Mattress industry promises to be the most dynamic sector in 2019
The winter sale period is well under way and the usual flurry of furniture-related adverts are promising benefits aplenty across British television screens. But something is different this year.
Why one Scottish property symbolises Debenhams' problems
Shares in Debenhams have fallen more than 85 percent in the past year with rarely a week passing without the department store retailer attracting negative headlines.
DATA & LISTS
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Debt Report: January 20, 2019
Today's list contains six insolvent companies leaving combined debts of £1,073,572. Names all 28 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
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Furniture trade insolvencies in the period Jan. 12–19, 2019
Eight insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry were announced in the period January 12–19, 2019.
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Debt Report: January 11, 2019
Today's list contains four insolvent companies leaving combined debts of £7,853,758. Names all 64 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
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Corporate furniture and allied trade insolvencies in the period Jan. 5–11, 2019
Five insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry were announced in the period January 5–11, 2019.
TOP STORIES
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White-label South Coast sofa maker placed into liquidation
Hastings sofa maker B&S Upholstery is to be liquidated a little over a year after it emerged from the embers of what was once one of Britain's busiest upholstery factories.
-
Parker Knoll, Sealy among winners of The Furniture Awards
Judges named the winners of The Furniture Awards at the NEC today (Jan. 20) with Parker Knoll — celebrating its 150th year in 2019 — among the winners.
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Returning buying director says Sofology will bring colour back to market
Upholstery chain Sofology has further reshaped its management team with one of the industry's best-known buyers returning to the business in a more senior role.
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Who would buy Sofa.com and how much would they have to pay?
When Sofa.com debt-holder LGT European Capital took over the equity element of the upholstery vertical last year there was perhaps only ever one certainty.
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Emerging flooring group Likewise builds acquisitions war chest
Likewise, the new business led by former Headlam directors Tony Brewer and Andrew Simpson, has raised equity finance as it looks to build a floorcoverings group of 'meaningful' size and scale.
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'Consolidation or drop-outs coming' says bed-in-a-box player after bumper Q4
Direct-to-consumer mattress business Emma says it racked up nearly £10 million in sales in the UK in the fourth quarter of 2018, with one of its co-founders forecasting consolidation in the sector in the near-term.
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Sofa maker adding more Natuzzi Editions stores in UK after Boxing Day debut
Italian upholstery giant Natuzzi will roll out more dedicated Natuzzi Editions stores in Britain by the spring as it follows the launch of the first two units here on Boxing Day.
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Ercol opens second international showroom
Ercol, the British furniture maker that celebrates its centenary next year, has added a second international showroom with a permanent display at Design Post in Cologne, Germany.
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Mattress imports hit record high in November
The value of mattresses imported into Britain in November 2018 was higher than any other month in history, new figures show.
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Furniture, homeware returns to growth for Very owner
Shop Direct, the ecommerce giant behind the Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com brands, said its furniture and homeware category returned to growth over the festive season.
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OTHER NEWS
North East furniture maker launches into retail market with Ayla brand
"We're probably the biggest furniture manufacturer you've never heard of," says Mark Dolder, md of a North East seating company launching into the retail market with the introduction of the Ayla brand this week.
Dino Rocos retiring from John Lewis May 2019
John Lewis & Partners operations director Dino Rocos is to leave after 43 years with the department store retailer. He will retire at the end of May 2019.
Monthly bed retail sales top £200m for first time
Mattress and bed retailers ended 2018 on a high as the value of sales in December topped £200 million for the first time, a record high for a single month.
Vispring owner Flex acquires Canada's Marshall Mattress
Flex, the £300 million bedding group that owns And So To Bed and Vispring, has agreed to buy Canadian bed maker Marshall Mattress from its private shareholders.
Debenhams said to be seeking rent cuts across estate
Embattled department store retailer Debenhams has begun talks with landlords with a view to cutting its rent bill, according to the Financial Times.
Home24 hits order target but revenue misses
European furniture etailer Home24 said a record Black Friday event meant it hit full year order targets in 2018 but revenue will be lower than forecast after some deliveries were delayed until January.
Airsprung investment affirms commitment to upholstery, headboard sectors
Beds and furniture group Airsprung has invested £250,000 acquiring new machinery for its Cavendish Upholstery and Swanglen business units, underscoring its commitment to the upholstery and headboard sectors.
Price pressures intensify for furniture retailers
Furniture retailers discounted at deeper levels in December according to new official data but price pressures further down the supply chain threaten to push costs up.
Sales fall for JD Williams owner but higher interest payments soften blow
Third quarter product sales fell for the company behind the home shopping retailers JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo, but the overall revenue fall was lower because of extra income from financial services.
Bed retailers, makers urged to aid research into end-of-life mattresses
The National Bed Federation (NBF) is calling on companies across the beds supply chain to participate in a survey that will inform future planning policy with regard to used mattresses and improving recycling rates.