Wednesday, September 26, 2018
TOP STORIES
Next adds 100 new third-party home brands, many selling furniture, in past year
General retailer Next has added more than 100 new furniture and homeware brands to its product offer in the past 12 months as part of a major escalation of its third-party brand offer.
Apple products keep John Lewis up, but Home sees another bruising fall
Sales of new iPhones and Apple Watches helped electricals to power John Lewis & Partners sales growth last week. Though home goods sales didn't crumble, they still fell for the third straight period.
Stressless owner Ekornes sees profits slide in 'discount-plagued' UK
Bad debt and higher costs meant UK profits declined for upholstery supplier Ekornes last year despite top line growth including standout performances in the South East and Scotland.
Bed sales inch forward in August as other home categories record shallower declines
The value of mattress retail sales inched forward in August compared with last year as the category continued to outperform other bulky goods furniture lines.
37% attendance upswing at Shanghai furniture show CIFF
The 42nd edition of the China International Furniture Fair in Shanghai (CIFF Shanghai) attracted record attendance across the four-day event, organisers have said.
Next profits inch forward as online transition continues
Fashion-to-furnishings giant Next says it expects its stores to generate less than half of all sales and under a third of profits this year as its customers continue to migrate to the web.
B&Q shines brightest in battle for former BHS lighting shoppers
Former BHS lighting shoppers consider home improvement giant B&Q their favourite alternative now that BHS is no longer trading, according to new research.
Bed specialist Dreams joins trade body BFM
National beds specialist Dreams has become a member of trade association BFM, the association for British Furniture Manufacturers.
Euro strength harms Italian sofa maker Natuzzi
Soft demand and a strong euro, particularly against the dollar, harmed Natuzzi in the second quarter as the upholstery giant recorded a bigger loss on lower sales.
Steelcase acquires furniture maker Orangebox with plan to turn it into £140m global giant
Workplace furniture maker Orangebox has been sold to U.S conglomerate Steelcase in a deal that will catapult the Welsh company on to the world stage.
Flooring contractor sets £80m sales target within five years
Privately-owned floorcoverings supplier Designer Contracts has set out ambitious plans to double in size—both sales and staff headcount—as part of a new five-year plan.
Burn rate highlights when mattress business Eve will need more cash
Unboxing the cash situation at the emerging direct-to-consumer and wholesale mattress brand?
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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Homebase reintroduces furniture, walking back prior owner's plans
Embattled home improvement retailer Homebase has taken baby steps back into the furniture product sector with a new line of dining, living and occasional cabinets.
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Simba recorded £28m loss in breakout growth year
Mattress brand Simba Sleep invested nearly £2 for every £1 it generated in sales last year in a sign of its intent to make an impression on British and international bed markets.
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Restructuring costs, loan write-offs hit Taskers profits
North West furniture and home improvement retailer Taskers reported a £1.1 million net loss last year as it incurred one-off costs associated with its planned restructure.
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Four years of growth ends for Batley bed maker
Sales and profits fell last year but West Yorkshire bed maker Dura Beds spent heavily again on production capacity and capability as it eyes expansion.
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Debenhams comes out fighting amid speculation over store plans
Department store retailer Debenhams last night moved to reassure suppliers, staff and investors following weekend newspaper reports that sparked a sharp fall in its share price yesterday.
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
Furniture tariffs come into effect with impact likely to be far reaching
A look at the upholstery category shows why these tariffs matter.
Burn rate highlights when mattress business Eve will need more cash
Unboxing the cash situation at the emerging direct-to-consumer and wholesale mattress brand?
Argos rises to challenge of upstart rivals as old world embraces the new
It seems fitting that in the same month that WorldStores is phased out as a brand by Dunelm that Argos has been named Large Online Bed Retailer of the Year.
Takeover augurs well for furniture chain AHF
The Co-op was once one of the UK's largest retailers of furniture, running dedicated stores and large departments in multi-category shops.
RECRUITMENT
DATA & LISTS
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From 42 to 169; Listing the Next homeware third-party brand build-out
A table showing the development of the Next homeware third-party brand offer over the past 24 months.
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Debt Report: September 22, 2018
Today's list contains six insolvent companies leaving combined debts of £1,665,668. Names all 20 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
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Furniture industry insolvencies in the week to September 21, 2018
Seven insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry were announced in the period September 15–21, 2018.
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Debt Report: September 15, 2018
Today's list contains eight insolvent companies leaving combined debts of £1,695,565. Names all 19 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
TOP STORIES
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Next adds 100 new third-party home brands, many selling furniture, in past year
General retailer Next has added more than 100 new furniture and homeware brands to its product offer in the past 12 months as part of a major escalation of its third-party brand offer.
-
Apple products keep John Lewis up, but Home sees another bruising fall
Sales of new iPhones and Apple Watches helped electricals to power John Lewis & Partners sales growth last week. Though home goods sales didn't crumble, they still fell for the third straight period.
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Lord Kirkham no longer largest non Harris-family owner of Tapi Carpets
New equity issued through 2017–18 has diluted Lord Kirkham's stake in Tapi Carpets & Floors, meaning he is no longer the largest external shareholder in the circa 100-store chain.
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Furniture tariffs come into effect with impact likely to be far reaching
A look at the upholstery category shows why these tariffs matter.
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House of Fraser reprieves stores housing ScS concessions previously facing closure
House of Fraser stores containing ScS concessions previously threatened by its former owner's CVA proposal have now been saved, new owner Mike Ashley has announced.
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OKA expands horizons, buying Texan furniture retailer
OKA Direct, the premium British furniture and interiors retailer, has made its first ever acquisition, buying a controlling stake in a family-owned Texan furniture business.
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Incoming CEO outlines Sleepeezee plan to escalate UK, export sales
The newly-appointed UK boss at Sleepeezee's French owner Adova has outlined plans to put its 'under-utilised' Royal Warrant at the heart of a strategy will see it aim to double revenue within four years.
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Sleepeezee parent to launch direct-to-consumer brand Beautyrest by Simmons in UK
Adova, the French parent to Kent bed maker Sleepeezee, will launch Beautyrest by Simmons in Britain as part of a plan to 'disrupt the disrupters.'
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Harrison Spinks plans TV ads as part of £2m campaign to drive stockist footfall
Leeds bed maker Harrison Spinks will invest £2 million on an integrated marketing campaign that will see the business advertise on national television for the first time.
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Littlewoods owner sees circa £25m drop in furniture, homewares sales
Shop Direct cited a "challenged furniture and homewares market," as it recorded a steep fall in sales at Littlewoods in 2017–18. Growth elsewhere made up the shortfall.
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OTHER NEWS
Stressless owner Ekornes sees profits slide in 'discount-plagued' UK
Bad debt and higher costs meant UK profits declined for upholstery supplier Ekornes last year despite top line growth including standout performances in the South East and Scotland.
Bed sales inch forward in August as other home categories record shallower declines
The value of mattress retail sales inched forward in August compared with last year as the category continued to outperform other bulky goods furniture lines.
37% attendance upswing at Shanghai furniture show CIFF
The 42nd edition of the China International Furniture Fair in Shanghai (CIFF Shanghai) attracted record attendance across the four-day event, organisers have said.
Next profits inch forward as online transition continues
Fashion-to-furnishings giant Next says it expects its stores to generate less than half of all sales and under a third of profits this year as its customers continue to migrate to the web.
B&Q shines brightest in battle for former BHS lighting shoppers
Former BHS lighting shoppers consider home improvement giant B&Q their favourite alternative now that BHS is no longer trading, according to new research.
Bed specialist Dreams joins trade body BFM
National beds specialist Dreams has become a member of trade association BFM, the association for British Furniture Manufacturers.
Euro strength harms Italian sofa maker Natuzzi
Soft demand and a strong euro, particularly against the dollar, harmed Natuzzi in the second quarter as the upholstery giant recorded a bigger loss on lower sales.
Steelcase acquires furniture maker Orangebox with plan to turn it into £140m global giant
Workplace furniture maker Orangebox has been sold to U.S conglomerate Steelcase in a deal that will catapult the Welsh company on to the world stage.
Flooring contractor sets £80m sales target within five years
Privately-owned floorcoverings supplier Designer Contracts has set out ambitious plans to double in size—both sales and staff headcount—as part of a new five-year plan.
Steinhoff lines up EY as supervisor for SEAG company voluntary arrangement
Steinhoff International Holdings has fleshed out plans to restructure the debts of its Steinhoff Europe AG (SEAG) business unit, lining up EY as supervisor to a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).