Tuesday, July 5, 2022
DFS seeks new CFO as Mike Schmidt heads for B&M
DFS chief financial officer Mike Schmidt is to leave the U.K. upholstery market leader for the same post at B&M European Value Retail, the company behind the value retail chain B&M.
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Modern furniture retailer in new capital raise amid board concentration
London based designer furniture and homeware retailer The Conran Shop has received a new seven-figure equity injection.
Argos struggles to match post-lockdown comps
The sales trend at Argos is improving but the general merchandise retailer still booked a double-digit drop in business in the first quarter of its 2022/23 financial year and remains down on pre-pandemic levels.
Profits jump as sales reach record £52.6m for Ashley Wilde
Profits more than doubled at the Ashley Wilde group last year as the Hertfordshire headquartered furnishing fabrics group delivered an eighth straight increase in revenue.
Sales jumped 66% for online furniture retailer last year
Sales at ecommerce brand Furniture Box jumped by two thirds through 2020/21 as it delivered high profits ahead of its expansion into new premises.
Shipping delays and prices are falling but reliability remains patchy
Container shipping schedule reliability remains at a historically low level while spot prices are falling from record highs and delays easing after a two-year stretch upended by the pandemic.
New stores take home and leisure chain to 210 total
Home and leisure retail chain The Range concurrently opened two new stores this weekend to take its overall footprint to 210 nationwide.
Housebuilder opens sales suite in Arighi Bianchi's historic store
Arighi Bianchi will supply furniture to the show homes of a new local development by David Wilson Homes, with the housebuilder to promote the properties from inside the heritage independent's iconic store.
Pent up demand lifts Hatfields as it moves closer to online launch
Furniture retailer Hatfields says it remains focused on delivering an online trading platform before the end of March next year as the reopening of stores after the latest Covid lockdown helped it recover sales lost to enforced closure.
One-time Silentnight suitor raises £100m targeting new deals
Endless, a serial backer and bidder for home interest companies over the past decade, has raised £100 million from investors as it targets a new raft of buyouts.
Flooring group Likewise to near double warehousing capacity
Construction is underway at distribution centres in Scotland and the Midlands as national flooring wholesaler Likewise Group looks to double its logistics capacity this year.
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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Top-end bed maker Savoir generates cash on higher sales, wider margins
Premium bed maker Savoir repaid debt, built cash and found gross margin gains as it worked through a bulging worldwide order book last year.
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Restructure sees historic upholstery producer focus on contract sector
Upholstered furniture manufacturer Roger Lewis is to concentrate its activities in the contract arena following a restructuring process that sees it exit the retail sector.
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Dewsbury MP vows to champion the furniture industry at the highest level of Government
Mark Eastwood MP has been appointed chair of the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG). The Dewsbury official takes over from fellow Conservative Mike Wood, who has led the group since...
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New figures underscore renewed strength at retailer Lee Longlands
Lee Longlands delivered on its pledge to record near seven-figure profits as it fleshed out details from it what it called an extremely positive performance off the back of lockdowns and ahead of it...
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High-end sofa maker books third straight profit ahead of factory buy
Top-of-the-market upholstered furniture maker George Smith recorded a fourth straight bottom line improvement and third consecutive profit as it traded strongly last year.
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
DATA & LISTS
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What are the options open to Carpenter after Recticel foam takeover raises concerns?
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has told Carpenter and Recticel to address antitrust concerns ahead of the proposed acquisition of the business unit that includes the latter's comfort foam business.
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Rising property value boost for fabrics group
The Ashley Wilde group enjoyed a stellar trading year in 2021 but that was only a small part of the reason for a transformation in the net worth of the business.
TOP STORIES
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DFS seeks new CFO as Mike Schmidt heads for B&M
DFS chief financial officer Mike Schmidt is to leave the U.K. upholstery market leader for the same post at B&M European Value Retail, the company behind the value retail chain B&M.
-
Hypnos appoints new group managing director
Hypnos, one of the U.K.'s largest bed manufacturers, has appointed Dave Baldry as its new group managing director with a brief to lead both its contract and retail divisions.
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Foam merger raises competition concerns and could lead to higher prices
Antitrust regulators in the U.K. have told Carpenter and Recticel to address competition concerns to prevent the proposed takeover of the latter's engineered foam unit by the former from being referred for a more in-depth investigation.
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Pocket spring maker takes extra space as sales reach £10m
Pocket spring maker Wolf Components is expanding its manufacturing footprint in South Yorkshire amid rapid growth that has seen it become a key supplier to the U.K. mattress industry.
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Reconfigured Heal's store will be better, but not bigger
Furniture retailer Heal's has fleshed out proposals to take the neighbouring Habitat unit in central London but has confirmed the reconfigured space will not increase its overall footprint at the site.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Furn Companies Wanted
Ex-furniture director seeks to buy companies mfr/retailer/wsalers—solvent or otherwise—regardless of situation. Can complete within days. Confidentiality assured.
07498 850842 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
OTHER NEWS
Modern furniture retailer in new capital raise amid board concentration
London based designer furniture and homeware retailer The Conran Shop has received a new seven-figure equity injection.
Argos struggles to match post-lockdown comps
The sales trend at Argos is improving but the general merchandise retailer still booked a double-digit drop in business in the first quarter of its 2022/23 financial year and remains down on pre-pandemic levels.
Profits jump as sales reach record £52.6m for Ashley Wilde
Profits more than doubled at the Ashley Wilde group last year as the Hertfordshire headquartered furnishing fabrics group delivered an eighth straight increase in revenue.
Sales jumped 66% for online furniture retailer last year
Sales at ecommerce brand Furniture Box jumped by two thirds through 2020/21 as it delivered high profits ahead of its expansion into new premises.
Shipping delays and prices are falling but reliability remains patchy
Container shipping schedule reliability remains at a historically low level while spot prices are falling from record highs and delays easing after a two-year stretch upended by the pandemic.
New stores take home and leisure chain to 210 total
Home and leisure retail chain The Range concurrently opened two new stores this weekend to take its overall footprint to 210 nationwide.
Housebuilder opens sales suite in Arighi Bianchi's historic store
Arighi Bianchi will supply furniture to the show homes of a new local development by David Wilson Homes, with the housebuilder to promote the properties from inside the heritage independent's iconic store.
Pent up demand lifts Hatfields as it moves closer to online launch
Furniture retailer Hatfields says it remains focused on delivering an online trading platform before the end of March next year as the reopening of stores after the latest Covid lockdown helped it recover sales lost to enforced closure.
One-time Silentnight suitor raises £100m targeting new deals
Endless, a serial backer and bidder for home interest companies over the past decade, has raised £100 million from investors as it targets a new raft of buyouts.
Flooring group Likewise to near double warehousing capacity
Construction is underway at distribution centres in Scotland and the Midlands as national flooring wholesaler Likewise Group looks to double its logistics capacity this year.