Thursday, September 24, 2020
TOP STORIES
Autumn Furniture Show cancelled as venue says it cannot host event
The Autumn Furniture Show, the exhibition that had been due to kickstart the return of mass gatherings in the U.K. furnishings sector in under a fortnight's time, has been cancelled.
One of biggest threats to Dreams' market dominance just disappeared
Every retailer faces a shared threat at the minute, but perhaps the biggest medium-term obstacle to Dreams' continued market leadership in the beds category has now been eliminated, thanks to its owner.
ScS upscales to larger North West warehouse
Upholstery and flooring retailer ScS has signed a ten-year lease on a 32,000sqft warehouse in Liverpool.
Paris furniture show Esprit Meuble cancelled
Esprit Meuble, the Paris furniture show slated for December 5–8, 2020, has been cancelled because of health concerns surrounding Covid-19.
DFS books £69.2m net loss but says deficit largely recovered since
Sofa market leader DFS has revealed the extent of the mandated shutdown on its business but, like others across the trade, it has bounced back strongly in the period since.
Seven Oak Furnitureland suppliers agreed to convert trade balances to loans in autumn 2019
Far East suppliers to Oak Furnitureland acceded to a request by the retailer to convert trade balances into loans last autumn, aiding its working capital through the end of 2019 and into this year.
North West showroom for £1.56bn Chinese cabinet maker is first in Europe
A Chinese fitted furniture and kitchens conglomerate with sales equivalent to £1.56 billion is opening a first U.K. and European showroom, near Manchester.
BFM Fabric Show planned to take place early spring 2021
The BFM Fabric Show London 2021 will take place as scheduled next year as long as indoor events are permitted, organisers have said.
Sofa.com in fabric tie-up with 1960s fashion label; launches debut lighting programme
Sofa.com has deepened its ties with its sister company after adding fabrics from a key House of Fraser in-house brand. It has also introduced lighting to its offer for the first time.
IMM Cologne organiser "surprised" at timing of Frankfurt show decision
Organisers of the International Furniture Fair in Cologne (IMM) have reaffirmed the event will take place as planned in January amid a backdrop of compatriot events being postponed.
B&Q to reintroduce kitchen fitting service across entire U.K. estate
Home improvement retail giant B&Q is to relaunch kitchen installation services across its U.K. store network, reversing a strategy decision taken more than two years ago.
Kettle rebrands one of its furniture retail stores
Cabinet wholesale and retail company Kettle Interiors U.K. has renamed one of its two residual furniture retail stores after it adapted the available product offer post-lockdown.
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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MBO sees French mattress maker end 15 years of Hilding Anders ownership
Swedish beds conglomerate Hilding Anders has divested a key part of its French business, selling a €40 million turnover mattress maker to a CEO-led management buyout.
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Sales tracker puts furniture and homeware sales up more than a fifth in August
Home-based categories continued to be the standouts across British retail in August, according to a closely-followed survey.
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All-Ireland profits double for Harvey Norman on surging demand
Sales and profits have climbed sharply for Harvey Norman as the furniture and electricals made itself "the first port of call for Irish consumers wanting to set up a home office or reinvigorate...
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Orders are still rising rapidly says sofa chain ScS
ScS, Britain's number two upholstery retailer, says its new financial year has started where the old one left off with orders up by more than half since the end of July.
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Carpetright owner snaps up online flooring retailer and says more deals may follow
Investment group Meditor Holdings has followed its takeover of Carpetright earlier this year with a second flooring deal, buying a predominantly online hard flooring specialist.
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
Management, not markets, will dictate John Lewis' future
John Lewis reported a half-year loss of nearly £560m after tax and that has brought with it much hand-wringing about its problems.
How John Lewis booked £560m loss but still ended up with £953m more cash
For the first time since 1953, John Lewis Partnership says it will not pay its employees a bonus. If that proves to be the case, it will not be because it lacks the resources to do so.
ScS answers the question vexing many across the sofa trade
Furniture retailers with a few spare pennies to invest have been watching ScS and DFS closely since lockdown.
Sofa Workshop buyout expands distribution for 'Amazon antidote' Timothy Oulton
The Sofa Workshop business and brand clearly has enduring appeal. Since its creation in the mid-1980s, it has had multiple custodians, with the Halo Group and Timothy Oulton soon to become the latest.
DATA & LISTS
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Bad Debt: Companies owed cash by insolvent furniture entities: Sep. 18, 2020
Three companies left combined debts of £12 million with 30 companies owed £10,000 or more.
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The Insolvency Report: Filings in the week to September 18, 2020
Four insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry were announced in the period from September 12–18, 2020.
TOP STORIES
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Autumn Furniture Show cancelled as venue says it cannot host event
The Autumn Furniture Show, the exhibition that had been due to kickstart the return of mass gatherings in the U.K. furnishings sector in under a fortnight's time, has been cancelled.
-
One of biggest threats to Dreams' market dominance just disappeared
Every retailer faces a shared threat at the minute, but perhaps the biggest medium-term obstacle to Dreams' continued market leadership in the beds category has now been eliminated, thanks to its owner.
-
Glasswells progresses flagship remodel with new atrium investment
Glasswells has stepped up work remodelling the atrium entrance of its Bury St. Edmunds store, part of an ongoing series of investments at the flagship site that began in 2017.
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Private equity investor wants to buy up more U.K. furniture companies
The private equity house that acquired the national soft furnishings business Julian Charles earlier this year is on the hunt for more takeovers, with a specific eye on the U.K. furniture sector.
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Founder could be one of biggest winners from Halo Group's Sofa Workshop takeover
The founder of Sofa Workshop stands to be one of the biggest indirect beneficiaries from the sale to Halo Group of the upholstery business he created back in the 1980s.
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U.K. furniture makers race to catch up with orders
Production struggled to keep pace with demand at the height of summer as U.K. furniture factories reopened to a surge in orders.
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Order intake up this year despite lockdown says md of sofa maker Lebus
Lockdown hasn't shunted Lebus Upholstery off course as the Lincolnshire sofa maker looks to build on double-digit growth achieved last year. Order intake and volumes are currently ahead of 2019.
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Dreams paid just over £400,000 for Feather & Black brand, other assets
National bed specialist Dreams picked up the Feather & Black brand and selected assets for a fraction of the price shelled out by past owners of the high-end business, a new report reveals.
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How John Lewis booked £560m loss but still ended up with £953m more cash
For the first time since 1953, John Lewis Partnership says it will not pay its employees a bonus. If that proves to be the case, it will not be because it lacks the resources to do so.
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Furniture sales continue ascent as shoppers pivot spend to home
Consumers continued to divert more of their discretionary spend towards home goods as retailers enjoyed further growth in August, according to official retail sales figures.
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OTHER NEWS
ScS upscales to larger North West warehouse
Upholstery and flooring retailer ScS has signed a ten-year lease on a 32,000sqft warehouse in Liverpool.
Paris furniture show Esprit Meuble cancelled
Esprit Meuble, the Paris furniture show slated for December 5–8, 2020, has been cancelled because of health concerns surrounding Covid-19.
DFS books £69.2m net loss but says deficit largely recovered since
Sofa market leader DFS has revealed the extent of the mandated shutdown on its business but, like others across the trade, it has bounced back strongly in the period since.
Seven Oak Furnitureland suppliers agreed to convert trade balances to loans in autumn 2019
Far East suppliers to Oak Furnitureland acceded to a request by the retailer to convert trade balances into loans last autumn, aiding its working capital through the end of 2019 and into this year.
North West showroom for £1.56bn Chinese cabinet maker is first in Europe
A Chinese fitted furniture and kitchens conglomerate with sales equivalent to £1.56 billion is opening a first U.K. and European showroom, near Manchester.
BFM Fabric Show planned to take place early spring 2021
The BFM Fabric Show London 2021 will take place as scheduled next year as long as indoor events are permitted, organisers have said.
Sofa.com in fabric tie-up with 1960s fashion label; launches debut lighting programme
Sofa.com has deepened its ties with its sister company after adding fabrics from a key House of Fraser in-house brand. It has also introduced lighting to its offer for the first time.
IMM Cologne organiser "surprised" at timing of Frankfurt show decision
Organisers of the International Furniture Fair in Cologne (IMM) have reaffirmed the event will take place as planned in January amid a backdrop of compatriot events being postponed.
B&Q to reintroduce kitchen fitting service across entire U.K. estate
Home improvement retail giant B&Q is to relaunch kitchen installation services across its U.K. store network, reversing a strategy decision taken more than two years ago.
Kettle rebrands one of its furniture retail stores
Cabinet wholesale and retail company Kettle Interiors U.K. has renamed one of its two residual furniture retail stores after it adapted the available product offer post-lockdown.