Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Renascent Snug reconnects with major U.K. sofa maker Westbridge
Relaunched modular sofa brand Snug has agreements in place with all three of its legacy upholstered furniture suppliers following its takeover by ScS earlier this year.
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NBF bolsters marketing support for bed retailers with new toolkits
The National Bed Federation (NBF) has boosted its retailer support offering with five marketing toolkits to increase awareness of the NBF-approved tick, and to share advice around the bed-buying process, after-purchase care, and mattress settlement.
High six-figure profits for U.K. arm of Gloster Furniture
The U.K. subsidiary of Swiss-owned upmarket outdoor furniture brand Gloster maintained high six-figure profits in the year to December 31, 2022, new accounts reveal.
Natuzzi, Dreams and NCF Living to open Gateshead stores
Three major home furnishings retailers have agreed 10-year leases to occupy stores in the redeveloped former Toys R Us unit at the Metro Retail Park, Gateshead.
Furniture Village, ScS among first non-manufacturing retailers to join BFM
Furniture Village and ScS, two of the largest furniture retailers in the country, are among the first companies to become Approved Retailer members of the British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM).
Housebuilder partners IKEA to offer furniture packs to home owners
Housebuilder Barratt London is offering owners of new-build homes the opportunity furnish them with furniture packs from IKEA after launching a collaboration with the Swedish retail brand.
Obituary: Ashwood pays tribute to sales director Graeme Sutherland
Graeme Sutherland, the longstanding sales director at Ashwood Designs and respected stalwart of the U.K. sofa industry, has died, the upholstered furniture manufacturer has announced.
Bensons for Beds claims industry first with 2-in-1 mattress
Bensons for Beds has launched a variable support mattress that is softer on one side and firmer on the other with the aim of meeting the changing needs of children as they grow towards adulthood.
DFS cuts max term of IFC by 12 months in bid to reduce costs
The famous four-year's interest free credit (IFC) offer of DFS is no more after the upholstery market leader cut the maximum term customers can take to repay by a full 12 months, citing rising costs.
Founders step down from board at Long Eaton sofa company
Board change comes as planned following a management buyout two years ago.
Lincoln furniture retailer to close following owner retirement
A longstanding Lincoln case goods furniture retailer will close next week following its owner's decision to retire.
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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£38m ecommerce beds retailer rescues Cox & Cox
One of the U.K.'s largest online bed retailers has come to the aid of furniture, home and giftware ecommerce brand Cox & Cox after it was placed into the hands of restructuring advisors earlier this...
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Related party debt spiralled to nearly £9m at now-shut motion furniture chain
The closure of a 17-store direct-to-consumer brand selling rise and recline chairs, adjustable beds and other mobility aids earlier this year leaves creditors facing a shortfall north of £12 million.
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Profits jump for Ashley Manor, Alstons sofa group despite cost pressures
Revenue growth helped mitigate raw material, labour and shipping cost pressures as the upholstery group behind the Ashley Manor, Alstons and Alexander & James businesses bolstered profits last...
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Bed maker Duvalay acquires cot mattress maker in prepack buyout
Mattress and bedding manufacturer Duvalay has expanded into the baby sector after buying cot mattress specialist Nursery Connections out of administration.
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Six-figure Cox & Cox buyout leaves consumers in tough spot
Consumers with outstanding orders from the Cox & Cox predecessor company will have to try and reclaim cash from their card providers after restructuring advisors brokered a six-figure deal for 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
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DATA & LISTS
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ScS and the full cost of the Snug takeover
Snug cost ScS a total of £875,000 following a prepack buyout in January. Well, yes and no.
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Insolvencies & business closures: Filings between Mar. 12–18, 2023
124 companies were closed or placed into insolvency proceedings last week.
TOP STORIES
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Renascent Snug reconnects with major U.K. sofa maker Westbridge
Relaunched modular sofa brand Snug has agreements in place with all three of its legacy upholstered furniture suppliers following its takeover by ScS earlier this year.
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ScS books bigger deficit but remains cash generative
Cash continued to build at ScS in the first half of its financial year despite the upholstery and flooring retailer recording a bigger net loss compared with last year.
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U.K. losses widened for Timothy Oulton ahead of Sofa Workshop closure
The acquisition of Sofa Workshop weighed heavy on the principal U.K. trading arm of international furniture brand Timothy Oulton ahead of the historic upholstery retailer's subsequent closure.
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Investor group sought damages from vendors after £14m furniture buyout turned sour
The investor group that last year acquired the business behind the Oak Furniture Superstore retail brand threatened legal action against the vendors after fire safety issues surrounding some of its products emerged following the buyout.
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Transgressor furniture makers escape spotlight following Mark Harris buyout
Creditors of Mark Harris Furniture, the furniture wholesale and retail company whose assets were sold via a prepack buyout last month, were owed more than £14 million at the time of the restructure.
OTHER NEWS
NBF bolsters marketing support for bed retailers with new toolkits
The National Bed Federation (NBF) has boosted its retailer support offering with five marketing toolkits to increase awareness of the NBF-approved tick, and to share advice around the bed-buying process, after-purchase care, and mattress settlement.
High six-figure profits for U.K. arm of Gloster Furniture
The U.K. subsidiary of Swiss-owned upmarket outdoor furniture brand Gloster maintained high six-figure profits in the year to December 31, 2022, new accounts reveal.
Natuzzi, Dreams and NCF Living to open Gateshead stores
Three major home furnishings retailers have agreed 10-year leases to occupy stores in the redeveloped former Toys R Us unit at the Metro Retail Park, Gateshead.
Furniture Village, ScS among first non-manufacturing retailers to join BFM
Furniture Village and ScS, two of the largest furniture retailers in the country, are among the first companies to become Approved Retailer members of the British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM).
Housebuilder partners IKEA to offer furniture packs to home owners
Housebuilder Barratt London is offering owners of new-build homes the opportunity furnish them with furniture packs from IKEA after launching a collaboration with the Swedish retail brand.
Obituary: Ashwood pays tribute to sales director Graeme Sutherland
Graeme Sutherland, the longstanding sales director at Ashwood Designs and respected stalwart of the U.K. sofa industry, has died, the upholstered furniture manufacturer has announced.
Bensons for Beds claims industry first with 2-in-1 mattress
Bensons for Beds has launched a variable support mattress that is softer on one side and firmer on the other with the aim of meeting the changing needs of children as they grow towards adulthood.
DFS cuts max term of IFC by 12 months in bid to reduce costs
The famous four-year's interest free credit (IFC) offer of DFS is no more after the upholstery market leader cut the maximum term customers can take to repay by a full 12 months, citing rising costs.
Founders step down from board at Long Eaton sofa company
Board change comes as planned following a management buyout two years ago.
Lincoln furniture retailer to close following owner retirement
A longstanding Lincoln case goods furniture retailer will close next week following its owner's decision to retire.