Sunday, May 24, 2020
TOP STORIES
Barker and Stonehouse praises 'world-leading' British furniture suppliers
Privately-owned furniture retailer Barker and Stonehouse will re-open its stores June 1 with a campaign message — Let's Get Going Britain — aimed at supporting home-grown furniture manufacturers.
DFS plans to open majority of stores in England next week
The pace of furniture store re-openings across England will gather momentum with upholstery market leader DFS to pull up the shutters on most of its store portfolio next week. Three stores will open today.
Welbeck House closure raises obvious question for Arlo & Jacob rescue
Diversified East Midlands upholstery group JDP Furniture Group was among the first business casualties of the current crisis after Laura Ashley filed for administration.
Jay-Be says it can double in size after buying new factory last year
Jay-Be, a market leader in the guest bed sector, says sales are already rebounding despite the Covid-19 enforced lockdown, and that longer term it now has the capacity to double in size after investment last year.
Sofa maker Buoyant pivoted to PPE production for NHS in non-profit initiative
Nelson sofa maker Buoyant Upholstery has been at the forefront of the U.K. furniture trade's response to the coronavirus outbreak, producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line workers.
Nest to offer prestige Canadian furniture, lighting brand online
High-end furniture and lighting brand Gabriel Scott is expanding its U.K. and European distribution after it agreed a partnership with designer furniture retailer Nest to sell its products online.
Marks & Spencer turns to third-party brands to boost web sales
Marks and Spencer Group (M&S), the general merchandise and food retailer, is to open up its business to third-party brands in a bid to boost its customer appeal and sales.
Furniture retail price inflation rises to highest level this year
Store closures didn't stop furniture price inflation advancing last month, according to the Office for National Statistics, but eases at the factory gate and the need to generate sales means it will likely not last.
BFC renews call for business rates holiday to be extended to furniture makers
The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) has published the recommendations to emerge from a Parliamentary Inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on the U.K. furniture industry.
Home décor wholesaler could have third owner inside 18 months as administrators seek buyer
Parlane International, the home accents and décor wholesaler bought by Gallery Direct early last year, is for sale after being placed into administration.
House of Fraser md joins Sofa.com board
The board departure of the senior-most finance official at Sofa.com leaves the upholstery vertical's director roster occupied entirely by senior figures from other parts of the Frasers Group.
Margin widened for MiBed owner ahead of 2020 refinancing
Furmanac, the adjustable furniture manufacturer behind the MiBed, MiChair and Hestia brands, maintained underlying profits in 2018–19 despite a fall in sales.
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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U.K. and Ireland Stressless revenue jumped double-digit in first quarter
Strong orders late last year and into the early part of 2020 helped upholstery brand Stressless achieve high revenue growth in the U.K. and Ireland in the first quarter despite late March pandemic...
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Silentnight to close Sealy U.K. factory in Cumbria
Sealy U.K.'s manufacturing plant at Aspatria in Cumbria is to close, the company has announced, putting more than 250 jobs at risk.
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Digest: What Aspatria factory closure means for the Sealy brand in the U.K.
Silentnight, the country's biggest bed maker, is proposing the closure of its Sealy U.K. factory in Cumbria. Here is what it means for the future of the brand and business in Britain.
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Offer for Breasley, now in administration, was withdrawn after further due diligence
The future of the Breasley mattress and foam conversion group will be finalised imminently after Duff & Phelps were formally installed as administrators late last week.
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Mattress brand Leesa Sleep no longer fulfilling U.K orders
Consolidation of the U.K. compressed mattress segment will accelerate after bed-in-a-box business Leesa Sleep became the latest to cease operations in Europe.
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
Digest: An unencumbered Celebrity Motion Furniture can star like it did in the past
When the JDP Furniture Group filed for insolvency at the beginning of April the outlook always looked brightest at one of the group's businesses.
CEO Peter Harrison on the steps taken by Furniture Village to get all its stores reopened this week
Having opened six stores over the weekend as part of a 'safety trial', Furniture Village CEO Peter Harrison says he hopes all 52 of its nationwide network will be open by the coming Bank Holiday weekend.
Opinion: The future of furniture home delivery has changed, maybe forever
The role logistics businesses play in ensuring goods are transported around the country and get to where they are needed has never been more important, writes Chris Knight, director at specialist two-person furniture delivery company Keen & Able.
The shake-out in Britain's roll-packed mattress market gathers pace
Having reshaped Britain's beds market in short order, the direct-to-consumer rolled-and-folded mattress segment is morphing again, at pace.
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Donate Your PPE
Furniture manufacturers, do you have supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? Help the NHS.
More Information
DATA & LISTS
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Debt Report: Creditors owed £10k and more by insolveny industry companies: May 22, 2020
Today's list contains ten insolvent companies leaving combined debts of c. £2.2 million. Names all c. 45 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
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Legals: Furniture trade insolvencies in the week to May 22, 2020
Eleven insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry was announced in the period from May 16–22, 2020.
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The 30 wealthiest in the U.K. home furnishings sector: 2020
The richest 30 people and families with past and present equity ties to the U.K. home furnishings sector, either directly or through investments.
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Insolvency Report: Filings in the week to May 15, 2020
Seven insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry was announced in the period from May 8–15, 2020.
TOP STORIES
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Barker and Stonehouse praises 'world-leading' British furniture suppliers
Privately-owned furniture retailer Barker and Stonehouse will re-open its stores June 1 with a campaign message — Let's Get Going Britain — aimed at supporting home-grown furniture manufacturers.
-
DFS plans to open majority of stores in England next week
The pace of furniture store re-openings across England will gather momentum with upholstery market leader DFS to pull up the shutters on most of its store portfolio next week. Three stores will open today.
-
Digest: An unencumbered Celebrity Motion Furniture can star like it did in the past
When the JDP Furniture Group filed for insolvency at the beginning of April the outlook always looked brightest at one of the group's businesses.
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More retailers of furniture reopen while others innovate through one-to-one meets, click & collect
Project restart continues with more retailers of furniture products now reopening some or all of their stores across England, where restrictions have been eased compared with other parts of the U.K.
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Bedroom wholesaler launches product designed to address instore mattress tryout fears
One of the U.K.'s biggest wholesalers of bedroom products has pivoted towards sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic and has now found a solution for retailers who are worried consumers may be reticent to try out mattresses instore once shops reopen.
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Celebrity, Arlo & Jacob deals progress, but other JDP units closed down
Administrators say they have closed upholstery manufacturing unit Welbeck House and its sister business JDP Frames after they were unable to find buyers. The prospect for other group businesses is better.
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U.K. upholstery sales dip for Alstons, Alexander & James owner in Q1
Sofa sales trended down for the Thai owner of British upholstery brands Alexander & James, Ashley Manor and Alstons in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic impacting its business here and in the Far East.
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CEO Peter Harrison on the steps taken by Furniture Village to get all its stores reopened this week
Having opened six stores over the weekend as part of a 'safety trial', Furniture Village CEO Peter Harrison says he hopes all 52 of its nationwide network will be open by the coming Bank Holiday weekend.
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Launch of new furniture, home brand provides solace for North West catalogue, Internet retailer
N Brown, the home shopping group, says the launch of a standalone furniture and homewares business has provided a sales fillip amid a challenging backdrop.
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Furniture Village reopens half a dozen stores across England
National retailer Furniture Village is reopening a handful of its stores across the country having implemented new measures to safeguard both customers and employees.
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OTHER NEWS
Welbeck House closure raises obvious question for Arlo & Jacob rescue
Diversified East Midlands upholstery group JDP Furniture Group was among the first business casualties of the current crisis after Laura Ashley filed for administration.
Jay-Be says it can double in size after buying new factory last year
Jay-Be, a market leader in the guest bed sector, says sales are already rebounding despite the Covid-19 enforced lockdown, and that longer term it now has the capacity to double in size after investment last year.
Sofa maker Buoyant pivoted to PPE production for NHS in non-profit initiative
Nelson sofa maker Buoyant Upholstery has been at the forefront of the U.K. furniture trade's response to the coronavirus outbreak, producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line workers.
Nest to offer prestige Canadian furniture, lighting brand online
High-end furniture and lighting brand Gabriel Scott is expanding its U.K. and European distribution after it agreed a partnership with designer furniture retailer Nest to sell its products online.
Marks & Spencer turns to third-party brands to boost web sales
Marks and Spencer Group (M&S), the general merchandise and food retailer, is to open up its business to third-party brands in a bid to boost its customer appeal and sales.
Furniture retail price inflation rises to highest level this year
Store closures didn't stop furniture price inflation advancing last month, according to the Office for National Statistics, but eases at the factory gate and the need to generate sales means it will likely not last.
BFC renews call for business rates holiday to be extended to furniture makers
The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) has published the recommendations to emerge from a Parliamentary Inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on the U.K. furniture industry.
Home décor wholesaler could have third owner inside 18 months as administrators seek buyer
Parlane International, the home accents and décor wholesaler bought by Gallery Direct early last year, is for sale after being placed into administration.
House of Fraser md joins Sofa.com board
The board departure of the senior-most finance official at Sofa.com leaves the upholstery vertical's director roster occupied entirely by senior figures from other parts of the Frasers Group.
Margin widened for MiBed owner ahead of 2020 refinancing
Furmanac, the adjustable furniture manufacturer behind the MiBed, MiChair and Hestia brands, maintained underlying profits in 2018–19 despite a fall in sales.