Friday, January 24, 2020
TOP STORIES
Emerging mattress companies are redefining what it means to be successful. Literally.
Since the turn of the year all four of the pre-eminent bed-in-a-box companies operating in the U.K. market have made the news.
Cotswold Co hires successor to Kevin Johnson, who is stepping down as CEO
Investment firm True has appointed former N Brown executive Ralph Tucker as chief executive at The Cotswold Company, the major U.K. cabinet furniture retailer with sales north of £50 million.
After 26 years, the U.K.'s largest carpet retailer is a private company again
Carpetright has returned to private ownership after the court-approved scheme of arrangement, which sees lender Meditor Fund take full control of the U.K.'s largest carpet retailer, came into effect.
Retail: One in every five pounds spent online by 2024, says GlobalData
The Internet will account for a fifth of all U.K. retail spend within the next four years, according to new research by GlobalData, the analytics and data company.
Cabinet furniture maker expands into space left by Kingstown collapse
A number of retailers who formerly sourced bedroom cabinet from the now-defunct Kingstown Furniture business are turning to One Call Furniture, the East London manufacturer has said.
Three-year growth run ends for bedroom business Starplan Furniture
A run of growth that began in 2016 came to an end at Northern Ireland headquartered furniture maker and retailer Starplan Furniture last year.
Handful of retailers control large swathe of Western European furniture market, report says
Market consolidation means an increasing share of the market for furniture in Western Europe is in the hands of relatively few businesses, according to a new report.
Flooring company promotes longtime executive to its board
Designer Contracts, the national floorcoverings contractor, has promoted Stacey Brereton to its board as health and safety director.
Clearance sell through hits John Lewis home sales
Sales of home goods fell for the seventh straight week at department store retailer John Lewis & Partners as customers shopped its final week of clearance.
Private investor group acquires U.S. leather motion furniture maker
A private investor group led by the former U.S. national sales manager at Gloster Furniture has acquired North Carolina based upholstery producer Our House Designs.
Sofa maker Buoyant wins prize for best display of new BFM branding
British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) has awarded Lancashire sofa maker Buoyant Upholstery its champagne prize for the best use of its new revamped branding at this week's January Furniture Show.
Ercol appoints Ligne Roset executive as U.K. sales director
British furniture manufacturer Ercol, which is celebrating its centenary year in 2020, has recruited Roset (UK) director Arno Koch as its new sales director.
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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Beds retailer pays down debt and says on track for profits return
Mattressman, the East of England beds retail chain that restructured in the summer of 2018, says it has begun to regain lost ground and can return to profit in the current financial year.
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Improved conversion rates boosted sales, says Furniture Village
Profits before non-cash and debt interest costs jumped by nearly a third at Furniture Village last year as the retailer booked higher sales and initiated its plan to lower overheads.
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AHF books lower revenue, narrower margin but takeover provided fresh impetus
The sale of furniture chain AHF a year and a half ago gave it the chance to refresh its retail offering and marked the beginning of it reversing a negative sales trend.
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IKEA to open Hammersmith store after agreeing to buy shopping centre
Furniture and home retailer IKEA is pressing ahead with plans to build a bigger presence in urban areas with a new store slated for Hammersmith, London.
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Mattress pioneer returns to the bed industry, heading up GNG Group consumer unit
Stuart Hibbert, who co-founded and ran Breasley Consumer until selling his shares in 2017, is to return to the bed industry with GNG Group Yorkshire.
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
Emerging mattress companies are redefining what it means to be successful. Literally.
Since the turn of the year all four of the pre-eminent bed-in-a-box companies operating in the U.K. market have made the news.
Little cheer for competitors when furniture companies go bust
The company behind furniture retailer Swoon filed for insolvency last week with its business and assets instantly sold to a newco controlled by the brand's co-founders, giving it a new lease of life. Few competitors will have been celebrating.
RH could do for high-end U.K. furniture retail what IKEA did for the entry-level sector
Many overseas furniture retailers have launched in the U.K. with big plans. Some have crashed and burned, others have stayed the course and for some, the jury is still out. Whatever the outcome for RH, the retailer formerly known as Restoration Hardware whose launch here inches closer, it seems certain to leave its mark.
Why foam suppliers are now a less accurate bellwether for the health of the mattress and sofa markets
The U.K. sales figures for the major producers of foam — suppliers to the big upholstery and mattress manufacturers in Britain — were once perhaps the best catch-all measure for the performance of both markets. Not so any more.
DATA & LISTS
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The Insolvency Report: Liquidator appointments in the week to Jan. 24, 2020
Ten insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry were announced in the period from January 18–24, 2020.
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Debt Report: Creditors owed £10k and more by insolvent industry companies: Jan. 24, 2020
Today's list contains five insolvent companies leaving combined debts of c. £3.3 million. Names all c. 50 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
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Furniture, furnishings and carpet trade insolvencies in the week to Jan. 17, 2020
Three insolvencies from within the furniture and furnishings industry were announced in the period from January 11–17, 2020.
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Debt Report: Creditors owed £10k plus by insolvent furniture industry companies: Jan. 17, 2020
Today's list contains five insolvent companies leaving combined debts of c. £2.1 million. Names all 19 creditors owed £10,000 or more.
TOP STORIES
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Emerging mattress companies are redefining what it means to be successful. Literally.
Since the turn of the year all four of the pre-eminent bed-in-a-box companies operating in the U.K. market have made the news.
-
Cotswold Co hires successor to Kevin Johnson, who is stepping down as CEO
Investment firm True has appointed former N Brown executive Ralph Tucker as chief executive at The Cotswold Company, the major U.K. cabinet furniture retailer with sales north of £50 million.
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Furniture retailer Loaf builds profit momentum
Upholstery, beds and cabinet furniture retailer Loaf says profits will grow at a faster rate in 2019–20 if it can maintain its performance in the next three months.
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We have grown profitably from cashflow says Emma as sales hit €150m
Direct-to-consumer mattress company Emma Sleep says worldwide sales near-doubled to €150 million in 2019 with the company making money at the operating line for the second straight year.
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Victoria to repay bank debt as part of £170m refinancing
Floorcoverings distributor and manufacturer Victoria is to repay all its outstanding senior bank borrowing with the issue of £170 million of corporate bonds.
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Carpet maker books rising sales, profits and describes independents as bedrock of success
Penthouse Carpets, one of the U.K.'s largest independent floorcoverings manufacturers, posted rising revenue and profits in 2018–19 despite facing headwinds in the market sectors it operates.
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Mattress brand Eve Sleep cuts losses, cash burn on reduced revenue
Direct-to-consumer and wholesale mattress brand Eve Sleep says it will book a smaller deficit for 2019 after it made headway in its plan to transition to profit on a revised business model.
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Department store retailer Beales placed into administration
Department store retailer Beales has been placed into administration through KPMG after talks to find a solvent solution to its problems ended in failure.
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Winter Sale off to strong start, says Cookes Furniture md
The managing director of Cookes Furniture, one of the largest independents in the country, says he is confident the market will improve in 2020 after last year proved "undeniably challenging for retail."
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Furniture sales grew for ninth straight year in 2019 according to official figures
Sales of furniture and lighting continued to climb in 2019 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) but at the weakest rate in all of the past decade.
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OTHER NEWS
After 26 years, the U.K.'s largest carpet retailer is a private company again
Carpetright has returned to private ownership after the court-approved scheme of arrangement, which sees lender Meditor Fund take full control of the U.K.'s largest carpet retailer, came into effect.
Retail: One in every five pounds spent online by 2024, says GlobalData
The Internet will account for a fifth of all U.K. retail spend within the next four years, according to new research by GlobalData, the analytics and data company.
Cabinet furniture maker expands into space left by Kingstown collapse
A number of retailers who formerly sourced bedroom cabinet from the now-defunct Kingstown Furniture business are turning to One Call Furniture, the East London manufacturer has said.
Three-year growth run ends for bedroom business Starplan Furniture
A run of growth that began in 2016 came to an end at Northern Ireland headquartered furniture maker and retailer Starplan Furniture last year.
Handful of retailers control large swathe of Western European furniture market, report says
Market consolidation means an increasing share of the market for furniture in Western Europe is in the hands of relatively few businesses, according to a new report.
Flooring company promotes longtime executive to its board
Designer Contracts, the national floorcoverings contractor, has promoted Stacey Brereton to its board as health and safety director.
Clearance sell through hits John Lewis home sales
Sales of home goods fell for the seventh straight week at department store retailer John Lewis & Partners as customers shopped its final week of clearance.
Private investor group acquires U.S. leather motion furniture maker
A private investor group led by the former U.S. national sales manager at Gloster Furniture has acquired North Carolina based upholstery producer Our House Designs.
Sofa maker Buoyant wins prize for best display of new BFM branding
British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) has awarded Lancashire sofa maker Buoyant Upholstery its champagne prize for the best use of its new revamped branding at this week's January Furniture Show.
Ercol appoints Ligne Roset executive as U.K. sales director
British furniture manufacturer Ercol, which is celebrating its centenary year in 2020, has recruited Roset (UK) director Arno Koch as its new sales director.