TOP STORIES

• South East beds retail chain for sale after being placed into administration

  Independent specialist retail chain Beaumont Beds has been placed into administration with office holders having already culled a number of its stores on appointment and hired agents to find a buyer for the business.

• Victoria says job cuts, machinery investment making carpet production more efficient

  Victoria, the acquisitive floorcoverings conglomerate, says its South Wales carpet factory will produce higher volumes despite recent headcount reductions, with a new backing line now in full production.

• Our Fabb fees might be higher than anticipated, administrator says

  PwC, the big-four consultancy firm overseeing the winding down of the now-defunct upholstery chain Fabb Sofas, says its fees might be higher than first anticipated.

• Riser recline chair maker creditors owed £1.5m

  Creditors of the heritage rise and recline chair maker AJ Way, which filed for insolvency last autumn, face a potential seven-figure shortfall according to a report by administrators.

• January saw highest furniture retail price inflation since April

  Retailers held their nerve last month as furniture retail price inflation climbed to a nine-month high in January, driven by shallower discounts.

• Sofa.com secures Sports Direct lending facility

  Any lingering doubts over Sports Direct International's involvement with Sofa.com have been put to bed with details emerging of a credit line agreed between the two parties.

• WorldStores challenges 'behind us' says Dunelm

  Dunelm Group grew sales and profits and slashed debt in the six months to end December, declaring the challenges that came with its takeover of WorldStores a thing of the past.

• Sofa imports ended 2018 on a high thanks to Poland, Italy

  Upholstery imports into Britain advanced in December as double-digit growth in the value of goods trucked in from Italy and Poland countered the impact of a fall in Chinese-made goods arriving at British ports.

• Internet giant Amazon launches UK furniture brands

  Amazon, the global retail giant, has taken two big steps into the UK furniture mid-market with the launch of dedicated brands selling a co-ordinated programme of upholstery and cabinet furniture.

• Debenhams agrees covenant waivers and access to extra £40m in funding

  Department store retailer Debenhams has agreed access to another £40 million of revolving credit with existing lenders which it says will buy it time to organise a more permanent refinancing of its business.