HM Revenue & Customs files winding up petition against historic bed maker.

UK upholstered furniture manufacturers have been working down stock and driving sales-per-employee levels higher over the past year, according to new figures.

Upholstered furniture manufacturer Sherborne says the issue of business succession has now been resolved after it successfully transitioned to an employee ownership trust (EOT) model towards the end of last year.

The reorganisation of The Sofa & Chair Co in London is likely to cost taxpayers even more than originally thought after the legacy brand was placed into new insolvency proceedings.

Tony Buffin, chairman at Magnet owner Nobia, has joined the board of DFS as an independent non-executive director.

Restructuring advisors at PwC have detailed the terms of the sale of the Belfield Group, parent to sofa makers Westbridge and Tetrad along with foam and fibre converter Clinchplain.

National bed retailer Dreams plans to continue expanding its store footprint with the UK market leader maintaining its upwards revenue momentum last year.

Yorkshire and the Humber has maintained its status as the UK's largest manufacturing base for mattresses despite a fall in the number of businesses operating there last year.

Upholstered furniture manufacturer George Smith is installing solar panels at its North East factory as part of an investment in both the business and sustainability.

Manufacturing giant Ulster Carpets has disclosed the financial terms of its 2023 takeover of Hampshire supplier Alternative Flooring for the first time.

Workstories, a designer and maker of contemporary furniture such as modern upholstery for workplaces, says a strong order pipeline going into last year had put it on a path back to profit.

UK furniture and furnishings exports grew at a faster pace than imports last year but the trade gap still widened because of the disparity between goods arriving into the country and those leaving.

The West Yorkshire manufacturer behind the Hug Rug, Howler & Scratch and Rug Guru brands says it is close to completing its nine-year plan to keep manufacturing in Britain.

The bull run of bedroom furniture shipments into the UK ended in December as weaker figures from Eastern Europe dragged down the total for the first time since the summer.

Upholstered furniture imports into the UK climbed double-digit at the end of the year, spurred by sharp increases in product arriving from Italy and China.

Import growth returned in the carpet category in December but at a fraction of the rate at which vinyl shipments to the UK rose compared with the same month last year.

UK furniture manufacturing output climbed for the first time in five months in December on the back of strong demand from the domestic market.

Flokk, the office seating and furniture conglomerate with a UK base in Yorkshire, has agreed to buy US-based Via Seating from Groupe Lacasse, the North American furniture manufacturer.

The soft seating manufacturer and retailer behind the Mallo and Bean Bag Bazaar brands continued to find big revenue growth last year as it expanded internationally. Overhead also rose sharply.

It has taken longer than expected but the Yorkshire company that rescued mattress chain Bedworld last summer is close to completing deals on the remaining store leases.

Furniture and furnishings industry news in brief.

Tempur Sealy International, which next week completes it name-change to Somnigroup International, says its just-closed takeover of America's largest mattress retailer will de-risk the process of new product development.

A cabinet company set up a year ago to acquire the assets of a prominent London kitchen maker and retailer has folded, leaving consumers with large debts.

The Shanghai-listed conglomerate behind the Mlily mattress brand says it will book a substantial loss for 2024 as a result of a write down in the value of its debtor book.

Private equity backed fitted furniture vertical Sharps has appointed the former CEO of bathroom retailer Victoria Plum as its new chief executive.

A series of cost-saving initiatives will not be enough for Osborne & Little to prevent a second straight deficit this year but the fabrics and furnishings group is hoping to be profitable in 2026.

A number of connected kitchen companies that took consumer deposits without subsequently providing either products or installation have been shut down following an investigation.

Restructuring work taken in response to soft demand worldwide is expected to yield as much as $285 million in annual savings, flooring conglomerate Mohawk Industries said late last week.

Long Eaton factory filed for insolvency in 2023, but restructuring process continues.

Somnigroup International is the new name for Tempur Sealy International, the world's biggest bed company announced on Wednesday.

Furniture and furnishings industry news in brief.

Upholstered furniture maker Andrew Paul says a decision to move its principal manufacturing site last year will result in a dramatic reduction in overheads as it adjusts to a challenging market.

Tempur Sealy International's takeover of Mattress Firm, America's largest beds retailer, moved a step closer Friday after a federal judge ruled in favour of the deal, rejecting a complaint from the antitrust regulator.

Dreams, the UK's largest beds retailer, is launching a new campaign in response to research that indicates than more than seven in ten Brits have experienced back, neck or shoulder pain within the past year alone.

Furniture and furnishings industry news in brief.

Three years of record sales and profits came to an end for Ashwood Designs in 2023/24, the first year under the stewardship of new investors.

Losses widened for the bedroom furniture vertical Sliderobes Group ahead of the owners selling the business to a third-party trade buyer late last year.

The Chinese upholstery conglomerate behind brands including Kuka Home and Rolf Benz is expanding production in nearby Vietnam.

Half-year EBIT advanced on factory efficiencies for Kingcome Sofas but the high-end upholstered furniture company said it entered the second half with a weaker order book.

Willow and Hall is now wholly-owned by an affiliate of furniture and homewares distributor Gallery Direct after it increased its stake in the upholstery and beds retailer.

The future of the circa £12 million turnover Evans Textiles business has been secured after one of its suppliers completed a prepack asset buyout.

The post-takeover operating company behind a prominent West Midlands beds manufacturer has folded, leaving large debts to its upstream supply chain.

Foam and sprung mattress imports declined for the first time since the summer in November as a result of lower shipments from four of the UK's top five trading partners.

Sanderson Design Group shares suffered a sharp fall after weak UK sales at the beginning of January prompted the furnishings group to downrate its full year earnings guidance.

The owners of heritage manufacturer Millbrook Beds have embarked on their largest programme of capital expenditure since acquiring the business two and a half years ago.

Sofa market leader DFS said first half profits will rise by as much as £8 million year-on-year on cost savings and a return to delivered sales growth.

Factory gate turnover in the furniture sector was lower for the fourth straight month on an annual basis in November, according to official figures.

The size of what was formerly Recticel's UK comfort foam business serving the mattress and upholstery sectors has been disclosed for the first time.

Buoyant Upholstery, one of the UK's largest furniture makers, has upgraded the comfort level and durability of cushions and frames across its programme of sofas.

An insolvent restructure of carpet industry supplier Lawton Yarns will vaporise the debts of everyone except for the bank and business critical suppliers.

Mobility furniture specialist Oak Tree has launched the first adjustable bed in Parker Knoll's 150-year history as part of a B2C licensing agreement.

Revenue for La-Z-Boy's UK operations declined last year as the motion furniture giant absorbed the impact of lapping the order book unwind following the elevated post-Covid trading period.

The National Bed Federation (NBF) maintained and built its membership roster last year and says it will continue its fight to champion product safety, sustainability and clamping down on rogue traders.

UK furniture, flooring and furnishings insolvencies dropped by more than a fifth in 2024 but remain at historically elevated levels.

Shares in Victoria have continued to recover from the sharp falls seen last year with its market capitalisation having more than doubled in the past month.

Vispring, the high-end Devon bed maker that generates well over half of its revenue outside British shores, has opened a debut showroom in Australia.

Revenue fell for the second straight year at upstream upholstered furniture industry supplier Flameproofings last year, though at a shallower rate.

Double-digit wage inflation held profits back at Deepsleep Beds despite the West Yorkshire mattress maker making gross margin and market share gains on revenue growth.

Profits declined on lower sales for the group behind carpet maker Brockway last year, but it says investment and strategic decisions have shielded the business from wider market events.

The Northern Ireland company behind the Balmoral Furniture and Slumbernight brands slipped to a net loss last year after a depressed marketplace combined with one-off costs.

Burnley bed maker and furniture distributor Sweet Dreams said it had a difficult trading year in the run-up to its rebrand last summer.

Phoenox Textiles, the manufacturer behind the Howler & Scratch and Rug Guru brands, found top and bottom line growth last year as investment paid dividends.

Simon Spinks, chairman of Leeds bed manufacturer Harrison Spinks, has been awarded an OBE in recognition of his contribution to the mattress and bed industry.

Sales fell sharply for Scan-Thors (UK) last year as a result of the sofa manufacturer and wholesaler losing a long-term client due to a change of buying strategy and consolidation of supply.

Cushions-to-curtains manufacturer Evans Lichfield has ceased production at its Staffordshire factory with its activities moving to other group facilities in West Yorkshire.

Higher costs meant profits fell by close to half for diversified cabinet manufacturer Decorative Panels through 2023/24, but the Leeds group maintained revenue.

Underlying profits rose on continued top line growth at Ulster Carpets through 2023/24, though the consolidation of weaving activities proved a drag on the flooring manufacturing giant's net result.

The kitchen conglomerate behind UK retail chain Magnet has agreed amended terms and conditions for its long-term funding, supporting its strategic plans and limiting its exposure to a covenant breach.

A British carpet yarn spinner that has long been a key cog in the UK manufacturing supply chain has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators (NOI).

One of the UK's largest privately-owned soft furnishings suppliers has sought protection from creditors, a court filing late last week shows.

Bed maker and retailer Get Laid Beds retained a near double-digit net margin in the past year despite sales being impacted by the wider economic backdrop and inflationary pressures.

Italian sofa manufacturer Nicoletti Home plans to open 20 galleries in the UK and Ireland during 2025 as it builds on a rollout that began in the second half of this year.

Privately-owned flooring manufacturing conglomerate Condor Group has acquired the sales activities of Findeisen, a German carpet business whose roots go back over a century.

Spruce House Partnership, a private investment firm that owned more than a fifth of Victoria as recently as July, has almost closed out its position in the UK flooring conglomerate.

More than a dozen companies from across the furnishings, flooring and bedding sectors have been appointed Royal Warrant holders as part of the second cohort to be granted by HM King Charles III.

Celebrity Motion Furniture had its most productive year since 2017 in the 12 months to end September 2024 as the Nottinghamshire upholstery supplier maintained its upwards momentum.

Emma Sleep, the mattress brand that faces legal action from UK regulators regarding its own advertising, has successfully complained about the marketing tactics of one of its emerging rivals.

Sofa industry supplier Fibreline is making a further six-figure investment after completing a previously signposted extension to its West Yorkshire factory.

Year-on-year upholstery imports from Italy have climbed for the first time since the start of the year as changes in ScS' buying strategy under its new owner finally took effect.

Restructuring advisors overseeing the fallout from a North West mattress maker that filed for insolvency with debts of £4 million four years ago have enlisted Manolete Partners to try and recover cash for creditors.

Italian upholstery giant Natuzzi says utilising logistics in Vietnam may be a potential route to avoid new tariffs imposed by the incoming administration in the US.

Profits advanced for Fibreline last year as the upholstery fillings and cushion manufacturer made productivity gains resulting from investment in staff training and increased automation.

The output from the factory supplying Tempur product into the UK proved the difference between mattress imports growing and contracting at the start of the final quarter.

West Midlands furniture maker Boss Design saw profits decline in the past year as weaker export sales offset margin gains. It said 2023/24 has been even tougher so far.

A sixth straight decline in carpet imports wasn't enough to send overall flooring inflows into the UK lower at the start of the third quarter thanks to continued strength in wood and vinyl.

The closure of Natuzzi's factory in Shanghai hit profitability in the third quarter as the Italian-headquartered company accelerated its pivot from volume manufacturing to higher-value branded product.

The product and interior design company that until earlier this autumn ran MARK, the foam-free soft seating supplier, has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators.

Furniture manufacturing turnover declined on a year-on-year basis for the third month in a row in October according to figures released Friday morning by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Emma Leeke, managing director at home department and furniture store retailer Leekes, has been appointed to the board of the British Furniture Association (BFA), the recently renamed national trade body.

The combined UK market share of the largest sofa makers and importers declined last year, even before major buying strategy shifts by two of the biggest retailers in the sector.

The principal UK arm of mattress spring maker Leggett & Platt, a key supplier to the British beds market, paid a bumper dividend to its US owner last year as it repatriated surplus cash.

North Wales ready-assembled bedroom and living room cabinet maker Welcome Furniture cut debt by the end of its 2023/24 financial year after selling investment property for £2.4 million.

Pocket spring and component manufacturer Spinks has made a licence agreement with Nestor Springs that will see its patented technology launched into the Polish market.

NorthEdge Capital backed a management buyout at Belfield Group eight years ago that left it with a 51 percent stake. It now owns almost 100 percent of the upholstery group, new filings show.

Shares in flooring conglomerate Victoria jumped sharply on Tuesday after the group chief executive Philippe Hamers delivered a major vote of confidence.

The disposal of a subsidiary and stronger margins helped the Vita Group return to profit last year, despite a hefty decline in global revenue.

Creditors owed over £1 million more than expected at the time of insolvency.

High Wycombe upholstered furniture manufacturer Greengate is targeting a reorganisation that will provide continuity for the historic brand following an insolvency process.

Headlam says the flooring market is down as much as 15 percent year-on-year but added that its own performance was not as weak. That is because the collapse of Carpetright has aided some of its larger customers.

TCM Living, the upholstery group behind British sofa brands Alstons, Alexander & James and Ashley Manor, has agreed debt funding with bankers in Thailand, where its majority owners are based.

Experienced furniture industry executive Kellie Oliver, who took on an expanded role at TCM Living earlier this year, has become the latest high-profile leader to leave the upholstery group.

The West Yorkshire manufacturing and import group behind the Bedmaster brand booked higher profits in the past year as lower shipping costs mitigated a drop in turnover.

Furniture, furnishings and bed industry news in brief.

A challenging market and general weakness in the economy contributed to sales and profits falling for West Midlands sofa maker Alpha Designs Upholstery last year.

Sofa and curtain fabrics wholesaler Fryett's mitigated higher costs and lower sales through 2023/24 thanks to wider gross margin achieved after it increased its share of the cut-length market.

Privately-owned Batley mattress maker Dura Beds reversed a prior-year cash burn through 2022/23 in a period when sales and profits were broadly flat.

Mattress maker Bodyease has secured the UK licence to manufacture the Performance and Comfort collections of the Mammoth brand.

The group CEO of sofa market leader DFS says the retailer has an "obligation to lead from the front" in helping transform the U.K. furniture industry's approach to net-zero.

Three-quarters of the turnover of the UK bed market at wholesale prices remains in the hands of just a handful of British and international manufacturers and suppliers.

Half-year losses widened at flooring conglomerate Victoria after it wrote down the value of assets in its soft flooring and ceramics businesses by £120 million.

A hard market failed to prevent upholstery sales in Europe jumping sharply for recliner giant Man Wah Holdings in the first half of its 2024/25 financial year.

Eastern European sofa manufacturer Home Group continued to recover from the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the past six months as revenue climbed further.

Tempur has announced the death of longtime area manager Andrew Soutar, describing him as a much-loved and popular member of the team and one of the foundation stones for the brand in the U.K. and Ireland.

The British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) has become the British Furniture Association (BFA) in a renaming that consolidates its expanding representation across the U.K. furniture supply chain.

Creditors of historic upholstery company Delcor face a forecast shortfall of £1.5 million following the prepack asset buyout earlier in the autumn.

The managing director of flooring distributor TradeChoice Carpet & Flooring has left the business for a new role elsewhere in the home interiors sector.

The CFO of La-Z-Boy says the company expects sales through DFS to begin to accelerate in the final quarter of its financial year as it shrugs off the impact of its tie-up with ScS ending.

Furniture and furnishings industry news in brief.

Losses were almost five-fold higher through 2024 for Mammoth Sit and Sleep ahead of the bed company completing a prepack restructure last month.

Two straight months of upholstery import growth into the U.K. came to an end in September despite robust figures from the two largest source markets.

Arlo & Jacob will take its footprint to a dozen stores nationwide with two new openings including one neighbouring rival retailer Loaf on a retail park just off the M25.

Higher shipments of living and dining wood furniture helped case goods imports to their first year-on-year rise in five months in September.

Flooring conglomerate Victoria has sold Turkish ceramic tile manufacturer Graniser just over three years after it bought the business from an Austrian investment company.

The supervisor of a debt restructuring process at upholstery company The Sofa & Chair Co. says he expects to be appointed liquidator in February after the company defaulted on its obligations.

Flooring imports into the UK climbed in September despite a fifth straight slide in the carpet category. The increase was driven by higher shipments of vinyl and wood flooring.

Growth returned to the mattress import category at the end of the third quarter despite weaker figures from three of the four most important source nations.

Upholstery producer Westbridge Furniture is to consolidate all production into a single factory as it realigns its business following demand headwinds and the market exit of a former customer.

Upholstery and furnishings group Belfield says it is proposing to exit the soft furnishings market with an expected wind-down of its Belfield Home business by the end of January.

TCM Living, the upholstery group behind the Ashley Manor, Alstons, AMX Design, and Alexander & James brands, saw its third quarter net loss double as it faced up to multiple market challenges.

U.K. furniture makers' collective output declined for the fifth month in the past six in September, according to official figures released Friday.

Shares in Victoria declined further last week despite the flooring conglomerate saying it believes demand is returning to the market and that it has plenty of time to secure an optimal refinancing of its debts.

Furniture and furnishings industry news in brief from across the sector.

Sarah Bianchi and Gisela Lancaster are among the headline panellists for the Women In Furniture Network's (WIFN) Celebrate Success event, slated to take place during the January Furniture Show early next year.

Furniture and furnishings industry news in brief.

In-the-home adjustable furniture seller Oak Tree Mobility made continued gains as it shrugged off the last of its ties with former sister business Middletons, the now-closed mobility retail chain.

Sofas & Stuff founder Andrew Cussins transferred some of his stake to other family members earlier this year in a development that saw the next generation become shareholders for the first time.

High-end British furniture maker Benchmark further bolstered cash reserves through 2023/24 in a period where sales bounced strongly from a prior-year decline.

A bespoke furniture maker based near Amersham was sold in a prepack deal last month after a construction company that had been one of its major customers folded.

Bed manufacturer Vispring says it is with great sadness that it announces the death of Jim Gerety, its former md, and past president of the National Bed Federation. He died after a brief illness on Saturday, November 9, 2024 aged 66.

The CEO of Magnet owner Nobia says the kitchen conglomerate will undertake a further review of its U.K. store footprint despite having already cut close to a fifth of its retail footprint here.

Suppliers have briefed that furniture retailers can expect incoming price increases, with manufacturers saying that mid-single digit hikes will be necessary "just to stand still."

Flooring conglomerate Victoria's share price has fallen more steeply since the end of October with the price dropping close to a decade-long low.

Furniture industry news in brief.

The leader of Tempur Sealy International cited the "fabulous performance" of U.K. beds market leader Dreams as the world's biggest bedding company found third quarter revenue and earnings growth.

The owner of Corndell and Global Home says both cabinet furniture suppliers will book gains this year on a mix of revenue growth and lapping a period when the value of stock was depreciated.

The Long Eaton sofa maker that acquired the assets of Acclaim Upholstery last year left modest six-figure debts when it collapsed into liquidation, with the largest creditor being a connected party.

Furniture and furnishings industry news in brief.

The CEO of Andrew Martin says the furniture and furnishings wholesaler and retailer can double the size of its upholstery business, having already transformed sales in the category since investing in its own manufacturing facility.

Three senior officials at the turnaround private equity investor that rescued Maker & Son two years ago have each been given 22-month prison sentences for contempt of court, The Times has reported.

A launch into new product categories and wider gross margin helped profits rise last year for NLC Group, the lighting conglomerate that shares ownership in common with Gallery Direct.



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