Meditor makes its move Written on 31 October 2019. Shares in Carpetright almost halved this morning after its largest creditor and shareholder said it was considering a £15m takeover offer. Continue Reading
10 for Baytree Interiors Written on 31 October 2019. North of England furniture and accessories chain Baytree Interiors will reach double-figures when it opens its 10th branch tomorrow (1 November). Continue Reading
Carpetright deepens Furniture Village tie-up Written on 30 October 2019. Carpetright is to strengthen its relationship with Furniture Village with more concessions. Continue Reading
John Lewis sees home sales plunge again Written on 29 October 2019. John Lewis is continuing to feel the effect of its 20% home promotion, which seems to have brought forward purchases rather than increased them. Continue Reading
New life for store Written on 29 October 2019. The premises of former Aberdeen retailer Dargie Design is set to become a café. Continue Reading
MBO at Clive Christian Written on 28 October 2019. Top-end furniture manufacturer Chile Christian has been bought by its management. Continue Reading
JFS set to boost first time exhibitors Written on 28 October 2019. January Furniture Show has confirmed that several companies will be making their debut at the show in January. Continue Reading
Nortjé moves to Breasley from Hypnos Written on 24 October 2019. Wayne Nortjé, Hypnos Contract Beds director of operations has left the company to join Breasley as operations director. Continue Reading
Lepley does U-turn on M&S store role Written on 24 October 2019. Marks & Spencer’s incoming store director has decided not to join the chain after his present employer offered him a promotion. Continue Reading
John Lewis sees home sales slump Written on 23 October 2019. John Lewis saw home sales slump in the past week after the end of its 20% off promotion, which shoppers turning their attention to clothing and beauty. Continue Reading
Interiors quartet make Top Track 250 Written on 22 October 2019. Four interiors companies have been recognised in the The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 as being among Britain’s private mid-market growth companies with the largest sales. Continue Reading
James and Peers join BFM board Written on 22 October 2019. Paul James and Ian Peers have been elected to the BFM’s board. Continue Reading
Headlam buys Edel Telenzo Written on 21 October 2019. Headlam has added to its portfolio of flooring brands by buying Edel Telenzo Carpets. Continue Reading
Hilding Anders looks to Sjögren for vision Written on 18 October 2019. Feather & Black and Jensen Beds parent Hilding Anders has appointed a new ceo. Continue Reading
Recor in Litmus tie-up Written on 17 October 2019. Belgian upholstery and cabinet manufacturer Recor has named Litmus Furniture as its principal agency for the England, Wales and Ireland. Continue Reading
FMC takes first step of One Step campaign Written on 16 October 2019. 36 companies have signed up to The Furniture Makers’ Company’s One Step at a Time welfare campaign, taking the charity over a third of the way to its target of 100 companies supporting the initiative by May 2020. Continue Reading
Fabiia set to open London showroom Written on 16 October 2019. Furniture and lighting retailer Fabiia is to open its first London showroom, after more then a year of planning. Continue Reading
Kährs offers display stand Written on 15 October 2019. To celebrate the launch of its Kährs Luxury Tiles range, the company is offering retailers the chance to win one of its Platinum LT showroom stands. Continue Reading
Promotions and Christmas provide boost for John Lewis Written on 15 October 2019. The final days of a 20% off promotion helped John Lewis deliver a double-digit rise in home sales in the past week. Continue Reading
Loaf sees new stores fuel growth Written on 15 October 2019. Furniture retailer Loaf saw sales rise 16% in its past financial year while gross margin was increased. Continue Reading
Anglim to leave Laura Ashely Written on 15 October 2019. Sean Anglim, Laura Ashley joint chief operating officer and financial director is to leave the retailer after almost a quarter of a century with the chain. Continue Reading
ScS management get share rewards Written on 14 October 2019. ScS has rewarded its senior management with share options, that if sold today would be worth £1.7m. Continue Reading
Retail footfall sees 10% drop Written on 14 October 2019. The number of shoppers heading to UK high streets, retail parks and shopping centres has dropped by 10% in the last seven years, new research has shown. Continue Reading
Online move by At The Helm Written on 11 October 2019. Leather upholstery producer At The Helm has launched a website, showcasing its five collections. Continue Reading
Made.com sees losses increase Written on 11 October 2019. Online furniture retailerMade.com has seen losses jump to almost £6m as it expanded internationally. Continue Reading
Dunelm sees shares drop after September warning Written on 10 October 2019. Shares in interiors chain Dunelm slid this morning after shareholders were spooked by ‘a softer homewares market’ in September, despite a strong quarterly performance. Continue Reading
D&R makes physical store move Written on 09 October 2019. Online lighting and accessories retailer Dowsing & Reynolds has opened its first bricks and mortar store. Continue Reading
Expansion sees 2018 losses jump at Tapi but margin sees boost this year Written on 08 October 2019. Tapi’s expansion last year saw pre-tax losses jump by more than 40% as sales approached £80m. Continue Reading
Home promotion pays off for John Lewis Written on 08 October 2019. The 20% off home promotion paid dividends for the chain in the past week, with sales significantly higher and a record online performance. Continue Reading
BRC warns on lowest annual retail sales growth since 1995 Written on 08 October 2019. The British Retail Consortium KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed a 1.3% fall in retail sales in September, producing the survey’s lowest annual growth figure since 1995 of just 0.2%. Continue Reading
Emma recruitment of cfo designed to give co-founder focus on growing the company Written on 08 October 2019. Mattress in a box company Emma has strengthened its management, allowing the company’s co-founder to focus on growing the company. Continue Reading
Sports Direct denies HoF mass closures plan Written on 07 October 2019. Sports Direct has denied a claim that it will close most House of Fraser stores once the crucial Christmas trading period comes to an end. Continue Reading
OKA slumps to loss Written on 07 October 2019. Furniture chain OKA slumped to a loss last year, as restructuring and property costs wiped out profits. Continue Reading
NBF reports sales volume holding up but value down Written on 04 October 2019. Sales volume is holding up, but value is down, says the National Bed Federation (NBF) as it reveals the latest results from its State of Trade report. Continue Reading
Bed trio to get new online presence Written on 03 October 2019. Steinhoff UK Beds is to invest in three new websites for its Slumberland, Relyon and Dunlopillo brands, as part of a new digital strategy. Continue Reading
KI scores KBSA Design hat-trick Written on 03 October 2019. Kitchens International score a hat-trick of wins at the design awards at the KBSA Designer Awards. Continue Reading
New look for show Written on 02 October 2019. The BFM has rebranded its fabric exhibition as it looks to introduce new shows. Continue Reading
Argos boss heads to advertising agency Written on 02 October 2019. John Rogers, Argos ceo is to leave the retailer at the end of the month to join advertising agency WPP. Continue Reading
John Lewis takes axe to management Written on 01 October 2019. John Lewis is to abolish a third of head office management roles across John Lewis and Waitrose, as it unifies management of the two chains. Continue Reading
Promotion sees John Lewis enjoy home sales rebound Written on 01 October 2019. John Lewis saw home sales jump in the past week thanks to the start of a price-cutting promotion. Continue Reading
ScS sees shares tumble after Brexit and weather warning Written on 01 October 2019. Shares in ScS fell by almost 10% in initial trading this morning after it warned that orders since the end of July had been hit by Brexit concerns and the hot weather. Continue Reading
FSB and CBI express concerns over no-deal Brexit’s impact on retailing Written on 01 October 2019. The Federation of Small Businesses and the Confederation of British Industry have become the latest organisations to express concerns over how a no-deal Brexit could impact on UK retailing. Continue Reading
Ambiente looks to the future Written on 01 October 2019. Three key trends have been identified for 2020 by design agency Stilbüro bora.herke.palmisano for Ambiente. Continue Reading
Business rates ‘tinkering’ will see many retailers miss out on cut Written on 31 October 2018. The reduction in business rates announced by the Chancellor in the Budget will provide mixed results for retailers, with the impact likely to miss many. Continue Reading
Consumer confidence slips in October Written on 31 October 2018. Consumer confidence fell in October despite accelerating wage growth and pre-Budget reports about the imminent end of austerity. Continue Reading
John Lewis sees quarterly home sales drop Written on 30 October 2018. John Lewis suffered another weekly fall in home sales in the past week. The chain has only seen two weekly increases since June. Continue Reading
Sofa.com almost doubles with House of Fraser move Written on 30 October 2018. Sofa.com is to open eight concessions in House of Fraser branches, almost doubling its bricks and mortar presence. Continue Reading
Cormar turns to Eagles as Judge prepares to step down Written on 30 October 2018. David Judge, Cormar Carpet Company md is to step down after 24 year at the end of December. He will become an advisor to the company. Continue Reading
Karlsson to head Cole & Son Written on 29 October 2018. £50m wallpaper group Wallvision has named Marie Karlsson, head of its international business division, to be md of its UK subsidiary Cole & Son. Continue Reading
Housing Units maintains performance amid investment Written on 29 October 2018. Oldham retailer Housing Units maintained performance while funding its expansion. Continue Reading
ScS pulls House of Fraser concessions Written on 25 October 2018. ScS is to exit its 27 concession in House of Fraser stores after sales slumped by more than half. Continue Reading
Debenhams to close up to 70 stores and looks to cut rents Written on 25 October 2018. Department store chain Debenhams has confirmed plans to close 50 stores, the overwhelming majority of which are profitable, while the future of a further 20 is in doubt. Continue Reading
Profits increase sees bonus boost at ScS Written on 24 October 2018. David Knight, ScS ceo saw his bonus more than double in the past year. Continue Reading
Fitted furniture and flooring provide bright spots for John Lewis Written on 23 October 2018. Increases in sales of fitted furniture and flooring were not enough to lift overall home sales for John Lewis in the past week. Continue Reading
Wickes sees like for likes sales continue to suffer Written on 23 October 2018. Wickes has seen sales drop in the past quarter in a ‘very challenging’ market. Continue Reading
Mobile browsing moves to pole position for John Lewis shoppers Written on 23 October 2018. Smartphones have become the most popular method of browsing online for John Lewis shoppers. Continue Reading
Debenhams ‘looks to close a third of stores’ Written on 22 October 2018. Debenhams could close up to a third of its 166 UK stores as the chain looks to cut costs. Continue Reading
Silentnight completes sustainability double Written on 19 October 2018. Bed manufacturer Silentnight has won The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Sustainability Award for the second year running after successfully demonstrating that it has taken its commitment to the environment to the next level and in doing so became the first company to win the award twice. Continue Reading
Business rates: 2019 bill set for £180m rise Written on 18 October 2018. The BRC has called on the Government to freeze increases in business rates as retailers face a £180m increase next year. Continue Reading
Staingard acquires Gliptone Written on 16 October 2018. It was announced in July that the Gliptone distributor for the UK was closing its doors. However Staingard, one of the UK’s leading providers of furniture care products has recently acquired the business. Continue Reading
Another week, another home sales fall for John Lewis Written on 16 October 2018. House, its own label collection, provided a bright spot for John Lewis in the past week but home sales once again fell. Continue Reading
Furniture Makers raise £14,000 cycling up Mont Ventoux Written on 16 October 2018. Eight members of The Furniture Makers’ Company have raised almost £14,000 for the charity by collectively cycling all three routes of Mont Ventoux, Provence in a single day. Continue Reading
Vergano joins Tom Dixon as ‘partner in crime’ Written on 15 October 2018. Lighting and furniture company Tom Dixon has hired Swarovski’s former marketing head as its ceo. Continue Reading
September suffers footfall drop Written on 15 October 2018. Retail parks saw footfall increase last month, while high streets and shopping centres suffered another fall. Continue Reading
Domotex reveals Framing Trends participants Written on 12 October 2018. Domotex has revealed the projects that will form its Framing Trends showcase at next January’s exhibition. Continue Reading
Sofology makes south-west move Written on 12 October 2018. Upholstery chain Sofology is opening its first store in the south-west of England today. Continue Reading
Online push boosts Dunelm Written on 11 October 2018. Dunelm Mill saw online sales jump by more than half in the past quarter. Continue Reading
WG expects to meet expectations after recent modest improvement Written on 10 October 2018. If the improved UK performance and maintenance of export sales seen in recent weeks continues, fabric group Walker Greenbank expects its full year to be in line with expectations after its brands suffered in the first half of the year. Continue Reading
Management shake-up at Walker Greenbank Written on 10 October 2018. Fabric group Walker Greenbank has seen a major senior management shake-up. Continue Reading
John Lewis sees home sales fall again Written on 09 October 2018. John Lewis suffered another week of falling home sales in the past week, but saw more shoppers ordering beds and sofas. Continue Reading
September suffers sales fall Written on 09 October 2018. Retail sales suffered a ‘summer hangover’ in September according to the latest results from the British Retail Consortium/KPMG Sales Monitor. Continue Reading
French Connection leaps on sale suggestion Written on 08 October 2018. Loss-making clothing and homewares chain French Connection has seen its share price leap after it said it could be for sale. Continue Reading
Tapi lifts margins as store dash ends Written on 08 October 2018. Tapi saw sales almost double last year as it continued its expansion while losses were almost flat. Continue Reading
BHS returns to the high street Written on 05 October 2018. British Home Stores is making a return to UK high streets. Continue Reading
Made.com makes Spanish move as its cuts losses Written on 05 October 2018. Made.com is to begin operating in Spain as it looks to take a share of the £6bn market. Continue Reading
Councillors green light Ikea store Written on 04 October 2018. A proposed Ikea store in Sussex has passed its first planning hurdle. Continue Reading
Bensons backs SleepPro with advertising campaign Written on 04 October 2018. Bensons for Beds has launched a multi-million pound marketing campaign following the completion of the roll-out of its SleepPro mattress technology across the chain. Continue Reading
DFS sees upturn in orders Written on 04 October 2018. DFS has seen like for like sales order growth across all of its brands since the summer. Continue Reading
Topps to beat profit forecasts Written on 03 October 2018. An upturn in like for like sales will see Topps Tiles make better than expected profits Continue Reading
Better: The Flooring Show visitors Written on 02 October 2018. Analysis of visitors to The Flooring Show has confirmed what many exhibitors reported during the show: a higher quality of visitor. Continue Reading
Own brand lift fails to boost home for John Lewis Written on 02 October 2018. John Lewis saw a large increase in sales of its own-label House brand in the past week but it wasn’t enough to lift overall home sales. Continue Reading
ScS sees Autumn boost Written on 02 October 2018. ScS has seen an increase in like for like orders in recent weeks. Continue Reading
Interiors quartet make 1,000 list Written on 01 October 2018. Four UK interiors companies have been included in the London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Europe report, looking at high-growth small and medium sized businesses across Europe. Continue Reading
Furniture and lighting growth fails to lift home at John Lewis Written on 31 October 2017. Despite increasing furniture and lighting sales home sales fell again at John Lewis last week. Continue Reading
Brighthouse bondholders ‘set to take ownership’ Written on 31 October 2017. Rent to buy retailer Brighthouse could shortly change hands, with its bond holders swapping dents for shares, it has been reported. Continue Reading
Gallery Direct scoops regional business award Written on 31 October 2017. Furniture and accessories supplier Gallery Direct has been named as Business of the Year at the Swale Business Awards. Continue Reading
Softness is key to carpet buying for shoppers Written on 30 October 2017. Softness is the most important aspect for shoppers when buying a carpet, with how it looks relatively unimportant. Continue Reading
Silentnight scoops Furniture Makers’ Company Sustainability Award Written on 30 October 2017. The Furniture Makers’ Company, the furnishing industry’s charity, has named bed manufacturer Silentnight as winner of its 2017 Sustainability Award. Continue Reading
Mohawk sees quarterly ROW sales top US$500m Written on 27 October 2017. Unilin and IVC parent Mohawk has seen its non-North American flooring sales on a constant currency basis top US$500m in the past quarter. Continue Reading
KI promotes Dobbins after new build success Written on 27 October 2017. Kitchen retailer Kitchens International has promoted Derek Dobbins to the company’s board. Continue Reading
DFS boosts contract operations as Smith takes new role Written on 26 October 2017. DFS has boosted the management of its contract operations while creating a major new retail role. Continue Reading
Sales grow at Housing Units Written on 25 October 2017. Investing in its expanded distribution centre reduced Housing Units profitability in the past year. Continue Reading
Walsh warns of lower H1 profits Written on 24 October 2017. Wilf Walsh, Carpetright chief executive has warned that first half profits will be lower that 2016 after ‘volatile’ trading. Continue Reading
John Lewis suffers another fall in home sales Written on 24 October 2017. John Lewis suffered its fourth consecutive week of lower home sales last week. Continue Reading
Victoria makes £50m ceramic push Written on 24 October 2017. Victoria has returned to the acquisition trail with the £50m purchase of Italian ceramic flooring manufacturer Ceramiche Serra, and indicated it tends to make further buys in the sector. Continue Reading
Walton scoops top Merseyside prize Written on 23 October 2017. North-west of England chain Walton Flooring Centre has been awarded a top regional prize. Continue Reading
YFM exhibition attracts hundreds Written on 20 October 2017. The Furniture Makers’ Company’s largest Young Furniture Makers exhibition attracted hundreds of visitors as a record breaking 120 pieces from GCSE and A Level students through to BA and MA graduates from around the UK packed out the Dutch Church and Furniture Makers’ Hall in Austin Friars, London. Continue Reading
Westco sees profits drop after 7% sales fall Written on 18 October 2017. Flooring distributor Westco saw profits drop in the previous financial year after sales dropped by 7%. Continue Reading
Carpet Foundation members to receive marketing push as online interest is revealed Written on 18 October 2017. Carpet Foundation members are to receive posters of the organisation’s first home interest press marketing campaign. Continue Reading
John Lewis sees home sales drop again Written on 17 October 2017. John Lewis suffered a third consecutive week of falling home sales last week, despite strong fitted furniture sales. Continue Reading
Ventura Lambrate finds new home (and name) after proving too successful Written on 17 October 2017. A major part of Fuorislone during Milan design week is having to relocate after eight years, driven out by its own success. Continue Reading
Tickets selling fast for charity Christmas ball Written on 16 October 2017. Tickets are selling fast for The Furniture Makers’ Company’s fundraising Christmas Ball. Continue Reading
Footfall drops back in September Written on 16 October 2017. Footfall dropped again in September at high streets and shopping centres while growth at retail parts slowed. Continue Reading
NBF boosts technical support Written on 13 October 2017. The National Bed Federation has appointed a full-time technical manager, who will provide technical advice to members as well as informing them about changes in standards and legislation Continue Reading
Celebrate in style Written on 13 October 2017. If you are going to celebrate a company milestone, do it in style. Continue Reading
Tapi enjoyed almost tenfold sales growth Written on 12 October 2017. Flooring chain Tapi’s sales grew almost tenfold last year as a faster than anticipated expansion boosted sales. Continue Reading
Registration opens for JFS Written on 12 October 2017. Visitor registration for next year’s January Furniture Show has opened. Continue Reading
Flexform reopens extended London showroom Written on 12 October 2017. Italian furniture manufacturer Flexform has reopened its extended Chelsea Harbour, London showroom. Continue Reading
Dunelm sees quarterly sales jump Written on 11 October 2017. Interiors retailer Dunelm has seen an almost double-digit rise in like for like sales in the past quarter. Continue Reading
John Lewis sees second week of falling home sales Written on 11 October 2017. Home sales at John Lewis have fallen for the second week in a row. Continue Reading
Whitemeadow identified in London Stock Exchange Group’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Europe’ report Written on 10 October 2017. Independently owned British upholstery manufacturer, Whitemeadow, has been identified as one of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Europe. The report is a celebration of the most dynamic small and medium sized businesses across Europe. Continue Reading
Consumer spend falls in September, says VISA Written on 10 October 2017. According to the Visa UK, household expenditure declined for a fourth month in five in September, with spend on household goods among the categories in decline. Continue Reading
You couldn’t make it up…a competition all about beds Written on 09 October 2017. When he entered a competition all about beds, winning was all Steven Hague ever dreamed of. Continue Reading
Bensons for Beds and Harveys CEO Announces Exciting New Leadership Team Restructure Written on 09 October 2017. Statement from Stuart Machin, CEO for Bensons for Beds and Harveys “Having joined the business eight weeks ago, I have now had the chance to review our leadership structure and identify a number of additions, changes, and improvements that I believe will help us achieve our commercial objectives. Continue Reading
New marketing and national accounts director joins La-Z-Boy UK Written on 06 October 2017. La-Z-Boy UK Ltd has appointed a new director to manage its marketing and national retailer accounts. Continue Reading
Profits fall by a fifth at DFS Written on 05 October 2017. The upholstered furniture retailer has reported a 22% fall in profits despite sales growing by £10.4m. The preliminary results show for the 52 weeks ended 29 July 2017, gross sales rose 1.1% to £990.8m from £980.4m in 2016. Online sales rose by 10.7%, whilst Sofa Workshop achieved double-digit percentage sales growth and solid profitability during the year. Continue Reading
Six years of sales growth at HSL Written on 05 October 2017. The seating and motion furniture specialist HSL has reported a sixth consecutive rise in sales as turnover edged towards £52m. Continue Reading
Trampoline arena jumping for joy after Moduleo flooring installation Written on 04 October 2017. Blackjack Oak from luxury vinyl flooring manufacturer, Moduleo, has been specified in the recent refurbishment of the Jump In trampoline arena, in Walsall.More than 500sqm of Blackjack Oak 22246 from the popular Transform portfolio of designs was installed in the ground floor main arena. Continue Reading
Preliminary Results for SCS Written on 03 October 2017. ScS, one of the UK's largest retailers of upholstered furniture and floorings, has announced its Preliminary Results for the 52 weeks ended 29 July 2017. Continue Reading
Transport & logistics group secures major contract with furniture giant Written on 02 October 2017. DX has announced that it has agreed a major new Contract with IKEA to provide a bespoke logistics solution for customer deliveries. Continue Reading
Whitemeadow sees sales and profits rise again Written on 02 October 2017. Upholstered furniture manufacturer Whitemeadow has reported top and bottom line gains in what it described as a year of two halves in the 12 months to end December 2016.This is a fourth consecutive year of turnover growth as sales rocket past the £40m milestone. Continue Reading
Registration opens for Top Drawer Written on 31 October 2016. Online registration for January’s edition of Top Drawer, which features more exclusive exhibitors, has opened. Continue Reading
ScS directors transfer shares Written on 31 October 2016. Two directors of upholstery and flooring chain ScS have transferred major shareholdings to their spouses, totalling nearly 1.5% of the retailer’s shares. Continue Reading
Sofa Express invests in distribution centre Written on 31 October 2016. Upholstery and living room furniture retailer Sofa Express has invested in a new distribution centre. Continue Reading
Back in the saddle Written on 28 October 2016. Quick-Step is to become the title sponsor of Belgian World Tour cycling team, after five years as co-sponsor. Continue Reading
As you were: Brexit to make no difference to spending plans Written on 28 October 2016. The overwhelming majority of consumers will spend just as much on furniture and soft furnishings as they had planned before the EU referendum. Continue Reading
Better than expected or growth drops: take your pick Written on 27 October 2016. Depending on your view towards the EU, the UK economy grew faster than expected in the wake of the Brexit referendum vote or growth slowed dramatically. Continue Reading
Walsh and Page up stakes in Carpetright Written on 27 October 2016. The chief executive and group finance director of Carpetright have upped their stakes in the chain, but paying very different prices. Continue Reading
NBF updates code of practice Written on 26 October 2016. The National Bed Federation has launched a new version of its Code of Practice. Continue Reading
Making the most of Ambiente Written on 26 October 2016. Practical items as everyday aids, innovations with awards, sustainable products distinguished by outstanding design, remarkable product presentations and utensils for professionals – Ambiente from 10 to 14 February makes it easy for companies to present outstanding new products with creative, design-oriented and innovative exhibitors being invited to apply for inclusion on several different platforms. Continue Reading
Home returns to growth for John Lewis Written on 26 October 2016. After suffering a drop in home sales the previous week, John Lewis saw sales rebound last week. Continue Reading
Nickolds gets top job at John Lewis Written on 25 October 2016. John Lewis has followed Marks & Spencer by appointing a long-serving executive who worked their way up from the shop-floor as its new boss. Continue Reading
Sales slip further at Carpetright Written on 25 October 2016. Carpetright has seen sales drop further in the past four months. Continue Reading
Profits leap at Trendsetter Written on 24 October 2016. Bedding manufacturer Trendsetter Home Furnishings has seen profits leap by almost a quarter. Continue Reading
Interfloor looks for Festive cheer Written on 24 October 2016. Underlay and flooring accessories manufacturer Interfloor says it has stocked-up ahead of the pre-Christmas trading period and will be delivering until the week before Christmas. Continue Reading
Minerva looks to flooring to boost membership Written on 21 October 2016. Furniture buying group Minerva has created a new membership category as it looks to attract new retailers. Continue Reading
Axminster scores at Twickenham Written on 21 October 2016. Axminster Carpets has completed an order to supply 4,000sqm of carpet at Twickenham Stadium. Continue Reading
Blaquer brings second gold for Heico Written on 20 October 2016. Heico Fasteners UK has become the first distributor to be awarded FIRA Gold product certification for zig-zag and super loop springs. Continue Reading
On your bike: fitter wins UK Worker of the Year award Written on 20 October 2016. A flooring fitter has been named as UK Worker of the Year, winning a motorbike and a year’s free shopping but missed out on a £250,000 bonus prize. Continue Reading
Solid or not solid: Oak Furniture Land says ASA has overturned ‘hundreds of years’ of understanding Written on 19 October 2016. Oak Furniture Land has said an Advertising Standards Authority ruling that it can no longer describe its furniture as ‘solid hardwood’ could have far-reaching implications for the furniture retail industry and that the ASA has redefined terminology that has been used for hundreds of years. Continue Reading
John Lewis sees home dip Written on 19 October 2016. After a run of sales increases, helped by strong furniture sales, John Lewis saw home sales slip back last week. Continue Reading
Flooring Superstore invests £250,000 in delivery fleet Written on 19 October 2016. Online flooring retailer Flooring Superstore has invested £250,000 in its infrastructure to support its expansion and increase its offering to consumers. Continue Reading
Young Designer Trendtable set to illuminate flooring design Written on 18 October 2016. Domotex is to expand its Innovations@DOMOTEX showcase with five young design studios illuminating the future of flooring design, including the UK’s Briggs & Cole. Continue Reading
Karndean unveils online store for customers to buy direct from retailer base Written on 18 October 2016. LVT flooring manufacturer Karndean Designflooring is making it easier for consumers to choose and care for their new floor by unveiling its first online store – via www.karndean.com. Continue Reading
Swan strengthens position with software deal Written on 18 October 2016. Retail software company Swan Retail has strengthened its position in the marketplace with the purchase of three applications. Continue Reading
Godfrey Syrett scoops green prize Written on 17 October 2016. Cabinet and upholstery manufacturer Godfrey Syrett has been named as the winner of the Furniture Makers’ Company’s Sustainability Award. Continue Reading
Next generation hailed Written on 17 October 2016. The next generation of furniture designers and makers has been hailed at The Furniture Makers’ Company’s annual Young Furniture Makers exhibition. Continue Reading
Matza investment boosts production Written on 14 October 2016. Bed manufacturer Matza has invested £400,000 in new equipment leading to increased efficiency and the creation of 10 jobs at its 60,000sqft West Yorkshire factory. Continue Reading
New look for Jenners Written on 14 October 2016. The furniture and flooring department of the Jenners department store in Edinburgh has received a major overhaul as part of a £100,000 investment. Continue Reading
Kährs Design Studio opens in Clerkenwell Written on 14 October 2016. Flooring company Kährs has opened a new design studio in Clerkenwell, London. It will also showcase décor styles, furnishings and heating technology from brand partners - Earthborn, BoConcept and Nu-Heat - with Kährs’ resident interior design team on-hand to provide help and expertise. Continue Reading
Village life for Wool Week Written on 13 October 2016. Oxfordshire designer shopping outlet Bicester Village is helping to celebrate Wool Week, in association with the Campaign for Wool and the British Fashion Council, with a quintessentially British collection of wool products including Brintons' carpets and Manolo Blahnik wool covered shoes. Continue Reading
Clarkes sell Clarke & Clarke for £42.5m Written on 13 October 2016. 17 years after founding their eponymous fabric company, Lee and Emma Clarke have sold Clarke & Clarke to Sanderson parent Walker Greenbank for up to £42.5m. Continue Reading
Dwell to get its own distribution centre Written on 12 October 2016. DFS has show its commitment to its Dwell subsidiary by investing in a national distribution centre for the chain. Continue Reading
Home shines again for John Lewis Written on 11 October 2016. Home has continued to deliver for John Lewis, with strong furniture sales. Continue Reading
Sainsbury’s begins Mini Habitat rollout Written on 11 October 2016. Sainsbury’s has begun the rollout of Mini Habitat branches within its supermarkets allowing shoppers to see and touch products to give them more confidence to buy online. Continue Reading
Second showroom for RGI Written on 11 October 2016. Furniture, flooring and interiors design company Richard Grafton Interiors is to open its second branch last this week. Continue Reading
BFM appoints sales and marketing manager Written on 10 October 2016. The BFM has named Trevor Richards as its new sales and marketing manager. Continue Reading
Consumers warned over unsafe mattresses Written on 10 October 2016. Consumers have been urged not to buy mattresses from door to door salesmen as they typically fail the flammability regulations and are old mattresses recovered. Continue Reading
Sales growth slips at Topps Written on 07 October 2016. Topps Tiles has blamed lower consumer confidence for a drop in growth in the past quarter, but it will still meet profit forecasts. Continue Reading
Dunelm blames weather for sales drop Written on 06 October 2016. Dunelm has said a drop in sales in the past quarter was due to the hot weather. Continue Reading
Branded ranges boost DFS Written on 06 October 2016. Sales of branded upholstery ranges have risen by 35% in the past year at DFS, helping the chain to record profits but it has warned exchange rates will hit profits. Continue Reading
US sales fall sees O&L drop into loss Written on 05 October 2016. Fabric and fabric group Osborne & Little fell into the red in the past year as sales dropped by almost 10% in its largest market and the UK. Continue Reading
Victoria strengthens underlay offer with £19.5m Ezi Floor deal Written on 05 October 2016. Victoria has continued with its acquisition policy, agreeing to pay up to £19.5m for underlay manufacturer Ezi Floor. Continue Reading
Furniture continues strong run at John Lewis Written on 05 October 2016. Furniture continued to prove popular with John Lewis customers last week. Continue Reading
BFM confirms JFS support Written on 29 October 2015. The BFM has confirmed its support for the January Furniture Show, with more than 30 members set to take part. Continue Reading
House prices rise again: Nationwide Written on 29 October 2015. UK house prices rose by 3.9% in October compared with 2014, according to Nationwide. Continue Reading
M&S suspended website after it showed other customers’ details Written on 28 October 2015. Marks and Spencer suspended its website last night after it allowed customers to see each others' details when they logged into their own accounts. Continue Reading
UK economy grows again, but growth slows Written on 27 October 2015. The UK economy has grown for 11 quarters in a row, but growth slowed to 0.5% in July, August and September. Continue Reading
UK like for like sales growth slows at Carpetright Written on 27 October 2015. Wilf Walsh, Carpetright chief executive says his effort to revitalise the county’s largest flooring retailer’s brand ‘is on track.’ Continue Reading
Advent cashes in 15% stake in DFS Written on 26 October 2015. Private equity firm Advent International has taken the advantage of the increase in DFS’s shareprice since it floated in March to sell a 15% stake in the upholstery retailer and manufacturer. Continue Reading
Industry events raise more than £15,000 for charity Written on 22 October 2015. Two recent industry events have raised more than £15,000 for charity. Continue Reading
Sharp to quit in 2016 Written on 22 October 2015. Michael Sharp, Debenhams chief executive is to leave the retailer next year, saying he always planned to leave after five years. Continue Reading
Habitat helps drive Homebase growth Written on 21 October 2015. Habitat has enjoyed like for like sales growth in the past six months, helped by increased Habitat sales and big ticket items. Continue Reading
HRG warns it will miss profit targets Written on 21 October 2015. Argos and Homebase parent Home Retail Group has warned that it will miss profit expectations for the current year. Continue Reading
Lukehurst opens £2m store Written on 20 October 2015. Kent retailer Lukehurst has opened its £2m Sittingbourne showroom. Continue Reading
A dream kitchen? Tiles and a modern look please Written on 20 October 2015. Consumers want tiles on their kitchen floors and the kitchen to have a modern look if they were having their dream kitchen. Continue Reading
CF to simplify marketing message to focus only on retailers Written on 19 October 2015. The Carpet Foundation is to simplify its consumer marketing message to: Buy from a Carpet Foundation retailer. Continue Reading
Strong furniture demand lifts home sales at John Lewis Written on 16 October 2015. John Lewis saw home sales edge up in the week to 10 October, driven by strong furniture sales. Continue Reading
Retail park plans for derelict site in Haverhill set to include a home store Written on 15 October 2015. A derelict plot of land in Haverhill looks set to become a bustling retail park amid renewed hopes of investment for the town.The long-vacant site, formerly home of the Project Office Furniture factory in Falconer Road, was bought by Cambridge property developers, the Howard Group, in 2008. Continue Reading
Home Décor reports rise in turnover Written on 14 October 2015. Sheffield based furniture manufacturer, Home Décor Ltd has revealed a slight rise in turnover. Continue Reading
Housing Units closing in on £25m sales mark Written on 13 October 2015. The Manchester retailer says its focus on customer service has delivered a 6.7 per cent increase in turnover. Continue Reading
August bank holiday drives fastest retail sales growth since January 2014 Written on 13 October 2015. September saw like-for-likes rise at the fastest rate since January 2014 due to the inclusion of the late bank holiday in the month’s figures.Retail sales increased by 2.6% on a like-for-like basis over the month compared to September 2014, when sales fell by 2.1%, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales monitor. Continue Reading
John Lewis will open massive £30m department store in Cheltenham High Street Written on 12 October 2015. John Lewis has announced it will take over the entire Beechwood Shopping Centre in Cheltenham The whole building will be converted into a massive department store, which will open in 2017.It will stock the retail giant's full offering, from fashion and homeware to electronics.Current shops in the building have started to move out and work on redeveloping the space will start early next year. Continue Reading
Amazon to launch handmade furniture website to take on Etsy Written on 09 October 2015. Amazon is now looking to expand its market with handcrafted goods by launching a similar themed site to Etsy, entitled Handmade at Amazon. Continue Reading
Scion launches third range of 'Hip and Happening' rugs as part of Its contemporary Scion Living collection Written on 08 October 2015. British brand Scion has once again joined forces with pioneering Dutch rug manufacturer, Brink & Campman, to create the third Scion rug collection. Adapted from Scion's most popular designs, the new rugs are 'pure floor fashion and instantly make a house a home'. Continue Reading
High street resurgent as shop vacancy rates fall to lowest level in five years Written on 08 October 2015. The high street is bouncing back despite the boom in online shopping as shop vacancy rates fall to their lowest level since April 2010. Continue Reading
DFS sales and profits surge as it buys Spanish business to target expats Written on 08 October 2015. DFS has reported a surge in full-year revenues and profits as it buys a Spanish business to target the British expat community. • Pre-tax profits jump to £10.7m as sales surge 7%• The retailer has secured DFS trademark in Spain as it targets 800,000 expats• DFS believes it has grabbed a larger share of the ‘aspirational customer segment’ Continue Reading
Dunelm buys Fogarty linen brand as first-quarter like-for-likes jump Written on 08 October 2015. Dunelm has posted a jump in like-for-like sales in its first quarter and revealed the acquisition of 200-year old linen brand Fogarty Like-for-likes at the homewares retailer increased 5.5% to £183.3m for the quarter ending October 3, while total sales increased 12% to £202.3m year on year. Continue Reading
Proven growth strategy delivers record results Written on 08 October 2015. DFS Furniture plc Preliminary ResultsDFS Furniture plc, (the "Group"), the market leading retailer of upholstered furniture in the United Kingdom today announces its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 1 August 2015 (prior year: 53 weeks ended 2 August 2014) Continue Reading
Move to NAEC May 2016 Written on 07 October 2015. Minerva Furnishers Guild announces a change of venue for their very successful Minerva private members show to be held on the 17th – 18th May 2016. Continue Reading
AHF approaches £20m sales Written on 06 October 2015. AHF has seen sales rise by more than 5% in the past financial year on the back of higher investment. Sales grew by 6% to £19.5m in the year to 31 March at the 19 store chain as EBITDA increased from just under £350,000 to a little over £432,000. Continue Reading
Savoir continues international expansion Written on 05 October 2015. Bed manufacturer Savoir has continued its international expansion by opening a showroom in Seoul.The 700sqft showroom in the South Korean capital is in the recently opened Hyundai department store in Pangyo, close to the city’s most exclusive neighbourhood, the Gangnam district – known as the ‘Mayfair of Seoul’. Continue Reading
Clear early indications of strong and highly international DOMOTEX 2016 Written on 05 October 2015. – Show almost fully booked, with four months yet to go– Wood Flooring Summit 2016 meeting with strong demand– Innovations@DOMOTEX to feature expanded choice of Guided Tours– Guest appearances by star international designers: architect and designer Piero Lissoni (Lissoni Associati) and architect Wolf D. Prix (Coop Himmelb(l)au) Continue Reading
Loaf moves to omnichannel model Written on 02 October 2015. Etailer Loaf has opened its first standalone store, seven years after launching with a choice of a dozen beds and one mattress. Continue Reading
Shareholders back Victoria deal Written on 02 October 2015. Shareholders in Victoria Group have this morning voted to approve the purchase of Interfloor and issuing £44.5m of shares to pay for it. Continue Reading
Be friends with Santa Written on 30 October 2014. Retailers must gear up for Christmas, or risk losing out on their share of an extra £2.3bn of consumer spending, they have been told. Continue Reading
Hypnos secures hotel award again Written on 29 October 2014. Hypnos has been named as the bed behind the country's most comfortable hotel rooms for the fifth consecutive year. Continue Reading
Weather wipes £25m from Next profits Written on 29 October 2014. Next has warned that it has been unable to recover the sales it lost in September and October because of the mild weather and profits will be £25m lower. Continue Reading
Annable becomes Brockway president Written on 28 October 2014. Roy Annable, Brockway Carpets chairman has become president of the carpet manufacturer in honour of his achievements at the Kidderminster company. Continue Reading
London hat-trick for Hastens Written on 27 October 2014. Upmarket bed brand Hastens has opened its third outlet in London. Continue Reading
Beds and flooring drive John Lewis to double-digit rise Written on 24 October 2014. John Lewis enjoyed yet another strong week of interiors sales, driven by beds and flooring as the sector easily outstripped others. Continue Reading
Debenhams sees second half lift Written on 23 October 2014. Department store chain Debenhams is seeing progress in its attempts to boost profits thanks to greater control of discounting. Continue Reading
Kebony raises €8m to boost production Written on 23 October 2014. Sustainable flooring hardwood alterative producer Kebony has raised €8m as it looks to international expansion. Continue Reading
Loft goes in Homebase shake-up as it prepares to cull stores Written on 22 October 2014. Homebase md Paul Loft is to leave the chain after paying the price for patchy performance across its 323 stores. A quarter of branches are to close in the next four and a half years. Continue Reading
Carpetright names Ivell as Harris successor Written on 21 October 2014. Carpetright has named food and drink industry veteran Bob Ivell as its next chairman and confirmed that Lord Harris will step down at the end of the month. Continue Reading
Furniture boost for out of town shopping Written on 20 October 2014. The decline in shopper footfall dropped in September, as furniture sales boosted out of town shopping. Continue Reading
Home and Christmas drive John Lewis to double-digit growth Written on 17 October 2014. John Lewis continued its run of strong homewares performances, helping the department and home store chain to a 12.9% sales increase last week. Continue Reading
Czech boost will end Malaysian imports Written on 17 October 2014. A mulit-million pound investment by Unilin has delivered a major boost to production at its Czech Republic factory in Vyskov, meaning it will no longer have to import engineered wood floors from Malaysia. Continue Reading
Kettle revamps pricing structure Written on 17 October 2014. Cabinet supplier Kettle Interiors has revamped its pricing structure after increasing stock levels to more than £7m. Continue Reading
Loaf rising nicely Written on 16 October 2014. Online interiors retailer Loaf has continued its expansion with a major sales increase in the past six months. Continue Reading
Cormar strengthens distribution network Written on 16 October 2014. Cormar Carpets has further invested in its delivery network with the opening a second cross-dock distribution centre, in Bristol. Continue Reading
Carpetright enjoys second sales increase Written on 15 October 2014. Flooring and beds chain Carpetright has enjoyed a second successive rise in UK quarterly sales as it again sets out to attract more upmarket shoppers. Continue Reading
Cash boost for Carpenter after ‘challenging year’ Written on 15 October 2014. Underlay, bedding and foam company Carpenter was able to boost its level of cash by almost £10m last year, despite a 'challenging year' including being hit by a £23.7m bill as part of the EC's €75m price fixing fine. Continue Reading
Argos to launch multi-million advertising campaign as part of digital drive Written on 14 October 2014. Argos has launched a campaign to prove it is no longer about laminated catalogues and miniature pens, investing in a mult-imillion advertising campaign trumpeting its new digital strategy. Continue Reading
Biggest fall in UK shopping since 2008, though furniture spending remains strong Written on 14 October 2014. British Retail Consortium says warm September partly to blame but says spending on big-ticket items remains strong The continued weakness of spending in supermarkets has hit retail spending figures. The weakest underlying performance by high street and online stores since the depth of the 2008-09 recession provided fresh evidence on Tuesday of a slowdown in the economy. Continue Reading
Interfloor revamps top-seller Written on 14 October 2014. Interfloor has revamped its flagship PU underlay collection with improved backing, bolder branding and updated POS. Continue Reading
UK retail sales drop despite furniture growth Written on 14 October 2014. The value of UK retail sales dropped last month despite continuing high furniture sales, as the weather saw shoppers shun autumn fashions. Continue Reading
John Mackenzie 1935-2014 Written on 11 October 2014. John Mackenzie, bed industry stalwart of almost 30 years has died after some months of failing health. Continue Reading
Profits leap at Barker and Stonehouse Written on 11 October 2014. Baker and Stonehouse has seen a double-digit increase in profits while its expansion to London got off to a better than expected start. Continue Reading
MOOD 2014: It was all about a strong belief in the future Written on 10 October 2014. How to sum up MoOD 2014? More than clear is that MoOD once again scored high in the field of quality and that in this way, it offers a solid basis for the future. One cannot conclude otherwise than that MoOD gained in aura and charm, which is the result of a move towards new halls, in combination with its new look & feel. Continue Reading
Home keeps John Lewis positive Written on 10 October 2014. Department and home store chain John Lewis recorded another increase in sales last week, driven by home sales. Continue Reading
Westco suffers a 31% drop in sales Written on 09 October 2014. Laminate and hard flooring distributor Westco suffered a drop in sales of almost a third in its past financial year. Turnover has almost halved in two years. Continue Reading
Brintons fined after worker narrowly avoid serious injury after explosion Written on 09 October 2014. Brintons Carpets and one of its maintenance contractors have been ordered to pay more than £25,000 after a worker avoided serious injury by a few feet after a dye vessel exploded and its quarter of a tonne lid was thrown 6m into the air. Continue Reading
MoOD reveals Blue Drop winners Written on 09 October 2014. The winners of the coveted Blue Drop awards at fabric exhibition MoOD have been chosen, with visitors to the Brussels show having their final opportunity today to decide the Visitors award. Continue Reading
Laury gets top Kingfisher job as B&Q boosts profits Written on 09 October 2014. Veronique Laury, ceo of French DIY chain Castorama is to succeed Sir Ian Cheshire as Kingfisher group chief executive. Continue Reading
Ikea enjoys 3% sales increase Written on 09 October 2014. Ikea has seen sales rise by 3% to €28.7bn in the past year, and would have almost doubled that without currency fluctuations. Continue Reading
Victoria shareholders back special dividend and Wilding share plan Written on 07 October 2014. Shareholders in Victoria have overwhelming backed the scheme that will see them receive a special dividend of £2.92 a share and Geoff Wilding, Victoria executive chairman control half the company. Continue Reading
Furniture Makers’ Company swells corporate ranks Written on 07 October 2014. The Furniture Makers' Company has recruited four new corporate members, bringing the number to 17, with Brighthouse, Designer Contracts, KI and Silentnight Group joining. Continue Reading
Flooring holds back Low & Bonar Written on 07 October 2014. Fibre group Low & Bonar saw a mixed performance in the first half of the year, with 'lacklustre' demand in the flooring sector partially offsetting demand in building products. Continue Reading
Funeral held for Walter Wilson Written on 06 October 2014. The funeral of Walter Wilson, Ulster Carpets honorary president took place at Tullylish Parish Church, Gilford, County Down on 3 June. He died on 31st May aged 84. Continue Reading
Dark calls time on 150 years of trading Written on 06 October 2014. After more than 150 years, Somerset independent furniture and flooring retailer Challicoms is to close in September. Continue Reading
Charltons Furniture to make Manchester debut Written on 06 October 2014. Charltons Furniture is to exhibit at The Manchester Furniture Show for the first time next month. Continue Reading
Sales growth slips back Written on 06 October 2014. Retail sales growth slipped back sharply in May, although furniture and flooring sales were described as 'encouraging'. Continue Reading
Adrian Laffey's Pedal for Pounds Written on 04 October 2014. This year the Pedal For Pounds 5 bike ride starts at the Emirates Stadium in London, 250 gruelling miles later we will arrive back in Huddersfield. All donations will contribute to the Keep It Up Campaign, which is an equal split between the Huddersfield Town Academy and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Continue Reading
Milan blog: Innovation back on the agenda Written on 04 October 2014. After a couple of years where rooting about in the archives and celebrating anniversaries by reissuing classic designs was the agenda for many established firms, this year’s Milan Design Week saw new products return to the fore. Yes there were updates, but the mood was more Athletico Madrid’s attack at pace than Barcelona’s pass the ball for ever: companies recognised that they had to grab visitors’ attention with something new, rather than variations on a theme. Continue Reading
Steinhoff revisits floatation plan Written on 03 October 2014. Steinhoff International has revived plans for a stockmarket flotation of its European – including the UK – division. Continue Reading
Court of Appeal could change administration 'poker' Written on 02 October 2014. How and when companies go into administration could be significantly changed depending on the outcome of a court case this week. Continue Reading
Empty store rate hits three year low Written on 02 October 2014. The level of empty shops has fallen below 14% for the first time since July 2010, but regional performance continues to show a north-south divide. Continue Reading
Colour is all at Heimtextil Written on 01 September 2014. If day one of Heimtextil was florals and geometric shapes, day two was colour you could not ignore.Particularly among the better-end, branded bed linen exhibitors, colour was everywhere. Continue Reading
Ball & Young Seasons Greetings Written on 10 October 2013. Underlay manufacturer Ball & Young has launched its latest design for its Christmas Greetings bags (pictured). Continue Reading
Karndean to give back as part of anniversary drive Written on 10 October 2013. Karndean Designflooring is to mark its 40th anniversary with a series of flooring donations. The company, founded by Mike Walker, is launching a year-long campaign looking at where it began and its position today while supporting charities in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand. Continue Reading
Home Bargains set for southern push Written on 10 October 2013. Home Bargains is set to bring its discount offer, including furniture and homewares, to the southern half of the country with plans for 400 more stores. Continue Reading
Quick-Step sets September date for LVT entry Written on 07 October 2013. Quick-Step is add to the competition in the UK LVT market with an autumn launch of its Livyn brand. Continue Reading
Feather & Black cuts losses but Wade debt grows Written on 07 October 2013. Bedroom retailer Feather & Black has slashed losses and delivered a double-digit sales increase, its latest account reveal. Continue Reading
Show organiser looks to Indonesia Written on 07 October 2013. Exhibition organiser UBM is adding to its network of trade shows, following claims the Indonesia furniture export industry is worth £1.14bn and is forecast to triple within five years. Continue Reading
Norfolk bed retailer opens second store Written on 07 October 2013. Norfolk bed retailer Beds of Paradise has expanded into upholstery and cabinet furniture with a second store. Continue Reading
Nolte Mobel turns to Andrew Porter for delivery Written on 06 October 2013. The UK arm of German bedroom manufacturer Nolte Mobel has turned to Andrew Porter for its deliveries, hoping to cut lead times by three weeks. Continue Reading
TOFS turns to Page as new boss Written on 06 October 2013. Variety retailer The Original Factory Shop has turned to former Woolworths and Asda executive Tony Page as its new boss. Continue Reading
Blog latest: Looking for difference Written on 04 October 2013. While the return of sunshine seemed to perk up most people, it was the hunt for the new that created the smiles in Milan. Continue Reading
Blog: The difference of a day Written on 04 October 2013. Since ISalone moved to the out of town Rho venue it has been blessed with lovely spring weather on every opening day. However this year proved as reliable as a hotel's wifi connection. Continue Reading
‘We’ll select the most appropriate partner’ says Dreams boss Written on 01 October 2013. Nick Worthington says the for sale bed chain is in a position to pick it’s next owner while it concentrates on retailing. Continue Reading
Heimtextil blog: Calm but order books are being filled Written on 01 October 2013. For the next few days we’ll be bring you the latest news and thoughts from Heimextil, Domotex and IMM Cologne: Calm but order books are being filled. Continue Reading
Heimtextil blog: Is three no longer a magic number? Written on 01 October 2013. For the next few days we’ll be bring you the latest news and thoughts from Heimextil, Domotex and IMM Cologne: Is this the beginning of the end of threesome photo-shoots? Continue Reading
End for Manor Written on 12 October 2012. Liquidation for Swindon store after rival buys stock. The doors of Swindon furniture retailer Manor Furniture will close for the final time this week after administrators failed to find a buyer for the 18-year old company. Continue Reading
Sales soar at John Lewis Written on 12 October 2012. Sales leap by 15% in record week. John Lewis enjoyed its best sales week last week, boosted by the row over Amazon's UK tax payments. Continue Reading
GT looks west Written on 10 October 2012. Kitchen and bathroom makeover chain Granite Transformations is to target the North West of England and the West Midlands as it seeks to grow its franchise operations. Continue Reading
Games boost for Lee Longlands Written on 09 October 2012. In contrast to many businesses, furniture and flooring chain Lee Longlands has enjoyed a boost from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Continue Reading
Closure day for Allders revealed Written on 09 October 2012. After 150 years of trading, the department store will close before the end of the month. Continue Reading
Van Neder wins £375,000 copying case Written on 08 October 2012. Upholstery fabric producer Van Neder has been awarded damages of more than £375,000 after the High Court ruled importer Fu Long copied two of its bestselling designs. Continue Reading
Bolland reshuffles after M&S fall Written on 07 October 2012. Marks & Spencer is to reshuffle its boardroom in the face of falling sales, with two former directors of home getting two of the chain's most important jobs. Continue Reading
Housing market stutters on Written on 07 October 2012. The UK housing market continued to stutter during June, as demand failed to pick up and supply of new property fell back. Continue Reading
Retail rents set to drop Written on 04 October 2012. Retail rents will fall across the country thanks to reduced demand and increasing availability, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' UK Commercial Market Survey. Continue Reading
UK becomes Quick-Step's largest European market after massive sales jump Written on 02 October 2012. Flooring brand Quick-Step reveals a huge increase in UK sales as parent Unilin confirms plans for its flooring academy in Manchester, as disclosed by Interiors Monthly a year ago. Continue Reading
Department stores look to margins Written on 01 October 2012. Department store chains Debenhams and Marks & Spencer looked to margins in the pre-Christmas period. Continue Reading
Multiyork reshuffle Written on 11 October 2011. Multiyork has moved swiftly to bolster its senior management following the departure of former executive chairman Indira Thambira and reconfimed its position as a top-end retailer. Continue Reading
House of Reeves: man arrested [Updated] Written on 08 October 2011. A 21 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following the fire that destroyed the 144 year-old House of Reeves furniture store in Croydon on Monday night. The Metropolitan Police said the suspect was detained on Tuesday night and was being questioned at a south London police station. There have been no other arrests in connection with the incident so far. UPDATE: The store was today demolished and the Reeves family repeated that they would continue trading but were unsure if they would rebuild on the site. Link: Watch the demolition. Click here. Picture: Peter Paces.