Cabinet Maker 22nd June 2018

DESIGN

MANUFACTURE

Charlotte CadĂŠ reveals the story of European marketplace start-up Selency.

Cabinet Maker takes a look at the difference between exports and imports relating to upholstery so far this year.

RETAIL A look ahead at what to expect from the MFS, as well as insight into department stores.

first issue: 1st July 1880 22nd june 2018 ÂŁ3.75 cabinet-maker.co.uk l

Oslo Urban Attitudes Collection

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Introducing

Tops

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Furniture Link’s SmarTop is a range of modern tables suitable for any home. SmarTop is designed to be tough, durable and to stand up to the everyday stresses of family life. These Tables can be used day after day without risk of scratches or stains. In fact, they are so tough that you can drop dining plates on them without leaving any marks... they will even resist red wine stains!

Allure

Marble Effect Extending Table Sits 6-10 That’s not all. You can take a pot or pan straight from the hob and put it on a SmarTop without placing a mat underneath it and it will not burn, stain or mark the table in any way.

We are so proud of the success of our SmarTop range that we have launched five new designs this year, including a range of extending Tables, which can comfortably seat 6-10 people.

Our Industrial Luxe concept tables are available in three colour options. Allure is white marble effect, Delta, a polished concrete finish and Vancouver is dark marble effect.

The square oak table top & painted frame Ohio is a great petite SmarTop table perfect for the smaller home or kitchen/diner. Also in the range is a rectangular extending table and a round/oval extending table. Finally, the lovely Hugo, a 1600mm oak effect melamine table. The beauty of the Ohio and Hugo is that they have the look of oak but can take all the punishment that modern life can throw at them.

Hugo

Oak Effect 1600mm Table Sits 6 To book a Show Van visit, call the office or your ASM today: Simon Gardiner - National Sales Manager 07889 106506 Pam Gill - North 07725 431875 Lorna Root - South 07889 809277 Phil McClinton - Ireland 07841338333

Delta

Concrete Effect Extending Table Sits 6-10

Seattle

Concrete Effect 1600mm Table Sits 6 Don’t forget the original SmarTop table, the polished concrete effect Seattle, which still remains hugely popular with discerning buyers and our fabulous range of complementary dining chairs, including the original grey and taupe, and the new vibrant orange, blue, purple and ochre.

Put them on display and with such a great story behind them, they will sell!

Ohio

Wood Effect Round Extending Table Sits 4-6 Furniture Link, Hortonwood 60, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 7AD T: 01952 604960 E: sales@furniturelinkuk.co.uk www.furniturelinkuk.co.uk

DAN SQUIRES

CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK 01223 846 825 PUBLISHER

Chris Manning

chris@cabinet-maker.co.uk EDITOR

Dan Squires

dan@cabinet-maker.co.uk FEATURE WRITER Sally Gower

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stuart@cabinet-maker.co.uk SALES EXECUTIVE Kacem Ellabbar

kacem@cabinet-maker.co.uk FOR ALL ADVERTISING &

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Another retail casualty was announced this week with Mattressman confirming it was proposing a CVA as well as closing 14 stores, which are set to impact 136 jobs. The trend of closures is continuing to appear, as is the route of the CVA. Earlier this month Cabinet Maker reported on this trend and why a company voluntary arrangement is an attractive option for a struggling business. The main reason being that it keeps the directors in control of the business. Quite often a CVA will allow a business to vacate stores in a bid to reduce its portfolio and rent costs. A CVA also allows a complete review to be undertaken to identify where things are going wrong and most importantly, how to best implement a new structure going forward. Of late, Carpetright and House of Fraser have been two high profile businesses to adopt this trend, which has also seen both retailers confirm store closures. Mattressman expressed a number of issues that has impacted performance so far this year, with one relating to footfall, which has been a familiar story when a business contemplates the future of its physical presence. Footfall has largely been a challenge, especially on the high street, as the smarter consumer has turned its attention to online shopping. Even Mattressman declared that its online business has been ‘very successful’ and was a main area of focus for the future. Cabinet Maker has also reported on several independent retailers that have either closed for good or are closing their store to focus solely online. This is clearly another trend that has continued to emerge over the last year that online is taking over. Marrying both online and in store is crucial if retailers want to survive and by having fewer stores – but maintaining a physical presence – is seen to be a winning formula. Take the online only startups from the past few years, these models are proving to be a success but realise the importance of having the physical space. Most have partnered with department stores, whilst some are even considering their own showrooms, which includes US boxed mattress brand Casper – who launched back in the UK in 2016 and has now revealed plans to open standalone stores in Britain. We’ll be certainly watching how this unfolds later this year.

With the constant threat surrounding retail in an ever changing landscape, this week features a special department store focus and analyses the rocky climate for department stores at present with the high street being a particular casualty. Also within this week’s editorial includes a look at upholstery imports and exports within the UK market, a preview ahead of the upcoming Manchester Furniture Show and a look at two new businesses with the first being Selency, a French-based interior design marketplace platform launching into the UK, and Berkeley Cole, a new luxury dog beds brand, which explains why societal changes and pet humanisation have enhanced the demand for pet furniture. In keeping with demand, Jawad Bhatti, founder of HomR, details just why bar stools are an emerging trend of furniture for the home and not just its typical setting in this week’s Last Word.

To round off the issue on a more positive note, the latest consumer retail sales data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicated that the value of furniture and lighting sales in May resulted at £1.07bn, marking an increase of 5% from the same month last year. This, despite the much talked about failures, highlights that some retailers across the industry are delivering positive results. Hopefully this will be more of a consistent trend for the rest of the year.

Dan Squires Editor

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INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE

26

As the Manchester Furniture Show kicks off next month, we take a look at which exhibitors visitors can expect to see at the prestigious summer exhibition.

CHANGING CLIMATE

06

TRENDING

22

MANUFACTURE

RETAIL SHOW TIME

NEWS

30

Cabinet Maker analyses the rocky climate for department stores as the high street takes a tumble in the retail race.

CANINE COMFORT

DESIGN

24

Tony Wilson, founder of luxury dog beds brand Berkeley Cole, explains why societal changes and pet humanisation have enhanced the demand for pet furniture.

TAKE A SEAT

34

Cabinet Maker takes a look at the difference between exports and imports relating to upholstery so far this year.

LAST WORD

38

Jawad Bhatti, founder of HomR, has the Last Word.

26

24

THREE CLICK MAKEOVER

32

Selency founder Charlotte Cadé reveals the story of the dream of going from scrolling Pinterest for interior design with personality to a European marketplace start-up.

32

|NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF Recruitment drive

John Lewis has begun its recruitment process ahead of its new Cheltenham store launch, which officially opens later this year in October. John Lewis said it has created 300 new jobs in a number of positions including selling and service assistants to operations assistants.

SOLID PARTNERSHIP Foster + Partners has recently launched a collection of solid wood furniture at last month’s Clerkenwell Design Week.

The OVO range has been made in collaboration with furniture manufacturer Benchmark, with the collection featuring a number of items including a dining table, shelving unit and a sideboard.

Bespoke design Textile designer Katie Hipwell has launched a new print design business offering bespoke designs including interior fabric and soft furnishings.

Having designed for Boden, Osborne & Little and Cath Kidston, Katie Hipwell Design is her first solo venture.

Share price rises

Online German furniture brand Home24 saw its share price jump to 30.75 euros when the company had initially set a price range of 19.50 to 24.50 euros upon entering the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Home24 is raising gross proceeds of 150 million euros, giving it a market value of 625 million euros following its stock market flotation.

Laura Ashley Hotel

BESPOKE OLD OAK

Homewares design brand Laura Ashley has confirmed plans to open around 100 hotels in Saudi Arabia as part of an expansion plan for its hotels business Laura Ashley Hotels. The new hotels are expected to launch over the next five years.

Cabinet maker Daniel Lacey has acquired a 7,000 year old oak tree which was found buried in a peat bog on the Solway Firth. He intends to recycle the Stone Age timer into items of bespoke furniture, giving the old oak a new lease of life.

MANUFACTURE

FURNITURE MAKERS’ REPORT ANOTHER BIG SHOTS SUCCESS The Furniture Makers’ Company, the industry charity, has announced that the latest Big Shots event raised £24,000.

Around 140 people, making up 35 teams, took part in the 24th annual clay pigeon shoot fundraiser, which was once again held at the E.J. Churchill Shooting Ground in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on 6 June 2018.

Guests took part in traditional clay pigeon shooting as well as some novelty stands, including axe throwing, paintballing marksmanship and the classic blunderbuss.

The Furniture Makers’ Company would like to thank main sponsor and corporate member Furniture Village as well as the other companies that kindly supported Big Shots through sponsorship or a donation to the auction and raffle: Amazing Venues, Cabinet Maker, Celtheath, Colourfast World, Creo, Davy’s of London, CH & Co Venues, J H Haskins & Son, Knoll International, Natuzzi, The Tusler Studio, Peroda Furniture and ViSpring.

Hayden Davies, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “Yet again Big Shots delighted everyone

(J H Haskins & Son) • Top Gun (Female): Nikki Verster (Furniture Village) • Top Gun (Novice): William Porter (Gryphon Property Partners) • Top Team: Haskins Hot Shots (J H Haskins & Son) • Runner Up Team: Peroda Old Boys (Peroda Furniture) • Bottom Team: Greenlight Gunners (Greenlight Commerce) • Four Man Flurry: Haskins Hot Shots (J H Haskins & Son) • Worst Male Shot of the Day: John Ibell (Ercol) and Andy Kitchen (Whitemeadow Furniture) The 25th anniversary event of Big Shots will take place on 6 June 2019.

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www.furnituremakers.org.uk

RETAIL

Boxed mattress brand eyes UK stores

Online boxed mattress brand Casper has revealed plans to open stores in the UK. According to reports, the US retailer aims to open physical stores in the UK by the end of the year. Co-founder Constantin Eis said that it is also looking at the possibility of securing retail partners.

Casper, which launched in the UK back in 2016 solely online, operates from 18 stores in the US.

w www.casper.com 6 | 22nd June 2018

who attended. It is one of our longest running fundraisers and always raises a significant amount of money for the charity as well as offering a great informal networking opportunity for industry colleagues.

“As always, we’d like to thank Furniture Village for their continued support in sponsoring and helping organise the day. We look forward to celebrating 25 years of Big Shots in 2019.”

Full results of the competition were: • Top Gun (Male): Roland Govier

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|N E W S MANUFACTURE

MANUFACTURE

FURNITURE MANUFACTURER WINS HEALTH & SAFET Y AWARD

OFFICE FURNITURE MAKER ACQUIRES STAKE IN DANISH FIRM

Godfrey Syrett has been awarded a RoSPA Gold Award 2018, demonstrating the company’s approach and commitment to the management of health and safety across the business.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Awards scheme, which receives entries from organisations around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety management systems, considering elements such as leadership and workforce involvement.

Godfrey Syrett will be presented with the award at a ceremony at Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel on 4 July 2018.

Mark R Dixon, CEO and chairman at Godfrey Syrett, comments: “This award is a clear indication of our expectations in the leadership of Health and Safety.

“We have continuously improved our processes and introduced new innovations that are helping us to provide

Global office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller has acquired a stake in Danish furnishing business HAY. Herman Miller has acquired 33% equity interest in Nine United Denmark A/S (HAY) for $66m, expanding its portfolio of global brands.

Herman Miller also acquired the rights to the HAY brand in North America for approximately $5m. The company has the option to increase its ownership stake in the future.

Founded in Copenhagen in 2002 by Troels Holch Povlsen and Rolf and Mette Hay, the company is a leader in ancillary furnishings in Europe and Asia, and active in both the contract and residential furnishing markets.

Over the course of the coming year, HAY’s goods will be available through Herman Miller’s Design Within Reach channels. Herman Miller will launch an online store, as well as open four HAY retail locations in North America. HAY products will also be integrated into the offer to Herman Miller’s North American and International Dealers.

safer environments for staff and our visitors. Ensuring the health and safety of our people, and those we engage with, is our highest priority.”

Ross Teeley, health, safety and quality manager, added: “To achieve this level of recognition at the first time of asking is a great achievement for all involved. Following a management restructure in 2017, we set up a Safety Strategy group early in the year, championed by our CEO. “This resulted in our “Rethink Your Workplace” improvement programme, which is built around safe people, premises and processes. It’s great to see the plans set out in the programme translated into physical and cultural improvements throughout the company.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards allow organisations to prove excellence in the workplace.”

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www.godfreysyrett.co.uk

DESIGN

Furniture software specialist launches new website

Brian Walker, Herman Miller CEO, said: “HAY is one of the best articulated design brands in the furnishings space. HAY is a key building block toward our stated priority to scale our consumer business.

“The HAY assortment will significantly expand our offer to a younger, more urban demographic that we have targeted for expansion.”

The entire existing management team led by CEO Henrik Steensgaard will continue driving the HAY brand, its product development, and its efforts in Europe and Asia from their headquarters in Denmark.

In a separate announcement, Herman Miller confirmed it would acquire 48% of Dutchbased interior walls specialist Maars equity for $6m with an option to acquire a controlling interest over time.

Additional investors in the group include select US certified Herman Miller dealers, a European dealer, and members of the Maars management team led by the incumbent CEO.

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www.hermanmiller.co.uk

RETAIL

Specialist furniture retail management software company Swan Retail has announced the launch of its new website.

Swan Retail recently entered the eCommerce and digital marketing arena as part of their strategy to offer complete omnichannel solutions from a single provider.

To coincide with the expansion to their product offering, the new website showcases their range of applications, reflecting a more modern approach.

Commenting on the launch, the company said: “The new website reflects the modern, forward-thinking vision we have with the products we provide to retailers. As part of the launch we are utilising our Digital Marketing team to promote the site into the wider marketplace and ensure that it is performing well online.”

Furniture offer boosts office supplier

w www.swanretail.co.uk

w officemonster.co.uk

8 | 22nd June 2018

Service-led online office supplier Office Monster has revealed that the introduction of its furniture offer has boosted revenues.

Leeds-based Office Monster has launched a range of furniture including desks, chairs and cabinets, which has seen turnover increase by almost £100,000.

The business said that its online model combined with its customer service has led to growth over the past six months, adding that the launch of its delivery and installation service has also enhanced its offer.

MANUFACTURE

FURNITURE BUSINESS E XPANDS INTO OWN PREMISES London-based furniture makers Grain have expanded its operation and moved into its own premises.

The business, run by friends Robin Tyler and Tom Allen, recently moved from a shared workspace in Bethnal Green to their own space in Kentish Town, north London.

The move means they can continue to maintain their ‘Made in London’ image, which they believe is important when competing with furniture imports.

Co-founder Robin said: “Since we started the business we’ve had a great reaction and we felt like it was time to move to the next stage. Keeping the workshop and production in London was important for

us too. You constantly see products being outsourced to China, and we wanted to be different and as a local as possible to our customers.

“By buying our own machinery we can continue to maintain the high quality of furniture we have produced to date, but we will now be able to serve more customers with a faster turnaround time.

“It’s been a hectic few months organising the new space while still working in the old one in the run-up to the move, but now we are settling in to the new space we really can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

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RETAIL

Welsh furniture business secures new lease

Welsh family furniture business Happy Home Furnishers has secured a new space at a retail park in Swansea after signing a lease.

The news comes after the business confirmed plans to relocate its current Castle Street location to a new 12,000sq ft site on Phoenix Retail Park in Llansamlet.

Happy Home Furnishers joins existing occupiers Dreams, Iceland, and Home Bargains at the site, as well as other furniture businesses including MFC Sofas, HSL and Floors 4 You at the adjacent Lion Way Retail Park.

The retailer secured the lease through development and investment company Barberry Developments as Happy Home looked for a more ‘modern location’ offering free parking.

The expansion follows its previous store closure in Neath at the beginning of the year, leaving the company trading from four stores with its other three in Crosshands, Cardiff and Port Talbot.

Michael Semmens, of Happy Homes, said: “Our long-term aim has been to relocate from our town stores in Neath and Swansea to a bigger premises that offers our customers access to our full ranges, whilst catering for the modern day family with ease of access and free parking right outside.

“Phoenix Retail Park ticks all the boxes and we hope our fantastic new superstore will attract both new and old customers of ours, that have found parking in town centres ever more difficult.”

w www.happyhomefurnishers.com

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Sneak peek.

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Introducing Urban Attitudes and other new products.

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|N E W S MANUFACTURE

RETAIL

FABRIC SPECIALIST E XPANDS SALES TEAM

Independent to close store as focus shifts to online

Luxury fabric specialist Kobe has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Jacobs as its new field sales manager.

Elizabeth will cover the West Midlands, North Wales, Cheshire and North Yorkshire regions, where she will be responsible for both the Kobe and Essente brands.

Having been in the industry for 31 years, Elizabeth started her career as a seamstress, before progressing into the retail sales side of the business.

Most recently Elizabeth worked as a field sales executive for a long-standing fabric supplier, giving her valuable experience in understanding

regional trends and the variation of retail customers, which includes interior designers and commercial contractors throughout the UK. Commenting on her new role, Elizabeth said: “I am thrilled with my new position and I’m looking forward to meeting new colleagues and customers having long admired and respected the Kobe brand.

“I have successfully run my own company for six years and have vast experience of soft furnishing production and sales, which will be of benefit to my new customers.”

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en.kobe.eu

RETAIL

Department store continues to explore furniture offer Department store retailer Debenhams has issued another profit warning as trading remains difficult.

According to its latest trading update for the 15 weeks and 41 weeks (financial year to date) to 16 June 2018, total group sales were down 1.5% and 1.6% respectively, with like-for-like sales also down by 1.7% and 2.1% respectively.

Debenhams did state that its digital sales had improved 16% for the 15 week period and 11.5% over the current year to date.

In the wake of continued tough trading, Debenhams has reassessed its expectations and now expects pre-tax profit for the FY2018 to be in the range of £35m-£40m compared to its previous forecast of £50.3m.

Debenhams has continued to invest in its strategy with one division including its furniture offer.

The retailer opened its first furniture concessions with new partners Maisons du Monde and Swoon, as it continues to test ‘profitable opportunities’.

Sergio Bucher, CEO, commented: “It is well-documented that these are exceptionally difficult times in UK retail, and our trading performance in this quarter reflects that. We don’t see these conditions changing in the near future.

“We see clear evidence of progress as our digital growth outperforms the market and customers respond positively to our product improvements and format trials.”

w www.debenhams.com 12 | 22nd June 2018

Independent furniture business Love Restored has confirmed it will close its only store at the end of the month.

Love Restored, which is run by Lorraine Gardiner and Nadia Moreland, first opened on Kirkcaldy High Street five years ago but has revealed that it plans to close the store to focus on its online platform.

The company added that it would also embark on a new partnership with Annie Sloan in promoting the Annie Sloan Brand all over Scotland as well as working with new and existing stockists.

Taking to social media, the company said: “Nadia and I would like to announce that we will be bringing Love Restored to a happy ending at the end of this month and after five great years of trading on Kirkcaldy High Street, we will be closing our shop at 292 High Street in Kirkcaldy’s Merchants Quarter.

“This is by no means the end of Love Restored and we will still continue to offer a painted furniture, kitchen commission and upholstery service as well as an online presence to do so and this side of the business will continue as normal.”

w www.loverestored.co.uk

MANUFACTURE

FURNITURE MANUFACTURER PLEADS GUILT Y TO HE ALT H & S AFE T Y BRE A CH Scottish furniture manufacturer Aquapac Limited has been fined for failing to assess asbestos risks.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that, during an inspection on 6 August 2014, concerns were raised by a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector about significant damage to what appeared to be asbestos containing materials which were encasing the structural columns and beams of the premises.

An investigation by HSE found that Aquapac Limited failed to properly assess the risks to employees’ exposure to asbestos containing materials and failed to take measures necessary to protect employees from exposure to asbestos.

The investigation also found that the company failed to ensure that anyone working on the premises was aware of the presence of the material (to make

sure that it was not disturbed and to deal with any inadvertent disturbance to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres).

Glasgow-based Aquapac Limited pleaded guilty to breaching of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc.

Act 1974 and was fined £6,000.

HSE inspector Russell Berry commented on the case: “This incident could so easily have been avoided had the company simply monitored the condition of the asbestos containing materials (ACMs) at their premises and had in place robust procedures to deal with any deterioration or damage to those ACMs. “Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against those that fall below the required standards.”

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www.hse.gov.uk

FOR FULL STORIE S AND DAILY NE W S UPDATE S: WWW.C ABINE T-MAKER .C O.UK

aQO

RETAIL

MANUFACTURE

Online retailer introduces new furniture ranges

DIFFICULT TRADING CONDITIONS IMPACT FURNITURE GROUP Nottingham-based JDP Furniture Group has reported a decline in turnover as profits slip into the red.

According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 1 October 2017, total group sales fell by 12.9% to £48.3m from £55.5m 2016, ending a threeyear run of consecutive growth.

The resulting turnover was the group’s lowest sales since 2013 when revenues stood at £47.5m.

UK sales, which represented the majority of group turnover, were down 12.8% to £48m from £55.1m, whilst EU sales declined 23.7% to £305,000 from £400,000. The group did

British online homeware retailer VonHaus has announced the launched of two new furniture ranges.

VonHaus has launched the Rustic Range, which focuses on a modern contemporary style of furniture, and the Capri Collection, which is inspired by Scandinavian design.

Commenting on the launch, the company said: “The demands of modern living mean it has become increasingly important to furnish your home with items that balance practicality with personality – and that’s exactly what these ranges are designed to do. Clever storage and style choices allow this range to become a part of daily living, while offering the opportunity to add modern decorative touches.

“Nordic design is taking over interior trends, and it’s really no surprise. As homeowners look for ways to add some Scandi style to their space, VonHaus has introduced a sleek living furniture collection that delivers style, storage and simplicity.”

w www.vonhaus.com

not generate any sales outside the EU compared to £36,000 the previous year.

The group, which consists of four subsidiaries including JDP Frames, H&F Upholstery, Celebrity Motion Furniture and Welbeck House - owner of Wade and Cintique brands, reported a pre-tax loss of £1.1m compared to its profit of £767,000 in 2016.

Stated within its report, the group said that trading conditions had been ‘difficult’ and that net assets had decreased by £1.1m to £10m.

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www.jdp-furniture-group.co.uk

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|N E W S RETAIL

RETAIL

Furniture retail sales remain flat during May

Office furniture retailer enters administration

Furniture retail sales in May remained flat on last month but rose marginally compared to 2017.

According to the latest May 2018 figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the total value of furniture and lighting sales remained at £1.07bn.

Compared to May 2017, furniture and lighting sales rose by 5% from £1.01bn.

May’s figure matched the lowest value of furniture and lighting sales recorded so far this year, following April’s same value. This was also the lowest rate since August 2017 when sales fell to a value of £943.5m.

Floorcoverings retail sales saw a decline on both an annual and monthly comparison.

Total sales fell by 2.8% to £137.4m from £141m in May last year, whilst compared to the previous month, sales slipped by 3.5% from £142m. This marked a second consecutive month-onmonth decline.

In overall terms, the quantity bought in the retail industry during May increased by 1.3%. The total amount spent within retail during the month represented £32.2bn, up by 6.3% compared to May 2017.

Online sales increased by 19.9% for the amount spent in May 2018 when compared with May 2017, with all sectors reporting strong growth on the year.

Department stores continued to show strong online sales on the year, with an increase of 36%. This follows strong year-onyear growth in April 2018 at 26.2%.

w www.ons.gov.uk

MANUFACTURE

KBSA CONFIRM NEWGUEST SPEAKER The Kitchen Bathroom & Bedroom Specialists Association (Kbsa) has announced that the latest guest speaker to attend its conference.

Penny Mallory, one of the most successful women rally drivers and the first woman in the world to compete in a World Rally Car (the Formula 1 of Rallying), is to join Wayne Hemingway as a speaker at the 2018 Kbsa conference on 12 September.

Richard Hibbert, Kbsa national chair, said: “We are delighted that Penny will be joining Wayne at this year’s conference,” said. “We are looking forward to her insights into how business men and women can invest in themselves 14 | 22nd June 2018

and their future.

“Penny and Wayne will be building on discussions from the morning workshops, ensuring that delegates will not only be inspired but will also take away material that will be practical and worthwhile, adding value to their businesses.”

The 2018 Kbsa conference will feature new interactive workshops and will explore the theme of ‘Investing in the Future’, covering topics around building a brand, making the most of your showroom and understanding the challenges.

w

www.kbsa.org.uk

Online office furniture retailer Stockworld has entered administration.

Andrew Fender, of insolvency firm Sanderlings Accountancy Services Limited, was appointed as administrator of Stockworld (UK) Ltd on 31 May 2018.

Following the appointment, it appears that the business is still trading under a newly formed company, Stockworld Europe Ltd, which shares a common director.

Stockworld Europe Ltd was incorporated on 23 April 2018, ahead of Stockworld (UK) Ltd going into administration.

Timothy Campbell is the named director of both Stockworld (UK) and Stockworld Europe.

It is understood that the assets of Stockworld (UK) Ltd were acquired by the newco as the business continues to operate through its website.

w sanderlings.co.uk

DESIGN

Students recognised with awards at skills competition Moreton Morrell College carpentry and joinery students have seen off competition from rival colleges to win top places at a regional SkillBuild competition.

Three students visited South and City College in Birmingham College on 17 May, to take part in the heats organised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The students managed to gain two first places and a second place position in two separate categories.

Joshua Lewis, Level 2 joinery apprentice employed by OFW Carpentry and Building Ltd, took first place in the Advanced Joinery category.

Joshua also gained second place in the annual Craft competition 2018 held at Stratford College in London, on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers.

Oliver Willcocks, his employer said: “It is a great pleasure to be Joshua’s employer, he is a great asset to the company. We are all extremely proud of his achievements in both of these competitions, and look forward to seeing him progress further in the future.”

In a secondary category for ‘New Entrants’, first year apprentice Isaac Alun-Jones took first place. Isaac is employed

by Avon Boating.

Marshall Herne, Level 1 carpentry student, came in second place in the ‘New Entrant’ carpentry category and is set to reenter the competition next year in the Advanced category.

John Billings, WCG Carpentry and Joinery lecturer, said: “Since 2016, this is the third year in a row that we have entered the competition which has resulted in students getting top spots.

“Everyone worked so hard, these results would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the dedication of each competitor and the impeccable standards and training provided by our tutors.”

w www.wcg.ac.uk

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MANUFACTURE

MANUFACTURE

COMPONENTS MANUFACTURER GROWS TOP AND BOTTOM LINES

BED MANUFACTURER WINS TWO FA M I LY B U S I N E S S AWAR D S

County Durham-based furniture manufacturer BHK (UK) Limited has reported a second straight year of turnover growth as sales reach seven year high.

According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017, total sales rose by 13.2% to £11.1m from £9.8m in 2016, the first time sales had surpassed £11m since 2010.

Total UK sales rose 11.9% to £10.3m from 9.2m, whilst overseas sales grew 42.7% to £771,756 from £540,674 last year.

The Peterlee-based

Luxury bed maker Harrison Spinks has been awarded two family business awards.

Harrison Spinks has been awarded the FBU Family Business for Yorkshire Family Business of the Year and Manufacturing Family Business of the Year.

The awards recognise and celebrate family run businesses from all over the UK and the contributions they make to the communities in which they operate, and towards UK business as a whole.

The winners were decided by

company, which specialises in the manufacture of chipboard, MDF and plywood drawers and bases, reported a pre-tax profit of £103,064, up by 44% for its profit of £70,372.

BHK stated within its report that first quarter results were depressed as the company sought to pass on currency related cost increases from 2016.

The following quarters delivered sales growth although further increases from board suppliers were passed on to the consumer.

w

www.bhk.uk.com

a panel of judges and revealed at an awards ceremony in

London’s Mayfair Hotel.

Simon Spinks, managing director at Harrison Spinks, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these titles for 2018. Family is a huge part of who we are as a business and we are so pleased that this has been recognised and celebrated.

“As a 5th generation family business, we are incredibly proud of our history which has driven the business to grow into the industry leading innovative bed manufacturer that we are today.”

w

www.harrisonspinks.co.uk

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22nd June 2018 |08:32:36 15 14.06.2018

|N E W S DESIGN

Test consumables reach record high at SATRA Testing house SATRA has confirmed that demand for its test consumables reached an all-time high.

The demand for SATRA reference materials and test consumables has grown considerably over the past two years, with sales of these items during the first four months of 2018 rising 30% higher than the same period 2016.

This growth is seen as evidence that many test laboratories around the world acknowledge the importance of using high quality reference materials and consumable items that satisfy relevant test methods.

Austin Simmons, SATRA chief executive, said: “The importance of using the appropriate reference materials and consumables is often overlooked. SATRA has identified a global need for properly certified and traceable reference consumables, and has extended its range and customer base accordingly.

“It is not enough to have an appropriate and correctly calibrated test machine if the reference materials used for the testing are of poor quality or do not meet the specification called up in the test method, as these could mask a serious safety issue.”

SATRA’s reference materials and consumables range from ‘control’ materials (against which the performance of the test sample is compared) to materials that are an integral part of the test machine or procedure.

Where applicable, SATRA consumables are checked and certified before dispatch, and relevant certificates are provided with each order.

RETAIL

Former furniture businessman declared bankrupt

The former owner of independent furniture retailer Fultons has been declared as bankrupt.

Following a creditors petition by banking group AIB, Cyril Fulton has been listed as insolvent due to not being able to pay debts.

The Northern Ireland Court Service confirmed that the petition had been brought by First Trust Bank, which is owned by AIB. The individual bankruptcy follows a High Court ruling that saw both Cyril and Ernest Fulton lose a battle over the sale of its former Boucher Road store in Belfast.

The Fulton’s claimed that the sale price of its former store, which valued £1.75m and was sold back in August 2013 after the company, Fultons Fine Furnishings, went into administration, was grossly undervalued.

The pair provided a statement that indicated they had the property valued, which could of potentially been worth up to £5m.

However, AIB provided evidence as to why it didn’t object to the sale price conducted by administrators due to a ‘lack of interest in the asset’ and that it would be a risk to place the store on the open market, as it may not have achieved the £1.75m figure.

The current Fultons business in Lurgan on Queen Street, which relaunched a few years ago, stated that Mr Fulton’s bankruptcy had ‘nothing to do with the store’.

According to Companies House, Rachael Fulton is the only listed director of the new business Fultons Furnishings Ltd.

w www.fultons.net

w www.satra.com

MANUFACTURE

RETAIL

MAT TRESS BRAND SECURES RETAIL PARTNERSHIP

Profits rise double-digit at department store

A family-owned department store retailer in Northern Ireland, S.D. Kells, has reported a seventh successive year of turnover growth as sales surpassed £12m.

According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 19 January 2018, total sales rose 4.2% to £12.2m from £11.7m in 2016.

Gross profit also experienced an uptick of 3.7% to £2.8m from £2.7m, whilst pre-tax profit increased to £1.1m, up by 12% from £982,237 recorded last year.

S.D. Kells, which specialises in the sale of beds and bedding as well as fashion, stated within its report that it had strengthened its balance sheet by reducing loans against trading and investment properties.

The company posted a year-end cash balance of £569,721, up by 8.7% from £523,480 last year.

Established in 1987, Enniskillen-based S.D Kells operates out of 10 department stores across Northern Ireland as well as seven Regatta Outlet stores.

w www.sdkells.co.uk 16 | 22nd June 2018

New start-up mattress manufacturer Zommos has announced a partnership with homewares retailer Next.

Zommos, said to be the UK’s first adjustable firmness mattress, have been working with Next behind the scenes to launch with the retailer following the brands inception back in January 2018.

Marketing manager, Curtis Hague said: “Working with Next is a really exciting opportunity for us here at Zommos. With over two years of development

to bring a unique and disruptive product to the bed industry.

“We’ve removed the ‘one size fits all’ philosophy and replaced it with something that’s if completely customised to the user at the touch of a button.”

Zommos is available from the Next website right now and will be appearing in the Autumn/ Winter 2018 Next directory due for release in July.

w

zommos.co.uk

RETAIL

Home shopping group considers store closures; furniture makes strong start

Home shopping group N Brown Plc has reported a strong start in furniture sales although outlines store reduction plan.

According to its first quarter trading update for the 13 weeks ended 2 June 2018, total group sales rose 0.4%, despite a decline of 2.8% in product sales. Online sales increased by 3%.

Within its product sector, Home & Gift sales were the only category to report growth, with sales up by 0.8%, driven by furniture and outdoor living. Brand sales saw JD Williams fall by 2%, whilst Simply Be sales rose 9.3%.

The group said it is focused on becoming a ‘global online retailer’ and has undertaken a review of its store estate.

N Brown said: “Given continued very disappointing footfall, we are entering into a consultation with store colleagues to consider closing our 20 stores ahead of lease expiry.”

In FY18 these stores generated £15m revenue (2% of Group revenue) and an EBITDA loss of £3m.

Angela Spindler, CEO, said: “In line with our online strategy, and given continued weak high street footfall, we have today commenced a consultation process with colleagues over the future of our small store estate.

“This action has not been taken lightly and we will do all we can to support the colleagues affected during this process.

“We continue at pace our journey to become a global online retailer, uniquely delivering fashion that fits. This will underpin our future growth, both in the UK and Internationally.”

Nevada

The Nevada range goes from strength to strength as customers particularly like its softer backs, rounded profile and exceptional overall comfort.

At least two sizes are offered on every piece, with three sizes of recliner and four sizes of riser recliner, all in the fabulous SHERBORNE selection of approximately 150 different fabrics.

Sherborne Upholstery Limited Pasture Lane, Clayton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD14 6LT, England.

Telephone: 01274 882633 Fax: 01274 815129

sales@sherborne-uph.co.uk www.sherborneupholstery.co.uk

w www.nbrown.co.uk

RETAIL

Furniture and flooring prices down in May

Furniture prices fell to its lowest rate seen this year as overall inflation rose during May. According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Consumer Prices Index, including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) for May 2018, the total furniture price rate decreased by 0.1% from 2.5% in April.

This was the lowest rate recorded so far this year, whilst furniture prices compared to May 2017 were down from 1.8%.

Carpets and floorcovering price rate fell on both an annual and monthly comparison, down to 0.6% from 2.2%. This was the second lowest price rate this year behind March’s rate of 0.5%.

Overall, the 12-month CPIH inflation rate was 2.3% in May, up from 2.2% in April. Rising motor fuel prices produced the largest upward contribution to the change in the rate between April and May 2018.

w www.ons.gov.uk

Kindred will be displaying at the

MANCHESTER CENTRAL 15th - 17th July 2018 Stand A67 Contact enquiries@kindred.co.uk or call 01325 329000 for more information www.kindred.co.uk

22nd June 2018 | 17

|N E W S DESIGN

RETAIL

New businesses encouraged to submit startup entry

Furniture retailer to launch two stand-alone stores

New business backer Startups.co.uk is calling for entries for its 2018 Startups Awards.

The Startups Awards celebrates the UK’s most exceptional and innovative small businesses that have been trading for up to four years.

Previous winners from the furniture sector include Swoon Editions and Made.com, with the latter’s co-founder Julien Callède, now part of the judging panel for this year’s awards.

The Startups Awards are open to privately-owned UK-based businesses that must have started to trade no earlier than 1 August 2014 and no later than 31 July 2017.

Judges, which consist of renowned entrepreneurs, investors and some previous winners, will assess entrants on criteria including a great concept, revenue growth, profitability and major client wins.

The awards are split into 13 categories, which include Export Business of the Year, Innovative Business of the Year and Venture Funded Business of the Year.

This year also marks the launch of three new categories, which are Side Hustle of the year – an award that recognises entrepreneurs running a part-time business whilst holding down a day job - Family Business of the Year and Best Place to Work.

The Start Up Loans Company – the government-backed scheme providing low-interest loans for small businesses – has returned as headline sponsor for 2018.

The winners of the Startups Awards 2018 will be unveiled at an awards ceremony at the Royal Garden Hotel, London on 21 November 2018.

Entries for the Startups Awards 2018 close on 14 September.

For more information, visit Startups Awards.

w startups.co.uk

RETAIL

Online furniture retailer earmarks another pop-up Online furniture retailer Swoon Editions has confirmed plans to open a new pop-up shop in Sussex.

Set to open for three weeks from 23 June to 15 July 2018, the new Swoon pop-up will be situated at Gloucester Road in North Laine, Brighton.

The temporary store follows on from its previous pop-up location in London’s Covent Garden back in April this year as it continues to explore a physical presence.

Swoon is also currently in Debenhams, taking a dedicated space at its Westfield White City store, which marked its debut high street store.

The new pop-up will feature a variety of furniture that is available from its website.

w www.swooneditions.com 18 | 22nd June 2018

Furniture and homewares retailer Habitat has announced it plans to open two standalone stores.

Sainsbury’s, which acquired Habitat, is investing £1.5m in the first stand-alone stores for 10 years, with the retailer to launch in Westfield London’s new £600m expansion in September as well as in Brighton’s city centre in October.

Habitat said that this strategic move comes as customers increasingly want the choice of shopping in stores or online in a way that suits them.

The new stand-alone store locations have been carefully chosen to meet different customer shopping missions. The 4,700sq ft Habitat store opening in Westfield London, the largest shopping centre in Europe, will be part of the highfootfall mall’s exciting expansion, bringing a number of furniture and home brands together to create a destination ‘Home’ hub for the convenience of customers.

The new Habitat store in Brighton will form part of the Hanningtons Estate redevelopment in the popular Brighton Lanes shopping area. Ranged over two floors, the 6,500sq ft store will showcase around 3,000 Habitat products, with inspirational room settings and an innovative workshop and events space.

The two new stores complement Habitat’s multi-channel strategy, joining its website, which accounts for 65% of the retailer’s turnover; two flagship stand-alone stores, a 2,000sq ft Mini store in Leeds and 11 Mini Habitats in Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

Clare Askem, MD of Habitat, said: “As our digital business has grown, there has also been a real desire from customers to see Habitat on the high street. By investing for the future of the brand in this way, as well as continuing to differentiate ourselves with modern, statement design from our in-house Habitat Design Studio, we’re wellplaced to continue our heritage of bringing well designed, inventive and affordable products to people’s homes.”

w www.habitat.co.uk

DESIGN

Lighting firm completes flagship project International lighting design consultancy firm Nulty has announced the completion of its fit out project for the late fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa’s new London flagship store.

Spanning three floors and 6,000sq ft, the Bond Street flagship takes cue from the Paris stores and showcases artwork from renowned international artist Kris Ruhs and pendants from designer Marc Newson. Working closely with the architect Aukett Swanke, Nulty’s lighting solution creates an environment that supports the designer’s idea of simplicity.

w www.nultylighting.co.uk

FOR FULL STORIE S AND DAILY NE W S UPDATE S: WWW.C ABINE T-MAKER .C O.UK

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DESIGN

RETAIL

CDW a ‘huge success’ as it prepares for anniversary year

Furniture retailer told to make interest rate more prominent

Organisers of Clerkenwell Design Week have confirmed that its latest show proved to be ‘hugely successful’.

The ninth edition of CDW took place from 22-24 May and saw over 34,060 visitors from 73 countries attend London’s commercial design festival.

Sponsored by Armourcoat Acoustic, CDW delivered ‘huge benefit’ to London’s creative hub with over 65,757 new business leads generated during the three-day festival – a 14% increase on 2017.

With more than 200 brands exhibiting across the seven venues and 100 showrooms, this year’s festival focused on sustainability as topical subject matters debated about plastic packaging.

The Conversations at Clerkenwell series, sponsored by Mapei, staged in a specially designed talks space located within Design Fields, included a host of design thinkers and influencers including Fredrikson Stallard, Patrizia Moroso, Timorous Beasties and many more.

Daren Newton, managing director of CDW, said: “The ninth edition was hugely successful and has proven that the festival is a substantial player on the global design scene.”

CDW 2019 will take place from 21st – 23rd May.

w www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

Hardwood furniture retailer Oak Furniture Land has been told to make sure future adverts comply with credit requirements as interest rate not prominent enough.

A TV ad for Oak Furniture Land seen on 15 November 2017 featured a voice-over that stated, “At Oak Furniture Land you can pay nothing today. With no deposit, have all of this 100% solid natural oak living room furniture and sofa from £43 per month and there’s nothing to pay on all of this solid hardware bedroom furniture from £44 per month with four years to pay …”.

The advert also featured on-screen text relating to the APR, although an advertising agency complained to the ASA stating that the representative APR (Annual Percentage Rate) was not given adequate prominence.

Following an investigation, the ASA upheld the complaint as the voice-over did not refer to the RAPR and representative example and was fast-paced and loud, and along with the emphasis made on the incentives of purchasing the furniture, the use of on-screen text to present the RAPR and representative example located at the bottom of the screen was unlikely to meet CONC’s requirements.

The ASA ruled: “We told Oak Furniture Land to ensure its advertising complied with the requirements of CONC.”

w www.asa.org.uk

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MANUFACTURE

Furniture brands to be uncovered at design event

FLOORING GROUP BEGINS AUSTRALIAN REORGANISATION

Organisers of design event designjunction has announced the line-up for first time exhibitors for this year.

Now in its eighth year, designjunction returns as part of the London Design Festival from 20-23 September 2018 and moves into its new location to the South Bank. designjunction will present a line-up of UK and international brands – both established and emerging – showcased across three key venues including the Doon Street site, which is dedicated to furniture, lighting and retail, Riverside Walkway and Oxo Tower Wharf.

With the focus relating to the furniture industry, Cabinet Maker looks at what to expect to see from the Doon Street location.

New exhibitor Berlin-based, Bauhaus-inspired design studio New Tendency will present its ‘Truth to Materials’ campaign, whilst Danish upholstered design firm Broste Copenhagen will also unveil new collections including its modular Lake sofa.

New lifestyle brand, Northern will be unveiled at designjunction with several new launches. The company was born out of Northern Lighting and has now extended its trademark style to furniture pieces and interior accessories incorporating a Nordic feel to its new collections.

Bathroom brand VitrA will present its new Plural collection conceived by Milan-based American designer Terri Pecora, whilst Finnish furniture brand KIVA will launch a fully customisable shelving system featuring easy tool-free assembly and integrated lighting.

Long established Swedish furniture company Johanson will showcase its new Norma sofa and armchair collection created in collaboration with designer Färg & Blanche, whilst Spanish lighting brand Marset will launch a series of new designs.

London-based contemporary furniture maker, James Burleigh, will launch the new Café table aimed at coffee shop and canteen style environments, as Canadian lighting manufacturer ANDlight plans to unveil three new product families.

Award-winning furniture makers from Czech Republic, TON will demonstrate its wood-bending expertise with the new Chips lounge chair, Swedish company Lammhults will present two new collaborations, Gemla, said to Sweden’s oldest furniture manufacturer based in the small village of Diö and founded in 1861, will launch two new chairs – Nordic and T13, and familyowned Danish furniture company Erik Jørgensen will show for the first time at designjunction with a selection of its latest collaborations including the new Ovo chair by British designer Damian Williamson. designjunction will see the official launch of the Form sofa family, the latest collection by Icons of Denmark. Bringing Danish design to the UK, the brand will also unveil a new one-seater booth responding to the needs for flexible, but private office furniture solutions.

Swedish lighting company Wästberg will present its new w171 alma pendant light, whilst lighting designer Bethan Gray will present her latest collection, Victoria.

Floorcoverings group Victoria Plc has announced plans to reorganise its Australian operations improve efficiency and increase capacity.

Following the completion of its UK manufacturing operations reorganisation, Victoria continues to identify and realise synergy opportunities arising from its acquisitions and has confirmed a consolidation and investment in relation to its underlay business in Australia.

The Group acquired its Australian underlay business as part of the purchase of Dunlop Flooring in January 2017. There are currently two manufacturing sites, in Sydney and Melbourne.

The Group has decided to focus all manufacturing on the existing site in Sydney and to close the Melbourne operation when the current lease expires in 2019.

Together with an investment of approximately A$2.1m (£1.2m) in new technology, this move is expected to improve raw material processing, finishing and packaging at the Sydney site.

The combination of consolidation and investment will increase flexibility and result in a more efficient and productive

w www.londondesignfestival.com 20 | 22nd June 2018

operation. This project is expected to complete during the second half of 2019.

The group also added that in the first two months of the new financial year trading has been ‘robust’, with the Group’s sales performance showing like-for-like growth over the same period in the prior year of over 3%.

Geoff Wilding, executive chairman, Victoria PLC commented: “Victoria’s Australian underlay business is already benefiting, since acquisition last year, from being part of the wider Group, which has brought cross-selling opportunities and sharing of best practice. We have successfully reorganised our manufacturing footprint within the UK, from which the benefits for shareholders are evident, and are now undergoing a similar efficiency drive in Australia.

“The Group now has considerable experience in delivering successful operational change, and we will continue to seek synergy opportunities alongside our active acquisition programme.”

w

www.victoriaplc.com

MANUFACTURE

FIRST PROFIT FOR BESPOKE FURNITURE MAKER Independent furniture maker Paul Kelley has reported record sales as well as its first profit.

According to its latest results for the year ended 31 December 2017, total sales rose 87% to £187,575 from £100,204 in 2016.

The increase marked its highest generated sales since its launch back in 2009 with its previous record high being in 2013 when turnover reached £112,778.

Gross profit also rose 38% to £111,818 from £80,243, whilst pre-tax profit resulted at £33,741 compared to its loss of £1,808 the previous year.

This was the first time the business had reported a profit as losses over the past few years had been narrowing.

London-based Paul Kelley designs and manufactures bespoke furniture.

w

www.pk-designs.co.uk

FOR FULL STORIE S AND DAILY NE W S UPDATE S: WWW.C ABINE T-MAKER .C O.UK

RETAIL

Flooring businesses acquired out of administration

Flooring retailer Flooring Republic has been saved from administration following a sale.

Newco Taylor Grange Retail, which is backed by the founder of property development company Taylor Grange - Rakesh Doal, has acquired 22 Flooring Republic shops and the online business Posh Floorings.

Under the new ownership, the business plans to open seven stores this year as well as indicating that it intends to double its portfolio the following year as it looks to target a total of 120 stores.

The flooring businesses were placed in administration last month with the deal saving more than 30 jobs.

Law firm Shoosmiths advised on the acquisition.

Karen Clack, director of Taylor Grange Retail, said in statement: “We are well funded by Rakesh Doal, the founder of Taylor Grange, and we have ambitious plans to get this business back on track with a major rebrand and £1m of new stock going in to the shops.

“We have negotiated deals for a number of exclusive products from international suppliers new to the UK market. The difficulties of the retail sector have been well-documented, so it is great to have a positive story to tell.”

w www.poshflooring.co.uk

RETAIL

Mattress retailer proposes CVA; stores to close

Norfolk-based beds and mattresses retailer Mattressman has confirmed plans to close over half of its stores.

Mattressman is to close 14 of its 25 stores, impacting over 100 jobs, as the business has ‘encountered numerous issues in the past 12 months’.

Stores that are earmarked for closure include locations in Birmingham, Chingford, Corby, Coventry, Ipswich, Isle of Wight, Leicester, Lincoln, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Rotherham, Thanet and York.

They are expected to close on 2 July 2018.

The company added that adverse weather had recently impacted trading through March and April, which saw like-for-like sales decline by 15%.

Mattressman has appointed insolvency specialist McTear Williams and Wood to oversee a review of the business and form a proposal to its creditors under a CVA. In a statement to the EDP, company director Andrew Kerry said: “Unfortunately sometimes in business you have to go backwards to go forwards. The CVA will enable us to remodel our business to match the changing retail environment.

“We have always been very successful online and we are going to concentrate on that and smaller stores in East Anglia which have always worked well.

“All our staff are focused on delivering business as usual and we are optimistic about the future.”

w www.mattressman.co.uk

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RETAIL

Independent grows sales towards £1m

Independent furniture retailer Benjamin’s Interiors has reported an increase in sales as turnover edges closer towards £1m.

According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 30 November 2017, total sales rose 12.8% to £870,112 from £771,340 in 2016.

The company also recorded other income of £18,910 as well as experiencing an increase in raw material costs by 19.6% to £675,499 compared to £564,226 the previous year. Pre-tax profit resulted at £4,575, down from £27,816 in 2016.

Benjamin’s Interiors operates from its showroom on Penarth Road in Cardiff and specialises in sofas, furniture, flooring as well as offering an interior design service.

w www.benjaminsinteriors.com

MANUFACTURE

JFS TO FEATURE NEW BED AND LIGHTING ZONES Organisers of the January Furniture Show has announced new exhibitors and developments ahead of next year’s event.

The fifth January Furniture Show (JFS) at the NEC in 2019 will see major developments with a new Bed zone and new lighting section, LIGHT. The show will take place from 20th 23rd January.

As Silentnight returns to the NEC after a prolonged absence, a large part of Hall 5 will become the Bed Zone. Joining Silentnight are bed companies both new and returning to the show, including Kaydian, MLily, Furmanac, Highgate, Slumberdream, Deep Sleep and Highgrove.

This will be the largest concentration of bed and mattress companies at the event since its inception in 2015.

Hall 3 welcomes a new dedicated lighting section called LIGHT. Dar Lighting will

return to the show and will be joined in LIGHT by Searchlight, Oaks Lighting, Impex Lighting and Loxton Lighting. LIGHT will offer the most extensive collection of lighting companies at the show to date.

Increasing its stature as the hall for high-end European cabinet and upholstery, Hall 2 sees new exhibitors Hartmann and Violino join the prestigious line-up for 2019.

Gwinner and Aleal will both return after an absence this year and will show alongside Ego Italiano, SITS, Italia Living, Bontempi, Skovby, ROM, Camel Group and ALF, who have already signed for next year’s event.

Other new developments for JFS 2019 will be announced shortly.

w

www.januaryfurnitureshow.com

22nd June 2018 | 21

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Cabinet Maker Daily Furnishing News

E -RE TAILER S NEED TO ENSURE THEIR FULFILMENT CENTRE S ARE RE ADY TO HANDLE RISING DEMAND AS ONLINE SALES RISE 18.8% PHIL CHESWORTH, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MIDLAND PALLET TRUCKS

“The latest results are great news for online retailers, whether it’s their sole focus or part of an omnichannel approach. The findings

indicate that despite much doom and gloom about the economy, consumers are confident when it comes to their spending and looking for convenient ways to make purchases. “The increased sales are clearly positive, but it could also represent a challenge for some businesses. Consumers choose online sales for their ease of use and they now expect their packages to arrive quickly. It’s critical that fulfilment centres are equipped with the right resources to get orders on the road within the expected timeframes. It’s an essential part of customer satisfaction for online retailers, so even if it means investment or updating existing practices it could be well worth it. “Having the right equipment to hand to move large, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items can really speed up the time it takes for retailers to take their orders from received to dispatched. In such a competitive industry, offering fast turnaround times can make all the difference and keep consumers coming back for more.”

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w www.cabinet-maker.co.uk T @cabinetmakermag S Cabinet Maker Daily Furniture News Q /cabinetmakermag 22nd June 2018 | 23

MANUFACTURE|UPHOLSTERY

CANINE

To n y W i l s o n , f o u n d e r o f

luxury dog beds brand

Berkeley Cole, explains why

societal changes and pet

humanisation have enhanced

the demand for pet furniture.

Reginald Berkeley Cole was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat trading goods from Kenya in the early 1900s. He was best friend of Denys Finch-Hatton, played by Robert Redford in the movie ‘Out Of Africa’.

While I was design director at Steinhoff and a supplier to Harvey’s, I thought that talking about pets would give the sales force a softer, friendlier way to approach customers.

It would make a change from either jumping on the customer as they walked through the door or ignoring them all together. It would be great if, while the customer was chatting about their pet, they could also buy a bed for the pet, which doubled as a footstool for humans and matched their sofa and chairs.

In my mind, I gave my pet-bed range its aristocratic, British name of Berkeley Cole.

But it took six years and a bruising experience before the idea finally came to fruition.

I was working as a design consultant and dealing with a reputable Chinese manufacturer who was selling to a well-known Partnership Company. Sadly, they not only let me down but also the customer. The disappointment gave me the motivation to build a brand for myself with complete control over the product, supply chain and sales channels.

I have always loved animals and, on discovering that pets are a growing market, I saw that pet beds were a great opportunity to use all my furniture skills and experience in a totally innovative way.

The idea behind the innovation

The original pet bed and footstool was called the Snoozzer. The design idea came while I was dog sitting. My house is small and when the dogs came, so did tonnes of dog paraphernalia, creating a huge squash. I love dogs but I’m not keen on them sitting on the sofas, which is where most dogs prefer as it elevates their status in the pack.

Tony Wilson, founder, Berkeley Cole 24 | 22nd June 2018

life. Though I think they would stop short of recommending sleeping with them.

So that’s why I designed a combination bedfor-the-dog and footstool-for-me. No more doggie-stuff all over the place. No more hairs on the furniture. Happy me. Happy, comfy dog.

Inventive design, British-made I have always tried to be fair, honest and reliable and wanted a quality brand that would have impact on the UK and internationally.

Made in South Wales, Berkeley Cole is quintessentially British as well as sophisticated and regal. These values are reflected in the design, construction, and imagery of the pet bed. And of course, the dog-models are gorgeous.

Dogs spend a lot more time lying down than we do, so they need a really comfortable bed. I added the suspension so the bed can react to how the dog lies. Like us, dogs like to change how they sleep; sometimes flumping out, other times curling up. If the animal curls up, the weight transfers to the middle so the centre drops creating a bowl effect for them to snuggle into. Or they can just lie stretched out and be fully supported.

Sharing your sofa with your pet might be nice, but you are exposed to mud, germs, diseases and copious amounts of dog hair. Giving them their own bed space that can be easily

cleaned is better and cheaper than a new sofa.

There were lots of prototypes before I came up with the final design. The originals had spring suspension but that was complex to manufacture. Thankfully the latest patent pending design has worked really well.

Scientists have proved that having a pet as a child can bolster immune systems: reducing the risk of chronic illnesses in later

The launch Berkeley Cole launched at Badminton Horse Trials 2015 where the response was

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What a great sleep! phenomenal. With over 60,000 dog owners, it was an ideal venue to test the concept.

While it was a relatively small stand, the amount of people visiting was fabulous.

There were dogs jumping all over the beds most of the time. Berkeley Cole was awarded an accreditation as the best new stand at Badminton 2015. The response convinced me that the investment was worthwhile and today 10,000s view our social media posts and competitions – it’s a great way to get engagement and immediate feedback.

Berkeley Cole make beds to suit dogs of all sizes.

Growing market The demand for pet furniture is rising as in line with the trend to humanise pets. The industry has grown by 4-5% even when family household expenditure has fallen. One reason is that single people, especially later in life, are choosing to live with pets rather than a partner. Cohabitation and marriage are less popular nowadays. While the dog or cat is an ideal, loving companion offering a relatively hassle free caring role. They are also cheap to look after.

Then there is social media, especially Facebook and Instagram. Pets are posted and shared more than any other topics. The Internet is full of our favourite pooches doing crazy things dressed in silly costumes. The increase in age of people using platforms like Facebook is important. Users are getting older, more are living single lives with more disposable income, and the humanisation of pets continues.

The increased spending on pets may be that people are looking for solutions that match their home and lifestyle. To cut through, you have to offer affordable luxury and innovation, which Berkeley Cole does. To keep up with demand, Berkeley Cole has invested in manufacturing in South Wales.

This investment will grow over time along with expansion into Germany and the USA at the earliest opportunity.

Ahh, perfect.

“ THE INDUSTRY HAS GROWN BY 4-5% EVEN WHEN FAMILY HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE HAS FALLEN. ”

Myriad marketing techniques We use many routes to market and as social media is so influential, aspirational photography and video are vital. Our customers, who are mainly women relating to brands like John Lewis, M&S and White Stuff, want to be inspired.

They are house-proud homeowners with kids who appreciate good value, quality, British branded products. They want to see images that show elegance, practicality and a lifestyle they can relate to, so that’s what we do. Every time.

w www.berkeleycole.co.uk 22nd June 2018 | 25

MANCHESTER FURNITURE SHOW

TIME

As the Manchester Furniture Show kicks off next month, we take a look at which

exhibitors visitors can expect to see at the prestigious summer exhibition.

When summer arrives in the furniture industry, there are three words on the tips of everyone’s tongues: “Manchester Furniture Show” (MFS). Leading up to next month’s event in England’s northwest hub, which takes place at Manchester Central from Sunday 15 to Tuesday 17 July, the 130 hottest brands at the centre of the furniture and furnishings industry have been registering their attendance to showcase their latest designs for furniture industry domination. Cabinet Maker has reeled in all the best bits set to wow visitors at this year’s iteration of the hotly anticipated exhibition, which partners for the first time with summer’s MidPoint show.

First up to the table: Gallery Direct. The complete home furnishing solution with over 1550 expertly designed products, the team at Gallery will be showcasing a wide selection of their furniture, upholstery, lighting, mirrors, textiles and accessories ranges. You’ll find them and their products at stand B35.

Global Furniture Alliance (GFA) will also be returning to the MFS, bringing with them plenty of fresh 2018 additions from the extensive portfolio. The popular swivel chair gallery concept ‘Chair Republica’ is set to be a focus at stand A53, with further on-trend accent pieces in luxurious fabrics and stylishly practical riser recliners.

Furmanac can be found on stand B11, where the mattress maker will be showcasing their MiBed collection, including their innovative adjustable beds, luxurious upholstered bedframes and the Nature’s Comfort mattresses from the Hestia brand. If that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, there’ll also be lift and recline chairs and sofas from the MiChair line.

No furniture show would be complete without La-Z-Boy, and you’ll find the UK team on stand C21. La-Z-Boy UK marketing director Mark Draper said: “This year is an important one for La-Z-Boy UK. Our intensive consumer advertising and TV campaign has helped communicate our brand ethos and personality while establishing a broader customer base.

On the back of this we are launching new product categories at the Manchester Furniture Show and have booked our largest and most prominent stand at the event. The team is hard at work planning our stand, which is going to look fantastic and be the ideal backdrop to a host of exciting new products from La-Z-Boy.” He’s talking, of course, about the brand’s new collection of pedestal chairs as well as a brand new bed and mattress collection. Both new collections are still being finalised in the lead-up to the show, but it has recently been revealed that all bed frames will all be made to order and will feature choices of an extensive collection of La-Z-Boy fabrics and leathers.

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The brand will also be launching its latest upholstery innovation – Urban Attitudes.

Featuring an innovative, specially designed reclining mechanism, Urban Attitudes will offer the contemporary styling of city chic static furniture on legs, with the benefits of a concealed recline. This line also comes with a range of luxurious and eye-catching new fabrics to offer a modern feel. Also making an appearance at the MFS, will be La-Z-Boy’s popular Originals Collection and Comfort Studio Collection.

CIMC at last year’s show.

Heritage Furniture will be catching visitors’ eyes from stand D20, with expertly designed and crafted furniture that is constantly maximising returns for their customers. The Blackburn-based business, with stock available for immediate delivery, will be displaying the successful new ranges launched in January, including bestseller Skien Oak. A huge hit at the January Furniture Show, industry newcomers The Great Chair Company will be adorning stand C61 with their vibrant designs. Well-designed, colourful, great fabrics will be difficult to miss.

New additions to the range will be displayed for visitors to soak up those colours.

Westbridge Furniture’s 2017 outing.

130 brands will be exhibiting at this year’s edition of the show.

Westbridge Furniture also has a dazzling stand planned. Said sales and marketing director, Nicola Bell: “As always, Westbridge Furniture are excited to be exhibiting at Manchester this year. Manchester is a great opportunity to introduce some fresh new fabrics and shapes to our customers and this year is no exception.

With at least three new shapes and 30 new fabrics and leathers crossing our Elements and Westbridge ranges, our stand is one you will not want to miss.”

Alpha’s stand at D18 promises to invigorate and inspire the upholstery market with an array of new designs and alluring fabrics planned for launch at the MFS, while Buoyant Upholstery on B61 will be showing off their new and exciting collection of British made sofas and accent pieces to complement their existing range.

Derry’s will soon be celebrating its 40th year in the furniture and furnishings business, and their selection of Venetian style ranges and show exclusive offers can be located at stand A59. Established in 1979, the milestone has seen the business go the extra mile to source the best products for its customers, with a fresh look and trend driven product range of sofas and upholstery.

22nd June 2018 | 27

RE TAIL|MANCHESTER FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW

MFS2018 is a popular show for interior design.

The annual show is held in Manchester Central.

Ashley Manor’s 2017 appearance.

FROM CABINETS AND DINING TO BEDROOM AND LIVING ROOM AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, THE STERLING LINEUPS OF THE SUMMER ARE THE COLLECTIONS AT THIS YEAR’S SHOW. Manchester Furniture Show newcomers can

be spotted at stand B95. Himalaya Traders are a furniture supplier debuting at the 2018 edition of the show with several different styles including Natural finishes, Pattern designs, French styles, Grey finishes, Brass ranges, Metallic finishes, Distressed finishes, Carving Range and a host of special edition furniture. Their collection is made by artisans, with everything from hallway and dining to living room and bedroom.

From France to Poland, as Gala Collezione enter the fray. Based in Bydgoszcz and temporarily found at MidPoint stand MP33, the business is one of the largest furniture manufacturers in Poland with exports a significant proportion of their trade – over 150 sets of upholstery leave the Polish factory every day. They will be unveiling their latest collections, which include motion, modular and dining furniture in leather, along with a comprehensive offering of contemporary fabrics.

Harrison Spinks also make their way from Yorkshire to Manchester for a summer outing of the bed-making team who swooped two Queen’s Awards earlier in the year. Joining the flurry of mattress manufacturers will be Slumberdream and Vogue Beds, the latter of whom are very keen to showcase their latest collection of UK-made Bedsteads and mattresses by Hampton, Therapy and Helix ranges. Vogue, locatable at E72, also offer a choice of nine new bedsteads with a variety of storage options including ottomans and a choice of 18 fabrics.

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Tura, by Rauch.

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Award for Enterprise and highlighted in the Sunday Times ‘Fast Track 100’, Chelsom’s impact on the markets of contemporary furniture and lighting increases further.

Building on their long-standing trade with many celebrated retailers and design firms, the company is becoming the ‘go-to’ brand for design, quality and commercial appeal in occasional furniture. On stand MP55, Chelsom will be bringing new shapes and finishes to reflect today’s design trends, marrying current with emerging upholstery styles and materials, while also creating the most desirable living spaces.

Also attending the 2018 edition is Siren Furniture. The design house, importer and wholesaler, found at stand C48, supplies furniture to some of the most respected retailers in the UK including John Lewis, Furniture Village and the independent

retail sector. The company has a strong reputation for innovative design coupled with superior quality and will be showcasing their latest collections of sofas and beds, featuring some striking new fabrics.

Event director Laraine Janes said: “We are anticipating a lively and busy show this year.

There is added excitement with the addition of MidPoint and the different, and high calibre exhibitors that it brings. We are also delighted to welcome many new, well known brands in the Main Hall, as well as our faithful returning exhibitors who love Manchester. Visitors will be spoilt for choice and Theresa and I are delighted that we will be going out on a high for our last full Manchester show in charge.”

MiChair, by Furmanac.

Exhibiting for the first time at the MFS, Venjakob will be showing visitors their extraordinary cabinet ranges from MP35.

Barola, Elana, and Macao are three of the successfully launched cabinet ranges this year and will be showcased alongside a selection of the company’s UK bestsellers. A gorgeous and exciting modern mix of matt lacquers, wood and ceramic finishes will no doubt have visitors wandering over to their stand.

Whitemeadow Sofas and Whitemeadow Beds are back with a brand new launch for 2018. As the largest independent upholstery manufacturer in the UK, the business has been handcrafting British sofas since 1994 in its Nottinghamshire factories. The success

is ongoing, as due to increased demand, Whitemeadow Sofas will be extending their exhibition offer at this year’s show by occupying the entire Cobden Room.

Launching new models for the year, the team will also be showcasing their popular Content

by Terence Conran range. Whitemeadow Beds are heading back to the MFS with a full range of upholstered bed frames this year. The team’s dedicated bed stand at the January Furniture Show was so successful, the decision was made to increase the range further with diverse and exciting collections.

For the first time, Chelsom will be exhibiting at the Manchester Furniture Show in 2018.

Now into their 70th year, having recently been awarded the prestigious Queen’s

With international and UK-based furniture companies vying to find the right buyers, this year’s Manchester Furniture Show is set to sizzle. The royal wedding hype and a rather large number of footballers congregating in Russia are merely warm-ups for Summer 2018’s hottest picks fresh out of Manchester.

From cabinets and dining to bedroom and living room and everything in between, the sterling lineups of the summer are the collections at this year’s show. Simply put, the MFS has your customers covered. The Cabinet Maker team is looking forward to seeing everyone’s stands for the show, but in the meantime, keep checking back to find out all the latest news on the MFS exhibitors. We’ll see you there!

w www.manchesterfurnitureshow.com 22nd June 2018 | 29

RE TAIL|INDUSTRY

CHANGING CLIMATE

Cabinet Maker analyses the rock y climate for

depar tment stores as

the high street takes a

tumble in the retail race.

For the football fans amongst us, it’s not uncommon to have difficulty choosing a player for our fantasy teams, or for the England gaffer to spend several months deliberating over which players to take to a World Cup contest in Russia. However, where there’s variety, there’s the additional benefit of choice. As a society, we now crave more and better choice in what we buy, how it’s made and how fast we receive it. As society trends move, so must the retail sector follow.

So department stores offer all this to consumers, right? Wrong. As we’ve seen over the last five years, department stores on UK high streets, particularly House of Fraser, M&S and Debenhams, are rapidly falling victim to an ever-changing climate that’s seen e-commerce gobble 18% of annual retail

Consumers want choice that department stores aren’t offering.

30 | 22nd June 2018

sales and is now precariously positioned on the edge of a cataclysmic storm. (Big names such as New Look and Carpetright have also been struggling as a rise in food prices has put the squeeze on discretionary spending just as retailers’ wage bills, business rates and wholesale costs rise.)

Traditionally, the appeal of a department store lay in the breadth of products available in one place, but this has been undermined by online shopping. Market researcher Mintel’s Thomas Slide explains: “The ability to compare products online is making the sector increasingly competitive and those department stores that are unable to deliver a unique and compelling product now find themselves struggling to maintain their relevance while their large store estates make it difficult to respond quickly to changing shopping habits.” And change they have.

Consumer statistics currently show that 45% of consumers bought something online from a department store n the last year, 36% of department store shoppers researched a product online before buying something instore and 30% of department store shoppers compare products online while browsing in-store. These statistics are set to rise as e-commerce takes the reins in our busy lives.

Consumer researchers have found that around 51 department stores are currently running at a loss. In their battle against the impact of e-commerce, M&S plans to close 100 stores by 2022, House of Fraser over 30 and Debenhams 10. But simply closing stores won’t save our favourite stores, says David Jinks, head of consumer research at home delivery expert ParcelHero. “One particular

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issue is the competitiveness of department stores’ websites. Fenwick’s has an attractive site, but you cannot actually buy anything from it! The consumer is merely told what is available in its shops. This is astonishing, though an e-commerce site is promised before the end of the year. Disappointingly for furniture industry professionals, there is also no mention of its innovative BoConcept Fenwick furniture store on the site.”

ominous omen for fellow department stores relying on a CVA as a panacea. C.banner, the Chinese company that owns Hamleys, has agreed to take a 51% stake in House of Fraser if the chain pushes through a turnaround plan.

One condition is that the business launches a CVA proposal, which House of Fraser expects to do this month, closing down almost half its UK premises, with a full restructuring in place by early 2019.

Of most concern for furniture industry professionals, House of Fraser is certainly not making the most of its in-store furniture range online. Looking at dining tables and sofas involves a very unsubtle switch to a white label site operated by A. Share & Sons. A. Share is best known for its ScS branded stores, and it’s all very confusing for potential customers.

Several purchasing and delivery options are entirely different; a far cry from the seamless purchasing experience buying furniture from John Lewis, for example. (And even John Lewis have experienced a decrease in their ‘Home’ department.)

Even if it doesn’t bode well for big guns such as BHS and House of Fraser, Beales provides some glimmers of hope. In 2016 Beales agreed a CVA to reduce rents by at least 30% on 14 stores and would pay rents monthly instead of quarterly on all its stores.

The company claimed it was being held back because of high legacy rents fixed in the prerecession, pre-internet days when retail was highly profitable. The plan seemed to work.

Is it wrong shop format at the wrong time? Or could it be business rates soaring to make bricks and mortar retailers unable to cope in a race against online behemoths such as Amazon and ASOS? Diane Wehrle, Springboard marketing and insights director, says that it’s a combination of issues creating the perfect storm. “We track the capture rate, which is the proportion of footfall coming from the street into the store. We’ve become more focused in the stores we go to because we know which stores have got the products we want as we’ve done the research on the internet. Therefore, we go to fewer stores, so that capture rate is dropping. We are still shopping, but we also have a greater variety of opportunities for us to spend our money so our pound is being spread thinner across retail products thanks to leisure products, hospitality and technological innovations. We didn’t have Apple watches and tablets 20 years ago, so all our money was focused on retail.”

In an extremely challenging trading environment, the burden of business rates is adding to the pressure. The retail industry will look very different in the future with fewer stores, and those stores that remain more focused on providing an exciting and engaging customer experience will be the ones to succeed. Diane continued: “Business rates were an issue back in the 80s, but

Retail focus is shifting online. then everyone was shopping in bricks and mortar stores and it was the age of credit.

Everything went on the credit card, so retailers could offset the rates by the revenue they were getting. It’s an unbalanced playing field whereby the Amazons and ASOSes have more choice and aren’t saddled with such high business rates because their distribution warehouses have rates based on industrial rental levels, which are cheaper than retail.”

These factors in mind, it can also be argued that the change in retail habits are just the product of natural evolution, the digital world is where we are now and companies are just going to have to face the music. Said Diane: “Where it might sound depressing when they close, some businesses will be sufficiently nimble to navigate their way through this and come out the other side, and others will not.”

Enter the company voluntary arrangement (CVA). CVAs offer retailers the ability to continue trading while taking emergency steps such as renegotiating lease terms, restructuring debt and rethinking strategy, which if successful may lead to the saving of jobs and fewer property vacancies. Insolvency in the form of a CVA is a serious undertaking and may also lead to complications which is why it is considered a last resort, and by no means a ‘get out of jail card’. Once a retailer decides to enter a CVA, they will have explored all options, including entering administration, and will not have taken the decision lightly.

Before entering a CVA, it’s also recommended that retailers engage with all creditors, including landlords, to avoid any surprises.

BHS embarked on a CVA in March 2016, and although it gained the approval of mmost creditors, it wasn’t enough to stave off liquidation the following month, a particularly

The company opened its first Scotland store in November 2017 and its sales rose during a crucial Christmas 2017 trading period, while other department stores saw figures drop.

Stuart Lyons, Beales chairman said at the time of the restructuring: “Most of Beales’ stores are profitable, including our flagship stores in Bournemouth and Poole, which are unaffected by the proposal. However, a minority lose money because leases agreed some years ago are no longer sustainable due to changes in the economy and local conditions. These legacy rents have been dragging the group down. This is a unique opportunity to restore the group to financial health.”

A British Retail Consortium (BRC) spokesperson told Cabinet Maker: “There is no denying that this is a difficult period but it’s not all doom and gloom. The retail industry is reinventing itself to be fit for the future, but the Government needs to play its part and the business rates regime would be a good place to start.”

While department stores are a dying breed, it may well just be that the retail climate is shaking itself up in a new era where technology and e-commerce dominate. Those with exciting ideas and attitudes can best weather the storm, but the tests in resilience will come thick and fast as spending habits continue to change and economic uncertainty persists in tightening pockets. It will certainly be interesting to find out who’ll prove to be up to the challenge and who’ll be left behind.

w www.brc.org 22nd June 2018 | 31

DESIGN|INDUSTRY

THREE CLICK Selency founder Charlotte Cadé

reveals the stor y of the dream

of going from

scrolling Pinterest for interior design with personality to a European

marketplace star t-up.

Charlotte Cadé

A quick lunch hour scroll through Pinterest or stroll through a flea market on the hunt for ideas for interior design could give anyone a frisson of inspiration for bigger and better or

to offer its clientele items from a variety of price points ranging from £10 to £20,000. Charlotte explained: “We do the curation on their behalf to help save them time and take a commission

The self-professed design lover had been looking for a way out of the ‘Scandinavian’ style of decorating, where you end up with “the exact same table as your neighbours”, said Charlotte.

Browsing eBay, Pinterest and countless flea

Selency now has quite the catalogue of unique designs with more than 80,000 items online. Choice quite literally abounds, as do the opportunities that it’s brought.

“We’ve had some wonderful décor projects commissioned by places like Sézane, which are always fun for us,” added Charlotte. It has

chicer and cosier. However, not everyone will put these ambitions onto paper and out into the world. In this case, that’s exactly what Parisbased Charlotte Cadé did. Now the business, Selency, has expanded from the French capital over the Channel into the UK and has further plans to expand. Cabinet Maker caught up with Charlotte, the founder of Selency, an internetbased marketplace for second hand furniture and interior design gems, to get an idea of how the business works.

markets became a very time-consuming way of searching for unique items. The goal was to have access to a curated platform from which users could source both home inspiration and the best of second-hand furniture and home décor. In 2013, she decided to build and create her dream. “I quickly realised that this was also a great opportunity for sellers, as so many of the antique dealers I met were looking for a solution to help them sell online.” Hey presto, Selency was born!

So what is Selency and what does it do exactly?

It’s a curated marketplace connecting 7,000 sellers (both professional and amateurs) to around a million design lovers. Charlotte and her partner [Maxime] guarantee a selection of more than 500 new pieces every day (including everything from vintage furniture and lighting to accessories), which allows the small start-up 32 | 22nd June 2018

on every item sold (from 15 per cent up to 25 per cent). We have a very user-friendly tool that lets you sell and buy easily – we like to think that you can totally make over your décor in just three clicks. We’ve worked hard to develop a convenient, reliable shipping service for both customers and sellers and to provide a constant flow of inspiration just like a home décor magazine.”

been terrifically received in France, by both individuals and businesses, with constant compliments on the quality of the catalogue selection. A Paris location for the team of 30 passionate people is particularly ideal for a start-up such as Charlotte’s. She said: “Architecture, art, culture, the way of living…

You’re just immersed in it all the time, so it’s a kind of open-source for inspiration.” She put the specific aesthetic sense of taste down to Paris’ feel of an open-air museum, musing on the history, the classic with a touch of fantasy, and a mix of styles and inspirations, “with nothing too showy”, she added.

The business has already begun sourcing from the Netherlands and Belgium, which so far is working very well, with the start-up seeing many superb sellers abroad. Added to this, the website is drawing more customers

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The online marketplace now has over 80,000 items in the catalogue.

Selency is a small start-up based in Paris.

Vintage, second-hand furniture...

...curated by an interior design lover for 7,000 sellers and buyers.

from Europe and even as far away as the USA. “We’re thrilled with the brand’s performance, particularly given that we haven’t put a single Euro into advertising – and that up until a few weeks ago, our website was still in French!” said Charlotte. “It’s all about data and tech. That’s our secret sauce. The challenge is to present the right item to the right person at the right moment. It’s becoming challenging now as we dramatically increase both our seller directory and with that, the size of our catalogue.” The business now has a specific website for the UK (www.selency.co.uk) and for the Netherlands

television, it’s a story of passion and inspiration at its core. However, she’s always looking to make it bigger and better. So what’s next?

“We want to become the new European go-to company for those looking for curated, unique home design at affordable prices.” Her current customer base consists of architects, decorators, fashion enthusiasts, shops, hotels: all of whom have no time to roam the internet or forage through flea markets, making Selency their ideal one-stop shop for unique pieces.

“We started developing the B2B side a few months ago and the growth from that sector

Charlotte’s dream coming true is the result of passion and grit, she says. With success resulting in several appearances on French

The reason for the launch into the UK is a simple one. A large proportion of the business’s customers are in the UK and

(www.selency.nl).

has been really impressive,” added Charlotte.

“WE’RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE ALL THE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT PARISIAN LIVING INTERNATIONALLY, AND TO LEARN IN RETURN FROM OTHER CULTURES. ” enthusiasm is growing for the service Selency provides, “as well as for that little French touch we bring,” said Charlotte. “We’re happy to be able to share all the things we love about Parisian living internationally, and to learn in return from other cultures.”

The business is active on social media such as Instagram, and even has a beautifully created newsletter. As for finding the dynamic duo at events, Charlotte and Maxime have a pop-up store planned for London at the end of the year.

Anything is possible if you want it enough and this is certainly a successful start-up with “carpe diem” at the heart. Now if you’ll just

excuse me, I’ll be off to find a vintage chair to curl up on with a copy of Chocolat and a box of choccies…

w www.selency.co.uk 22nd June 2018 | 33

MANUFACTURE|INDUSTRY

TAKE A

Cabinet Maker

takes a look at the difference between

expor ts and

impor ts relating to the UK

upholstery

market so far t h i s y e a r.

Upholstery imports into the UK has decreased significantly in the first four months of the year compared to the same period in 2017.

The latest analysed government data, which includes upholstery imports covering wooden and metal bases, revealed a decline in imports by 5% to a value of £262.3m from £276.2m – representing a fall of £13.9m in cash terms.

Both import values from the EU and outside the EU experienced a decline with larger figure coming from non-European countries.

Starting with this sector, imports of sofas from outside the EU fell by 6.3% to £167.4m from £178.8m, with the largest importer being China, witnessing a fall of 10.7% to £126.6m from £141.9m. Despite the decline, Chinese upholstery imports were still the clear market leader across the world. Malaysian imports were up from £6.3m to £6.8m, as were imports from Singapore, up £4m to from £12.4m.

Sofa imports from Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam all registered a decline but still represented seven-figure values. However, imports from North America reported an increase of 20% to £4.2m from £3.5m, with the USA leading the way with a rise to £3m from £2.8m. Canadian and Mexican imports both rose to £576,748 and £604,226

34 | 22nd June 2018

Right: Sofa imports into the UK valued £262.3m.

Below: UK upholstery exports valued £40m. respectively. It was a mixed bag from the Western Europe region, with Norway suffering a significant decline from £2m to just £11,726.

Turkish imports were also down to £818,199, whilst Swiss imports rose to £570,542.

Upholstery imports from the EU resulted at a total figure of £94.9m. This was down by 2.5% from £97.4m against the same period in 2017 with the market leader Italy reporting a decline of 2.6% to £33.4m from £34.3m. In fact, Italian sofa imports had to make way to a new market leader from a surge of imports from Poland, which represented a value of £44.9m, a growth of 63.8% from £27.4m last year.

Behind the two heavyweights followed German imports, which fell to a value of £5.4m, Danish

imports, which rose to £2.9m, and Romanian imports at a value of £1.9m. The latter recorded a substantial drop from £5.2m, whilst the Irish were the only other nation to report a sevenfigure value at £1.1m. Sofa imports from Spain, Hungary, France, Estonia and Belgium all suffered a decline with the latter experiencing a drop from £12.8m, which represented the third largest market last year, to £827,991 – considerably behind other EU nations.

Imports from Portugal, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic all recorded modest growth into the UK market.

As for British exports within this furniture category, the total value is some way behind at £40m. Despite this, British exports rose 4.9% from £38.1m in 2017. The increase in market share was driven by exports into the EU, which valued £29.8m, up by 8.3% from £27.5m, compared to outside the EU, where exports fell 3.7% to £10.2m from £10.6m.

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Spotlight on Sofa Beds Imports of sofa beds into the UK rose by 3% to £6.8m over the first four months of 2018 compared to £6.6m last year. This was driven by Chinese imports valuing £2.7m, growing by 80% from £1.5m last year. Non-EU imports represented £3.5m, whilst EU imports stood at £3.3m, with Poland being the EU leader at £1.5m. UK exports of sofa beds increased 39% to £1.4m from £1m, with the EU representing £861,575, which grew 71.5% from £502,919.

Outside the EU, exports valued £578,666, up by 1% from £572,447.

Sofa bed Focusing on UK exports to the EU, the market leader is Ireland, which posted an uptick of British exports by 2.9% to £17.6m from £17.1m.

France, Germany and Spain all recorded an increase and represented seven-figure sums, whilst exports into the Netherlands fell to £2.9m from £3.1m. Despite the reduction, Holland remained the second largest export market for British sofas. Other notable movers included Italy, Sweden, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic, who all saw exports rise into six-figure values. Meanwhile, Belgian and Danish markets experienced a decline.

India valued at £451,019, which also marked an increase on the previous year. Exports to Vietnam, Australia and Hong Kong all saw growth, although exports to Japan and Singapore were down. This was the same trend for exports to the Uae, which fell from £1.1m to £774,320. Exports to Saudi Arabia and Qatar were also down as the whole region experienced a decline from £2.5m to £1.6m.

However, sofa exports into Iceland, Norway and Turkey both increase to £115,128, £440,184 and £162,374 respectively, whilst the Swiss market fell to a value of £316,617.

Outside the EU, the largest market of UK sofa exports is the USA. The US reported a decline of 12.8% to £3.4m from £3.9m, although exports to Canada rose marginally to £368,685.

Exports to China made significant progress, up from £342,095 to over £1m, whilst exports to

In conclusion, as it stands UK upholstery exports are building market share, particularly inside Europe. It will be interesting to see how this trend continues with Brexit and if exports into the EU will become significantly affected in the future. Ireland and the USA are clear destinations for British upholstery and these relationships could be further strengthened following Brexit. Another interesting point is the growth within the Chinese export market.

Typically, China is a force when importing products into the UK, so for Britain to make ground in the other direction could be a key relationship to build on following Brexit. As for imports of sofas on UK shores, China is the obvious leader, although its market share did shrink significantly, while Poland’s expanded at a fast rate. The gap between these two importers sits at £81.7m – so there is still a way to go in closing this further. Where China lost out, imports from Singapore accelerated by a value of around £8m, whilst back in

China is the top importer whilst Ireland sees more UK exports

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UK imports: Top 20 countries and value 1. China �������������������������������������������������� £126.6m 2. Poland ���������������������������������������������������£44.9m 3. Italy ��������������������������������������������������������£33.4m 4. Singapore ��������������������������������������������£12.4m 5. Malaysia ��������������������������������������������������£6.8m 6. Vietnam ���������������������������������������������������£5.8m 7. Germany ������������������������������������������������£5.4m 8. Thailand ���������������������������������������������������£3.2m 9. Hong Kong ���������������������������������������������£3.1m 10. USA ����������������������������������������������������������� £3m 11. Denmark �����������������������������������������������£2.9m 12. Romania ������������������������������������������������£1.9m 13. Ireland ���������������������������������������������������£1.1m 14. India �������������������������������������������������������£1.1m 15. Belgium ������������������������������������������£827,991 16. Portugal �����������������������������������������£747,069 17. France ��������������������������������������������£699,366 18. Netherlands ���������������������������������£662,948 19. Mexico ��������������������������������������������£604,226 20. Spain �����������������������������������������������£588,565 British exports: Top 20 countries and value 1. Ireland ���������������������������������������������������£17.6m 2. USA �����������������������������������������������������������£3.4m 3. Netherlands �������������������������������������������£2.9m 4. France ������������������������������������������������������£2.5m 5. Germany �������������������������������������������������£2.5m 6. Spain ��������������������������������������������������������£1.5m 7. China ����������������������������������������������������������� £1m 8. UAE ����������������������������������������������������£774,320 9. Italy ���������������������������������������������������£629,368 10. Australia �����������������������������������������£447,048 11. India ������������������������������������������������£451,019 12. Norway �������������������������������������������£440,184 13. Canada �������������������������������������������£368,685 14. Switzerland �����������������������������������£316,617 15. Belgium ������������������������������������������£303,988 16. Sweden ������������������������������������������£286,932 17. Saudi Arabia ���������������������������������£283,587 18. Hong Kong ������������������������������������£240,837 19. Slovakia �����������������������������������������£209,826 20. Czech Republic ���������������������������£205,095

Europe, Italian imports experienced a minor dip, but could this be the start of a declining trend?

Time will tell and as the year unfolds, the focus will remain on China to see if it can maintain its dominance when it comes to upholstered furniture in the UK market.

w www.gov.uk 22nd June 2018 | 35

CLASSIFIED

TRADE ASSOCIATION MEMBER

TRADE ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATE MEMBER

SALES REPRESENTATIVE This is a fantastic opportunity to join an energetic business at a time of expansion. TCS is an Irish based wholesaler of upholstery, mattresses and dining furniture who intend to increase their presence in the UK market.

The product range is very commercial and excellent value and is having success wherever we have stockists, but we would like to have more stockists and we need our customers to be supported by a professional TCS Sales Representative.

Our new recruit will cover the North of England and we will equip you with a van to display samples, an iPad and a phone as well as all the training that you need.

A good basic salary of £21k pa is available to the right candidate and commission will be paid on every sale from the area and from stockists.

Realistic OTE in year 1 is £26,000 and in the following years this will rise significantly. As we expand there will be opportunities for advancement and a progressive career.

Job Type: Full-time Salary: £26,000.00 /year Applications should be sent to Chris@tcsimports.com

The Carpet Specialists

SERVICE QUALITY VALUE

SALES AGENTS REQUIRED All areas of the UK

Importer of beds and bedroom furniture in metal, chrome, leather, oak and hardwood from various parts of the world.

David Crowther Distribution Contact davidcrowther123@icloud.com

36 | 22nd June 2018

British Furniture Manufacturers British Furniture Manufacturers

MANAGING DIRECTOR The British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM Ltd) is a trade association for the furniture industry and seeks to appoint a managing director based at the BFM facility in Long Eaton, Derbyshire. The successful candidate will have strong strategic planning and communication skills, including the ability to work well with board members, staff and member companies alike. The role requires the individual to have a professional profile with sound knowledge of business management, sales and marketing, finance and more, demonstrated through career progression.

The BFM Ltd has been working within the industry for 68 years providing a range of member benefits including government lobbying to support the industry and the promotion of UK furniture. Going forward the BFM needs to be supported by strong membership recruitment and the further development of members benefits.

Benefits: Competitive salary Fully expensed company car and fuel Minimum 25 days holiday plus statutory days 5% contributory pension Non-contributory medical insurance Non-contributory life insurance A job description is available on request from Mrs Jackie Bazeley, at jackie.bazeley@bfm.org.uk .

the complete service

The Complete Service

TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRY

British Furniture Manufacturers

The closing date for applications to be received is the 13th July 2018.

Applications should be sent to Mrs Jackie Bazeley, at jackie.bazeley@bfm.org.uk.

The BFM Ltd is an equal opportunity employer.

PLEASE CONTACT KACEM

Q 01223 846 825 m

TO ADVERTISE A JOB KACEM@CABINET-MAKER.CO.UK

22nd June 2018 | 37

LAST WORD JAWAD B HAT T I, F O UND ER , HO M R

BAR STOOLS ARE BORING? Bar stools are fast emerging as a favourite furniture item with commercial interior designers as well as discerning householders who enjoy the style and practicality that bars tools can bring to an interior setting.

Interior designers have been selecting and specifying barstools as part of their creative interiors for decades, adding functionality and style to eating and drinking areas of hotels, restaurants, cafes and leisure facilities. With the revival of bar stools as fashionable furniture items, the choice has never been so exciting or inspiring and today they are available in a variety of styles and finishes from timeless wood blended with natural leather to contemporary chrome and black bar stools or polished metal teamed with vibrant coloured fabrics.

Barstools are great space-savers, fitting very close to or actually underneath worktops and bar areas, thereby making the most of the available floor space. The additional height offered by the barstools also allows customers who prefer to sit, the chance to socialise and interact with others who prefer to stand. Children also love the additional height of barstools as it gives them the opportunity to see life from a higher viewpoint.

In the domestic environment, the humble bar stool is also enjoying a revival, as fashionable house owners and flat dwellers strive to maximise the available space. As well as being a stylish piece of furniture in its own right, the barstool is a clever, space saving item that is popular with young and old alike. The smaller dimensions of many contemporary houses means that living space is at a premium, therefore breakfast bars and central bar tables are taking the place of the conventional dining table. In these situations, classic breakfast bar stools or stylish statement barstools are the ideal choice of seating.

Bar stools are now available in a wide variety of designs to suit all interior tastes and fashions. For conservative or classic interiors there is a choice of attractive wood finishes for bar stools which, when teamed with luxury leather or fabric upholstery can offer stunning seating that blends perfectly with the interior. Alternatively, styles manufactured in rustic metal or contemporary chrome complemented by neutral upholstery will also offer understated elegance, or carefully chosen retro pieces can add a focal point to the room.

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For the contemporary interior, there is an array of styles finished in chrome with faux leather seat pads in a rainbow of vibrant colours, or rigid acrylic seating which offers the ultimate in practicality. Whatever the style or the budget, there are barstools to fit the bill.

In addition to creating a statement in the commercial interior setting or providing functional seating for a busy family, barstools are extremely practical items of furniture. They save space; they add an element of design to the interior; they are easy to clean and can be easily transported.

There are designs especially created for dining areas, for bars, for the kitchen or for the garden. Through their growing popularity the revival of barstools definitely looks set to continue for many years to come.

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