NEWS
Headlam management reshuffle as sales rise Headlam has reorganised the management responsibilities for its residential flooring companies based at its Tamworth distribution centre. Martin West, former Kingsmead Carpets general manager, assumes overall responsibility for all residential businesses. Manx Carpets and Mr Tomkinson will be merged into Manx Tomkinson. Mike Dobson, former Mr Tomkinson and Gaskell Wool Rich general manager, will have overall control of Manx Tomkinson and Gaskell Wool Rich, which will become a standalone business with its own dedicated sales force and a wider product portfolio. ‘The new Manx Tomkinson business will draw together the synergies of product, POS and market presence to create a new major player to service the independent carpet retailer,’ says the company. Graham Harris, former Manx Carpets and Clarendon general manager, will lead Kingsmead Carpets, assisted by the existing sales management team of Clint Carver and Ian Shopland, while retaining his role at Clarendon. Clarendon will focus on key market segments via its direct sales force, while marketing in the remaining areas via Manx Tomkinson. Meanwhile, the group has seen no adverse reaction to its
post-Brexit price increases and expects to make more profit than analyst forecasts. It says it has been able to maintain the rises it introduced on imported products. ‘The price increases which, when fully implemented, averaged 3.5% have remained in place since their introduction in August 2016 and, pleasingly, appear to have had no adverse impact on residential sector revenue. As a result of this, and due to continued volatility in foreign exchange rates, it is the company’s intention to keep these price increases in place going forward,’ it says. UK like for like revenue in the second half of the year to 31 October 2016 was up approximately 4.8% (of which 0.8% relates to price increases introduced since August) against the same period the previous year, and is comparable with the outperformance achieved in the first half of 2016. Trading during November 2016 has maintained this trend. ‘Trading in the fourth quarter, traditionally Headlam’s busiest trading period and characterised by a high volume of small residential orders, is continuing well,’ it says. The company says that if trade continues as expected, underlying profits for the year to 31 December will be higher than stock market forecasts. However, headline profit figures may not beat the previous year’s once the pay-off for former chief executive Tony Brewer is included.
Peter Sharpe Peter Sharpe, Furlong Flooring md of its Dartford distribution centre, died peacefully on 3 December after a brave and defiant fight against motor neurone disease. He was 49. After starting his career at Gripperrods, he spent six years at DLW as commercial manager before he was approached to join Hall’s Floorings as commercial director in 1997. In 2008, he joined Furlong Flooring as sales director. ‘Peter was a key member of the commercial team that has developed Furlong Flooring into an industry leading manufacturer. His colleagues, customers and friends in the industry will have many fond memories of working with him and at this difficult time I am confident that he would want us to remember the good times we have all shared. He will be missed by us all,’ says Malcolm Gibson, Furlong Flooring group md.
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Interiors Monthly January 2017
Profits jump at Barker & Stonehouse
Sharpe is survived by his wife Jo-ann and children Molly and George. In 2013 he was asked what was the best piece of advice he had received. ‘It came from my piano teacher prior to a concert in Windsor,’ he said: ‘If you don’t have passion, then you have nothing. If you don’t believe in what you are doing, then why would anyone else?’
Furniture and flooring retailer Barker & Stonehouse has seen profits leap in the past financial year. Pre-tax profits rose by 37% to £4.05m in the 53 weeks to 3 April, according to accounts filed at Companies House. Turnover rose by 15.8% to £62.89m. In light of the profit increase, the dividend was increased from £182,000 to £561,000. The chain ended the period with cash of £4.457m, up from £3.163m. Bank loans rose from £8.957m to £14.546m. Of this £911,000 was due to repaid within a year, £9.6m within two to five years and £4.93m after five years. The chain is due to open its Hove store in the spring and later on a branch in Guildford will be opened.