NEWS
Smiths take Arlo & Jacob independent again Upholstery chain Arlo & Jacob has become independent again after less than a year under TCM Living’s ownership. Mark, former TCM Living chief executive, and Julie Smith bought Arlo & Jacob from administration in May 2020, before it became part of TCM Living in June 2021. TCM Corporation owns Alstons Upholstery, Ashley Manor Upholstery, AMX Design and Alexander & James. ‘After an initial period of successful incumbency within group, both Mark and Pimol Srivikorn, TCML chairman felt that the interests and growth ambitions of both entities were very much best served apart – with TCML’s focus being on volume-driven business and global expansion, the antithesis of Arlo’s very British and fashionably slower, choicecentric and individualistic model,’ says the retailer. ‘Mark very much wanted the talent he had nurtured and believed had helped him stand apart from his competitors close. Partnering with him therefore to head up this next exciting chapter are his artist and stylist wife Julie; Michelle White, marketing, brand and creative director; Simon Wilson, finance director; Anthony Scarborough, e-commerce director, and Donna Pitchford, executive project manager, with Lisa Broad continuing as md.’
John Lewis ends price pledge John Lewis is to axe its Never Knowingly Undersold pricing promise. The chain says it no longer fits with how consumers shop as more sales move online and the offer doesn’t apply to purchases from online-only retailers. It will be ended in the summer. Instead the company will invest £500m on lowering prices, a 25% rise on its 2021 commitment. ‘Customers are tightening their belts and we’re responding so John Lewis is more affordable for every customer, every day whether
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shopping in-store or online,’ says Pippa Wicks, John Lewis executive director. ‘Never Knowingly Undersold has been a cherished sign of trust for John Lewis for a century but it doesn’t fit with how customers shop today as a growing number of purchases are made online,’ ‘Our new £500m investment means that all our customers can trust they are getting the quality, style and service they have come to expect from John Lewis at great value price,’ she added.
Interiors Monthly March 2020
The Arlo & Jacob team
‘I’ve always worked best in a partnership and I have hand-picked my team of experts. I’m drawing on close relationships with people I admire and am inspired by and to top it all are thoroughly nice people to boot,’ says Smith. ‘It is important to us that we create furniture and fabric collections that we are proud to have in our home. We are the Arlo customer and we feel at home with the brand’s DNA,’ says Julie Smith.
Celebration planned to honour MCD founder and Headlam chairman Graham Waldron An event is to be held to mark the life of Graham Waldron, MCD founder and former Headlam chairman. He died on 27 May 2020, aged 90. The event, to be held on 16 April, will mark what would have been his 92nd birthday. It will take place at Hanbury, Bromsgrove from 12pm-4pm. Those wishing to attend are asked to email CelebratingGrahamWaldron@ gmail.com Waldron established his
relationships and reputation in the flooring industry as buyer for the Gainsborough Group in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1977 he was the founder of MCD, which became the market leader and most progressive distributor of floorcoverings into the 1980s. He was instrumental in developing Headlam into the leading flooring distributor in the UK and Europe. He was chairman from 1991 to 1999 and 2006 to 2013, serving as a director for 22 years.
