Since its launch in 1958, the Bespoke Guild Mark has been the apex of distinctions for UK designer-makers. The award recognises excellence in design, materials, craftsmanship and function for exquisite pieces of furniture and fitted furniture made as single items or a limited run.

Over the past six months, the Bespoke Guild Mark jury has awarded the Mark to:
• Tweed Console Table by Phillip Dobbins (BGM 496)
• Oomugi: Japanese Whisky Shrine by Ed Ryland (BGM 497)
• Spitfire Chair by Ian Burnell (BGM 498)
• Trewithen Kitchen by Guild Anderson (BGM 499)
• Sunburst Table and Chairs by Daniel Lacey (BGM 500)
• Lines Puzzle Cabinet by Josey Garbutt (BGM 501)

Daniel Hopwood, Bespoke Guild Mark chairman, said: “It is always a privilege to witness the extraordinary talent and dedication of our UK designer-makers, and this latest cohort of Bespoke Guild Mark recipients truly exemplifies the pinnacle of bespoke craftsmanship. Each of these exceptional pieces demonstrates not only outstanding design and technical skill but also a deep understanding of materials and function.

“On behalf of The Furniture Makers’ Company, I extend my warmest congratulations to Phillip Dobbins, Ed Ryland, Ian Burnell, Guild Anderson, Daniel Lacey, and Josey Garbutt for their remarkable achievements. Reaching the milestone of over 500 Bespoke Guild Marks awarded is a testament to the enduring excellence of our industry. We are immensely proud to continue celebrating and supporting the finest bespoke furniture makers in the UK.”

Phillip Dobbins said: “I am thrilled to have received a Bespoke Guild Mark. The award validates a maker’s work at the highest level.”

Ed Ryland said: “Winning a Bespoke Guild Mark is a profound honour. It feels like the highest possible recognition of the effort, dedication, and community that contributed to crafting something unique that, hopefully, brings joy in some way. On a personal level, working on this piece helped me through some difficult times and I put a huge amount of myself into it, so being recognised in this way truly means the world.”

Ian Burnell said: “I have no words. What an incredible honour to be recognised for such a prestigious award.”

Nick Anderson of Guild Anderson said: “This was a landmark historic project for myself and the team. The owners placed their faith in our ability to deliver a set of spaces which suited how they live as a modern family but was also sympathetic to the stunning architecture of the house. We are very proud of what we achieved there.”

Daniel Lacey said: “I’m so deeply honoured to receive this – my sixth Bespoke Guild Mark – for the Sunburst Table and Chairs, and to be recognised once more by such a prestigious organisation is incredible. Thank you.”

Josey Garbutt said: “Being awarded the Bespoke Guild Mark is a huge accolade, particularly so early in my career, and it motivates me to keep pushing boundaries.”

The post Six new Bespoke Guild Marks take the award total to more than 500 appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

The company, situated on Holderness Road in Hull, has launched a closing down sale and will officially shut up shop for the final time on 28 February 2025.

The retailer said that due to the current economic climate it has been forced to close, bringing an end to nine years of trading.

A statement said: “It’s with a heavy heart that after nine fabulous years we are having to close the store. 

“We have put absolutely everything into keeping the shop open but unfortunately it hasn’t been enough and while we’ve tried fighting the current economy and the effects on retail, we have to unfortunately admit defeat.”

“We’d like to thank you, our amazing customers for your support giving us 9 wonderful years of business going through Covid, moving store and too many milestones to count. Without you none of which would have been possible!

“Please note, if you have pending orders with us, these will be fulfilled. We aren’t too sure what the future holds however one thing is for sure that’s we won’t forget this journey and those that helped us along the way!

“It’s been confirmed our final day will be February 28th – that leaves us till the end of the month for anyone still wanting to grab a bargain from our massively reduced stock items.

“Thank you to everyone for sharing / commenting and spreading the word, we hope you all have come away with a few bargains already. Let’s close with a bang.”

The post Independent furnishing and interiors retailer to close appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

It is an ideal opportunity for foreign traders to get acquainted with the offer of Poland, a world leader in furniture exports. The organiser, the Grupa MTP, expects furniture buyers from about 70 countries to arrive.

The largest exhibition of Polish Furniture

MEBLE POLSKA Fair is one of the most effective tools for promoting the export of Polish furniture production. Since 2010, the Poznan furniture fair has been organized in a new B2B formula and is now ranked among the elite group of the most important furniture industry trade fairs in Europe. MEBLE POLSKA is an ideal opportunity for wholesale furniture buyers from all over the world to contract the latest collections for the new season.

The MEBLE POLSKA Fair is the world’s largest presentation of the offer of the Polish furniture industry. The exposition of the 2025 edition occupies 9 pavilions with a total area of 60,000 square meters. More than 300 companies and brands from 17 countries, including leading Polish manufacturers, will present their offer. Rich expositions are being prepared by companies from Turkey and Ukraine. In addition to regular exhibitors, there will also be a number of companies present in Poznan for the first time. The scope of the fair will include products from all price segments and types: upholstered furniture, chest furniture made of furniture board and solid wood, and mattresses.

Buyers from all over the world

Every year the Poznan furniture fair is visited by furniture buyers from about 70 countries. In addition to a large group of traders representing Polish retailers, representatives of the vast majority of major buying groups and furniture showroom chains from Europe, as well as many wholesale furniture distributors and online stores from other continents come to Poznan. Visitor registration is also very successful this year. Among the registered participants are buyers from many prospective markets for Polish furniture exports, such as the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and India.

Training for traders

The exhibition will be accompanied by an interesting program of events prepared in cooperation with the Polish Chamber of Commerce of Furniture Manufacturers and other industry partners.  This is an opportunity to gain specialized knowledge during numerous lectures and presentations. Their participants will learn, among other things, how to increase the efficiency of a furniture store, learn the latest data on the situation in the furniture industry, and familiarize themselves with the latest trends, technologies and sales solutions.

They will also learn about the prospects for the residential furniture market in Poland and how to protect furniture design and combat imitations.

Events in English

Artificial Intelligence for Furniture Imagery: What you need to know?

The session, organized by TEKER AI SAS, will feature how leading furniture companies are using AI to easily create consistent, high-quality visual content. We’ll showcase real customer examples, demonstrating how AI streamlines content creation while maintaining brand consistency. The session will include live demonstrations, practical tips and expert advice on implementing AI in visual marketing. The event is a must for brands that want to scale product photography effectively.

25.02.2025 – 4:15-5:00 pm | Eastern Entrance, Blue Room

The current situation of the Polish furniture industry in accordance with the conclusions of the Polish Furniture Outlook report

The year 2024 was a difficult period for the Polish furniture sector, which faced rising production costs, falling demand and competition from abroad, particularly from the Far East. These factors weakened the position of the Polish furniture industry on international markets. A detailed study of the situation of the Polish furniture industry was compiled by B+R Studio in the 15th edition of the report “Polish Furniture Outlook 2025.” The report analyzes the industry’s performance in recent years, estimates data for 2024 and forecasts for 2025. These results will be discussed during the seminar, which will provide an opportunity to exchange knowledge about the condition of the Polish furniture industry and its development prospects.

26.02.2025 – 1:00-1:45 pm | Eastern Entrance, Blue Room

Ukrainian-European Networking Cocktail

Join us for an extraordinary evening of collaboration and innovation at the Exclusive Cocktail & Networking Event on 26th February, from 16:00 to 18:00, at the Poznań Congress Center. The event is tailored to foster meaningful connections between European industry representatives. It offers a unique platform to explore and engage with industry leaders, discover cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, and uncover fresh partnership opportunities in a welcoming, professional atmosphere. Why Attend?

• Meet innovators and industry leaders ready to collaborate and expand into European markets.
• Discover high-quality, export-ready products and services designed to meet today’s industry demands.
• Build lasting connections and seize partnership opportunities in an engaging, cocktail-fueled networking space.

Seize the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and grow your business.

Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today by registering here!

26.02.2025 – 4:00-6:00 pm | Poznan Congress Center, Room 1G

New technologies in the furniture industry: an opportunity to recover from the crisis or a costly experiment?

Struggling with low margins in a crowded market? Cooperation with architects is limping along? New products going unnoticed by the market? Many furniture companies are reaching for technology – 3D configurators, AR, AI – believing they will increase competitiveness. But what if these solutions only exacerbate existing problems?

From augmented reality (AR) product presentations to product configurators and artificial intelligence (AI)-based design recommendations, modern tools promise to revolutionize furniture design and sales. But do they really improve the bottom line? Or are they just glamorous buzzwords that mask deeper problems, such as inefficient processes within an organization or misaligned market strategies?

During his lecture, Marcin Stempniewicz, CEO of Ar-range.app, comparing experiences of new technology implementations in companies from Europe, the US and Canada, will discuss how to prepare for changes and how to consciously choose both the technology and its supplier. He will present both the benefits of tools such as 3d configurators and the risks of implementing technologies in organizations that are not ready for them.

From this session you will gain:

• knowledge of how to align new tools such as configurators or AR with real business needs.
• a critical framework for evaluating potential technology partners and analyzing return on investment (ROI) in the furniture industry.
• a refreshed look at when it makes sense to deploy new technologies so that they reduce costs, meet customer needs, and at the same time work in tandem with a company’s internal processes.

27.02.2025 – 11:15 am-12:00 pm | Eastern Entrance, Blue Room

For participants of the MEBLE POLSKA Fair, admission to all events is free of charge

Free public transportation for MEBLE POLSKA participants

All those who register online will be able to use trams and buses free of charge during the MEBLE POLSKA trade fair and thus reduce their carbon footprint. Thanks to the cooperation between the Grupa MTP and the Poznań City Transport Authority, the online ticket for the trade fair will simultaneously serve as a public transport ticket.

For those who will come to Poznań by car, the organiser recommends leaving it at the three-level underground PWK car park located on the Poznan MTP Expo grounds and exploring the city using trams and buses.

How to take advantage of the free transport? All you need to do is carry your exhibitor card or a trade fair ticket generated online. Tickets purchased at the ticket offices during the event do not entitle you to free public transport!

More information: www.meblepolska.pl

The post What to expect at MEBLE POLSKA 2025 appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

With 18 years of experience in the bedding industry, Maria has built an impressive career spanning customer service, sales management, and B2B account leadership. Her journey at Land of Beds over the past eight years is a testament to her dedication, leadership, and passion for helping people achieve better sleep.

“Maria joined us as Sales Manager and quickly made a significant impact, earning a promotion to Head of Sales and Buying,” the retailer said. “In this role, she played a pivotal part in shaping our sales strategy, ensuring we offer the best prices and the most extensive selection of products.

“Two years ago, she stepped into the senior leadership team, further expanding her influence. She has been instrumental in establishing Land of Beds as a leading multi-channel platform, serving thousands of customers each year through our website, physical stores, phone support, email, and live chat, all while providing top-quality sleep solutions.

“Maria’s leadership is defined by her strong customer-first approach, sharp commercial acumen, and unwavering commitment to excellence. In her new role as Sales Director, she will spearhead our ambitious growth strategy, strengthening our position in an increasingly competitive market while continuing to champion the best possible experience for our customers.”

Reflecting on her promotion, Maria commented: “It’s been an incredible journey working with such a talented team. Helping customers get the best night’s sleep has always been my passion, and I’m excited to step into this role, collaborating with my colleagues to scale the business and enhance our offering.”

Mike Murray’s, Managing Director, added: “I’ve worked with many professionals in this industry over the years, and there’s no one I’d rather have in this role. Maria’s expertise, leadership, and vision will be key to driving the business forward and achieving our ambitious growth plans. With her at the helm of our sales team, I have no doubt we’ll continue to set new benchmarks in the industry.

“Maria’s promotion is a reflection of both her outstanding contributions and Land of Beds’ commitment to fostering talent and innovation. As we continue to grow, her leadership will play a vital role in shaping the future of the business and delivering even greater value to our customers.”

The post Land of Beds appoints new Sales Director appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

Based in Huddersfield, Sellers Textile Engineers is a leading designer and manufacturer of finishing equipment for the carpet industry. The company, established in 1912, specialises in the build and installation of a wide range of textile machinery including backing, coating, and shearing lines, for carpet manufacturers across the globe.

Facing challenges from rising supply chain costs and overheads, Sellers Textile Engineers reached out to Virgin Money who provided access to key specialists that could support their growth strategy.

Working alongside the bank’s Trade Finance Team, the company completed a £1 million finance deal that has enabled Sellers Textile Engineers to enhance its production capabilities and take on larger orders. The company has also created new job opportunities, with at least five new roles including design engineers, fitters and new apprentice opportunities across the business.

Virgin Money’s Business Development and Trade Finance teams worked closely with UK Export Finance (UKEF) to get the deal finalised. The funding package includes a UKEF General Export Facility (GEF) loan guarantee which covered 80% of the financing, enabling Virgin Money to complete the transaction. The GEF product is a flexible government-supported scheme that helps UK export businesses to access working capital facilities, helping to improve cashflow or speed up international trade growth.

Virgin Money’s Trade Finance team also provided guidance to Sellers Textile Engineers on bank guarantees and export letters of credit, which helps to reassure that when the company manufactures goods for export, they will receive payment on time and in full.

Ken Gardiner, financial director at Sellers Textile Engineers, said: “The machines we sell can take several months to build and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to complete, so as costs increased our cashflow restrictions meant we were only able to take on one order at a time. Thanks to the support from Virgin Money and UKEF however, we now have more flexibility in our finances than ever before, meaning we’ve been able to increase our customer base, reach more companies overseas and take on multiple orders at once. This finance deal is game-changing for us, and we’re excited to set our growth plans in motion and see what the future brings for our business.”

Craig Wilson, head of FX sales & trade finance at Virgin Money said: “Sellers Textile Engineers is a great example of how a manufacturing business can continue to succeed, invest and grow despite tough economic conditions. At Virgin Money we look forward to working closely with the company as they ramp up their international sales by not only providing this initial finance deal, but ensuring we continue to offer great solutions around international payments, foreign exchange risk management and wider trade finance tools to ensure prompt risk-free payments from customers.”

Alissia Deane, export finance manager for West Yorkshire, added: “UKEF exists to help businesses nationwide win and deliver export contracts, offering free and impartial support through its regional Export Finance Managers. Our General Export Facility guarantee allowed Sellers to access suitable trade finance – something which will help this small business to achieve its big ambitions for international growth.”

The post Carpet equipment maker secures funding package appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

On 14 February 2025, the UK Government announced its decision to maintain the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993, a conclusion reached after consultation with industry stakeholders and many months of consideration within the Department for Business and Trade.

Context of the Consultation

In October 2023, the Government launched a review under the theme of reducing business burdens post-Brexit, which included in May 2024 questioning the future of the Regulations. The confusion surrounding the consultation’s objectives—whether to review the way regulators regulate or to review regulations themselves—raised significant debate in itself. Irrespective of this,  the Commercial Agents Regulations themselves are important in governing the relationship between commercial agents and principals, and the potential for deregulation sparked considerable concern among industry experts.

Key provisions of the Regulations

The Commercial Agents Regulations establish a framework that defines the rights and obligations of both agents and principals, providing:

• Legal clarity for the formation and termination of agency contracts.
• Guidelines on agent remuneration, including protection against unfair adjustments and ensuring payment of commission.
• Conditions under which an agent can claim indemnity or compensation upon the termination of an agency contract.

Importance of the Regulations

The Commercial Agents Regulations implemented into British law the EU Agents Directive (a separate set of Regulations was made for Northern Ireland). The objective of the EU Agents Directive was to harmonise the national laws of the EU member states to help facilitate internal EU trade – the well-known concept of freedom of movement of goods – whilst recognising the inherent imbalance in the principal-agent relationship.

Benefits of maintaining the Regulations

For agents

The Regulations provide important certainty and legal recourse. For agents, this means certain statutory entitlements if there should be sudden or unjustified contract terminations and consequential loss of commissions. These entitlements are foundational in safeguarding the interests of agents, allowing them to operate with a level of confidence and stability – provided, of course, that agents are prepared to enforce their entitlements.

For principals

While considerably less publicised, the Regulations also afford significant statutory rights to principals beyond common law provisions. Regulation 3, for example, provides specific protections that help principals manage their commercial relationships effectively and, if necessary, terminate agency agreements. Moreover, the Regulations facilitate certainty in contractual relationships which can reduce the need for extensive negotiations.

Real-world relevance

The decision to retain the Regulations supports a stable and predictable legal framework, important for both agents and principals. Deregulation could have increased contractual risks and lead to demands from agents for either higher commission or contractual compensation or both, with likely increased costs for those businesses which use agents.

Given that the EU Agents Directive is mandatory within the EU, the Government’s decision means that for the time being and for the future (unless there should be significant divergence in legal interpretation between the UK courts and the European Court of Justice), UK companies will be able to appoint agents within the EU with the agency agreement stated to be governed by, for example, English law and with the English courts determining disputes without this being challenged by the national courts of EU member states. Conversely, UK agents can request their EU principals to have their agency agreements be governed by, for example, English law with the English courts determining disputes. This also benefits EU companies by ensuring consistent laws for their agents within the EU.

It is also the case that if the Government had decided to deregulate the Regulations, the Northern Ireland Executive would face a tough decision: either follow the UK government to avoid further disruption to the UK internal market, or maintain the status quo and benefit from Northern Ireland’s unique position as a part of the UK and EU under the Windsor Framework agreement.

Furthermore, the integrity of English law in international contracts, crucial to the UK’s soft power, would have been depreciated by deregulation.

Conclusion

The decision by the Government to keep the Commercial Agents Regulations intact is beneficial for both agents and principals. The Regulations ensure a balanced relationship, offering essential protections and contributing to a stable and predictable business environment. This decision supports the UK’s reputation as a fair market, advantageous to both domestic and international commercial activities. It also helps its growth agenda!

The post UK Government upholds the Commercial Agents Regs appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

Tony will also be appointed as a member of the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, RSC Committee and Nomination Committees, and as the Designated Non-Executive Director, from that date.

Steve Johnson, Chair said: “I am delighted that Tony is joining the Board. His significant retail experience is directly relevant to the DFS’ strategy. I look forward to working closely with Tony as we move forward with our strategy to accelerate growth and develop our home offering.”

Tony is the Chair of Nobia AB, Europe’s leading kitchen specialist with Headquarters in Stockholm where it is listed. He is also a Non-Executive director of Applied Nutrition which recently listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The post DFS appoints Nobia Chair as Non-Exe Director appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

The Board is in the advanced stages of a recruitment process to appoint a new CEO with the support of a leading executive search firm, and will provide an update in due course.

B&M has also updated its profit guidance range, with FY25 Group adjusted EBITDA now expected to be in the range of £605m to £625m, which reflects the current trading performance of the business, an uncertain economic outlook and the potential impact of exchange rate volatility on the valuation of its stock and creditor balances.

Tiffany Hall, Chair of the Board, said: “I would like to thank Alex for his commitment, energy, dedication and hard work since joining the business in 2020 and, in particular, since becoming CEO in September 2022.

“Alex has increased our store footprint in both UK and France and driven a relentless focus on high operational standards and low costs, enabling the Company to provide great products and everyday low prices to our customers whilst generating continued strong cash returns for our shareholders. We wish him well for the future.”

Alex Russo said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at B&M since joining in 2020. The business has been successfully steered through the pandemic years and is now larger and stronger with group revenues increasing by almost 50% and cash distributions to shareholders in excess of £2.0 billion during my tenure.

“It has been professionally rewarding to assemble and work with a high quality leadership team and to retire leaving growing businesses with great potential in both UK and France. I wish the Board and the leadership team every success in the years ahead.”

The post Discount retailer confirms CEO retirement appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

Sarah O`Toole and Edward Williams, both of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, were appointed as joint of administrators of Belfield Group Limited, Tetrad Limited, Belfield Furnishings Limited, Clinchplain Limited, Belfield Holdings Limited and Westbridge Furniture Designs Limited on 11 February 2025.

Detailed in newly filed documents on Companies House, it explained the position of the group and the build up to the appointment of administrators, citing a market-wide slowdown, higher interest rates and consumer spending pressures, alongside the loss of a major customer that accounted for around 21% of its revenue in FY24 – in relation to M&S exiting the furniture market – as key contributing factors to its performance.

According to its most recent filed accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023, total sales fell 13.8% to £112.6m from £130.7m in 2022. Pre-tax losses widened from £8.8m to £11m.

The group undertook a number of actions to address its costs, with around £15m of savings achieved during 2023 and 2024, which included the exit of two Westbridge sites in the UK and one within Westbridge Romania. Furthermore, a reduction in staff across all trading divisions was implemented, as well as securing new contracts as ‘replacement revenue’ to cover the lost customer.

Despite this turnaround, the group’s medium-term forecasts updated in late 2024 indicated a forecast funding requirement of £4.3m, with an initial funding shortfall expected in early February 2025. Existing shareholders and secured creditors were not in a position to provide additional capital to meet the funding required.

The group decided to explore the possibility of a sale and new investment on a solvent basis, wit PwC first engaged on 20 December 2024. A total of 41 parties were approached, but failed to generate any solvent offers being received, primarily due to the level of debt in the group.

Due to the group’s cash runway, a shortened timeline was needed, however creditor pressure, including threats of winding-up petitions, meant continuing to trade the business for an extended period of time was not sustainable. In transpired that two parties submitted offers on a basis of a prepackaged sale, with one later being accepted.

Upon appointment of administrators, the group was sold to Craft Group Holding Limited, Craft (Westbridge) Limited, Craft (Belfield) Limited, Craft (Tetrad) Limited and Craft (Clinchplain) Limited for a sum of £1m plus the amounts outstanding under a CID facility with Virgin Money.

The group has historically assigned all the rights to its trade debtor book to Virgin Money and upon appointment, it was agreed that Virgin Money would reassign all the trade debtors back to the group with a condition that the CID facility debt was settled. The purchaser acquired the debtor book for just over £8.2m, which settled the debt.

Furthermore, as part of the sale, the purchaser also has the option to acquire the shares of the Romanian entity (Westbridge Production SrL) for £1 within two months of the transaction.

Craft Group Holding Limited was subsequently changed to TBG Furniture Limited with all newcos incorporated on 4 February 2025 and owned by parent group Craft Topco Limited. All entities are affiliated with Blandford Capital LLP.

As for UK employees, 835 from the 875 staff moved over to the new ownership, while 40 staff were part of the ‘home division’, which was not part of the pre-pack deal, or had previously left the company.

With regards to creditors, the HMRC is owed a collective sum £4.6m – the largest of £2m being owed by Westbridge – and is expected to suffer a shortfall of the entire amount. It is also anticipated that unsecured creditors are set to suffer a combined figure of £79.8m across all the group’s entities.

Following TBG Furniture Limited acquisition, Tom Prestwich, CEO, and the management team will continue to lead the business under the new ownership. (See related).

The post Details behind Belfield Group acquisition emerge as upholstery giant sold in prepack appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024, total sales rose 4.2% to £14.8m from £14.2m in 2023, further adding to its growth of 7% from £13.3m in 2022.

Pre-tax profit resulted at £615,000, up from £595,000 recorded the previous year.

Stated within its report, Archers said: “We continue to work closely with our suppliers to develop our already successful range of in-house products, widening our product choice and protecting margin.

“Internet sales are expected to continue growing as we increase our product and category offerings, supported by unique industry leading website functionality.”

The post Scottish beds retailer delivers another year of growth appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

Situated at 54 Poplar Road in the heart of Solihull, the kitchen showroom is owned by interior design professional, Somayeh Kaveian, who planned the event to mark its official launch in early 2024.

The event, which took place on Saturday February 1st, featured fresh food cooked live by AEG product expert and chef, Sue Hawkes, whilst visitors observed, plus an open bar with an array of cocktails and different wines.

Each guest received an AEG goody bag and Kutchenhaus themed cakes were prepared by a local baker for the event. Mayor of Solihull, Shahin Ashraf, took part in the day’s activities, cutting the cake made for the anniversary and chatting to guests.

Owner Somayeh commented: “We were absolutely thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response our anniversary event received, and seeing our visitors’ smiles on the day was incredibly rewarding.

“The mission was to create a memorable day which people could enjoy whilst meeting our team and learning all about Kutchenhaus Solihull. We achieved this and received some lovely feedback. A big thank you goes out to all who helped us on the day and we’re already looking forward to putting on similar events and meeting more people in the near future.”

As a part of nobilia, Europe’s leading kitchen manufacturer, Kutchenhaus creates affordable kitchens that are skilfully engineered and beautifully designed.

The post Solihull kitchen showroom hosts successful anniversary event appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024, total sales fell 24.2% to £123.8m from £163.5m in 2023.

Sales in the EU accounted for £87.2m, declining from £128.2m, while revenues outside the EU rose 3.3% to £36.5m from £35.3m.

Pre-tax profit resulted at £7.2m, down from £15.5m recorded in the previous year.

Stated within its report, the company said: “The prospect of a continued downturn or recession in Europe remains a very real threat. However, the company has a good order book and demand is currently stable. We believe we can scale our operations to meet any likely fluctuations in demand caused by either a recession or a return to growth.”

G. Modiano is based in the UK and has sourcing operations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as its processing division in Czech Republic and sales offices in Turkey, China and Italy. It is one of the leading suppliers of wool tops to the European textile trade.

The post Wool trader sales decline by £40m appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

The property comprises a newly developed purpose-built retail park, which opened in phases between October 2021 and October 2022. The 123,637sqft scheme is anchored by an 80,000sqft purpose-built M&S, which sits alongside a national tenant line up that includes Furniture Village and others such as Superdrug, Mountain Warehouse, Greggs and COOK.

The scheme offers a WAULT of 14 years to expiries and excellent ESG credentials, with a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’. Investec Bank PLC provided the senior loan to support the acquisition for the South African investor. Pembrey Asset Management was represented by Cushman & Wakefield.

The vendor, Churchmanor Estates, was represented by XPROP, with funding provided by Close Brothers. The legal work was undertaken by Birketts LLP.

Marcus Wood, Head of UK Retail Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “This is set to be another strong year for retail warehouse investment volumes. Cushman & Wakefield recorded £3.5 billion of out-of-town stock in 2024, and whilst there was a huge surge in transaction volume in Q4, very little of that was of the quality that attracted our client towards Colchester.”

Matthew Robinson, at Investec Bank PLC, said: “We are delighted to have been able to assist our client in acquiring this high-quality retail asset. With a long track record of supporting both domestic and international buyers with investment and development funding solutions, we are well placed to continue supporting our clients.”

Matt Cloke, at Churchmanor Estates, said: “We are delighted to have completed this sale, marking the conclusion of 12 years ownership and development of Stane Park by Churchmanor Estates, which started with the opening of the adjacent leisure park in 2017. The successful sale is a testament to the strength of the location, the quality of the development and the tenant line up that we have put together.”

The post Retail park housing Furniture Village sold for £34m appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

According to its latest trading update for the six months to 28 December 2024, total revenues fell 4.5% to £1.17bn from £1.22bn in 2023.

Pre-tax profit resulted at £6.1m, improving from its loss of £2m. This was after exceptional costs of £18.4m, compared with an exceptional cost of £11.8m the previous year.

Within total revenue, its flagship brand Very UK, which represents 87% of sales, saw a decrease in revenue of 3.2% to £1bn, while Littlewoods revenue declined 15.3% to £109.2m, which is in line with expectations as the managed decline strategy for this brand continues.

As for the Home category, which is of “strategic importance” as Very prioritises higher margin sales, in Q2 it saw growth of 7.3% compared to the prior year. This was largely due to an increase in sales of home accessories, textiles and upholstery.

The post Upholstery performs well at Very Group as overall sales dip appeared first on Big Furniture Group.

Let’s start with you. Can you share a bit about yourself and your background?

Growing up in and around a family business, retail has always been part of my life. I’m one of three children and we grew up in the small market town of Tavistock on the south west edge of Dartmoor. Going through my education I watched as my father took our generational family business in a fresh direction and was always fascinated by the world of business.

Following my A-Levels, I studied at Reading University for an undergraduate degree in Regional Science. This economics and geography focused degree offered a solid foundation for a life in retail, with its focus on how businesses located stores and sought out the best catchment areas through economic and statistical modelling. Having failed to get onto a graduate training scheme, I chose to join the family business in 1995. Sensibly my father insisted that I do a further qualification that would both be a backup and better help me manage my way through life in retail, so I spent the next five years qualifying as a chartered certified accountant.

What is your current job role and key responsibilities?

I’m currently the Managing Director of Fairway Furniture. I assumed this role in 2007 when my father stepped down and became chairman, after having carried out various other roles within the business in the proceeding 12 years. My key responsibilities – alongside overseeing a collegiate approach among my fellow directors and our fantastic senior management team – focus around the overall direction of the company, shaping and planning the marketing, driving technology systems implementation, usage and development, as well as working on our ‘net zero’ sustainability target. I also ensure that our shareholders, all who are family but none who are involved in the business, are kept up to date with the company’s progress, so they feel part of the company’s progress.

What do you love about your job?

The sheer breadth and diversity of the work that I do within the business means that no two days are the same. This incredible variety – allied to the seemingly never ending challenges that those running an independent business within the UK economy face – certainly make for an interesting and fulfilling job. It is always rewarding to see the work you do bear fruit, whether that be a happy and engaged workforce, satisfied customers or recognition from outside the business of the work that it does within and in support of the local community.

What time is your alarm clock set for and do you have a morning routine?

I am usually getting up by 6am, whether that is to get my teenage children up for school or to head into the office. I’m not a gym person, preferring a light breakfast and then to get started while my mind is fresh and alert.  Typically, I’m in the office by 7:15am and getting on with my day.

Why did you choose to work in the furnishing industry?

Despite being the 6th generation to work in our family business, I never felt compelled to follow the path of my forebears. However, having always been fascinated by retail, when I completed my studies moving into the family business, either then or after working for someone else first as my father had done, was a logical next step. Had the business been in some other retail area then the same would probably have been true – I didn’t choose furniture; it chose me pretty much by default!

Who do you most admire in the industry and why?

After a childhood growing up within the independent furniture sector, followed by a career within it, I’m not short of people within the industry whose influence and encouragement has led me to admire them greatly. Watching my father take our long-established single store family furniture business from a city centre site to a 4-store multiple out-of-town leading furniture specialist was inspirational, as he could see the way that retail was changing within the UK.  If we had not changed, we would very quickly not have had a business.

Peter Harrison and more recently Charlie Harrison at Furniture Village have done incredible work, taking a modest family business to a genuine UK wide player within a relatively short timeframe, while remaining an exemplar of retail standards and the ethos of a family business with their setting up of an employee benefit trust. In the independent sector, I have the pleasure of being among so many great retailers, such as Paul Glasswell (Glasswells) and James Barker (Barker & Stonehouse), who have developed their businesses fantastically, constantly renewing and developing their brands to match the changing landscape of furniture retail.

Have there been any special moments during your career?

When I completed my accountancy qualifications after 5 years of study while working full time, I felt a great sense of personal achievement. It was not an area I had any experience in before starting my studies, but the grounding it gave me across a wide range of business and finance areas has been vital to my role as I have navigated the business through just a few challenging periods since then!

During my time in the business, we have twice won the Associated Independent Stores (AIS) ‘Member of the Year’ award, and in 2012 won ‘Family Business of the Year’ as chosen by our regional press. Perhaps the most proud moment however was when the company reached the milestone of 150 years trading in 2006. We organised a gala dinner for everyone working for the company, as well as inviting former employees and representatives from key suppliers and trade associations who had been part of that journey.

What is your favourite item of furniture you own and why?

When my wife and I ‘blended’ our families and were fortunate enough to be able to build a new home together, we took the chance to start afresh and change much of our furniture. One of the items we chose was a beautiful large oak dining table with brushed chrome legs, made by Qualita. It is the centre-piece of our kitchen/diner and allows us to host plenty of people at the heart of our home. Everyone who visits comments on it and 5 years later, it still looks as good as new.

What do you think is trending within the industry at present?

Eclectic chic remains very popular, with consumers looking to curate their homes more than ever. Gone are the days when simply replacing the sofa group or the dining table would do, with plenty now looking to carefully style a whole room. There are also some hints of a move towards art-deco styling, especially in cabinet furniture which has seen a particularly challenging few years since the pandemic.

Within upholstery the desire for comfort is as strong as ever, but we are seeing plenty of interest in more lifestyle designs, which while comfortable are as much about ‘the look’. In terms of colourways, browns, deep greens and rusts are popular, linked with an increased sustainability awareness that means people feel more of a subconscious attachment to nature.

What would you change in the industry?

The furniture industry still remains behind many others in its use of technology to improve the customer journey and get products into homes faster. That is changing though and some suppliers are actively working to shorten the product cycle. Helping customers visualise products in their homes is vital to a connected retail experience, but we’re not there yet.

Alongside this, sustainability is now a major focus for customers and I believe manufacturers need to do more to address this. There is of course however that vital balance between products that last and ensuring retailers such as ourselves can survive extended replacement cycles in a market where price remains a key consumer consideration!

Can you share an insight into your future plans?

After a busy 2024 with a major refurbishment of our flagship store, 2025 will be one of consolidation for us, while looking ahead to 2026 and beyond as an opportunity to review growth plans. The UK economy is very fragile and with the budget’s business tax rises coming into effect from April, I am expecting a private sector recession. The impact of this will be to squeeze disposable income and further depress consumer confidence.

What do you enjoy most outside of work / free time?

Spending time with our children is important, be that watching them play sport, attending live music, watching our beloved Plymouth Argyle or walking on beautiful nearby Dartmoor. My wife and I are also trying to walk the entire South West Coast Path, however it may take some time at our current rate…

What might someone not know about you?

I am a hot air balloon pilot, having qualified back in 2007, and among plenty of balloon adventures since then, I have even taken a balloon to Nepal, within a few miles of Mount Everest.

If you had a different career, what would it be?

My wife keeps telling me that I’d have been a brilliant engineer, as I love to take things to bits to find out why they don’t work, then repair them so they do. Personally, I’ve always loved aviation and space, so being an airline pilot or an astronaut would I’m sure have been great fun.

Finally, if you were an item of furniture, what would it be and why?

A hallway table with drawers. People can put things on me and know I’ll be there when they need them. Plus, in the drawers, there is plenty of fascinating but totally useless information that I’ve accumulated over the years.

www.fairwayfurniture.co.uk

Five Fun qs:

If you could hack into any one computer, whose computer would you choose and why?

Elon Musk’s computer. As the entrepreneur responsible for so many incredible businesses, and with his finger seemingly on the pulse of anything and anyone of any importance, I’d like to know what he is thinking or what will be his next invention, business or policy to change the world.

What fact amazes you every time you think of it?

That there is massively more computing power in a modest mobile phone today than was available to take Apollo 11 to the moon over 55 years ago.

What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

My wife and I had been hunting for a house for our newly blended family for almost a year. One day, we separately both drove past the same house and noticed it for sale. We viewed it the next day and made an offer within an hour. It was a 3 bedroom house, so nowhere near big enough, and we had no idea what we were going to do with it. Three years later, we moved in, having designed and built our own family house, with no experience.

What is the most important object you own and why?

I’m fortunate that I have documents from across the 169 years our company has been running. Among them is a photograph of my great, great, great grandfather, John Harding, who started the business. Without him, I would not be doing what I am.

What did you think was cool when you were young but isn’t cool now? 

A shell suit. I had wanted one for years and finally got one just before they became unfashionable and definitely not cool. I don’t think they’ll ever be cool again.

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