Australian furniture group Nick Scali has detailed its plan to establish the brand in the UK market following the acquisition of Anglia Home Furnishings Limited (AHFL), trading as Fabb Furniture. (Read more here). Nick Scali has revealed a timeline of key objectives, which will see Fabb Furniture be completely rebranded under the Nick Scali brand, as well as see new product ranges being introduced and return the business to profitability. Within the first six months Detailed within its presentation, the company said it will support management through any disruption due to integration and re-br ..read more

Bespoke British furniture and fabric brand Sofas & Stuff has announced details of its third fabric collection created in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), launching at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The RHS Botanicals collection takes inspiration from the rich history of botanical exploration, reflecting humanity’s fascination with plants.  Drawing upon the extensive archives of the RHS Lindley Collections, RHS Botanicals presents a captivating journey through time, paying homage to centuries of botanical history. Together the fabric designs serve as an ode to th ..read more

This month we’re asking retailers: How has 2024 been for your business so far? Martin Lukehurst​​​​ – Lukehurst 2024 appears to be challenging. Lukehurst’s as a company had a reasonable January, probably bucking the trend, with a small increase on the previous year. However, I think in common with the majority. February has been very tough, with a significant decrease in orders taken. February takings we’re on a similar level to the year before but the decrease in sales will impact in the next couple of months. March has been marginally better than February but awful weather and local road clo ..read more

Furniture manufacturer The Senator Group has earmarked new offices at one of its sites in Lancashire. According to a planning application submitted to Hyndburn Council, Senator plans to add a new complex to its Huncoat Business Park site, off Newhouse Road in Huncoat. Detailed in the plans, the proposal is to build a new extension to the manufacturing facility providing office space, expansion of the existing canteen area, external terrace space, undercroft car parking and associated external works following the demolition of a two-storey brick-built office facility. A statement supporting the ..read more

Kitchen manufacturer Sigma 3 Kitchens has announced the promotion of Daniel Thomas to the role of Commercial Director – Contract Builder Division. Daniel joined the business back in 2009 as Sales Director for its retail showrooms and has also served as Head of Trade Sales. The new role will see Daniel be responsible for commercial sales across the Contract Builder Division, including to promote the firm’s Masterclass Kitchens® brand of furniture. Commenting on the promotion, Steve Tough, Group Sales Director of Sigma 3 Group, said: “Daniel’s promotion represents Sigma 3’s dedication to nurturi ..read more

Luxury interior furnishings group Sanderson Design Group PLC has reported a decline in full year sales and profit. According to its audited financial results for the year ended 31 January 2024, total sales fell 3% to £108.6m from £112m in 2023. UK sales were down 11% to £37.9m, while EU sales fell 8.8% to £9.9m. Revenues in the US rose 8.2% to £21.4m. Rest of the world sales decreased 5.8% to £9.6m. Manufacturing sales declined 10.3% to £35m and Licence revenue increased 67% to £10.9m. Adjusted underlying pre-tax profit resulted at £12.2m, down 3.2% from £12.6m recorded in the previous year. D ..read more

BKNC, a contracts kitchen installation business, has been acquired by Nolte Kitchens UK to support the substantial growth of its direct-to-trade kitchen division, and enhancing its offering to the construction and housebuilder sector. Previously a shareholder in BKNC, Nolte Kitchens UK, now wholly owns the well-established contracts business, which, from its Wrexham head office, serves its national construction client base, including both larger national homebuilders and smaller, more bespoke luxury developers. Chris Rushby, Managing Director at Nolte Kitchens UK comments: “We have enjoyed an ..read more

Australian furniture group Nick Scali has announced it has entered into agreement to acquire home furniture retailer, Anglia Home Furnishings Limited (AHFL), trading as Fabb Furniture. Under the Acquisition, Nick Scali Limited will acquire Fabb Furniture for a consideration of £2.00 (A$3.82) and all of the secured debt owed by Fabb Furniture for £3.5m (A$6.7m). Nick Scali intends to pay £0.5m (A$1.0m) to exercise the option to exit the existing distribution centre arrangement and also provide a net working capital injection of up to £6.0m (A$11.5m). Post Acquisition, Nick Scali intends to inve ..read more

British bed manufacturer and retailer, Bensons for Beds, is the latest corporate member of The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry. With a heritage spanning over 70 years, Bensons for Beds is headquartered in Accrington, Lancashire, and also has a dedicated manufacturing site in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where more than a third of its beds, divans and mattresses are made. With distribution centres in Ayr, Huncoat and Tewkesbury as well as 165+ stores across the UK, it employs more than 1,800 people. The company sells a div ..read more

Kitchen supplier Waterline has reported a decline in sales and profit. According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023, total sales fell 10.6% to £56.4m from £63.1m in 2022. Pre-tax profit resulted at £404,000, down from £1.3m recorded in the previous year. Stated within its report, the company said: “This year we have experienced a significant reduction in activity levels compared to the post-lockdown boom period. As supply chain backlogs were eliminated, the focus moved to storage capacity and our warehouses were filled beyond their optimum capacity for several months ..read more