NEWS
Shipping hits profits
Fable & Plumb is targetting the family market
Plumbs debuts online sofa offer Sofa cover, re-upholstery and curtains supplier Plumbs has debuted an online upholstery brand. While Plumbs has been selling covers for more than 60 years, and through home visits since 1980, Fable & Plumb is online only. Five UK-made designs are available with 12-week lead times. Prices start from £1,750 to £1,799 for a large sofa. With a range of more than 400 removeable, washable fabric options, three seat filling options and five leg colour options, the company says it is offering the widest range of custom design options of any major sofa manufacturer and retailer in the UK. The intention behind the brand is to enable customers to design a sofa that fits into their life for the long term, with the ability to update their decor in the future without having to buy a new sofa to match. ‘The ability to replace fabrics on the same frame is not only a great lifestyle choice but also reflects the global movement away from high-waste consumerism, and an emphasis on environmentally conscious purchasing decisions in products that have a long lifetime of use,’ says Sarah Page, Plumbs md and grand-daughter of Plumbs founders Tim and Bernice Plumb. ‘Built to last through the journey of family life, the key target audience is families, who want to live sustainably and to have the flexibility to refresh and enliven their homes throughout their lives. With Fable & Plumb, a sofa is forever.’
Management reshuffle Jonathan Hirst has reshuffled Dreams’ management team. Kal Singh has succeeded Hirst as coo from supply chain and distribution director, a role he held since 2019. Jo Martin has joined as marketing director. Previously head of in-store marketing at Asda and B&Q, she spent the past six years as Sally Salon Services European marketing director. ‘Jo and Kal have exactly the experience, expertise and values we need to drive our business and brands forward,’ says Hirst, who officially became ceo on 1 January.
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Interiors Monthly January 2022
Made will see between £12m and £15m of profits deferred until 2022 because of shipping delays. The retailer says delays, particularly factory closures in Vietnam, will result in completed sales dropping by £35m to £45m compared to its previous forecast of £410m. This in turn would see profits not recognised until next year. Despite this, sales will still be more than 40% higher than 2020. ‘The group has built stock positions to deliver significantly better lead times to consumers for 2022 and beyond, as orders placed with suppliers are now in or close to our warehouses. The progress is based on foundational work already undertaken over the last 12 to 18 months, focusing on warehousing and logistics. Additionally, supply of goods from Vietnam has now returned to close to normal levels, with all key suppliers now operational,’ it says.
Inflation climbs According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, annual inflation for household furniture rose from 11.3% to 12.2% in the year to November 2021. In November 2020 the rate was 1.1%. Carpets and other floorcoverings rose from 7.3% to 8.8%: the figure had fallen from 9.6% in October. In November 2020 the rate was 0.9%. Garden furniture saw the rate rise from 5.6% to 6.3%. In November 2020 prices fell by 1.9%. Household textiles saw inflation slow from 3.2% to 1.9%.
Flooring it South of England flooring wholesaler STS Flooring Distributors has become a member of Floorwise. STS, founded in 1965 in Orpington, Kent, where its head office remains, has depots in Orpington, Basildon, Croydon, Hemel Hempstead and Cambridge.
