NEWS
Nestware turns to Barrett Carpetright and Flooring and Carpet parent Nestware has named Kevin Barrett, former Howdens and Sainsbury’s director, as chief executive. Barrett has worked across the B2B, financial services and retail sectors: working at Accenture, Sainsbury’s where he was director of strategy and also director of space and formats, before becoming Howdens group development director and subsequently commercial director and then managing partner at business consultancy Re_Set. He will also be responsible for Flooring Megastore,
Flooring Supplies and The Floor Room. ‘I am delighted to be joining Nestware as we plot the next stage of transformation and growth for each of the group’s businesses, and am really looking forward to working with the team. ‘I am very impressed by the strengths of the different brands and, given my previous experience, I am humbled and excited at the opportunity to work with a group that delivers products and services to companies, tradespeople, and consumers,’ he says.
TheRugSeller snaps up Shabby Collapsed etailer Shabby has been bought by flooring etailer TheRugSeller. Shabby fell into administration in early February, after being ‘severely impacted by shipping delays, increased operating and import costs, the loss of its biggest UK supplier, adverse customer reaction to a hike in prices, creditor pressure and falling sales’. With more than 15 years of experience in the home interiors category, and three extensive warehouse facilities in the Manchester area, the acquisition of Shabby.co.uk is a major boost for TheRugSeller founder Daniel Prendergast. His aim is to
develop the company into one of the UK’s leading luxury online homeware retailers with multiple brands. It already has sales of £9m. ‘After a successful few years of trading, and reaching an annual turnover of £2m, unfortunately Shabby succumbed to the pressures that many retail companies are facing today, but it deserved to be saved and given a new lease of life, which is exactly what we’re planning to do,’ says Prendergast. ‘On the back of the boom in homewares during the pandemic, we have significantly expanded our warehouse capacity and
have added Shabby orders to our well-honed home delivery processes. ‘We had also already started to expand our product categories at TheRugSeller.co.uk – moving into bedding, wallpaper and paint – and have been looking to acquire more brands to add to our portfolio, so the opportunity to take over Shabby was ideal for us. Shabby fits perfectly alongside our RugSeller brand. ‘We are looking to expand Shabby’s ranges and brand positioning with a view to extending the offering into other popular styles and trends,’ he added.
Adminstration for SW Upholstery chain Sofa Workshop by Timothy Oulton has fallen into administration. Sofa Workshop was bought from DFS for £300,000 in 2020 and rebranded, but the move failed to stop losses at the 16-store chain. Outstanding orders will be fulfilled but the stores will close. ‘Unfortunately, given the sustained level of losses, the directors had no option but to appoint administrators to protect the creditors,’ says Toby Banfield, PwC partner.
Harrison Spinks to up hemp production Harrison Spinks is to become the country’s largest producer of industrial hemp after buying more farmland in North Yorkshire. The bed manufacturer has bought another 80 acres to increase its hemp production. This will see it produce more than 1,000 tonnes of hemp straw annually, making Harrison Spinks the largest grower of industrial hemp in the UK. Hemp fibre is a key component of the company’s mattresses and the plant absorbs large quantities of CO2 while growing, with clear environmental benefits.
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Interiors Monthly May 2022
Farm manager Liam McPartland with the Harrison Spinks hemp harvest
