Tapi buys Carpetright brand and stores

The British flooring chain Carpetright, which has recently been in financial difficulties several times, is now in new hands: Competitor Tapi Carpets and Floors is taking over both the Carpetright brand and 54 (of around 270) stores of the ailing company. As a result, 300 employees will keep their jobs, but around 1,000 will lose theirs, as reported by the British daily newspaper “The Guardian”. The Carpetright head office in Essex is not included in the multi-million euro deal.

Opti-Wohnwelt files for insolvency under self-administration

German furniture retailer Opti-Wohnwelt group filed for insolvency with the Schweinfurt local court in July. The application was approved on 22 July. The group operates 28 Opti-Wohnwelten and 13 Opti-Megastores. In addition to the difficult situation in the sector, the main reason for the financial difficulties is the expansion of the company, which took over numerous stores in 2021.

Jim Ford deceased

P.R.J. 'Jim' Ford has died. The well-known carpet importer and author passed away on 12 July 2024 at the age of 82. Born in London, Jim Ford joined the Oriental Carpet Manufacturers (OCM) in 1967 after studying at King's College, Cambridge: OCM was a company involved in the production of, and trade with, Oriental carpets. In addition to his work as a carpet importer, Ford made a name for himself as the author of several books on carpets. The most famous is "Oriental Carpet Design", published in 1981 and translated into several languages.

Carpet Week Hamburg in October, advertising association established

The fourth edition of Carpet Week Hamburg will take place in the week from 7 to 13 October. This time 26 Hamburg carpet suppliers will open their showrooms and warehouses for the in-house exhibition format and invite their customers from the international carpet trade. This year, Hamburg's carpet wholesalers are moving even closer together by founding the Carpet City Hamburg advertising association. The aim is to jointly promote the strengths of Hamburg as a business location. Carpet Week Hamburg is organised by Carpet City Hamburg.

British chain Carpetright in trouble again

Carpetright issued a letter of intent to appoint an insolvency administrator on 12 July 2024. It protects the British flooring chain from creditor claims during ongoing sales negotiations. Kevin Barrett, CEO of parent company Nestware Holdings, is quoted in the media as saying that there are "promising discussions with interested parties that are heading in the right direction and confirm that Carpetright has a future". Carpetright had already run into financial turbulence in 2018 and was ultimately acquired in full by the investment company from the Meditor Group in 2020.

Mömax now with 48 stores in Germany

Another Mömax store was opened in Germany in July 2024 in Schleswig. The furniture discounter offers its range on around 4,000 m2. The subsidiary of the Austrian XXXLutz Group currently operates a total of 108 furniture stores in Germany (48), Austria (21), Switzerland (8), Hungary (13), Slovenia (5), Bulgaria (5), Croatia (4), Romania (3) and Poland (1).

Bettina Weiß joins the PAD design team

Bettina Weiß joined the expanding team of the German carpet and home textiles brand PAD on 1 June 2024. The experienced designer will support the design process in a leading position in future. In addition to her many years of professional experience in various fashion sectors, she has already successfully applied her passion for textiles as a seamstress in a haute couture studio, in the organisation of fashion shows and in the design of theatre costumes.

Victoria Group: upward trend halted

UK-based Victoria Group reported sales of GBP 1.26 billion (EUR 1.48 billion) for the financial year 2023/24 (30 March), down 14.0% on the previous year. The manufacturer of textile and ceramic floor coverings and underlay materials has grown steadily in recent years, including through acquisitions such as Balta Home and Ragolle. The Group's management is currently focusing on productivity improvements rather than further acquisitions. It therefore expects margins to continue to improve until 2025, even in a stagnating market.

Third generation takes over Dutch Hamat Group

The Hamat Group has announced a major change in its ownership structure. Until now, three families have been shareholders in the Hamat Group, but their shares in Hamat Holding BV will now be transferred in full to the Altena family. This takeover was completed on 31 May, according to the Dutch publication Interieur Journaal. The Hamat Group, which specialises in flooring and entrance areas, is active in more than sixty countries worldwide.

New BSOT seminar to prepare for expertising

Cologne - The Bundesverband der Sachverständigen für oriental, hand-knotted Teppiche und Flachgewebe ("Federal Association of Experts for Oriental, Hand-knotted Carpets and Flatweaves", BSOT) is pleased to announce a second seminar to prepare participants for their work as experts for carpets, oriental carpets and flatweaves. The focus of this seminar is on the preparation of expertises for various clients such as courts, insurance companies and private individuals. Participants will gain practical insights and valuable knowledge to enable them to work competently and professionally in this specialised field.