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The management of the insolvent Hammer Raumstylisten GmbH has informed its workforce of significant restructuring measures: 44 of the currently 80 branches are set to close by late March or early April 2026. Negotiations are already underway for many of these affected sites with interested parties from the food and non-food sectors, who are also considering takeover offers for the staff.
The XXXLutz Group is opening a new furniture store in Wörgl (Tyrol), Austria, on 19 March, filling a prominent gap in the regional retail landscape. The company invested approximately €4.2 million in the complete renovation of a former Kika building, which now offers state-of-the-art retail space across 9,500 square metres.
The Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna is repositioning its textile and rug collection. This internationally renowned collection comprises objects from late antiquity to the present day, including significant Persian and Mamluk rugs from the 16th and 17th centuries. The design studio Forma Fantasma was commissioned to design the new exhibition.
At its Mainz-Hechtsheim location, Möbel Martin has extensively modernised major sections of its 45,000-square-metre retail space. As part of the 20,000-square-metre redesign the rug department has also been completely reconceptualised.
German furniture retailer Franz Knuffmann is ceasing operations at its Neuss branch. Management cited profound structural changes in the furniture market and evolving consumer behaviour as the primary reasons for this move. Despite the location's closure, the company emphasised its continued economic stability. For the local catchment area, the operational focus will shift to the Krefeld store, which will also handle the fulfilment of all existing sales contracts.
With 4,636 exhibitors and around 140,000 visitors from 170 nations, Ambiente, Christmasworld, and Creativeworld have confirmed their significance as a global marketplace for the consumer goods industry. According to Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, the trio demonstrated great appeal despite economic pressures, achieving a visitor satisfaction rate of 96 per cent.
The investment company Orlando Capital V intends to acquire the home furnishing chains Kwantum and Leen Bakker, which are primarily active in the Netherlands and Belgium. The previous parent company, Homefashion Group (HFG), announced that an agreement has been reached regarding the sale of both chains, with the closing expected in March, subject to approval by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). With Orlando Capital as the new owner, HFG believes the necessary funding for the continued operation of the retail brands is secured for the long term.