All Carpetright articles
Carpetright is the UK’s largest floor coverings retailer, established by Lord Harris of Peckham in 1988. Since 2016, the retailer has been promoting a new brand identity to appeal to a higher-spend customer while still maintaining its value heritage. It has also broadened its product ranges to include hard flooring, luxury vinyl tiles and premium-branded carpets. Carpetright sells a selection of beds and mattresses – a range which it is focusing on the development of. In late 2019, investors approved Carpetright’s sale to Meditor.
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Interview
Interview: How Tapi Carpets founder Martin Harris is tapping into a new era
Retail Week sits down with Tapi founder Martin Harris to discuss how the business has grown over the past seven years and why smaller stores might be the future of flooring
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Data
Data: The 15 most improved retailers for gender pay equality 2022
Retail Week ranks the top-performing and most improved retailers for gender pay equality this year.
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News
Exclusive: Carpetright chair Wilf Walsh to step down
Wilf Walsh is to step down from the helm of Carpetright parent Nestware, Retail Week can reveal.
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Be Inspired
M&S, Kingfisher and Lidl back major retail I&D programme
Fifteen major retailers and brands have joined forces with Be Inspired, Retail Week’s six-year-old diversity initiative to promote inclusivity across the industry in 2022 and beyond.
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Gallery
Store gallery: Carpetright lays out new high street format on Tottenham Court Road
Carpetright has opened a new store format on London’s Tottenham Court Road with a more trend-led customer in mind.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Carpetright (Overview)
Carpetright is the UK’s largest floor covering retailer, but has been struggling in recent years as a result of ongoing uncertainty in the UK economy and competition from newer market entrant Tapi. The retailer was forced to turn to a CVA in 2018 to exit underperforming stores and reduce rents. Despite its struggles, the group has continued pursuing a range of back-end technology investments aimed at improving its multichannel capabilities.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Carpetright (Financials)
Carpetright group sales came in at £493.2m in the extended 18-month 2020 financial year, impacted by the pandemic and the ongoing rationalisation of the UK store portfolio as part of the CVA process, which started in June 2018 and is due to complete in 2022.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Carpetright (SWOT)
The new brand identity, store modernisation programme and investment in customer service and more premium products gives Carpetright the opportunity to change perceptions of the brand if it can attract new customers online and into its stores. Its extensive geographic coverage also gives it the opportunity to leverage the accessibility of its store estate to drive multichannel sales.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Carpetright (Strategy)
At the heart of Carpetright’s strategy is to deliver a seamless multichannel experience by leveraging the coverage and accessibility of its stores, combined with the strength of its marketing reach and supported by an inspirational website and omnichannel technology investment.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Carpetright (People)
Wilf Walsh was chief executive officer from 2014 until March 2021, taking over from the long-serving Lord Harris who founded the business. In March 2021, Walsh became chair of Carpetright parent company Nestware Holdings where he continued to oversee Carpetright. However, Walsh is set to retire from the business on his 60th birthday in June 2022, with Kevin Barrett having joined as CEO.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Ecommerce at Carpetright
Carpetright is putting ecommerce at the heart of its regeneration strategy with the aim of creating a compelling digital offer that facilitates a seamless, hassle free experience for the customer. In order to achieve this, it is focusing on improving the look and feel of the Carpetright website to deliver smoother navigation and a more inspirational shopping experience.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Supply chain at Carpetright
Carpetright is focused on creating an efficient, responsive supply chain. Operations are focused around a 500,000 sq ft state of the art cutting and distribution facility in Purfleet, Essex.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Customer and marketing at Carpetright
At the heart of Carpetright’s current strategy is a plan to revitalise the brand by offering unbeatable value and choice alongside multichannel convenience and outstanding customer service and expertise.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Stores at Carpetright
While Carpetright has been investing in digital development, outlets remain an important part of the business model as the vast majority of customers complete their purchase in store. However, the retailer’s strategy is in a state of flux as it tries to reshape its store portfolio and makes headway with closures.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Technology strategy at Carpetright
Carpetright has put digital technology at the heart of its strategy including an enhanced website, improved communications with customers and more efficient store operating systems.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Carpetright (Outlook)
Carpetright remains under severe pressure, having been hit by a triple threat of lower consumer confidence impacting big-ticket purchases, mounting competition from market insurgent Tapi and negative brand perception following its CVA. Challenges have mounted further as the current cost of living crisis threatens to negatively impact retailers in the home sector.
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News
Carpetright boss Walsh to take chair role at parent company
Carpetright chief executive Wilf Walsh has been promoted to the role of chairman at his firm’s parent company.
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News
Leading retailers pledge to take action on diversity and inclusion in 2021
Following a year where business’ D&I agendas have come under scrutiny, 16 brands including M&S, New Look and Sainsbury’s Argos have partnered with Retail Week’s Be Inspired programme to promote diversity and empower their teams.