Bed specialist Feather & Black has defied the gloom in the battered furniture sector, revealing a like-for-like sales uplift of 10 per cent in the four months to July 30.
The retailer has refocused the business over the past six months, including adapting its pricing, widening its product range and improving supply chain. As a result, Feather & Black has improved margins and is seeking new stores to capitalise on the weak property market.
Founder Adam Black said: “We have refocused on what the business does best, which is providing beautiful bedrooms.”
However, he remained cautious on the outlook. “We’re not out of the woods yet. We’re up against soft comparisons and we’re flat against two years ago.”
Black said the business has benefited from shortened lead times due to improvements in the supply chain. Changes have also been made in store, such as taking divans off display and concentrating on lifestyle bed sets. “Our shops now look better,” said Black.
The 30-store retailer, which has disposed of four stores in the past 12 months, is looking for more shops, specifically in west and southwest London, and within or around the M25.
Black said: “We want to open new stores and would open another five immediately if we find the right sites. A number of landlords are approaching us.”
Feather & Black has also been tweaking its website offering, providing parents with sleep tips for children. “We’re making the brand more customer-focused and giving it more personality. This new concentration and focus has worked.
“We’re a much better business than a year ago. People were coming to us to furnish their own room and going somewhere else for their spare room. Now they are coming to us for both,” he said.
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