A prominent British homeware retailer is set to close all its stores after falling into administration, resulting in the loss of 133 jobs. The company, known for its high-end tiles and interior design products, operated 20 showrooms across the UK and supplied 22 independent stockists. Two stores were also located overseas in Denmark and Norway. The closures will affect locations in Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Cheltenham, Truro, Nottingham, Chester, Knutsford, and Harrogate. The business has been loss-making for some time, with substantial working capital loans provided by its shareholder to support efforts to return to profitability. However, despite these efforts, the company continued to incur trading losses, and its investor was not prepared to provide further funding without a viable turnaround strategy. The company's turnover was approximately £15 million, but it posted a £1.6 million loss in 2024, following a similar setback the previous year. The situation is a stark contrast to the recent success of another British retailer, HMV, which has announced its comeback to the high street after collapsing into administration in 2019. HMV, once a go-to destination for music and movie merchandise, has since seen a steady recovery with the launch of a flagship store in Birmingham and new branches in Solihull, Canterbury, and Belfast. The company is now gearing up for further expansion with new stores set to open in Peterborough, Cork, and The Hague.
