NEWS IN BRIEF
Wednesday 14th January 2008

CARPETRIGHT READIES ACQUISITION BIDS

Flooring chain Carpetright has pinpointed Topps Tiles as a potential acquisition target – although it has admitted that any move will have to wait for at least 12 months while the retailer consolidates its business and reduces debt.

BED CHIEF TAKES ON ADVISORY ROLE

The chairman of bed manufacturing giant Hilding Anders Fredrik Arp has been appointed as a senior advisor to pan-European buyout house Candover. Hilding Anders is a major player in the European bed sector and its UK interests include Dunlopillo and Slumberland.

GOOD CHRISTMAS ONLINE FOR RETAIL AS HOME CHAINS SEE GROWTH

General retailers with a homeware offer fared well on the Internet over the festive season. Figures from analyst Nielson Online showed Marks & Spencer, Argos, John Lewis, Littlewoods, Tesco and Asda all featured in the top ten websites in terms of visitors to their respective websites. Collectively, the top ten retailers saw a 27% increase in web traffic year on year.

EVEN ANTIQUE FURNITURE DEALERS ARE STARTING TO SUFFER

One of Britain’s best-known antique furniture dealers is to close its Knightsbridge store. Norman Adams, a specialist in classic English period furniture, is to close its Hans Road site and will send its stock to Sotheby’s for a spring auction. It says it hopes to reopen when the market becomes stronger.

FLOORING RETAILERS UP IN ARMS AS THEY ARE FORCED TO TURN CUSTOMERS AWAY

Carpet retailers in Devon are angry that they are unable to supply local residents with new flooring after the town of Ottery was hit by flooding. Local retailers said they were being forced to turn customers away as the insurance agreement meant consumers could only replace their carpets by using national chains such as Allied Carpets.