Willis & Gambier to enter upholstery market for the first time; Joynson Holland to launch rise and recline chairs

3rd August 2009 | acquisition | Willis & Gambier parent Samson Holdings will target the lucrative rise and recline upholstery market after acquiring the name and some of the design rights to collapsed British manufacturer Joynson Holland.

The fireside chair and show-wood upholstery firm will return in January, with a ramped up product offer to include rise and recliner chairs – a new market for the brand and a sector thought to be one of the few to emerge unscathed from the recession.

Rival manufacturers have told the Furnishing Report that sales have continued to hold firm in the rise and recline sector – an upholstery market driven more by need than necessity, and one targeting older and often more affluent consumers.

The move marks Samson’s first step into the British upholstery sector. Its acquisition of Willis & Gambier last year was followed up this month with the reintroduction of Universal Furniture to the UK and the launch of Originals – a new cabinet brand that showed for the first time in Manchester.