Ex-Joynson Holland employees launch new upholstery firm on site of former factory; “It’s business as usual”

8th August 2009 | upholstery | Three former employees of collapsed show wood upholstery manufacturer Joynson Holland have launched Relax Seating – occupying the same factory and re-employing many of the firm’s staff.

The firm has immediately signed up to join the Association of British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) and its affiliated Ask If It Is pro-British campaign. Directors David Green, David Garratt and Gary Sherratt have been visiting customers in the past few days and weeks and say retail support for the venture has been strong.

Relax Seating will sell similar products to its former incarnation and will continue to target both the contract and retail furniture sectors.

Sales director David Garrett, said, ‘We are delighted that furniture making will continue on Abercromby Avenue. Our commitment to remaining not only as British manufacturers but also High Wycombe manufacturers is total.

‘There was too much of a good infrastructure to ignore this opportunity and too many good people would have been adversely affected. So we are delighted to be able to start our venture with so much skill, expertise, knowledge and experience already in place.’

Joynson Holland failed earlier this year with then md Ian MacGuffog citing five key problems - a fall in sales in the grey market, falling demand in the contract sector, problems obtaining credit insurance, lack of bank support, and finally the deterioration of tenants on a site the business is responsible for.

Willis & Gambier last week confirmed it had agreed a deal to buy the name and the design rights to four Joynson Holland models. It plans to relaunch the brand at January’s NEC show.