Internationally Recognised Fabric House

Location: London

Asking price: O.I.R.O. £800,000

Inc. Net Assets

of £840,000

Business highlights include:

Year End 2022 Turnover circa £2m

Year End 2022 Gross Profit circa £1.1m

Net assets circa £840,000

Established and well-known Brand with many loyal international customers

The Bluest of Blue Chip customers

Well-run business operations with skilled staff

Strong relations with numerous international brands

Internationally renowned and highly regarded

Ready for investment and development

Discretely famous with significant goodwill

85 years of trading history

60% plus export

Business Profile:

Introduction:

This enduring business & brand name was founded in 1937 and is a high-end decorative fabrics business servicing the luxury residential and hotel markets. It has remained as a British family business  while enjoying international success, brand extensions and popularity among premium, niche customers around the world. The company is now considered part of the UK’s design heritage.

The business has a remarkably stable trading history with demand challenging supply on an almost constant basis, making the business a perfect platform to introduce new products and new sales channels.

History:

The business was founded almost 90 years ago as a specialised fabric house and has remained committed to the highest quality of product in for its entire history. The son of the founder can still be found in the offices of the company, ensuring that the company’s legacy for quality & variety stays relevant within what is a modern, high volume, highly competitive, decorative fabrics market.

In the long period of trading that the company has enjoyed, it has acquired and retains around 1,000 commercial customers, agents, distributors and interior designers who would be recognisable as high added-value retailers, seen in almost every capital city in the world and individual customers who would be equally recognisable.

Operations:

The business is managed on a day to day basis by the owner and a financial controller. Key employees are the Director of Sales, Sales Manager USA, Head of Design and Customer Service Supervisor, Warehouse Manager and Financial Controller.

The business operates from a warehouse in West London and a retail showroom in South West London.

The business has a very extensive stock range as well as publishing fabric books which are acquired and displayed by its agents and distributors around the world.

The design studio established in 1986, comprises a talented in-house team who constantly work on new designs for both fabrics and wallpaper. Inspiration is often taken from antique textiles to create timeless classics with a modern twist.

Their skilfully developed collections include exceptional quality upholstery fabrics, velvets and damasks, and they are also particularly well known for their unrivalled collections of Toiles de Jouy designs, moiré fabrics and luxurious crewels. In recent years their contemporary collection has grown to include cutting-edge, textured neutrals and fine embroideries. The in-house design studio enables the company to offer a truly bespoke design service for both domestic and contract markets. As part of this service they can reproduce historic designs for ancestral homes, and also adapt the colours or qualities of its current designs to meet the specifications of an individual project.

The company works with leading specialist manufacturers in Britain, France, Belgium, Italy and India to create the finest range of high quality fabrics and wallpapers.

Specialist weavers in France, Belgium, Italy Turkey and India work with the finest yarns and utilise cutting edge technology to develop beautiful, luxurious qualities. Their hand-embroidered crewels are made in Kashmir, where craftsmen continue to employ traditional techniques dating back to the 18th century. The company’s relationships with their manufacturers are integral to the success of their collections, and they undertake regular visits to supervise development and production.

The company’s extensive collection of fabrics and wallpapers are held at their warehouse in West London and from there they can dispatch all samples and orders. As a small, family-run company, they can react fast and efficiently to enquiries and specific requests.

The site is also home to the head office, including the sales team, design studio and the design archive which dates back to when the company was founded. By keeping all operations in one location, they can offer the personal, flexible service their customers enjoy and expect.

Products:

The company specialises in the design, production and distribution of the best luxury woven and printed fabrics in the interiors industry, and has become known for creating timeless classics with an enduring appeal in the following products:

·         Curtain Fabrics

·         Upholstery Fabrics

·         Wallpapers

·         Fabrics for Paperbacking

·         Contract Fabrics

Sales & Marketing:

The company advertises in specialist publications and via social media and also does have a highly informative website which details the current products, brand history and customer ordering.

The company does engage in social media marketing though in a minor way and has no presence through larger mainstream channels such as Ebay and Amazon. It has its own online store. Marketing takes place via the usual social media sites and direct mail is used in certain situations, e.g. design exhibitions, warehouse sale etc

The company has a reputation for a high percentage of ‘in‐stock’ positions and for quick delivery worldwide. Its agents and distributors may interact with the real time stock and order information system, allowing them to deliver first class service to the end customer.

The company has a remarkably stable trading history with demand challenging supply on an almost constant basis, making the business a perfect platform to introduce new products and new sales channels. It has established distribution in the USA, Europe, Australasia, Japan, China and Korea.

Whilst competing in a market that is intensively competitive, the company has carved out and developed a niche with loyal customers. This is not only due to the highly individual nature and heritage of the brand and a focus on providing authentic products along with friendly, knowledgeable and professional customer experience at all times.

All collections are merchandised by way of sample books and displays, which are placed with designers. In export markets, sample books are held by agents and distributors and in representative showroom installations with full length curtains, hangers, samples and cuttings. Selected advertising takes place in specialist publications.

Key Strengths:

·         Brand – Discreetly famous and under-exploited

·         Reputation – Responsible for commercial sales in UK, Asia, Europe and USA

·         Exclusivity – An in-house design team ensures fabrics and interior decorative products are of the highest value & margins

·         Equipment – Fully equipped to meet current demand

·         People – Skilled and reliable work-force

·         Established relationships with ultra high added value customers

Critically the brand is responsible for maintaining goodwill, driving referrals, repeat custom and other sales.

Growth and Expansion Opportunities:

The business operates very much within the scope of the vendors’ self-imposed financial limits and could grow rapidly by:

·         Expanding the brand by means of a determined investment in marketing, advertising, sponsorship and typical brand-building techniques

·         Product development

·         Expansion of product range and design

Employees:

The company employs 15 people including:

The Owner

The Financial Controller

The Director of Sales

The Sales Manager USA

The Head of Design

The Warehouse Manager and

The Customer Service Supervisor

The remaining staff are warehouse and customer support.

The vendor is currently filling the role on a temporary basis of managing director with the assistance of a part-time financial controller.

Premises:

The business operates from two premises:

A secure office and warehouse premises on a West London industrial estate, in a building, of circa 8000 square feet to include: office area, design studio, warehouse, mezzanine, storage and kitchen & toilet facilities. This lease expires in 2025. It is within the LTA.

A showroom space in an internationally known design centre in South West London of c400 square feet. This lease expires in 2028. It is within the LTA.

Business Hours:

Warehouse: Monday-Friday 8.30-5.00

Offices Monday-Friday 9.00-5.30

Showroom: Monday-Friday 9.00-5.30

Financial Information:

The business is being offered for sale on a going concern basis, all financial discussions will take place directly between the vendor and all interested parties under the auspices of Turner Butler.

Year End 2022 Turnover circa £2m

Year End 2022 Gross Profit circa £1.1m

Net assets circa £840,000

Sales in 2023 are expected to be in excess of 2022.

Over 60% plus of total sales are for export.

Reason for Sale:

Retirement.

Support and Training:

The owner is happy to provide all that is required for an agreed handover period and to aid the new owner with the growth and development of the company

Asking Price:

The Asking Price is £800,000 assuming a Net Asset Value at completion of £840,000. There will be a £ for £ increase to the final sale price to reflect any movement away from this £840,000 net asset figure. The vendor has a director’s loan account with the company and it is anticipated that as part of the sale transaction, a buyer will split and lend some of the sale proceeds to the company to enable this loan to be repaid.