DFS and Curtis team up to launch new business venture

DFS has joined forces with another Yorkshire business to launch a new venture providing furniture for independent and large hotel groups.
  
The furniture manufacturer and retailer has partnered with Leeds-based Curtis Furniture to create DFS Contract.

Curtis has been designing, manufacturing and installing case goods and furniture to the UK hospitality industry since 1998 and DFS has more than 44 years’ experience of designing, manufacturing and retailing upholstered furniture from its Doncaster-based headquarters, two wood mills and three factories in South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
 
DFS chief executive officer Ian Filby, said: “This mutually beneficial partnership provided a clear opportunity to combine the skills and experience of two industry leaders in cabinetry and seating, who also share the same approach, values and commitment to quality.
 
“As a result we can offer hoteliers the widest range of contract furniture in the UK for an end to end service of design, manufacture and installation.”

In December, DFS said it had “excellent” prospects for long-term profitable growth. For the 13 weeks ended October 26, the company saw sales of £142.5m (2012: £144.0m) while EBITDA came in at £7.2m (2012: £10.2m).
 
Together with Curtis, DFS’ design team has developed a range of sofas, sofa-beds and chairs plus footstools, ottomans and headboards.
 
Curtis managing director, Andrew Reynolds, said: “As the largest manufacturer of upholstered furniture in Europe, DFS were able to guarantee that all the furniture supplied as part of the partnership was made here in the UK and that was extremely important to us from a sustainability perspective.
 
“For clients this also means they deal direct with the manufacturers which naturally leads to high levels of efficiency and great value.  For us as suppliers it means we can assure quality, faster lead times and a more responsive project team.”

More than 50,000 UK hotel bedrooms are furnished with Curtis cabinetry and headboards, according to the firm. Customers range from small independent 10 room hotels, through to multinational chains such as Hilton and Holiday Inn. 

Earlier this year, reports suggested a stock market flotation for Yorkshire furniture manufacturer and retailer DFS was looking likely. Reports suggested it is preparing for a £1bn listing later this year.

DFS was sold for around £500m to Advent in 2010 by its founder Lord Kirkham. It employs around 3,000 people.