Loss of Dunelm contract brought down homewares designer

A Chesterfield business which had been trading for over 60 years fell into administration earlier this year after losing a major contract with homewares giant Dunelm, TheBusinessDesk.com understands.

David Mason (Design), which called administrators in from Leonard Curtis and S T Bennett & Co on May 24, was later sold to D Mason Limited – a company funded by investors Baaj Capital.

TheBusinessDesk.com understands the company’s margins had been squeezed as a result of increased shipping costs, post-Covid, which has adversely affected cash and flow and margins. This led to the loss of major client Dunelm.

Some seven jobs were saved when the company was bought out of administration in a pre-pack deal.

David Mason (Design) had been in business for over 60 years developing and designing products for the wholesale market together with the creation of bespoke ranges. The business’s brands included David Mason Design, Foxwood Home, and The English Tableware Company.

The deal to sell the firm was brokered by joint administrators Alex Cadwallader of Leonard Curtis and Stewart Bennett of S T Bennett & Co, assisted by solicitors Crowell Moring.