Biennale Interieur 2022 cancelled

The 27th edition of the Interieur Biennale, which was to take place in Kortrijk Xpo from 20 to 24 October, has been cancelled. A press release from the organizers states: „However, the numerous shifts in the calendar of furniture fairs due to the pandemic are still being felt today. The impact on the international interior- and designfair world remains enormous, making the organisation of an event such as the Biennale too challenging. The guarantee of a successful and qualitative edition in economically uncertain times is therefore too great a risk. The organisation is taking its time to reflect on the future and come up with an alternative that responds to the new needs of the market.“

Bolia expands into the Asia-Pacific market

In close partnership, home furnishings retailer Bolia and Design Collection will open the first Bolia store in Singapore in autumn 2022, with another shop planned for spring 2023. New Bolia stores are also in the pipeline in Australia, starting with Melbourne in 2023. Headquartered in Singapore and with offices in Denmark and Australia, Design Collection Denmark focuses on global retail as well as worldwide distribution of Danish design brands. Bolia has 77 stores in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, France and Luxembourg, as well as web shops in 30 European countries. In addition, Bolia cooperates with over 600 retailers in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Heimtextil: Frankfurt trade fair trio shows international strength

With 2,300 exhibitors from a total of 117 nations and around 63,000 visitors, the re-start of the international textile fairs at the Frankfurt Exhibition Centre last week was a success. Across all three events, Techtextil, Texprocess and the unique Heimtextil Summer Special, Italy, France, Turkey, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Pakistan and the USA made up the top visitor nations.

Retail in the EU grew by 6.8 percent in 2021

Following a 1.5 percent increase in sales in the 27 EU states in the first Corona year 2020, the retail sector again recorded a significant increase of 6.8 percent in 2021. The highest growth rates were in smaller Eastern European countries such as Lithuania (up 17 percent), Slovenia (up 16 percent) and Estonia (up 13 percent). Larger markets such as France, Spain and Italy also all recorded retail growth rates of over 7 percent. This is shown by the new Retail in Europe study, in which the market research institute GfK examines important key indicators.

German online shoppers against destroying returns

More than 80 percent of Germans support a ban on the destruction of returns. The aim is to encourage online retailers to be more sustainable. The people surveyed would not like to change their own buying behavior on the Internet - either by reducing the volume or by avoiding returns. People over 40 find it particularly difficult to reduce their Internet shopping. Three quarters of Germans prefer providers who use as little or sustainable packaging material as possible. These are the results of the representative Postbank Digital Study 2022.

Ragolle sold to Victoria

First Balta, now Ragolle: The British Victoria Group is strengthening its commitment in Belgium and is taking over the manufacturer of machine-woven rugs, Ragolle Rugs. The strategic objective of both parties is "to ensure the continuity of Ragolle Rugs as a separate brand and not to integrate it commercially into a larger entity", says an announcement of the company. Current owners Herman and Myriam Verhelst-Ragolle will continue to run the company. Nothing is expected to change for customers. The takeover by Victoria is intended to further diversify and provide stability and steady growth.

Flanders Flooring Days: Date confirmed for 2023

An " enormous success" is how the organizing Belgian flooring manufacturers describe their first "Flanders Flooring Days", which celebrated its premiere at the beginning of May. Over 1,000 visitors from more than 55 countries attended the four-day event, for which the companies opened all their showrooms. As a result, the organizers have decided to continue the concept and have set a date for 2023: Flanders Flooring Days will then take place from May 22 to 25.

Pieter Vandewalle to Üstünsoy Textiles

After 14 years working for Belgian carpet manufacturer Balta Home, Pieter Vandenwalle joins Üstünsoy Textiles. At his previous employer, Vandenwalle worked in marketing, sales and as a key account manager. His new role is to accelerate growth in Europe and explore new regions. Üstunsoy Textiles was founded in 2015 and has since built a strong presence in Western Europe and the US.

Balta parent Victoria with new CFO

The flooring producer and supplier Victoria (among others Balta Home), headquartered in the UK, is getting a new Chief Financial Officer: After more than six years in this position, the current CFO, Mike Scott, will leave the company. During his time with the company, Victoria had developed from a medium-sized manufacturer for the UK market into an internationally active group of companies.

Scott will be succeeded by Brian Morgan from 22 August. The 49-year-old was most recently Director of Group Finance at Synthomer, an international chemical company. Following Morgan's arrival at Victoria, Mike Scott will continue to act as a non-executive director until the annual general meeting, after which he will provide advice to the flooring supplier as required.

XXXLutz Group strengthens activities in Poland

The XXXLutz Group is expanding its presence in Poland with a 50/50 partnership with the Black Red White Group (BRW Group). The BRW Group is made up of Polish furniture retailers and manufacturers, which among other things has 93 branches of its own (79 of which are in Poland). The group employs 7,900 people and exports its own products to more than 50 countries worldwide.