Home24 completes Butlers takeover

With the approval of the antitrust authorities in Germany and Austria, home24 SE has successfully completed the acquisition of the Butlers Group on 1 April 2022. Home24, one of the leading online providers in the home & living sector, is expanding its own-brand expertise through the acquisition, particularly in the areas of home textiles, decoration and tableware. Through the 100 Butlers shops in the Germany/Austria/ Switzerland region and 32 more in the rest of Europe, Home24 will have access to around 40 million visitors per year. The Butlers range is already integrated on the Home24 platform and can be purchased there. On 2 April, the first Butlers shop with an integrated Home24 showroom also opened in Berlin.

Christie's: antique Polonaise carpet sold for EUR 2.8 million

The auction "Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds including Oriental Rugs and Carpets" of the London auction house Christie's is always good for record prices. On 31 March 2022, a very special antique "Polonaise" carpet sold for GBP 2.32 million (approx. EUR 2.76 million). The 197 x 141 cm silk and metal-thread carpet dates to the early 17th century. In addition to the excellent condition, the previous ownership may also have had an influence on the price. In the 19th century, the piece belonged to the art connoisseur Baron Adolphe Carl von Rothschild, a member of the well-known banking family.

Raum & Boden trade fair 2022 ends successfully

After two days, Raum & Boden 2022 has come to an end. This digital trade fair was the second event of its kind organised by SN-Verlag - as a joint project of the trade journals BTH Heimtex, Haustex, Carpet Home, Parkett Magazin and FussbodenTechnik.

The trade fair was a success. The number of visitors more than doubled compared to the premiere in November 2021. In addition to the stands of the 16 top-class exhibitors, visitors and exhibitors could meet and exchange ideas in the Business Lounge. The Wall of Inspiration showed the exhibitors' highlights at a glance.

The digital format makes it possible to visit the exhibition stands until 6 April. Only the chat function on the stands and the Business Lounge meeting place will no longer be available. The Raum & Boden Messe 2022 can be reached via the website www.raum-boden-messe.de.

XXXLutz: New opening after total remodelling in Friedrichshafen

In the conversion period of less than six months, an almost completely new XXXLutz branch has been created in the Bodensee-Center in Friedrichshafen. The complete conversion of the almost 26,000 square metre sales area took place during ongoing operations, and around EUR 10 million was invested. From now on, furniture and home furnishings from all well-known manufacturers and all XXXLutz exclusive brands can be found on six levels.

In Friedrichshafen, XXXLutz also wants to show how furnishing and shopping can be digitally interlinked. For example, a 24-square-metre LED wall in the entrance area provides information and tips on living, the specialist ranges are now equipped with digital price tags, and the planning of the furnishings is carried out via tablets that simulate the customer's home.

Raum & Boden 2022 - now open

The time has come: the digital trade fair Raum & Boden 2022 has opened its virtual doors. Today and tomorrow, 16 interesting exhibitors await you. The fair will run on 31 March and 1 April from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.

From the carpet industry there are:
• Bahram Tahbaz
• Care & Fair
• Faradj & Homayoun Farhadian
• Mohammadzadeh & Son
• Oritop

Visit Raum & Boden 2022 right now by clicking on this link: Visit Raum & Boden 2022

Switzerland: XXXLutz overtakes Ikea

Within four years, XXXLutz has bought its way up to become the Switzerland's largest furniture retailer. This was reported by the Swiss business magazine Bilanz. According to the report, the Austrian furniture giant, with its XXXLutz branch in Rothrist, the Pfister, Mömax, Hubacher, Egger, Svoboda, Lipo and Conforama furniture chains, has 73 branches in Switzerland. Now Austrians have apparently even pushed placeholder Ikea off the top spot. As Bilanz further reports, XXXLutz does not report any turnover for Switzerland, but according to its own research, with all its holdings, it is likely to have more than CHF 1.4 billion (approx. EUR 1.35 billion). Ikea, on the other hand, turned over only CHF 1.2 billion last year. But that's not all: the second XXXLutz-branded shop is currently being built at the motorway exit in Dietikon, near Zurich, and is expected to open in late summer 2022.

Jysk: positive conclusion after rebranding in Germany

Since September 2021, Dänisches Bettenlager is also called Jysk in Germany. Six months after the rebranding, Christian Schirmer, Country Manager Germany of the Danish company, draws a positive conclusion. "The rebranding from Dänisches Bettenlager to Jysk is not just a name change, but part of a comprehensive transformation in many areas, because the company has long been more than just a 'warehouse for bedding'.

Otto increases turnover by 13 percent

The individual company Otto has now published its turnover figures for the past financial year 2021/22, according to which the company was able to increase its turnover by 13% to EUR 5.124 billion. As an important element contributing to the growth, Otto cites the number of marketplace partners, which increased from 1,000 to 3,500 in the past financial year and continues to grow steadily.

Since 2020, the Hamburg-based company has made it possible for interested brands and retailers to offer their own product ranges on otto.de in return for commission. In total, there are currently over ten million products in the otto.de shop. By comparison, in 2018 there were still one million items.

Raum & Boden 2022: Register now as a trade visitor free of charge

In a few days, the Raum & Boden 2022 trade fair will open its virtual doors. The digital trade fair of the SN Verlag will open its virtual doors from 31 March to 1 April.

Interested trade visitors can already register now to visit the fair free of charge: Click here to go directly to registration.

Also the second edition of the Raum & Boden trade fair is compact but high-calibre with a total of 16 suppliers from the floor coverings & carpets, flooring technology and trade sectors. Five exhibitors from the carpet sector are represented:

- Bahram Tahbaz
- Care & Fair
- F & H Farhadian
- Mohammadzadeh & Sohn
- Oritop

Auctions: Bonhams also acquires Skinner

The auction house Bonhams continues to grow and acquires Skinner, New England’s largest appraisers and auctioneers of fine and decorative art with locations in Boston and Marlborogh. With this acquisition, Bonhams continues its local and global expansion and is represented with its own flagship salesrooms in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Hong Kong and now Boston. Already in January 2022, the Swedish auction house Bukowskis was also acquired. A company that, like Skinner, has a well-established carpet department.