Balta: strong performance in fourth quarter of 2020

In a recent press release, Belgian machine weaver Balta presents its results for the fourth quarter of 2020 and the full financial year.

Consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter was EUR 151.1 million (-8% year-on-year) with adjusted EBITDA of EUR 27.9 million (+40.9%) - the company described the latter as "one of the strongest quarterly performances since the IPO". The adjusted EBITDA margin of 18.5% was also significantly higher than in the fourth quarter of 2019 (+12.1%).

Edelgrund with virtual showroom

Edelgrund, specialist for tasteful minimalist Mazandaran kilims, has opened its new virtual showroom. Visitors can navigate through the 3D carpet exhibition by mouse or keyboard and view Sofrehs, Mazandaran kilims and kilims designed by Ouwen Mori and Paolo Giordano. Visitors can also request more detailed information on the individual pieces.

Westwing: Turnover up by over 60% in 2020

At the beginning of March, Westwing Group presented its figures for the last quarter of 2020: According to these, sales increased by 62.17% compared to the previous year (from EUR 267 million to EUR 433 million), as the financial site finanzen.ch reported. Earnings per share for the 2020 financial year were put at EUR 0.96 (2019: EUR –1.85 per share).

Carpet Stars 2021 awarded, new prize-winners wanted for 2022

Carpet Home has awarded five special prizes again this year: the Carpet Stars. The awards were given to exemplary carpet shops and departments that caught our attention with their great commitment, new ideas and creative solutions in various areas. We would like to thank them for their important work and inspire others in the industry to also show their „attitude“.

Prices for machine-woven carpets are rising, in some cases massively

*** Updated on 4 March 2021 ***

Prices are currently rising sharply in the machine-weaving sector. Carpet Home spoke to leading suppliers about the background of this development. "Prices are going crazy and are changing practically every day," several manufacturers report unanimously. The main reasons for this are the rising costs of primary products and transport, which have been going up for several months now. On top of this, there is an increasing demand for PP granulate by the plastics processing industry in general – especially in China, but also in the US.

Deutsche Messe: Restructuring with drastic cuts

With a turnover of EUR 100 million and a loss of EUR 83 million, 2020 was the most difficult year in the history of Deutsche Messe in Hanover. As an organiser of international trade fairs (including Domotex) and events, the business has been idle for more than a year. With the "Deutsche Messe 2027" concept, a far-reaching restructuring has now been initiated that includes cuts in various areas and considerable savings in material and personnel costs.

First Slovenian Ikea store opens

Tomorrow (Thursday, 25 February) is the opening day of Slovenia's first Ikea store – this has been reported by the Austrian newspaper "Kleine Zeitung". In the first few weeks, however, only 700 people at most will be allowed in the 30,000 m2 sales area. Due to the pandemic, it is also necessary to register online beforehand. The Ikea shop is located in a shopping district of Slovenia's capital Ljubljana; 90 million euros are said to have been invested in the location.

Carpet Magazine is now Carpet Home

In the first weeks of the year, we invested a lot of time and energy in optimising our trade magazine. Under the name Carpet Home, the former Carpet Magazine is now published in a new layout with identical content in a purely English- and a purely German-language version.

A special focus of the current issue is on the Carpet Stars 2021. This year we have again awarded the prize to exemplary specialist retailers and their concepts.

Deutsche Messe downsizes Executive Board, Dr. Gruchow leaves

Deutsche Messe in Hanover, organiser of Domotex among others, is repositioning itself after the crisis year 2020 with losses of EUR 83 million on a turnover of EUR 100 million. One major change is the reduction in the size of the executive board. Dr Jochen Köckler, who has been a member of the management body since 2012 and Chairman since 2017, will lead Deutsche Messe as sole member of the Board of Management in future. His term of office was extended ahead of schedule by five years.

Dr Andreas Gruchow, on the other hand, is leaving the Executive Board after 27 years in management positions at the company. A Deutsche Messe press release describes the separation from the experienced trade fair manager, who worked for many years at key positions in Hanover, as follows: "Thankfully, he has agreed to resign his mandate on the best of terms."

Guido Maria Kretschmer's "Deko Queen": New magazine and TV format

For some years, Guido Maria Kretschmer has successfully been searching for the "Shopping Queen", now he is also looking for the "Deko Queen": In a new Vox TV series starting in March and presented by the fashion designer, two participants will compete against each other and redecorate their homes under a given motto ("Urban Jungle", for example). To accompany this, the Hamburg-based publishing house Gruner & Jahr is publishing the lifestyle magazine "Guidos Deko Queen" with plenty of home decoration tips, also dealing with the topics of sustainable living, hospitality and beauty. The publishing house and the TV station developed the new concept in cooperation; they both belong to the Bertelsmann Group.

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