Otto Group: Positive result despite the crisis

Despite a challenging market environment, the Otto Group was able to significantly improve its operating result in the financial year 2023/24. According to a recent press release, EBITDA increased by EUR 155m to EUR 744m compared to the previous year, confirming that the focus on profitability and liquidity is the right approach.

IMM Cologne: Innovative fair concept

IMM Cologne, the international trade fair for interior design, will take place in Cologne from 12 to 16 January 2025. The fair offers a wide range of formats for exhibitors, from innovative start-ups to traditional medium-sized companies. Companies from 35 countries, mainly from Germany and Denmark, have already registered to present their latest ideas under the theme 'Connecting Communities'. With Connecting Communities, we developed a theme last year that is perfectly in tune with the times,' says Bernd Sanden, Director of IMM Cologne.

Record attendance at Domotex Asia

The organisers of Domotex Asia/Chinafloor have once again reported a record number of visitors to the show, which took place at the end of May. With 83,850 visitors, the previous record from last year (83,594) was slightly surpassed. Nearly 18,000 of them came from outside China, another record. In 2025, the flooring industry's showcase for the Asian market will return to the NECC Shanghai from 26 to 28 May.

Multhaupt leaves Hamelner Teppichwerke (formerly Vorwerk)

Due to differences of opinion regarding the further strategic development of the company, Martin Multhaupt, shareholder and Managing Director of Teppichwerke Holding GmbH and Hamelner Teppichwerke GmbH & Co. KG (formerly Vorwerk & Co. Teppichwerke GmbH & Co. KG), is leaving the management of both companies by mutual agreement after 6 years of cooperation. Tobias Arnold will take over his duties as sole managing director.

Flanders Flooring Days attracts almost 3,500 visitors

The organisers welcomed almost 3,500 visitors to the third edition of the Belgian trade fair Flanders Flooring Days from 13 to 16 May. In addition to the Belgian and Dutch flooring manufacturers who have exhibited in the past, producers from other European countries also presented themselves at exhibition centre in Kortrijk. In 2022 and 2023 (1,600 visitors last time), the Belgian carpet and flooring manufacturers organised the large in-house exhibition in their own showrooms, all located within a radius of less than 50 km. Founding members Associated Weavers Europe, Balta, Beaulieu International Group, Belysse, Lano, Unilin Flooring and US Floors/Coretec still play a central role in the show. Rug manufacturers Ragolle and Osta have also been inviting visitors to their showrooms since 2023, with Verbatex joining them this year.

Benuta opens extended logistics centre

Online carpet retailer Benuta has expanded the logistics centre of its subsidiary BA Logistic in Dormagen by 12,000 m² to 34,000 m². The technologies and processes used are unique in Europe and underline our commitment to outstanding and innovative solutions in online retailing," says Benuta Managing Director Ali Bagheri. The company is now able to ship up to 20,000 parcels a day to 27 European countries via 30 loading bays. The storage capacity is said to be around 1.5 million carpets.

Henner Schürholz deceased

Henner (Heinrich) Schürholz died on 17 May 2024. The textile engineer was 71 years old. His name is closely associated with the Dorsten-based company Dekowe. Since 1982, Schürholz had held responsible positions at the Deutsche Kokosweberei, which his family had co-founded in 1887. Even after the specialist for floor coverings made of the natural fibres sisal and coir was taken over by the Steffel Group in 2007, he remained Managing Director until 2012.

Lutz Group: New stores opened in Linz

In May two furniture stores of the Lutz Group were opened in Linz: A Mömax store and a XXXLutz store. The total investment for the Linz location amounts to 60 million euros. The sales areas are 30,000 square metres (XXXLutz) and 5,400 square metres (Mömax). According to the company, the new building will be the most modern furniture store in Europe, a 'best of' from all the knowledge and experience of the XXXLutz Group in 13 European countries.

Westwing grows in the first quarter of 2024

Online home furnishing retailer Westwing has reported a turnover of €109 million for the first quarter of 2024. This means that the company has grown by 6% compared to the previous year, despite a declining market. For the first time since the end of the pandemic, the number of active customers increased by 2% compared to the same period last year.

Einrichtungspartnerring VME with higher payout ratio

The German purchasing association Einrichtungspartnerring VME closed the year with a centrally regulated turnover of EUR 1.53 billion. This is well below the previous year's figure of EUR 1.76 billion. Nevertheless, the purchasing association of the furniture industry is satisfied in view of the "economically challenging times", also because the payout ratio to shareholders was "slightly above the very strong year 2022 at 1.165%", according to a press release.