English Oak furniture Manufacturer For Sale

Business description

Founded in 1970 by the current owner, this business is a specialist manufacturer of the finest English Oak reproduction furniture.

This business makes real furniture – built by hand using fine timbers that become even more beautiful with age. Its collection of standard pieces includes many of the classic 16th, 17th & 18th century English Oak designs with many of these traditional pieces adapted for use in contemporary living environments. This business also makes some models in English Cherry, Walnut and Yew wood.

This business’s extensive collection of furniture – chairs, tables, cabinets, occasional pieces and bedroom furniture – includes over 350 designs in all with many variations available to suit customers’ preferences. This business also offers a complete bespoke service with pieces made uniquely to customer specification.

This business has earned an enviable reputation both in the UK and abroad for consistent high quality reproduction pieces, a reputation maintained by its team of highly skilled craftsmen employing many of the original techniques used by English Cabinet Makers. The timber used is air seasoned and then kiln dried. The hand-finished pieces are fully distressed and coloured to simulate the warmth and character of genuine antiques. Many of these superb pieces will undoubtedly become heirlooms of the future – passed down from one generation to another. As well as finished pieces this business also offers furniture that has not been given the ageing treatment, leaving it with just the edges smoothed and then polished or left unpolished as natural wood or with an oiled finish.

Property information

Location:

The company operates from a site of approximately one acre in a fairly rural location with good transport links via the major motorway network to all parts of the UK.
The woodworking mill and dry timber storage is approximately 8,000 square feet with a newly, purpose built building of approximately 13,000 square feet housing the Cabinet Workshop, Polishing Shop, Office accommodation, piece part storage and showroom.
The freehold of the premises belongs to the current Owner of the business who will negotiate a leasehold arrangement of approximately £75,000 per annum, term to be agreed. Rates for the entire site are thought to be approximately £24,000.

Other information

Expansion potential:

With the highest possible reputation having been established for quality of product and innovation in the design of fine furniture, there is tremendous scope for establishing the brand even more strongly both domestically and internationally giving rise to significant growth and expansion. Although some work has already been done there are excellent opportunities to increase penetration into the UK and internationally.
The current process of consolidating the business onto one site will bring considerable benefits. As well as creating an opportunity to sell direct to the customer from a brand new 1700 square feet, on-site showroom, the intention is to ‘involve’ the purchaser much more in the manufacturing process not only via information and education but also by creating a high quality environment in which to demonstrate and sell a high quality product – from a woodland walk planted some years ago featuring the trees from which the furniture is made through to the state of the art, purpose built manufacturing plant.
Aside from the core furniture business there is also considerable scope to build up the joinery and timber merchant side of the business – and particularly in relation to kitchens - amongst the local carpenters, joiners and other furniture makers, not to mention individuals looking to purchase privately.

Competition / Market:

As well as direct sales activity, with a typical furniture purchase in the region of several thousands of pounds not surprisingly this business concentrates its marketing efforts at the top end of the market taking full colour advertising in the local glossies and Interior design magazines. This is complemented with product specific literature and a colour catalogue, updated annually, featuring the full range of furniture. A well designed, informative and user friendly website featuring all of the leading ranges which performs well within all the major search engines for the most appropriate search topics is also a major asset of the business.

Support & training:

The owner will assist fully with support and training to ensure a smooth transfer of the business to new Owners and will be available for a longer period on a part-time basis if appropriate and subject to negotiation.

Reasons for selling:

This is a genuine retirement sale.