Oak Furniture Land

Oak Furnitureland is a British furniture retailer specialising in fully assembled hardwood cabinet and dining furniture, and sofa ranges. The company has stores across the UK, with its headquarters located in Swindon in Wiltshire, England.

Oak Furnitureland
IndustryFurniture, retail
FoundedChippenham, United Kingdom (2006)
HeadquartersSwindon, United Kingdom
Number of locations
78
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Alex Fisher (CEO)
ProductsCabinet and dining furniture, sofas, mattresses, lamps and clocks
OwnerDavidson Kempner Capital Management
Number of employees
just under 1200 (2020)[1]
Websitewww.oakfurnitureland.co.uk

History

Oak Furnitureland was launched through its website on Boxing Day, 2006.[2] The company started in 2003 by selling on eBay. It opened a pop-up shop on an airfield in the Cotswolds. Its first store on a retail park was in Chippenham.[3] The company reported a turnover of £85m and a profit of £9.2m in the year to September 30, 2012.[4]

In late 2012, the business moved its national distribution centre to a 302,000 sq ft building in South Marston near Swindon, Wiltshire.[5]

A new Christmas TV advert [6] was launched in 2012, promoting their dining set offering, with the overall theme being "Don't Do This To Nan".[7]

For their Winter Sale 2013 TV advert campaign, the characters of Oak and Acorn were introduced. Oak, played by Stephen Critchlow, was the mature salesman while Acorn, played by Philip Labey, was the comedy relief within this duo.

In an interview with The Sunday Times on 10 January 2015, the firm's then managing director stated that his chain has sales of £194m.[8]

In June 2015, Oak Furnitureland became the principal sponsor and home kit sponsor for association football club Burnley.[9][10] They ceded their shirt sponsorship space at the Burnley versus Leeds United fixture on 9 April 2016, in place of Burnley FC in the Community — the club's official charity.[11]

Oak Furnitureland received an outstanding achievement award at the 19th annual Sunday Times Fast Track 100 awards in July 2016, and was included in the list for the fifth year, the only company ever to achieve this.[12]

On 29 July 2016, Oak Furnitureland won three Lovedbyparents awards for their Nursery products.[13] These were: Platinum award for Best Cot Bed, Gold award for Best Nursery Furniture Set and Silver for Best New Product to Market 2016.

Retail Week ranked Oak Furnitureland 15th in the UK's top 30 retailers by proportion of online sales.[14]

In October 2018, the company was named in the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table for a fifth consecutive year.[15]

Oak Furnitureland was named most memorable brand of the year on TV in 2019, reaching first place in Campaign's ‘Adwatch of the Year’ league.[16]

In June 2020, Davidson Kempner Capital Management bought Oak Furnitureland out of administration.[17][18]

References
  1. "Swindon-based retailer Oak Furnitureland to take on new staff". Swindon Advertiser. January 29, 2013. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  2. "Online retailer to mogul/". The Daily Telegraph. February 4, 2013. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  3. "Online shops move into the High Street/". BBC. May 7, 2013. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  4. "Oak Furnitureland reports record sales and profits". Retail Week. January 31, 2013. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  5. "£22m property investment deal puts Oak Furnitureland centre under new ownership". Swindon Business News. March 25, 2014. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  6. "Dining Sets for Christmas from Oak Furnitureland | Don't Do This To Nan". YouTube. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  7. "Oak Furnitureland launch Christmas ad campaign". thedrum.com. October 26, 2012.
  8. "How I Made It: Jason Bannister, founder of Oak Furnitureland". The Sunday Times. January 11, 2015.
  9. "Burnley's Sean Dyche looks to new season in Championship". ITV News. June 17, 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  10. "Oak Furnitureland is Clarets new shirt sponsor". Burnley Express. June 3, 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  11. "Change of sponsor for Leeds United game in aid of Burnley FC in the Community". Burnley Express. April 6, 2016.
  12. "Oak Furnitureland receives business award". Furniture News. July 2016. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  13. "Lovedbyparents Award Winners 2016". Lovedbyparents.
  14. "Data: The top 30 retailers by the proportion of online sales". Retail Week. November 8, 2016. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  15. "Oak Furnitureland named in Sunday Times Top Track table". Cabinet Maker. 3 October 2016.
  16. "Oak Furnitureland takes 1st Place on Campaign's Adwatch of the Year 2019". MNC. 19 December 2019.
  17. "Oak Furnitureland's future secured in pre-pack administration deal". Retail Gazette. 16 June 2020.
  18. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/dec/18/arcadia-group-may-be-bought-by-next-with-davidson-kempner
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