Furnishing fabrics, wallpapers and furniture supplier Colefax Group PLC has reported a growth in full year sales and profit.
According to its latest trading update for the year ended 30 April 2026, total group sales rose 5.4% to £115.92m from £109.99m in 2025.
Fabric Division sales rose 8.4% to £103.99m from £95.92m, with the US up by 10.2% excluding tariff surcharges. UK sales rose by 4.4% and Europe was up by 2.5%. Within its Decorating Division, sales decreased 21.1% to £8.86m from £11.22m.
Pre-tax profit increased 18.3% to £5.29m from £10.53m compared to £8.9m recorded in the previous year.
Commenting on the UK performance, the group said: “Sales in the UK, which represent 15% of the Fabric Division’s turnover, increased by 4.4%. This follows a 4.7% decrease in the prior year. Trading conditions in the UK have been challenging especially at the top end of the market where residential property transactions have been adversely affected by high rates of stamp duty, relatively high interest rates and uncertainty over potential tax increases. Historically, UK sales have been closely correlated with high-end housing transactions and tend to lag market activity.”
As for Kingcome Sofas, sales, which represent 3% of Product Division sales, during the period increased by 8% to £3.08m from £2.85m in 2025. Pre-tax profit decreased by 30.6% to £249,000 (2025 – £359,000).
“The decline in profitability despite higher sales reflects higher salary and premises costs during the year primarily due to a new showroom concession in Witney Oxfordshire which started trading in September,” the group said.
“Market conditions for luxury furniture in the UK have become increasingly challenging and despite the new showroom concession, the order intake during the year was down by 4% and the outstanding order book at the year end was down by 27% compared to the start of the year.”
David Green, Chief Executive of Colefax Group plc, commented: “The Group has delivered a strong full year result which significantly exceeded our expectations at the start of the year and also the half year. The main reason was an exceptionally strong sales performance in the US. We think this is closely correlated with the growth in the US stock market which particularly benefits the luxury sector in which we operate.
“Since the year-end sales have remained strong in the US and we are cautiously optimistic that this will continue at least for the first half of the current financial year. We consider a significant stock market correction to be the main external risk to US sales. Outside of the US, trading conditions look set to remain challenging especially in the UK although this market now accounts for just 15% of Fabric Division sales.”
