A MAJOR furniture retailer plots to return to the high street after being rescued by Next.
Made will make a physical return to stores with a new concession set to launch in December.
Made will make a physical return to stores in a first since the chain was rescued by Next
Hollie Parkinson, head of brand at Made, told Linkedin News UK that the retailer had plans to expand its presence both online and in-store.
This included a brand new concession in Next’s store in Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre this December.
She also said that Made planned to keep its brand separate from Next.
It’s also looking to expand through brand partnerships, a new external store and return to Europe next year.
We’ve contacted Next to find out exactly when the Made concession opens to shoppers.
Sun Money has also asked what kind of furniture will be on show for shoppers visiting the Next store.
Made’s operating subsidiary, MDL, was forced to appoint administrators from specialist firm PwC who immediately tied up the deal with Next back in November 2022.
The fashion giant snapped up its brand, domain names and intellectual property for £3.4million.
The troubled company filed a notice to appoint administrators after being hit by soaring costs and slowing customer demand.
Made.com had a nearly 18-month run as a public company, selling sleek furniture online, backed by a large advertising budget.
It performed strongly during the pandemic as shoppers, stuck at home, spent freely on sofas, coffee tables and lamps.
But the group ran into trouble, and out of cash, as supply chain disruptions hit its operations before Britain’s economic downturn started to weigh on consumer spending, leaving it holding too much stock.
It was understood that the company had garnered interest from a number of parties to purchase parts of the business before tying up the deal with Next.
And it is not the first time that retail giant Next has taken over a struggling business.
Next started selling Gap clothing online in late 2021, after it took over the running of the high street brand.
It started selling Gap clothing in stores in early 2022.
It also agreed a sale to buy struggling lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret in a move that saved its UK shops and website.
Earlier in 2022, it took a stake in baby and maternity clothing retailer JoJo Maman Bebe.