ScS has wound down the sale of flooring and carpets since it was bought by an Italian furniture retailer, Retail Week can reveal.
The retailer, whose name stands for Sofa Carpet Specialist, has halted the sale of flooring online and removed the ranges from its stores.
Flooring used to represent 8% of group revenue for ScS. However, Retail Week understands that, despite operational change and investment in the division, the retailer has not made market share gains in the category.
ScS declined to comment on the decision, but assured customers that all remaining orders will be fulfilled and all warranties remain valid.
The decision to narrow its offer makes the retailer more in line with its new owner Poltronesofà, which exclusively sells sofas and armchairs.
Poltronesofà bought ScS in a £99.4m deal at the end of last year and took over the running of the business in the first quarter of this year.
The news comes after competitor Carpetright filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, putting almost 2,000 jobs at risk.
If Carpetright was to close its store estate as a result of a pre-pack sale, the streamlining of ScS’ offer would leave Tapi Carpets as one of the last major specialist chains selling carpets and flooring from physical stores across the UK.
No formal bids have been made for the Carpetright business yet.
Carpetright chief executive Kevin Barrett told staff via a voice note that the company would no longer be accepting customer refunds, which could cause a “lot of disruption and customers getting nervous”.
He said the team was “focused on securing external investment to ensure as few customers and colleagues are impacted as possible”.
“They are our main priority and we are taking all appropriate action to make sure they are informed and supported through this process,” he said.
“We have begun promising conversations with interested parties that are moving in the right direction, encouraging us that Carpetright has a viable future,” he added.
According to The Times, parties that have been approached to buy Carpetright include The Floor Room, which is owned by Nestware Holdings via Meditor – the British hedge fund led by Carpetright owner and poker player Talal Shakerchi.
B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher has also been approached, as well as several investment firms including Alteri, Hilco and Gordon Brothers.
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