Established Yorkshire furniture maker HSL launches first UK outlet of its new retail brand in Liverpool, creating eight new jobs. Tony McDonough reports
Furniture manufacturer HSL is launching a new retail brand and has chosen Liverpool as its first location.
LIVHOME has been created by HSL, which has been designing and making furniture at its base in Yorkshire for more than 55 years. The new Liverpool outlet will be located at Aintree Racecourse Retail Park and will see the creation of eight new jobs.
Occupying 8,000 sq ft across two floors, LIVHOME will offer a “design-led collection” that “takes inspiration from both British heritage and sleek European styling to offer a breath of fresh air in a stagnant marketplace”.
Jeffrey and Patricia Burrows set up HSL in 1968 with the aim of producing “comfortable, quality furniture”. The couple drew on the joinery and textile skills of local craftsmen and women in Dewsbury, a town famous for its heritage of fine furniture making
For 40 years, HSL operated as a mail-order business with a factory showroom in Dewsbury. In 1995, Jeffrey and Patricia opened their Letchworth showroom, the first of their retail stores. There are now more than 50 outlets across the country.
For the 12 months to December 31, 2023, HSL reported revenues of £57.3m and pre-tax profits of more than £1.2m.
This new LIVHOME brand, which also has an online presence, will showcase a selection of upholstery and beds, along with additional lifestyle collections from partners including Guiseppe Nicoletti, Himolla, Hsl, Hypnos, Harrison Spinks and Stressless.
It will be the only store outside of London to stock the full collection of incredible beds from Swedish lifestyle brand Carpe Diem. HSL commercial director at HSL Leanne Eastwood has been leading the product development team behind LIVHOME.
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She said: “Over time, both product design and service in the furniture market have become mundane, mediocre and confusing for customers who are increasingly concerned about making mistakes with high value purchases.
“We know good furniture and aim to provide a fresh approach for design-orientated consumers looking for furniture and lifestyle products that make them feel as good as they look.
“Setting new standards for quality and style and delivering exceptional customer service, we are confident that consumers will appreciate the collection and enjoy the browsing experience in the showroom.”