Longstanding Chiswick Retailer Closes Unexpectedly

Sofa Workshop set to reopen on the High Road under Timothy Oulton brand

Sofa Workshop premises currently empty

Customers of Sofa Workshop in Chiswick, particularly those who had placed deposits for new furniture, were alarmed to find the store had been stripped bare this week.

There was no notice placed in the window to give an indication of what had happened.

At this stage there appears to be no cause for concern for Sofa Workshop customers as it has been acquired from owners DFS Ltd by furniture and interiors company Timothy Oulton who intends to reopen at the site on 5 October. The new owner has acquired Sofa Workshop outlets across the UK and DFS has said that it intends to honour any outstanding orders with guarantees remaining valid.

The shop will be rebranded Sofa Workshop by Timothy Oulton and investment in enhancing the overall customer experience has been promised.

Tim Oulton, creative director and founder of Timothy Oulton said, “Sofa Workshop has long been a respected brand in the UK market. I am very excited to bring to it a wider range of our globally best-selling sofa designs, along with lighting and cabinet collections. We manage our entire creative process in-house, from perfecting leather hand-finishes in our own tannery, to hand dyeing natural fabrics, to product design, production, and customer service, and we look forward to bringing our creative passion and energy to Sofa Workshop. The network of stores around London and across the UK will allow us to create easy access to a beautifully handcrafted collection of over 100 sofa models, tailor-made in unique finishes and offered in a vast array of configurations. And each store will also carry a small taste of the Timothy Oulton collection.

“Our furniture is made to order, one by one, by hand, using simple tools and time-honoured techniques. That culture of craftsmanship has always been key for Timothy Oulton, and will remain at the heart of the philosophy at Sofa Workshop by Timothy Oulton.”

Tim Stacey, CEO at DFS, said, “This transaction represents a great opportunity for Sofa Workshop and I’d like to thank all our colleagues for their hard work and commitment since the business was acquired by the Group seven years ago and wish them every success in the future”.

September 6, 2020