Bensons for Beds buys 19 former Carpetright shops after collapse

Bensons for Beds has snapped up 19 Carpetright stores after the collapse of the carpet retailer.

The bed specialist also said it hopes to create job opportunities for former Carpetright staff when it reopens the stores under its brand.

Carpetright tumbled into administration last month after struggling in the face of weaker demand and a major cyber attack in April.

The company employed 1,852 people and operated 273 stores across the UK before entering insolvency.

Carpetright’s brand, intellectual property, 54 stores and two warehouses were bought by rival Tapi weeks later.

However, the failure ultimately led to the closure of more than 200 other stores and immediate redundancy for 1,018 workers.

Bensons said it hopes to start trading from the first former Carpetright shop “within the next few months”.

Nick Collard, chief executive, said: “Increasing the number of Bensons stores remains a key growth priority and we are excited about this opportunity to take on 19 store units.

“Today’s announcement supports our overall plan to expand our current 162-strong store estate to over 200 over the next few years.”

It comes despite bosses at Bensons highlighting “challenging” conditions for the sale of big ticket furniture items.

Mr Collard added: “Since our return to profitability in 2023, we’ve continued to see significant market share gains across all our core categories, reflecting the hard work from all our colleagues across the organisation.

“This work, alongside the announcement today on the new stores, leaves us well placed when the wider market starts to recover, allowing us to realise the longer-term ambitions for Bensons and its colleagues.”