Betta Living
Betta Living is a home improvement retailer based in Oldham, Greater Manchester with stores in more than 70 towns and cities throughout England and Wales.[1] Betta Living is owned by Dean House PLC and designs, manufactures and installs fitted kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. Betta Living’s fittings are manufactured in Lancashire
The company went into administration as of 8th November 2016. FRP Advisory have been appointed to take on the administration of the company.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | Oldham, United Kingdom (1966) |
| Headquarters | Oldham, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom. |
Key people | Noel Dean (Chairman) |
Number of employees | 320 (2014) |
History
Betta Living was formed in 1966 under the name ‘Betta Bedrooms’ and remained that way until in 2000 it was taken over by current chairman, Noel Dean. Dean merged Better Bedrooms with his own company, the English Kitchen Company which he started in 1984.[2] Noel Dean’s credentials also include a period at The Burton Group, where he became the first ever Store Manager for Topman (formerly Mr Burt).[3]
In 2008, Betta Living launched their first partnership, in which they supplied bedrooms to Blackburn-based kitchen firm Interior Contracts.[4]
In 2012 Betta Living started supplying bathrooms following the acquisition of a number of Moben and Dolphin showrooms from HomeForm Group.[5] That same year, Dean House PLC reported record year-end results, selling around 6,000 fitted kitchens per year as well as thousands of bedrooms. Betta Living saw sales across its shops rise by 22%, totalling £29.9 million by 20 November 2012[6]
In 2013, Betta Living partnered with high street retailer Next.[7] They sold fifty of their most popular kitchen designs through the brand, both online and in thirteen Next Home and Garden stores across the UK.
In 2014, Dean House PLC reported a 61% increase in year-on-year sales between Boxing Day and the height of the January trading period.[8] This came after year-end results for 2013 showed a 23% increase in turnover, taking Betta Living’s sales to £39 million.[9] In April 2014, Betta Living announced the launch of its second partnership, this time with Dobbies Garden Centres.[10]
Betta Living ceased trading on the 8th November 2016 and went into administration. FRP Advisory have been appointed and are currently looking for potential buyers for the company.
In the press
Betta Living has featured in a number of online and print publications. In May 2013, Betta Living’s kitchen fittings featured in Your Home magazine, while their research into ‘Brain Boosting Bedrooms’ appeared in Telegraph Lite. In October 2014 Betta Living’s ‘Bedroom of the Future' featured in the Daily Mail,[11] and the ‘Fresco Shaker wetroom’ featured in Grand Designs magazine.
Charity work and campaigns
Betta Living has held fundraising events for Macmillan Cancer Support since 2013. More than twenty of their stores take part in the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning.[12] In June 2014, Betta Living raised £2,437[13] for Great Ormond Street Hospital whilst exhibiting at the Ideal Home Show. Later that year, Betta Living launched a campaign to raise awareness about Child Safety Week,[14] publishing advisory articles and creating an interactive hazard awareness test for parents.
References
- ^ "New stores point towards Betta living".
- ^ "Interview with Noel Dean".
- ^ "Betta Living seeks expansion as record profits announced".
- ^ "Interior Contracts targets bedroom market".
- ^ "Betta Living acquires showrooms".
- ^ "Betta Living unveils record year end results".
- ^ "Next teams up with Betta Living to launch new kitchen range".
- ^ "Betta Living reports strong sales".
- ^ "Betta Living enjoys record sales and all-round success".
- ^ "Betta Living launches Dobbies concessions".
- ^ "Is this the bedroom of the future?".
- ^ "Community news in brief: 24th September".
- ^ "10 corporate fundraising partnerships in June 2014".
- ^ "Betta Living support Child Safety Week 2014".