Midlands-based supplier Birlea Furniture has acquired the Willis & Gambier brand and associated intellectual property rights.
The acquisition follows the exit from the UK marketplace of the latter's owner, Samson Holdings, in January, which was attributed to "extremely challenging market conditions" brought about by Brexit.
Birlea, a business with more than 20 years’ experience, a worldwide manufacturing network and modern logistics capabilities, operates from a 200,000 sqft site in Derbyshire. The Willis & Gambier brand has been in the UK marketplace since 1990, and evolved into a market-leading brand in 1998 (the same year as Birlea's inception), offering bedroom, dining and living collections.
The brand acquisition is underpinned by the appointment of David Lane, formerly Willis & Gambier's commercial director for 10 years, as trading director at Birlea Furniture.
Jake and Joe Magill, Birlea's joint owners and MDs, comment: “It is exciting times at Birlea Furniture, as the business goes from strength to strength in a difficult marketplace. At Birlea we have an ambitious, hardworking team, and the acquisition of Willis & Gambier, together with the appointment of David, highlights Birlea’s ambitions and our determination to be a market-leading supplier.”
Willis & Gambier already has stock in the UK and Asia, has further stock in production, and states that the design of new product is under way.
