Habitat (retailer)

Habitat is a furniture chain with stores in the UK, France, Germany and Spain. The company was founded in 1992, bought by the Ikano Group, which also includes IKEA is owned and sold to the company Hilco UK 2009. The branches in Germany, France and Spain were purchased after the bankruptcy of the French company CAFOM SA 2011.

History

Habitat was founded in 1964 in London by British designer Terence Conran. Initially exclusive furniture were mostly sold, later more and more simple, timeless and comfortable furniture. The opening of shops in mainland Europe began in 1973 with the business in Paris.

1981 Habitat went public. 1982 merged with Habitat Mothercare, the world's largest provider of child care articles, took over 1983 competitors Heal's and the fashion chain Richard Shops. In 1986 the merger with British Home Stores to Storehouse PLC, a company with almost 30,000 employees. After the founder Terence Conran had more and more busy with the opening of restaurants and cafes, he separated in 1990 by the Group. In the early 1990s came new businesses added in Germany, France and Spain.

After losses of Storehouse, the parent company of Habitat, joined Habitat 1992 Ikano Group. Kamprad, owner of Ikano, put the emphasis in the UK with Habitat again with exclusive furniture (such as in 1964 in the founding of Habitat). A large proportion of repeat customers in the UK then wandered off to other providers.

2009 Ikano sold the furniture chain to the corporation Hilco UK, which specializes in corporate restructuring.

Habitat today consists of 36 shops in the UK, 23 in France, six in Spain and five in Germany. About franchises habitat is represented in Belgium, Luxembourg, Iceland, Ireland and Thailand. In Portugal, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Turkey, Isle of Man, Indonesia and Greece Habitat operates through retailers.

In June 2011 it was announced that the owner of Habitat gives up. Most sites in the UK are located in the insolvency proceedings, while the profitable German, Spanish and French branches to be sold.

The 38 branches in Germany, France and Spain were taken over by the French company CAFOM. The Habitat brand as well as several branches in London were sold to the British Home Retail Group. The other Habitat stores in the UK were closed.