Csl Sofas
Encyclopedia
CSL, the sofa specialists formerly Clayton Salerooms and CS Lounge Suites Ltd, are a specialist sofa
retailer started by the Tyldesley family in the north west of the UK.
rooms based in Clayton-le-moors near Accrington
in Lancashire
, which after including catalogue seconds lounge furniture in its offer moved in to specialist sofa retail and manufacture in around 1982. The company original started as a high street store chain, selling only its own products, later moved out of town by the second now second generation of the Tyldesley family Jason Tyldesley. The company ceased UK sofa manufacture around 2002, citing that it could source products in Europe, Eastern Europe and the far east at better value as the reason. CSL has an expanding list of stores on high-profile retail parks in the UK. The main offer of the business is leather sofas, fabric sofas, corner sofas and recliner sofas. The company has expanded steadily with sofa stores from Gateshead
to the openings in 2011 in both Brent Cross
, London
and Purley Way
, Croydon
.
and a clear move towards fresh music-based commercials. Stephanie Spencer Jason Tyldesley's partner has ben prevalent in the growth of the business, both singing covers and her own compositions as backing to what are unique TV commercials. One such creative being noted for its depiction of divorce and following the real life of the people within it. The business has been sometimes controversial in how it raises awareness. Christmas 2010 reportedly saw 251 complaints to the ASA
as a result of an advert created to remake the Duran Duran "Girls on film" pop video, that used scantily clad women around the sofas. The complaints were not upheld and the advert was allowed to run despite its critics.
near Warrington
in Cheshire. The company operates all its own deliveries and service technicians in house with a training centre at the same location. In 2011 the business has a fleet of over forty 7.5-tonne vehicles as well as 20 professional technicians.
in the North East. A further 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²) warehouse was opened in mid 2011.
into their business and inner workings for a documentary on Channel 4. This expose was largely successful, leaving the business clearly stronger on service and transparency of operation than others shown in the same show.
CSL were also the first company of its type in the UK to offer a range of sofas for delivery within 72 hours.
The business were the first UK sofa retailer to make use of the Apple iPad as a point of sale device for taking orders, designing a system in house.
They have however been plagued by one particular negative blog, relating to both service and product quality, and have worked hard on reputation management
with prominent commentators such as David Naylor having purchased furniture and through better experience commenting on their unfortunate lack of ability to shake a historical reputation problem. The site will become a test case for the effect of a single motivated individual on reputation and has shown that where no balance is allowed a perspective and voice can be given that can affect a business. Independent balanced review sites certainly do not reflect the perspectives on the blog, managed by Geoff Walker, an ex CSL customer from 2004 and demonstrate the unbalanced nature of it.
Sofa
Sofa may refer to:In general:* A piece of furniture also called a couch* Sofa slave-soldiers in the Mali Empire and its successor states.* Russian Hypocoristic for the name SofiyaIn music:* Any of four bands of overlapping eras:...
retailer started by the Tyldesley family in the north west of the UK.
History
The company was originally an auctionAuction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
rooms based in Clayton-le-moors near Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, which after including catalogue seconds lounge furniture in its offer moved in to specialist sofa retail and manufacture in around 1982. The company original started as a high street store chain, selling only its own products, later moved out of town by the second now second generation of the Tyldesley family Jason Tyldesley. The company ceased UK sofa manufacture around 2002, citing that it could source products in Europe, Eastern Europe and the far east at better value as the reason. CSL has an expanding list of stores on high-profile retail parks in the UK. The main offer of the business is leather sofas, fabric sofas, corner sofas and recliner sofas. The company has expanded steadily with sofa stores from Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
to the openings in 2011 in both Brent Cross
Brent Cross
Brent Cross is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Barnet. It is located near the A41 Brent Cross Flyover over the A406 North Circular Road. Brent Cross is best known for its shopping centre and the proposed Brent Cross Cricklewood development....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Purley Way
Purley Way
Purley Way is a section of the A23 trunk road in the London Borough of Croydon, in the areas of Purley, Waddon and West Croydon, and has given its name to the out-of-town shopping area alongside it with a catchment area covering most of South London. It was designed as a bypass for Croydon and was...
, Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
.
CSL
Now based at a purpose-built head quarters in Golborne near Warrington, the business has been careful to develop both experience and service. Advertising has been key with expansion into geographical TV regionsGranada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
and a clear move towards fresh music-based commercials. Stephanie Spencer Jason Tyldesley's partner has ben prevalent in the growth of the business, both singing covers and her own compositions as backing to what are unique TV commercials. One such creative being noted for its depiction of divorce and following the real life of the people within it. The business has been sometimes controversial in how it raises awareness. Christmas 2010 reportedly saw 251 complaints to the ASA
Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
as a result of an advert created to remake the Duran Duran "Girls on film" pop video, that used scantily clad women around the sofas. The complaints were not upheld and the advert was allowed to run despite its critics.
Employees
CSL employs up to 20 people in each of its in excess of 20 store chain and a further 400+ at its UK head office in GolborneGolborne
Golborne is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England.It lies south-southeast of Wigan, northeast of Warrington and to the west of the city of Manchester. It has a population of 23,119....
near Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
in Cheshire. The company operates all its own deliveries and service technicians in house with a training centre at the same location. In 2011 the business has a fleet of over forty 7.5-tonne vehicles as well as 20 professional technicians.
Scale
The business has four distribution centres covering all of its UK stores, Golborne being the largest at over 300000 sq ft (27,870.9 m²), followed by one of 60000 sq ft (5,574.2 m²) in South Yorkshire and one of 40000 sq ft (3,716.1 m²) in SeahamSeaham
Seaham, formerly Seaham Harbour, is a small town in County Durham, situated south of Sunderland and east of Durham. It has a small parish church, St Mary the Virgin, with a late 7th century Anglo Saxon nave resembling the church at Escomb in many respects. St Mary the Virgin is regarded as one of...
in the North East. A further 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²) warehouse was opened in mid 2011.
Firsts
CSL were the first sofa store in the UK to allow Mary Portas, Queen of ShopsMary Portas
Mary Portas , is an English retail adviser, journalist and television presenter.-Early life and education:Portas was born and brought up in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, in a family of five children. Educated at St Joan of Arc Catholic School, Rickmansworth, she looked after her youngest brother...
into their business and inner workings for a documentary on Channel 4. This expose was largely successful, leaving the business clearly stronger on service and transparency of operation than others shown in the same show.
Results of the TV show
As a result of the January 2011 TV show, the business took it upon itself to campaign for transparency of pricing and discount offers, offering to help change UK law surrounding what qualifies as a genuine discount in a sale and the criteria. A single price offer was put forward with a commitment from the business to maintain the lowest price possible as part of its quest. The show has been heavily reviewed and commentated on by publicists andCSL were also the first company of its type in the UK to offer a range of sofas for delivery within 72 hours.
The business were the first UK sofa retailer to make use of the Apple iPad as a point of sale device for taking orders, designing a system in house.
Other facts
CSL joined the Furniture Ombudsman in 2011 and have been noted for their use of interesting creatives in their Extensive TV advertising. The business was also runner up in the 2010 MEN Business of the year losing to Pets at Home a national pet store but came first in the Business XL fastest growing business of 2010.They have however been plagued by one particular negative blog, relating to both service and product quality, and have worked hard on reputation management
Reputation management
Reputation management , also known as directory management, is the process of tracking an entity's actions and other entities' opinions about those actions; reporting on those actions and opinions; and reacting to that report creating a feedback loop. All entities involved are generally people, but...
with prominent commentators such as David Naylor having purchased furniture and through better experience commenting on their unfortunate lack of ability to shake a historical reputation problem. The site will become a test case for the effect of a single motivated individual on reputation and has shown that where no balance is allowed a perspective and voice can be given that can affect a business. Independent balanced review sites certainly do not reflect the perspectives on the blog, managed by Geoff Walker, an ex CSL customer from 2004 and demonstrate the unbalanced nature of it.