News

End of line for Skipton Pine

The remaining stock of failed furniture manufacturer Skipton Pine is to go under the hammer at an auction at the firm’s premises on the Snaygill Industrial Estate in Skipton next week.

The firm closed its doors last month, the latest victim of the tough trading conditions hitting the business, which has seen large numbers of manufacturers go under in the past couple of years.

The liquidator handling the winding up of the business . . . Carrick Read of Hull . . . has now instructed leading industrial auctioneers CJM Asset management to dispose of the remaining stock, plus all the manufacturing machinery, tools and equipment.

The auction on Tuesday (23rd August) is expected to attract international interest.

CJM director Paul Cooper said: “Skipton made a wide range of bedroom and living room furniture. It was good quality stuff, a lot of which went for export, particularly to America and Japan.”

“However, like the rest of the industry they’ve been hit by the twin problems of a decline in demand . . . pine furniture is not quite as fashionable as it was a few years ago . . . and competition from low cost manufacturers in Eastern Europe. Some of the biggest chain store retailers, who traditionally sourced in the UK, are now buying abroad.”

“The shake-out in the industry has been pretty brutal. We’re dealing with another manufacturer in Nottinghamshire at the moment and we’ve handled half a dozen others in the past 18 months or so.”

“Tuesday’s sale includes 200 lots of pine furniture, some of which is ex-display but most of which is new off the production line. There’s a good selection of the company’s range and we have lotted it up in such a way that the public have just as good a chance to snap up a bargain as trade buyers.”

“There are also 500 lots of machinery, tools and equipment.  The star lots are the firm’s two SCM Tech 100 Super CNC Machining Centres, serious pieces of manufacturing equipment that are expected to make £6,000 - £8,000 each.”

“There are also two cut to length saw lines that should make serious money.”

“The vehicles include a Boss 3 tonne sideloader, which should sell for three or four thousand pounds and the firm’s Iveco Ford box van, with a sleeper cab, that’s expected to raise £5,000 - £6,000.”

Paul added: “Recent sales of this type have been attracting international buyers. One in Lincolnshire saw the majority of the machinery and equipment snapped up by a Moroccan company. This will appeal to foreign buyers and their agents.”

In all next Tuesday’s sale extends to 700 lots. The viewing sessions are on Monday (22nd August) 11am-6pm and on Tuesday morning from 8.30am until the start of the sale at 10 am. Catalogues are available from CJM or can be downloaded free of charge from the firm’s website: www.cjmasset.com

For further information or comment please contact Paul Cooper at CJM Asset Management on 01724-334411.            

David Newman - Newman Walker Associates - 15th August 2005