Sofology
 | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1974 [1] |
| Headquarters | Golborne, United Kingdom |
Key people | Adam Smith - Director of Customer Services |
| Products | Furniture |
| Parent | DFS Furniture |
| Website | sofology.co.uk |
Sofology (formerly known as Sofaworks, CSL, Clayton Salerooms, and CS Lounge Suites Ltd), is a British furniture retailer specialising in sofas.[2]
History
[edit]Sofology started out as CSL Sofas, and was originally an auction rooms based in Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington, Lancashire. In 1982, after including catalogue seconds lounge furniture, they moved into specialist sofa retail and manufacture. The company originally started as a high street store chain, selling only its own products.[citation needed]
Around 2002, CSL Sofas ceased sofa manufacture in the United Kingdom, citing that it could source products in Europe, Eastern Europe and the Far East at better value.[citation needed] The business focuses on retailing leather sofas, fabric sofas, corner sofas and recliner sofas.
In December 2015, Sofaworks re branded to Sofology, following the loss of a court case against a competitor who argued that the Sofaworks name infringed on one of its owned brands.[3]
In December 2010, it saw 260 complaints to the ASA. This was as a result of an advert created to remake "Girls on Film", by Duran Duran. This used scantily clad women around the sofas. However, the complaints were not upheld, and the advert was allowed to run.[4] In October 2017, DFS announced the purchase of Sofology in a £25 million deal. The acquisition was ratified by the Competition and Markets Authority in November 2017.
The business was runner-up in the 2010 Manchester Evening News Business of the Year (lost to Pets at Home). However, in 2010, it came first in Business XL Fastest Growing Business.[5][6]
From 2013 to 2017, adverts for the company featured a Three-toed sloth named Neal and they were narrated by English actor Craig Cash.
Sofology featured Owen Wilson in two marketing campaigns, which began in November 2017.[7] From May 2021, Helena Bonham Carter has featured in their commercials.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sofaworks set to move into new building at Dundee retail park". Evening Telegraph. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ "Sofaworks Website".
- ^ "Sofaworks may be forced into rebrand after losing DFS legal battle". Prolific North. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^ "ASA Adjudication on CSL - Advertising Standards Authority". www.asa.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01.
- ^ "Manchester Evening News". MEN.
- ^ "Business XL".
- ^ "Owen Wilson tv campaigns for Sofology".
- ^ "Helena Bonham Carter flaunts her eccentricity in Sofology ad". Campaign Live. Retrieved 23 August 2021.