Luxury tiles retailer collapses in latest high street casualty

Core Viewpoint - Fired Earth, an upmarket tiles retailer, has collapsed into administration, leading to the closure of all its high street stores and the redundancy of 133 employees [1][5]. Company Summary - Fired Earth specialized in handmade tiles for kitchens, bathrooms, and floors, and was previously owned by cooker maker Aga. The company was founded over 40 years ago and expanded its product range to include paint, showers, taps, and baths [2]. - The company typically targeted affluent households, with bathroom tiles starting at nearly £30 per square metre, which is about double the starting price for competitors like Topps Tiles. It gained popularity for its marble mosaic and patterned porcelain tiles, recognized for their "timeless" design [3]. - Despite its popularity and previous cash injections from its owner, construction entrepreneur Simon Lousada, Fired Earth has been loss-making for some time, recording a £1.7 million loss in its most recent financial year due to cost pressures and wage inflation [4][5]. Industry Context - The collapse of Fired Earth is part of a broader trend affecting high street businesses, which are facing challenges from soaring costs and declining consumer confidence. Other brands, such as Seraphine and Quiz Clothing, have also entered administration recently [7]. - According to corporate recovery group Begbies Traynor, the number of businesses in "critical" financial distress has increased by 78% year on year, indicating a significant rise in financial challenges across various sectors [8].