ClearCourse acquires Computers for Flooring in Welsh push

ClearCourse has acquired Cardiff-based Computers for Flooring, a management software provider serving the carpet and flooring retail sector in the UK.

The acquisition extends ClearCourse's reach into Wales and aligns with its strategy to support small and mid-sized businesses across the UK by offering industry-specific technology and embedded payment solutions.

Computers for Flooring, which was established in 2010, has developed Carman, a software platform tailored to the flooring industry. Carman is currently responsible for processing approximately 10% of all flooring transactions in the UK. Its products support over 100 customers, ranging from independent retailers to multi-branch enterprises, with a total of GBP £180 million in sales managed annually.

The Carman system enables flooring retailers to manage all stages of the sales process including customer orders, delivery, and installation through a centralised dashboard. Features such as supplier management, stock control, finance tracking, sales analysis, and personalised communication tools like SMS messaging and payment links are also included.

The acquisition is intended to allow Computers for Flooring to accelerate product development and expand its customer base by leveraging ClearCourse's technical and commercial resources. The management team at Computers for Flooring will be supported by ClearCourse's network of industry specialists and peers.

Christina Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer of ClearCourse, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Computers for Flooring into the ClearCourse Group as part of our Retail & Hospitality Software division. Computers for Flooring is a disruptive business within the flooring space and is a great story of an entrepreneur who built their businesses from scratch and is ready to scale. We're excited to work with Kris and the team to continue developing their market-leading product, Carman, and give them access to our resources and expertise to drive growth and deliver a wider range of integrated and specialised solutions to our customers."

Kristian Bailey, Managing Director at Computers for Flooring, said: "We're really excited to become part of the ClearCourse group to accelerate our growth. For over a decade, we've been committed to equipping independent flooring retailers and wholesalers with the enterprise level tools they need to give customers the big retail experience. ClearCourse understands the unique needs of our industry and is the ideal strategic partner to help us take the next step in our growth journey. Together, we'll continue to develop our outstanding product, drive faster innovation and take our business to the next level."

Gary Miller from Floor Studio commented on the deal's potential impact from a customer perspective. He said: "Computers for Flooring has been a game-changer and has enabled us to grow our business over the past 14 years. The Carman product is built specifically for the flooring industry, and has enabled us to monitor our sales, stock, performance and customers. We're excited to see how this next chapter will bring more innovation to Carman and about the positive impact it will have on our business and our customers."

ClearCourse has made more than 40 acquisitions since its formation, focusing on delivering software solutions and embedded payments systems for SMEs across sectors such as retail and hospitality. The company's ambition is to help small and mid-sized enterprises modernise by providing access to digital tools commonly used by larger businesses.

The acquisition of Computers for Flooring represents ClearCourse's first formal move into the Welsh technology market. The Cardiff-based company will continue operating from its current headquarters and will retain its focus on serving the flooring sector while integrating with ClearCourse's national network.