Linley expands his top-drawer furniture firm

Demand from overseas buyers for British-made bespoke furniture has helped the Queen's nephew, Viscount Linley, to generate record sales and boost plans for his fourth store in London, which will open during the Olympics.

Linley has seen a year-on-year trading increase of 25 per cent, with e-commerce sales up 70 per cent, and it has signed up for a store in Mayfair's Burlington Arcade.

David Linley, son of the late Princess Margaret, founded the business in 1985 and agreed the sale of a 60 per cent stake to Jamie Edmiston, of the yacht-broking family, last year.

Mr Edmiston, now chief executive, has instigated the refurbishment of its two stores in Belgravia and Mayfair and its concession at Harrods.

Viscount Linley said that since the cash injection head count at the business had increased 25 per cent and the business now uses more than 120 craftsmen from across the UK.

In the last published accounts, for the year to June 2011, sales rose 20 per cent to £7m, but Linley posted a £272,000 loss, down from a £20,000 profit the previous year.

His desks are famed for innovative features such as hidden drawers.