Directorate Change

D.F.S. Furniture Company PLC
01 October 2003


                                                                  1 October 2003

                           DFS FURNITURE COMPANY plc
                      APPOINTMENT OF NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR


Bill Barnes FCA, currently Group Financial Controller of Next PLC, has been
appointed Finance Director of DFS Furniture Company plc with effect from 31
October 2003, when he will join the Board as an executive Director.

Ian Bowness, Finance Director since 1995, will resign from the Board on 31
October, but has agreed to continue working for DFS on a consultancy basis for
as long as may be required to ensure a smooth handover of his responsibilities.

Bill Barnes, who is 45, joined Next in 1989 after qualifying with Price
Waterhouse.  He has been Group Financial Controller since 1990 and Company
Secretary since 2001.

DFS Executive Chairman Lord Kirkham said:  'I am absolutely delighted that we
have been able to attract someone of Bill's calibre and we are all greatly
looking forward to working with him.  He will build on firm foundations laid by
Ian Bowness, who has decided after eight years with DFS that he would like to
take a break and consider other opportunities for the future.  I would like to
say a huge personal thank you to Ian for all his hard work and his contribution
to the business over the years, and also for his co-operation in ensuring an
orderly handover to his successor.'


Enquiries:
DFS Furniture Company plc                              Hudson Sandler
Graham Kirkham, Executive Chairman                     Keith Hann
Jon Massey, Chief Operating Officer                    Noemie de Andia
Tel:  [phone]                                     Tel: [phone]


DFS Furniture Company plc confirms that there are no other details which require
to be disclosed under paragraph 6.F.2(b)-(g) of the UKLA Listing Rules with
respect to Bill Barnes.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange