The Fabb Furniture outlet in Croydon, South London, is a pretty unassuming place: it has modest frontage in a retail park dominated by Britain’s biggest branch of Ikea. The Swedish behemoth lords it over the landscape, and seems to have a tractor beam hoovering up visitors as they emerge from their cars.

Inside Fabb’s narrow, warehouse-like building there’s a selection of perfectly decent sofas and beds. Although the slogan plastered over the walls is “Fill your home for less”, the prices aren’t a screaming bargain. Fortunately, customers are also offered five years’ interest-free credit.