Johnny’s Furniture chain in voluntary administration with customers of 15 stores in limbo

A national furniture chain with 15 stores in three states has gone into administration, leaving hundreds of customers without products - and police called to a disturbance at one of the stores.

A national furniture chain with 15 stores in three states including on the Gold Coast is in administration, leaving hundreds of customers without products and sparking a police callout.

Police were called to a disturbance at the Johnny’s Furniture showrooms in Bundall - but did not attend.

The company, which also had stores in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Sunshine Coasts, entered voluntary administration on Tuesday.

Angry customers turning up demanding their furniture or a refund were greeted by people handing out leaflets on behalf of administrator Shumit Banerjee of Westburn Advisory.

Mr Banerjee said creditors of the company included lenders, staff, customers, the ATO, related parties and other government revenue offices.

“Whilst my appointment is in its infancy, my preliminary investigations indicate that the company had a significant decline in revenue during the 2024 financial year, which likely contributed to the director’s decision to appointment me as voluntary sdministrator,” he said.

Among those out of pocket in the collapse is Gold Coaster Alana Boland, who paid $950 towards an $1800 new lounge in November last year.

First homebuyer Ms Boland, 27, was initially told she’d receive the lounge in January.

Her repeated inquiries about her order by phone and in person at Johnny’s stores were met with nothing helpful, she said.

On return to the store on Friday two days ago, she was handed the administrator’s letter.

“They kept putting the delivery date back and putting it back, until it was the end of June,” she said.

“I’ve asked for a refund, they’ve asked for details to get the refund into my bank account but I never heard anything back – that was in April.

“I’ve just bought my first home for myself at 27, I’ve got a mortgage and I was looking forward to getting a new lounge – it kind of opens your eyes to the bad things in the world.”

Screenshot from the Johnnys Furniture website, which is still live.

Police confirmed they had been called to a disturbance at Johnny’s Bundall store on Saturday - a week ago prior to Tuesday’s administration - but did not attend.

One customer, there to collect a table, described the situation as “crazy”.

“There were people everywhere and security was bought in as people were coming in asking questions,” they said.

“People are hurt financially. It is a mess.”

Johnny’s Furniture is directed by Jonathan Raymond McDonald, 37, whose ASIC-listed address is a commercial unit at Lumeah in south-west Sydney.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has attempted to contact Mr McDonald.

Letters handed to customers at the stores said administrators were “currently conducting an urgent assessment of the business and considering all available options, including sale of the business as a going concern, or recapitalisation, through a Deed of Company Arrangement”. “The Director of the Company has indicated his desire to honour store credits and lay-bys, and we are currently working with the Director regarding same,” the letter said.

“I am currently continuing to trade the business in a limited capacity.

“We sympathise with customers with unfulfilled orders and ask for patience while we undertake our urgent assessment.

“We anticipate a further update will be communicated to customers within the next two to three weeks.”

The Johnny's Furniture store at Bundall.

Meanwhile, another furniture chain owner has registered a swag of new companies under the Johnny’s Furniture name, including store locations for stores at Bundall, Helensvale, Kawana and Virginia.

The companies were all registered last month, and they are all directed by Sydneysider Daniele Maisano, 45.

Mr Maisano’s online career profile lists him as director of Home Sweet Home chain of furniture stores and a former “PGA golf professional”.

Home Sweet Home Sofa’s and Living is the business name for Narellan Distributors, also directed by Mr Maisano, a company which has been in administration since April 2021.

That business still appears to be operating with its website and social media pages active this week.

The Bulletin has contacted Mr Maisano for comment.