get connected: august 2011

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TOWN & APARTMENT LIVINGSpace is at a premium in many modern homes, but nobody wants to compromise on the important elements of style and design in the kitchen. As greater demands are made upon performance, versatility and energy effi ciency, where is the smart money going on kitchen appliances that can fulfi l exacting consumer needs?

HOME ENTERTAINMENTThe current buzz is about 3D TV, but the concept of “Smart” TV, with the connected television becoming the hub of a whole network of entertainment and internet access to a huge choice of content, is opening up new opportunities – and challenges – for manufacturers and retailers. George Cole takes stock of where we are now and where home entertainment may be going in the future

GEORGE COLE GETS CONNECTEDNothing stays the same in Consumer Electronics, and the way we buy, keep and enjoy audio and video is changing. George Cole looks at the future for the CD and DVD

THE HIGH STREET IN CRISISThere was a lot of reaction to last month’s GC feature “High Street High Noon?” We look at a cross section of what the industry thinks

BACKCHATLG’s Andy Mackay gives a 2-minute interview

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E E L E C T R I C A L I N D U S T R Y

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i-20 is a next-generation digital iPod dock that produces hi-fi quality audio from high-bitrate tracks on your iPod or iPhone by extracting the raw digital audio. Using PURE Clearsound digital end-to-end technology for its digital output and a superior 24-bit 192 KHz DAC for its analogue output, i-20 ensures you get the best from your digital music collection. i-20 also outputs video from compatible iPod and iPhone models, features Toslink and coaxial digital outputs, charges your device while docked and comes with a handy remote control.

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Get Connected. Greyfriar Cottage, Winchester Road, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1SBwww.gcmagazine.co.uk

Editor in Chief: Marlinda Conway Telephone: 01420 886 33 [email protected]

Editorial & Publishing Director: Terry HeathTelephone: 01420 886 33 [email protected]

Magazine Advertising Sales:Graham Southern Telephone: 05557 735 501 [email protected]

Creative Director: Will Dobson [email protected]

Advertisement Production Administration: Will Dobson Telephone: 01342 850 456 [email protected]

Production and Print: Blackmore Press, Shaftesbury, Dorsetwww.blackmore.co.uk

Subscriptions & Circulation: GCCD, 13 Premier AvenueGrays, EssexRM16 2SB.Telephone: 07818 088 671Fax: 01375 370 436 [email protected]

Annual subscription rate (inc. postage): UK £88; Overseas £108.

Copyright © 2011 Mud Hut Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher. Get Connected is published by Mud Hut Publishing Ltd., Alresford House, 60 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7EH.

04 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Editorial Comment

06 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The Word In and around the industry

14 / / / / / / / / / / / Talk on the High Street Industry ideas on the retail revolution

16 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The Product Gallery

18 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Town & Apartment Living Getting it right in the kitchen

26 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Brands of Distinction Lec: Cool heritage

28 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Home Entertainment New dimensions, smarter options

32 / / / / / / / / / / George Cole Gets Connected

33 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / From the Bench Alan Bennett on the eco-choppers

34 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Backchat Industry comment and a 2-minute

interview from LG’s Andy Mackay

P16 JVC UXVJ5 / UXVJ3 IPAD®, IPHONE®, IPOD® AUDIO SYSTEMSwww.jvc.co.uk

0870 60 60 601www.bcgxl.co.uk

We realise that you can’t be hanging around, waiting for your products. That’s why we have such high stock levels on a range of top quality Bosch appliances, ready to dispatch via our high-speed delivery service. No fuss, no messing about and no waiting.

Quality products, in stock, fast delivery. Bish, bash, Bosch!

[email protected] 0845 148 9002 www.pure.com

Hi-fi audio and video from your iPod or iPhone

i-20 is a next-generation digital iPod dock that produces hi-fi quality audio from high-bitrate tracks on your iPod or iPhone by extracting the raw digital audio. Using PURE Clearsound digital end-to-end technology for its digital output and a superior 24-bit 192 KHz DAC for its analogue output, i-20 ensures you get the best from your digital music collection. i-20 also outputs video from compatible iPod and iPhone models, features Toslink and coaxial digital outputs, charges your device while docked and comes with a handy remote control.

Get-Connected_i-20_Full-Page_July11.indd 1 7/25/2011 10:15:43 AM

CONTENTS

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Get Connected. Greyfriar Cottage, Winchester Road, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1SBwww.gcmagazine.co.uk

Editor in Chief: Marlinda Conway Telephone: 01420 886 33 [email protected]

Editorial & Publishing Director: Terry HeathTelephone: 01420 886 33 [email protected]

Magazine Advertising Sales:Graham Southern Telephone: 05557 735 501 [email protected]

Creative Director: Will Dobson [email protected]

Advertisement Production Administration: Will Dobson Telephone: 01342 850 456 [email protected]

Production and Print: Blackmore Press, Shaftesbury, Dorsetwww.blackmore.co.uk

Subscriptions & Circulation: GCCD, 13 Premier AvenueGrays, EssexRM16 2SB.Telephone: 07818 088 671Fax: 01375 370 436 [email protected]

Annual subscription rate (inc. postage): UK £88; Overseas £108.

Copyright © 2011 Mud Hut Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher. Get Connected is published by Mud Hut Publishing Ltd., Alresford House, 60 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7EH.

04 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Editorial Comment

06 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The Word In and around the industry

14 / / / / / / / / / / / Talk on the High Street Industry ideas on the retail revolution

16 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The Product Gallery

18 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Town & Apartment Living Getting it right in the kitchen

26 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Brands of Distinction Lec: Cool heritage

28 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Home Entertainment New dimensions, smarter options

32 / / / / / / / / / / George Cole Gets Connected

33 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / From the Bench Alan Bennett on the eco-choppers

34 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Backchat Industry comment and a 2-minute

interview from LG’s Andy Mackay

P16 JVC UXVJ5 / UXVJ3 IPAD®, IPHONE®, IPOD® AUDIO SYSTEMSwww.jvc.co.uk

0870 60 60 601www.bcgxl.co.uk

We realise that you can’t be hanging around, waiting for your products. That’s why we have such high stock levels on a range of top quality Bosch appliances, ready to dispatch via our high-speed delivery service. No fuss, no messing about and no waiting.

Quality products, in stock, fast delivery. Bish, bash, Bosch!

EDITORIAL COMMENT

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T his issue of Get Connected was at press when news started coming in that retailers in London and

elsewhere had become the target of looters, boldly – and apparently without fear of any consequences – walking off with desirables such as fl at screen TVs from their local electrical stores. In some cases, just to emphasise their contempt for the rule of law, and their disregard for the business people whom they see – and probably chat to – every day as they live, work and serve in their communities, they set fi re to the premises as well.

It seemed worthy of comment, not just as casting a whole new and lurid light on the concept of “saving the High Street,” but also as an image of how middle class, hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying middle England has so brutally been caught in a pincer movement by society’s opposite extremes of criminal audacity.

It’s an irresistibly poignant picture, and would serve as a satirical cartoon of the spirit of the age: out of the retailer’s smashed back door staggers a youth in a hoodie with a 42-inch LED fl at panel in his arms – something for nothing and the taxpayer picks up the bill. Out of the front door (being held open for him by a respectful shop assistant) strides a suited Member of Parliament, followed by another shop assistant carrying his 42-inch LED fl at panel to his car for him. The MP will of course be claiming the TV on expenses for his “second home” – something for nothing and the taxpayer picks up the bill.

Both, in their own way, examples of inexcusable behaviour. The only diff erence is that the MP’s audacity comes from a confi dence that his rapacity is “legal,” and the looter’s audacity comes from a confi dence that the odds are stacked against “the law” ever identifying, arresting and punishing him.

Why should either one of them think any diff erently if we, the people in the middle, accept the consequences for our own actions, but don’t insist on their doing the same? How can an MP educated to have a natural sense of entitlement, and functioning in a place that seems to have forgotten who is serving whom, be expected to have a sense of responsibility to the “ordinary” people who are foolish enough to pay his salary? And how can a youth who has been subjected, as one psychologist remarked, to “a toxic mixture of dysfunctional parenting and a consumer and celebrity culture which tells youngsters they should have whatever they want,” be expected to have a clear sense of right and wrong?

The point is that the victim in this is the man in the middle – the retailer, local businessman, taxpayer – who is getting exploited from both ends and is expected not only to bear the cost of the perpetrators’ actions, but also to go on funding their lifestyles. And, of course, picking up the bill for the policing, the legal processes and the inevitable “enquiries” and “commissions” and whatever other expensive and largely pointless machinery for the discovery of the blatantly obvious the “authorities” choose to set up.

Add to this the additional burden of bailing out banks which have a similar attitude of audacious entitlement, and whose senior offi cials seem to have returned very quickly to the enjoyment of individual bonuses running into millions, and it’s a wonder that middle England can struggle to its feet, let alone fulfi l the expectation that it will once again climb that mountain to recovery.

But this is a democracy, and a nation of shopkeepers, so if the people we choose to pay generously to take care of certain aspects of our society while we’re looking after the shop don’t do their jobs properly, it must be our fault.

register online at www.gcmagazine.co.uk for your FREE copy of Get Connected Magazine

Average net circulation for the 12 issues distributed between Jan-Dec 2008 is 6,228

Marlinda Conway Editor in Chief

Terry HeathEditorial & Publishing

Director

George ColeConsumer Electronics

Consultant

Graham SouthernAdvertising Sales

Lynne HenryCommunications Offi cer,

GfK Marketing Services

James McIntoshConsumer Consultant

Will DobsonCreative Director

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BRC warns of “spending paralysis”BRC Director General Stephen Robertson warned European and US policymakers that business and consumer confi dence needs to be restored quickly before spending paralysis sets in, after UK retail sales values rose just 0.6% on a like-for-like basis in July.

According to the BRC-KPMG Sales Monitor, total sales, which include new stores, were up 2.5% compared to the same month last year, but homewares were “mostly down and often promotion-led.” Consumer caution continued to hit big-ticket housing-related purchases.

Non-food, non-store sales were 9.6% up on a year ago, but down on June’s 11.5% growth. “Apart from March, when sales were reduced by this year’s later Easter, this is the weakest growth for non-store sales of non-food goods for almost two years,” said Robertson.

On the wider retail sales picture, Roberstson commented: “This is a modest improvement on recent months but overall conditions remain very diffi cult for retailers. When you take into consideration infl ation and January’s increase in VAT, 2.5% growth eff ectively means people are buying fewer goods…. shoppers were only tempted into stores by an unprecedented number of promotions which come at the expense of margins. Sales of non-food goods barely grew.

“Growing fears of a global economic slowdown and a sovereign debt crisis have sent shockwaves through fi nancial markets. Policymakers in Europe and the US must act quickly to implement a co-ordinated and credible strategy to reduce public sector defi cits while supporting growth. Business and consumer confi dence needs to be restored quickly before spending paralysis sets in.”

Q2 retail employment falls while store numbers increaseRetail employment in the UK fell 0.4% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same period a year ago, with the equivalent of 3,100 fewer full-time jobs recorded,

despite the number of retail outlets growing by 4.5% – an additional 743 stores.

The results of the BRC-Bond Pearce Retail Employment Monitor showed that the fall

in job numbers was heavily weighted towards non-food retailers, with both full-time and part-time staff working fewer hours compared to the previous year. Food

retailers continued to increase employment.

This is the � rst time the Monitor has recorded three consecutive months of negative annual growth.

Six TJ Hughes stores sold; 31 outlets to closeAdministrators of discount department store chain TJ Hughes have agreed the sale of 6 stores to Lewis’s Home Retail in two separate deals and con� rmed that a total of 31 outlets will close during August, bringing the total job losses to 1,600 since TJ Hughes went into administration on 30 June.

Lewis’s Home Retail is a retail arm of wholesaler Benross Marketing, a supplier of electricals, lighting and homewares based in the Liverpool area.

Benross Group managing director Anil Juneja said: “TJ Hughes is an extremely well known and much-loved brand and we’re thrilled to be bringing the retailer back to life. The stores have a proud history, especially in Liverpool, and our aim is to do both the employees and customers the justice they deserve.”

Lewis’s acquired TJ Hughes’ stores in Newcastle, Widnes, Eastbourne, Glasgow, Liverpool and Shef� eld, safeguarding 576 jobs.

THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

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Knight Vinke ups Kesa stake as sale process continuesComet parent Kesa Electricals confi rmed that Knight Vinke Asset Management LLC, its biggest share holder, upped its stake in the group from 102,273,208 to 105,973,208 shares, giving it 20.01% of the voting rights.

Knight Vinke is reported to be keen on Kesa offl oading Comet and is backing the sale of the business on the condition that it is run as a going concern.

Readers that follow the news on www.gcmagazine.co.uk will be aware that only two parties are thought to have been taken through to the second round of bidding for the UK electricals chain. Former Habitat owner Hilco, who was reported to have dropped out, is now said to be battling it out with OpCapita, the investment company that owned MFI under its previous name of Merchant Equity Partners,

and it is understood that GA Europe and Weight Partners are now out of the running.

Speculation that Kesa may off er a dowry to have Comet taken off its hands arose during the weekend following the fi rst tabling of bids on July 20, and have continued to persist, with recent reports stating that £100 million is under consideration. None of the bidders were said to have off ered much for the troubled UK chain which posted losses of £8.9 million for the year ended 30 April 2011 and is reported to have a pension defi cit of £49 million.

Updates on the ongoing sale process have come from “sources close” to Kesa, as none of the parties involved have been willing to comment.

See www.gcmagazine.co.uk for further updates

UK retail now � rmly back in recessionThe retail industry is now de� nitely in recession with retail health likely to fall back to the levels of the banking crisis by the third quarter of 2011, the KPMG/Synovate Retail Think Tank (RTT) said, after the state of retail health, as measured by the Retail Health Index (RHI), fell to 84 in quarter two – one point down on the previous quarter.

The fall was less severe than the two-point drop in quarter one, which was salvaged to some extent by the late, sunny Easter and the Royal wedding, but the mini revival that occurred in 2010 has now well and truly reversed, according to the RTT.

The decline in health in Q2 was attributed largely to yet further softening of demand as well as new, more vigorous pressures on margins as retailers struggled to shift stock with earlier than normal promotions and sales.

When there is a reason to spend, the RTT said consumers are prepared to oblige, but without the bene� t of extra bank holidays or national events to look forward to, there is little sign of any recovery in the short to medium term.

RTT members expect a further two-point downward acceleration in quarter three, bringing the state of retail health back to the darkest days of the banking crisis in mid 2009. Neil Saunders of Verdict Research said: “May and June showed how weak the underlying trend remains. Pressure on disposable income with new, recently announced rises in utility bills has only hurt consumer con� dence further and many Britons are clearly no longer regarding shopping as the pleasurable experience they once did.”

Synovate’s Tim Denison said footfall remains down by around 4% year on year.

“Demand is weak, and May and June showed the underlying trend which will continue into quarter three,” added Nick Bubb of Arden Partners. “It is likely that September – the back to school, end of the holidays, new ranges in the shops but not on Sale month – will be kill or cure. We will have to wait until then to see whether the austerity measures have permanently frightened shoppers.”

Retail in� ation slows as stores continue to discountShop price in� ation slowed to 2.8% in July from 2.9% in June as retailers continued to discount prices to entice cash-strapped consumers into purchases. The BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index showed the fall was attributed to the food sector, where 39% of all goods bought in supermarkets are now on offer.

Food in� ation slowed to 5.2% in July from 5.7% in June, while non-food in� ation remained unchanged at 1.3%.

Now Labour launches campaign to save our high streetsLabour has called for urgent action to help retailers protect jobs and give people

a “real say” over their local high street,

and has unveiled a four-point plan which

includes a temporary cut in VAT.

Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow

Small Business and Enterprise Minister,

accused the government of “bystanding”

while businesses suffer and high streets

stagnate. “The recent wave of high street

business failures should send a signal to

ministers on the real pressures which � rms

are under,” he said.

“Consumer con� dence has been badly

hit by the government’s VAT hike and the

squeeze on family incomes. It is no surprise

that retail sales have remained sluggish.”

According to the Local Data Company,

14.6% of retail premises in the UK are

now vacant, indicating that approximately

50,000 high street units are empty, with

vacancy rates rising. The Javelin Group has

predicted that if current trends continue, a

quarter of all non-food retail outlets in the

UK could be vacant by 2020.

Read the full article at www.gcmagazine.co.uk

Banks claim to be on target for SME lendingThe fi ve major banks which signed up to the Government-backed Project Merlin deal in February this year, and thereby agreed to lend at least £190 billion to UK businesses this year - £76 billion of it earmarked for small businesses – have said they have in the fi rst six months of 2011 achieved £100.4 billion of new lending, with £37.4 billion of that going to SMEs.

A spokesperson for the banks involved in Project Merlin said: “The Merlin banks are on track to meet their business lending commitments. The fi rst half-year performance demonstrates the banks’ commitment to providing businesses with the fi nancial support they need to invest and grow and the signifi cant progress made this year. The banks’ eff orts to encourage customers to come forward with borrowing proposals are set against the overall economic environment which remains challenging and business demand for credit which remains weak.”

The “weak demand” from small businesses for bank fi nance has been cited by the banks as a diffi culty in achieving lending targets, but small businesses and their representatives have argued that demand from small businesses has been severely depressed by punitive rates and conditions imposed by the banks.

In a recent FSB member survey, of the 20% of small firms that had applied for credit in the 12 months to June, a third had been refused. FSB national chairman John Walker said: "This has meant that growth opportunities have been missed or delayed for many businesses. The FSB is urging the Independent Commission on Banking to be bold in its recommendations to Government in September and to ensure that increasing competition in the sector is at the forefront of its report – without this, small firms will continue to get a rough deal."


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Vogel’s aims to help retailers maximise bracket salesVogel’s is holding a retailer event on September 15 to help independents get their fair share of the wall mount market. The manufacturer says the channel is missing out “big time” on bracket sales as only one is sold with every 20 TVs purchased in independent stores, compared to one with every 5 TVs purchased in supermarkets.

Vogel’s UK Manager James Attfield had this message for

independent dealers: “Make the effort to attend the event and you will learn how to break this cycle and increase your sales significantly in this category, and that’s a promise.

“This is a silent category with great growth potential, off ering one of the biggest margin contributions and more profi t per square metre than the TV section.”

Attfi eld added that Vogel’s has “re-energised” its off ering and packaging to ensure a big impact in-store ahead of the key season.

The September event is supported by industry body retra and will be held at the recently opened Coworth Park Hotel in Ascot.

For further information, contact [email protected] or telephone 0330 202 0980.

‘Exclusively Independents’ show launches in autumnAn exclusive event for independent retailers is to launch in the autumn, showcasing new products and alternative market opportunities to help boost sales.

‘Exclusively Independents’ is organised by Dimplex, Morphy Richards and Glen Dimplex Home Appliances and will take place Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd October 2011 at Cranmore Park, Solihull.

Commenting on the reasoning behind the new show, Karen Trewick, marketing communications manager at Dimplex, said: “Electrical retailers are facing challenging times as consumer spending on non-essential items such as high-value TVs and entertainment is declining. But there are plenty of alternative revenue streams within the sector that are holding up well and

even growing, including heating, fi res and domestic appliances, and it’s why we’ve launched Exclusively Independents, so retailers can see these opportunities all together under one roof.”

Retailers attending the event will have access to a range of special off ers. Entry is free of charge, and those who preregister online will be provided with a free breakfast or lunch and entered into a competition to win a product from each of the three organisers. CI(H) members will have exclusive access to the show on Sunday 2nd October.

For further information about the event, visit www.exclusivelyindependents.co.uk or contact your regional manager at Dimplex, Glen Dimplex Home Appliances or Morphy Richards.

Hotpoint launches new ‘InStore’ partnership schemeHotpoint is reshaping its Hotpoint Centres programme with a new partnership scheme for independent retailers. Hotpoint InStore launches in the UK this month to tie in with the company’s 100-year anniversary and offers independent retailers the opportunity to sign up for a three-tiered support package.

The programme is being supported by a series of special promotions aimed exclusively at Hotpoint InStore members, which will continue throughout the year.

Hotpoint Brand Director Ian Moverley said: “Our Hotpoint Centres programme

has been running successfully for more than 50 years, but we wanted to move away from a ‘one size � ts all’ scheme to a more tailored programme for our independent retailers.

“The new Hotpoint InStore programme will give different sized traders the opportunity to tailor a package that’s more suited to them, but with the same superb backup and support from the Hotpoint team.”

Independents should contact their Hotpoint regional sales manager for further information about the new scheme.

GDHA introduces support initiative for independentsGlen Dimplex Home Appliances has unveiled a new retailer support scheme for independents as part of an initiative to increase sales of its ‘Made for Britain’ Stoves, Belling and New World built-in and integrated appliances.

Participating retailers will be rewarded with a package which includes display discounts, extended product warranties, access to exclusive promotions, support with local advertising and the supply of exclusive display stands, if required.

Retailers will also receive specialist on-site training, assistance with staff incentive schemes and preferred supplier status on GDHA’s branded websites.

Haier establishes R&D centre in GermanyChinese brand Haier is reinforcing its presence in Europe with the opening of an R&D centre in Nuremberg, Germany. The establishment is dedicated exclusively to dishwashers and, according to Haier, will provide the group with “unquestionable advantages.”

René Aubertin, CEO of Haier Europe, said the opening of the R&D centre is

“strategically important” in the group’s ambitions, “namely to become one of the top 5 domestic appliance manufacturers in Europe by 2015 and to become a major player in the market. We also intend to pursue a strong growth pattern with the aim of achieving a 5% market share in Europe by 2013.”

Products developed at the 550m2 centre will be aimed at the European, American and Chinese markets.

Amica establishes service networkPolish brand Amica has established a service centre in Kilmarnock to provide cover for England, Scotland and Wales. The centre operates alongside a network of service sellers, engineers and technical retailers that provide servicing via their own engineers and/or nominated sub-contractors.

Simon Freear, country manger for the Amica, said: “The aftercare of the Amica product range is not a profi t centre but an integral part of the Amica product promise which requires investment and specifi c focus.

“We invited our retailers to register for the new system and have been delighted by the interest and enthusiasm for this transparent way of providing service care. There remain opportunities for new retailers to register so I would invite anyone interested to contact us.”

For further information, visit www.amica-international.co.uk or email [email protected]


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BSkyB reported “an excellent year for

customers and shareholders” after sales

grew 16% to £6,597 million and EBITDA

rose 19% to £1,405 million in the 12

months ended 30 June. Operating profi ts

increased 23% to £1,073 million. The

business announced a 20% increase in

the ordinary dividend and its intention

to return £750 million to shareholders

through a share buy-back programme.

Sony posted a net loss of ¥15.5 billion

(£122 million) for its fi rst fi scal quarter

ended June 30 2011, compared to

a ¥25.7 billion profi t in the same

quarter last year. As well as the severe

production, operational and fi nancial

effects of the East Japan earthquake,

the company said the temporary

shutdown of network services and

Sony online due to cyber attacks on

Sony’s systems and “deterioration of the

electronics business environment” were

factors in the loss. The company has cut

its full year earnings forecast from ¥80

billion to ¥60 billion.

Hitachi posted a Q1 drop in profi ts of

86% compared to the same quarter last

year and said it is “considering” ending

production operations in Gifu, Japan.

The plant is Hitachi’s last surviving

primary TV manufacturing facility in

Japan, as the company has continued

to pursue its cost-cutting strategy of

manufacturing components in Japan but

outsourcing TV assembly to countries

such as Taiwan.

Philips reported a €1.34 billion loss

for the second quarter on sales of

€5.2 billion, having taken a €1.39 billion

impairment charge in the quarter on

intangible assets and goodwill. The

charge related to Philips’ healthcare

and lighting divisions, where growth

is expected to be lower than previous

forecasts. The company has begun a

€500million cost-cutting programme

that will run through to 2014 and a

€2 billion share buy-back scheme due

for completion in 2012.

Carphone Warehouse reported

“a very satisfactory start to the year”

despite Q1 like-for-like sales falling

3.3% (constant currency). The retailer,

which owns 50% of Best Buy Europe,

said revenues were affected by the shift

to 24-month contracts in the UK but

positive growth was achieved in the rest

of Europe. Total sales at the Group fell

4.8% to £756 million.

Electrolux announced a net income of

£53 million for Q2 2011, down 45% on

the same quarter last year. Sales fell

12% to £2.3 billion. Weaker demand and

signifi cant increases in raw materials

costs were cited as major factors in

profi t reduction. The company warned

that profi ts in the second half will

continue to fall below 2010 levels.

Whirlpool Corporation announced

a second-quarter net loss of $161 million

compared to net earnings of $205 million

in the same period last year. Sales rose

4% to $4.7 billion, driven by favourable

currency trends. Adjusted Q2 operating

profi t totalled $223 million compared to

$298 million in the prior year.

Apple posted net income of $7.31 billion

for the third quarter of its current fi scal

year, 125% up on the same period last

year, as sales of iPads and iPhones

doubled. 20.34 million iPhones (up

142%) and 9.25 million iPads (up 183%)

were sold in the three-month period,

although iPod sales continued their

decline, falling 20% to 7.54 million units.

Toshiba reported Q1 net sales down

9% to ¥1,326.1 billion (US$16,371.7),

citing appreciation of the Yen and the

impact of the Japan earthquake as

the main contributor to the decline.

Operating income fell ¥29.7 billion to

¥4.1 billion. Net income, at ¥0.5 billion,

remained unchanged. The company’s

projections for the full year remain

unchanged: sales are forecast at ¥7,000

billion and net income at ¥140 billion.

Panasonic reported an operating

profi t of ¥5.6 billion (£39 million)

for the fi rst quarter to 30 June 2011,

down 93% from ¥83.8 billion a year

ago. Expenses resulting from the Japan

earthquake pushed the pre-tax loss to

¥17.4 billion. Panasonic is undergoing

a cost-cutting programme which is

said to involve the shedding of some

17,000 jobs and the closure of up to 70

facilities around the world over the next

24 months.

Amazon posted a 51% increase in net

sales for the second quarter ended

30 June. Revenues rose to $9.91 billion

compared to $6.57 billion in Q2 2010,

but net income fell 8% to $191 million

against $207 in the same period last

year. Worldwide electronics and other

general merchandise sales grew 69% to

$5.89 billion.

Samsung reported depressed profi ts

in the three months to June 30th 2011,

echoing the generally weak market for

TV panels. Net profi t fell 18% to

3.51 trillion won. The TV division made

a loss for the second successive quarter,

with sales of LCD panels some 15% down.

John Lewis ended its half-year with a

modest rise of 2.6% on the same period

last year, saying it was “well pleased” at

fi nishing ahead of a strong performance

in the fi rst half of 2010. Johnlewis.

com (up 27.4%) was the undoubted

redeemer of the retail bellwether in the

diffi cult trading conditions experienced

in the UK during the six months, as

only three stores managed to achieve

positive growth.

Online white goods sales and distribution

operation DRL reported a 50% increase

in like-for-like revenues in the fi rst

quarter of its current fi nancial year. The

company is reported to have upped its

revenue forecast for the full year to

£250 million following a strong upsurge

in sales from the beginning of April.


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Bosch’s Ken Humphrey takes early retirementBosch Home Appliances brand manager Ken Humphrey is to step down after 21 years of service and will be succeeded by Rosalinda Buttice, who he has worked with for the past 2.5 years. Humphrey joined Bosch in August 1990 and has helped grow the brand’s sales from £25 million to £250 million.

Commenting on Humphrey’s departure, Rainer Bannwarth, marketing director for BSH Home Appliances, said: “It’s a great shame that Ken is leaving us. He’s done a fantastic job for so many years and has been instrumental in helping the brand to grow and evolve both in terms of volume sales and environmental progress and achieve prestigious accolades such as the Which? Best Large Home Appliance Brand for the

second time. Personally, I will miss his dry sense of humour and his ‘say it like it is’ style. With Ken, what you see is what you get – very straight, effi cient, totally committed and loyal to the Bosch brand. For many, he is Mr Bosch and we will all be sad to see him go but wish him a long and happy retirement.”

Rosalinda Buttice said that she has “some very big shoes to fi ll.” She commented: “I could not have wished for a better mentor. I am really looking forward to the challenge and to building on Ken’s huge success.”

Speaking about his future, Humphrey said: “First of all I want a rest. Then I want to do more things for me, like play golf when I want and spend more time in Spain, where the sun shines!”

UK’s oldest refrigeration brand receives a revampRefrigeration specialist Lec is to celebrate its 70th birthday with a new advertising campaign, photography and website, and a return to its original style of polished-metal badge in celebration of the brand’s heritage.

The new advertising and imagery is underpinned by simple messages with a strapline promising to deliver ‘Pure refrigeration’.

Lec Commercial Director David Garden said: “We felt it was time to refresh the brand but were also keen to celebrate Lec’s rich heritage, so our products will now feature a logo with a modern twist on the badge Lec had at the height of its success.”

Our Our energy range keeps lettuce chilled, cheese cold

and bills frozen.

L5511W

When it comes to our appliances, we concentrate on the things that really matter.

Like developing A+ energy rated products so, whether you’re chilling butter or joints of beef, you can be sure that your Lec is doing its job in the most effi cient way possible. It might not mean a lot to some but, to us, keeping your costs down is huge.

www.lec.co.uk

15962 Connected 145x102 ad.indd 1 5/8/11 12:31:06

Bring adifferent flavourto your business

Telephone: 01344 891248 Email: [email protected]

If you want to achieve success in today’s difficult economic environment then know-how, planning and experience are key ingredients, as are the team you have around you. If you are missing any of these ingredients then we can help.

A Simple Approach to BusinessJR Associates can bring a different flavour to your business, with a refreshinglysimple approach. Working with energy and enthusiasm to ensure every aspectof your operation performs to the maximum.

Build a Successful & Profitable BusinessWe can assist you in: • Recruiting the right people• Creating a viable business plan• Writing a sales and marketing strategy• Devising a pricing policy• Training your sales team and anything else you need, to create a successful and profitable business.We’ll then even help you sell it or merge, if that is your objective.

The Experience to Bring SuccessJR Associates is headed up by John Reddington, one of the CEmarkets most experienced professionals. He has an enviabletrack record and reputation, plus over 35 years experience. Call John today and let us help you to bring a different flavourto your business.

ROSALINDA BUTTICEKEN HUMPHREY


See www.gcmagazine.co.uk for the stories behind the news…

Panasonic to sell off Sanyo white goods operation 10 billion yen deal struck with Haier

Digital listening hours rise 14.3% DAB digital radio ownership shows strong growth

High Street parking freed from central Government restrictions Local councils will be free to provide more town centre spaces to

attract High Street shoppers

CBI forecasts modest growth into 2012 2011 growth forecast reduced to 1.3%

Panasonic in breach of advertising standards Vacuum cleaner claims supported by insuf� cient evidence

Proposals in place to cut bureaucracy burden on retailers The government has announced plans to scrap or simplify more than 160 regulations, freeing the public and retailers from rules that are unnecessarily burdensome, overly bureaucratic or completely redundant.

The proposals are the fi rst results from the Red Tape Challenge retail theme, which was launched by the Prime Minister on 7 April to give the public the chance to have their say on some of the 21,000-plus regulations that aff ect their everyday lives.

Comments from the public and business on the 257 regulations under consideration have led to proposals to replace or simplify

more than 12 pieces of overlapping, costly and confusing consumer rights law with a single new piece of legislation, and to remove a number of burdens specifi cally identifi ed by retailers, including the requirement to notify TV Licensing about TV sales.

Announcing the proposals, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “This is just the start. We still need the help of business and the public to make the rest of the Red Tape Challenge a success and free businesses to compete, create jobs and unleash a private sector-led recovery.”

Dixons teams up with HarrodsDixons Retail has entered into a concession agreement to operate the consumer electronics section of Harrods in London, supplying a broad range of equipment and its KNOWHOW technical support service to the up-market retailer’s clientele.

The 11,000 sq ft outlet, sited on Harrods’ 3rd fl oor and fully staff ed by Dixons Retail colleagues, will open to customers early 2012.

David Miller, Director of Home, Furniture and Sound & Vision for Harrods, said the store had “carefully selected a partner that boasts the best ranges and a trusted operation to ensure that the latest consumer technology is always at our customers’ fi ngertips.”

John Lewis accelerates growth plans Department store chain John Lewis is to increase its presence in the UK with a � exible store format that plays to its strength as a multichannel retailer.

The new format will offer the full John Lewis assortment, tailored for individual locations and complemented by the � rm’s online operation. The � rst outlet will open late 2012 in Exeter City centre on a site initially earmarked for an ‘at home’ store.

The retailer said it has identi� ed at least ten UK locations that will support the new concept. Outlets will range between 65,000 to 100,000 sq ft and sit between the established major department store business, which averages selling spaces around 132,000 sq ft, and the 40,000 sq ft

‘at home’ stores. John Lewis MD Andy Street said the

� exible approach to the size of stores allows the business to “forge ahead” with growth plans in locations where it has long wanted to have a presence.

Hughes Electrical launches national trade divisionHughes Electrical has launched a new business supply brand trading as TED (Trade Electricals Direct) with a national service operating from seven locations. The move follows the recent acquisition of Bennetts, which also has a successful trade division, and the decision to merge the two operations.

TED will employ in excess of 20 staff and is said to already have sales and contracts in excess of £10m for the current year from a range of businesses across the UK. Branches are located in Norwich, Ipswich, King’s Lynn, Peterborough, Colchester, Birmingham and Chelmsford – the latter covering the London region.

Paul Chisnall, general manager of the business, said: “These are exciting times and we are looking to develop TED into a true national brand for the supply of major domestic appliances and audio visual products to trade customers. Our size means we buy in bulk and pass savings onto customers, who are welcome to call into our branches or we have access to our group � eet of 150 commercial vehicles if delivery is required.”

For further information, contact: 01603 750444

Varta batteries range undergoes revampEurope’s number two battery manufacturer Varta has updated its range and refreshed the brand with new POS and guidance for retailers on how to improve battery sales. The new look combines an updated brand image with clearly diff erentiated product designs and messaging and will launch in the UK in September this year.

Made in Britain marque unveiledA standard marque for products made in Britain has been launched with the backing from UK kitchen and bathroom manufacturers and MPs.

The marque was commissioned by British kitchen appliance manufacturer Stoves after research conducted earlier this year revealed that half of the British public

were confused about which brands could still claim to be made in Britain.

Denver Hewlett, Chief Executive of Stoves parent GDHA, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to the Made in Britain campaign so far. With widespread interest, a mention in the House of Commons and many other UK

manufacturers showing their support, there is clearly an appetite out there for a standard marque.

“We think that this logo really captures the essence of the campaign and will proudly be displaying it on our website and marketing material and encouraging other UK manufacturers to do the same.”


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‘Stand and Deliver’ lives onArmour Home has announced the acquisition of certain assets of Stand and Deliver Group Ltd. following the AV furniture company’s recent cessation of business.

Commenting on the acquisition, Armour Group CEO George Dexter gave this brief statement: “Despite eventually succumbing to the severe economic conditions, Stand and Deliver has, over the past � ve years, established a strong franchise in the online marketplace. This acquisition will enable Armour Home to utilise this site to better promote and support our business, brand objectives and authorised dealers.”

Stoves and Belling launch ‘Colour Boutique’Stoves and Belling have unveiled a new colour concept which will give consumers the opportunity to choose from 12 hues across some of the brands’ most popular range cookers.

‘Colour Boutique’, initially available in the brands’ Range Centres from September this year, can be applied to all size and fuel variants of the Stoves Richmond and Belling Classic models, providing a total of 180 colour/cooker combinations.

Rob Burton, Commercial Manager for range cookers at Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, said: “We have seen signifi cant sales increases in range cooking across the Stoves and Belling brands in the last year and we believe Colour Boutique will help to take the brands to the next level, off ering consumers a wider choice.”

Domestic appliances becoming impossible to repair cheaply, says Which?Manufacturers are making domestic appliances more diffi cult to repair, leading to more products being scrapped, according to Which? The consumer watchdog said that it now costs nearly as much to rectify some appliance faults as it does to buy a replacement as products aren’t being designed with repairs in mind.

Exacerbating the situation, domestic appliance repairers have told Which? that manufacturers don’t always supply the

information they need to enable them to make repairs.

“It’s madness that consumers are faced with repairs costing as much as a new machine,” commented Which? reliability expert Matt Stevens. “Manufacturers need to make machines that can be repaired cheaply and easily and need to share all of the information they hold about how to repair their machines with independent repair specialists.”

Read the full article at www.gcmagazine.co.uk

TRIC names new PresidentBroadcaster Eamonn Holmes has been appointed the 2011/2012 President of the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC). He received his chain of of� ce from outgoing President Tony Hadley, lead singer with Spandau Ballet, at TRIC’s

annual general meeting in the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. Nick Gregory, Director of Planning at Sky, has been appointed the new chairman of the Club.

Smeg has launched a product brochure in CD format to supplement the printed version of its main range catalogue. The CD enables users to navigate quickly and easily to the required product sections and is intended for use by consumers and retailers.

Bosch is offering up to £100 cash back on its most energy-ef� cient laundry, dishwashing and cooling products from the 12 September until 31 December 2011. The campaign will be promoted via digital media and the cash returned on a prepaid Visa card.

Zanussi’s ZKG7145 washer dryer has been named a Best Buy and Budget Buy by the Good Housekeeping Institute. In a test of eleven washer dryers, Zanussi and AEG models were rated the highest, with the Zanussi ZKG7145 earning a score of 71/100 and the AEG Lavamat L16850 70/100.

BSH has been named ‘Supplier of the Year’ in the large home appliances category by Europe’s largest buying group Euronics International. It is the sixth year in succession that the manufacturer has received the award.

Big Red Sales Ltd has announced it will be the � rst to distribute two new ranges of Sennheiser coloured earphones to the independent retail sector.

Floorcare specialist SEBO has launched a new, easy-to-use website with dealer locator, product information and images and advice on how consumers should care for their � oor coverings. Parts and accessories can also be purchased on the site.

The Haier Glass Design® range has gained the PREVIEW Design Award at the IFA Preview press event in Germany.

www.beko.co.uk T. 0845 850 5008 E. [email protected]

2 year parts and labourwarranty on all Beko

Built-in Appliances

job no: BEK0145 | title: 2Year Warrenty Ad | print area: 38x210mm | artwork size: 100% | print info: cmyk | AW1

BEK0145_2YearWarranty_Get_Connected_AW1.indd 1 21/07/2011 18:12


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DTALK ON THE HIGH STREET

Last month we asked whether the UK’s High Streets can be fi xed, and whether even trying to do so is, in every case, the right way for retailers to approach the future. In the light of recent events, the title of that feature, “High Noon on the High Street,” had a ring of confrontational violence that was more prophetic than we could have known at the time.

Shopping on this street was getting less and less before the recession even started, and now it’s practically disappeared. Being the best, most helpful electrical shop in the area is no good if nobody comes, and I can’t really make them come because the fi rst thing that they look at is price. I don’t think the Government can really do anything about that. ”

At the other end of the local retail experience, emphasising the fact that there’s no universal solution, we received this: “The recession has hit very hard on local shops as it has on everyone, but this High Street is still in the middle of a really well established community, and this is where local people still come to shop. I’m serving people whose parents bought from me. I make sure I give good service and good advice, I deliver locally and I do servicing, so local people still rely on me. Plus I have a local landlord who understands that empty shops are no good to anyone, and local business associations and the local council do work together to put on events that bring customers to the High Street. I do feel sorry for local traders in other

areas who’ve had the rug pulled from under them by customers changing and being lured away by big out of town stores and cheap prices on the internet. I am lucky to be where I am, but I also work twelve hours a day at it, so it’s more than just luck.”

As this magazine was going to press, fi rst news was coming in of the riots and looting of business premises in London

and around the country. Although this has a direct bearing on our High Streets and retail businesses, and may prove to be the fi nal straw for some, we took the decision to keep the focus on the longer-term, deeper-seated questions about the future of our High Streets and our retailers.

Recent fi gures show that nearly 15% of retail premises are now vacant. That’s 50,000 High Street units standing empty. And there is a projection that says 25% of all non-food retail outlets could be closed by 2020. Yet at the same time there are local and regional electrical retailers who continue to fl ourish – or at least to make a good living – even in these very diffi cult trading conditions.

Clearly, understanding local conditions is the key to addressing a process that was happening before 2008, and has just been exposed and accelerated by recession.

The impact of the disorder and theft on our High Streets needs to be assessed in context, when its extent is clearer, and last month’s piece generated a great deal of reaction from electrical retailers, both independent and multiple, and from CE and MDA manufacturers, who were addressing the longer-term retail problem. Some of their views, and the trends of opinion that emerged, are reproduced here.

Acting localOne preponderant body of opinion that emerged from electrical retailers was that, while central Government intervention and national measures to support High

Street retailers could provide a useful general stimulant to consumer confi dence and spending, the detailed work has to be done area by area, High Street by High Street, because there is no single, one-size-fi ts-all solution that will work nationally. One independent told GC: “The Government could cut VAT. That might help. They could also give local authorities more power to do things on their own initiative, like with the parking charges. But they know nothing about diff erent local situations and they don’t know anything about retail. So to do any good we will have to sit down with our own landlords, local councillors, local business people and local shoppers to work out what we can do for ourselves in this High Street. As your article says, every place is diff erent, and there may be things that will help, or it may be that we have to accept that in some places traditional High Streets are not wanted any more.”

Another pointed out: “When my Dad and his brother started this shop in the sixties, they knew what they were doing, they knew who their customers were and what they wanted, and they did well by making a good reputation. But the area has totally changed now, and the people who live around here commute up to London and do their shopping at the weekend at the supermarkets and big shopping malls.

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The guru factorThe “local solutions” message was carried through to industry opinions of how eff ective the intervention of “retail guru” Mary Portas could be in a nationwide initiative to “bring back the bustle to our High Streets.”A consumer electronics manufacturer said:“We deal with a huge variety of retail channels, and what’s clear to us is that the problems are not the same for all of them. Where they are, how big they are and whether their off er is based on price or service is all important, and we’re very conscious that we have to support them all in diff erent ways. Mary Portas has an impressive CV as a retailer, but I can’t honestly see how her expertise can be applied nationally to help every High Street wherever it is and whatever types of shops it has. It’s diffi cult enough for us to fi nd ways to support High Street retailers, and we’re in close touch with them. Unless Mary Portas has the time and resources to look at all the local factors, she can only recommend the central remedies that we all know about already.”

A single-outlet independent with a shop on the High Street says: “Don’t get me wrong. Mary Portas is probably really good at what she does. But I don’t see what she can do to help me. Short of coming here and talking to my landlord, my local authority, my suppliers, all the local traders and a fair number of local residents, how can she understand exactly what needs doing here? I work in the community every day, and I don’t have the complete answer.”

Any eff ort to revive High Streets has to be applauded, and we are all still hopeful that Mary Portas can, at the very least, focus the big players – Government, landlords, giant retailers, local authorities – on the big things that can be done to create the most favourable national conditions. But she can’t work at micro level, and that is where the eff ort has to be put in to take best individual advantage of those favourable conditions.

Being national, thinking localJohn Lewis, whose retail model and sales fi gures are followed carefully as a measure of how well retail can do in diffi cult times, is an example of how a national strategy based on local knowledge can work. The store’s core retail operation has always been based on big departmental stores of 130,000-plus sq. ft. fl oorspace, in centres with a substantial population, staff ed by well trained people who know their products. The success of the online business has grown in close association with that bricks-and-mortar reputation, and it’s an online model that can be modifi ed to suit most retailers, big or small.

But John Lewis recognised that the big-store model is not a good one for all locations, because some may not be densely enough populated to support it. Hence the smaller “At Home” stores with around 40,000 sq. ft. of fl oorspace, off ering all the benefi ts of the John Lewis reputation, a good selection of appropriate lines in-store, plus access to the entire John Lewis off ering. A local solution to suit local conditions. Taking this local modelling further, John Lewis is now creating “in-between” stores with size fl exibility to suit specifi c locations and catchment areas. It’s a lesson for all retailers on the importance of recognising the demands of the locality and tweaking the successful elements to fi t it.

The RRP routeMovement towards removing the ban on manufacturers’ Recommended Retail Price for certain electrical goods has been generally welcomed in the industry as a way of taking back some control that manufacturers and retailers can exercise – if they choose – as an antidote to the somewhat ill-conceived drive towards “consumer rights.” For a long time it’s been assumed as a basic article of faith that consumers’

rights to unlimited choice, the cheapest possible prices and the reassurance that retailers will have to jump through legal hoops for them, are sacrosanct. But taken to extremes, the concept of “consumers’ rights” leads to intolerable pressure on retailers, pricing anarchy, the destruction of retail – and eventually manufacturer – margins, and a consequent collapse of consumer choice. Retail outlets going out of business, the boarding-up of our High Streets and the concentration of power in a smaller and smaller number of mega-retailers is not good for consumers. The move to remove the ban on RRP is an acknowledgement of this, but there is more to be done here.

“Bringing back RRP is probably a good thing if it can be made to work,” said a regional independent.

“But only if we all agree to honour RRP and the manufacturers don’t give in to the biggest retailers and the volume-shifters they all seem to need. We’ll have to see how it works, but maybe it’s too late to make a diff erence.”

What’s next?It’s clear that patterns of retail are changing irrevocably, and that some High Streets have really run their evolutionary course in the development of society. Some will have to be let go because the customers needed to sustain them have made diff erent choices. But the High Street is still the core of UK retail, and still has a central place in creating a good retail experience for buyers and sellers. The opportunities for bricks-and-mortar may be fewer, and it may be harder work for retailers to get it right, but there are still rewards for those who understand the place and are able to adapt to suit what its consumers want.

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TALK ON THE HIGH STREET

Last month we asked whether the UK’s High Streets can be fi xed, and whether even trying to do so is, in every case, the right way for retailers to approach the future. In the light of recent events, the title of that feature, “High Noon on the High Street,” had a ring of confrontational violence that was more prophetic than we could have known at the time.

Shopping on this street was getting less and less before the recession even started, and now it’s practically disappeared. Being the best, most helpful electrical shop in the area is no good if nobody comes, and I can’t really make them come because the fi rst thing that they look at is price. I don’t think the Government can really do anything about that. ”

At the other end of the local retail experience, emphasising the fact that there’s no universal solution, we received this: “The recession has hit very hard on local shops as it has on everyone, but this High Street is still in the middle of a really well established community, and this is where local people still come to shop. I’m serving people whose parents bought from me. I make sure I give good service and good advice, I deliver locally and I do servicing, so local people still rely on me. Plus I have a local landlord who understands that empty shops are no good to anyone, and local business associations and the local council do work together to put on events that bring customers to the High Street. I do feel sorry for local traders in other

areas who’ve had the rug pulled from under them by customers changing and being lured away by big out of town stores and cheap prices on the internet. I am lucky to be where I am, but I also work twelve hours a day at it, so it’s more than just luck.”

As this magazine was going to press, fi rst news was coming in of the riots and looting of business premises in London

and around the country. Although this has a direct bearing on our High Streets and retail businesses, and may prove to be the fi nal straw for some, we took the decision to keep the focus on the longer-term, deeper-seated questions about the future of our High Streets and our retailers.

Recent fi gures show that nearly 15% of retail premises are now vacant. That’s 50,000 High Street units standing empty. And there is a projection that says 25% of all non-food retail outlets could be closed by 2020. Yet at the same time there are local and regional electrical retailers who continue to fl ourish – or at least to make a good living – even in these very diffi cult trading conditions.

Clearly, understanding local conditions is the key to addressing a process that was happening before 2008, and has just been exposed and accelerated by recession.

The impact of the disorder and theft on our High Streets needs to be assessed in context, when its extent is clearer, and last month’s piece generated a great deal of reaction from electrical retailers, both independent and multiple, and from CE and MDA manufacturers, who were addressing the longer-term retail problem. Some of their views, and the trends of opinion that emerged, are reproduced here.

Acting localOne preponderant body of opinion that emerged from electrical retailers was that, while central Government intervention and national measures to support High

Street retailers could provide a useful general stimulant to consumer confi dence and spending, the detailed work has to be done area by area, High Street by High Street, because there is no single, one-size-fi ts-all solution that will work nationally. One independent told GC: “The Government could cut VAT. That might help. They could also give local authorities more power to do things on their own initiative, like with the parking charges. But they know nothing about diff erent local situations and they don’t know anything about retail. So to do any good we will have to sit down with our own landlords, local councillors, local business people and local shoppers to work out what we can do for ourselves in this High Street. As your article says, every place is diff erent, and there may be things that will help, or it may be that we have to accept that in some places traditional High Streets are not wanted any more.”

Another pointed out: “When my Dad and his brother started this shop in the sixties, they knew what they were doing, they knew who their customers were and what they wanted, and they did well by making a good reputation. But the area has totally changed now, and the people who live around here commute up to London and do their shopping at the weekend at the supermarkets and big shopping malls.

Phot

o ©

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The guru factorThe “local solutions” message was carried through to industry opinions of how eff ective the intervention of “retail guru” Mary Portas could be in a nationwide initiative to “bring back the bustle to our High Streets.”A consumer electronics manufacturer said:“We deal with a huge variety of retail channels, and what’s clear to us is that the problems are not the same for all of them. Where they are, how big they are and whether their off er is based on price or service is all important, and we’re very conscious that we have to support them all in diff erent ways. Mary Portas has an impressive CV as a retailer, but I can’t honestly see how her expertise can be applied nationally to help every High Street wherever it is and whatever types of shops it has. It’s diffi cult enough for us to fi nd ways to support High Street retailers, and we’re in close touch with them. Unless Mary Portas has the time and resources to look at all the local factors, she can only recommend the central remedies that we all know about already.”

A single-outlet independent with a shop on the High Street says: “Don’t get me wrong. Mary Portas is probably really good at what she does. But I don’t see what she can do to help me. Short of coming here and talking to my landlord, my local authority, my suppliers, all the local traders and a fair number of local residents, how can she understand exactly what needs doing here? I work in the community every day, and I don’t have the complete answer.”

Any eff ort to revive High Streets has to be applauded, and we are all still hopeful that Mary Portas can, at the very least, focus the big players – Government, landlords, giant retailers, local authorities – on the big things that can be done to create the most favourable national conditions. But she can’t work at micro level, and that is where the eff ort has to be put in to take best individual advantage of those favourable conditions.

Being national, thinking localJohn Lewis, whose retail model and sales fi gures are followed carefully as a measure of how well retail can do in diffi cult times, is an example of how a national strategy based on local knowledge can work. The store’s core retail operation has always been based on big departmental stores of 130,000-plus sq. ft. fl oorspace, in centres with a substantial population, staff ed by well trained people who know their products. The success of the online business has grown in close association with that bricks-and-mortar reputation, and it’s an online model that can be modifi ed to suit most retailers, big or small.

But John Lewis recognised that the big-store model is not a good one for all locations, because some may not be densely enough populated to support it. Hence the smaller “At Home” stores with around 40,000 sq. ft. of fl oorspace, off ering all the benefi ts of the John Lewis reputation, a good selection of appropriate lines in-store, plus access to the entire John Lewis off ering. A local solution to suit local conditions. Taking this local modelling further, John Lewis is now creating “in-between” stores with size fl exibility to suit specifi c locations and catchment areas. It’s a lesson for all retailers on the importance of recognising the demands of the locality and tweaking the successful elements to fi t it.

The RRP routeMovement towards removing the ban on manufacturers’ Recommended Retail Price for certain electrical goods has been generally welcomed in the industry as a way of taking back some control that manufacturers and retailers can exercise – if they choose – as an antidote to the somewhat ill-conceived drive towards “consumer rights.” For a long time it’s been assumed as a basic article of faith that consumers’

rights to unlimited choice, the cheapest possible prices and the reassurance that retailers will have to jump through legal hoops for them, are sacrosanct. But taken to extremes, the concept of “consumers’ rights” leads to intolerable pressure on retailers, pricing anarchy, the destruction of retail – and eventually manufacturer – margins, and a consequent collapse of consumer choice. Retail outlets going out of business, the boarding-up of our High Streets and the concentration of power in a smaller and smaller number of mega-retailers is not good for consumers. The move to remove the ban on RRP is an acknowledgement of this, but there is more to be done here.

“Bringing back RRP is probably a good thing if it can be made to work,” said a regional independent.

“But only if we all agree to honour RRP and the manufacturers don’t give in to the biggest retailers and the volume-shifters they all seem to need. We’ll have to see how it works, but maybe it’s too late to make a diff erence.”

What’s next?It’s clear that patterns of retail are changing irrevocably, and that some High Streets have really run their evolutionary course in the development of society. Some will have to be let go because the customers needed to sustain them have made diff erent choices. But the High Street is still the core of UK retail, and still has a central place in creating a good retail experience for buyers and sellers. The opportunities for bricks-and-mortar may be fewer, and it may be harder work for retailers to get it right, but there are still rewards for those who understand the place and are able to adapt to suit what its consumers want.

TALK ON THE HIGH STREETTALK ON THE HIGH STREET

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JVC UX-VJ5 / UX-VJ3 iPad®, iPhone®, iPod® audio systemsTwo unique audio systems from JVC feature a slim, vertical centre unit and speakers that connect and charge iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® devices simultaneously. The centre unit has a USB host, PC input, FM/AM tuner, and conceals two docks behind its simple design. Model UX-VJ5 also incorporates a CD player and has the facility to record music (MP3, MSC). UX-VJ5 comes in white, brown, and violet, and UX-VJ3 in white, pink and green.

� Video output / Audio input

� Output power: 15W x 2, RMS, 1kHz, 6 ohms, 10% THD

� Sound control: 5 Settings, Surround Mode / Sound Turbo

� 30 FM / 15 AM presets

� Auto power save 30 minutes

OmniMount Blade Series AV furniture system The Blade Series low-profi le furniture system from OmniMount comes in a choice of one shelf (Blade 1) or two shelf (Blade 2) models and is designed for easy mounting in just a few simple steps, either beneath a fl at-panel TV or as a standalone unit. Multiple Blade 1 units can be mounted together.

� 29mm profi le

� Integrated cable management

� 8mm tempered glass shelving supports up to 35 lbs (15.9 kg)

� Supplied with installation template and full hardware kit

01280 850004 www.omnimount.com

Electrolux T8 cylinder vacuum cleaner

The Electrolux T8 vacuum cleaner has multi-cyclone technology which provides continuous suction and powerful cleaning both on carpets and hard fl oors. Top of the range model ZT3530UK comes with a turbo nozzle, an upholstery nozzle and a hard fl oor nozzle.

� 250 air watts

� 1.3-litre dust container

� 5m cord with rewind / 9-metre operating radius

� Soft-start function / Soft rear wheels / Sound absorber

� SRP: ZT3510 £99.99 / ZT3520 £159.99 (pictured) / ZT3530 £179.99

08445 614 614 www.electrolux.co.uk

Maytag MDW 606 AWG IntelliSense®

dishwasherMaytag’s MDW 606 AWG uses just six litres of water to clean 13 place settings and reduces the need to pre-treat dishes prior to washing. The low level of water consumption is achieved by saving the water from the fi nal rinse in a dedicated reservoir where it is recycled for use at the beginning of the next programme. The water is fi ltered and automatically drained to prevent the formation of bacteria if the appliance isn’t used for more than three days.

� A+AA rated

� IntelliSense® advanced sensor technology

� ‘Impulse Pulse’ pump technology alternates low and high pressure throughout the cycle

� Steam Clean option

� Low energy usage (0.98kW) / Programme time 65 minutes

0844 499 0101 www.maytag.co.uk

incorporates a CD player and has the facility to record music (MP3, MSC). UX-VJ5 comes in white, brown, and violet, and UX-VJ3 in white, pink and green.

020 8450 3282 www.jvc.co.uk

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Steel Cuisine range cookersSteel Cuisine’s range cooker collection comes in a number of vibrant colours, but the option to change colour schemes after purchase gives consumers the choice to be as bold as they please. For around £190 and in under an hour, the appliance is reborn.

01926 338116 www.steelcuisine.co.uk

AEG PowerMix Silent blenderAEG has hailed its new PowerMix Silent blender a “global innovation” with a patented sound reduction system making it quieter than any other on the market, operating at 77dB compared to the average 85-95dB. There are two models in the range: the SB4400 in Antique Steel and the SB4600 in Deep Aubergine, the latter with a mini-chopper powerful enough to crush ice.

� 600W motor / 1.5L capacity

� 6 x speed settings / pulse function

� RSP: SB4400 £99.99 / SB4600 £149.99

08445 614614 www.aeg.co.uk

Husky ‘Brand Britain’ refrigerators Refrigeration specialist Husky has launched two compact drinks appliances with ‘Brand Britain’ themed fi nishes: one sporting the Union Jack and the other a montage featuring some of London’s most iconic images such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge, a black cab and a London bus.

� Removable compartment shelf / 2 x door shelves

� Temperature range 0-10°

� Holds up to 40 x 440ml cans

� SRP £129.99

01455 555397 www.husky-retail.com

NAD 3D-capable T 748 audio video receiverNAD’s new 3D capable T 748 A/V Receiver off ers a combination of high quality sound and high defi nition video at a competitive price of £795.00. It has seven channels of ultra-low distortion power and incorporates the company’s proprietary EARS (Enhanced Ambience Retrieval System) surround mode for converting stereo source material. All surround sound formats are decoded by the latest high speed DSP.

� 3D video at resolutions up to 1080p

� HDMI provides simple integration of multiple digital video devices

� Intuitive user interface

� Custom A/V presets

� FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets and RDS support

� Connection for NAD’s optional IPD 2 Dock for iPod and DB 2 Digital DAB+ module

01279 501111 www.armourhome.co.uk

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JVC UX-VJ5 / UX-VJ3 iPad®, iPhone®, iPod® audio systemsTwo unique audio systems from JVC feature a slim, vertical centre unit and speakers that connect and charge iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® devices simultaneously. The centre unit has a USB host, PC input, FM/AM tuner, and conceals two docks behind its simple design. Model UX-VJ5 also incorporates a CD player and has the facility to record music (MP3, MSC). UX-VJ5 comes in white, brown, and violet, and UX-VJ3 in white, pink and green.

� Video output / Audio input

� Output power: 15W x 2, RMS, 1kHz, 6 ohms, 10% THD

� Sound control: 5 Settings, Surround Mode / Sound Turbo

� 30 FM / 15 AM presets

� Auto power save 30 minutes

OmniMount Blade Series AV furniture system The Blade Series low-profi le furniture system from OmniMount comes in a choice of one shelf (Blade 1) or two shelf (Blade 2) models and is designed for easy mounting in just a few simple steps, either beneath a fl at-panel TV or as a standalone unit. Multiple Blade 1 units can be mounted together.

� 29mm profi le

� Integrated cable management

� 8mm tempered glass shelving supports up to 35 lbs (15.9 kg)

� Supplied with installation template and full hardware kit

01280 850004 www.omnimount.com

Electrolux T8 cylinder vacuum cleaner

The Electrolux T8 vacuum cleaner has multi-cyclone technology which provides continuous suction and powerful cleaning both on carpets and hard fl oors. Top of the range model ZT3530UK comes with a turbo nozzle, an upholstery nozzle and a hard fl oor nozzle.

� 250 air watts

� 1.3-litre dust container

� 5m cord with rewind / 9-metre operating radius

� Soft-start function / Soft rear wheels / Sound absorber

� SRP: ZT3510 £99.99 / ZT3520 £159.99 (pictured) / ZT3530 £179.99

08445 614 614 www.electrolux.co.uk

020 8450 3282 www.jvc.co.uk

THE PRODUCT GALLERY

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Steel Cuisine range cookersSteel Cuisine’s range cooker collection comes in a number of vibrant colours, but the option to change colour schemes after purchase gives consumers the choice to be as bold as they please. For around £190 and in under an hour, the appliance is reborn.

01926 338116 www.steelcuisine.co.uk

AEG PowerMix Silent blenderAEG has hailed its new PowerMix Silent blender a “global innovation” with a patented sound reduction system making it quieter than any other on the market, operating at 77dB compared to the average 85-95dB. There are two models in the range: the SB4400 in Antique Steel and the SB4600 in Deep Aubergine, the latter with a mini-chopper powerful enough to crush ice.

� 600W motor / 1.5L capacity

� 6 x speed settings / pulse function

� RSP: SB4400 £99.99 / SB4600 £149.99

08445 614614 www.aeg.co.uk

Husky ‘Brand Britain’ refrigerators Refrigeration specialist Husky has launched two compact drinks appliances with ‘Brand Britain’ themed fi nishes: one sporting the Union Jack and the other a montage featuring some of London’s most iconic images such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge, a black cab and a London bus.

� Removable compartment shelf / 2 x door shelves

� Temperature range 0-10°

� Holds up to 40 x 440ml cans

� SRP £129.99

01455 555397 www.husky-retail.com

NAD 3D-capable T 748 audio video receiverNAD’s new 3D capable T 748 A/V Receiver off ers a combination of high quality sound and high defi nition video at a competitive price of £795.00. It has seven channels of ultra-low distortion power and incorporates the company’s proprietary EARS (Enhanced Ambience Retrieval System) surround mode for converting stereo source material. All surround sound formats are decoded by the latest high speed DSP.

� 3D video at resolutions up to 1080p

� HDMI provides simple integration of multiple digital video devices

� Intuitive user interface

� Custom A/V presets

� FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets and RDS support

� Connection for NAD’s optional IPD 2 Dock for iPod and DB 2 Digital DAB+ module

01279 501111 www.armourhome.co.uk

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TOWN & APARTMENT LIVING

tall cupboard space: “Many kitchens do not have any tall housing space at all and many only have space for one tall housing, so it is up to the consumer and/or kitchen planner to decide how best to use this one key unit. The big question is,” he says, “do they use it for storage, for cooling or for housing the cooking appliances? In our opinion, this is the most important decision to be made.”

In the open-plan space, a streamlined, uncluttered look which bows to simplicity while projecting individuality is often the primary design requirement. But with this comes the need for functionality and the platform for theatre, as the status of home cooking and entertaining has evolved. As Whirlpool Brand Communication Manager Juliana Sado remarks: “Social habits have been just as much of a factor in the reshaping of the home.”

Sado points out that the current trend for home entertainment isn’t confi ned to big houses and big families: “We’re all doing it,” she says. “Not only is the practice a method of keeping food bills down, it’s a way of showing off to friends. We want to show them a professional kitchen with the latest high-tech appliances.”

Lack of space, of course, is often a hindrance, and Sado recommends that what does exist be maximised by clever thinking, neat installation and intelligent, multi-tasking appliances that are not necessarily compact – although this can be an advantage – but cleverly designed and fl exible, without compromising on function and performance.

The focal pointModern-day kitchens will have at their heart a ‘statement’ – an expression of personality, lifestyle and, albeit subjective, good taste – and the trend for banking cooking appliances is, for many, a way of presenting an eye-catching feature that projects this statement while harbouring the suggestion of culinary fi nesse. Neff ’s Jarrett says the secret here is to “think big.” Never has there been a broader selection of appliances on the market, and “any household,” he believes, “irrespective of size, can easily accommodate every possible cooking requirement with three cavity-appliances – a multifunction oven, compact microwave combination and a steam oven either in-column or side by side – plus a hob and effi cient hood.”

There is no shortage of innovation and choice in the compact appliance sector: Neff itself has in its range a selection of steam ovens, microwaves and microwaves with grills that can be installed in standard 30cm deep wall units, off ering a fl exible solution for many homes.

Furnishing the kitchen of a small home or apartment can sometimes prove a challenge for consumers: space is often

limited and, in many cases, open-plan areas have been developed to make the most of living accommodation. But while households with kitchens, dining and living areas merged into one may have many considerations to take into account when choosing domestic appliances, the scope for originality, creativity and expression in composing a seamless alliance between form and function, even if on a small scale, is only limited by the imagination.

The bijou-home dweller is not alone, of course, in appointing the open-plan milieu as a preferable living style. As a recent study showed, 2.9 million rooms have disappeared from British homes in the past fi ve years as households opted for the airiness of a larger, undivided space. 190,000 living room walls are soon to go, according to the study, and, interestingly, 170,000 utility rooms will be added, suggesting that

certain domestic appliances are considered purely as utilitarian workhorses and have no place in today’s ‘statement’ kitchen.

The idea of open-plan living is by no means new; rather, it is one which has developed over the past fi fty years, from the more conservative marrying of the kitchen and dining areas, or dining and living areas, into the bold liberation of the entire ground fl oor.

The nucleusThe heart of the open-plan home will more often than not be the kitchen – the zone that commands most of the interior design budget and the model upon which the blueprint for the entire living space will be based. No pressure, then, for kitchen designers and retailers, who in eff ect have become charged with fulfi lling consumer aspirations and dreams in the making of a lifestyle statement, while delivering all the serviceable practicalities of a working environment.

Mike Jarrett, Sales Director at Neff , believes the “most critical” issue with UK kitchens is often the lack of

KITCHEN SHOWPIECE: DE DIETRICH COMPACT 45 APPLIANCES IN AN ATTENTIONGRABBING INLINE DISPLAY

Traditional barriers in the home are coming down as family rooms give way to open-plan living. For some, the goal is to realise the full capacity of small dwellings; for others, a ‘lifestyle’ statement and enhancement of the living space. In this Town & Apartment Living feature, GC looks at the potential solutions for retailers and kitchen planners, whose job it is to ful� ll consumer aspirations, with particular emphasis on appliances suitable for smaller homes

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Jarrett also points out that compact appliances can be installed under the work surface, as can some of Neff ’s double ovens, but if possible the oven should always be placed at a comfortable user height. “Think about half-height tall housings as part of the divider between the kitchen and living area,” he advises.

De Dietrich also highlights a number of fl exible cooking solutions particularly suitable for smaller kitchens. Sales and Marketing Director Richard Walker is keen to promote the recently-launched DOS1045X, part of the brand’s Compact 45 collection of ovens. The 45cm unit has 11 oven functions including fan cooking, full width variable grill and turbo grill with rotisserie options. “The benefi t for keen cooks,” says Walker, “is that the oven also incorporates an integrated water receptacle for steam cooking and features three steam functions. It also has three pyroclean cycles. Together with a 45cm ICS microwave combination oven (DME795) and 45cm steam oven (DOV745), these compact alternatives fulfi ll every type of cooking requirement.”

De Dietrich sister brand Fagor, which produces advanced appliances aimed at a “younger, aspirational audience,” has two compact ovens which maximise space in the kitchen: a 45cm touch-control microwave combination (6H-570ATCX) and matching 45cm steam oven (6HV-585ATC X). Walker says the products will appeal to consumers that require “quality, energy-effi cient appliances at more aff ordable prices.”

Sophie Davidson, AEG Local Product Manager, Food Preparation, is keen to point out that, with compact appliances, consumers don’t need to compromise on

the number of products “or indeed the functionality.” AEG, she says, has a wide range of such appliances, from coff ee machines to multifunction ovens, combination microwaves, steam ovens and dishwashers, all of which fi t neatly into a bank to make a design statement.

Little or large?Compact appliances seem perfect for kitchens with limited space, but are they the only answer for this common feature of British homes? Apparently not. Samsung Product Manager for Cooking Nick Bevan believes an appliance that acts as an all-in-one solution and provides multiple options for consumers is the best choice, “especially since space is often limited in modern homes. Multifunction appliances always do well sales-wise – it’s what the consumer is looking for.”

Bevan highlights Samsung’s Dual Cook Steam Oven, which he says saves time and caters for people’s “ultra-busy, leisure-centric lifestyles.” The appliance can be used either as a full 65L cavity with or without steam, or be divided into two sections – a 32L lower section and a 30L upper section. The divider seals both cavities so that independent cooking programmes can be run without the transfer of odours or fl avours between the two, “even if steaming in one whilst roasting in the other.”

Hotpoint also believes in the versatility of a dividable cavity. Brand Manager Iain Starkey says the company’s Openspace ovens provide the fl exibility of a double oven in a single oven space. These appliances off er 70L capacities which can be split into two independently controlled cooking areas and have the

benefi t of the brand’s ‘intelligent cooking system’ with four cooking functions that recommend the best shelf position, temperature and cooking time.

Hoover’s 76L Prodige oven is another example of the “double oven within a single cavity” concept. The unit has independent temperature controls for each section and a stylish lighting system comprising 14 LEDs in the glass door, providing clear illumination throughout the appliance interior.

Top displaysIt has been widely acknowledged that the British are considered a nation of ‘oven cooks’, unlike our Continental neighbours, who tend to do most of their cooking on the hob. A change in habits is coming about, however, as the popularity of cuisines such as Mediterranean and Oriental has spread and the desire for the earlier mentioned display of ‘theatre’ has grown.

The increasing importance of the hob, both as a cooking appliance and a design statement, can be seen in the growth of island units which place the appliance as the centrepiece of the kitchen, and in breakfast bar-style hob housings which act as a divide for open-plan space.

Individual requirements as to the size of hob and fuel type will, of course, vary, but Smeg Product Development and Training Manager Joan Fraser urges retailers and designers to look towards Domino hobs for a range of solutions.

There are a number of inventive Domino designs on the market from a wide selection of brands and many collections extend to products that off er the opportunity

CANDY’S TRIO COMBINES A MULTIFUNCTION OVEN AND GRILL, A GAS OR CERAMIC HOB AND A 6 PLACE SETTING DISHWASHER IN A SINGLE APPLIANCE WITH STANDARD COOKER FOOTPRINT

A BOLD STATEMENT MADE BY THIS MAYTAG SIDEBYSIDE

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tall cupboard space: “Many kitchens do not have any tall housing space at all and many only have space for one tall housing, so it is up to the consumer and/or kitchen planner to decide how best to use this one key unit. The big question is,” he says, “do they use it for storage, for cooling or for housing the cooking appliances? In our opinion, this is the most important decision to be made.”

In the open-plan space, a streamlined, uncluttered look which bows to simplicity while projecting individuality is often the primary design requirement. But with this comes the need for functionality and the platform for theatre, as the status of home cooking and entertaining has evolved. As Whirlpool Brand Communication Manager Juliana Sado remarks: “Social habits have been just as much of a factor in the reshaping of the home.”

Sado points out that the current trend for home entertainment isn’t confi ned to big houses and big families: “We’re all doing it,” she says. “Not only is the practice a method of keeping food bills down, it’s a way of showing off to friends. We want to show them a professional kitchen with the latest high-tech appliances.”

Lack of space, of course, is often a hindrance, and Sado recommends that what does exist be maximised by clever thinking, neat installation and intelligent, multi-tasking appliances that are not necessarily compact – although this can be an advantage – but cleverly designed and fl exible, without compromising on function and performance.

The focal pointModern-day kitchens will have at their heart a ‘statement’ – an expression of personality, lifestyle and, albeit subjective, good taste – and the trend for banking cooking appliances is, for many, a way of presenting an eye-catching feature that projects this statement while harbouring the suggestion of culinary fi nesse. Neff ’s Jarrett says the secret here is to “think big.” Never has there been a broader selection of appliances on the market, and “any household,” he believes, “irrespective of size, can easily accommodate every possible cooking requirement with three cavity-appliances – a multifunction oven, compact microwave combination and a steam oven either in-column or side by side – plus a hob and effi cient hood.”

There is no shortage of innovation and choice in the compact appliance sector: Neff itself has in its range a selection of steam ovens, microwaves and microwaves with grills that can be installed in standard 30cm deep wall units, off ering a fl exible solution for many homes.

Furnishing the kitchen of a small home or apartment can sometimes prove a challenge for consumers: space is often

limited and, in many cases, open-plan areas have been developed to make the most of living accommodation. But while households with kitchens, dining and living areas merged into one may have many considerations to take into account when choosing domestic appliances, the scope for originality, creativity and expression in composing a seamless alliance between form and function, even if on a small scale, is only limited by the imagination.

The bijou-home dweller is not alone, of course, in appointing the open-plan milieu as a preferable living style. As a recent study showed, 2.9 million rooms have disappeared from British homes in the past fi ve years as households opted for the airiness of a larger, undivided space. 190,000 living room walls are soon to go, according to the study, and, interestingly, 170,000 utility rooms will be added, suggesting that

certain domestic appliances are considered purely as utilitarian workhorses and have no place in today’s ‘statement’ kitchen.

The idea of open-plan living is by no means new; rather, it is one which has developed over the past fi fty years, from the more conservative marrying of the kitchen and dining areas, or dining and living areas, into the bold liberation of the entire ground fl oor.

The nucleusThe heart of the open-plan home will more often than not be the kitchen – the zone that commands most of the interior design budget and the model upon which the blueprint for the entire living space will be based. No pressure, then, for kitchen designers and retailers, who in eff ect have become charged with fulfi lling consumer aspirations and dreams in the making of a lifestyle statement, while delivering all the serviceable practicalities of a working environment.

Mike Jarrett, Sales Director at Neff , believes the “most critical” issue with UK kitchens is often the lack of

KITCHEN SHOWPIECE: DE DIETRICH COMPACT 45 APPLIANCES IN AN ATTENTIONGRABBING INLINE DISPLAY

Traditional barriers in the home are coming down as family rooms give way to open-plan living. For some, the goal is to realise the full capacity of small dwellings; for others, a ‘lifestyle’ statement and enhancement of the living space. In this Town & Apartment Living feature, GC looks at the potential solutions for retailers and kitchen planners, whose job it is to ful� ll consumer aspirations, with particular emphasis on appliances suitable for smaller homes

19

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Jarrett also points out that compact appliances can be installed under the work surface, as can some of Neff ’s double ovens, but if possible the oven should always be placed at a comfortable user height. “Think about half-height tall housings as part of the divider between the kitchen and living area,” he advises.

De Dietrich also highlights a number of fl exible cooking solutions particularly suitable for smaller kitchens. Sales and Marketing Director Richard Walker is keen to promote the recently-launched DOS1045X, part of the brand’s Compact 45 collection of ovens. The 45cm unit has 11 oven functions including fan cooking, full width variable grill and turbo grill with rotisserie options. “The benefi t for keen cooks,” says Walker, “is that the oven also incorporates an integrated water receptacle for steam cooking and features three steam functions. It also has three pyroclean cycles. Together with a 45cm ICS microwave combination oven (DME795) and 45cm steam oven (DOV745), these compact alternatives fulfi ll every type of cooking requirement.”

De Dietrich sister brand Fagor, which produces advanced appliances aimed at a “younger, aspirational audience,” has two compact ovens which maximise space in the kitchen: a 45cm touch-control microwave combination (6H-570ATCX) and matching 45cm steam oven (6HV-585ATC X). Walker says the products will appeal to consumers that require “quality, energy-effi cient appliances at more aff ordable prices.”

Sophie Davidson, AEG Local Product Manager, Food Preparation, is keen to point out that, with compact appliances, consumers don’t need to compromise on

the number of products “or indeed the functionality.” AEG, she says, has a wide range of such appliances, from coff ee machines to multifunction ovens, combination microwaves, steam ovens and dishwashers, all of which fi t neatly into a bank to make a design statement.

Little or large?Compact appliances seem perfect for kitchens with limited space, but are they the only answer for this common feature of British homes? Apparently not. Samsung Product Manager for Cooking Nick Bevan believes an appliance that acts as an all-in-one solution and provides multiple options for consumers is the best choice, “especially since space is often limited in modern homes. Multifunction appliances always do well sales-wise – it’s what the consumer is looking for.”

Bevan highlights Samsung’s Dual Cook Steam Oven, which he says saves time and caters for people’s “ultra-busy, leisure-centric lifestyles.” The appliance can be used either as a full 65L cavity with or without steam, or be divided into two sections – a 32L lower section and a 30L upper section. The divider seals both cavities so that independent cooking programmes can be run without the transfer of odours or fl avours between the two, “even if steaming in one whilst roasting in the other.”

Hotpoint also believes in the versatility of a dividable cavity. Brand Manager Iain Starkey says the company’s Openspace ovens provide the fl exibility of a double oven in a single oven space. These appliances off er 70L capacities which can be split into two independently controlled cooking areas and have the

benefi t of the brand’s ‘intelligent cooking system’ with four cooking functions that recommend the best shelf position, temperature and cooking time.

Hoover’s 76L Prodige oven is another example of the “double oven within a single cavity” concept. The unit has independent temperature controls for each section and a stylish lighting system comprising 14 LEDs in the glass door, providing clear illumination throughout the appliance interior.

Top displaysIt has been widely acknowledged that the British are considered a nation of ‘oven cooks’, unlike our Continental neighbours, who tend to do most of their cooking on the hob. A change in habits is coming about, however, as the popularity of cuisines such as Mediterranean and Oriental has spread and the desire for the earlier mentioned display of ‘theatre’ has grown.

The increasing importance of the hob, both as a cooking appliance and a design statement, can be seen in the growth of island units which place the appliance as the centrepiece of the kitchen, and in breakfast bar-style hob housings which act as a divide for open-plan space.

Individual requirements as to the size of hob and fuel type will, of course, vary, but Smeg Product Development and Training Manager Joan Fraser urges retailers and designers to look towards Domino hobs for a range of solutions.

There are a number of inventive Domino designs on the market from a wide selection of brands and many collections extend to products that off er the opportunity


CANDY’S TRIO COMBINES A MULTIFUNCTION OVEN AND GRILL, A GAS OR CERAMIC HOB AND A 6 PLACE SETTING DISHWASHER IN A SINGLE APPLIANCE WITH STANDARD COOKER FOOTPRINT

A BOLD STATEMENT MADE BY THIS MAYTAG SIDEBYSIDE

for theatre. Smeg’s 30cm range includes induction, gas and ceramic models as well as a low-level deep fryer, teppanyaki and lava stone grill.

De Dietrich’s Walker recommends “fl exible, space-effi cient hobs” as ideal for small or open-plan kitchens in which people want to entertain and where room for a large hob [such as a 90cm model] is not available. “The 65cm DTi1053X Zoneless Dual Continuum induction Hob off ers greater space fl exibility than a standard 60cm hob as it can accommodate multiple pans on each of the side-by-side zoneless Continuum Cooking areas, with two separate temperature controlled areas for each zone. If necessary, the zone can also be converted to one overall cooking area for larger pans,” he explains. And if space is truly at a premium, his advice is to opt for a 38cm modular induction hob: “The De Dietrich DTi1041X is a single continuum Zone that will accommodate multiple pans, again with two separate temperature controlled areas that can be converted to one single larger zone.”

What’s overhead?Extraction – an important factor for any kitchen planner to take into account – becomes even more critical in the open-plan environment as, apart from undesirable, lingering cooking smells, soft furnishings will need to be protected from penetrating odours and grease.

Neff ’s Jarrett stresses that the effi ciency of the cooker hood is “vital.” Retailers and designers need to check how much grease and odour can be extracted, “so it’s really important not just to look at the air fl ow rates,” he advises. He also highlights the fact that apartment blocks often don’t have suffi cient access for ducted ventilation so recirculation may be the only solution. “Here, air fl ow is less, so the effi ciency of the grease and odour fi lters becomes hugely important.”

Jarrett advocates the use of telescopic hoods where space is limited: “These can be installed just 430mm above electric hobs and are designed to maintain as much usable space as possible in the wall units above. Not only is this a practical solution, but it is also a chic and understated alternative to the larger chimney versions.” Smeg’s Joan Fraser supports this view, pointing out that her brand’s KSET610 60cm telescopic hood can be “pulled out from a wall unit when required and pushed back tidily out of the way when fi nished with.” Importantly, Fraser adds that the unit is also quiet in operation, at 27dB (A) on setting 1. The noise level of a normal conversation is said to be around 50 – 60dB.

Jarrett urges kitchen planners to check the noise levels of extractors, but cautions they not be misled by the diff erent rates declared: “Ask for the international measurement according to the EN norm which requires lengths of ducting to be attached to give a better indication of installed noise levels. However, beware of the diff erent measurements as the legislation allows two, which means direct comparisons between brands are much harder to make.”

Noise levels are an important consideration for open-plan living areas, and domestic appliances are not traditionally known to be silent operators: fridges humming and whining 24 hours a day, dishwashers whooshing and sloshing through the evening and washing machines groaning, whirring, vibrating and bumping their way across the kitchen fl oor. But times have changed, and operational noise levels are now a great USP that needs to be demonstrated, as the majority of consumers have no conception of the decibel scale. There is little doubt that most will be astonished at the improvements – many of which will be highlighted as we move through other product areas in this feature – and at the varying price levels of ‘silent’ appliances on the market.

Well loaded…Laundry appliances are an essential, and most consumers will want to wash less often while having the option to ‘wash and go’ when necessary. Little space means little room for drying apparatus, and the prospect of clothes hanging over radiators is not conducive to an uncluttered, aspirational way of life.

It would be an injustice to the industry to articulate the development in washing machine capacities as anything less than remarkable. The convenience of washing less often has certainly been met by manufacturers, with the production of appliances boasting capacities more than double those available in the 90s. Up to 12kg in a standard sized machine means that additional space is not required to take advantage of the benefi ts brought by such products. LG’s new 6 Motion Direct Drive 12kg washing machine with TrueSteam™ has an impressive ‘A+++’ energy class,


Space-saving built-in products from Stoves The Stoves collection of built-in products offers an option to suit every style of kitchen, size and fuel preference, allowing retailers to provide customers with a wealth of choice and a product that truly � ts their needs.

The core range, launched late last year, has recently been expanded with the addition of a number of new products to offer even greater � exibility and choice.

Taking the aesthetic from the highly popular Stoves Sterling range cooker,

the new products include four built-in single and double ovens, a 70cm built-under double oven and three gas and electric hobs. All of the new Sterling built-in products are also Made in Britain.For further information: 0844 248 4149www.stoves.co.uk

ATTRACTIVE APPLIANCES NEED NOT BE CONFINED TO THE KITCHEN

STACKING A WASHING MACHINE AND TUMBLE DRYER PROVIDES A SPACESAVING SOLUTION

FRIDGE

FREEZER

FRIDGE

FREEZER

Haier UK Head Office: Tel: 020 8166 4978 Email: [email protected]

www.haier.com0114 254 2400 01244 535 9290845 052 9030

*

*Source: Euromonitor International Limited; retail volume sales in units based on 2010 data.

Fridge or freezer?The choice is yours...

-18°C 5°C

Haier has launched the new AFD626 combi fridge freezer series. The middle compartment of this fridge freezer can be independently controlled from +5°C to -18°C, giving customers greater flexibility over how they manage their food.The AFD626 is available in stunning Haier glass black, red, white and stainless steel effect. To learn more about this product, please contact Haier.

A

*

Visit us at IFA 2011WG: hall 3.1, stand 103TV: hall 3.2, stand 134

A

Space creating innovationHaier’s 4-door side-by-sides are double the internal width of a standard

side-by-side – with the same external dimensions

01264 334596

HB21-FGRAA

Amazing new technology from Haier

Haier_GC_ad_July_2011.indd 1 20/07/2011 10:21

for theatre. Smeg’s 30cm range includes induction, gas and ceramic models as well as a low-level deep fryer, teppanyaki and lava stone grill.

De Dietrich’s Walker recommends “fl exible, space-effi cient hobs” as ideal for small or open-plan kitchens in which people want to entertain and where room for a large hob [such as a 90cm model] is not available. “The 65cm DTi1053X Zoneless Dual Continuum induction Hob off ers greater space fl exibility than a standard 60cm hob as it can accommodate multiple pans on each of the side-by-side zoneless Continuum Cooking areas, with two separate temperature controlled areas for each zone. If necessary, the zone can also be converted to one overall cooking area for larger pans,” he explains. And if space is truly at a premium, his advice is to opt for a 38cm modular induction hob: “The De Dietrich DTi1041X is a single continuum Zone that will accommodate multiple pans, again with two separate temperature controlled areas that can be converted to one single larger zone.”

What’s overhead?Extraction – an important factor for any kitchen planner to take into account – becomes even more critical in the open-plan environment as, apart from undesirable, lingering cooking smells, soft furnishings will need to be protected from penetrating odours and grease.

Neff ’s Jarrett stresses that the effi ciency of the cooker hood is “vital.” Retailers and designers need to check how much grease and odour can be extracted, “so it’s really important not just to look at the air fl ow rates,” he advises. He also highlights the fact that apartment blocks often don’t have suffi cient access for ducted ventilation so recirculation may be the only solution. “Here, air fl ow is less, so the effi ciency of the grease and odour fi lters becomes hugely important.”

Jarrett advocates the use of telescopic hoods where space is limited: “These can be installed just 430mm above electric hobs and are designed to maintain as much usable space as possible in the wall units above. Not only is this a practical solution, but it is also a chic and understated alternative to the larger chimney versions.” Smeg’s Joan Fraser supports this view, pointing out that her brand’s KSET610 60cm telescopic hood can be “pulled out from a wall unit when required and pushed back tidily out of the way when fi nished with.” Importantly, Fraser adds that the unit is also quiet in operation, at 27dB (A) on setting 1. The noise level of a normal conversation is said to be around 50 – 60dB.

Jarrett urges kitchen planners to check the noise levels of extractors, but cautions they not be misled by the diff erent rates declared: “Ask for the international measurement according to the EN norm which requires lengths of ducting to be attached to give a better indication of installed noise levels. However, beware of the diff erent measurements as the legislation allows two, which means direct comparisons between brands are much harder to make.”

Noise levels are an important consideration for open-plan living areas, and domestic appliances are not traditionally known to be silent operators: fridges humming and whining 24 hours a day, dishwashers whooshing and sloshing through the evening and washing machines groaning, whirring, vibrating and bumping their way across the kitchen fl oor. But times have changed, and operational noise levels are now a great USP that needs to be demonstrated, as the majority of consumers have no conception of the decibel scale. There is little doubt that most will be astonished at the improvements – many of which will be highlighted as we move through other product areas in this feature – and at the varying price levels of ‘silent’ appliances on the market.

Well loaded…Laundry appliances are an essential, and most consumers will want to wash less often while having the option to ‘wash and go’ when necessary. Little space means little room for drying apparatus, and the prospect of clothes hanging over radiators is not conducive to an uncluttered, aspirational way of life.

It would be an injustice to the industry to articulate the development in washing machine capacities as anything less than remarkable. The convenience of washing less often has certainly been met by manufacturers, with the production of appliances boasting capacities more than double those available in the 90s. Up to 12kg in a standard sized machine means that additional space is not required to take advantage of the benefi ts brought by such products. LG’s new 6 Motion Direct Drive 12kg washing machine with TrueSteam™ has an impressive ‘A+++’ energy class,


Space-saving built-in products from Stoves The Stoves collection of built-in products offers an option to suit every style of kitchen, size and fuel preference, allowing retailers to provide customers with a wealth of choice and a product that truly � ts their needs.

The core range, launched late last year, has recently been expanded with the addition of a number of new products to offer even greater � exibility and choice.

Taking the aesthetic from the highly popular Stoves Sterling range cooker,

the new products include four built-in single and double ovens, a 70cm built-under double oven and three gas and electric hobs. All of the new Sterling built-in products are also Made in Britain.For further information: 0844 248 4149www.stoves.co.uk

ATTRACTIVE APPLIANCES NEED NOT BE CONFINED TO THE KITCHEN

STACKING A WASHING MACHINE AND TUMBLE DRYER PROVIDES A SPACESAVING SOLUTION

FRIDGE

FREEZER

FRIDGEFRIDGE

FREEZERFREEZERFREEZERFREEZERFREEZERFREEZERFREEZERFREEZER

Haier UK Head Office: Tel: 020 8166 4978 Email: [email protected]

www.haier.com0114 254 2400 01244 535 9290845 052 9030

*

*Source: Euromonitor International Limited; retail volume sales in units based on 2010 data.

Fridge or freezer?The choice is yours...

-18°C 5°C

Haier has launched the new AFD626 combi fridge freezer series. The middle compartment of this fridge freezer can be independently controlled from +5°C to -18°C, giving customers greater flexibility over how they manage their food.The AFD626 is available in stunning Haier glass black, red, white and stainless steel effect. To learn more about this product, please contact Haier.

A

*

Visit us at IFA 2011WG: hall 3.1, stand 103TV: hall 3.2, stand 134

A

Space creating innovation

Fridge or freezer?

Haier’s 4-door side-by-sides are double the internal width of a standard side-by-side – with the same external dimensions

01264 334596

HB21-FGRAA

Amazing new technology from Haier

Haier_GC_ad_July_2011.indd 1 20/07/2011 10:21

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‘A’ class wash performance and ‘A’ class spin performance, with a low annual energy consumption of 222kWh.

Samsung’s Eco Bubble 12 kg machine has the facility to wash garments “perfectly” at a temperature of 15 degrees, giving the same results as in a 30/40-degree wash, and Hotpoint’s 11kg Aqualtis has its drum built into a soundproof cabinet, providing the brand’s “quietest wash ever” with spin speeds up to 1600rpm, “so clothes spend less time in the tumble dryer or hanging around on the radiator,” says Brand Manager Iain Starkey.

The drying of large wash loads does tend to pose an awkward problem for many households – laundry draped on clothes horses, over radiators, banisters and in front of fi res can quickly turn the living area into a perceivable shambles. Where a tumble dryer is a no-no due to lack of space, the obvious solution is to consider a washer dryer. Samsung’s Gino Grossi off ers this advice for retailers and designers recommending such products: “Be aware that these machines need to be vented properly to prevent overheating, not only of the machine but the exterior space, too, since the heat from the dryer can often cause a room to get stuff y. Proper ventilation is key to ensuring the living space remains fresh.”

De Dietrich’s Walker recommends integrating a washer dryer “as the beauty of an integrated appliance is that it is both functional and space-effi cient.” The brand’s DLZ693BU integrated model has a 6kg wash and 4kg drying capacity and is available in black with minimalist silver controls.

For consumers that prefer a ‘big wash’, Indesit’s freestanding Prime PWDE8147S washer dryer has an 8kg wash and 6kg drying capacity. And for smaller kitchens or utility areas Hoover’s slim-depth 45cm model has a 6kg wash and 5kg drying capacity.

Slim-depth washer dryers are quite uncommon in the UK, but there are a growing number of washing machines in this size category, which are particularly suitable for galley-style kitchen or utility rooms where reduced depth worktops have been installed to free up fl oor space.

Hoover’s OPHS 712DF accommodates a family-sized 7kg wash load, as does sister brand Candy’s 40cm deep Grand’O, which delivers a full wash in just 32 minutes. Indesit’s slim-depth 45cm IWSC5125 off ers an express 15-minute wash and special programmes for jeans, wools, delicates and sports shoes, while Amica’s A-rated, 42.5cm AWSO10L has 15 wash programmes, including a 27-minute short wash cycle, and an antibacterial system.

AEG and a number of other brands suggest the stacking of washing machines and tumble dryers to save space, and off er stacking accessories which ensure appliances banked on top of each other are stable and safe to use.

Bowlfuls of space Dishwasher ownership is increasing in the UK, and a generation of new householders who have lived with such products is emerging. For them, it is an essential they will not want to be without. And with built-in, integrated, in-line, slim-line and countertop models on the market, there is a wealth of choice for those kitting out small and open-plan areas. However, according to De Dietrich’s Walker, “one of the fi rst appliances often crossed off the wish list due to lack of space is the dishwasher, yet this is possibly one of the most important appliances to own in a space-effi cient kitchen.”

“Many of us forget the great advantages of the dishwasher,” says Whirlpool’s Sado. Apart from the resource-saving, hygienic washing and drying of dishes, she remarks on the appliance’s inherent de-cluttering facility – a hideaway for dirty dishes and, after washing, a storage area for clean ones. In eff ect, “a great use of space rather than the ‘space grabber’ they are often deemed to be.”

Sado aptly describes the dishwasher as “an ever-increasing tardis.” The majority of models on the market now have place settings in the region of 12 to 13, although Maytag’s XXL appliance has a massive 17. The ‘tardis’ eff ect can also be seen in slim-line appliances, many of which now have a family-sized 10 place settings and are available at a range of price levels. De Dietrich’s integrated slim-line model, the newly launched AAA rated DVY1010J, for example, is ideal for smaller and open-plan kitchens. It operates at 46dB(A) and incorporates the brand’s Intelligent Control System which assesses the level of dirt on items before automatically setting the most performance- and resource-effi cient programme.

Hotpoint’s slim-line SDD910 is also a sensor-controlled machine with 10 place settings. Its ‘Flexipower’ motor provides shorter wash times and it has an operational noise level of 47dB; Indesit’s AAA rated IDS105 is recommended by the EST and has gained the Waterwise marquee; Smeg’s AAA rated slim-line models each accommodate 10 place settings and operate at 48dB(A); Beko’s 45cm DE2541F, again with 10 place settings, operates at 49dB(A).

TOWN & APARTMENT LIVINGTHIS NEFF STEAM OVEN SLOTS NEATLY INTO STANDARD 30CM DEEP WALL UNITS

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Compact dishwashers are available in a range of formats; the selection of brands and models too numerous to mention within the context of this feature. But one of the most recent launches is Gorenje’s GIC63140 AX, an extension of the brand’s Pure range of appliances. The in-line model comes in a stylish black and stainless steel fi nish and is the “perfect choice for those who lack the room for a full-size model but don’t wish to compromise on style and functionality,” according to Marketing Manager Ruth Ferguson. “Consumers are increasingly looking for appliances that perfectly match their spatial requirements, making compact models of real interest, and will appreciate the retailer who can off er eye-catching products in a variety of footprints,” she adds.

Cooling spaceCombination cooling appliances generally take up the biggest area in the kitchen, but suffi cient, safe food storage is a must. And, as Maytag Product Marketing Manager Caroline Guillermard says: “Consumers want appliances that say something about them.” With the kitchen and living space opening up, the opportunity to opt for bigger, focal-point cooling appliances becomes a possibility and “side-by-sides in two and three-door confi gurations and those that can be customised both inside and outside will certainly make a statement.”

Whirlpool’s Sado adds that the side-by-side takes up less space than a paired European fridge and freezer sited together (1000mm compared to 1200 mm), and Whirlpool’s new models ventilate through the plinth so can be built in between cupboards or living room furniture. “The latest glass and glass-like fi nishes are just perfect for a dramatic eff ect,” she says.

Sado advocates extending refrigeration appliances such as wine cabinets into other areas of the home: “The latest sophisticated and elegant designs lend themselves to being placed in the dining or living area to create a superb display of the owner’s wine collection.” Hotpoint’s Iain Starkey also believes that cooling appliances could be liberated from the kitchen. “Stylish products with true design appeal, like the Hotpoint Quadrio and Indesit Trilogic, look equally at home in an open-plan living room,” he comments.

MAX on test Microwave ovens are a great bene� t to any household, whether space is limited or not, and the traditional perception of these appliances as “pie warmers” is due mainly to consumers’ lack of knowledge as to how to use products for cooking rather than solely for reheating food and beverages.

In September 2010, Whirlpool introduced its new MAX range of microwave ovens: the MAX 35 equipped with steam facility, and the MAX 38 equipped with grill and combi-grill and incorporating Crisp® patented technology for oven-crisp results.

The � rst striking features of the MAX are its rounded back, which allows it to slot neatly into the corner of the worktop, its � at-screen glass door and clutter-free fascia. Overall, the design is clean and its gentle curves project a trendy retro feel. Not only does it sit perfectly in the corner of the worktop, but when placed ‘� at on’ its compact size and shape make it an appealing worktop focal point.

GC put the MAX 35 through its paces over a period of time and found the appliance intuitive and easy to use due to its clearly labelled control panel. As for cooking, reheating and defrosting foodstuffs, it can’t be faulted. The Jet Defrost facility is a ‘godsend’; it does the job properly without partially cooking food and defrosts evenly too.

Cooking the normal run of everyday foodstuffs such as baked potatoes, porridge and scrambled eggs (lovely with smoked ham or smoked � sh added) was quick and easy, too, and produced the desired result – the scrambled eggs in particular were delicious, delivered with a soft and � uffy consistency with no ‘rubber tyre’ around the outside of the bowl.

If GC had any advice for Whirlpool it would be to produce a cookery booklet for this versatile appliance, because the MAX’s ability is not limited to the cooking of basic foods. GC found that dishes such as prawn curry and quick risottos, for example, also turned out well. Steaming food in the MAX 35 is both quick and easy and, yet again, we found the appliance delivered the perfect result. Fish in particular was delightful: tasty, moist and cooked to a ‘T’.

The MAX has a clock with kitchen timer, so users are signalled to return to check their dish or add further ingredients, and a memo function which stores preferred settings – really handy if cooking the same type of foods often. The 28cm turntable accommodates a standard-sized dinner plate, and the top of the MAX has been specially designed so dishes can be placed on it while checking their progress.

Overall, we gave the MAX 35 a big ‘thumbs up’.

The MAX 35 and MAX 38 both hold Which? Best Buy status and come in a selection of colours: red, cream, black, silver and white (model dependent).

For those looking for fl exible fridge and freezer space, there are a number of models on the market with compartments that can be switched from fridge to freezer mode. Haier’s ‘MyZone’, for example, has a middle compartment that can be used as either. “This means that customers no longer need to trade off capacity against smaller fridge freezers,” says UK White Goods Product Manager James Osborne, “and they can use this appliance to meet all their storage needs throughout the year. For example: the storage of more frozen products in winter and more fresh produce in summer.” MyZone comes in a glass fi nish, off ering “a glamorous design for a small space.”

Consumers need to recognise that good use of vertical space is every bit as important as the clever use of fl oor space. As AEG’s Sophie Davidson notes: “Space is precious and the homeowner needs to maximize what’s available.” For smaller kitchen areas she strongly recommends the purchase of extra-tall refrigeration as a resourceful means of doing away with the “dead space” that would normally exist above cabinets or three-quarter height cooling appliances, thereby providing valuable, safe food storage.

Where vertical space is occupied by in-column or banked appliances, cooling drawers may provide a stylish alternative. Hotpoint is one of a number of brands with such products in its range: the 90cm units can be supplied either with Hotpoint Experience Steel fronts or fi nished with matching cabinetry.

The cornerstones As the number of low-occupancy, more compact homes increases across the UK and more areas are surrendered to the open-plan environment, consumers will continue to seek out appliances that can deliver aspirational lifestyle requirements. But, “regardless of the space available in the home, when we boil it all down to basics, most would-be buyers want the answers to the following questions,” says Maytag’s Guillermard: Does the appliance fulfi ll my needs? Is it a brand I can trust and rely on if anything goes wrong? Does it look nice and will it fi t in with the rest of my kitchen and living area? How much will it cost me over the long-term in energy and water expenditure?


WHIRLPOOL’S RANGE OF DISHWASHERS OPERATE AT A “WHISPER QUIET” 39DBA

Alive &Kicking

One of the industry’s oldest and best known distributors is on the move.Swift of Stoke on Trent have just completed a major new investmentprogramme to enable them to move all staff to their purpose built Fentonsite. Malcolm Scott, their commercial director, talks about the programme:

“In these difficult times Swifthas continued to invest in thefuture with a new officecomplex and exhibition areadue to be completed duringAugust. To mark thecompletion of the project,we will host the most comprehensive applianceshow of the year on 18th, 19th& 20th October with overtwenty industry giants show-ing their wares. We feel it isimportant for retailers andmanufacturers to meet anddiscuss ideas - with thepressure from multiples andinternet traders ever present,it is essential for kitchenshowrooms and independent retailers to see the latest ideas and innovations.”

As Swift’s marketing managerJamie Wells points out “This is not just another ‘roadshow’ -visitors will get the chance totalk to some of the industry’skey decision makers. Managing Directors from fiveleading appliance brands havealready confirmed that theywill attend the three day show,plus the Kitchen BathroomBedroom Specialists Associa-tion (KBSA) and White GoodsTrade Association (WTA) willbe representing theindependent retailers. ”

“From the appliance world wehave AEG, Amica, Belling,Bosch, Candy, Daewoo, Electrolux, Hoover, Hotpoint,Indesit, LEC, LuxAir Hoods, NewWorld, Smiths Environ-mental, Stoves, Whirlpool andZanussi. Franke, Insinkerator,Perrin and Rowe and MGSTaps will also be showing theirlatest sink and tap offerings.Since every brand will haveoutstanding ‘deal of the day’offers, this really is the show tovisit.”

“…the mostcomprehensiveappliance show

of the year”

visitwww.swiftuk.co.uk/tradeshow

to keep up with the latesttradeshow news and register for

your tickets.

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Eco-Friendly CoolingLec is proud to have its complete range of A+ rated products backed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST). The EST is the UK’s leading impartial organisation helping to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. The role the trust plays in reducing energy use is vital to looking after the environment. So, it’s a partnership that is great for everyone.

To be recommended by the EST, a refrigeration product must be A+ rated and conform to independently set criteria.

The EST symbol represents a smarter choice all round. In fact, whenever you buy a product that features the symbol, you can be sure that it will cost you less to run and be kinder to the environment.

Best on TestLec’s products have consistently performed well under test conditions and its appliances regularly receive praise from consumer testing body Which?

Most recently, the Lec U5526W freestanding freezer received the highest possible mark of fi ve stars for reliability, whilst the Lec L6046W freestanding fridge was awarded both a Best Buy and Exceptional Value product status.

Awarded only to those products which achieve the highest results during rigorous testing and analysis, Which? Best Buy and Exceptional Value status is reserved only for the very best products and services on the market.

BRANDS OF BRANDS OF

badge will also change, becoming a fresh take on its original polished metal badge to celebrate the brand’s heritage.

The bold new badge will be more prominent on products and has been designed to convey Lec’s brand promise to provide good, honest refrigeration.

The new advertising and imagery is stylish and bold, underpinned by simple messages and a promise to deliver ‘Pure refrigeration.’

No gadgets, gizmos or gimmicksLec’s ‘Pure refrigeration’ promise is refl ected in its simple, eff ective ‘no nonsense’ product range of freestanding fridges, freezers, combis and wine coolers. Whether it’s capacity and durability for the family home, compact designs for smaller properties, or contemporary style for the modern apartment, there’s a Lec product for everyone.

An outstanding brand achieves distinction by identifying and ful� lling real consumer needs, and by establishing over time a heritage of trust in its consistency and quality. While preserving the best of its established heritage, a Brand of Distinction must also prove its vitality by continuing to innovate, develop and respond to changing consumer needs and tastes. Lec, with 70 years of tradition and recognition in the UK refrigeration market, and with a current, vibrant, inventive identity as part of the Glen Dimplex Home Appliances stable, has clearly achieved that Brand of Distinction status.

Lec: Fresh and strong at 70

The Lec Heritage

Founded in 1942 as the Longford Engineering Company, Lec is now the oldest refrigeration brand in the UK.

The company was originally formed by Charles Purley, a fi shmonger based in Bognor Regis who was fed up with the high cost of ice, and wanted to develop a refrigeration system to keep his fi sh cool.

His fi rst refrigerator, made using a CO2 compressor, proved so popular that he abandoned fi shmongery and was soon making 27 fridges a week. By the late 1940s Lec was turning out more than 2,000 refrigerators a week, had 90% of the British export market to Canada and was making inroads into America. In 1989 the company was capable of producing up to 3,000 fridges a day and employed nearly 1,900 people.

The company was acquired in 2005 by Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, who have invested heavily in restoring the Lec brand to its best with the launch of aff ordable, reliable and energy effi cient products.

Pure RefrigerationLec is celebrating its 70th birthday with a complete re-brand. As part of this re-brand, which includes a new advertising campaign, photography and website, Lec’s product

LEC’S LONDON SHOWROOM IN REGENT STREET, 1955 AND LEC FOUNDER CHARLES PURLEY

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Under Counter ClassOne of Lec’s particular strengths is in the under-counter category. In 2010 the brand consolidated its product range, focusing on its strongest categories, which have traditionally been the 50cm and 55cm under counter and combi models. Amongst the brand’s best sellers are:

R5010B As one of Lec’s strongest selling under-

counter refrigerators the R5010B offers

100 litres of cooling capacity and

14 litre 4* freezer compartment. The

R5010B, which is A+ energy rated and

recommended by the Energy Saving

Trust, sums up all the strengths of the

Lec brand – value for money, ef� ciency

and practicality – and is estimated to

save up to £8 per year on energy bills.

It also features two safety glass shelves,

a salad drawer and a bottle shelf, and is

available both white and black gloss.

TF5517WThis new, competitively priced, A+

rated combi is a 55cm wide, 1.7

metre high frost free combi with an

impressive 237 litre net capacity. The

auto defrost freezer in the TF5517W

offers 81 litres of freezing capacity

and four spacious freezer drawers. In

the refrigerator there are two shelves

and a generously sized salad drawer.

The product is available in white and

is � nished with recessed handles.

“Since acquiring the brand in 2005, we have worked hard to simplify the product portfolio and develop a point of diff erence in what is a very competitive market. Lec was always well known for its niche sizes and models, and we have continued this theme with such products as the 1.2m high 50cm combi T5039. But where we have really advanced and started to add value is in energy savings, delivering an A+ rating on all of our under counter products and many of our new range.

“Our forward strategy is demonstrated through our new branding in terms of off ering good, honest refrigeration with a strong energy message as endorsed by the EST. We have re-branded our products with a new, modern, stand out badge and our advertising message is all about off ering good quality, energy effi cient and reliable refrigeration products. We are really proud of the ownership of Lec and, as a British manufacturer of cooking appliances, we are working to continually develop the range of refrigerators to best serve the UK consumer in the most energy effi cient way.”

David Garden, Commercial Director at Lec

T503950cm wide combi fridge freezerThis product is one of Lec’s best sellers

due to its niche size and affordability. At

1225cms tall it offers 90 litres of cooling

capacity and 45 litres of freezing capacity,

giving it great � exibility. Featuring

integrated handles and reversible doors,

along with three glass shelves and a bottle

shelf, this A+ rated product is estimated to

save you up to £5 a year in energy costs

and is available in black or white.

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Eco-Friendly CoolingLec is proud to have its complete range of A+ rated products backed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST). The EST is the UK’s leading impartial organisation helping to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. The role the trust plays in reducing energy use is vital to looking after the environment. So, it’s a partnership that is great for everyone.

To be recommended by the EST, a refrigeration product must be A+ rated and conform to independently set criteria.

The EST symbol represents a smarter choice all round. In fact, whenever you buy a product that features the symbol, you can be sure that it will cost you less to run and be kinder to the environment.

Best on TestLec’s products have consistently performed well under test conditions and its appliances regularly receive praise from consumer testing body Which?

Most recently, the Lec U5526W freestanding freezer received the highest possible mark of fi ve stars for reliability, whilst the Lec L6046W freestanding fridge was awarded both a Best Buy and Exceptional Value product status.

Awarded only to those products which achieve the highest results during rigorous testing and analysis, Which? Best Buy and Exceptional Value status is reserved only for the very best products and services on the market.

BRANDS OF

badge will also change, becoming a fresh take on its original polished metal badge to celebrate the brand’s heritage.

The bold new badge will be more prominent on products and has been designed to convey Lec’s brand promise to provide good, honest refrigeration.

The new advertising and imagery is stylish and bold, underpinned by simple messages and a promise to deliver ‘Pure refrigeration.’

No gadgets, gizmos or gimmicksLec’s ‘Pure refrigeration’ promise is refl ected in its simple, eff ective ‘no nonsense’ product range of freestanding fridges, freezers, combis and wine coolers. Whether it’s capacity and durability for the family home, compact designs for smaller properties, or contemporary style for the modern apartment, there’s a Lec product for everyone.

An outstanding brand achieves distinction by identifying and ful� lling real consumer needs, and by establishing over time a heritage of trust in its consistency and quality. While preserving the best of its established heritage, a Brand of Distinction must also prove its vitality by continuing to innovate, develop and respond to changing consumer needs and tastes. Lec, with 70 years of tradition and recognition in the UK refrigeration market, and with a current, vibrant, inventive identity as part of the Glen Dimplex Home Appliances stable, has clearly achieved that Brand of Distinction status.

Lec: Fresh and strong at 70

The Lec Heritage

Founded in 1942 as the Longford Engineering Company, Lec is now the oldest refrigeration brand in the UK.

The company was originally formed by Charles Purley, a fi shmonger based in Bognor Regis who was fed up with the high cost of ice, and wanted to develop a refrigeration system to keep his fi sh cool.

His fi rst refrigerator, made using a CO2 compressor, proved so popular that he abandoned fi shmongery and was soon making 27 fridges a week. By the late 1940s Lec was turning out more than 2,000 refrigerators a week, had 90% of the British export market to Canada and was making inroads into America. In 1989 the company was capable of producing up to 3,000 fridges a day and employed nearly 1,900 people.

The company was acquired in 2005 by Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, who have invested heavily in restoring the Lec brand to its best with the launch of aff ordable, reliable and energy effi cient products.

Pure RefrigerationLec is celebrating its 70th birthday with a complete re-brand. As part of this re-brand, which includes a new advertising campaign, photography and website, Lec’s product

LEC’S LONDON SHOWROOM IN REGENT STREET, 1955 AND LEC FOUNDER CHARLES PURLEY

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BRANDS OF DISTINCTION

Under Counter ClassOne of Lec’s particular strengths is in the under-counter category. In 2010 the brand consolidated its product range, focusing on its strongest categories, which have traditionally been the 50cm and 55cm under counter and combi models. Amongst the brand’s best sellers are:

R5010B As one of Lec’s strongest selling under-

counter refrigerators the R5010B offers

100 litres of cooling capacity and

14 litre 4* freezer compartment. The

R5010B, which is A+ energy rated and

recommended by the Energy Saving

Trust, sums up all the strengths of the

Lec brand – value for money, ef� ciency

and practicality – and is estimated to

save up to £8 per year on energy bills.

It also features two safety glass shelves,

a salad drawer and a bottle shelf, and is

available both white and black gloss.

TF5517WThis new, competitively priced, A+

rated combi is a 55cm wide, 1.7

metre high frost free combi with an

impressive 237 litre net capacity. The

auto defrost freezer in the TF5517W

offers 81 litres of freezing capacity

and four spacious freezer drawers. In

the refrigerator there are two shelves

and a generously sized salad drawer.

The product is available in white and

is � nished with recessed handles.

“Since acquiring the brand in 2005, we have worked hard to simplify the product portfolio and develop a point of diff erence in what is a very competitive market. Lec was always well known for its niche sizes and models, and we have continued this theme with such products as the 1.2m high 50cm combi T5039. But where we have really advanced and started to add value is in energy savings, delivering an A+ rating on all of our under counter products and many of our new range.

“Our forward strategy is demonstrated through our new branding in terms of off ering good, honest refrigeration with a strong energy message as endorsed by the EST. We have re-branded our products with a new, modern, stand out badge and our advertising message is all about off ering good quality, energy effi cient and reliable refrigeration products. We are really proud of the ownership of Lec and, as a British manufacturer of cooking appliances, we are working to continually develop the range of refrigerators to best serve the UK consumer in the most energy effi cient way.”

David Garden, Commercial Director at Lec

T503950cm wide combi fridge freezerThis product is one of Lec’s best sellers

due to its niche size and affordability. At

1225cms tall it offers 90 litres of cooling

capacity and 45 litres of freezing capacity,

giving it great � exibility. Featuring

integrated handles and reversible doors,

along with three glass shelves and a bottle

shelf, this A+ rated product is estimated to

save you up to £5 a year in energy costs

and is available in black or white.

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HOME ENTERTAINMENT

There are many home entertainment products and services, and a wealth of content, to choose from, including 3D, HD (broadcasts and packaged media), online services, digital downloads and streaming, as well as wireless systems. The challenge for consumers, retailers and manufacturers is knowing which will be the drivers of the future in this sector. George Cole talks to the people and examines the trends

Guy Kinnell, Samsung’s marketing director for TV, thinks that intelligent connectivity and content discovery are going to be the biggest developments in the market for the rest of 2011. “Having a device that learns your preferred entertainment options will help consumers watch the quality content they want and free them from the TV schedule.” Kinnell also thinks that more and more consumers will embrace a connected lifestyle, which integrates multiple devices (such as TV, Blu-ray player and smartphone) in the living room.

Manufacturers off er many products that cater for these new trends. The latest Samsung Smart TVs, for instance, include 3D, HD quality images, full internet access and a 3D streaming service. LG has equipped

all its SmartTV products to support DLNA home networking standard, as well as LG’s Media Link technology, that works via 3G and Wi-Fi. Last spring, LG launched the world’s fi rst LED Cinema 3D TV range, with its LW450U, LW550T and LW650T models. This year’s range of Philips’ 7, 8 and 9 series TVs off er Smart TV functionality, which allows the set to communicate with Wi-Fi enabled gadgets such as phones, tablets and laptops, and display content from multiple sources

As ever, the TV plays the central role in home entertainment, and while HD has its ongoing appeal and the

interest in 3D continues to grow, 2011 will see internet access via the TV become more pervasive, says Tom Henderson, Philips’ trade marketing manager, TV. Philips has launched NetTV, a proprietary service that uses open standards to off er web access and selected services. Philips also off ers a wireless internet service on its 7, 8 and 9 series TVs, and most Blu-ray players. “3D will continue to grow in importance, particularly with more aff ordably priced mid-range (passive) TVs and Blu-ray players coming on to the market, as well as the continued increase in 3D content availability to help to drive consumer interest,” adds Henderson.

LG believes that 3DTV and Smart TV are the most signifi cant drivers in the home entertainment market for 2011, says George Mead, product and consumer marketing manager, LG Home Entertainment. “We are off ering consumers a wide choice of products featuring both these key technologies.”

James Attfi eld, Vogel’s general manager UK, says that the development of the TV as the media hub of the home will change viewer

“The role of the television is changing from a passive device into a convergence point for digital content”

behaviour. It used to be about sitting down to watch your favourite TV programme or video: now, on the box, you can watch YouTube videos, update your Twitter or Facebook account, surf the web, stream on demand television, and watch catch up TV services. “This trend will increase the need for more sets in the home, and place the TV even more at the heart of the home environment.,” he adds.

Online TV future3D and Connected TV seem to be driving the business at the moment, notes Fabrice Estornel, Panasonic’s senior manager, TV group visual marketing. “The ability to view online content on your TV is a very appealing feature. The seamless transition between broadcast and broadband represents a new experience for customers. The role of the television is changing from a passive device into a convergence point for digital content.”

THE TV AS HUB OF ONLINE CONTENT AND SERVICES

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PG1009 freesat Dealer Portal_A4.indd 1 22/07/2011 14:37

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HOME ENTERTAINMENT

simultaneously on the TV screen. Viewers can also control the set via an Android smartphone app or a wireless keyboard. Panasonic’s TV lineup incorporates a large number of Connected TVs, including the company’s cloud-based portal Viera Connect, as well as various home networking features. The majority of the TVs also off er 3D Full HD.

Furniture to match the technologyAccessories companies are also adapting to new trends in home

entertainment. Paul McCarthy, Alphason’s commercial director, notes that “the AV furniture

market is changing, with customers seeking

out designer furniture to complement the latest designer sets. There has been

a boom in sales over the last 3-4 years of budget glass and pole type stands. Many customers purchased this type of stand with their fi rst fl at panel TV. The market is now being largely driven by second and third generation panels, and c ustomers are looking for the latest stands rather than budget glass stands.”

The budget stand is now becoming the preserve of the hard discounters with, in some cases, prices being as low as £30. McCarthy thinks that retailers should move away from budget stands and “off er as much inspiration with your stand as you do with your TV.” Alphason has just launched a new Design First range, designed to do just this.

There are twelve ranges within the Design First collection and Alphason says it will be working with retailers to provide the best off er for their customer base. “We believe customers will become more demanding in the future, and we have responded to this with great British design, and the use of high quality materials such as polished metal and real wood veneers,” adds McCarthy.

Off the Wall is introducing two related stand ranges, due to be available from September 1st. ,the Horizon and Eclipse, off ering a choice of wood and glass fi nishes, both fi nished and assembled in Bradford with “the majority of parts locally sourced,” and with retail prices ranging from £269 to £319.

Despite the movement from physical formats towards digital formats, there is still a demand for AV accessories, says Attfi eld, “I am sure physical storage will be aff ected by the introduction of cloud services, but for the foreseeable future, you will still need a bracket and a cable.” Vogel’s is adapting to the changes in the home entertainment market by watching developments and focusing on usability, aff ordability and choice. “No matter what the economic cycle is doing, you can’t get something for nothing; quality matters to all customers as does the user experience,” adds Attfi eld. TVs are now considerably lighter than they were just a couple of years ago, so Vogel’s has modernised its product portfolio to take this into account.

Who’s leading whom?Are these trends being driven by consumers or being pushed by the suppliers and developers? Mead says it’s “driven by both consumer demand and manufacturer’s desire to meet that demand – so this goes hand-in-

hand. Estornel also believes it’s a bit of both, with customers looking for new experiences and features, and manufacturers looking for diff erentiation. “There is a convergence of these trends from both sides,” he adds. “The interest for 3D from customers is real; only the content is still lacking. And for connected TV, customers appreciate the fact that they can access a lot of content without having to plug in their computers.“

Henderson says that, in order for any format to be truly successful, consumer pull and manufacturer push must proceed in balance; sales growth cannot be achieved without the appropriate mixture of the two.

“The demand for 3D has risen dramatically over the past year, but only a handful of channels are providing content,” observes Kinnell, which is why it thinks its Explore 3D service will be a hit with consumers. He adds that Samsung is also in discussions with a range of potential partners, including broadcasters, gaming companies, high street stores and App developers, to ensure Smart TV is at the centre of entertainment and communication for within the home. “Due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets, we know people are comfortable with smart devices. Smart TV is the next step in the evolution of smart devices,” he adds.

But with so many companies and sectors (including the computer industry and consumer electronics companies), who is best positioned to off er the products and content? “No one sector is best placed to deliver a complete solution,” says Henderson. “CE companies develop their products to take advantage of the content developments of the day – while still using their knowledge to optimise the consumer’s experience. Content/software companies adapt and extend their products to take into account extend their products to take into account

LIGHTER, SLIMMER PANELS ALLOW ULTRASLIM MOUNTING

OFF THE WALL “ECLIPSE” STAND AVAILABLE THIS

SEPTEMBER

SMART TV BRINGS THE WORLD TO THE SCREENhardware developments, both now and in the future. It’s a symbiotic relationship that no one party can own.”

Estornel believes that CE companies have an advantage, because the television has always been the main device in the living room: “I think that the TV is the ideal convergence device for all those new services. A computer won’t replace a TV. You can put a computer inside a TV, but it will still be a TV, albeit a smarter one”.

Pivotal role for “traditional” retailers?The high street seems to be in crisis, with music and video stores struggling to combat the rise of online companies. As more of entertainment content goes online, should traditional electrical retailers and AV accessories companies fear this development? Henderson points out that “electrical retailing is very diff erent from selling content. The typical ticket price

and potential complexity of selecting and using the products is far higher, leading to a demand for demonstration facilities and product knowledge that doesn’t exist in the content world – where price and availability are the only factors. Ultimately, what will help an electrical retailer ‘shine’ will be the ability to quickly and easily guide consumers to the best product or solution for their individual needs, and being able to demonstrate its key benefi ts, thereby off ering a level of service that is impossible to provide online. “

Attfi eld agrees. “Most of our products still need to be seen and touched, and that will

continue to be a key diff erentiator for the physical retailer. However, if the consumer is

just coming to see the product in store and then buying online, that creates a problem. Retailers need to select their partners carefully to ensure that they are doing the right thing for them by managing their portfolios and creating a diff erentiated proposition for them from what’s available online.”

Estornel thinks retailers should defi nitely see this as an opportunity. “They have the possibility of demonstrating all the new services available on traditional CE products. This gives them a real reason for selling added-value products. However, they have to adapt. They need to be ready to show all you can do with these products and demonstrate their advantages to end users.”

: a powerful tool for the electrical tradeIndi is an online B2C and B2B directory for electrical retailers, aerial/satellite installers and custom installation companies, distributors and manufacturers.

Consumers can � nd your company by what you do, by postcode or the area you cover.

Trade members can use the Trade search to � nd manufacturers and distributors by what they do, and the regions they operate in.

Information pages help the public � nd and research products and services and make informed purchase decisions. For Trade searchers, these pages assist diversi� cation into new products and services.

Indi is being used now to help put manufacturers, retailers, distributors and consumers in touch with a view to doing business.

The Indi site is optimised for search engines and is being heavily promoted online.Membership is FREE to qualifying industry members, and there are options to maximise exposure with listing enhancement and category page sponsorship.

“3DTV and Smart TV are the most signi� cant drivers in the home entertainment market for 2011”

PC AND TV FUNCTIONS CONVERGE

3D IN THE HOME IS A SIGNIFICANT DRIVER

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HOME ENTERTAINMENT

simultaneously on the TV screen. Viewers can also control the set via an Android smartphone app or a wireless keyboard. Panasonic’s TV lineup incorporates a large number of Connected TVs, including the company’s cloud-based portal Viera Connect, as well as various home networking features. The majority of the TVs also off er 3D Full HD.

Furniture to match the technologyAccessories companies are also adapting to new trends in home

entertainment. Paul McCarthy, Alphason’s commercial director, notes that “the AV furniture

market is changing, with customers seeking

out designer furniture to complement the latest designer sets. There has been

a boom in sales over the last 3-4 years of budget glass and pole type stands. Many customers purchased this type of stand with their fi rst fl at panel TV. The market is now being largely driven by second and third generation panels, and c ustomers are looking for the latest stands rather than budget glass stands.”

The budget stand is now becoming the preserve of the hard discounters with, in some cases, prices being as low as £30. McCarthy thinks that retailers should move away from budget stands and “off er as much inspiration with your stand as you do with your TV.” Alphason has just launched a new Design First range, designed to do just this.

There are twelve ranges within the Design First collection and Alphason says it will be working with retailers to provide the best off er for their customer base. “We believe customers will become more demanding in the future, and we have responded to this with great British design, and the use of high quality materials such as polished metal and real wood veneers,” adds McCarthy.

Off the Wall is introducing two related stand ranges, due to be available from September 1st. ,the Horizon and Eclipse, off ering a choice of wood and glass fi nishes, both fi nished and assembled in Bradford with “the majority of parts locally sourced,” and with retail prices ranging from £269 to £319.

Despite the movement from physical formats towards digital formats, there is still a demand for AV accessories, says Attfi eld, “I am sure physical storage will be aff ected by the introduction of cloud services, but for the foreseeable future, you will still need a bracket and a cable.” Vogel’s is adapting to the changes in the home entertainment market by watching developments and focusing on usability, aff ordability and choice. “No matter what the economic cycle is doing, you can’t get something for nothing; quality matters to all customers as does the user experience,” adds Attfi eld. TVs are now considerably lighter than they were just a couple of years ago, so Vogel’s has modernised its product portfolio to take this into account.

Who’s leading whom?Are these trends being driven by consumers or being pushed by the suppliers and developers? Mead says it’s “driven by both consumer demand and manufacturer’s desire to meet that demand – so this goes hand-in-

hand. Estornel also believes it’s a bit of both, with customers looking for new experiences and features, and manufacturers looking for diff erentiation. “There is a convergence of these trends from both sides,” he adds. “The interest for 3D from customers is real; only the content is still lacking. And for connected TV, customers appreciate the fact that they can access a lot of content without having to plug in their computers.“

Henderson says that, in order for any format to be truly successful, consumer pull and manufacturer push must proceed in balance; sales growth cannot be achieved without the appropriate mixture of the two.

“The demand for 3D has risen dramatically over the past year, but only a handful of channels are providing content,” observes Kinnell, which is why it thinks its Explore 3D service will be a hit with consumers. He adds that Samsung is also in discussions with a range of potential partners, including broadcasters, gaming companies, high street stores and App developers, to ensure Smart TV is at the centre of entertainment and communication for within the home. “Due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets, we know people are comfortable with smart devices. Smart TV is the next step in the evolution of smart devices,” he adds.

But with so many companies and sectors (including the computer industry and consumer electronics companies), who is best positioned to off er the products and content? “No one sector is best placed to deliver a complete solution,” says Henderson. “CE companies develop their products to take advantage of the content developments of the day – while still using their knowledge to optimise the consumer’s experience. Content/software companies adapt and extend their products to take into account

OFF THE WALL “ECLIPSE” STAND AVAILABLE THIS

SEPTEMBER

SMART TV BRINGS THE WORLD TO THE SCREEN

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

hardware developments, both now and in the future. It’s a symbiotic relationship that no one party can own.”

Estornel believes that CE companies have an advantage, because the television has always been the main device in the living room: “I think that the TV is the ideal convergence device for all those new services. A computer won’t replace a TV. You can put a computer inside a TV, but it will still be a TV, albeit a smarter one”.

Pivotal role for “traditional” retailers?The high street seems to be in crisis, with music and video stores struggling to combat the rise of online companies. As more of entertainment content goes online, should traditional electrical retailers and AV accessories companies fear this development? Henderson points out that “electrical retailing is very diff erent from selling content. The typical ticket price

and potential complexity of selecting and using the products is far higher, leading to a demand for demonstration facilities and product knowledge that doesn’t exist in the content world – where price and availability are the only factors. Ultimately, what will help an electrical retailer ‘shine’ will be the ability to quickly and easily guide consumers to the best product or solution for their individual needs, and being able to demonstrate its key benefi ts, thereby off ering a level of service that is impossible to provide online. “

Attfi eld agrees. “Most of our products still need to be seen and touched, and that will

continue to be a key diff erentiator for the physical retailer. However, if the consumer is

just coming to see the product in store and then buying online, that creates a problem. Retailers need to select their partners carefully to ensure that they are doing the right thing for them by managing their portfolios and creating a diff erentiated proposition for them from what’s available online.”

Estornel thinks retailers should defi nitely see this as an opportunity. “They have the possibility of demonstrating all the new services available on traditional CE products. This gives them a real reason for selling added-value products. However, they have to adapt. They need to be ready to show all you can do with these products and demonstrate their advantages to end users.”

: a powerful tool for the electrical tradeIndi is an online B2C and B2B directory for electrical retailers, aerial/satellite installers and custom installation companies, distributors and manufacturers.

Consumers can � nd your company by what you do, by postcode or the area you cover.

Trade members can use the Trade search to � nd manufacturers and distributors by what they do, and the regions they operate in.

Information pages help the public � nd and research products and services and make informed purchase decisions. For Trade searchers, these pages assist diversi� cation into new products and services.

Indi is being used now to help put manufacturers, retailers, distributors and consumers in touch with a view to doing business.

The Indi site is optimised for search engines and is being heavily promoted online.Membership is FREE to qualifying industry members, and there are options to maximise exposure with listing enhancement and category page sponsorship.

“3DTV and Smart TV are the most signi� cant drivers in the home entertainment market for 2011”

PC AND TV FUNCTIONS CONVERGE

3D IN THE HOME IS A SIGNIFICANT DRIVER

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I n my last column, I talked about the rise of cloud computer services, which aim to put all our home entertainment

content (like music) online. The question is whether cloud services will replace physical formats such as the CD and DVD? Now, comes another potential threat: Virgin Media’s deal with the online streaming music service Spotify. Under the deal, Virgin Media customers will be able to have millions of music tracks streamed to their TV set-top box for £4.99 a month.

The announcement of

the Virgin Media/Spotify

deal has resulted in some

inevitable hyperbole, with

one commentator going

as a far as to ask why

anyone with an internet

connection would want a CD player, now

that so much music is available online?

Elements of the music industry have also

described the deal as a potential game-changer,

when it comes to how music is purchased.

I’m not surprised that the record companies

want to talk up this move; after all, the music

industry is having to tackle online piracy

operating on an industrial scale. But will deals

like this save the industry? I suspect not.

Let’s look at some � gures. Last year,

UK revenues for recorded music were

£800 million, but only a quarter of this was

from digital music (downloads, ringtones,

streaming), and streaming services only

accounted for £26 million, or less than 4%.

And Virgin Media is not the � rst company

to offer consumers streaming music via

their television: last year, Sky shut down

its Sky Songs streaming service, which

offered consumers � ve million tracks for

£4.99 a month. The service apparently

attracted fewer than 10,000 subscribers

and was economically unviable. Although

digital TV services offer many digital radio

stations, relatively few people listen to

radio via their television.

If the Virgin Media/Spotify deal is to

work, I think it’s going to need to bundle

the service as part of the overall package,

rather than being an add-on. And even

then, I’m not convinced that vast numbers

of consumers will want to listen to music

this way. That doesn’t mean CD player and

discs are safe of course, but I don’t think

the music industry has yet found a viable

alternative to the physical disc, when it

comes to raising similar revenue.

MOVIES AREN’T SAFE EITHERWhen illegal online music services started to spring up, the movie industry felt immune

from the effects of illegal downloading,

because at the time most homes had a dial-up

internet connection and it could take days

to download massive movie � les. And even

if you did, the cost of the connection was

so high that it would have been cheaper to

buy the � lm in the � rst place. Now, of course,

most homes have high-speed, always-on

broadband connections. Added to this, smarter

compression systems have been developed,

so the time taken to download a high de� nition

movie is much shorter.

All this helps explain why a recent report

by the specialist online brand protection

company Envisional says that, in the UK,

illegal downloading of movies has grown

by 30% over the past � ve years, and the

top � ve box of� ce movies were illegally

downloaded 1.4 million

times last year. The � lm

industry says this costs

it £170 million. The illegal

downloading of TV shows,

especially those from the

US, has increased by 33%

in the same period too,

with 1.24 million illegal downloads for the

top � ve most popular shows. Envisional

says that there are several reasons for

this increase, including faster broadband

speeds; a desire to see movies and shows

that are already out in the US; and a new

generation of consumers that has few

qualms about getting its content for free.

The question is: how do you stop it?

The answer is: you can’t. The internet is too

vast to police effectively and you can be

sure that any technologies designed to stop

illegal downloading will be side-stepped

or cracked. Envisional says the best way to

combat illegal downloading is for content

providers to reduce prices and make their

content more readily available. But it also

needs a radical change in consumer attitudes,

because if this trend continues, the only

new music and movies will be made by

amateurs posting them on YouTube.

�George Cole pinpoints hotspots in the world of consumer electronics.E-mail: [email protected]

George Cole Cole

George ColeGeorge ColeGeorge

I don’t think the music industry has yet found a viable alternative to the physical disc, when it comes to raising similar revenue.

YET ANOTHER RIVAL TO THE CD?

GEORGE COLE GETS CONNECTED

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Alan Bennett sings the praises of modern switch-mode power regulators

What brilliant progress we have made in power-regulator design in recent years, in perfect tune

with the need for high ef� ciency in these days of hideously expensive energy. It wasn’t always so...

Ancient stuffThe further back in time you go, the less

ef� cient and hotter-running was home

entertainment equipment. I can clearly

remember the days of wire-wound mains

dropper resistors, and of diverse designs of

power supplies which operated at power-

line frequency, 50 or 100Hz. There were

thyristor regulators, which took huge, sharp

and short bites out of the mains supply, in

some types only on one half-cycle. There

was an ingenious design by Sony in which

two large capacitors were charged in series

on one mains half-cycle and discharged

into the load in parallel on the next. All very

well until something went wrong, which in

those days it often did! Some of the early

types of switching regulator were � endishly

complicated.

Then and nowVery few TV sets had mains transformers

because of their cost, weight and stray

magnetic � elds. In their place were a

huge variety of switch-mode designs,

some based on ICs, some using discrete

transistors, often in large numbers. They

could be a nightmare to work on: you might

replace a whole bunch of blown-up bits,

only to have them instantly destroyed again

at switch on, with a brilliant blue � ash

from the mains fuse. There was a certain

Japanese 18-inch TV which had a frequent

habit of destroying two expensive SG-type

power FETs; unless you got the diagnosis

and repair exactly right the replacements

would rupture as soon as power was

reapplied with a raucous pzzzz from the

fuse as it blew apart. There were dif� cult-

to-service Wessel designs, and other

line-scan-synchronous ones, with each set

designer having his own bright ideas and

concepts and each service engineer tearing

his hair out as he tried to do his job.

Today’s switching regulators are brilliant

in concept and design. Their ef� ciency

generally ranges between 80% and 90%,

sometimes more. Very simply they work by

converting incoming AC mains energy to

DC where necessary, then applying this via

a very fast-acting repetitive semiconductor

switch to an energy reservoir having

inductive (magnetic) and capacitive

(electrical) storage elements. The chopper

transformer provides electrical isolation

between the mains and the load, while the

energy fed out is proportional to the duty-

cycle (ratio of on- to off-time) of the switch

in the primary circuit. This is governed by

a feedback loop, monitoring the secondary-

circuit voltage or current. This PSU building

block forms part of all mains-powered home

entertainment kit, and provides light-as-

feathers gadget-chargers etc.

ServicingCurrent and recent designs of chopper PSU

are reliable and reasonably predictable.

Complete failure may be due to an open

circuit fuse, dry soldered joints, diode or

capacitor failure, with the latter the most

common. In the primary circuit, fuse failure

may arise from a short-circuit chopper

transistor or IC, or just fuse ageing/

metal fatigue, while the small electrolytic

capacitors here can cause the failure

of the chopper switch to operate. More

common are problems on the secondary

side, often betrayed by a ‘pumping’ action

of the circuit, the usual reaction to some

kind of overload condition, which may be

outside the power unit altogether, i.e. in

the circuits which form the electrical load.

This pumping/sampling action may not

be obvious, but is easily discernible with

an oscilloscope connected – with care –

at the primary winding of the chopper

transformer: it will show needle pulses or a

slowly-repetitive ‘bump-bump’ effect.

In the secondary circuit of the PSU,

check by inspection and with an ESR meter

for faulty electrolytic capacitors; with an

ohmmeter for short-circuit diodes; and (if

necessary with a magnifying glass!) for

dry joints. On occasion, a faulty diode or

electrolytic capacitor will not show up on

test instruments; here substitution by a new

one is the only certain way to prove its guilt.

Apart from the ferrite-cored transformer,

many PSU parts are generic and widely

available from component suppliers and

wholesalers, while complete boards and

panels can be had from Grandata and

Shopjimmy. A brilliant producer of PSU

repair kits is Phoenix, who research failure

modes in a wide range of TVs etc, and

make up complete sets of components

which are in my experience almost

certain to do the job reliably. Typically

consisting of one or more fuses, a handful

of semiconductors and some passive R

and C components, these inexpensive kits

include all the little villains, victims and

heroes of breakdown. They are available

on the web and from, for instance, Charles

Hyde at www.chsinteractive.co.uk I can

really recommend these kits which are

now available for a very wide range of

TVs etc. Charles Hyde also stocks a range

of external PSU modules, used with some

small-screen LCD TVs, laptop PCs etc.

CautionAlways replace PSU components with

exact known equivalents to avoid � re and

shock hazards. Particularly in diodes and

fuses not all characteristics of would-be

replacements are obvious from (sometimes

super� cial) published speci� cations.

THE HEROES, VICTIMS AND VILLAINS

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I n my last column, I talked about the rise of cloud computer services, which aim to put all our home entertainment

content (like music) online. The question is whether cloud services will replace physical formats such as the CD and DVD? Now, comes another potential threat: Virgin Media’s deal with the online streaming music service Spotify. Under the deal, Virgin Media customers will be able to have millions of music tracks streamed to their TV set-top box for £4.99 a month.

The announcement of

the Virgin Media/Spotify

deal has resulted in some

inevitable hyperbole, with

one commentator going

as a far as to ask why

anyone with an internet

connection would want a CD player, now

that so much music is available online?

Elements of the music industry have also

described the deal as a potential game-changer,

when it comes to how music is purchased.

I’m not surprised that the record companies

want to talk up this move; after all, the music

industry is having to tackle online piracy

operating on an industrial scale. But will deals

like this save the industry? I suspect not.

Let’s look at some � gures. Last year,

UK revenues for recorded music were

£800 million, but only a quarter of this was

from digital music (downloads, ringtones,

streaming), and streaming services only

accounted for £26 million, or less than 4%.

And Virgin Media is not the � rst company

to offer consumers streaming music via

their television: last year, Sky shut down

its Sky Songs streaming service, which

offered consumers � ve million tracks for

£4.99 a month. The service apparently

attracted fewer than 10,000 subscribers

and was economically unviable. Although

digital TV services offer many digital radio

stations, relatively few people listen to

radio via their television.

If the Virgin Media/Spotify deal is to

work, I think it’s going to need to bundle

the service as part of the overall package,

rather than being an add-on. And even

then, I’m not convinced that vast numbers

of consumers will want to listen to music

this way. That doesn’t mean CD player and

discs are safe of course, but I don’t think

the music industry has yet found a viable

alternative to the physical disc, when it

comes to raising similar revenue.

MOVIES AREN’T SAFE EITHERWhen illegal online music services started to spring up, the movie industry felt immune

from the effects of illegal downloading,

because at the time most homes had a dial-up

internet connection and it could take days

to download massive movie � les. And even

if you did, the cost of the connection was

so high that it would have been cheaper to

buy the � lm in the � rst place. Now, of course,

most homes have high-speed, always-on

broadband connections. Added to this, smarter

compression systems have been developed,

so the time taken to download a high de� nition

movie is much shorter.

All this helps explain why a recent report

by the specialist online brand protection

company Envisional says that, in the UK,

illegal downloading of movies has grown

by 30% over the past � ve years, and the

top � ve box of� ce movies were illegally

downloaded 1.4 million

times last year. The � lm

industry says this costs

it £170 million. The illegal

downloading of TV shows,

especially those from the

US, has increased by 33%

in the same period too,

with 1.24 million illegal downloads for the

top � ve most popular shows. Envisional

says that there are several reasons for

this increase, including faster broadband

speeds; a desire to see movies and shows

that are already out in the US; and a new

generation of consumers that has few

qualms about getting its content for free.

The question is: how do you stop it?

The answer is: you can’t. The internet is too

vast to police effectively and you can be

sure that any technologies designed to stop

illegal downloading will be side-stepped

or cracked. Envisional says the best way to

combat illegal downloading is for content

providers to reduce prices and make their

content more readily available. But it also

needs a radical change in consumer attitudes,

because if this trend continues, the only

new music and movies will be made by

amateurs posting them on YouTube.

�George Cole pinpoints hotspots in the world of consumer electronics.E-mail: [email protected]

George Cole

I don’t think the music industry has yet found a viable alternative to the physical disc, when it comes to raising similar revenue.

YET ANOTHER RIVAL TO THE CD?

GEORGE COLE GETS CONNECTED FROM THE BENCH

E-mail:E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

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Alan Bennett sings the praises of modern switch-mode power regulators

What brilliant progress we have made in power-regulator design in recent years, in perfect tune

with the need for high ef� ciency in these days of hideously expensive energy. It wasn’t always so...

Ancient stuffThe further back in time you go, the less

ef� cient and hotter-running was home

entertainment equipment. I can clearly

remember the days of wire-wound mains

dropper resistors, and of diverse designs of

power supplies which operated at power-

line frequency, 50 or 100Hz. There were

thyristor regulators, which took huge, sharp

and short bites out of the mains supply, in

some types only on one half-cycle. There

was an ingenious design by Sony in which

two large capacitors were charged in series

on one mains half-cycle and discharged

into the load in parallel on the next. All very

well until something went wrong, which in

those days it often did! Some of the early

types of switching regulator were � endishly

complicated.

Then and nowVery few TV sets had mains transformers

because of their cost, weight and stray

magnetic � elds. In their place were a

huge variety of switch-mode designs,

some based on ICs, some using discrete

transistors, often in large numbers. They

could be a nightmare to work on: you might

replace a whole bunch of blown-up bits,

only to have them instantly destroyed again

at switch on, with a brilliant blue � ash

from the mains fuse. There was a certain

Japanese 18-inch TV which had a frequent

habit of destroying two expensive SG-type

power FETs; unless you got the diagnosis

and repair exactly right the replacements

would rupture as soon as power was

reapplied with a raucous pzzzz from the

fuse as it blew apart. There were dif� cult-

to-service Wessel designs, and other

line-scan-synchronous ones, with each set

designer having his own bright ideas and

concepts and each service engineer tearing

his hair out as he tried to do his job.

Today’s switching regulators are brilliant

in concept and design. Their ef� ciency

generally ranges between 80% and 90%,

sometimes more. Very simply they work by

converting incoming AC mains energy to

DC where necessary, then applying this via

a very fast-acting repetitive semiconductor

switch to an energy reservoir having

inductive (magnetic) and capacitive

(electrical) storage elements. The chopper

transformer provides electrical isolation

between the mains and the load, while the

energy fed out is proportional to the duty-

cycle (ratio of on- to off-time) of the switch

in the primary circuit. This is governed by

a feedback loop, monitoring the secondary-

circuit voltage or current. This PSU building

block forms part of all mains-powered home

entertainment kit, and provides light-as-

feathers gadget-chargers etc.

ServicingCurrent and recent designs of chopper PSU

are reliable and reasonably predictable.

Complete failure may be due to an open

circuit fuse, dry soldered joints, diode or

capacitor failure, with the latter the most

common. In the primary circuit, fuse failure

may arise from a short-circuit chopper

transistor or IC, or just fuse ageing/

metal fatigue, while the small electrolytic

capacitors here can cause the failure

of the chopper switch to operate. More

common are problems on the secondary

side, often betrayed by a ‘pumping’ action

of the circuit, the usual reaction to some

kind of overload condition, which may be

outside the power unit altogether, i.e. in

the circuits which form the electrical load.

This pumping/sampling action may not

be obvious, but is easily discernible with

an oscilloscope connected – with care –

at the primary winding of the chopper

transformer: it will show needle pulses or a

slowly-repetitive ‘bump-bump’ effect.

In the secondary circuit of the PSU,

check by inspection and with an ESR meter

for faulty electrolytic capacitors; with an

ohmmeter for short-circuit diodes; and (if

necessary with a magnifying glass!) for

dry joints. On occasion, a faulty diode or

electrolytic capacitor will not show up on

test instruments; here substitution by a new

one is the only certain way to prove its guilt.

Apart from the ferrite-cored transformer,

many PSU parts are generic and widely

available from component suppliers and

wholesalers, while complete boards and

panels can be had from Grandata and

Shopjimmy. A brilliant producer of PSU

repair kits is Phoenix, who research failure

modes in a wide range of TVs etc, and

make up complete sets of components

which are in my experience almost

certain to do the job reliably. Typically

consisting of one or more fuses, a handful

of semiconductors and some passive R

and C components, these inexpensive kits

include all the little villains, victims and

heroes of breakdown. They are available

on the web and from, for instance, Charles

Hyde at www.chsinteractive.co.uk I can

really recommend these kits which are

now available for a very wide range of

TVs etc. Charles Hyde also stocks a range

of external PSU modules, used with some

small-screen LCD TVs, laptop PCs etc.

CautionAlways replace PSU components with

exact known equivalents to avoid � re and

shock hazards. Particularly in diodes and

fuses not all characteristics of would-be

replacements are obvious from (sometimes

super� cial) published speci� cations.

THE HEROES, VICTIMS AND VILLAINS

BACKCHAT

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�He’s a well known and well respected personality in the industry, but doesn’t take himself too seriously, has a sense of humour dryer than a Bond Martini, is a proud parent and – perhaps a little-known fact – would be a useful man to have on your side if you ever get into an argument with Vladimir Putin. He is Andy Mackay, UK commercial director, LG Electronics.

Why did you choose to work in the electrical industry? Seemed like a stable enough sector at the time

Who in the industry would you like to spend time with?The Ladies who hand out the Leafl ets at the IFA Show look like they’d be able to tell you about the latest technical innovations?

What makes you laugh?GfK (Only joking!)

Hobbies?Football

What’s the worst lie you’ve ever told?“No, you look fi ne, honestly”

What’s your greatest regret?There’s never enough time for what matters

How would you describe yourself?Busy

How do you think others see you? They tend not to till I’m real close

What’s your pet hate?Self Importance

Do you have any bad habits?Absolutely not

If you weren’t in your present position, what job would you choose to do? Well, I certainly wouldn’t try being a retailer – not easy

Favourite TV programme?“An Idiot Abroad”

What surprises you?Very little these days

Favourite cuisine?Chinese

You have been off ered the opportunity to rule the world for a day. What would be the fi rst change you would make?Make sure there was enough food to go round

Is there anything about yourself that you would like to change?Cut down the hours a little

Do you have any hidden talents?Would you believe I speak Russian?

Do you have any particular fetishes?Report writing

What would you put into Room 101?Poverty

What’s your greatest achievement?My kids

What sort of music do you like?Daren’t say

Favourite quote?“Be Respectful – Remember, it’s nice to be important, but it’s much more important to be nice!”

Who has been the greatest infl uence in your life?My Father

Name your poisonGuinness

What do you daydream about?Getting some sleep

What’s your favourite holiday destination?The United States

What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?People passing on before their prime

What’s the best kind of punishment….Spanking

…and who deserves it?GfK (Still kidding)

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time? Hopefully - still enjoying it

Who do you most admire?Guys in the Armed Forces

What’s your favourite piece of kit?My car

What motto do you live by?Treat others as you would like them to treat you

Life is……. (Guess we walked into that one! – Ed.)

Independent Electrical Retailer:“Loved the ‘High Noon on the High Street’ article [July issue]. Answer me this: If Lord Sugar and Mary Portas and that shower on ‘Dragon’s Den’ are that brilliant at business, why do they need to be supplementing their income by making fools of themselves as celebs on the telly?”

Consumer electronics manufacturer:I am really looking forward to us being able to put a RRP on our products again. It hands us back a bit of control and may bring some good sense back to this market if it’s understood and used properly.”

Check out our new website: www.dad-online.co.ukEmail us today for your log in details so you can take advantage

of the new site!

P Live Stock Levels

P New Ordering System

P Wider Range of Products

P New Weekly Offers

P Downloadable Special Offer Sheets

P Downloadable Shop Floor Specials

TEl: 0844 854 6715

Domestic Appliance Distributors, Henry John House, Northway Lane, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 8JH

Open 6 days a week

Domestic Appliance Distributors are your home goods specialist. We are a major distributor of domestic appliances and electronic goods throughout the UK. It is our job to bring you the newest appliances at the lowest prices.

We stock the latest brands and continue to offer expert and friendly advice to our customers. We pride ourselves with offering the best prices with the best service.

Email our web team on [email protected] check us out on

We bring you the lowestprices

BACKCHAT

34

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�He’s a well known and well respected personality in the industry, but doesn’t take himself too seriously, has a sense of humour dryer than a Bond Martini, is a proud parent and – perhaps a little-known fact – would be a useful man to have on your side if you ever get into an argument with Vladimir Putin. He is Andy Mackay, UK commercial director, LG Electronics.

Why did you choose to work in the electrical industry? Seemed like a stable enough sector at the time

Who in the industry would you like to spend time with?The Ladies who hand out the Leafl ets at the IFA Show look like they’d be able to tell you about the latest technical innovations?

What makes you laugh?GfK (Only joking!)

Hobbies?Football

What’s the worst lie you’ve ever told?“No, you look fi ne, honestly”

What’s your greatest regret?There’s never enough time for what matters

How would you describe yourself?Busy

How do you think others see you? They tend not to till I’m real close

What’s your pet hate?Self Importance

Do you have any bad habits?Absolutely not

If you weren’t in your present position, what job would you choose to do? Well, I certainly wouldn’t try being a retailer – not easy

Favourite TV programme?“An Idiot Abroad”

What surprises you?Very little these days

Favourite cuisine?Chinese

You have been off ered the opportunity to rule the world for a day. What would be the fi rst change you would make?Make sure there was enough food to go round

Is there anything about yourself that you would like to change?Cut down the hours a little

Do you have any hidden talents?Would you believe I speak Russian?

Do you have any particular fetishes?Report writing

What would you put into Room 101?Poverty

What’s your greatest achievement?My kids

What sort of music do you like?Daren’t say

Favourite quote?“Be Respectful – Remember, it’s nice to be important, but it’s much more important to be nice!”

Who has been the greatest infl uence in your life?My Father

Name your poisonGuinness

What do you daydream about?Getting some sleep

What’s your favourite holiday destination?The United States

What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?People passing on before their prime

What’s the best kind of punishment….Spanking

…and who deserves it?GfK (Still kidding)

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time? Hopefully - still enjoying it

Who do you most admire?Guys in the Armed Forces

What’s your favourite piece of kit?My car

What motto do you live by?Treat others as you would like them to treat you

Life is……. (Guess we walked into that one! – Ed.)

Independent Electrical Retailer:“Loved the ‘High Noon on the High Street’ article [July issue]. Answer me this: If Lord Sugar and Mary Portas and that shower on ‘Dragon’s Den’ are that brilliant at business, why do they need to be supplementing their income by making fools of themselves as celebs on the telly?”

Consumer electronics manufacturer:I am really looking forward to us being able to put a RRP on our products again. It hands us back a bit of control and may bring some good sense back to this market if it’s understood and used properly.”

Check out our new website: www.dad-online.co.ukEmail us today for your log in details so you can take advantage

of the new site!

P Live Stock Levels

P New Ordering System

P Wider Range of Products

P New Weekly Offers

P Downloadable Special Offer Sheets

P Downloadable Shop Floor Specials

TEl: 0844 854 6715

Domestic Appliance Distributors, Henry John House, Northway Lane, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 8JH

Open 6 days a week

Domestic Appliance Distributors are your home goods specialist. We are a major distributor of domestic appliances and electronic goods throughout the UK. It is our job to bring you the newest appliances at the lowest prices.

We stock the latest brands and continue to offer expert and friendly advice to our customers. We pride ourselves with offering the best prices with the best service.

Email our web team on [email protected] check us out on

Check out our new website: www.dad-online.co.uk

We bring you the lowestprices

Beko A-30% Ad Get Connected 297x210.indd 1 10/06/2011 12:12

TOWN & APARTMENT LIVINGSpace is at a premium in many modern homes, but nobody wants to compromise on the important elements of style and design in the kitchen. As greater demands are made upon performance, versatility and energy effi ciency, where is the smart money going on kitchen appliances that can fulfi l exacting consumer needs?

HOME ENTERTAINMENTThe current buzz is about 3D TV, but the concept of “Smart” TV, with the connected television becoming the hub of a whole network of entertainment and internet access to a huge choice of content, is opening up new opportunities – and challenges – for manufacturers and retailers. George Cole takes stock of where we are now and where home entertainment may be going in the future

GEORGE COLE GETS CONNECTEDNothing stays the same in Consumer Electronics, and the way we buy, keep and enjoy audio and video is changing. George Cole looks at the future for the CD and DVD

THE HIGH STREET IN CRISISThere was a lot of reaction to last month’s GC feature “High Street High Noon?” We look at a cross section of what the industry thinks

BACKCHATLG’s Andy Mackay gives a 2-minute interview

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E E L E C T R I C A L I N D U S T R Y

Dishwashers - March

2011

7453.2 Miele Dishwasher Advert 210x297 GCM AW.indd 1 05/08/2011 16:48

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1w w w . g c m a g a z i n e . c o . u k

get connected: august 2011

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