Cabinet Maker articles from April 2004

Cabinet Maker archives from April 2004

KoL was sold for less than #4m.(Kingdom of Leather)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Natuzzi paid less than #4m for Kingdom of Leather when it bought the chain last May. The manufacturer spent #4.3m on acquisitions last year, its accounts reveal, but a spokesman confirmed that this included other purchases. The...

High street push for Woolworths.(Woolworths Group PLC)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Competition on the high street is set to increase further with Woolworths' expansion of its furniture offer to many of its town centre stores. Until now furniture has been mainly stocked at its 21 Big W out of town stores, which range from...

COMMENT: Is there cause for complaint?(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... At first glance the latest consumer complaint figures from the Office of Fair Trading (see page 6) could be seen as good news for the trade. After all complaints about delivery are down, upholstery complaints are down and those about...

Classic double winner in DuPontSA awards.(Classic Upholstery )(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Classic Upholstery scooped a brace of trophies at the DuPontSA Furniture Awards this week. Its Excelsior, which retails for #1,490, won the Contemporary award after being praised by the judges as `versatile and practical'. The Harrow by...

Delcor makes it a dozen.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Delcor has continued its expansion with a store in Edinburgh. The 26 March opening comes three weeks after it opened a flagship store in Manchester. The 1,800sqft Morningside branch is its second Scottish outlet, and increases the chain to...

Harolds vs Harrods in identity legal battle.(Harolds of Hemswell)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Harrods is in a dispute with north Lincolnshire retailer, Harolds of Hemswell, over its trademark lettering. Launched three months ago as a leather upholstery and garden furniture retailer, Harolds used the Knightsbridge store's familiar...

Early M&S sale.(Marks & Spencer )(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Marks & Spencer begun its mid-season last week, earlier than last year. Furniture has been discounted by 20%, with up to 30% off upholstery. The discounts will apply until 3 May. The move came just weeks after Vittorio Radice, director in...

Allders loses.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Allders lost #5m in the last six months of 2003. The 46 branch department store chain recorded an operating loss of #331,000 from sales of #130m in the six months to 31 December. However it was also hit by further restructuring and finance...

`No offer' says Courts.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Courts has insisted that it has received no approaches for any of its businesses. The group was responding to an article in The Times that claimed Steven Cohen, Courts UK md was preparing an #80m offer for its UK operation. Cohen...

London furniture show is closed.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The BFM London Furniture Show has been closed. Run as a joint venture between the BFM and Cabinet Maker parent CMPi, the move comes after BFM's sale last week of its stake to CMPi for an undisclosed sum. The show was due to take place from...

Deeside closure talks start.(Deeside Cabinets )(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The future for Deeside Cabinets looks increasingly bleak after the majority of its staff were told that parent Christie-Tyler proposed to close the factory. Some 117 of the firm's 141 staff received letters telling them: `It is now...

Divania moves to allay supply doubts.(Divania)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Divania has pledged to fulfil orders and denied that its UK operation has collapsed. Orders from the Italian leather upholstery manufacturer have suffered several weeks of delay recently, moving some retailers to halt orders. Tim...

Defects top the list of growing complaints.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The number of consumer complaints about furniture is on the up. Complaints made to trading standards departments rose by 0.7% to 13,200 in the second quarter of 2003, according to Office of Fair Trading figures. Complaints about...

New names at the top for MFI and Argos.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... MFI and Argos have boosted their senior management teams. Sara Weller, currently deputy md at J Sainsbury, will become Argos md in three months time. She succeeds Kate Swan, who left to become WH Smith chief executive last year. MFI,...

15 model range.(Upholstery manufacturer Scan-Thor is building on the success of its Noble House brand with a 15 model range for the independent sector)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Upholstery manufacturer Scan-Thor is building on the success of its Noble House brand with a 15 model range for the independent sector. The Adriana Collection will be aimed at lower to middle price points and has six hide and nine soft cover...

SATRA opens China service base.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... SATRA has opened an office in Guangdong, China to support the country's manufacturers in improving the quality of their products and ensure they meet safety requirements. `We are increasingly being asked to offer advice on design, quality...

Hammonds boosts outlets.(Hammonds Furniture Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Fitted bedroom retailer and manufacturer Hammonds is to open eight more branches by the summer. This will increase store numbers to 118. Outlets are due to open at London Furniture Company; Furniture Village branches in Darlington and...

CITY: Upbeat Next bucks the gloomy points trend.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... In an unsettled retail sector, Next gained 7p on a buoyant trading update and plans for a new, giant, 86,000sqft store in Manchester. Chief executive Simon Wolfson confirmed talks with Woolworths on taking redundant space in downsized Big W...

Share Update on 15 March 2004.(Illustration)
April 2, 2004... Share Update on 15 March 2004 Bold=new High/Low Now Change Change 03/04 03/04 over since High Low 2 weeks ...

Autumn Fair adds to Accents.(Autumn Fair )(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The Home Accents section of the Autumn Fair is set to grow by a quarter, according to the organiser. The Fair takes place at the NEC from 5-8 September and some 4,500sqm of the furniture and furnishings area has already been sold - equal...

Just as retailers thought, the worst was yet to come.
April 2, 2004... Andrew Kidd analyses sales in 2002/03 when first quarter fears were confirmed After a decent first quarter last year, more and more retailers began to complain that trading was not what it had been. New figures from National Statistics...

SHOP WINDOW: VINCENT SHEPPARD.
April 2, 2004... The smooth design of the Marco chair gives a new dimension to Lloyd Loom. The styling combination of the woven seat and wood will be extended to include an armchair, bar chair, bar stool and easy chair. Contact Vincent Sheppard on 020 7352...

SHOP WINDOW: FORM.
April 2, 2004... The timeless oak Mode collection features simple curved lines with recessed handles. Its sympathetic design can be incorporated into both traditional and modern interiors. Contact Form Furniture and Interiors on 01428 683002 Copyright:...

SHOP WINDOW: VOGUE.
April 2, 2004... The Duralatex bed from Vogue has an extra thick latex layer, coupled with a stretch fabric that is quilted in a damask/jaquard for contemporary styling. Contact Vogue Beds on 01455 841257 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: PRESTIGIOUS.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The eye-catching Rollercoaster collection was selected by id-FX magazine as the best fabric at Heimtextil. Its bright graphic prints have a retro look. Contact Prestigious Textiles on 01274 688448 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Store manager - credit: Making finance deals clearer.(Consumer Credit Act, Jeff Vernon)
April 2, 2004... Jeff Vernon highlights some changes looming to the Consumer Credit Act The problem I am a retailer and am concerned about the new rules concerning credit. What are the implications for my store? Expert advice The Government's...

Retail Intelligence.(furniture industry, furniture stores)
April 2, 2004... February proved to be a better month for retailers, compared with January 2004 and February 2003. As the winter sales continued some 60% of stores saw a rise in the value of sales compared with January 2004, while 21% had flat sales and...

LIVING ROOM FURNITURE: Tuning in to design.(furniture of living rooms, home entertainment technology)
April 2, 2004... Home entertainment technology knows no bounds, but how is that affecting the way we use our living rooms, and what impact is that having on furniture design? asks Richard de Melim Which room in your home uses the most technology? The...

RETAIL PROPERTY: Leasehold or stranglehold?(frniture retailers)
April 2, 2004... Furniture retailers rarely get the chance to buy freehold property, but as Jane Oliphant reports, tenants face spiralling costs The furniture retailer bankrolling his landlord's Prada and penthouse lifestyle could be forgiven for feeling a...

FIRST PERSON - TOM SCHNEIDER: Spreading happiness.(Interview)
April 2, 2004... TOM SCHNEIDER How did you get started in business? I began by designing and making individual commissions. I enjoyed this but felt a need to design freely without customers' sometimes odd taste and influence. Who do you most...

Waste disaster.(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Reading retailer Zala Zavana is facing a race against time to open for the Bank Holiday after the store's interior was covered in food waste. When Mark Coxhead, owner, opened the Berkshire store on 3 April he discovered a pipe had burst...

Courts drops sell-off to pursue regional plans.(Courts PLC)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Courts has abandoned the possibility of selling parts or all of its retail operations, thwarting the alleged desire of Steven Cohen, UK md to buy the UK operation. A report in The Times had suggested Cohen was attempting to raise #80m from...

COMMENT: Secrets and ties to the Far East.(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The Far East fairs were not for the faint-hearted this year. The sheer quantity of product to be seen at these back to back shows tested buyers' and manufacturers stamina and ability to spot a trend without pausing to stop. But by all...

Lexterton furniture stolen.(cases)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Cabinet and upholstery manufacturer Lexterton had #12,000 worth of furniture stolen from a delivery van on 17 March. The van was stolen in Margate, Kent, where it had been parked overnight. It was later recovered minus its load. Most...

ScS sales on the way to restoring margins.(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Sales at ScS upholstery have jumped further in the past few weeks and it has begun to restore profit margins quicker than management expected. The 64-store chain expects half year pre-tax profits to be `materially ahead' of the #5.9m...

Manager downloaded child porn.(Woodbridge Furnishings)(Alexander Thirkell )(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Alexander Thirkell, former store manager of Woodbridge Furnishings' Shildon, County Durham branch received a two year community rehabilitation order after admitting downloading images of child pornography on the store's computer. Thirkell,...

M&S jobs to go.(Marks and Spencer PLC)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Marks & Spencer is to shed 20% of its head office and financial services staff over the next two years. Shopfloor staff are unaffected. Some 500 staff will be made redundant over the next year with another 500 in 2005/06. A staff consultation...

No more cold calling.
April 9, 2004... Companies will be able to join the Telephone Preference Service from 25 June allowing them to opt out of cold calling. Small companies complained they did not have the resources to deal with the marketing telephone calls. Registration is free....

Flexible findings.(working hours)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Some 77% of requests for flexible working hours from parents of young or disabled children under the Employment Act that came into force in 2003 are granted, according to the DTI. For 9% a compromise was reached. But parenting charity Maternity...

Nobia puts store in kitchen growth.(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The role of the kitchen as the entertaining hub of the home will continue to aid the success of the market, but only if companies get the retail environment right. This was the message from Fredrik Cappelen, Nobia chief executive to...

Cheers for Wilkinson.(Mark Wilkinson Furniture )(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Cynthia Wilkinson, Mark Wilkinson Furniture md has been shortlisted for the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award. Wilkinson co-founded the company with her husband in 1976, and it now has a turnover of #18m and 350 employees. As...

Metal bicycle seat stool.(Dwell)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The metal bicycle seat stool is among the products London retailer Dwell has added to its ranges with its second collection since its launch last November. The chair folds flat and has a hook so that it can be hung up for easy storage. ...

Letter: Planning confusion goes on.(Letter to the Editor)
April 9, 2004... With reference to your comment on Government/local council confusion over planning permission for out-of-town furniture stores (cm, 26 Mar, p3), I thought you might like to know about Ikea in Northampton. Ikea was refused planning for a new...

J Dixon eyes modern store expansion.(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Cumbria retailer J Dixon wants to expand its Dunmail Park centre near Workington by adding a 49,000sqft store for modern furniture. The store will cost #2.3m to build and fit out and work would take nine months if planning permission is...

Strong sales prompt confidence for Easter.(Building materials industry)(Furniture industry)(Retail stores)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Sales growth for furniture and floorcoverings retailers continued in the first half of March. A balance of 4% of retailers saw annual sales volumes rise in the month, according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey. This compared with...

Bridging a stock gap.(Manchester retailer Housing Units)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Manchester retailer Housing Units plans to increase the level of furniture it offers from stock after its recent opening of a #4m distribution and administration centre. The 52,000sqft warehouse also has 15,000sqft of office and training...

B&B Italia opens its doors in London to student designs.(B and B Italia)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... B&B Italia's London showroom is to host the work of some of the country's top young designers next month. The designs of 17 students and graduates will first go on show at The British Council's Milan office during Salone Internazionale del...

Manchester grows.(Furniture Show )(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The Manchester Furniture Show (11-14 July) is to add a fourth hall to the exhibition, increasing the space at the event by 30% compared with 2003. The Central and Seminar halls of the G-Mex Centre are already sold out and there is limited...

Talent takes centre stage.(Textile industry shows)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Young designers are to be given a more prominent position at this month's Showroom textile exhibition. The British Interior Textiles Association's Emerging Talent Award had previously showcased entrants at the front of Manchester's G-Mex...

Selling convenience to the new leisure generation.
April 9, 2004... Cash and time rich, we in the UK reportedly like nothing better than to spend both on the family. Andrew Kidd looks at what this means for the furniture industry This may be hard to believe but we are not a country of stressed out people...

SHOP WINDOW: WARWICK.(household linens)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Stone Harbour is a refreshing traditional collection of ticking fabric styles. Pictured on the sofa is Port Norris in pastel. Contact Warwick Fabric on 01451 822 383 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: CHELSOM.(steel frames )(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The Belgrave collection of lighting blends steel frames finished in polished nickel with ivory pleated fabric shades. An opal acrylic top diffuser is fitted inside the framework to create a contemporary look. Contact Chelsom on 01253...

SHOP WINDOW: BURBIDGE.(Wood kitchen cabinets)(Burbidge and Son)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Following the success of the Arundel Pippy Oak kitchen, Burbidge has introduced Amberley, a foil wrapped design that will make the range more affordable. It offers a rustic country effect for the mid-market. Contact Burbidge on 024 76 671...

SHOP WINDOW: HAMMONDS.(bedroom cabinet range)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The Somerset fitted bedroom cabinet range was designed in response to demand for a lighter painted effect wood. It is available in two finishes. Contact Hammonds on 01455 251 451 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: AIRSPRUNG.
April 9, 2004... The Double Decker children's bed range features two single bedsteads stacked one above the other to form a multi-coloured bedstead suitable for sleepovers. Contact Airsprung Beds on 01225 754 411 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Undercover in St Albans.(Iron Bed Company)(Woods & Woods )
April 9, 2004... Cabinet Maker's spies have been on the prowl again - this time to find the perfect bedstead in the Hertfordshire city of St Albans WOODS & WOODS, 2a Chequer Street Never let it be said that Woods & Woods doesn't appreciate its...

LACQUER AND ACRYLIC: Bright and beautiful.
April 9, 2004... While acrylic solves the issue of durability, the expense of the current crop of bright lacquered furniture still makes it the preserve of the prosperous few, says Mark Lewis Lacquered furniture is not new. It was being used in China as...

IFFS: Attention seekers.(International Furniture Fair Singapore)
April 9, 2004... Exhibitors at IFFS went to great lengths to stand out from the crowd, with a design-led spin on traditional materials. Stephanie Baum reports Although Singapore is 6,798 miles from Birmingham as the crow flies, the furniture on display at...

IFFS: Wins of change.
April 9, 2004... Cultural traditions proved a rich resource for the entrants to the IFFS design competition Stamp the word `new' in front of a word, like new Labour or new coke or orange is the new black for example, and you are liable to get a sceptical...

FAR EAST ROUND UP: Whistle stop tour.(Calendar)
April 9, 2004... With a choice of four shows, buyers must be quick to spot the trends in the influential Far East offer A tour of the Far East furniture shows every March is not so much a challenge, more an endurance test. Cramming three or four shows...

FIRST PERSON - JOHN BROAD: One of the family.(Interview)
April 9, 2004... JOHN BROAD How did you get started in business? I started work with Templeton Carpets of Glasgow in its London sales office. Moved to Ipswich when I married and got the job of sales office manager at Alstons Cabinets Who do you...

Omega float raises #2.25m.(Omega International )(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... Trading in the shares of kitchen firm Omega International got off to a positive start when the company floated on Tuesday (13 April). The shares began the day at 113p then rose to 120.5p, valuing the Doncaster company at #33.6m. The...

Steady sales despite the Easter jet-setters.(furniture retailers)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... Furniture retailers had a quiet but steady Bank Holiday weekend, with two million potential shoppers taking overseas holiday breaks. `It's been better. It was quieter than last year. A lot of people have been away. Easter is the quietest...

COMMENT: Picking up designer tips.(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... As the show of the year is in full swing, Salone del Mobile in Milan will be buzzing with designers, buyers and manufacturers, all identifying the new colours and designs for the next season. It's also prime hunting ground for gathering...

All night queues for Reid's new Irish store.(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... Customers queued overnight for the opening of Reid Furniture's new store in Northern Ireland last week. A queue formed 14 hours before the Shane Park, Belfast branch opened. The retailer was offering discounts for initial customers,...

Ikea will open Suffolk distribution centre.
April 16, 2004... Ikea has insisted it will open a distribution centre in Stanton, Suffolk, despite not starting work on it six months after being granted planning permission. Local campaigners against the plan had claimed the development, near Bury St...

Safety call.(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... A member of the Scottish Parliament has called for the introduction of self-extinguishing cigarettes to reduce deaths caused by furniture fires in the home. Canada is trying to force tobacco firms to introduce the cigarettes. The parliament has...

Mixed housing.(housing price)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... Annual house price inflation fell in London, the East, South East and South West in February, according to figures from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Inflation jumped from 23.3% to 26.2% in Scotland and from 19.3% to 21.7% in Wales....

Harrods row.(Harold's Stores Inc.)
April 16, 2004... Harold's of Hemswell, the North Lincolnshire retailer accused by Harrods of infringing its trademark, has vowed to fight owner Mohammed al Fayed in court. Mark Fish, whose wife owns Harold's, has told Harrods' lawyers that he will go to court...

Balcony death was accidental.(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... A Leeds furniture retailer fell to his death from a fourth floor hotel balcony in Italy after an evening of heavy drinking, a Huddersfield inquest heard last week. Ashley Thornton, Domain Interiors owner, was visiting an Italian...

Tapping design talent.(Barkston)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... Plastics company Barkston is to move into the occasional furniture market with the help of Yorkshire students. It is holding a furniture design competition for 12 final year design and technology students at York St John College. Three...

Rocking for G Plan.(G Plan Upholstery Furniture Design Competition)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... A rocking lounger modelled on a woodlouse has won the G Plan Upholstery Furniture Design Competition for Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College students. Franziska von Groll's design was the unanimous winner of the #1,000 prize,...

CITY: Escape clauses keep the interest in Courts.(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... Courts lost 12p on disappointment that the controlling Cohen family will not immediately take the UK operation out of the worldwide Courts empire. The denials include enough escape clauses to keep speculators interested as the share price...

Share Update on 13 April 2004.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
April 16, 2004... Share Update on 13 April 2004 Bold=new High/Low Now Change Change 2004 2004 over since High Low 2 weeks ...

Poggenpohl buys three UK showrooms.(Norman Glenn Kitchens, Wigmore Kitchens and Ultimate Kitchens)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... Kitchen firm Poggenpohl has bought three of its largest and longest established London showrooms - Norman Glenn Kitchens, Wigmore Kitchens and Ultimate Kitchens. The three have combined sales of #5m and are among the top 10 Poggenpohl...

Bed investment.(Airsprung Beds)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... Airsprung Beds has invested a further #330,000 in its Trowbridge plant to improve efficiency. A conveyor system and Jiffy Tuft machine will mean less time is spent by staff handling mattresses and waiting for suitable spaces as was the...

Unsettling influence.(Brief Article)
April 16, 2004... The Bank of England is trying to unsettle consumers in an effort to keep inflation under control, according to the British Retail Consortium. David Southwell, BRC director of communications, said the BoE's interest rate policy to limit...

Money well spent.(Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association)
April 16, 2004... Many fundraising events are held for the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association, Andrew Kidd looks at how some of that money has recently been distributed The FTBA is regularly approached by former members of the furniture and...

SHOP WINDOW: PACO CAPDELL.
April 16, 2004... The two-seater Tiffany armchair has a slightly inclined backrest while its lower support is available in metal or wood finishes. Contact Paco Capdell on 00 34 96 150 2950 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: JAMASQUE.
April 16, 2004... The Strawberry Hill collection has eight designs ranging from classic floral bouquets to checks and stripes. It is suitable for curtains, bedspreads or upholstery in contract interiors. Contact Jamasque on 01924 436 650 Copyright: CMP...

SHOP WINDOW: VINCENT SHEPPARD.
April 16, 2004... Each item in the Outdoor collection, including the Deauville lounger, is submerged in a latex bath then dried in an oven and treated in a choice of colours to make it moisture resistant. Contact Vincent Sheppard on 020 7352 2312 ...

Store manager - lease forfeit: Once more into the breach.(Column)
April 16, 2004... Lease wording holds the key to landlord and tenants rights, says Stuart Darlington Problem I've heard that my landlord has had an enquiry about my shop and that he may be keen to see me leave, so that he can re-let the property at a...

RETAIL FOCUS: Amazing offers?
April 16, 2004... Lynn Bradbury of retailmap analyses if the hot deals on the high street are really giving value for money Massive savings', `hot deals to go', double discount sale', `up to 75% off furniture' go the slogans in current advertising campaigns...

SKOVBY: Driving relationships.(Column)
April 16, 2004... Danish manufacturer Skovby considers a good rapport with stockists is essential for its business, reports Stephanie Baum As we walk out of Aarhus airport in Denmark, I am surprised to see Peter Bo Hansen saunter over to a Rover 75 car. I...