Cabinet Maker articles from April 2006

Cabinet Maker archives from April 2006

Sofa move for Julian Bowen.(Boxa sofa)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Julian Bowen has launched a bid to become a complete home furnisher with the introduction of a two-seater sofa. The cabinet wholesaler has earmarked the Boxa sofa - so called because it is delivered in a box - as the launch pad for a...

Management finally buys Reid Furniture.
April 7, 2006... After years of trying, an MBO is agreed for Scottish retailer The management team at Reid Furniture has completed the MBO it has been planning for at least two years. The deal, which saw the existing management team buy the remaining...

Feather & Black becomes Wade flagship bed brand.(Feather and Black)(Perfect Nights)(Wade Furniture Group)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Feather & Black is in the process of relocating five of its stores into former Perfect Nights sites marking the end of an eventful six months for the company, which went into administration last October. The firm, which sells beds and...

Retailers scramble to fulfil orders.
April 7, 2006... Liquidation of pine supplier Woodman Furniture hits stores high and dry Retailers have been left angry and confused by the administration of Woodman Furniture and the failure of anyone to provide an explanation for its disappearance. ...

On a mission.(Lombok)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Lombok has unveiled plans to open three more stores by the end of this year. The company has 10 stores across London and the South East and will continue focusing on developing its contract division, which handles hotel, leisure and property...

Warning on chemical ban.(decabromodiphenyl ether)(hexabromocyclododecane)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Sweden's attempt to impose a national ban on brominated flame retardant chemicals was dealt a blow after its inspectorate said it would have `severe consequences'. The European Commission, the UK and France are fighting Sweden's proposals...

Westfield in MBO talks.(Westfield Furniture )(management by objectives)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... The management at Westfield Furniture is seeking funds for an MBO of the firm which went into administration two weeks ago. The Oxfordshire company claimed to be the largest supplier of reclaimed timber furniture within the UK and Ireland....

In brief: More Off to Bed.(Off to Bed)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Scottish bed retailer, Off to Bed, will open its eighth store next month. The latest opening will be the firm's second in Dundee, and is located next to rival Bed Shed. The firm's ninth store is due to open in Ayrshire soon afterwards. The...

In brief: Housing prices lift.
April 7, 2006... Housing prices rose by 1.1% last month according to building society Nationwide. The increase comes after no change in February and takes the annual rate to 5.3%. The three months to March saw prices 2.2% higher than in the previous three...

In brief: Legal problems.(employment legislation)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said employers were finding it increasingly hard to deal with employment legislation. The finding comes from research by the FSB's free legal helpline, Abbey Legal. In 2005, there was an increase of...

In brief: Buying plans.(Trinity Mirror )(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Research by newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror found 46% of adults intended to buy furniture within the next year. The study, Brand Equity and Media Effectiveness Research (BEAMER), also found the intention to buy differed according to region,...

Shanghai Express offers storage deal.(Shanghai Express storage deal)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... In an unusual move, retailers can choose to store and distribute from importer's large warehouse Shanghai Express, the four month old importer, has offered retailers the facility to store whole containers, and distribute from, the firm's...

New buyer for Debenhams.(Debenhams head Robin Brown)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... David Dawkins, Debenhams head of furniture, is to be replaced by Robin Brown, a Homebase buyer. Brown, a former colleague of Dawkins and Rob Templeton, Debenhams owner, at Harveys and Homebase, will take the title of furniture buyer. ...

Starring roles for Housing Units staff.
April 7, 2006... Staff at Housing Units are to star in a new ITV commercial about the company to be broadcast during Easter. The advertisement will see the staff playing themselves and taking customers on a guided tour of the Manchester store. It took...

Furniture third in complaint list survey.
April 7, 2006... Customer service by furniture retailers is the third worst of any industry according to a Government-backed survey. Only cowboy home contractors and secondhand car salesmen were more reviled, according to the research. Consumer Direct,...

Housing recovery lifts retail fortunes.
April 7, 2006... Furniture sales survey shows first growth for a year Retail sales in March remained down on a year ago completing an unwanted hat trick for the first three months of 2006, but furniture trade is on the up. The results were published in...

Sales channel.(Silentnight Beds )(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Silentnight Beds launched its #3m Sleep etc campaign to its retailers last week amid the fanfare of its new TV commercial. The manufacturer will return to the small screen from July on ITV1, Channel 4 and 5, along with cable, satellite and...

Ethnic contacts buck small business decline trend.
April 7, 2006... Businesses owned by ethnic minorities are proving increasingly successful because of strong contacts on the subcontinent and in the Middle and Far East. A study by the Centre for Retail Research found that an ethnic minority run store,...

Letter: Downturn issue for double agents.(Letter to the editor)
April 7, 2006... The appointment by a principal of a new agent alongside an existing one (CM, 31 Mar, p3) is a common occurrence. Inevitably it raises concerns for the incumbent. One reaction is to claim an infringement of European law. But neither the...

Letter: Playing safe on artistic reference.(Letter to the editor)
April 7, 2006... I was interested to see the front and inside cover of this week's Cabinet Maker (31 Mar) which features an excellent painting by Jacques- Louis David in 1822. Clearly his artistic talent is immense, but his skill as a visionary or...

Letter: How to discourage design copyists.(Letter to the editor)
April 7, 2006... With less than a month (21 April) to go before representations to the Gowers Report on Intellectual Property reform are closed, this is the last chance for the UK's designers to ensure their voice is heard and included in the national strategy...

Leader: Getting on terms.(warehousing offer to retailers )(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... As consumers become more demanding about shorter delivery times, so retailers and importers are becoming more reliant on finding reliable warehousing solutions. Last week's research showed that almost half of consumers want deliveries in less...

Views By Martin Kay.
April 7, 2006... I'm an avid reader of the various listings compiled by business magazine editors, Sunday newspapers and others relating to successful companies in UK. Whether it's the best place to work, the most profitable, the fastest growing or the...

Talk: Ethically sourced furniture.
April 7, 2006... Do you think consumers would be willing to pay a small surplus if they knew they were buying furniture that was ethically sourced? `Maybe 5% of customers. You would not spend more money trying to persuade people it is a good idea. People do...

Call to back bulb savings.
April 7, 2006... Lighting retailers step up energy efficiency measures as bills soar The Government is being challenged by energy suppliers to increase efforts to alter consumers' attitudes to climate change. Duncan Sedgwick, Energy Retail Association...

LEDs create movie ambience.
April 7, 2006... Glasgow company Yello GB has been appointed by US lighting business Illuminaire as its exclusive UK distributor, starting next month. Yello, which was established in 1998, distributes products that are targeted to the mid-to-high end...

Pole vault.
April 7, 2006... Bespoke curtain pole system and lighting provider The Bradley Collection has launched in the US. Suffolk firm Bradley, established in the early 1990s, said the move will enhance its international reputation for imaginative and diverse curtain...

Sekers downsizes firm with move to Dundee.
April 7, 2006... Soft furnishings wholesaler Sekers is finally to close its doors in Whitehaven as it relocates its operation to Dundee. The Cumbrian firm consists of Sekers Fabrics, Wemyss and Wemyss Houles and has been based in Whitehaven for 68 years. It...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Economy doesn't pay.
April 7, 2006... The slowdown in credit-fuelled shopping has left retailers struggling and new calls on consumers cash do not bode well for the future, says Mark Lewis The Chancellor Gordon Brown should be applauded for presiding over an unprecedentedly...

STORE MANAGER: Knowing your rights.(Data Protection Act)
April 7, 2006... Not keeping office records on personal information up to date could result in you being fined, as Anna West explains How often do you clear out your files? If the answer is `rarely' or `never' you could be breaching the Data Protection...

STORE MANAGER: Health regime.(The Code )(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Information about an employee's health is sensitive personal information, so more stringent rules apply. The Code recommends that you only collect health information that you really need. If you use a pre-employment medical questionnaire, make...

SHOP WINDOW - Kitchens: William Ball.(William Ball)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... The flat, slab high gloss vinyl-wrapped doors of William Ball's Nero ooze uber-contemporary loft-styling. This has been teamed with high gloss black granite and stainless steel bar handles, while subtle chestnut carcases and wooden worktops...

SHOP WINDOW - Kitchens: Jorge Pensi Poggenpohl.
April 7, 2006... Designed by Jorge Pensi for Poggenpohl, Plusmodo has a light aluminium construction panel with a honeycomb core which gives the sliding doors stability despite their low weight. Tel 020 7435 5427 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - Kitchens: Sheraton.(Period Buttermilk )(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Period Buttermilk from Sheraton is a square framed door with grooved centre panels. The door is wrapped with two layers of PVC, with the buttermilk layer rubbed back to reveal a hand patina antiqued effect. The door is available on a matching...

SHOP WINDOW - Kitchens: J and J Ormerod.(Colonial range with Integra,)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... J&J Ormerod has added to its Colonial range with Integra, which has an integral scoop handle set discreetly in the smooth, clean lines of the classic Shaker style door. It is is available in Ferrara Oak, a straight-grained timber effect in a...

SHOP WINDOW - Kitchens: Burbidge.
April 7, 2006... Burbidge's Mezzo is available in four colours - ice blue, black, white and cream - with handsize or proportional handles. Regardless of the size of the drawer or door the handle spans the width leaving 50mm each side. Tel 023 7667 1600 ...

SHOP WINDOW - Kitchens: Bulthaup.
April 7, 2006... The b3 collection from Bulthaup offers floor standing, foot supported or wall hanging options depending on available space. The b3 makes use of a slimline, reinforced steel support structure that attaches to an existing wall allowing for...

INTERVIEW - RUSSELL PINCH: Natural touch.
April 7, 2006... Moving through one-off exclusives to branding and now retail distribution, Russell Pinch remains totally addicted to design, as Danusia Osiowy finds out He's designed the interior of Concorde, created a chocolate range for Cadbury, set up...

SHOW REVIEW: Maximum impact.(London Design Week)
April 7, 2006... Names like Indulgence and Mysterious captured the theme of London Design Week where rich colours and patterns abounded, as Rachel Calton reports The wealth of velvet and silk fabrics at London Design Week (12-14 March) announced that...

MARKETING ONLINE: How to click with customers.
April 7, 2006... Even if you don't sell online, it is vital that your website inspires confidence in your company and products. Lindsay Payne offers some suggestions Building online trust is vital if you want to attract and retain customers. With stories...

MARKETING ONLINE: Sign of safety.
April 7, 2006... Internet Shopping Is Safe (ISIS) is a keystone in the bridge of trust between shops and shoppers. ISIS-accredited merchants now account for two thirds of all UK online shopping. The ISIS logo certifies that the merchant has: *...

CM offcuts: Thriving on variety.(Neil Robinson marketing director )(Interview)
April 7, 2006... Neil Robinson is the marketing director at bed maker Sealy How did you get started in the industry? I'm still pretty new to the industry to be honest.I qualified as a lawyer and was the youngest qualified law graduate in the UK at the...

CM offcuts: Burning ambition.(leads to generous weight loss)(Brief article)
April 7, 2006... Podgy children may be a thing of the past. The answer? Chair-free classrooms where pupils stand for hours a day. The initiative, or as the kids will see it, punishment, is being introduced to UK schools after a study discovered it could...

LoL accessorises.(Land of Leather appoints Suzie McMahon)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... In an effort to increase its accessory sales, LoL takes on buyer McMahon Land of Leather is looking to grow its turnover through increased sales of accessories and occasionals. The firm has recruited Suzie McMahon, former Sterling,...

Still growing strong.(Land of Leather)(Marks and Spencer PLC)(SCS)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... Listed retailers, this week, proved there is life in furniture retailing yet, with strong growth from Land of Leather, ScS and Marks & Spencer. M&S's figure of 24% growth in turnover for its home division (see p4) was the headline grabber,...

Moore becomes director after Reid MBO.(James Moore appointed at Reid Furniture Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... James Moore has emerged as the fifth director at newly acquired Reid Furniture, and a likely source of investment for the MBO which took place last week. Moore is a former employee of JW Carpenter, which trades as Cargo Homestore, and is...

M&S homeware sales jump 24%.(Marks and Spencer PLC on its increased profits)
April 14, 2006... Making products fit the consumer is key to chain store's success in fourth quarter Marks & Spencer has seen sales in its home division increase by 24% in the quarter to 1 April. Overall UK sales for the 13 week period were up 9.1%. ...

Haslams in new store venture.(Rivington Taylor, a furniture store to be opened by Mark Haslam and Alison Haslam )(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... Former Alan Ward Home Furnishers directors Mark and Alison Haslam are to launch their own firm, Rivington Taylor, opening a retail showroom in Bolton later this year. It will be the largest independent in the area and will target the mid-...

Back in the black.
April 14, 2006... Walker Greenbank has made a full-year operating profit for the first time in five years, according to its preliminary results. The wallpaper, textiles and furnishing business, whose brands include Sanderson, Harlequin and Zoffany, is...

Hammonds opens in LoL.
April 14, 2006... Furniture manufacturer and retailer Hammonds is expanding, with four concessions at Land of Leather stores. The Leicestershire company, which manufactures and sells upmarket wooden bedroom and office furniture, opened 12 stores and...

In brief: Etailing races ahead.(reports on online shopping increasing demands)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... Online retailing is outperforming the high street according to research group IMRG. Latest figures show that web-based sales during the four months to the end of February were 45.5% higher than the same period a year ago. James Roper, IMRG...

In brief: Learn about leather.
April 14, 2006... BLC Leather Technology Centre is offering training courses to provide a better understanding of the characteristics of leather, product performance, quality and testing. The courses also teach the skills and techniques needed to carry out...

In brief: Fewer MBO deals.
April 14, 2006... UK management buyouts are down on last year and the first three months show that they are at their lowest levels for more than two-and-a-half years. Research from consultant KPMG suggested that in 2005, 162 `larger' buyouts were worth #24.9bn,...

In brief: UK house prices slow.(housing prices falls down)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... House price inflation across the UK slowed in the year to February. Figures released by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister show that the annual inflation rate was 3.6% in February, down from 4.3% in January. The survey showed that the...

Tesco faces block in store change bid.
April 14, 2006... Northumberland retailers fear trade threat from retail park product extension application Tesco is facing opposition from local business and pressure groups over plans to change the use of a former furnishing store to allow sales of `bulky...

Bed sales drop 10%.(National Bed Federation reports on sales of beds)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... UK bed manufacturers saw the value of sales fall by almost 10% last year, an overall drop of #82m. Analysis of sales of 20 National Bed Federation members shows a fall of #57.7m to #407.4m in 2005. Expanding this to the rest of the...

Scenes from Milan.(45th Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano 2006 Industreal )(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... The doors of the 45th Salone Internazionale del Mobile opened on 5 April to throngs of eager visitors hoping to be the first to glimpse the trends for this year's looks. While the new venue for the show at the Fieramilano exhibition centre in...

City: Demerger details fail to restore GUS.(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... GUS lost 58p on confirming the group's demerger within 12 months into Argos Retail (Argos/Homebase), and Experian (business services/credit checking). Having read the small print, most analysts expect the shares to trade between 1,050p and...

Stores resist sale fall panic.
April 14, 2006... Late Easter slews monthly figures Furniture sales in the UK have declined due to a cold spring and a late Easter, according to a report published by the British Retail Consortium. The KPMG/BRC Retail Sales Monitor found that...

Kingfisher looks to Europe as profits drop.(appointment of Daniel Bernard)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, has appointed Daniel Bernard as its non- executive deputy chairman. He will join the board after the company's AGM on 24 May and for the first year in post he will share the position with John Nelson. Nelson will...

On-off bid rocks HoF seesaw.(House of Fraser)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... The House of Fraser chart shows the big-dipper ride enjoyed by shareholders in the past eight weeks as the rumour, and subsequent confirmation, of bid talks lifted the shares by 22% (23p) from February's low. When talks failed in mid-March, the...

Consumer caution dashes sales hope.
April 14, 2006... Retailers work harder for profits as survey reveals only minimal increase in customer confidence Consumers are even less likely to buy household goods in April than they were in March, according to a survey from the Nationwide. The...

Roll call.
April 14, 2006... London Interiors has signed up high end furnishing fabric manufacturer Kobe for its 2006 show. CMP Information, the show organiser and Cabinet Maker parent, believes the exhibitor will prove the benchmark for soft furnishings quality at the...

Letter: Best and worst of the UK furniture trade.(Letter to the editor)
April 14, 2006... Three articles in the 31 March issue caught my eye. The double page spread about Sutcliffe Furniture represents just about everything I have been carrying on about over the past four years - British made, reliable, good service and quality...

Letter: Valuable support for fundraising efforts.(Letter to the editor)
April 14, 2006... I am writing on behalf of Peter Spinks, FTBA chairman, to thank you and everyone at [parent] CMP Information for the very generous donation you have made from the Threestring Charitable Trust. The cheque for #5,000 has just arrived and as you...

Leader: Accessorising success.
April 14, 2006... It looks like there's life in the furniture industry yet. The results that came through this week for Marks & Spencer, Land of Leather and ScS all showed encouragingly strong growth, particularly as M&S's home division turnover leaped 24% in...

Views By David Dawkins.(businesses evolved with smooth transitions)
April 14, 2006... When I started work in the early 1960s aged 15, there was a normal order of progression through one's career to the highest point and then retire from that position. Well, it's certainly different now, with most people peaking in their 40s,...

Talk: Furniture sales.
April 14, 2006... Do you think furniture sales have levelled off or will they recover to the boom days of the past? `I certainly think it has levelled off. We are getting the same sort of figures as we did the year before. I would be surprised if there was...

Hali Fair heads for Olympia.(textiles, rugs and tribal artwork )(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... More than 75 dealers from across five continents will be offering textiles, rugs and tribal artwork at the ninth annual Hali Fair at London's Olympia from 8-18 June. New exhibitors at the show include Magic Laos Carpets, from Asia and...

Grant widens textile firm's export horizon.
April 14, 2006... US trade show leads to expansion for soft furnishing firm Textile manufacturer Jan Constantine is expanding exports thanks to a government programme. At the same time domestic growth also took a step forward with the signing last week...

Research cash for lighting.
April 14, 2006... The Department of Trade & Industry is to provide #9m for research and development in electronic projects and solid-state lighting. The DTI's technology programme will be match funded by participants, bringing the total to #18m. ...

Safety alert over `toxic' oil lamp imports.
April 14, 2006... Lancashire Trading Standards has warned retailers to beware of certain types of Chinese-made oil lamps which the local government agency fears might be unsafe. The Chinese imports have been on sale mainly in the Preston area for `several...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Diversity delivers.
April 14, 2006... Overseas connections are giving black and ethnic furniture retailers the edge as they move to compete in the mainstream market, as Mark Lewis reports Research in last week's Cabinet Maker suggested that independent black and minority...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Retail divisions.
April 14, 2006... Diversity in Shopping classifies BME retailers into four categories: traditionalist niche, conventional mainstream, niche player and progressive mainstream. The traditionalist niche store sells goods in a traditional way mainly to the BME...

SHOP WINDOW: Ekornes.
April 14, 2006... Ekornes' Space is available in low and high back versions as a three or two-seater sofa corner unit and armchair. It has an optional armrest table. Tel: 020 7462 0440 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: Jori.
April 14, 2006... The Supino, from Jori's Originals brand, has an expanding foot section and aluminium swivel base, available in round or five star. It is designed by Christophe Giraud. Tel: 00 32 0 5631 3501 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: Himolla.
April 14, 2006... Himolla's 7597 Zerostress Plus model features a fully integrated footstool, and is offered in a variety of leathers, as well as a microfibre option. Tel: 01432 342 875 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: Ercol.
April 14, 2006... The footrest of Ercol's Dare to Recline extends by 15cm when elevated, making it more comfortable for taller users. The rear lowers as the footrest extends to an almost horizontal position. The chair also swivels. Tel: 01844 271 800 ...

SHOP WINDOW: Weco.
April 14, 2006... Weco's 7458 is a versatile modular seating system that can be configured into an arc shape, ideal for friends and family gathering round the big screen. Tel: 00 49 2691 3010 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: ROM.
April 14, 2006... ROM's Rookie recliner incorporates a swivel function plus adjustable headrest and is available in both fabric and leather. It has a choice of chrome and various wood base finishes. Tel: 01432 342 875 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

STORE MANAGER: Acting in good faith.
April 14, 2006... In the UK's multi-cultural society there are a number of ways to ensure that the working environment fosters religious understanding, says Lindsay Payne The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 made it illegal for...

STORE MANAGER: Dealing with a complaint.(formal complaint, employees investigation)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... Before making a formal complaint, employees can request further information about the incident. For example, they may want to know exactly why they were turned down for promotion. Once an employee submits a written request for information, the...

CHILDREN'S FURNITURE: Sporting chance.
April 14, 2006... Selling licensed products can be risky because of the time limits, but more companies are prepared to take the gamble, as Rachel Calton discovers In the world of the savvy child consumer, licensed bedroom products are no longer a novelty....

CHILDREN'S FURNITURE: How licences work.
April 14, 2006... The licence structure, explains Dean Greasley, Novel Tex commercial director, is very similar in character and sport merchandising. A set fee is paid for the fixed period of time and territory you will hold the licence for. The licensor...