Cabinet Maker articles from August 2002

Cabinet Maker archives from August 2002

Second store for Warren Evans.(furniture retailer in London)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... London pine bedroom furniture and bed retailer Warren Evans is to open its second store tomorrow (3 August). The shop will be located by the rear exit of Clapham Junction railway station in south London. The company has had a shop on...

Closed Conroys seeks buyer.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... The six stores of North East chain Conroys were still closed as Cabinet Maker went to press, four days after being placed into administration. Ernst & Young partner Simon Allport and corporate recovery manager Neil Matthews were appointed...

Habitat in Glasgow is on the move again.(to relocate flagship store)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Habitat is to relocate its flagship Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow store - less than three years after moving there. The 32,000sqft city centre store is the chain's largest in Europe and has about 60 staff. It moved from Bothwell Street...

Comment: When gossip comes true.(rumors about Conroys chain appear to have been true)(Brief Article)(Column)
August 2, 2002... For the past two years, Conroys has been the most gossiped about company in the retail furniture trade. Tales surfaced almost weekly about its alleged cashflow problems and its imminent demise. It seemed the trade never tired of the topic....

Retailers sales growth hits double figures.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 2002... Furnishings and furniture retailers saw almost double digit sales growth in the first quarter of the year against the same period in 2001. Consumer spending on furniture and furnishings grew by 8.6% and sales reached #2.7bn. The...

ALJ sets sights on largest store yet.(Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins is seeking planning permission for what would be its largest store in Portishead, Bristol. Plans for the Gordano Gate 90,000sqft, two-storey unit have been approved by the Portishead Town Council. However,...

G Plan to revamp website.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... G Plan Cabinets is to relaunch its website. It will be previewed at The BFM London Furniture Show (4-7 August). The website will allow visitors to pan through roomsets and locate stockists, including by particular range. A new...

Environmental award.(Pentos Office Furniture gets award)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Pentos Office Furniture has been awarded an award from Envirowise, the government initiative to reduce waste. It saved #258,000 a year in packaging and #338,000 in reduced product returns. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Qualitas members.(adds members; has over 630 member firms)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Qualitas has boosted its membership to more than 630 companies with the recruitment of The Furniture Store, Dundee; McCrystal Furnishings, Duncannon; Sofa Designs, Ilford and Place for Homes, Llandow. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Tempur award.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Bed and recliner manufacturer Tempur has named Furniture Village as its World Tempur Retailer of the Year 2002. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

GfK website.(Correction Notice)
August 2, 2002... The correct address of GfK's website is www.gfkms.com (Beds, cm, 26 Jul). Apologies for any confusion. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Job recruitment.(B and Q to recruit over the internet)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... B&Q is to recruit 1,000 staff over the Internet. The chain said it was more efficient than traditional recruitment methods. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Upholstery key to MFI growth.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 2002... MFI is to halt expansion of its store numbers and instead rely on increasing sales per store and rolling out upholstery and bathroom offerings to drive sales growth. Chief executive John Hancock said the time had come to make choices and...

Kitchen firm shelves new store plans.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Kitchen retailer and manufacturer John Lewis of Hungerford has shelved plans to open branches in Bristol and London. The chain said that, in view of the expected downturn in UK retail sales and general economic uncertainty, the cost of the...

And So To Bed sales ahead.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 2002... And So To Bed UK sales shot up 24% to #3.78m for the year to 30 September. The bed and linen business's operating profit of #549,000 reflected a 77% increase over the previous year. At the end of its financial year the firm had 13...

Classified information.(Cabinet Maker promotes Lynsey McFerran)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Cabinet Maker has promoted Lynsey McFerran to classified supervisor. Publisher Adam Clark said the move was `a recognition of her experience, hard work and dedication.' Details, tel: 0207 579 4311 or email:...

Argos sales surge ahead.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 2002... Argos's first quarter furniture sales surged ahead of its other departments for the three months to 30 June. The firm's furniture, bedding and textiles ranges have been expanded in its catalogue to include more contemporary styles. ...

Q+A: Your questions answered.(customer service issues)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Q: We have a complaint about a sofabed wearing out, apparently because the customer's children use it as a trampoline. We have pointed out that this is not a normal use of the product and so do not consider we are responsible. However, the...

Upholstery shake-up.(furniture industry sales directors resign)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Charnwood sales director Jim Barnes has left the firm. A spokesman said the move was part of a review after the merger between Charnwood and Corinth Designs, and that two full sales teams were no longer required. Barnes has been in the...

Cotton satin fabric launched.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Swedish fabric and wallcovering company Sandberg has launched the Svenska Foglar (Swedish Birds) cotton satin fabric. The design is based on the 19th century paintings of Finnish artists Ferdinand, Magnus and Wilhelm von Wright and the fabric...

John Lewis - Appointments.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... John Lewis has named Paula Nickolds as buyer for casual dining furniture and first (ie flatpack) furniture. Jill Little has become merchandise director. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Hepplewhite - Appointment.
August 2, 2002... Hepplewhite has appointed Graham Jones as trade sales and marketing director. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Tempur UK - Appointment.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Tempur UK has appointed Tobin James as national retail sales manager. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Paragon Retail Finance - Appointment.(Julie Curley named sales representative)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Paragon Retail Finance has named Julie Curley as sales representative for the West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Derbyshire and Worcestershire. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

British Contract Furnishing Association - Appointment.(Tony Attard named chairman)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Panaz md and design director Tony Attard has become chairman of the British Contract Furnishing Association. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Thomsons to reopen.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Thomsons World of Furniture will reopen its Dundee store in September. The branch was forced to close following a break-in by two youths in December. An ensuing fire caused #2m worth of damage, including destroying the shop's stock. ...

Sales slip back.(sales data for retail stores)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 2002... Retail sales volumes fell for the second successive month in June, suggesting consumers might be cutting back on spending. Buoyant consumer spending has driven the economy throughout the past year. Seasonally adjusted sales were 0.7%...

Harrison Beds revamped.(updates Mattress Maker line)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Harrison Beds has revamped its Mattress Maker range with a dozen new models and POS. The models feature bright ticking and have additional pocket spring counts and fillings. The range is made up of six standard support and six firmer...

New Courts outlets hit their targets.(Courts PLC's new retail stores)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Courts' latest format stores `have been well received,` Courts chairman Robert Shrager told shareholders at the firm's AGM last week. The Cheltenham and Peterborough stores `are trading in accordance with our plans,' he added. Both...

Mulberry store closes.(Mulberry Co. closes store, signs licensing agreements)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Mulberry has closed its home store on 219 Kings Road, London. Its partner, Kravet Lee Jofa - which produces and sells Mulberry's soft furnishings - will open a showroom on 322 Kings Road later this month. Mulberry has signed two...

Get the best from the budget.(advertising tips for retailers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Success of an advertising campaign lies in careful planning, reports Audrey Dixon Many retailers in the USA only start advertising when they are going bankrupt, according to advertising expert Herb Gross, who gave a presentation on...

Showing off a good tan.(leather in furniture)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... It seems the British consumer can't get enough of leather, and the trend looks set to continue says Elspeth Pridham The fastest growing sector of the furniture market has to be leather upholstery. A few years ago leather was a niche...

Waking up to style.(interior design of Salisbury Bedding Centre store)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Accessories have added a modern angle to the Boddy family bedding business. But old fashioned quality is still the overriding principle, as Sophie Baylis discovers A word of warning: do not expect to drop into the Salisbury Bedding Centre...

Shades of meaning.(furniture design trends)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... To coincide with Trendhub's display at The BFM London Furniture Show, director John Cook analyses the latest trends in furniture design DYNAMO Bold and graphic, the 1960s and 1970s-inspired Dynamo is not for the fainthearted but for...

MANUFACTURING: On with the show.(marketing tips for furniture companies in the United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... The BFM London Furniture Show is a good chance for companies to shout about their achievements - and publicity is a vital part of a winning strategy, says Tony Hollyer The BFM London Furniture Show is an ideal opportunity for many...

MANUFACTURING: The great outdoors.(garden and summer furniture )(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Garden and leisure furniture is assuming a greater significance for the furnishing industry as one of its few growth areas. Tony Hollyer reports Until recently, all that was needed to enjoy the outdoor life was a table and chairs, usually...

MANUFACTURING: Lister Lutyens keeps faith with a teak tradition.(products, production methods of teak furniture producer)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... With its exceptional qualities offering warmth, durability, stability and strength, teak is an ideal material for leisure furniture. For manufacturer Lister Lutyens, the choice of the wood is the most important element. Only premium quality...

MANUFACTURING: Outdoor fashions.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... For over 25 years, leisure furniture from Bristol-based Gloster Furniture has been synonymous with quality and style A commitment to quality and consistency has seen Gloster Furniture grow over the past eight years from traditional teak...

MANUFACTURING: Having the outside edge.(outdoor furniture manufacturer Alexander Rose)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)(Interview)
August 2, 2002... Since setting up in 1995 Alexander Rose's turnover has doubled each year. Tony Hollyer visited the founder to learn the secret of its success A busy time lies ahead for Borg Leth. As the founder and key member of garden and leisure...

MANUFACTURING: Ease into oak.(Alexander Furniture concentrating on oak hardwood range of products)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... With pine furniture sales on the wane, go ahead firms are turning to other timbers to maximise profits. But can they operate side by side? Tony Hollyer investigates Some 12 months ago, manufacturer Alexander Furniture, realising the market...

MANUFACTURING: Fighting back.(Greenhill Pine)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
August 2, 2002... Against the influx of cheaper pine imports, the secret of survival at Greenhill Pine is quality. Tony Hollyer visits Nottingham based Greenhill Pine has been manufacturing a wide range of pine furniture for around 20 years. Md Derek Savage...

MANUFACTURING: Land of plenty.(U.S. is source of diverse hardwoods)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
August 2, 2002... The USA is one of the world's most diverse sources of well managed temperate hardwoods. Timber industry consultant Michael Buckley examines the issues American timber helped to precipitate the USA's fight for independence from the British...

MANUFACTURING: Taking time for tooling.(Colton Tooling profile)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
August 2, 2002... While most UK manufacturing companies have suffered or ceased trading in recent years, Colton Tooling has gone from strength to strength. Tony Hollyer met the man behind the success Although a relatively new name in woodworking machinery...

MANUFACTURING: Harmony in beds.(European test procedures for beds)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... FIRA's Sue Brighten looks at the European standard for testing beds Test procedures for the strength and structural performance of bases, sets, frames and divans are now set out in BS EN1725: domestic furniture - beds and mattresses -...

MANUFACTURING: Beds - Testing equipment.(SATRA Furniture Technology Centre)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... A large, variable speed roller moving across a bed at 16 cycles/min, for 31 hours, offers a unique way to test products to the latest European Standard for performance, BS EN1957. SATRA's Furniture Technology Centre (FTC) has invested...

MANUFACTURING: High on fibre.(DuPont SA)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... DuPont SA aims to update its most popular line and re-brand Fibrefill is used for filling pillows, duvets, and mattresses. But it is its use in back and seat cushions that the constant quest for improvement is concentrated by DuPontSA,...

MANUFACTURING: Backing winners.(DuPont Furniture Awards)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... The DuPont Furniture Awards were held for the 18th time in 2002 at Ragley Hall - for the last two years under the name of DuPontSA to reflect the 50/50 joint venture of EI du Pont de Nemours and Haci Omer Sabanci Holding AS formed in January...

MANUFACTURING: Fitting performance.(Peter Cook International supplier of furniture parts and services)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Peter Cook International goes from strength to strength supplying the furniture industry with everything from solid wooden legs to polystyrene fascias. Tony Hollyer paid a visit Scrumple, bubblers and hot runner boxes. The furniture...

MANUFACTURING: Changing rooms.(Morris Office Furniture)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... A #4m investment has expanded Morris Office Furniture The evolution of the office desk follows the way workplace space is used and understanding work processes is crucial to finding the right solution, according to Morris Office Furniture,...

MANUFACTURING: As you like it.(tailor made office space from Hafele GmbH)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... The growth of the office fittings market reflects the expansion in home working and demand for tailor made solutions. Tony Hollyer reports Everyone can have their ultimate office space, tailor made and at reasonable cost. This concept is...

MANUFACTURING: Sizing up interiors.(Ofquest invests in manufacturing site)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Ofquest continues to boost productivity of its corporate one stop shop Specialist interiors group Ofquest is investing in its UK manufacturing facilities with a BIMA processing centre, said to be the first machine of its kind in the UK....

MANUFACTURING: Crest of a wave.(Desklink manufactures office furniture with curves)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... The trend in office furniture is for shapes and curved forms Shape is the name of the game in today's working environment, says Desklink md Mike Bugler. And he should know. Desklink manufactures and supplies around 1,300 pieces of furniture...

MANUFACTURING: Joint offering for cabinets.(Hoffman and Mors plus release dovetail jointing system)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Jointing system manufacturer Hoffmann and Danish guillotine manufacturer Mors+ have launched a keyway routing and dovetail jointing system to ease the time consuming and often inaccurate process of making joints on face frame components for...

MANUFACTURING: Winter coat for decking.(Arch Coatings releases treatments for outdoor decor)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Arch Coatings has launched a range of Hickson Decor Brand timber treatments formulated for external garden and landscaping timbers, under the Outdoor Wood Care banner. Decor wood oil offers effective and colourful protection for decking,...

MANUFACTURING: Concorde lines up a Winner.(Concorde Interiors invests in Masterwood Winner CNC machine)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... To speed up batch work, interior refurbishment specialist Concorde Interiors has invested in a Masterwood Winner CNC machining centre. Founded in 1992 by hands-on director Tony Kench, the #7m turnover company recently moved to a new 24,000...

MANUFACTURING: Alston's new Best Mate.(Alston maintains 30 year relationship with Moldow)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... The racehorse Best Mate, sponsored by Alston and ridden to victory by Jim Culloty in the 2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup typifies the relationship of trust and performance established between furniture manufacturer Alston and its suppliers. Its...

MANUFACTURING: Seminars bring safety up to standard.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has arranged three more awareness days on safety in woodworking to be held in Accrington on 18 October, Luton on 25 October and Burton on Trent on 9 November. Demonstrations will be shown on four key...

MANUFACTURING: MDF shapes up for benches.(bench seating made from laminated Medite MDF)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Bench-type public seating, largely the preserve of metal, plastics, and solid timber, may soon be available in MDF. Designers John Coles, and Mike Dye, both lecturers at Kingston University, have devised a new form of bench seating made...

MANUFACTURING: Keeping to the green.(Morrells Woodfinishes awarded for environmental cleanliness)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Stockport based Morrells Woodfinishes has been accredited with FIRA's Club Green Certificate for the eighth year in succession. This time, inspectors were particularly impressed by Morrells' efforts to tackle the three main criteria for...

MANUFACTURING: Sander saves time.(TM Machinery Sales supplies equipment to Harris Joinery)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Harris Joinery has slashed the time taken to sand components and finished products since installing a Timesaver Sandingmaster wide belt sander. Supplied by TM Machinery Sales, the Dutch made machine replaces several handheld sanders, and...

MANUFACTURING: Machining all part of the service.(Timbmet increases production)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2002... Strong sales of machined products are behind timber importer Timbmet's 25% increase in production at its Rochdale manufacturing operation. Investment of almost #1.75m in the last two years has saved customers the cost of investing in new...

MANUFACTURING: Grainier pear on board.(Nexfor releases Country Pear particleboard)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 2, 2002... Nexfor has introduced Country Pear as part of its Caberdecor range of melamine faced particleboard and MDF. Country Pear is said to be warmer in colour than other pear finishes in the Caberdecor range and responds to the trend towards more...

MANUFACTURING: Students reveal their range.
August 2, 2002... Lucia Ercolani of High Wycombe based Ercol Furniture opened the Ryecotewood College summer show which ran from 22-25 June at Thame, Oxfordshire. Visitors saw a wide selection of students' project work, from furniture restoration, furniture...

MANUFACTURING: ASFI shows progress.
August 2, 2002... Organisation of the ASFI Show at Birmingham's NEC from 17-20 November has passed to Cheryl Lewis, following the departure of Alan Lewis after many years' involvement with the organisation. At ASFI's AGM on 25 June, chairman John McCluskey...

Conroys: still counting losses.(no plans to reopen)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... Conroys will not reopen unless it is sold. This was the message from administrators Ernst & Young as it began talks with potential buyers. The six-store chain's 92 staff have been retained but have been told not to report for work. ...

Double first for New Heights.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... New Heights is to open its sixth store next week. The 2,500sqft shop in Nottingham is the first outside the firm's South East heartland and the first outside a town centre. The out-of-town unit is on Derby Road, a main artery into town and...

Comment: Creating art out of nature.(wooden furniture)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... The British love of `older style homes', in estate agent speak, full of character and cornices, probably has a lot to do with the common misconception that wooden furniture is either antique, slightly old fashioned and expensive reproduction,...

Aero site bought by Amazing Emporium.(London-based furniture store acquired)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... Amazing Emporium International has bought Aero's London furniture store and stock for an undisclosed amount. Aero recently went Into receivership and appointed Harris Lipman as receiver. A spokeswoman for the London retailer said a...

Sales growth makes a comeback.(furniture and floorcovering retailers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 9, 2002... Sales growth returned in July for furniture and floorcovering retailers. For a balance of 43% of retailers sales volumes were higher than in 2001. This compares with a balance of 0% in June, according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey....

Andrew Rushton.(office furniture export consultant dies)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 9, 2002... Office furniture export consultant Andrew Rushton died on 26 July after a battle against cancer. He was 48. He entered the industry in 1979 at President Office Furniture becoming export manager before joining what became Samas Roneo. He set...

ScS advertising.(ScS Upholstery's advertising account)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... ScS Upholstery has awarded its #6m advertising account to McCann- Erickson in Manchester. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Milan numbers.(attendance increases at trade shows)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 9, 2002... A total of 185,771 visitors attended Salone International de Mobile and its sister shows in April. This was an increase of 7% on 2001 and included some 4,935 UK visitors, a rise of 22%. The 2003 show is from 9- 14 April. Copyright: CMP...

Going online.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 9, 2002... A study by the DTI has found that 53% of UK retailers have a website. However 23% of stores had yet to consider the benefits of ecommerce, including supply chain management. Details, tel: 0207 215 5000. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Stamp of approval.(British Contract Furnishing Association)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... The British Contract Furnishing Association has launched a 'Stamp of Approval' scheme to reward excellence in design practice and product performance. Eight categories are included from beds, furniture, lighting and accessories, floorcoverings...

Corporate failures. (first quarter of 2002, UK).(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... The number of corporate insolvencies in England and Wales grew by 9.9% in the first quarter of the year to 4,118 according to figures from the DTI. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Furniture facts and figures. (2003 edition of Directory to the Furniture and Furnishing Industry, UK).(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... The 2003 edition of the Directory To The Furniture & Furnishing Industry has just been published. The 532 page directory contains listings for more than 11,000 UK companies, including retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, agents and trade...

Heavy rain hinders production. (UK).(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... The torrential rain which hit many parts of England and central Scotland last week hit production at kitchen firm Symphony. Staff at the Leeds manufacturer were preparing the final deliveries last Tuesday (30 July) afternoon when water...

Slow to settle. (retailers' financial management issues, UK).(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... Medium and large retailers are taking longer to pay their bills than in 2001 claims Experian. A survey of non-food retailers found that in May small firms settled bills in 55 days (unchanged since November 2001), medium sized firms 56 days...

MFI silent on Sofa Workshop. (takeover plans).(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... MFI and Sofa Workshop have declined to comment on claims that MFI has begun takeover talks with the upholstery chain. A report in The Sunday Times (4 Aug) said the two were in talks but an MFI spokeswoman `would neither confirm nor deny' it...

Flexa for children. (Kadrina furniture line).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 9, 2002... Scandinavian company Flexa is to launch a range of children's furniture. Kadrina features pine wardrobes, high sleepers, play beds, cupboards and bookshelves in a natural finish punctuated by textiles. Customers will be able to mix and...

Direct links to London. (Home Furnishing opens distribution center in England).(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... The launch of a distribution centre by Leicester wholesaler Home Furnishing in the East End of London will simplify delivery services to customers in London and the South. Md George Thaw said: `From 12 August, we shall be able to open up...

Sutcliffe's new range is inclined to action. (upholstery collection Chartwell).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 9, 2002... Sutcliffe launched a traditional upholstery collection Chartwell at The BFM London Furniture Show. The range features incliner actions on the sofas and chairs, an electric lift and rise chair, along with standard and fireside chairs. There...

Traditional meets contemporary. (Oakdale Interiors' furniture lines).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 9, 2002... Two teak ranges embracing traditional and modern styles were unveiled by Oakdale Interiors. The more traditional Tuscany range was shown in an old-style wax finish and featured dining room and occasional pieces. An extendable dining room...

Solid debut from Pierson. (solid oak bedroom collection).(Brief Article)
August 9, 2002... French manufacturer Pierson showed its solid oak bedroom collection for the first time in the UK at Earls Court 2. `We have been in the UK for three years; we're doing quite well with tables and chairs,' said export manager Celine Verdun....