Cabinet Maker articles from August 2006

Cabinet Maker archives from August 2006

Fabric admission.
August 4, 2006... Testing houses have been using the wrong fabric for fire safety testing for at least six years. The startling admission comes from Woodrow Universal, which since 2000 has been the sole supplier of the fabric used by the testing houses. ...

Fibre fire test fears.
August 4, 2006... If the letter of the law is followed, upholstery fire tests could be deemed illegal as fibre needed is not available Retailers can no longer be sure the upholstery being sold in their stores is up to the required flammability requirements...

European scale.(Ilva open stores in manchester)(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... Home furnishing store Ilva was due to open its 120,000sqft store yesterday (3 August) at Lakeside, Thurrock, Essex. Its UK entry represents the next stage of the European expansion plan for the chain that aims to have 20 stores in the next 10...

CFC joins the booming Internet sales society.
August 4, 2006... More than half the adults in the UK bought online last year according to new research Northern Ireland department store CFC Interiors has joined a wave of retailers investing in Internet sales. The two-store chain's online effort is part...

Exploration expo.(Digital Explorers)(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... Designers Tomoko Azumi and Assa Ashuach are to launch a joint lighting exhibition, Digital Explorers. As research fellows at London Metropolitan University, both are seeking to advance their work through new machinery available at Metropolitan...

Small firms lose out on rate relief.
August 4, 2006... Thousands of small businesses are missing out on rate relief of up to #2,500 a year because they do not know they are entitled to it. Furniture companies are among those losing out. The Forum of Private Business has called for the...

Red tape still too long.(new laws have been completed)(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... A campaign to ease red tape on businesses has run into trouble after it emerged the European Commission is not close to meeting its targets. In October, the Commission announced plans to simplify more than 200 laws. Out of 54 earmarked for...

OBITUARY: Eric Shaw.(GH Shaw of Lincoln)(Obituary)
August 4, 2006... Eric Martyn Shaw died peacefully in his sleep on 28 July. He was the fourth generation of Shaws to run the family business, GH Shaw of Lincoln in Lincolnshire. The fifth generation of Shaws, David, Tim and Wendy will continue to run...

OBITUARY: Colin Amery.(Obituary)(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... Colin Amery, former Relyon sales director, died on 25 July after a period of ill health. Amery joined Relyon in 1953 progressing to sales director from 1987 to 1998 when he retired. Ian Topping, Homestyle chief executive, and former...

In brief: Card meltdown.(Halifax Credit Cards )(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... Halifax Credit Cards said the hot weather had prompted an increase in spending on the home and a decrease in travel expenditure. Home and garden spending rose by 5% during the week to 22 July as Brits spent cash on the garden and other home...

In brief: Direct move.
August 4, 2006... Direct Furniture Supplies in Jersey has expanded its showroom by taking over a lingerie store next door. Brothers, Alan and David Ricou, have added soft furnishings and mirrors to the range of lounge and bedroom furniture. The company is a...

In brief: Home prices up.(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... House price growth picked up in July and the market remains `fairly buoyant', according to Nationwide. The building society's latest housing survey revealed prices rose by 0.8% last month, up from 0.3% in June, pushing the annual growth rate to...

In brief: Business help.(UCE Birmingham )(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... UCE Birmingham has launched a course aimed at helping students wanting to start a business. Two out of every three graduates say they would like to start up a business. Despite this there has been a significant decrease in the number of...

Lights online.(www.johncullenlighting.co.uk)(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... John Cullen Lighting has launched a website offering interiors and garden products. www.johncullenlighting.co.uk, launched at the end of July, is not yet transactional although the company said this would change later in the year. The...

Bombo agreement.
August 4, 2006... Magis, the Italian manufacturer responsible for the famous, and much copied, Bombo range of furniture has persuaded Viking Direct (part of Office Depot) from selling apparent lookalikes. Office Depot has agreed to stop selling or advertising...

City: Colefax on a high as MFI takes a fall.
August 4, 2006... Colefax gained 18p to achieve a 190p all-time high, following better than expected figures for the year to 30 April. Pre-tax profits increased by 30% to #4m, and the year's success is reflected in a 75% share price increase since last July. ...

FPB presents case against Matalan.
August 4, 2006... MP agrees to look at the evidence in supplier dispute A dossier of evidence on the dispute between retailer Matalan and its suppliers has been submitted to the minister responsible for small firms, Margaret Hodge MP. After a meeting...

Nobia reaps results of its UK action plan.(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... UK net sales rose by 11% in the first half of the year for Swedish kitchen producer Nobia, as sales grew to #208m from #187m in the same period last year. Operating profit for UK trade increased to #15.6m this year, from #10.3m in 2005....

GUS gets close to target.
August 4, 2006... GUS shares are peaking on a rumoured #7bn approach for credit checking agency Experian. April's reversal followed demerger confirmation that Experian will not be listed on Wall Street, where valuations tend to be higher than in London. The...

Dichotomy in manufacturing.
August 4, 2006... Report claims half of UK manufacturers struggle while the other half excels A gulf has emerged between the manufacturing haves and the manufacturing have nots in the UK. In a report of the UK's top 1,000 furniture manufacturers,...

Cocoon to expand.(Cocoon Furniture plans to open five stores)(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... After only eight months of retailing in the UK, Cocoon Furniture plans to open a further five stores within the next year. The manufacturer and retailer has a two-floor 3,200sqft store in Notting Hill, London. Godeke Von Wedel, UK director...

Talk: What products impressed you most at Las Vegas show and why?
August 4, 2006... `I was most impressed by the lighting. There is much more variety. Lighting is contemporary and more avant-garde in comparison to the furniture.' Isobel Hurbide, Inovacion En Diseno, Mexico `I was impressed by the rattan furniture,...

Leader: Virtually unbelievable change.(UK adults)(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... More than half of all UK adults have bought something over the Internet in the past year. Even in today's digital age, that statistic still sounds unbelievably high. But a quick poll of the Cabinet Maker office struggled to find anyone who...

Views By David Hawkridge.
August 4, 2006... The UK furniture industry trade associations which comprise the British Furniture Confederation (BFC), support the principles of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 which have helped significantly reduce fatalities...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Courts pensioners wait as trustees find a way into PPF.
August 4, 2006... Mark Lewis looks at the state of Courts pension fund and how it could qualify for help under the Government's complicated protection fund rules For an outsider, it's easy to understand that the pension problems of a firm that has failed...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Explaining the under-funding.
August 4, 2006... The whole pensions affair needs to be considered within the context of how the scheme became so under-funded, and what happened to James Jacobs, a former Courts associate director and Master of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers. ...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Should retailers worry about rising house prices?
August 4, 2006... Do rising property prices deter furniture buyers or do retailers need to look closer to home and improve their products, questions Deven Pamben The National Housing Federation (NHF) has predicted that the average house price in England...

NEWS ANALYSIS: England's housing timebomb facts.
August 4, 2006... * The average house price is currently eight times the national average earnings. By 2011 it will be 9.2 times the average salary. * Average house prices rose 6% last year - three times the rate of inflation. * First-time buyers...

Shop window - Recliners: Stressless Sphinx furniture range.
August 4, 2006... Ekornes' Stressless Sphinx coordinates with the Orion recliner. It is available as a two or three-seater, low or high back sofa option with armchair. An additional feature is the hidden remote control storage in the sofa's armrests. ...

Shop window - Recliners: Rolf Benz 5700 recliner.(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... Rolf Benz's 5700 recliner has two seating positions: in the first the leg support automatically follows the back and in the second the back reclines to a maximum of 135x. The arms are attached to the chair ensuring they remain at a constant...

Shop window - Recliners: Supino recliner.
August 4, 2006... Jori's Supino is part of its Originals collection. Designed by Christophe Giraud, it has a choice of a five-pronged aluminium base or round feet in aluminium, leather, wood or acrylic. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

STORE MANAGER: Don't take stress lying down.
August 4, 2006... Stress - can't live with it and can't live without it. It is a perennial problem for employers and staff alike and it can be expensive too, says Carole Firman Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure. It isn't a...

STORE MANAGER: What is stress?(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... The Health and Safety Executive defines stress as `the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them'. Stress can be reduced by: * An appropriate and thorough recruitment process. *...

STORE MANAGER: HSE management standards.(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... Demands: employees should be able to cope with the demands of their jobs. Control: employees should have a say about the way they do their work. Support: employees should receive adequate information and support from colleagues and...

INTERVIEW - JANE SANDERS: Full on glamour.
August 4, 2006... Developing its own niche for opulence and glitz has brought success to Liverpool retailer Domain Furniture Store, as Andrew Kidd reports `Too many furniture shops are selling cheap rubbish. Everyone is crying that the furniture business is...

INTERVIEW - JANE SANDERS: Best sellers.(Bibliography)
August 4, 2006... `Mirrored furniture, we do accessories in it as well. We give a product six months to see if it's a seller,' says Jane. `We've been very lucky with mirrored furniture - it's made by the same supplier Laura Ashley uses, but half the price....

DINING TABLES: Clearing up for snooker.
August 4, 2006... Snooker may not now have the TV viewing figures of Davis v Taylor in 1985 when 18.5million people watched, but 4million adults regularly play the sport and 25million people watched at least part of the 2005 world championship final. But...

SHOW REVIEW: Capital hot shots.
August 4, 2006... It was not only the temperature that was hot during London Interiors, with a plethora of contemporary, innovative and quirky products on show `Thank god for air conditioning', was the refrain at London Interiors (Earls Court, 2-4 July). As...

RETAIL INTELLIGENCE: June trading.
August 4, 2006... June has come and gone, but offers were still aplenty across retail parks and high streets. But did they do anything to lift sales ahead of a World Cup which saw sales of TVs and beer soar?Frankly no. Compared with May 2006, some 59%...

CM offcuts: Don't worry, just keep on running.
August 4, 2006... Katy Million owns Mood in Hartlepool and opened her first shop in November 2005 How did you get started in the furniture industry? I was working as a car salesperson and became very disillusioned. When you work in sales you get paid...

CM offcuts: Hungary for furniture.
August 4, 2006... What do the Pope, Jennifer Lopez and Hilary Clinton have in common? The answer lies not in some seedy joke, but in a love of Hungarian designed furniture manufactured by a small company called Szabo Upholstery. The New York firm, which has...

Brock could return to MFI.(David Brock)
August 11, 2006... Troubled MFI changes tactics in a bid to offload the loss-making retail division which could see a former sales director installed as chairman Argyll Partners has asked David Brock to be the non-executive chairman of MFI Retail if its bid...

Independents face consolidation.
August 11, 2006... There are too many independent furniture retailers in a competitive market and pressures are set to continue in the short-term, according to research from credit rating agency, Euler Hermes. The report, The Furniture Industry: No Time to...

Chadds to close furniture department.
August 11, 2006... Redundancy rumours denied by store in #100,000 refurbishment Hereford department store Chadds is to close its furniture division as part of a #100,000 refurbishment. Cabinet Maker has received anonymous correspondence accusing the...

Smart delivery.
August 11, 2006... Dutch firm TNT has won a multi-million pound logistics contract from Danish furniture company Ilva, which opened its first UK store last week in Lakeside, Essex. The partnership will create 550 jobs at Ilva's distribution centres in Doncaster...

Getting customers on site.
August 11, 2006... Curtain and upholstery store Fabric World in Sutton, Surrey has launched a website and painted its shop green in a bid to attract more customers. The two-floor 1,200sqft store stocks 3,000 ranges of materials and has been in Sutton since...

In business.(forecast by Insolvency Service, Britain)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... The Insolvency Service said Britain's businesses are faring well as first quarter company liquidations in England and Wales fell to 3,265, down 5% on the previous quarter. This is also 3% lower than the second quarter of 2005, with...

UK firms refused entry to European tax cut scheme.
August 11, 2006... UK businesses are being refused permission to take part in a European VAT pilot scheme, which could see small companies make tax savings. Sixteen countries are participating in the scheme and will receive reduced rates. Chancellor...

In brief: Talking red tape.(Forum of Private Business (FPB))(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... The Forum of Private Business (FPB) will use the first national Small Firms' Summit to raise the issue of the burden of red tape. Conservative leader David Cameron will be the keynote speaker on 18 October at the Central Hall Westminster. Len...

In brief: Kitchen issues.(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... The Kitchen Manufacturers Association has set up a kitchen industry forum to discuss issues in the trade. Manufacturers and suppliers are being asked to register to gain more information about the event, which is due to take place on 3 October....

In brief: Website double.
August 11, 2006... Cranleigh Freight Services (CFS) now has two websites to reflect the company's position and its two brands. Offering both freight and direct home delivery (DHD) services, the two websites will make it easier for visitors to find information on...

In brief: Homing in.(real estate industry)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... The average price of a house in England and Wales is closing in on #200,000 according to the Land Registry. In the three months to the end of June the average cost of a house rose 7.7% on a year ago to #199,184. Also, the number of home sales...

Steinhoff to make upholstery in the UK.
August 11, 2006... South African firm to court independent retailers with furniture made in its South Wales factory Steinhoff has made a renewed push to re-establish its independent retail business a year after it took a 61% stake in Homestyle. David...

Fire test fibre is available.
August 11, 2006... The mystery around why UK textile test laboratories have been using the wrong material for their upholstery fillings tests has deepened (CM, 4 Aug, p3). In a letter to the DTI, the UK Textile Laboratories Forum (UKTLF) called for the...

Sun brings out more discounts.
August 11, 2006... July's sales suffered in the hot weather Sales of furniture worsened further in July with the hot weather prompting more discount-driven sales. The assessment in the British Retail Consortium/KPMG Retail Sales Monitor confirmed the...

London prices take a hit in July.(furniture prices)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... Retail prices in London and Scotland fell sharply in July from June, compared with the rest of the UK where average retail prices were more stable. London shop prices fell 2.59% - the largest month-on-month decrease in the capital this...

LoL meets challenge.(increase in sales of Land of Leather)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... Land of Leather's sales orders were up 5.7% in the 17 weeks to 30 July. However, this was lower than the same period last year when sales orders rose by 7.9%. Figures released as part of LoL's `pre close trading update' also show that...

LETTER: Colin Amery: man of values and honesty.(Letter to the editor)
August 11, 2006... I was very sad to read of the passing of Colin Amery, sales director of Relyon between 1987 and 1998 (CM, 4 Aug, p4). I first met Colin in late 1977 when he looked after Relyon in the North of England and I well recall the kindness and help...

Firms fear national congestion charges.
August 11, 2006... Government plans road fees outside London Retailers could pay the price for the UK's congestion problems if Government plans to charge motorists for driving on the busiest roads are implemented. A Government bill, due to be introduced...

TALK: Are flammability requirements in the UK stringent enough?(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... `Definitely. I feel we are more stringent than most other countries that I know of. I would not say it is over-stringent but it is it better than other countries.' Suzanne Ralton, Aqua Fabrics director, The Hyde, London `Regulations...

Leader: Worthwhile move by Steinhoff.(Steinhoff International Holdings Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... The news that Steinhoff will dedicate more of its South Wales factory to designs for independent retailers (see p5) is interesting. Initially the deal on Christie-Tyler's former Bridgend site was done to service Harveys, whose parent...

Views By Steve Gotham.(Ilva opens its new store)(Brief article)(Column)
August 11, 2006... Have you been to Lakeside yet? You should because llva's new store needs to be seen at first hand to get the full impression of its sheer scale, design quality and merchandising flair. The visual aesthetics, the showcasing of the roomsets and...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Will the rise in interest rates make a difference?
August 11, 2006... The Bank of England's decision last week to raise interest rates a quarter point to 4.75% came as a shock. It was the first time the Monetary Policy Committee had increased rates in two years and rose the spectre of a campaign of monetary...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Is the pricing right?
August 11, 2006... Is cutting prices the way to encourage trade or could it be a cut too far? Deven Pamben looks at the situation in light of the recent interest rate rise With furniture prices falling to their lowest level this year, retailers are set to be...

Shop Window - Lighting: Element standing lamp.
August 11, 2006... Old Ginger's Element standing lamp has a choice of a rattan or goat skin shade. Made from reclaimed teak it is available in a choice of four finishes. Old Ginger 020 7384 3130 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Shop Window - Lighting: Putdowns lamp.
August 11, 2006... Wise1Design's Putdowns is primarily a floor standing lamp but can be used as a table lamp. Various designs are available from space shuttles to sun flowers. It can also be produced incorporating personalised designs or graphics. ...

Shop Window - Lighting: Lady Jane garden light.
August 11, 2006... The Lady Jane garden light from Serralunga has a two colour combination finish that plays on the contrast between the stalk and the diffuser. The lampshade-shaped Lady Jane coordinates with the flower- shaped Lady Mary. Serralunga 00 39 01...

STORE MANAGER: How far can restrictions go?
August 11, 2006... Trying to prevent unfair competition from employees can involve restrictive covenants but a test case has changed the situation, as Clive Day explains The law has changed regarding when an employer can fairly dismiss an employee for...

STORE MANAGER: Learning from mistakes.(Windsor Recruitment)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... In common with other contractual changes an employer might seek to make, a good business reason for the change will normally get the employer past `first base' and establish a potentially fair reason for dismissal. The question then for the...

INTERVIEW - JACKIE BEEKE: Duvet art.(textile designers)(Interview)
August 11, 2006... Jackie Beeke's True Love Always collection is taking designer bedlinen in a new direction, says Rachel Calton It is the tiredness of hushed, muted tones and patterns in the bedroom, together with frustration at the under-used talents of...

RETAIL DESIGN: Planet Habitat.(Tom Dixon)
August 11, 2006... Transforming a derelict church into Habitat's flagship store was Tom Dixon's first store design, and it looks like a winner, reports Andrew Kidd The opening of Habitat's flagship store at 123 Regent Street, London, in May was the latest...

UNDERCOVER SHOPPER: Peterborough.(service evaluation of department stores)
August 11, 2006... Five stores are visited every month to check service. This month we look at: Peterborough is one of those cities that is easy to get to and from. The A1 motorway is a great link to the North and South of the country while the A14 gives...

September diary: Catering for kids.
August 11, 2006... Maison & Objet will host an exhibition devoted to childrens' furniture in Paris from 1-5 September. Kidesign examines three approaches to children's furniture: reducing the size of products designed for adults, such as those by Ray and...

September diary: In the mood for knowledge.
August 11, 2006... Improving visual merchandising will be the theme of Inspire 07, at The Autumn Furniture and Home Accessories Fair, Dublin (3-6 September), providing an insight to the key trends of 2007. Hosted by Kerry Meakin, Visual Merchandising Ireland...

September diary: Three in the bed show.
August 11, 2006... Visitors to bed exhibition Comfortex, in Leipzig from 9-11 September, will find the show has been reorganised. Its 115 exhibitors have been divided into three sections: Trend Room, Work Room and Dream Room. Healthy sleeping is the focus of...

September diary: Italy takes the chair.(Promosedia)(furniture industry)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... New look chair exhibition Promosedia celebrates its 30th anniversary in Udine from 9-12 September by switching to an Italian exhibitor-only event. Two UK designers, Ed Carpenter and Christopher Coombes, have been chosen for the Section by...

September diary: China show grows.
August 11, 2006... Furniture China anticipates 80,000 visitors from 11-14 September as the show continues to grow. Covering 220,000sqm, some 1,500 companies will be looking to reinforce the UK's position as China's largest European export market. The...

September diary: Experiments and expansion.(Italian home furnishings exhibition "Abitare Il Tempo")(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... Italian interiors exhibition Abitare Il Tempo returns for its 21st show, from 21-25 September, covering upholstery, kitchens, lighting, textiles, curtains, tableware, flooring, bathrooms and accessories. As ever, emphasis is being placed on...

September diary: Winners head for Valencia.(Valencia International Furniture Fair)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... The Ercolino, designed by Giulio Manzini for Campeggi took top spot in the cDIM awards and will be shown at the Valencia International Furniture Fair (18-23 September). The judges praised it for `its capacity to integrate different spaces'. ...

September diary: Talking about interior design.
August 11, 2006... Decorex will play host to a multitude of speakers at the interior design show's conference from 24-27 September at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. In the first presentation, at 11am on 24 September, Suzanne De Vall, Oeco Textiles co-founder...

September diary: Capital event.
August 11, 2006... Combine September and London and it can only mean one thing - design. Headed by 100% Design, 100% East and new event 100% Light, there are almost 200 events taking place during the month under the London Design Festival banner. Ranging from...

MARKET REVIEW: Profitable coffee breaks.
August 11, 2006... Advertising on coffee cups can stir up business, Andrew Kidd explains how You want to reach a target audience, probably upmarket and probably under 50. But TV is expensive and audiences are increasingly fragmented, while newspaper...

MARKET REVIEW: A novel way to advertise.
August 11, 2006... Publisher Hodder & Stoughton launched its campaign for the Jodi Picoult novel Perfect Match on 31 July. Advertisements will be displayed during August on 388 tables and 558,000 coffee sleeves in Coffee Republic, reaching an estimated 1.1million...

CM offcuts: Prize match.(Cabinet Maker)(golf match raises funds for hospice care)(Brief article)
August 11, 2006... The second Frank Kenyon Challenge Golf Trophy raised more than #14,000 for Dr Kershaw's Hospice in Oldham, Lancashire. Some 26 teams took part in perfect weather conditions at the Manchester Golf Club in Hopwood, surpassing the efforts of...