Cabinet Maker articles from December 2003

Cabinet Maker archives from December 2003

Seconique vows `business as usual'.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Furniture importer Seconique has pledged to fulfil all orders and continue to trade as normal after its West Midlands warehouse was raided by Customs and Excise officers on 21 October. A Seconique staff member of the Wednesbury firm...

Chinn makes a stand with online style promise.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... A furniture, art and accessories e-commerce website has been launched by interior designer Adrienne Chinn. Designhound.co.uk is the online incarnation of Adrienne Chinn Design Company and the items for sale come with Chinn's personal...

COMMENT: Trading quality for price.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... A consumer phoned me recently asking for advice on where to buy a cheap leather sofa. For the first time I understood just how much needs to be explained to a potential buyer on the shopfloor. Where do you start? I dived straight in,...

ScS stalls over missing profits gap.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Upholstery chain ScS was due this week to explain why 18% of its forecast profits had disappeared. In the third profits warning in four months, it last week revealed that pre-tax profits would be #8m for the year ended 30 September and not...

DFS sees signs of an upturn.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... DFS has seen sales recover in recent weeks, with like for like orders growing. Shareholders at its AGM this week were told that orders had risen by just over 1% in the eight weeks since 9 October. This compares with a fall of 3.9% in the...

Elaine Ray promoted.(Leekes retail)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Leekes has promoted Elaine Ray from group cabinet buyer to furniture business manager, in charge of the chain's furniture and flooring departments. Linda Llewellyn, former furniture manager at the Llantrisant store has become assistant buyer,...

Mini-guide to upholstery leather.(Andrew Muirhead)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Leather firm Andrew Muirhead has released a 28 page mini-guide to upholstery leather, which is designed to offer comprehensive advice on hide, covering the history of leather, different types, natural characteristics, finishes and care, plus...

Leather courses.(Furniture Industry Research Association (UK))(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... FIRA, Qualitas and BLC are offering a course on leather upholstery on 10 February and 21 September next year. Topics cover types of leather and their uses, common faults, care and testing requirements. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Lighting to stay.(Scandinavian Furniture Fair plans)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... The lighting section at the Scandinavian Furniture Fair is likely to become a permanent feature, having received the backing of the Danish Lighting Association. The accessories and design section is also set to remain for 2004, despite this...

Vote protest fails.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... A threatened protest against the re-election of Malcolm Walker as a non- executive director of DFS failed to materialise. The National Association of Pension Funds urged members to abstain because after a decade on the board it no longer...

Nobia adds kitchen multiple choice.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Magnet parent company Nobia has strengthened its position in the UK kitchen market with the #68.6m purchase of rival maker Gower. Gower is the UK's second largest flatpack kitchen supplier, and the largest to the multiple sector. ...

Holland returns as host for The Furniture Awards.(Dominic Holland )(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Dominic Holland will once again host The Furniture Awards gala dinner next month. Comedian and author Holland returns by popular demand after hosting this year's event. Music will be provided by top Rolling Stones tribute band The...

Conran appears Contented.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Christie-Tyler has shown its faith in its Content by Conran brand with a planned expansion of the collection at The Furniture Show. The most talked about launch of this year's show has been dogged by rumours of under-performance - partially...

Take time out for relaxation.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... With more than 600 firms to see during The Furniture Show alone, there will be times when visitors will feel the need to escape and unwind. Then relax at the revival area - a cafe area, massage parlour and chill out zone, sporting a warm...

Segusiono scours the globe.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Segusiono is to enter the leather upholstery market in January. The firm will offer a Scandinavian range of sofas in Italian leather as part of the firm's sourcing across the globe. A transitional Dutch cabinet collection will be...

Rattan weaves its way Westward.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... While Jeff Banks may have fallen out with Sainsburys, Westward Europe has maintained its link with the designer to create two ranges for its Kiani brand. Pacific is a collection of eight rattan weave chairs ranging from tub design to a...

Accessories make their presence felt.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Furnishing accessories will feature a multitude of new exhibitors, making up 28% of the show. Adesso, Artko, Malini, Manuscript, Papa Theo, Scandecor, Solomon & Whitehead and Webbs Furniture will be among those taking part for the first...

Debonair divan.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... The Debonair divan will be among Dunlopillo's launches at The Furniture Show. It forms part of the latex/foam Good Night Good Day collection, with options including sprung edges, storage and four sizes. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Interiors conjure the past.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... A longing for past times when personal, financial and world security seemed easier will form the theme for the central theme displays at Design Interiors. Natural and neutral hues will represent calmness and serenity, the colours of the...

Textiles see red.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Red will be one of next year's key upholstery colours while the 1970s will be one of the most influential style trends. The rise of warmer colours is forecast by textile show Heimtextil, combining shades or toned with honey. Four 2004...

Specialists stand by with shopfitting design advice.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... More than 140 firms will be offering advice on how to improve the retail environment at the Retail Interiors and International Design Week show next February. Among the firms taking part will be specialists in shopfitting, graphics,...

Past and future meet at La Metropole Pavilion.(Salon du Meuble trade show)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... The La Metropole section of Paris show Salon du Meuble has been increased 30% and given a new home for January's event. The 194,000sqft Metropole Pavilion will allow organisers to improve sectors such as kitchen, bathroom, lighting, outside...

Drimmer sets UK studio target.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... French furniture, lighting and accessory manufacturer Drimmer has set a target to open 20 store within store concepts in the UK. The studios combine Drimmer's range of furniture, lamps, flower arrangements and rugs for the first time. ...

Plans to expand first floor.(Bernhardt Furniture UK)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Extending for art: Bernhardt Furniture plans to expand the first floor of its Chaseside, north London showroom. Construction is to begin next spring, to increase display space and allow Turkesh Redif, Bernhardt Furniture UK md to add an art...

Scottish exports drop.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Scottish furniture, textiles and leather exports shrank last year, according to a survey by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. Furniture business fell from #88.4m worth in 2001 to #82.9m in 2002, while textiles dropped by...

Phone law sends a message to employers.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Firms could find themselves liable for employees' fines for using a handheld mobile phone while driving, if staff have not been given details of a company's policy on such use. According to the AA, drivers are six times more likely to have...

Assistant threatened in store raid.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... A sales assistant was threatened by two teenagers with an 8in flick knife during a robbery at a west London furniture store last week. The pair entered the Mortlake premises of Take at lunchtime on 24 November, first asking for money for...

Mapping out a future.(Company Profile)
December 5, 2003... Dragged down by three profit warnings in four months, ScS has seen its value halved in the past year. Andrew Kidd looks at what the future holds for the chain Issuing a profits warning is never a good thing for a stockmarket quoted...

SHOP WINDOW: DANERKA.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... The Addit chair is not just a single chair, but a family of designs from Pelikan Copenhagen with a number of combinations to create an individual piece. Contact Danerka on 0045 49 13 88 33 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: GERVASONI.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... The Weekend collection is a modern interpretation of a romantic tradition of sofas, storage units, tables and beds that were conceived for the second home. Contact Gervasoni on 0039 0432 656611 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Undercover in London.
December 5, 2003... Every two weeks Cabinet Maker will send its spies to report on sales techniques in furniture stores. This week's mission was to buy a sofabed in London's West End JOHN LEWIS, OXFORD STREET John Lewis stages a flattering layout in its...

Retail Intelligence.(Industry Overview)
December 5, 2003... After the return of shoppers and orders in September, the pattern continued into October. Some 50% of retailers saw sales rise compared to September, 29% held them at September's level and 21% saw a fall. This produced a balance of +29%....

LEATHER UPHOLSTERY: Hide and seek.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... The Italians are leading the drive for dominance of UK leather upholstery sales, but the spectre of cheaper imports means the battle has only just begun Taking advantage of a climate ripened by an unsettled UK upholstery industry, Italian...

LEATHER UPHOLSTERY: Making the grade.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Aniline finish Regarded as the highest quality leather and most costly, with no artificial pigmented finish applied. Being in its natural dyed state, the leather may display slight colour variation. Semi-aniline finish A proportion of...

LEATHER UPHOLSTERY: Split decision.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... While some in the industry regard cheaper split hides as driving down the perceived value of leather, Chirag Patel, Crest Leather md, does not see a problem as long as manufacturers use them responsibly. `Splits are the same as hides but...

LEATHER UPHOLSTERY: Derwent introduces new brand.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... With its contemporary styled Mezzanine leather range, previewed this autumn, Derwent has launched a new assault on the independents not previously stockists of its products. `We know many retailers who want to work with us but who attract a...

LEATHER UPHOLSTERY: TRENDS.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... `The trends are towards softer touches rather than corrected grain leathers. The Europeans are looking for more pastels and straighter lines but still with softer leathers.' Chirag Patel, Crest Leather md `At the moment it's still dark...

LEATHER UPHOLSTERY: Leather Xchange.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... To capitalise on what has become the dominant sector of the upholstery market, market research firm Leather Xchange held its first conference on the leather upholstery industry. The aim of publisher Adam Baker was to provide a forum of ideas to...

LOCAL ADVERTISING: Local heroes.
December 5, 2003... Retailers should do more to take advantage of local advertising opportunities, says Stephen Fox You operate a furniture store in a slightly off pitch location (well it was right on pitch until the shopping centre was built and a new one...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: BARLOW TYRIE.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Barlow Tyrie will unveil three contemporary collections in teak and steel combinations: Equinox, Horizon and Haven. It will also feature its online order monitoring system DealerNet. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: LIMELIGHT BEDS.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Limelight Beds will cast an eye to the traditional side of the market with its Classic Collection offering of four beds, including Venus. Limelight will share a stand with sister company Vogue Beds. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW UK - BEST OF BRITISH: CONNECT BY JOHN FOREMAN.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Connect by John Foreman will showcase products from Dutch bed manufacturer Apple International, Dutch upholstered sofa and bed manufacturer Vift International and Italian table and chair producer Davos. Vift's Salsa bed combines leather and...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: CAXTON FURNITURE.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Caxton Furniture will unveil its `Intelligent Furniture' concept with synchronised opening doors. Intelligent Furniture is featured on its Modena natural oak style Shaker furniture collection and Techno, a pear/maple style living, dining...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: DUCAL.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Ducal will launch the 11 piece Grace bedroom range in cherry solids and veneers with a bed available in leather or suede. Bedroom range Essence will have new models, and new occasional furniture will be added to Bows and Cove dining ranges. ...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: GLOSTER FURNITURE.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Gloster Furniture will unveil all-weather contemporary and traditional outdoor furniture ranges, Plantation, Manhattan and Geneva, made with synthetic handwoven material designed to look and feel like wicker. The collections are designed by...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: ALSTONS UPHOLSTERY.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Alstons Upholstery will unveil Cadiz and the more traditional Brompton, each with exclusive covers. New covers will also be launched for its upholstery and sofabed collections. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: ALSTONS CABINET.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Alstons Cabinet will add a dining element to its Pianni living room collection with a glass topped extending table made from solid wood with a choice of slatted back or upholstered chairs. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: G&P FURNITURE.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... G&P Furniture will debut its Italian solid beech collection reflecting a move into contemporary styles. Also on display will be North American oak dining and living room range Phoenix and embossed rubberwood dining and living range, Monaco. ...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: JAY-BE.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Jay-Be will be splashing out on colour with its multifunctional In- Sequence collection. It will also unveil a modular bunk system as well as new additions to its leather, metal and wood bed offer. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: QUITMANN FURNITURE.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Quitmann Furniture will highlight new furniture for its Old Mill Oak, Beech Craft, Portchester Oak, Orchid House and Scotia dining room collections. Bentwood and upholstered chairs are on offer for the contract market. Copyright: CMP...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: BUOYANT UPHOLSTERY.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... New leather and soft cover models will be coupled with established ranges on Buoyant Upholstery's stand. Its sofabed offers will also be on show along with new recliner actions on popular models. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: WILLIS & GAMBIER.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Willis & Gambier will unveil three bedroom collections. Espirit is a mix of white oak solids and veneers punctuated by a slatted, posted bedstead in low or high footboards. Ivory, inspired by 18th century French furniture in birch and...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW UK - BEST OF BRITISH: MORRIS FURNITURE GROUP.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... The Morris Furniture Group will introduce products across each of its brands - Morris Furniture, G Plan Cabinets, Beautility and Relaxateeze. From Beautility comes its Vetro metal and glass dining collection, punctuated by low, two-door display...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: ALISTAIR JAMES.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... From Alistair James' leather sofas, chairs and ottomans comes the Uptown slipper chair in cream and mocha leather, Lombardy and Doric sofa ranges in oxblood water buffalo leather, Fretro sofa range in tan pull up bovine leather and the Lina...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: ZOCALO.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Zocalo will mark 2004 with its largest launch at The Furniture Show with five new cabinet collections. Styles range from the rustic Montana Lodge to minimalist styled Eden Park in solid cherry and Madison Square in solid walnut. This will...

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: UK - BEST OF BRITISH: THE COLLECTION.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... The Collection will make its show debut with contemporary wood and leather furniture predominantly in Chinese elm. It offer includes living, dining home office and bedroom furniture. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

THE FURNITURE SHOW PREVIEW: BEST OF BRITISH: PETER HARRIS INTERNATIONAL.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2003... Peter Harris International's contemporary ranges are characterised by glass dining, living and bedroom coupled with traditional light oak and cherry in a new antique painted finish. Handmade Swedish leather recliners will also be on display....

WEBWATCH: Solid style.(Seven Salotti)
December 5, 2003... Seven Salotti's website is a feast for the eyes, but can leave visitors reaching for their glasses says Stephanie Baum Italian furniture producer Seven Salotti takes a simple approach to its website at www.sevensalotti.it. Look at a...

FIRST PERSON - JOHN WAKEMAN: Growth promoter.(Interview)
December 5, 2003... JOHN WAKEMAN What made you decide to start your own business? After being sacked by Christie-Tyler and then deciding to leave Whitemeadow Furniture, I thought `why not and use my 26 years in the industry to its full advantage?' I...

Glenwood is Heirloom's new owner.(Heirloom Furniture and Classic Choice sold)(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... Heirloom Furniture and Classic Choice have been bought by venture capitalist firm, Glenwood Productions for an undisclosed fee. Heirloom will be headed by Alan Johnson, former Christie-Tyler administrative manager, who joins the company as...

Sales on the increase as Courts chases profit.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... Courts is on course to make a full year profit, according to Stephen Cohen, UK md. The chain has taken market share from its rivals in the past few weeks, with like for like orders up 26% in the 14 weeks since 25 August. Like for like...

COMMENT: Give them a break.(young designers competition)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
December 12, 2003... The search for the most innovative young furniture designer is on. And the competition this year has been taken to the next level. Entries for the young designer's Collection have a surprising awareness of what is happening in the market that...

Care kit underpricing caused ScS profits fall.(Guardsman )(Leather care kits)(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... The knock-on effects of undercharging stores for the cost of Guardsman Leather Care Kits lay at the heart of #1.1m of lost profits at ScS. An investigation by auditor Ernst & Young discovered that after a pricing review at the end of 2002,...

Retail sales record second growth month.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... November saw furniture and floorcoverings retailers notch up two consecutive months of annual sales growth for the first time in 10 months. A balance of +27% of retailers said sales volumes were up on 2002. Although this figure was 7%...

Understanding credit.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... The Government has launched a consumer credit white paper which seeks to tighten the rules on companies' lending, and could have implications on the furniture trade. The Government intends to make it easier for customers to understand what they...

Wood online.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... Online guidelines to help smaller manufacturers of wooden furniture understand their environmental obligations have been launched on www.netregs.gov.uk. Environmental impacts associated with the manufacture of wooden furniture include waste...

Children's zone.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... The Hammonds Group will make its first foray into freestanding children's bedroom furniture under its new brand, Chill Zone. The company plans to use a photo fusion technique to laminate high- resolution images on to its products. The range is...

Lisanti optimistic as Bymacks decision looms.(facility closures)(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... Bymacks could become the next UK manufacturer to close in the face of cheaper imports. Parent Airsprung Furniture Group is in discussions with the upholstery firm's 60 staff and a decision on closure could come as soon as the end of the...

Weighty directory.(Brief Article)(Directory)
December 12, 2003... Next has issued its Spring/Summer 2004 Next Directory, which includes 275 pages of furniture, soft furnishings, lighting and accessories. The rather weighty directory, priced #3.50, is also available on CD-rom. Copyright: CMP Information...

Adams pulls the plug on La Galleria MBO.(Steve Adams)(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... Two former managers have failed in an attempt to buy La Galleria after their undisclosed bid was branded unrealistic. Richard Laing, former md, and Tony Powell, former operations manager, have been negotiating for the sale of La Galleria...

CITY: Share index up, but directors cut and run.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... ScS lost 33p on a third profits warning in three months, downgrading profits by #2m and, worse, hedged with statements about `categorically' no fraud or misconduct. Analysts judged the shortfall must therefore be down to incompetence....

Highs and slows at Hungerford.(company sales and earnings)(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... Kitchen and furniture retailer John Lewis of Hungerford enjoyed a record year in the run up to the autumn, although it has seen growth slow since. The nine outlet chain saw sales leap by a fifth to #4.1m in the year to 31 August. A pre-tax...

Seven days to go.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... There are only seven days left to enter The Furniture Awards. The awards celebrate and recognise excellence and success in the product and retail environments of the furniture industry. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 20...

Letter: The true price of imports.(Letter to the Editor)
December 12, 2003... Your Comment, `Trading quality for price' (cm, 5 December) highlighted a recent quick survey we did of the origin of the fabrics we receive at Euroflam for treatment and found over 85% were imported. We are sure they are `value for money' for...

Investcorp buys Hilding Anders.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... Hilding Anders, the parent company of Slumberland and Dunlopillo, has been sold to US venture capital firm, Investcorp. Hilding Anders changed hands after a group of investors including Nordic Capital and Ratos decided to cash in on a...

Ikea finally gets the green light for new Edmonton store.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... After three years of wrangling, Ikea has finally been given the go ahead to build a store in Edmonton, north London. Planning permission for the 301,000sqft store was granted by Enfield Council in August 2000 but the office of John...

Meet a fine Collection of designers.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... For the first time, retailers and manufacturers will be able to meet the five finalists and other entrants of the young designers' Collection on a dedicated stand at The Furniture Show next year. Situated between Pavilion One and the Arena,...

SHOP WINDOW: RESTALL BROWN.(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... The Sussex collection is a painted range made from solid oak. This hollow end serving table has been ornately decorated in subtle colours. Contact Restall Brown & Clennell on 020 7739 6626 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Store manager - security: Primed for crime.
December 12, 2003... Open or closed, retailers are a prime target for thieves. In the pre- Christmas frenzy Peter Willis looks at how best to protect premises and handle transactions Problem I am expecting a high volume of shoppers in my store over...

LIVING AND DINING FURNITURE: Taking stock.
December 12, 2003... Jane Oliphant speaks to retailers about what turned consumers on this past year in living and dining furniture Good timing is as critical in the furniture industry as it is to a stand-up comedian - perfectly illustrated by the current state...

LIVING AND DINING FURNITURE: TRENDS.(Household furniture)(Brief Article)
December 12, 2003... `We get a feel of exactly what people are doing because we have a second hand department and offer part exchange, and it's very much mahogany and teak coming in.' Andy Symonds, Clarkes Furnishers sales manager `There's a big wedge now...

LIVING AND DINING FURNITURE: Flavour of the year.
December 12, 2003... What were they lapping up in 2003? Paul Stanton, Johnsons Furniture Galleries proprietor Best seller Old Court's light oak Manor Oak. And your personal favourite? Charles Barr's cherry Fenland or Winsor's ash Ocaso because of the...

RETAIL SECURITY: Take care of business.(preventing seasonal theft)
December 12, 2003... Even with government funded local partnerships on tackling crime, retailers still have the major responsibility for preventing seasonal theft. Mark Lewis reports It's the season of pink fluffiness and tinsel, warm living rooms and snow...

CALLIGARIS: Finger on the pulse.(Furniture industry)
December 12, 2003... A well-designed product range with widespread appeal is the trademark of Calligaris. Richard de Melim reports from its northern Italian seat of Friuli Italian furniture manufacturers are packaged mainly into two very different, highly...