Cabinet Maker articles from July 2004

Cabinet Maker archives from July 2004

JD Group abandons UK as it sells BoConcept.(JD Group )(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... South African furniture retail group JD Group has discarded its plan to expand in the UK through BoConcept. It has sold the UK BoConcept operation back to original Danish owner Denka, and most stores will be closed. Of its eight UK...

Fast delivery.(furniture chain lowers delivery times)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Morris Furniture is to cut delivery times. From next month delivery will be reduced to 28 days for selected products across its four brands. `We have upped production levels to get ahead on key products which means we can reduce lead...

COMMENT: Doing the right thing.(JD Group sells BoConcept to Denka)(Stuart Rose sells Marks and Spencer shares)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... The past week has seen South African furniture retail giant JD Group admit defeat in the UK. For the past three years it has been expanding BoConcept in an effort to emulate the success the Danish brand has enjoyed in other overseas...

More sales help put Steens back in profit.(furniture firm)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Pine furniture firm Steens returned to the black in the past year, helped by a 15% increase in sales. A pre-tax loss of #1.88m became a profit of #448,000 as sales reached #26.8m in the year ended April. The UK is Steens' largest...

Company research.(private company rankings )(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... John Lewis is the UK's largest private company, according to research by KPMG and Top Track. As well as the department store and supermarket group, the top 100 private companies includes five other furniture and furnishings retailers:...

Approval for Aldous move.(Aldous of Dereham)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Norfolk retailer, Aldous of Dereham, has overcome opposition from town councillors to relocate. Councillors feared there would be a net increase in retail space at the Tavern Lane site, just metres from the former Deeside Furniture...

Dixons denies reports.(not adding furniture to stores)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Electrical retailer Dixons has denied Press reports that it is to sell furniture at its trial xL stores. A spokeswoman said there were no plans to introduce furniture at the four out-of-town branches. The reports had suggested the chain was...

Slowing growth.(housing prices in United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... The average price of a house in England and Wales rose by 0.4% in June, down from 0.6% in May, according to housing company Hometrack. Despite the slowdown, the company said prices would increase 8% this year before slowing to 4% in 2005. June...

Planning request.(Town Centre Security Holdings applies for demolition permission)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... The Rochdale branches of MFI and Focus-Wickes could be demolished as part of a #7.5m retail park development. Landlord Town Centre Security Holdings has applied for planning permission and a decision is likely in September. James Crawford, Town...

Mixed bag of sales for furniture at Beales.(department store furniture sales)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Department store chain Beales has seen mixed furniture sales across its dozen branches in the past six months. Nigel Coomber, deputy director of buying said there had been no consistent trading pattern, with branches producing widely...

Importers in money laundering probe.(Seconique)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Furniture importers Seconique and Wholesale Beds are being investigated in a #300m money laundering inquiry. Roger Evans-Southall, Seconique director insisted there was nothing untoward happening at the company. `Just after we were...

M&S backs Rose over shares issue.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Marks & Spencer has attacked `inaccuracies and innuendo' in Press coverage of the share dealings of Stuart Rose, chief executive. Paul Myners, chairman said Rose had the full support of the board. `The facts are clear. When Stuart Rose...

Thomas Dare brochure.(fabric collections in a brochure)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Thomas Dare has published details of its 10 fabric collections in a brochure for the first time, including its Kings of the World Silks, Archipelago and New England ranges. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Camp Hopson to spend #6m on refit.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Newbury department store, Camp Hopson, will gain a contemporary leather studio as part of a #6m revamp that will see retail floorspace increase by a fifth to 73,000sqft. The separate furniture centre will combine with the linen department...

Beere to stay at ScS.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Upholstery chain ScS has persuaded Sacha Beere, finance director to stay with the company in the new role of operations director to strengthen its back office systems. In February, Beere said he wanted to leave after eight years at the...

China faces long term payment of US tariffs.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Furniture manufacturers with factories in China face large tariffs for exports to US for several years. In a visit to Beijing last week, Don Evans, US commerce secretary, made it clear that the Chinese government needs to make sweeping...

C-T parent denies sale.(Christie-Tyler)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Venture capital group Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst has denied industry claims that it has sold upholstery subsidiary Christie-Tyler. A spokeswoman said the group had no plans to sell the company. Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst acquired C-T...

Letter: Promoting the case for public days.(Letter to the Editor)
July 2, 2004... In 1997 The London Furniture Show opened its doors to the public for two of its scheduled four days. As a result the trade boycotted it, making it the first and last appearance. However, on the positive side, having exhibited at the...

Imm takes the female viewpoint.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... The future of interior design from a woman's viewpoint will be one of the key trend showcases at Imm Cologne next year. In the third Ideal House Cologne project, designers Patricia Urquiola and Hella Jongerius will give their interpretation...

Manchester show grows.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Artistry in Iron, Blackhill, Blue Bone and Classic Furniture will be among the companies making their first appearance at The Manchester Furniture Show on 11-14 July. The show will be about 30% larger than last year. `With about 9,300sqm...

Taxing problem of interest rates.
July 2, 2004... Despite optimistic views of UK inflation, social reform and high taxes in continental Europe are causing concern, reports Andrew Kidd Although the nine members of the Bank of England's Monetary Committee voted unanimously to raise interest...

SHOP WINDOW: KIANI.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... The Isis collection combines handwoven rattan weave with braid effect and light beech legs for a modern look. A corner unit increases flexibility. Contact Kiani on 0151 549 0101 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: MY MAISON.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Previously only available in Germany and Australia, Wallace Sacks has introduced its accessory and giftware firm, My Maison, to the UK. Contact My Maison on 020 8960 6988 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: G PLAN CABINETS.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... The ivory toned Newport collection includes two and three-door display units, sideboard, coffee table, lamp table, entertainment unit, curio three-sided glass unit and wall mirror. Contact G Plan Cabinets on 0141 300 7300 Copyright:...

SHOP WINDOW: HURTADO.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Inspired by 1920's French style, the Gala bedroom collection combines simple lines with mahogany veneer and brass handles. Contact Hurtado Muebles on 00 34 96 166 9626 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Store manager - management: Nurturing leaders.
July 2, 2004... Adrian Furnham addressed a recent NBF conference on the characteristics of successful managers Question I am a retailer looking to expand my business. What characteristics make a good manager and how can I make my business more...

Retail Intelligence.
July 2, 2004... After a decent April, May turned out to be an excellent month for retailers, with a large majority of stores reporting month-on-month growth. Some 80% of stores saw monthly sales increase, 15% experienced static sales, while just 5% saw a...

LAND OF LEATHER: The art of temptation.
July 2, 2004... Attracting customers with quality offers has proved successful for Land of Leather, as Andrew Kidd discovered A group of inadequates, some of whom failed at Landmark and whose sole aim appears to be the downfall of the company.' This...

EGYPT: New beginning.
July 2, 2004... UK manufacturers visited Egypt to see how its traditional furniture- making skills could benefit both countries, Alison Gay reports Egypt is not the first destination that springs to mind for furniture manufacture yet, going back through...

WEBWATCH: A taste of things to come.(Company Profile)
July 2, 2004... Sanderson whets the appetite, leaving you wanting more, says Stephanie Baum Fabric company Sanderson's picture-led website (www.sanderson-uk.com) acts like a virtual brochure, guiding visitors through the group's companies and products. It...

FIRST PERSON - Steve Newham: Curtain call for style.(A&S Furnishings )(Interview)
July 2, 2004... Steve Newham, Style Furnishings and parent company A&S Furnishings md, was in good voice on his market stall, but is afraid to sing in the shower How did you get started in the industry? Selling curtains and upholstery fabric on an...

Sale profit bonus for Lisanti.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Tony Lisanti, Airsprung Furniture chief executive received a #188,000 bonus after selling Sprung Slumber to Steinhoff for #5.4m. The bonus was calculated as a percentage of the excess achieved over the target sales price, the group's...

Flagship store leads off AHF's #10m revamp.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... AHF is to invest #10m remodelling its stores and opening more branches after introducing a updated store format at its first new outlet for a decade. The 46,000sqft Rugby unit spearheads a two year expansion plan which should see store...

Comment: And now for some good news.
July 9, 2004... It could just be the welcome return of sunshine as I write this but I've detected a sense of optimism in the furniture trade in the past couple of weeks. Last week we reported on the #6m revamp at Newbury retailer Camp Hopson and this week...

Put up or shut up on M&S bid, Green told.(Marks & Spencer)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Philip Green has been given a four week deadline to launch a bid for Marks & Spencer. After representations from M&S, the Takeover Panel ruled that Green has until noon on 6 August to make an offer. If no offer is made by then Green...

Retailers wait for logging fallout.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... UK retailers selling Indonesian wood products could see a price rise or supply slowdown after the Indonesian government cracked down on illegal logging. Nabiel Makarim, environment minister, proposed the possible imposition of the death...

Furniture TV blitz grabs top brand slots.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Furniture and furnishings retailers scored as three of the top four most advertised brands on TV in the past six months. B&Q was top, with advertisements which could have been seen 23.97bn times between 1 January and 6 June. However,...

Fire casualty.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... An electrician suffered severe burns at Dundee kitchen and bedroom manufacturer Joinery and Timber Creations last week after an explosion and fire in its plant room. The firm's 200 staff were evacuated after the fire spread to the roof. ...

No bed link.(Wholesale Beds Company)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... John Davis, md of West Bromwich-based Wholesale Beds Company, which trades as Wholesale Beds has no connection with Northern Ireland based Wholesale Beds and Furniture (cm, 2 July p5). Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Sales on the up.(Fired Earth )(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Furnishings chain Fired Earth has seen sales rise by 10% in the past six months, according to parent Aga Food Group. Sales at combined Fired Earth/Aga stores were described as `particularly strong'. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Credit switch.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... More than 60% of Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance customers have switched to online authorisation for consumer credit applications. The firm attributed the rise to the introduction of its Credit Master processing system. Copyright: CMP...

Council axe on removal hits Selby store sales.(Everatt's)(Selby District Council)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... North Yorkshire retailer, Everatt's of Selby is losing sales because the council furniture collection service it has used for 30 years has been stopped. Since the 1970s Everatt's has collected unwanted furniture from its customers on...

DesignConcept builds European talent base.(DesignShop)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... A trio of Danish companies is to spearhead Edinburgh retailer DesignShop's full-scale move into the wholesale market. Patrick Haddad, DesignShop md has formed DesignConcept to separate the wholesale operation from the three year old retail...

Dreams head office relocated.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Sir Nigel Mobbs, Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire opened Dreams' 50,000sqft head office in High Wycombe last Friday (2 July). Some 150 staff, including Mike Clare, chairman were relocated to the freehold site from its previous head office...

Sunflex centralises in #5m move.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Blinds firm Sunflex has invested more than #5m in a distribution and production centre to improve efficiency. Currently operating from 14 sites, the company is taking over the former distribution centre of builders merchant Jewson at Keys...

Furniture Medic - Appointment.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Furniture Medic has promoted technical trainer Malcolm Holmes to director. He succeeds Steve Sinclaire who has moved to sister company ServiceMaster Clean as director. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Dowen sets sights on futon middle market.(Mark Dowen)(Young Street Market Futons Etc.,)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Mark Dowen, former Futon Design sales director has returned to the industry after an 18 month absence to set up his own company. Cambridge Futons is targeted at the middle sector of the market, in which Dowen is competing with low cost...

CSCS recognition stamps a seal on training standards.(Construction Skills Certification Scheme)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Skills in the furniture industry have take a major step towards universal recognition while training in the kitchen and bedroom sectors are set for a boost. From this week, upholsterers, kitchen/bathroom fitters and furniture installers...

High Court vetoes card fee VAT block.(Value-added tax)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Customs & Excise is to appeal against a High Court decision which could allow retailers to keep #300m in VAT payments. The issue relates to payments made by debit or credit cards, for which about 70 major chains, including Debenhams, Argos...

Six in a row for growth.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... The majority of furniture retailers enjoyed a good June, seeing sales rise. A balance of 62% of furniture and floorcoverings stores reported higher volumes, according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey. May's balance was 48%. June was...

City at odds in reading between retailer lines.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Department store chain Beales perversely gained 3p on announcing reduced interim sales and profits. Shareholders must hope that a new trading strategy, aimed at younger shoppers, will not drive away the affluent middle-aged and elderly. ...

Share Update on 5 July 2004.(Illustration)
July 9, 2004... Share Update on 5 July 2004 {{ Bold=new High/Low Now Change Change 2004 2004 over since High Low 2 weeks 6 Apr Retailers...

20th anniversary.(Wendy Cushing Trimmings)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... As it celebrates its 20th anniversary, Wendy Cushing Trimmings has launched www.wendycushing.com. As well as full product information, the website includes details on its passementerie production and a profile of Cushing. Copyright: CMP...

A return to sales growth?(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... After a bleak 2003, furniture and furnishings retailers saw sales growth return in the first quarter of this year, reports Andrew Kidd. But will it last the rest of 2004? The furniture and furnishings market bounced back in the first...

SHOP WINDOW: WALLACE SACKS.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Expanding into leather upholstery, Wallace Sacks Lifestyle's offer includes an oversized armchair with classic button detailing. Contact Wallace Sacks Lifestyle on 020 8960 6988 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Undercover in Peterborough.
July 9, 2004... Peterborough is a vibrant and exciting city, having emerged from New Town expansion and growth in the 1970s and 1980s as a major regional centre. Although its roots predate the Romans, its nearby clay deposits made it an attractive site...

HASKERS: Brothers in business.
July 9, 2004... Family business Haskers has moved out-of-town. Mark Lewis finds out why the community spirited mds felt the move was beneficial In Britain's town centres where a shop is as likely to neighbour a bar as it is a bank, and where floorspace is...

LEATHER: Prolong those tans.(leather products)
July 9, 2004... With leather having permeated just about every sector of the interiors market - Richard de Melim asks if it's time to change skin Leather is the new denim. Because like denim, its popularity is no longer just a trend. If the soothsayers...

FIRST PERSON - STEVE KITTOS: Family partnership.
July 9, 2004... Steve Kittos, The Leather Studio md in Manchester, isn't keen on `pretend plastic', but has no regrets even though his living room is post-hysterical yellow How did you get started in the industry? Just over five years ago I had a...

A family affair in High Wycombe.(furniture store)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... The wives of two manufacturer brothers in High Wycombe have opened a furnishings and furniture store in nearby Princes Risborough. Bedtime Story will be managed by Debbie and Julie Hudson, wives of Frank Hudson & Son owners James and Tim....

Warning: make sure you don't sell copies.(Nouveau Fabrics)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Retailers face claims for damages and large court costs if they do not try to make sure products they sell are not copies of other designs. This was the warning from lawyer Simon Clark, Berwin Leighton Paisner head of intellectual property,...

COMMENT: Watch out for the copy cats.(Nouveau Fabrics' copyright infringement claims)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Going all the way to the High Court for a ruling on a copyright infringement is not for the faint-hearted. Yet Nouveau Fabrics managed to pull it off against Luxor's distributor and retailer in a landmark decision that should have retailers...

Ikea UK profits fall but margins stay healthy.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Ikea's UK profits dropped last year, as it shared the pain caused by the downturn in the market. Despite this, it still managed an operating profit of 16%. Pre-tax profits fell by 13.8% to #132.8m as sales edged up by 0.26% to #882.3m in...

Nina Campbell Furniture showroom.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Nina Campbell Furniture is to open a showroom at the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, London, next month. As well as items such as the Wilkie armchair, the showroom will also feature designs by David Salmon. A range of Nina Campbell Furniture...

Legal row settled.(Link International Interiors)(CPW Furniture)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Link International Interiors and CPW Furniture have reached an out-of- court settlement over the design of CPW's Wealden range. Link was to have the case heard at the High Court before the agreement was reached. This means six dining...

Credit sales dip.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Mail order group N Brown has seen a downturn in furniture sales in the past 18 weeks. It blamed the fall on reducing the length of its IFC offers. These were cut last year in an effort to reduce the level of customers with bad debts. The...

Behaviour control.(Glasgow City Council)(Anti-social Behaviour Bill)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... City centre retailers in Glasgow are to work with Glasgow City Council in an effort to prevent anti-social behaviour in the area. The stores will gather evidence to obtain exclusion orders against individuals under the Anti-social Behaviour...

Furniture a casualty of Rose's M&S strategy.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Furniture will have a smaller role among Marks & Spencer's homewares offer if the chain fends off Philip Green's #9.1bn takeover attempt. As well as closing the Gateshead Lifestore by the end of January, cancelling the planned Thurrock...

DFS wins back #15m from Customs.(DFS Furniture Company PLC)(Customs and Excise Ltd.,)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... DFS has won back another #14.6m from Customs & Excise in relation to the Primback case, which hinged on the treatment of VAT in relation to IFC sales It is a move likely to lift the chances of Lord Kirkham taking the chain private. ...

MFI jobs boost.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... MFI is to recruit 60 temporary staff at its Stockton Hygena factory, four months after completing the last of 46 redundancies in the last year. The 60 new staff will swell the total to 660 when they start in August. They will join 115...

Retail inflation reaches new high.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Fewer special offers from furniture retailers than in 2003 helped push annual retail price inflation to its highest level for 11 months in June. Retail inflation rose from 2.8% in June 2003 to 3% this year due to more widespread price...

MRG smells more profit in perfume.(Merchant Retail Group)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Department store operator Merchant Retail Group is to close its four mainland UK stores to concentrate on its fragrance operation, The Perfume Shop. The move comes after the group received an offer equivalent to almost 11 years of...

Capital move for Defy.(Defy Interior)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Defy Interior officially opened its Wigmore Street, west London flagship showroom last Friday (9 July). The store replaces its Chiltern Street outlet. A spokeswomen for the Welsh company said it had relocated as it wanted a larger showroom...

Sheffield retailer fears arson attacks.(Anchor Furniture)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... A Sheffield retailer fears his store may be burned down after a string of arson attacks on derelict houses metres from his premises threatened to burn out of control. Anchor Furniture in Buchanan Road is in the Parson Cross area of the...

Homeware shines at Matalan.(Matalan PLC)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Discount retailer Matalan has enjoyed particularly strong homeware sales this year. John King, chief executive, said this had helped lift like-for-like sales growth to 4.1% in the 18 weeks to 3 July. However, he warned shareholders at...

Past in the present.(inspiration behind winning entry)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... The 1950s and dolls' houses were the inspiration behind the winning entries of Dorma's inaugural Royal College of Art bursary. Erica Wakerly and Emma Challacomb won #5,000 each and a four-week placement at Dorma for designing accessories to...

What Green's #9bn would buy.(Philip Green)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... Philip Green could become the largest player in the UK furniture market if he chose to invest in the sector rather than buy Marks & Spencer. For the #9.1bn Green is offering for M&S, he could buy almost all of the UK's publicly owned...

Koomen shows the way with home-grown hardwood designs.(Philip Koomen)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... A four-month exhibition is to be devoted to the work of furniture designer-maker Philip Koomen. Key elements of Out of the Woods will show how Koomen uses wood that is not normally considered commercially viable and how designers can help...

Work of 10 recent furniture design graduates on show.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... The work of 10 recent furniture design graduates from London Metropolitan University will be on show at the university from 19-24 July. Meet Your Maker will also see the launch of the Boss Mentoring Award for innovative design. The winner will...

Michael Evans.(obituary)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
July 16, 2004... Michael Evans, former Ercol joint md, died on 20 June after a long battle with cancer. He was 75. Evans joined Ercol in the 1960s, spending many years as finance director before becoming joint md with Tom Dean. He retired from the...

Rose: a new beginning for M&S or a goodbye note?(Stuart Rose)(Marks and Spencer PLC)
July 16, 2004... Stuart Rose, Marks & Spencer chief executive outlined his strategy to restore the group's fortunes and defeat Philip Green's ownership ambitions this week. Andrew Kidd looks at his plans In a damning 3,500 word indictment on the chain's...

SHOP WINDOW: PACO CAPDELL.(dining chairs)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... The Lider dining chair contrasts minimalism with a warm finish in the upholstery. It is made of beech and the versatile back comes upholstered, divided or in plain wood. Contact Paco Capdell on 00 39 9 6591 6470 Copyright: CMP...

SHOP WINDOW: POCKET SPRING.(Pocket Spring Bed Company)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... The gently curved design of the Picasso bedstead has been handcrafted from white ash by UK craftsmen. Made to withstand 1.2 tonnes, it is guaranteed for 10 years. Contact Pocket Spring Bed Company on 08707 467 722 Copyright: CMP...

SHOP WINDOW: ORIOR.(Aspen Furniture L.L.C.,)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2004... The Aspen bedstead features an elegantly upholstered headboard and wood trimmed base for a modern look. The bed is available in king and superking sizes, all with matching coordinates. Contact Orior by Design on 02830 262 620 ...