Cabinet Maker articles from June 2006

Cabinet Maker archives from June 2006

MP calls for crackdown on import of fire hazard sofas.(illegal sofas imports)
June 2, 2006... Action called for after retailer is found selling unsafe upholstery from Poland A Tory MP is urging ministers to crack down on `potentially fatal' and illegal sofas being imported into the UK from Eastern Europe after an Essex furniture...

Law breaking retailers could face parking style fines.(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Furniture retailers could be subject to parking style penalty tickets for failure to comply with health and safety regulations, as part of a regulatory review. According to the Macrory Review preliminary report, retailers should be forced...

FPB to tackle supplier dispute.
June 2, 2006... Matalan has agreed to meet the Forum of Private Business (FPB) about a dispute with suppliers. Last November, the homewares and clothing retailer imposed a mandatory 2% price reduction on its suppliers for orders taken in the second half...

House prices boost London's retailers.
June 2, 2006... North-South divide widens for furniture stores London's disproportionately fast growing housing market has created distortions in the furniture retail sector, which has split the country's retailers into the capital's haves and the North's...

LoL pays the price of higher sales.(Land of Leather )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Sales at Land of Leather grew by 23.7% in the year to 2 April, but growth came on the back of smaller margins and a fall in business efficiency. Preliminary results show that turnover reached #193.9m, from #156.7m in 2005. Pre-tax profits...

Fitting guide.(release free manual )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Kitchens manufacturer Burbidge has backed up its five new ranges with a specification manual for retailers, designed to take some of the pain out of assembly. The release of the free manual coincides with a #250,000 investment into its...

In brief: Profits not delivered.(inefficient and inconvenient delivery arrangements)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Online and high street retailers are losing profits because of inefficient and inconvenient delivery arrangements, according to the findings of research by WhereIsMyDelivery.com. Their inability to offer definite lead times annoyed the 1,000...

In brief: GUS profits down.(Great Universal Stores PLC)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Profits fell for Argos and Homebase parent GUS after a 54% drop in earnings at Homebase. Preliminary results for the year to 31 March show that while GUS's turnover grew by 9% to #7.3bn from #6.7bn in 2005, profits fell to #829m from #910m last...

In brief: Supermarkets sweep.(non-food market)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Supermarkets are continuing their relentless invasion into the non-food sectors thanks to low prices and the convenience factor, said Key Note research. In 2006 popular non-food products purchased included petrol, clothing and electrical goods,...

In brief: Two from one.(The Better Regulation Executive (BRE) and the Better Regulation Commission (BRC))(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Two new bodies - The Better Regulation Executive (BRE) and the Better Regulation Commission (BRC) - have replaced the Better Regulation Taskforce. In an effort to cut red tape, the Government has given the BRE responsibility to work within...

Furniture sales lead John Lewis growth.(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Store forges ahead on high customer satisfaction Furniture sales at John Lewis have surged 12.6% for the three months to 30 April. The like-for-like growth was one of the strongest areas for the company, which saw a rise of 8.7% for...

Quake hits imports.
June 2, 2006... Several furniture factories that supply UK retailers were destroyed in the earthquake which hit Indonesia last Saturday. William Landale of Lombok, said showrooms of its main supplier for home accessories, Out of Asia, had been ruined. `It...

MFI opens door to bids.(appoints investment bank)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... MFI has appointed an investment bank to explore the possibility of selling its 200-store chain, a move which would split the firm's retail business from its Howdens Joinery builders merchants operation. Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein is yet...

Belfast boutique store trades on atmosphere.(boutique style furniture store )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Belfast retailer Discovery is to reinvent itself as a boutique style furniture store next week. Whiteline Furniture Boutique, which will specialise in painted furniture and occasional pieces, is the brainchild of Discovery owner Michael...

Firms count pension cost.(Furniture firms fearing salary )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Employer contributions will be traded off on jobs and pay Furniture firms have criticised pension proposals fearing salary freezes or even job cuts. Retailers fear that the Government's White Paper, which was published last week, will...

Company closure blow for Yorkshire.
June 2, 2006... Textile machinery company John Gladstone (Dyers & Finishers) has gone into administration, the latest Yorkshire manufacturer to fall by the wayside. The Huddersfield firm, which provided machines to major fabric suppliers for both...

BFC enlists MPs support on import compliance checks.
June 2, 2006... The UK Government should increase its support for the British furniture industry, MPs attending last week's launch of the furniture industry all party parliamentary group were told. Speaking at the House of Commons, Martin Jourdan, British...

Importer splits off in MBO.(management buyouts, R&C Living is acquired)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Importer and distributor R&C Living has been sold to its management team for an undisclosed fee. James Ward md, who has been a director at R&C and its parent company, TWT Group, for the past three years, led the MBO team, which included...

Committee closures cut FTBA donations.(Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... New president praises predecessor's fundraising efforts Cash raised through the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association (FTBA) has dropped more than a quarter as local area committees continue to disband. The news came as Mike Clare,...

Mattress aids sleep treatment.(Kay Med with a clinic develops remedy for sleep apnoea)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Irish bed and foam manufacturer Kay Med is working with a leading US sleep disorder clinic testing a new remedy for sleep apnoea. The battery-powered BreatheX, made by Hoffman Laboratories, is attached to a pillow and pumps air into the...

Laying claim.
June 2, 2006... UK Mobler has issued an England version of its Nova recliner chair in time for England's World Cup match with the firm's native Sweden. The match, on 20 June, also sees England's head coach Sven Goran Eriksson lead the Three Lions against his...

Leader: Cast the net wide for the future.(furniture companies go online for selling their products)(Editorial)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Most people in the furniture trade now accept that the Internet is a vital tool for retailers looking to promote their wares or sell directly online. For those who are yet to join the Internet generation, or feel it is time to update their web...

Views By Mike Spencer.(old upholstered furniture)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The public's perception of the industry is set to get worse! Have you ever considered what happens to old upholstered furniture when it ceases to be of use? Some of it is reupholstered, some is destined to be resold in charity shops,...

Talk: Impact supermarkets have on business.
June 2, 2006... What impact will the supermarkets have on your business as they move into homewares? `It will have a terrible impact because they are moving into a market established by other independents. Supermarkets were set up to sell food and this...

NEWS ANALYSIS: A question of service.(Small Business Service of Department of Trade and Industry)
June 2, 2006... Is the Small Business Service effective, or another invisible Government agency as the National Audit Office suggests? Danusia Osiowy finds out Sexual liaisons, a cabinet reshuffle, prison and immigration scandals and the worst local...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Pensions: too big a burden for small firms?
June 2, 2006... Retailers fear that retirement shake-up is a price too high, Deven Pamben reports The biggest reform in pensions for 60 years could hit furniture businesses hard with costs running into billions of pounds, fear of job cuts and pay freezes....

Beds: Flou.
June 2, 2006... Flou's Chesterbed has a fixed Chesterfield-style headboard upholstered in leather. There is a choice of fixed or under mattress storage while the base covers, available in fabric or hide, are removable. Tel: 00 39 0362 3731 Copyright:...

Beds: Dunlopillo.
June 2, 2006... Dunlopillo has combined its mattresses with the adjustable bedsteads of sister company Andre Renault. Le Mans (pictured in cherry) is one of three models available. Tel: 0161 628 6565 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Beds: Vogue Beds.(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Vogue Beds' Warwick is targeted at consumers wanting an orthopaedic bed with firm support. It has 1,000 pocket springs and a hypoallergenic filling. It is available in four sizes, varying between 3ft and 6ft, with a selection of drawer options...

Beds: Silentnight Beds.(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Silentnight Beds' Miragel uses a gel which means the sleeping surface spreads under pressure providing support and cushioning. It also features a topper with summer and winter sides. The mattress is available in medium or firm levels of...

Beds: Harrison Beds.
June 2, 2006... Harrison Beds' Harmony mattress contains 1,000 Revolution pocket springs in the 150cm model. Suitable for bedsteads it has a pure white cotton cover with two rows of side stitching. It is available as regular, firm or ultra firm. Tel:...

Beds: Slumberland.
June 2, 2006... Slumberland's Platinum Seal Supreme combines a 2,200 series Advanced Posture Springing unit with fillings of wool, silk and cashmere. The mattress is side stitched, with a subtle bumper bar and braid detail on the base. Castors are nickel...

Beds: Airsprung Beds.
June 2, 2006... Designed to complement Airsprung Beds' Canterbury range of pine furniture, the Montreal bedstead features sculptured head and foot ends with delicate rounded spindles. Tel: 01225 754 411 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

INTERVIEW - SIMON BONHAM: Promoting fair play.(Flexi- load)(Interview)
June 2, 2006... Price is not the only consideration when buying products from China. As Simon Bonham tells Claire Santry, workers conditions are equally important At the end of 2005, China's motorway network measured 41,000km. That's some 20 times longer...

INTERVIEW - SIMON BONHAM: Can-do, will-do.(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... For all its issues, Bonham sees China as an exciting place to do business and says the Chinese are generally very easy to deal with. He delights in their `can-do, will-do' attitude. `I was visiting a factory some time ago and happened to...

DESIGN - GLASS: Colour scheme.
June 2, 2006... Glass furniture is set to become more colourful, led by growing sales of black pieces, and boost its popularity on the high street, says Rachel Calton Coloured glass is this year finding its place on the high street. While chic black and...

DESIGN - GLASS: Standing out from the crowd.(glass furnitures in demand)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... For many years glass furniture has been regarded as very contemporary, only able to fit in to an interior that is ultra modern. What Ross Urwin, Liberty furniture buyer wants to offer customers is a choice of looks, hence the vintage 1950s and...

STORE MANAGER: Fair test for traders?
June 2, 2006... A new European trading law is designed to ensure that what customers buy meets their country's own expectations, as John Davies explains The way that businesses of all kinds and sizes market and sell their products or services to consumers...

STORE MANAGER: Maximum measure.(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Over and above the specific requirements, the directive makes a pre- emptive move against the practice of `gold-plating' European law (taking the opportunity to add more onerous requirements over and above the minimum requirements of a...

RETAIL - FLOORING: Walk on performance.(color of flooring affects the sale of furniture stores)
June 2, 2006... Flooring can have a dramatic effect on a store's sales, discovers Andrew Kidd What colour is the floor in your store? Is it carpet, vinyl or wooden flooring? Do you have a walkway or is the entire shopfloor filled with products? The...

RETAIL - FINANCE: Levels of comfort.
June 2, 2006... Credit sales are vital for many furniture retailers, but what do consumers think about their levels of borrowings? Jim Hodgkins looks at the latest research The average Briton's disposable income rose in real terms by more than 25% in the...

RETAIL - FINANCE: Credit facts.(on britons)
June 2, 2006... * 82% of Britons say they are either comfortable with their borrowings or do not have borrowings. A further 8% are unconcerned - neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. * Of those with borrowings, 75% say they are comfortable with them; a...

TECHNOLOGY - ONLINE: Set your sites.
June 2, 2006... An Internet presence can be a valuable tool for your business and choosing the right developer to build your website, or revamp an existing one, is vital if you want to make it a success. Lindsay Payne explains how to go about it As with...

TECHNOLOGY - ONLINE: Contract details.(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The formal contract covers all of the commercial aspects of the project. It sets out the scope and should remove uncertainty about matters such as timings, responsibilities and procedures, liabilities and intellectual property (IP). Bear...

SHOW PREVIEW: July diary.
June 2, 2006... Highlights of the July show circuit are London Interiors and the Manchester Furniture Show, while there's Las Vegas for those wanting to travel further Innovative interiors Regeneration will be a key theme at this year's London...

True Brit and a man with a plan.(Howard Tranter of Howard Tranter furniture store )
June 2, 2006... Howard Tranter is the owner of Howard Tranter furniture store in Warrington If you could listen to one song or piece of music while you work, what would it be and why? Robbie Williams. Because my wife makes me. What are the best...

CM offcuts: Under the hammer.(Ballyfin Cabinet going on auction)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... An iconic piece of furniture will go under the hammer at auctioneers Bonhams in London, this month. The Ballyfin Cabinet, made in Augsburg during the 17th century, is one of only 12 known to exist. It was the prize possession in one of...

CM offcuts: The power of six.(Lefton Furniture Group opened on 6/6/1946 and celebrated it's 60 years on 6/6/2006)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... It all began when two brothers, Reuben and Cyril Lefton, bought their first retail outlet - an allotment in Blackpool in 1946. Fast-forward to the present day and Lefton Furniture Group is about to celebrate 60 years in business on 6 June -...

Staffing crisis hits retailers.
June 9, 2006... CBI reveals that furniture retailers are losing employees due to falling sales Months of falling like-for-like sales and increasing pressure to discount prices have resulted in a staffing crisis in UK furniture retail. Data obtained...

Suppliers get nothing.(Witham Furniture)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Suppliers to Witham Furniture, the manufacturer which was bought out of administration for #896,000 last month, will not receive any cash from the sale of the firm. Witham, which primarily sells upholstery to mail order companies, changed...

New ceo at Natuzzi.
June 9, 2006... Jewellery and fashion brand Bulgari's chief financial officer Ernesto Greco has joined Natuzzi as chief executive officer. He replaces the firm's founder Pasquale Natuzzi, who will remain as chairman and group designer. The move follows a...

Song for sales.(Reid Furniture )(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Reid Furniture added #60,000 to its #650,000 summer advertising campaign by snapping up the rights to Rozalla's 1990s hit `Everybody's Free (to feel good)'. The track will accompany Reid's TV and radio advertisements, with the chorus positioned...

Warning on delivery damage.(Carriage of Goods)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Agent advises retailers should check terms of their delivery agreements Turkesh Redif, Bernhardt UK md, has warned retailers to make sure they understand the terms of their haulage contracts to avoid conflict should their products be...

What retailers think.(furniture is damaged in transit)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... John Winter, Simply Pine owner in Surbiton, Surrey is fully insured against accidents, but said that his delivery obligation `is only up to the front door' and thereafter lies with the customer. David Rawson, Kaine & Rawson partner in...

Taskforce under fire.(Small Business Investment Taskforce appointments)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Five vacancies on the Small Business Investment Taskforce (SBIT) have been filled but the group has come under fire (see Talk, p9). Peter Betteridge, Furnishers of Distinction md in Kingsbridge, Devon argued that many businesses just wanted to...

Bolingbroke and Wenley sells up.(Bolingbroke and Wenley to close down)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Retailer Bolingbroke and Wenley is closing after 160 years of trading. It has been bought by a developer for an undisclosed fee. Simon Watkins, director said the fee was `significant' but that due to a confidentiality agreement he could not...

New work.
June 9, 2006... Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown will open the New Designers exhibition at the Business Design Centre, London on 28 June. The event showcases the work of students like Mark Williamson from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College....

In brief: Wet and slow May.(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... A chilly and wet May resulted in sluggish furniture sales, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. Warmer weather at the start of the month boosted sales but the change in conditions saw a fall in the latter half. Overall UK retail...

In brief: Opting out.(European Union proposes rule on working hours of the employees)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... The Government is standing firm over opting out of the Working Time Directive. The order affects the number of hours a person can work each week. Current EU rules mean employees cannot work more than an average of 48 hours per week, unless they...

In brief: Short sellers sought.(unethical practices in stock markets)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... The Financial Services Authority is attempting to identify clients who took short positions in MFI ahead of a sharp decline in its share price. Concern has mounted over the activities of `short sellers'- traders who sell shares they do not own,...

Co-op set to close its Home stores.(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Company will not have any non-food interests The Co-operative Group is to end its Home store concept just four months after announcing the project would expand. The closure of the Tunbridge Wells and Perth shops marks the end of non-...

New UK venture for SB Capital.(SB Capital joint venture )(Miro Radici)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... SB Capital has re-emerged in the furnishings industry in a joint venture with #48m turnover German home textiles importer, Miro Radici. The venture capital firm, a division of the Schottenstein empire, has had mixed fortunes in the UK home...

City: Losses and gains in a buyers' market.(Great Universal Stores PLC)(MFI)(Marks and Spencer PLC)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... GUS lost 28p to 935p on figures at the top end of expectations for the year to 31 March. But analysts declared the share price weakness to be an excellent buying opportunity, ahead of October's demerger of Argos/Homebase from the hugely...

Survey warns of supply risk.(for soft furnishings )(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Industry league table says soft furnishings suppliers could fail Soft furnishings retailers are being warned to shore up their supply chains in case their suppliers go bust. According to ICC Credit, soft furnishings manufacturers are...

Board moves at Collins & Hayes.(Martin Huggins appointed and Nicholas Hayes leaves Collins & Hayes)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... After a tough 18 months Collins & Hayes has reshuffled its board. Martin Huggins, formerly of Welwyn Lighting in Welwyn Garden City, becomes md of Collins & Hayes Ltd. The 130 year-old upholstery manufacturer in St Leonards-on-Sea,...

FTSE-100 bounces again.(FTSE International Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... The chart shows how the FTSE-100 has partially recovered from recent losses. Following the 2006 index high, set on 21 April, the subsequent low of 22 May represented a fall of around 10% - typical of a `correction' figure briefly interrupting a...

Battle of the bags.(Ikea charges for the plastic bags used)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Ikea has become the first major UK retailer to charge its customers for plastic bags. Starting last weekend, visitors to its stores throughout the UK will now pay 5p for every carrier they use and the tariff will rise to 10p per bag by autumn....

Stores set to pass on import costs.
June 9, 2006... Chinese tie-ups under threat from 20% EU duty Long threatened increases in anti-dumping duties look set to be imposed on furniture made in China, the British Retail Consortium has warned. Upholstered furniture and metal chairs are the...

Letter: New moves on non-compliant furniture.(Letter to the editor)
June 9, 2006... BFM has, along with other trade bodies over the past few years, had many meetings with ministers, senior DTI officials and Trading Standards officers in an endeavour to have the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988...

Letter: Time to act for a fairer furniture trade.(Letter to the editor)
June 9, 2006... I have followed with interest recent coverage and correspondence in the magazine concerning Asian imports, most of which are produced in countries with little concern for human rights, or a fair minimum wage. Their products are wiping out...

Letter: Mobeltest interest was overlooked.(Letter to the editor)
June 9, 2006... I can't say I'm surprised to read that `an investigation into the administrative receivership of Christie-Tyler' has been launched (CM, 19 May, p3). Christie-Tyler owned a semi-independent furniture test house called Mobeltest, with a...

Leader: Make the most of the World Cup.
June 9, 2006... Early last month, Steve Gotham of Allegra Strategies predicted that the World Cup would have a negative impact for furniture retailers, with high-ticket spend likely to be diverted towards the audio/visual industry. Well, as Germany and Costa...

Views By Sean Quinn.(on lead time)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... The most surprising and frustrating element of retail is lead times. In most instances six to eight weeks for delivery is fine, for example, for Seconique as a wholesaler, because it carries stock, but in retail lack of stock with these...

Talk: How useful are Government taskforces.(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... How useful are Government `taskforces' and other business groups in helping companies prosper? `They can have an effect and can have a part in a business growing but they are not recognised. Small businesses need to be given more of a...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Imprudent pruning.(furniture sector becmes the worst performer)
June 9, 2006... Furniture retailers are cutting staff levels to compensate for falling sales, but for independents especially is it a false economy, asks Mark Lewis The news this week that retail staff levels are at their comparative lowest for 23 years...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Money talks - but whose?(service quality goes down)
June 9, 2006... Focusing on profit at the expense of sales satisfaction might backfire on retailers as customers decamp in search of service, says Deven Pamben It has often been said the customer is king. One famous burger outlet once went further saying...

Occasional: Kartell.
June 9, 2006... Kartell's T-table, designed by Patricia Urquiola, has a top surface reminiscent of embroidery and has a poetic, feminine expression. It is available in clear, yellow, blue, amber, red and black. Tel: 00 39 0290 0121 Copyright: CMP...

Occasional: Magis.
June 9, 2006... Magis' Easy Table designed by Jerszy Seymour, is a co-injection moulded model with polypropylene and glass fibre legs. It can be used indoors or out. Tel: 00 39 04 2286 2600 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Occasional: Potocco.
June 9, 2006... Potocco's Hadar, designed by Mauro Lipparini, combines contemporary styling with the natural looks of walnut and oak. It has matching upholstery. Tel: 00 39 04 3274 5111 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Occasional: Wood Bros.(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... Wood Bros' solid oak 2533 Chateau occasional table offers a wealth of storage possibilities. In addition to the optional composite granite table top, the central portion of the table, beneath the top, features two large shelves. A flap at...

Occasional: B and B Italia.
June 9, 2006... The Table from B&B Italia, designed by Monica Armani, is available in a variety of sizes with a choice of tops: extra-light crystal, white varnished and white marble. Tel: 00 39 0 3179 5111 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Occasional: Zanotta.
June 9, 2006... Zanotta's Butterfly, designed by Alex Traylor, has a multi-layered frame in oak or wenge varnished to create the profile of butterfly legs and a top in tempered glass. Tel: 00 39 0362 4981 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

STORE MANAGER: Claws for discontent.
June 9, 2006... Changing employee terms and conditions is a balancing act to reconcile opposing interests that can require careful handling, as Clive Day explains Employment law is mainly concerned with protecting the rights of workers but it also...

STORE MANAGER: Selling change.(conditions of unemployment change)(Brief article)
June 9, 2006... How can an employer implement contentious changes to terms and conditions of employment? Normally, an employer will engage in a process of consultation to sell the change to employees. This consultation will commonly take place with...