Cabinet Maker articles from June 2007

Cabinet Maker archives from June 2007

Bartle saves John Peters.
June 1, 2007... Promise of profits as retailer bought out of administration Jamie Bartle, former Casamass owner, has bought John Peters out of administration for an undisclosed fee. Bartle, Business Dream Ltd director, with Ben Cousins as company...

Independent move.
June 1, 2007... London bespoke kitchen and furniture manufacturer Roundhouse Design has launched a brochure which it hopes will attract independent trade customers for the first time. The brochure is part of a rebranding and marketing strategy and will be...

Comfortable pairing.(DomoSofa and Noble House Collections to team up as they aim growth)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Upmarket sofa makers DomoSofa and Noble House Collections are to join forces in what its owner calls `a strategic move aimed at supporting a significant growth' in their business with the UK's independent retailers. Announcing the union of...

Designs for the future.
June 1, 2007... This year's New Designers Exhibition, showcasing 40 of the latest young creators, takes place in July. They will present their ideas, including furniture, hoping to attract the attention of buyers, galleries and prospective employers....

Web master for interiors.
June 1, 2007... Lastminute.com founder targets homewares with Mydeco.com One of Britain's most successful Internet entrepreneurs is launching the interiors retailing equivalent of Lastminute.com. It is a move that will put further pressure on...

IN BRIEF: Danger zone.
June 1, 2007... One in six UK furniture manufacturers are at risk of failure, claimed a report from business analyst Plimsoll. Its league table of 1,000 firms rated firms using financial data over a four-year period. It ranked 318 companies as `strong' with a...

IN BRIEF: Eastern Europe influx.(Scoperta)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Fabric show Scoperta had a marked increase in visitors from Eastern Europe and former Soviet nations. The Milan show (8-11 May), saw an 83% rise in Russian visitors and a 200% and 350% increase in visitors from Ukraine and Croatia respectively....

IN BRIEF: Display guide.(Shop Display and Equipment Association)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The Shop Display and Equipment Association (SDEA) publishes its guide to the UK retail display on 12 June. The handbook gives shopfitting buyers, visual merchandisers and retail designers an insight into SDEA retail display specialists. It...

IN BRIEF: Zero-hour defence.
June 1, 2007... The British Retail Consortium has defended zero-hour contracts, saying workers enjoy the greater flexibility they allow. Zero-hour contracts do not stipulate working hours, and trade unions have lobbied Government to ban them. Copyright:...

Reid answers critics with record profits.(Financial report)
June 1, 2007... Retailer Reid Furniture puts speculation about its finances down to mischief making by its rivals Reid Furniture has come out bullishly against rumours of financial difficulties by claiming record profits for 2006 and a sales increase of...

JD Group rejects Steinhoff bid.
June 1, 2007... Steinhoff has failed in its bid to buy South Africa's biggest furniture retailer, The JD Group. The rejection of its approach to the JD shareholders looks like a serious setback given Steinhoff's decision in the days leading up to the...

Legals - Administrator appointments:.
June 1, 2007... Howarth & Jepson Ltd, retailer. Co no: 04532149. Administrator: Matthew Bowker and Christopher Barrett, Unity Business Services LLP, Bolton. Appointed: 17 May. Interplan Ltd, manufacturer. Co no: 02193968. Administrator: Christopher...

Legals - Liquidator appointments:.
June 1, 2007... A Passage To India Ltd, retailer. Co no: 04367230. Liquidator: Glyn Mummery and Paul Atkinson of Vantis Redhead French, Hornchurch, Essex. Appointed: 16 May. Peter Cook International (Wales) Ltd, supplier. Co no: 02630174: Liquidator:...

Legals - Final meetings:.
June 1, 2007... Zen Classical Chinese Furniture Co Ltd. Co no: 04047190. Venue: The Kingfisher Exchange, Kingfisher House, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, 12 July, 10.30am. *Information provided by the London Gazette. Full list available on...

Manchester road charge moves closer.
June 1, 2007... Retailers say consumers will shop out-of-town as details are issued for city centre pay-as-you-go toll Manchester retailers fear the consequences if a #5 congestion charge is introduced in the city. Leaders of Greater Manchester's 10...

Etailing to triple in five years.(online retailing services forecasted)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Online retailing saw its fastest growth last year since 2001. Verdict Research's e-retail 2007 report showed that online spending in the UK last year increased by 33.4%, to a record #10.9bn, almost 13 times faster than the retail sector...

People - Silentnight Group.(James Conway appointed as sales director )(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... James Conway has taken up his role as group sales director for the Silentnight Group following a month-long handover with the previous incumbent David Cruddos. Conway was previously employed by the Silentnight Group as interim md at Rest...

People - Ian Crowther, Kevin Barfoot and Alan Weir.
June 1, 2007... Ian Crowther has been appointed as sales director of Morris Furniture. Kevin Barfoot will step into Crowther's previous role of national sales manager for Zone Furniture and Alan Weir is appointed as national sales manager for Relaxateeze....

People - Dreams.(David Tracey appointed as logistics director )(Mark Collier appointed as corporate director )(Susan Richmond appointed as human resource director)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Dreams has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of three new directors. David Tracey joins as logistics director and brings with him experience from MFI, Harvey's and Wickes. He will oversee all of the distribution,...

Views by Rhianwen Roberts.
June 1, 2007... The past few months have been a whirlwind at The Furniture Ombudsman service. There is so much to do and so little time to do it in. Much of what people would consider to be the `boring stuff' has been done in recent months. One of my...

Talk - Who is your favourite supplier and why?
June 1, 2007... Last week's Talk 'Who is your favurite supplier and why?' proved popular among retailers. Here are some further responses. `Our favourite is Telnita from Lithuania, which is very reliable, always on time and there are hardly any service...

CM COMMENT: Leader - Know your product and keep complaints at bay.
June 1, 2007... Upholstery continues to be the most complained about sector of the furniture industry. According to the latest figures from FIRA's Home Service Technician department (see p12), upholstery is responsible for some 62% of consumer complaints, in...

STATISTICS: COMPLAINTS - Fashionable trend.
June 1, 2007... The upholstery industry could learn from fashion in educating consumers about the limitations of products to reduce complaints, says Peter Bonsall There's been much discussion about the quality of upholstery in the past 12 months and the...

STORE MANAGER: Don't get court out.
June 1, 2007... In today's litigious society, making an error on employment law can be very costly. Clive Day highlights 10 of the classic pitfalls and misconceptions Spent warnings The code of practice issued by conciliation service ACAS recommends...

SHOP WINDOW: Beds - Dunlopillo.
June 1, 2007... The Sultan is Dunlopillo's most luxurious bed yet. Upholstered in a richly embossed fabric featuring a new soft-touch top panel with Coolmax yarn. It is further enhanced by Moisture Management Technology to help dissipate moisture from the...

SHOP WINDOW: Beds - Frighetto.
June 1, 2007... Monza, for Frighetto, is distinguished by the coupling of different fabric colours. It can be formal or informal to fit with the different needs of the user. The sides and headboard, in leather or fabric, are removable. Copyright: CMP...

SHOP WINDOW: Beds - Airsprung Beds.
June 1, 2007... The Sublime 1800 is the flagship model in Airsprung Beds' collection, featuring a two-tier pocket spring unit with 1,800 springs in a king size mattress, for good support. Sleeping surfaces have a knitted stretch cover and damask borders. ...

SHOP WINDOW: Beds - Zanotta.
June 1, 2007... Moon, designed by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba for Zanotta, has a steel base with aluminium or graphite varnish. Natural bent beech strips are used for springing and the headboard is upholstered with a removable, reversible quilted cover in...

SHOP WINDOW: Beds - Sweet Dreams.
June 1, 2007... The Novak is Sweet Dreams' first ottoman bed. The mattress lifts to head height for ease of access to storage space. It is available in chocolate leather and fabrics including faux suede, plain and textured chenille. Copyright: CMP...

SHOP WINDOW: Beds - Flou.
June 1, 2007... Flou's minimalist and streamlined double bed, Prins, was designed by Carlo Colombo. Identifying elements are thick, stiff polyurethane, completed with a one-piece cushion featuring an unusual pleating effect, and removable covers. The...

SHOP WINDOW: Beds - Vita Cortex.
June 1, 2007... Renaissance, from foam technology innovator Vita Cortex, is a mattress that harnesses aerospace seat comfort technology to create perfect spinal alignment while sleeping. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

DESIGN: THONET - Pioneering spirit.(Thonet Industries Inc.)(Company overview)
June 1, 2007... Thonet's bentwood and tubular steel furniture is best known in the contract sector, but it is crossing over to the home, reports Rachel Calton Thonet is a fifth generation family business which continues to do what it has been doing for...

Naughtone.
June 1, 2007... Mark Hammond, creative director of contemporary furniture manufacturer Naughtone, agrees that office and domestic furniture trends are merging. `Since there is no longer that 1980s corporate office feel to working environments, the divide...

INTERVIEW: PETER HARRISON - The Bruv's legacy.
June 1, 2007... Peter Harrison tells Richard de Melim about David Imrie's valuable contribution to both Furniture Village and the industry in general It couldn't have been better timed if the whole thing had been staged managed for my benefit. At the very...

INTERVIEW: PETER HARRISON - Active interest.
June 1, 2007... Like Peter Harrison, David Imrie started out in department store retailing, before going on to manage Maples' flagship store. He later became lounge furniture buyer for the Kitchen Queen Group, before rejoining Maples as buying director. ...

RETAIL: CREDIT - Lending support.
June 1, 2007... Offering in-store credit needs to be done in conjunction with analysis of customers and staff training, according to Ian Harvey and Graham Field One of the major trends in the furniture retail market has been brought about in response to a...

RETAIL: CREDIT - Offering the right deal.
June 1, 2007... In-store credit is the retailer's trump card when it comes to clinching a sale, selling higher priced merchandise or offering an alternative to payment by credit card. Salespeople must have sound knowledge of credit to sell it sensibly and...

GLASS: FURNITURE - Clear choice.
June 1, 2007... Glass is increasingly used for contemporary furniture, says Rachel Calton Glass is increasingly becoming a prominent material for furniture, and not just in the realm of coffee tables. Designers are finding innovative ways of using glass...

GLASS: FURNITURE - Glass facts.
June 1, 2007... David Applebaum, Greenapple md explains the merits of glass. * It works in virtually any interior - modern or traditional. * Its clean lines contrast and blend with surprising ease into even the most period, or ornate settings. *...

CM OFFCUTS: Happiness with high standards.(Arkin Redif of Stanze Interiors)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... Arkin Redif is md of upmarket furniture retailer, Stanze Interiors What attracted you to the furniture industry? I would say that it was the realisation I discovered for my love for design, and subsequently my ability in staging a nice...

CM OFFCUTS: Speedy sofa sets a record.
June 1, 2007... Never let it be said that the furniture world isn't fast paced. Marek Turowski, a 38-year-old gardener from south London, hit the headlines recently by setting the world land speed record for furniture with an eye-watering 92mph at...

CM OFFCUTS: Action against cancer.
June 1, 2007... Going at a slightly slower speed to Marek will be Richard Smith, Smith's the Rink md in Harrogate, who on 4 June is embarking on a 1,000 mile bicycle journey from Lands End to John O'Groats with his wife, Fiona. Why? To raise money for...

Kayfoam sale aids plans to go international.(Kayfoam Woolfson)(FL Partners)(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... Outside investment helps Irish bed firm's bid for major expansion of its brand Bed manufacturer Kayfoam Woolfson has been sold to Dublin investment boutique FL Partners for an undisclosed sum in a deal designed to provide greater...

Three steps to Arighi Bianchi refurbishment.(Arighi Bianchi and Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... Arighi Bianchi has started the first phase of a three-pronged refurbishment programme. The business has earmarked more than #500,000 for the first phase, which will result in a new main entrance for the 65,000sqft Macclesfield, Cheshire store....

Out-of-town retail picked up in 2006.
June 8, 2007... Last year saw a mini revival for out-of-town retailing following a dismal 2005 after failures from the likes of Courts, Klaussner and Furnitureland among others. Verdict's UK Out-of-Town Retailing 2007 report, said retail parks had...

Mark of distinction for manufacturers.
June 8, 2007... The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers has called on UK furniture manufacturers to apply for its new Manufacturing Guild Mark, which it hopes will help consumers in their search for quality furniture. The trade association is looking...

Chester store for Stokers.
June 8, 2007... Retailer invests in a former Courts site to house new outlet Stokers will open a new store in September on the site of a former Courts store in Chester. The outlet, at 55,000sqft, will be one of Stokers largest furniture stores. Bought...

IN BRIEF: Showing foresight.
June 8, 2007... Minister of Culture David Lammy will open the first Foresight Design Conference on 22 June. The event will feature high profile speakers including designers Wayne Hemingway and Johnny Grey and Yolande Barnes, Savills director of research, and...

IN BRIEF: Health check.
June 8, 2007... FIRA members are now entitled to a free consultation with ukfirst on how to improve performance and competitiveness. The one-day check will offer businesses a summary report to help deliver better results. John Baldwin, programme director said:...

IN BRIEF: Rate pain.(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... David Kern, British Chambers of Commerce economic adviser said another interest rate rise could cause businesses more unnecessary pain. The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was poised to raise interest rates to 5.75%, from 5.5%...

IN BRIEF: Compliance help.(Forum for Private Business)(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... The Forum for Private Business has called for more support for small companies wanting to make their vehicles compliant with London's Low Emission Zone set to be introduced in 2008. The proposals mean non- compliant heavy goods vehicles, buses...

Showtime in Paris as events merge.(La Safi buys Cosp's homewares and furniture show)
June 8, 2007... Homewares and furniture show extravaganza set for January as Safi buys rival exhibition SMP Safi, organiser of Maison & Objet and Planete Meuble Paris, has bought rival show Salon du Meuble de Paris (SMP) from Cosp. Financial details...

Wallpaper goes up.
June 8, 2007... Sales of wallcoverings increased by almost 12% during the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period last year. Statistics from the British Coatings Federation, the trade association for the decorative paints, industrial coatings, powder...

Weakest sales growth for six months.(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... Big-ticket sales in May continued to disappoint as consumer confidence remained weak with shoppers not making major purchases. Poor weather and interest rate rises were seen to be the root cause of the problem. The British Retail...

City: Warnings and losses on CM Index.(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... Poor trading takes its toll with retailers showing share price falls Beales was fortunate to lose only 6p to 64p on a profits and dividend warning, after March's statement confirming depressed winter trading. Relatively few shareholders...

DFS thrives on pressure.
June 8, 2007... Upholstery firm outperforms rivals with increase in profits Sofa specialist DFS posted impressive financial figures for the year ending 29 July 2006. Profit before interest was up 3.5% to #61.4m from #59.3m and operating margin...

B&Q sales warm up.(financial report of B and Q PLC)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... Good weather helped B&Q report sales growth of 11.9% to #1.06bn in the 13 weeks to 5 May. Like-for-like growth was 5.9%. A trading update from parent Kingfisher, showed that B&Q profits rose by 82.2% to #32.8m for the period compared to...

Colefax still moving upwards.(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... Ahead of next month's full-year figures, Colefax's share price has repeated the sharp upward movement that followed January's interims. April's buoyant trading statement, indicating pre-tax profits approaching #6m, was a green light for...

Kids' zone.
June 8, 2007... DIY retailer Homebase has a new range of products for children's bedrooms which it hopes will help `create the perfect kids' zone' in the home. The five new looks are Butterflies, Stars, Hearts, Fairies and Camouflage which include coordinating...

No Net gain for big stores.
June 8, 2007... High street retailers are missing out on online opportunities Traditional retailers are letting online opportunities slip by according to the IMRG/Hitwise Hot Shops List of the top 50 UK etailers. The quarterly survey tracks popularity...

Views by Alison Gay.
June 8, 2007... Steinhoff and furniture retail conglomerate JD Group (JDG), have called off their merger, which will surely dampen their European ambitions. The merger would have seen JDG's retail strength coupled with the might of Steinhoff's European...

Talk: Furnex, do they export to the UK and if not, why not?
June 8, 2007... Last weekend saw the start of Furnex, in Cairo, Egypt - Cabinet Maker asked Egyptian exhibitors if they export to the UK, and if not, why not? `We export to the Gulf. We do not have promotions in the UK and have not made an effort to do...

CM COMMENT - Leader: More brand magic is needed to get those sales.
June 8, 2007... DFS issued bullish figures this week - with profits rising and improving margins (see p6). Although these figures relate to the year to 29 July 2006, Lord Kirkham, chairman, said like-for-like order intake for 2007 is up 5% - a comparative...

ANALYSIS - Driving the wrong way?
June 8, 2007... Traffic congestion in city centres needs resolving, but retailers think road tolls will prompt shoppers to go out-of-town instead, says Deven Pamben The Government, as part of its draft Local Transport Bill, has proposed that local...

SHOP WINDOW: Occasional/home office: Nueva Linea.
June 8, 2007... Nueva Linea's Studio Desk from its Lur collection has a bracket for holding a PC tower under the table while its oak table top finish contrasts with the metal legs and supports. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: Occasional/home office: New Leaf Furniture.
June 8, 2007... New Leaf Furniture's Barouche coffee table/trolley is evocative of the double-canopied, four-wheeled carriage and sports chunky dovetailed divides and a pair of floating drawers with Lebanese cedar bases. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

INTERVIEW: MARCUS WIEMANN - Conservative gain.(Company overview)
June 8, 2007... A German bedroom manufacturer has revised its attitude to exports and the UK market under the leadership of Marcus Wiemann, reports Andrew Kidd Marcus Wiemann, chairman of German bedroom manufacturer Wiemann, was born to the job. His great...

INTERVIEW: MARCUS WIEMANN - Going it alone.(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... North London retailer Signs, one of more than 100 Wiemann stockists in the UK, is looking to open standalone Wiemann stores. The units would be about 2,500sqft and Peter Fyett, Signs md wants to open the first by the end of the year. It would...

REVIEW: SCOPERTA - Cloth lines.
June 8, 2007... Showcasing wallcoverings, curtain and furnishing fabrics, Scoperta gave buyers plenty of choice to set the high street trends, as Rachel Calton reports A reserved and businesslike atmosphere presided over Scoperta as buyers from Debenhams,...

HOME: ENTERTAINMENT - Screen savers.
June 8, 2007... The increasing popularity of large plasma and LCD TVs has made many manufacturers reinterpret TV units, rather than mark their demise The rise of large plasma and LCD TVs was meant to sound the death knell for TV units, with consumers...

UNDERCOVER SHOPPER: Reading.
June 8, 2007... Five stores are visited every month to check service. This month we look at: Mention Reading and for many people their immediate thoughts will be its annual rock festival. But last summer the Berkshire town provided another reason to take...

CM OFFCUTS: Durable, useful and motivated.(interview with Paul Newman)(Interview)
June 8, 2007... Paul Newman is the director of London based furniture manufacturer, Case Furniture What attracted you to the furniture industry? I wasn't attracted to the industry as such, I was just motivated at art college to create functional...

CM OFFCUTS: What a washout.(dialogue with Tony Sharrock)(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... You have to feel for Tony Sharrock, Future retail manager in St Helens. Tony had paid for an advertisement for some of his white goods in the St Helens Reporter, only to find it contained the headline: Bed Bonanza - Just a small selection of...

Springing up money.
June 8, 2007... North Yorkshire home furnishings and interior design company James Brindley of Harrogate has donated #1,500 to Ribble Valley & White Rose Ladies to help with their work in raising money for research into children's cancers. The money was raised...

Halo change.(Richard Gomersall and Charlie Oulton appointed)(Brief article)
June 15, 2007... Richard Gomersall has been appointed as Halo UK md with current md Charlie Oulton taking a broader remit as group chief executive. Gomersall takes the role from 4 August after the annual company briefing. Oulton will direct his energy...

Cobco takes action against ex-franchisee.
June 15, 2007... Legal proceedings issued against one former FX outlet Four months after 12 franchisees debranded from Furniture Express (FX), franchisor Cobco 808 has started legal proceedings. It has issued a claim against one former franchisee with...

Textile firm in sporting move for the Olympics.(Brief article)
June 15, 2007... Tyrone Textiles today (15 June) starts relocating its importing and distribution business to make way for what will eventually be the finishing line at the Olympic Stadium in London. The business is moving from its 20,000sqft site on Marsh...

Ikea ready for green deals.
June 15, 2007... As retailer enters talks with B&Q, it suggests rivals present a joint initiative on energy Ikea is in exploratory talks with rival retailer B&Q on how they can team up to tackle climate change. Charlie Browne, Ikea UK environment...

Moon shines for furniture.
June 15, 2007... Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon has been named Furniture Parliamentarian of the Year. Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Industry, gave the award at the first Annual General Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group...

IN BRIEF: Eco-friendly in Vegas.
June 15, 2007... The Las Vegas Market is launching a Living Green Pavilion at its summer event to highlight the increasing style and substance of eco-friendly home furnishings. It will inform and educate on the latest trends and developments in the sustainable...

IN BRIEF: Dobbies bid.
June 15, 2007... Tesco's #155m bid for Dobbies Garden Centres on Friday (8 June) could be scuppered after it emerged that Scottish entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter could lead a consortium to take over the firm. Dobbies, with 21 stores, sells both outdoor and a...

IN BRIEF: Lisburn showroom.(Vale-Bridgecraft)(Brief article)
June 15, 2007... Upholstery manufacturer Vale-Bridgecraft has secured a 5,000sqft showroom facility on the Lissue Industrial Estate at Lisburn, County Antrim. The showroom is one mile from the M1 and national motorway network, and will open in August. The...

IN BRIEF: More than one use.
June 15, 2007... The Furniture Re-use Network has welcomed the Government's new Waste Strategy for England. A number of measures include increasing the re- use of goods, which is environmentally more beneficial than recycling. Copyright: CMP Information...

High street retailers must `be different' warns Verdict.
June 15, 2007... Town centre retailing in the UK is set to come under increasing pressure as growth in consumer demand slows and competition from online and out-of-town retailers intensifies. Town centre independent furniture retailers are already...