Cabinet Maker articles from March 2008

Cabinet Maker archives from March 2008

Department stores thrive on luxury.
March 7, 2008... Luxury goods are fuelling growth in the #14.7bn UK department store sector, according to a report by retail monitoring organisation Verdict Research. Following two years of decline, the sector has been showing growth since 2006, and...

Jysk confident as it faces UK challenge.
March 7, 2008... Danish retailer to open stores in Lincoln and Mansfield As it gets ready to open its doors, Jysk believes its `value for money' approach can withstand any potential turmoil in the UK retail market. In an exclusive interview with CM,...

FIRA footprints carbon.
March 7, 2008... FIRA is launching a carbon footprinting system specifically designed for the furniture industry, in collaboration with environmental consultancy Best Foot Forward. The online tool, called Furniture Footprinters, is an analysis and...

Bright ideas.
March 7, 2008... Contemporary furniture manufacturer Dwell has launched its spring/summer range following a busy 2007, which saw three stores open in Glasgow, Manchester and Cheltenham. The collection is designed in- house and contains more than 200 new items....

B&Q readies 5p charge for bags.
March 7, 2008... Following successful trials in north east and Scotland, DIY giant may ban free plastic bags B&Q is looking at ways to cement its position as the leading environmentally conscious retailer by considering banning free plastic bags. Last...

Better design could minimise packaging use.
March 7, 2008... Furniture manufacturing companies need to work more closely with their supply chains to minimise the environmental impact of packaging, according to sustainability expert Envirowise. The Government-funded programme, which offers advice to...

IN BRIEF: `No tax rise' call.(Brief article)
March 7, 2008... The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Budget Submission 2008 is calling on the Government to reduce #3.4bn worth of extra tax pressures on business. The BCC said the Government should recognise the downturn in the economic climate and not...

IN BRIEF: How to work better.
March 7, 2008... Furniture industry business consultancy ukfirst is running an interactive masterclass for manufacturers. It aims to encourage manufacturers to use tools and techniques to streamline and improve their business, and will involve a series of...

IN BRIEF: House price gloom.
March 7, 2008... Nationwide Building Society is the latest firm to report falling house prices. Its fourth consecutive monthly fall, in February, puts annual house price growth at 2.7%, the lowest level in two years. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Ikea eyes Ipswich.
March 7, 2008... Furniture giant Ikea is said to be considering opening a store in Ipswich, which could result in more than 500 jobs. The store will be on a 43-acre site engineering site owned by Crane, which sold it for #18m to Allied Property & Leisure. ...

IN BRIEF: Business moves.
March 7, 2008... Michael Wright Furniture, a high-end furniture designer who counts film star Jude Law as one of his clients, has moved his operations from Summerbridge in Yorkshire to larger premises in the small village of Blubberhouses, in the borough of...

Central signs up as show host.(Brief article)
March 7, 2008... The Manchester Central venue has secured a deal that will see it host the Manchester Furniture Show until 2010. The event, which is the second largest of its kind in the UK, will be held this year 0n 13-16 July. Exhibitors include Morris...

Cool campaign.
March 7, 2008... Sleepflex Coolwave has launched a consumer advertising campaign for the first time. The promotion for its Windsor Beds hit consumer magazines this week with full page colour advertisements. The campaign will run in the spring and autumn in a...

Habitat to join Barton Square.(Brief article)
March 7, 2008... Manchester's Barton Square development will open later this month - dedicated solely to interiors. The #70m, 200,000sqft complex, linked to theTrafford Centre by a glazed bridge, will house the likes of Dwell, Marks and Spencer Home, Bhs...

Legals - Liquidator appointments:.
March 7, 2008... Furniture at Designer Ltd, retailer. Co no: 05759193. Liquidator: Gagen Dulari Sharma, Sharma & Co, Birmingham. Appointed: 15 February. Batavia Ltd, retailer. Co no: 03706436. Liquidator: Kerry Bailey and Jonathan Newell, PKF (UK) LLP,...

Legals - Final meetings:.(Calendar)
March 7, 2008... Libra Kitchens & Bathrooms Ltd. Co no: 04662912. Venue: Horwath Clark Whitehill, Leeds, 28 March, 10am. Tel: 0113 274 0404. Ray Cooper Design Interiors Ltd. Co no: 3746681. Venue: Bede Island Road, Bede Island Business Park, Leicester, 31...

Legals - Creditors meetings:.
March 7, 2008... Crout Furniture Ltd, manufacturer. Co no: 03957205. Venue: Sheraton House, Castle Park, Cambridge, 12 March, 11am. Tel: 01223 370115. Splash Kitchens and Bathrooms Ltd, wholesale. Co no: 5981549. Venue: Elwell Watchorn & Saxton LLP,...

Dunelm defies the downturn.(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 7, 2008... Robust first half trading but the second is likely to be tougher Furnishings retailer Dunelm has seen strong overall growth, despite a slight dip in sales since the turn of the year. The company said sales during the eight weeks to 23...

Mackenzies shuts due to `other commitments'.
March 7, 2008... Scottish furniture retailer Mackenzies is closing down. The family-run firm in Wick, Caithness, which was established more than 100 years ago, said the seven staff currently employed will not lose their jobs. They will be moved to the...

Small firms may fall foul of new trading regulations.
March 7, 2008... Sales practices will need to be reviewed by 6 April Furniture retailers may fall foul of new laws because they might not have enough time to make relevant changes to their business. On 6 April, the Consumer Protection from Unfair...

Deep sleep.
March 7, 2008... Sealy has launched its Mirrorform bed collection, especially designed to promote deeper, undisturbed sleep. The range encompasses a five-zone support system for perfect spinal alignment. The beds have nine-turn barrel-shaped springs, which have...

Views by Roger van der Matten.(Industry overview)
March 7, 2008... The pace at which Europe has grown and integrated new member states has been brilliant. But the anticipated opportunities that `New Europe' was to present for manufacturing closer to home have not quite lived up to expectations. Like many,...

Talk - Are your expensive products selling better than cheaper ones?
March 7, 2008... `Yes, they are. It's a little quieter but not greatly. One of our best selling models is a B&B Italia Charles sofa, which is probably one of the most expensive we've got. The downturn in sales is not affecting the high end because people with...

CM COMMENT: Leader - Deliver us from PR damage.
March 7, 2008... MFI became the latest furniture retailer to figure on the BBC's Watchdog TV programme when its delivery issues were highlighted this week. It joins Marks & Spencer, and a raft of retailers selling itchy sofas as high profile furniture industry...

CM COMMENT: Leader - Upmarket move clinches sales.(Brief article)
March 7, 2008... The luxury goods sector is holding up well despite tough trading conditions across the wider retail sector (see p10). Given that analysts have predicted market polarisation for some time - with chain stores battling for volume business and...

ANALYSIS: Is the luxury bubble about to burst?
March 7, 2008... Big spenders have sustained some retailers but for how long, asks Ramita Navai As the housing market continues to stagnate and disappointing sales figures have businesses from here to the US whispering the word `recession', one sector...

ANALYSIS: Mattress with the mostest.
March 7, 2008... As manufacturers increasingly add health and comfort features to their beds, will consumers be convinced of their benefits? Deven Pamben reports The bed industry in recent years has gone through extreme change. Consumers are now being...

ANALYSIS: Emerging technologies support evolution.(Brief article)
March 7, 2008... `Mattress technology has changed out of all recognition in the past few years, thanks largely to the crossover from medical products into the domestic markets,' says Rosemary Turley, Kaymed global head of marketing. `The specialty sleep...

STORE MANAGER: On their heads be it.(The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 )
March 7, 2008... The offence of corporate manslaughter, starting in April, is the biggest change to health and safety law in decades, write Stuart Ponting and Poppy Williams For more than a decade, successive Governments have faced criticism that the...

INTERVIEW: JAN WRIGHT - Membership matters.
March 7, 2008... Jan Wright is clerk of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, an organisation dedicated to putting something back in to the industry. Richard de Melim takes a look behind the doors of the livery company Livery companies gave away more...

Retail management development course, 13-16 April.
March 7, 2008... There are three strands to the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers' training remit: retail, design and manufacturing. The first is fulfilled by the Retail Management Development Course, which takes place at the Highgate House Conference and...

DESIGN: CHILDREN'S FURNITURE - Kids' stuff grows up.
March 7, 2008... Parents are saying money is no object when it comes to buying furniture for their children that can be used all over the home, reports Caroline Munro The nature of children's furniture may seem unchanging, yet some retailers and...

PROTECTING DESIGNS: Design rights go global.
March 7, 2008... In the second in a series of articles on intellectual property, Simon Clark and Gavin Llewellyn look at the advantages of design registration outside the EU A case involving high profile shoe designer Jimmy Choo has shown that there is an...

PROTECTING DESIGNS: Practical tips for retailers.
March 7, 2008... The Jimmy Choo case should focus retailers' finds on the need to take steps to avoid becoming the innocent victims of a Community design infringement action. * Where possible, carry out clearance searches to ensure that new products are...

SHOW: PREVIEW - Interiors inspire the UAE.
March 7, 2008... The Interiors exhibition brand moves to Abu Dhabi and will highlight the opportunities that can be expected in the contract and retail sectors The first Interiors UAE event will highlight the potential for the furniture and interior design...

CONSUMER FOCUS: Are shoppers planning to shell out this year?
March 7, 2008... It's bad news on customers' spending plans but retailers are being stoical, with some investing in redevelopment and creative marketing campaigns With so much doom and gloom in the newspapers and the return of the `R' word to everyday...

CONSUMER FOCUS: Facts and figures.
March 7, 2008... The survey, part of Cabinet Maker's consumer research programme, was conducted by GfK NOP on 8-10 February 2008 among a sample of 945 adults aged 18 plus. * Only one in four consumers intends to spend more than #250 on furniture *...

CM OFFCUTS: A glass of wine and dreaming of the Garden Route Trail.(Interview)
March 7, 2008... Joanne Sheehan is marketing manager at Burbidge What's the most desirable piece of furniture you own? I know that, working at Burbidge, I am going to sound really biased but it would have to be my kitchen. I really enjoy cooking in my...

CM OFFCUTS: Opulence all the way for the super-rich at Heathrow.(Brief article)
March 7, 2008... The first pictures of Heathrow Terminal 5's opulent first-class lounges have been unveiled. Covering 15,000sqft and costing #60m, passengers lucky enough to be gracing its doors will be able to kick back in style, in rooms dripping with...

CM OFFCUTS: Special supporter.(Mike Spencer chief executive of the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers wins award)(Brief article)
March 7, 2008... Mike Spencer, chief executive of the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers, has won the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association's (FTBA) Individual Supporter of the Year award 2007. The award recognises Spencer's commitment to...

Staff query Bevan Funnell sale.(Swann Furniture Group acquired Bevan Funnell )
March 14, 2008... Company trustees challenged over payout after sale to Swann Furniture Group Bevan Funnell (BF) staff have challenged the company's trustees to explain why they only received #5,000 each after the Newhaven firm was sold in January 2007. ...

Jobs go at Arthur Brett.
March 14, 2008... Sixty-two Arthur Brett & Sons employees have been made redundant after the furniture manufacturer went into administration. Angus Martin, Julia Branson and Richard Hawes of Deloitte & Touche LLP were appointed administrators on Wednesday 5...

Italian inspiration.(B and B Italia)(Brief article)
March 14, 2008... B&B Italia has launched an outdoor collection at its newly extended London showroom in South Kensington, London. The flagship store has had its window area doubled and the floor space of the showroom increased by more than 3,500sqft. B&B Italia...

Dreams sale nets windfall for Clare.
March 14, 2008... Founder sells majority stake for an undisclosed sum to investment company Exponent Dreams has been sold to investment company Exponent for an undisclosed sum. It is believed that founder like Clare has pocketed more than #200m. ...

IN BRIEF: Remploy shuts plant.
March 14, 2008... Nearly 80 disabled workers have lost their jobs after the furniture manufacturer Remploy closed another of its Welsh factories. The Treforest site is one of four plants nationwide that has been shut following losses of #15m in 2007. The...

IN BRIEF: Happy Hilding Anders.(Brief article)
March 14, 2008... Hilding Anders has acquired Swiss bed manufacturer Happy. It becomes the sixth company to be bought by the Swedish giant since 2007. Happy had a turnover of #12m last year. Anders Palsson, Hilding Anders president and chief executive said: `The...

IN BRIEF: Rose role concern.
March 14, 2008... Concern has been raised over Sir Stuart Rose's role as executive chairman at retail giant Marks & Spencer. He is replacing the current chairman Lord Burns in June, but the move is seen as breaching the Combined Code of Corporate Governance that...

IN BRIEF: Tax hits investment.(Brief article)
March 14, 2008... The CBI says the UK is failing to attract investors because of an uncompetitive tax system. It called for a long-term cut in corporation tax to 18% over eight years to bring it in line with rates offered by our European neighbours. In the past...

The dragon who cannot rest.(Brief article)
March 14, 2008... The synapses in Mike Clare's brain trip off with typical alacrity. `I'm going to write a book, travel the world, start a charity, buy a horse, learn to ride it, and lose weight,' he said. The estimated #200m he and his wife will pocket from...

Staff benefit from training academies.
March 14, 2008... Dreams has opened two additional regional academies in High Wycombe and Warrington. The academies are training centres specifically for its retail staff and management, and are designed to help and enable growth and development. The...

City: M&S plans leave markets unmoved.
March 14, 2008... Share price falls despite firm's ambitions to expand abroad Marks & Spencer lost 20p to 378p, despite a proposal to buy into franchise partners abroad in the hope of accelerating international expansion. Meanwhile, analysts at Credit Suisse...

Strong furniture at John Lewis.
March 14, 2008... Online presence and new stores strengthens group performance Home performed strongly for John Lewis as the department store saw sales grow 5.6% to #2.8bn. The company saw sales rise by #148.9m with operating profits up #12m to #190.4m....

Local authorities continue to trial road charging schemes.
March 14, 2008... Small firms could have to pay road charges despite the Government saying it is seeking alternatives. The warning comes from pressure group the Forum for Private Business (FPB). Transport secretary Ruth Kelly has refused to rule out a road...

Weeks of turbulence.(Brief article)
March 14, 2008... There were shows several weeks of churning on the FTSE 100 at around 5,900 as investors sold aggressively into brief uptrends. Major players in the UK and US are still nervous about the effects of the sub-prime crisis, uncertain that the...

Letter: Treatment works with Chinese leather.(Letter to the editor)
March 14, 2008... In response to the BBC's Watchdog programme and your subsequent article (CM, 29 Feb, p10), Corium Solutions has long recognised the implications of leather export. When sofas, shoes and other leather items are shipped from China they are...

Views by Vikas Shah.
March 14, 2008... This country has an incredible heritage in the textiles industry, having provided many of the innovations that made it possible. We also have some of the top fashion and textiles courses in the world, and a base of knowledge and expertise...

Talk: What do British manufacturers need to do to stay competitive?(Industry overview)
March 14, 2008... `I don't think British manufacturers stand a chance given that manufacturing costs in China and India are so cheap. They flood the market with cheap copies, some of which are very good. I try to source British-made goods because we need to...

Leader: Skilled staff hit by double whammy of negative news.
March 14, 2008... Two of the great names in the long history of British furniture manufacturing made the headlines this week, as Arthur Brett was placed in administration and Bevan Funnell trustees were asked to explain why staff only received #5,000 apiece...

ANALYSIS: Shot down in flames.
March 14, 2008... Fire safety legislation is a mess, with high levels of retardants being found in furniture and imports not facing stringent checks, writes Deven Pamben Research carried out by Friends of the Earth found that after analysing 350 pieces of...

ANALYSIS: Recommendations and clarifications.
March 14, 2008... * Why does the match test continue to be over non-retardant foam? * Clarification of definitions of `scatter cushions' and `loose cover'. * Cigarette test gives an anomaly that a fabric supplier can claim the match test compliance but...

STORE MANAGER: Don't get caught in a utility trap.
March 14, 2008... Variation in utility prices and terms makes finding the best deal confusing, so it is worth considering using a specialist consultancy, writes Brian Collett How many business owners and bosses pay enough attention to their electricity and...

Small fall in unit rate yields big savings.(Brief article)
March 14, 2008... Small shops often need to trim expenses to stay competitive. Yet the toil and long hours can blind the owners to obvious energy bill savings. Paul and Gail Mather felt they had to look at economies when they saw that electricity was...

STYLE & TRENDS: BAROMETER - Rough and tumble.
March 14, 2008... Furniture's design cognoscenti will descend on northern Italy next month for what promises to be another bumper iSaloni series. But as ever in Milan, the city events are every bit as must-see as the show itself... Rough and tumble The...

TRAINING: PROSKILLS - Benefits of better training.(Company overview)
March 14, 2008... To stay competitive in the global market, the furniture industry in the UK needs to recognise the need for more investment in training, and getting in touch with the sector skills council is the place to start, says Jackie Bazeley There...

MANUFACTURING: MATERIALS - Leeway for leather.
March 14, 2008... Consumers buying leather upholstered products seem surprisingly unconcerned about the ecological impact of its manufacture - the pressure comes from other quarters, discovers Caroline Munro A groundswell of interest and increasing media...

LEAN: MANUFACTURING - Follow that car firm.
March 14, 2008... The concept made famous by a motor company can also help furniture manufacturers to stay ahead of the game, writes Ben Burbidge The UK furniture industry has made a significant - but often unsung - contribution to the country's economy for...

CM OFFCUTS: Simplicity of paint makes it a hero.(Peter Shewan director at PSA Interiors)(Interview)
March 14, 2008... Peter Shewan is director of PSA Interiors How did you get started in interior design? I can remember being dragged around antique fairs from a young age by my mother. She started an antique business and I can remember being in her shop...

CM OFFCUTS: Sleeping easy in hotel beds.
March 14, 2008... A boutique hotel in Dublin has launched a new service for guests who fall in love with their beds - they can now buy them. Siobhan Delaney, general manager of the Dylan Hotel, which made Conde Nast Traveller's 2007 list of the hottest new...

Budding authors.
March 14, 2008... Silentnight is launching its second annual Book at Bedtime competition to find the next JK Rowling. The competition will encourage children under 12 to write their own bedtime story. The winner will have their book published as well as winning...

Supermarket Sweep.
March 14, 2008... The late supermarket mogul Simon Sainsbury left instructions in his will that furniture from his sumptuous 18th century country house should be sold for charity. Philanthropist Sainsbury, who died over a year ago, had already bequeathed...

Staff cutbacks begin to bite.
March 21, 2008... Falling sales and restructuring prompt job losses for three furniture firms The tough economic climate continues to hit both furniture retailers and manufacturers, with announcements of job cuts. Manufacturer Wood Bros (Furniture)...

History on the wall.(Brief article)
March 21, 2008... A range of wallpapers featuring classic designs from 18th and 19th century London has been launched. The Little Greene Paint Company, in collaboration with English Heritage, has reworked a range of 47 papers which once adorned the walls of the...

DPA name acquired.(The name David Paine Associates Limited has been bought by David and Jane Paine)(Brief article)
March 21, 2008... The name David Paine Associates Limited (DPA) has been bought by David and Jane Paine, who used to run the company. DPA went into liquidation in February. David and Jane reached an agreement with liquidators Wilson Field, of Sheffield, to...

British quality confirmed.(Survey)(Brief article)
March 21, 2008... A survey commissioned by Cabinet Maker has found consumers believe the defining feature of `British Made Furniture' is its superior quality over foreign made goods. The Gfk/nop statistics found that 57% of those surveyed thought British...

`No surprises' in the Budget.(Brief article)
March 21, 2008... Business groups left dismayed over chancellor's lack of action Alistair Darling's first full Budget has received a mixed response from business groups. The chancellor announced few surprises. The main points included: * Small...

People: Robin Terrell.
March 21, 2008... Robin Terrell has been appointed md of John Lewis Direct, responsible for all aspects of the online business. He joins John Lewis from Figleaves, the online lingerie company. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

People: Carole Michie.
March 21, 2008... Carole Michie becomes sales representative for Ashley Manor Upholstery and AMX Designs in Scotland, taking over the role from Steve Morgan, who has been promoted to sales director. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

People: Preben Bager.
March 21, 2008... Nobia has appointed Preben Bager as its president and chief executive. He has worked in the kitchen industry for more than 25 years and was head of Nobia's UK division. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

People: Joly Dixon.
March 21, 2008... ACID has appointed Joly Dixon as chairman for the Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property. Dixon spent most of his career in the European Commission as an adviser to Jacques Delors and later was director for international economic...

Kerala classics.(Malabar )(Brief article)
March 21, 2008... London based boutique retailer Malabar has launched a range of Indian- inspired fabrics. The collection features silks, linens and the company's first 100% organic handloom cottons known as Timba. All the products are made locally in Kerala by...

IN BRIEF: Ikea recalls chair.
March 21, 2008... Ikea has recalled its Gulliver children's high chair because of a potentially dangerous design fault. The bent wood construction chair, 6,000 of which which have been sold throughout Europe, was recalled after a German customer found that the...

IN BRIEF: Cut your footprint.
March 21, 2008... FIRA will launch its Furniture Footprinter in London next month. The Internet-based system will help firms reduce their carbon footprint. The next generation carbon and ecological accounting tool is a realtime database specifically aimed at...

IN BRIEF: Inflation high.
March 21, 2008... UK inflation has hit a nine-month high. National Statistics said the Consumer Prices Index was 2.5% on an annual basis in February, up from 2.2% in January. But this was due to a new method for calculating energy bills. Without the change in...

IN BRIEF: Anti-piracy push.
March 21, 2008... EU president Manuel Barroso has reinforced the EU's position on counterfeiting, piracy and intellectual property (IP) theft at a summit in Brussels. Barroso has promised that counterfeiting would be `high on the agenda' at a summit to be held...