Cabinet Maker articles from May 2004

Cabinet Maker archives from May 2004

Habitat to get active on sales.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Habitat's new Solihull store will be a pilot for initiatives to revamp the company's customer service. The 19,500sqft store, which opened on 28 April, will see the introduction of a team of eight `active sellers' who will engage customers...

Committee backs Lord Kirkham's higher offer.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Lord Kirkham has raised his offer for DFS to #468m after the founder and chairman's March offer of #445m was rebuffed. In the absence of a higher bid, the independent committee set up to scrutinise the proposal, will recommend the renewed...

COMMENT: Eternal merry-go-round.(furniture industry personnel)
May 7, 2004... News of Nigel Oddy's departure from DP Furniture Express to Furnitureland (see p4) signifies a trend for moving around in the furniture industry. As in any sector, people change jobs, and expertise hops from one company to another. Yet,...

Oddy's talents take him to Furnitureland.(Nigel Oddy appointed as merchandise director)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Nigel Oddy has become Furnitureland's buying and merchandise director after leaving his post as DP Furniture Express md. There are no plans to replace him at DP Furniture Express, where John Marshall, founder and chief executive, has taken...

Early warning policy.(DTI)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Retailers will have better influence on the shaping of policy affecting their businesses after the DTI agreed to set up a Retail Policy Forum. The Forum, which should give retailers an early warning system about proposed new regulations,...

Enterprising Panaz.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Panaz has been awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise for its Panville fabric. The fabric is used in the healthcare sector. Unlike most others, it is soft to the touch and also wipe clean and anti-bacterial. According to Tony Attard,...

Secondhand warning.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Trading Standards has warned that 86% of secondhand upholstery fails to pass UK flammability requirements. The survey carried out by Welsh trading standards officers, follows news reported last week that secondhand furniture carries a dangerous...

Agency ends.(Midland Furniture Representatives and Agents Association)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... The Midland Furniture Representatives and Agents Association has closed down after 38 years. The closure also means the end of the West Midlands branch of the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association. The MFRAA will be remembered as the...

CD drive.(compact disc, sales promotions)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Huddersfield furniture panels manufacturer, Decorative Panels, has launched two CD-roms and a brochure in its latest marketing drive. The first CD contains video footage of the business - including its efforts to safeguard the environment. The...

Rescued firm lasts only four months.(European Furniture Brands )(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... European Furniture Brands has gone into administration just four months after it was created from the wreckage of Frayling. The former Frayling management bought the company out of receivership in December last year, renaming it European...

Bombo dispute settled.(Magis, Furniture Craft International)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Magis and Furniture Craft International (FCI) have settled a dispute over copyright infringement of Magis's famous Bombo stool. The copy was first spotted at the Ideal Home Show in 2002 on the FCI stand, marketed under the name of Tango....

Sales drop but Collins and Hayes says the worst is over.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... The worst of the downturn in upholstery sales is past, according to Phillip Bennett, Collins and Hayes executive chairman. The upholstery manufacturer saw sales fall 6.5% to #21.69m in the year to 31 January, which Bennett attributed to a...

British Vita - Appointment.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Keith Bradshaw is the new development director for British Vita's cellular/non-wovens business division. Chris Hopkinson becomes development director for the industrial polymers business division. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

UK urged to take advantage of larger EU's opportunities.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Companies have been urged to take advantage of the European Union's expansion to 25 states by investing in the 10 new Eastern European members. The 10: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak...

Delivery rules prompt Banbury store closure.(Walmsley.)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Walmsley's is to close its Banbury branch after the council limited deliveries to before 9am and after 4pm. The edict is part of Cherwell District Council's plans to attract shoppers by pedestrianising Parsons Street. But it could drive...

Magnet pulls in the sales again.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Magnet has again outperformed the market, with like for like sales growing by 5% in the first quarter of the year. Parent Nobia said it estimated the market grew by 4%. Kitchen and bedroom sales rose by 9%, with fitted kitchen sales up...

New Heights expands.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Retailer New Heights has four more store openings in the pipeline within the next year. The latest opening was last month in Reading - a 7,500sqft showroom, occupying three floors. The first two floors are dedicated to classic and New...

Tempur hit by #100,000 robbery.(Tempur World Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Bed firm Tempur is offering a reward for information leading to the prosecution of thieves who stole #100,000 worth of mattresses and pillows from its west London premises. Blow torches were used to gain entry to the yard and CCTV cameras...

Rolf Benz hits the road in the UK.(Rolf Benz GmbH)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Rolf Benz has begun a tour of England to show launches from IMM Cologne at six stockists. Those taking part are West Park Interiors, Leeds; Chattels, Chester; Renka Living, Sutton Coldfield; Unique Interiors, Blackpool; Charles Page,...

More scope for Danish talent.(Scandinavian Furniture Fair)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... The number of young designers taking part in next week's Scandinavian Furniture Fair is set to almost double. Sixty designers will take part in the TalentZone, up from 38 last year. `In addition to enjoying the success of the Danish...

New home and name.(South West Furniture Show is now the West and Wales Regional Furniture Exhibition)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... The South West Furniture Show has been given a new home and name. After 12 years at the Webbington Hotel, Axbridge near Weston-Super- Mare, organiser Roger Gowan has moved the show to the Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol. `It will be nice...

EVENTS.(Calendar)
May 7, 2004... MAY 9-13 Saudi Furniture and Interiors Riyadh, Saudi Arabia www.recexpo.com 00 96614541448 11-14 Meble Poznan Poland http://meble.mtp.com.pl 12-16 Scandinavian Furniture Fair Copenhagen www.scandinavianfurniturefair.com...

SHOP WINDOW: EKORNES.
May 7, 2004... The modern lines of the leather Sphinx reclining Stressless sofas are teamed with the Stressless Arion recliner for a coordinated approach. Contact Ekornes on 020 74998537 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Undercover in Stevenage.
May 7, 2004... Every two weeks Cabinet Maker will send its spies to report on sales techniques in furniture stores. This week we were looking for a two- seater leather sofa FURNITURELAND, Roaring Meg Retail & Leisure Park, London Road `I hope you're...

Retail Intelligence.(furniture stores)
May 7, 2004... March proved to be a better month for retailers, compared with February 2004 and March 2003. As the winter sales ended, a downturn could have been expected. Instead stores saw growth in the value of sales, albeit lower than in recent...

MILAN SHOW: Crossing style frontiers.(Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2004)
May 7, 2004... Nostalgia, futuristic, innovative... trends from Milan with new mixes of materials and colours to create an explosion of style, reports Alison Gay and Stephanie Baum If the 43rd instalment of Salone del Mobile could be summed up in one...

FIRST PERSON - JAMES WILSON: Wholesale happiness.(Furniture Selection)(Interview)
May 7, 2004... James Wilson, Furniture Selection's marketing manager, made his film debut at five, dallied with caravans and loves a good fry up How did you get started in the industry? I appeared in a Duckers Furniture advertisement when I was five...

Disaster prompted fire laws.(Woolworths store (Birmingham) fire, 1979)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... It is 25 years since the fire at a Woolworths store in Manchester led Britain to adopt the most stringent fire safety regulations in the world. The disaster caused the death of 10 people on 8 May 1979. The Piccadilly blaze, the city's...

Rosebys to be sold to cut Homestyle debts.(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Homestyle Group is to sell its Rosebys textile division to the management in a cash deal worth #50m. The Rotherham-based firm said it was selling the 400-store chain in a bid to reduce debts after `challenging trading conditions' hit sales...

COMMENT: It's all in the detail.(losses due to accounting mistakes)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Alison Gay An accounting glitch at MFI (see p5) which has resulted in a shortfall of about #40m in pension money, seems almost too obvious a mistake to be true. The fact it took 10 years before it was discovered that the retirement...

Headhunters to search for new M&S chairman.(Marks & Spencer)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Marks & Spencer has appointed headhunters to find a replacement for Luc Vandervelde, its outgoing chairman. Vandervelde, brought in four years ago to revive the fortunes of the retailer, has agreed he can no longer put enough time into his...

Jailed for racist attack.
May 14, 2004... A Nazi sympathiser who firebombed a Bangladeshi-owned furniture retailer in Hull has been jailed for seven years. Thomas Jackson shouted `merry Christmas' at Unysur Rahman and the ECT store owners Farid and Sadiq Choudhury before hurling...

Home for Nairn.(Iain Nairn takes responsibility at Laura Ashley home division)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Laura Ashley's home division will see changes as Iain Nairn, joint chief operating officer, takes responsibility for both fashion and home. Nairn shares the coo role with Mike Kingsley who will give up his home duties to concentrate on retail...

Direct connection.(UK market )(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Tvilum-Scanbirk will deal directly with the UK market following its acquisition by Masco Corporation, which already has a strong UK presence. Peter Harris International will no longer represent the company but will focus instead on expanding...

Rising debt.(Credit card debt on rise says report)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Credit card debt has risen by almost #1bn, prompting fears of an abrupt end to the borrowing spree. Experts believe the property boom is responsible for the credit spending as first time buyers splurge on new furniture and decorations. ...

Pressure on dining.(industry trends)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Major volume growth in the UK dining and occasional furniture market sector seems unlikely, according to the latest AMA Research report. It adds that pressure on lower prices and cheap imports may continue the trend in the medium term. ...

MFI seeks to recoup its pension shortfall.(Mullard Furniture Industries)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... MFI is attempting to recoup some of the shortfall in pension liabilities incurred after an accounting error left it #40m poorer. The kitchens and furniture retailer failed to update documents when the retirement age for women was raised...

Gunfire damage to store.(Quality Furnishings, Ipswich)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Ipswich retailer, Quality Furnishings faces a #1,000 repair bill after its windows were broken in a suspected drive-by shooting. Adrian Marjoram, owner, found three windows dotted with holes from ball bearings fired from a replica gun on 27...

Designers fresh in at Sainsbury's.(agreement with designers )(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Sainsbury's has signed an exclusive agreement with three leading designers to expand on its core home range, launched last year. Sir Terence Conran, Orla Kiely and Orlando Hamilton will develop the new ranges, called by, which will feature...

Naturally luxurious.(Proposte and Scoperta shows at Lake Como)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Natural and luxurious fabrics were the eye-catchers at the Proposte and Scoperta fabric shows at Lake Como. Chenille was noticeably absent at Proposte, on the Italian side of the lake, while linen took up the slack for soft furnishings. ...

Profits warning at John Lewis of Hungerford.(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Kitchen retailer and manufacturer John Lewis of Hungerford has issued a profits warning after disappointing first half results. Pre-tax profits were just #5,000, down from #142,000 for the same period last year, and sales fell 8% to #1.6m....

Teak comes inside.(Jacardi, opened its Dorset store)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Indoor teak furniture retailer, Jacardi, opened its doors for the first time on 4 May. The new Ferndown, Dorset store is the brainchild of owner Richard Blunderfield. He conceived the idea two years ago on a trip to Indonesia. `I...

Trends make an entrance.(Scoperta Expo, interior textile exhibition)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Scoperta introduced a trends area for the first time at the show. Exhibitors were invited to display their fabrics at the entrance hall to the event, and designers were asked to come up with ideas for uses for the fabrics. Bill Davies,...

No buyer to save Wood U.(furniture chain)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Administrators have failed to find a buyer for south of England furniture chain, Wood U. Philip Weinberg of Marks Bloom was appointed the administrator to the 20-store chain on 21 April. All the branches have since closed with the loss...

BrightHouse 10th anniversary.(celebration)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... National household goods and electrical retailer, BrightHouse, celebrated its 10th anniversary at its first store in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham. The retailer launched its debut store in 1994 as Crazy George's and now boasts a portfolio of 123...

CITY: Bid speculation gives House of Fraser a lift.(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... House of Fraser gained 9p after setting a four-year high on rumours that a potential bidder has offered to buy out major shareholders Tom Hunter (11%) and Baugur (10%). GUS prospered as investors relished good figures from Argos and...

Share Update on 10 May 2004.(Illustration)
May 14, 2004... Share Update on 10 May 2004 Bold=new High/Low Now Change Change 2004 2004 over since High Low 2 weeks 6 Apr Retailers...

Letter: True costs of globalisation.(Letter to the Editor)
May 14, 2004... A broader point of view (cm, 30 Apr, p16) wasn't broad enough in my view. While reflecting on the shift of manufacturing jobs to Asia while employment in the UK grows too, Mark Lewis omits to mention two major byproducts of `globalisation'. ...

NEWS: EVENTS.(Calendar)
May 14, 2004... EVENTS MAY 12-16 Scandinavian Furniture Fair Copenhagen www.scandinavianfurniturefair.com 15-18 May ICFF - International Contemporary Furniture Fair New York www.icff.com 00 1 914 421-3206 26-30 Sasmil -...

FTBA events.(Calendar)
May 14, 2004... FTBA EVENTS JUNE 2 North Lancashire area golf day Fairhaven GC Ken Wilkinson 01253 735855 10 FTBA Big Shots Clay Pigeon Shoot Holland & Holland shooting grounds Nigel Blake 020 8640 3322 11-13 Furniture Industry...

SHOP WINDOW: MASOTTI.
May 14, 2004... Masotti's new slat base system makes use of north-to-south running slats, giving more support to the mattress and increasing the life of the bed. Contact Masotti on 01797 227754 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: BARLOW TYRIE.
May 14, 2004... The Monaco chairs feature narrow slat detail, a sweeping back leg, and the curved seat and back section add comfort. The versatility of design means it can be matched to any Barlow Tyrie dining table, although it suits the Windsor 235 extending...

SHOP WINDOW: DRIADE.
May 14, 2004... The Tetra polycarbonate stackable chair from Driade is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. It is available in white, red and grey- green. Contact Driade on 00 39 02 72023203 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: MOLTENI & C.
May 14, 2004... The Reversi modular upholstered sofa system is flexible enough to create different configurations for various interiors. The Reversi was designed by Hannes Wettstein. Contact Molteni & C on 00 39 03623591 Copyright: CMP Information...

Undercover in Dewsbury.(The Furniture Company)(Hombarts)
May 14, 2004... Dewsbury, a town that was once the epicentre of the Yorkshire wool and fabric trade, retains its links with the past but has reinvented itself as a purveyor of quality furniture at discounted prices. The task was simple: our sofa and chairs...

EU ENLARGEMENT: Opportunity knocks.(European Union)
May 14, 2004... There is scope for the UK to take advantage of the enlarged European Union, but will it make the most of employment and export opportunities, asks Mark Lewis? On 1 May the European Union completed the most ambitious and significant single...

MOTION UPHOLSTERY: The next big thing.
May 14, 2004... Is the fact that people are getting larger affecting the size of motion upholstery, or is comfort still the over-riding factor? Stephanie Baum reports Americans on average have larger houses, larger furniture and a larger appetite for...

FIRST PERSON - SIMON COOK: Going his own way.(No Confusion company)(Interview)
May 14, 2004... Simon Cook, No Confusion director and co-founder of the agency and retail consultancy, didn't follow the map but went in the right direction anyway How did you get started in the industry? I left college with a surveying and...

ScS clustering pays off with record profits.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... ScS enjoyed a bumper winter with a 7% jump in like for like sales and record profits and sales. The 61-store chain saw pre-tax profits increase by 21.8% to #7.2m in the six months to 31 March. Sales rose 19% to #73.9m with gross...

Inflation busting rise.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Sir Stuart Hampson, John Lewis chairman, received a 9.8% pay rise last year, increasing his salary to #560,000. Along with the group's other 59,599 staff, Sir Stuart also received a 12% bonus, up from 10% in 2003, increasing his total...

COMMENT: Make a difference.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... The new Verdict report might send a chill down many a dedicated furniture retailer`s back (see p5). It reports that they should be drawing the battle lines with the likes of Argos, Asda, Matalan and Tesco as they move into the homewares sector....

Harding to leave Sealy.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Shane Harding, Sealy marketing director, is to leave in July after 19 years at the bed firm. He said he was taking `a break to recharge my batteries' and hoped to return to the furniture industry after that. `I don't know what I'm...

Furniture inflation returns.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Smaller special offers on furniture and furnishings than in 2003 saw a return of annual retail price inflation for furniture in April. Although prices fell by 0.63% compared to March, the fall was lower than a year ago, resulting in the...

Council fires non-compliant suite.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Torbay Council Trading Standards has highlighted the dangers of flammable upholstery by publicly setting fire to a three-piece suite. The upholstery was seized after Jack Reay, a travelling salesman, was found guilty of selling furniture...

Export guide.
May 21, 2004... The BFM is producing the fifth edition of its export directory Furniture from Britain. Some 10,000 copies of the A5 book will be distributed at shows and UK consulates. Entry costs from #200 plus VAT. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Protection call.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... The United Nations Environment Programme has called for greater protection of bamboo after a report found half of the 1,200 bamboo species are in danger of extinction. Global trade in bamboo, including furniture, is worth #1.1bn. ...

World class call.(Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Introducing more UK furniture manufacturers to Japanese world class processes will be the key theme of David Burbidge, master of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, year in office. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Free display directory.
May 21, 2004... Cabinet Maker has 50 copies of the Shop and Display Equipment Association's 25th annual guide to its 200 retail display specialists members to give away. Contact the SDEA on 01883 348911. The guide usually costs #10. Copyright: CMP...

Homewares `not for faint hearted'.
May 21, 2004... Homewares retailers face losing substantial sales to value driven non- traditional entrants to the market, following the example of mid-market clothing retailers. This is the warning from retail analyst Verdict, unless retailers succeed in...

Artistic buyer for designs.(Paul Hitchings)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Artistic Upholstery has bought the designs and patterns of liquidated top end upholstery manufacturer Paul Hitchings. The hand-carved and upholstered designs will be marketed under the Paul Hitchings brand, as a division of Artistic...

Gainsborough factory.(YP Furniture)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... YP Furniture has invested #160,000 in its Gainsborough factory for new spray booths, drying ovens and tracking systems in response to increasing orders. This follows a dramatic growth in demand for the manufacturer's Country House painted...

Webs weaves workshop.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... A training workshop for upholstery cutting and sewing, wood-matching, cabinet making and polishing has been opened in Beeston, Nottinghamshire. Webs Training spent eight months developing the centre, supported by the Derbyshire Learning...

Next retail sales.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Next saw retail sales jump by 17% in the 14 weeks to 8 May. Expanding the chain hit like for like sales at 30 branches, which rose by 3.1%. Underlying growth at stores not affected by cannibalisation climbed by 4.9%. A further 480,000sqft of...

Courts eyes up China.(furniture stores)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Courts is seeking to take advantage of the booming Chinese economy and growth of the middle class population by opening stores in the country. It is considering moving into China through franchises or a joint venture. A business...

Symphony exports rock on with new Gibraltar outlet.(Bedroom and kitchen manufacturer Symphony)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Bedroom and kitchen manufacturer Symphony is to boost its exports by signing up a stockist in Gibraltar, to meet demand from ex-pats. Its ranges will be stocked by One O One, and include a dedicated area for Symphony's Mirari kitchen...

Porto Exhibiton.(Exponor)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... The cream of Portuguese textile design will again be on show in the autumn at Exponor (30 September-2 October). The Porto exhibition will be seeking to build on the growth experienced by the Portuguese textile industry last year, which saw a...

Expansion study in Norfolk.(Norfolk garden furniture retailer)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Norfolk garden furniture retailer, Living Rooms, has moved to a larger showroom after a work experience student helped it save money. The Norfolk agent for London-based Indian Ocean Trading Company, opened three years ago as part of...

Autumn trendspotter.(Seminars.)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Attracting passers-by, spotting shoplifters and coming trends will be among the topics of seminars at the Autumn Fair at the NEC on 5-8 September. Attracting passers-by through the strength of window displays and store fronts will be...

UK firms aim for export push after US success.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... A showcase of 40 British furniture producers is looking into showing at Moscow and New York exhibitions following its success at the recent International Home Furnishings Market. Organised by Full Contact Marketing, led by Tim Branscome,...

Double gathering of talent.(Tradeshows. )(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Designs by Tobi, Uni, Debo and Barn will be among the products on display at the two-part New Designers exhibition next month. Among Debo's designs will be the Copy coffee table, while Barn's Hedgerow table features growing plants. ...

EVENTS.(Calendar)
May 21, 2004... EVENTS MAY 26-30 Sasmil - International Exhibition of Accessories and Semi-finished Products Milan www.cosmit.it 26-30 XyleXpo - International Salon of Woodworking Technology Milan www.cosmit.it 31 May-2 June...

SHOP WINDOW: Burbidge.
May 21, 2004... Kitchen producer Burbidge has expanded its Brunswick range with the introduction of natural birch to satisfy its light wood minded customers. Contact Burbidge on 024 76671600 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: Skopos.
May 21, 2004... The Zodiac collection blends architectural geometrics against sculptured textures combining chenilles and boucles in eight designs and 40 colourways which are flame retardant to crib 5. Contact Skopos on 01924 465 191 Copyright: CMP...

SHOP WINDOW: Silentnight Group.
May 21, 2004... Layezee beds has added a drawer option and extended its offer to include 5ft and 6ft models for its EzeeFit bedstead collection. Contact Layezee Beds on 0870 742 9880 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.