Cabinet Maker articles from November 2006

Cabinet Maker archives from November 2006

FX franchise group threaten legal action.
November 3, 2006... Furniture Express franchisees bid is scuppered as PWC sells franchise division to the Italian Furniture Company Franchisees of Furniture Express (FX) are threatening legal action after the franchise arm of the business was bought out of...

New Dwelling in Birmingham.
November 3, 2006... Dwell, the furniture and home accessories retailer, is to launch a flagship 12,000sqft store in Fort Dunlop, Birmingham on 8 November. The outlet is Dwell's third UK store and will stock 1,500 products. It already has London stores in...

M&S eyes homewares only stores.
November 3, 2006... Marks & Spencer has ambitions to trial standalone furniture and homeware stores, despite the failure of its Lifestore concept. Former Selfridges boss Vittorio Radice was appointed executive director of Home, and spent millions of pounds...

Top manufacturers.
November 3, 2006... Morris Furniture Group increased its sales the most among UK furniture manufacturers with a rise of 16.3% in the past year. Furniture and bed manufacturers were ranked according to financial performance in two reports by industry analyst...

Payoffs cut for Stag staff.
November 3, 2006... GMB wins award for former Stag workers but Government rules cap it at eight weeks' maximum Workers laid off by Stag are expected to receive redundancy pay before Christmas - but it will be less than they were awarded by an industrial...

Chemical storage warning.(Health and Safety Executive )(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers to ensure chemicals are stored and used safely following the death of Brian Black in his furniture stripping warehouse. The 58 year-old died after inhaling paint stripper fumes at...

Contract to supply.
November 3, 2006... Harris Fabrics and Harlequin Fabrics have joined forces to form a new brand, Harlequin Harris Contract. Its first range, Lynton, is a collection of high-performance velvets which have been manufactured to withstand the demands of both heavy...

In brief: Supply talk.(National Bed Federation )(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... The National Bed Federation (NBF) has decided to set up a supply chain working group following feedback at its conference last month. The conference focused on supply chain management and delegates generated ideas about how the NBF and its...

In brief: Slow growth.(Nationwide building society)(Industry overview)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... House price growth slowed slightly during October but the trend is expected to `remain firm' according to Nationwide building society. UK house prices rose by an average of 0.7% last month, compared with a 1.3% increase in September. However,...

In brief: Volumes down.(furniture and carpet sales dropped)(Industry overview)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Sales for furniture and carpets dropped sharply according to the CBI's monthly Distributive Trades Survey. There was a balance of -51% during October, the worst since April this year. Total retail sales volumes fell for the first time in seven...

In brief: Confidential change.(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... The Government has promised business leaders that it will change a clause in the Companies Bill, so that firms will not have to reveal confidential information about suppliers. Representatives from the Institute of Directors and the CBI met DTI...

V&B smashes 100,000 copies.
November 3, 2006... Villeroy & Boch adopts zero tolerance to tableware counterfeits and vows to pursue IP infringements Villeroy & Boch has destroyed more than 100,000 pieces of tableware in the UK in a battle against copies of its New Wave design. The...

Three Habitat closures in 2007.
November 3, 2006... Habitat will close three more stores early next year as part of its review of its store portfolio. The 41-store chain will shut its Tunbridge Wells store on 14 February 2007 with the Birstall, West Yorkshire and Bluewater shops also set to...

Somnus beds to go electrical.(Harrison Beds)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Harrison switches on to built-in TV popularity with separate bed branding Bed manufacturer Harrison is to revamp its Somnus brand to become an electrical only range. The change is expected to take place early in 2007 as products in...

Contract kitchens boost Nobia sales.(Nobia AB)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Kitchen firms Magnet and Gower enjoyed a double digit sales increase while lifting margins in the third quarter. Sales at retailer Magnet, manufacturer Gower and sister bathroom firm CP Hart, jumped by 11% to #98.5m in the three months to...

Complete sleep.
November 3, 2006... Bedroom furniture retailer Feather & Black has launched a home shopping website, www.featherandblack.com. It features beds, linens, mattresses, duvets, pillows, bedroom furniture, and a full children's range. Pictures and descriptions accompany...

SBS cut back to core support.(Department of Trade and Industry's Small Business Services )(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Hodge answers report criticism with simplified small business framework The Government is to shake up its Small Business Service following calls for it to be axed. In September, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) launched a...

Online discounts from Ligne Roset.(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Ligne Roset has launched a website offering major discounts on 13 of its products to consumers who register online. Users can register for free access to the `Exclusive' section of www.ligneroset.co.uk, which features members-only products....

Talk - Do you plan to sell furniture online as well as in stores?
November 3, 2006... `We don't have the resources to deliver all over the country because we're a small company, so we're not planning to start selling online.' Helen Bird, Bird partner, Carnforth, Lancashire `We don't have a website up and running at the...

CM COMMENT - Leader: Into the dragon's den.(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Picture the scene: the Dragon's Den set with Ian Lester and Roger Marsh from PricewaterhouseCoopers trying to convince the dragons to invest in a furniture chain. After the initial pitch, Duncan Bannatyne swings into action. `So let me get...

CM COMMENT - Views by Kate Hardcastle.
November 3, 2006... The ultimate aim for any brand has to be that one day it will become what advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi has christened a `lovemark'. This is a brand which is more than just a well-known product or service, but is both inspirational and...

ANALYSIS - Nurture staff or regret it.(Survey)
November 3, 2006... Retailers need to train staff to help them achieve their true potential and in turn benefit the business, according to a CMI survey. Deven Pamben reports Businesses are failing to get the best out of their employees, and the retail sector...

SHOP WINDOW - Children's furniture - Airsprung Beds.
November 3, 2006... The Junior Bed is from Airsprung Beds' Bright Young Things collection. It is available in lilac and cinnamon antique finish, with a choice of Alpha or Beta mattress and two drawers. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - Children's furniture.
November 3, 2006... The Children's Furniture Company's Ludo chest of drawers can be transformed into a changing unit by using the beechwood tray which has safety panels and fits on to the top of the chest. It can also be used with the Milkshake chest of drawers....

SHOP WINDOW - Children's furniture - Leporello's.
November 3, 2006... The Ottoman, in Swedish White with hand-painted Harebells design, forms part of Leporello's children's furniture collection. The furniture is hand-made in Leporello's UK workshops and can be customised. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - Children's furniture - Hometime Crafts.
November 3, 2006... The Hoop Back Rocker from Hometime Crafts is available in several designs for girls and boys. A name can be added to the curved back rail and a message to the seat. All chairs are hand waxed to enhance and seal the grain of the wood. ...

SHOP WINDOW - Children's furniture - Tidy Books Bookcase.
November 3, 2006... The Tidy Books Bookcase allows books to be stored showing the cover rather than the spine. It is available in white or natural and is made from wood from sustainable sources. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - Children's furniture - Rocking Sheep.
November 3, 2006... The Rocking Sheep Company produces hand crafted, life-size rocking rams, ewes and lambs, made from natural sustainable materials sourced in Wales. Fleeces are individually chosen, the base is solid seasoned timber and the ears are faux suede....

SHOP WINDOW - Children's furniture - Mamas and Papas.
November 3, 2006... The cot bed is part of the Bay Bridge collection from Mamas and Papas. It has smooth slatted sides and can be converted into a junior bed. The range combines a hand-polished white gloss finish with a contemporary straight grained oak veneer....

STORE MANAGER - Get the balance right.
November 3, 2006... Maternity and paternity rights have been enhanced with new protection for employees and new obligations for employers, as John Davies explains The Government's Work and Families Act, which has now passed into law, brings with it new rights...

Wider stretch for flexible working.(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... The right to request flexible working arrangements is to be extended. At present, parents of children aged up to six have the legal right to ask their employer for permission to vary their contracts of employment so as to allow them to...

INTERVIEW - ALETA BARTEL-ORTON: Natural progress.(Interview)
November 3, 2006... Switching to digital textile printing has allowed Aleta Bartel-Orton to stay ahead of copyists and looks set to boost the UK industry, says Rachel Calton To say textile designer Aleta Bartel-Orton has an eye for colour is perhaps an...

Interior motives.
November 3, 2006... Aleta Bartel-Orton came to the UK after studying at the Nova Scotia University of Art and Design to manage a fashion company. She soon made the transition into interior design under the banner of her own company, Aleta in 2003; allowing her...

RETAIL - JENSEN LEWIS: Love match.
November 3, 2006... Calligaris has opened its second New York store. Stephanie Baum paid a visit to see if the sleek Italian style is enough to reignite the city's passion for furniture On my way to my appointment with Jim Ehrenthal, vice president of...

SHOW REVIEW - HABITAT: Glow chart.
November 3, 2006... Innovation at the Valencia show seemed to be concentrated in the lighting sector, with elegant and sometimes scupltural designs, as Andrew Kidd reports The sun was not the only thing burning brightly during the Habitat furniture and...

SHOW REVIEW - DECOREX: Accent on glamour.
November 3, 2006... Decorex put on the glitz with furniture reflecting 1930s style, French chic and mirrored surfaces combined with a modern twist, reports Rachel Calton Decorex emanated glamour this year (24-27 September at Chelsea Hospital, London) with...

SHOW PREVIEW - 2007 diary.(Diary entry)
November 3, 2006... As the interiors industry becomes more and more international, it is essential to plan ahead, especially to find somewhere to stay. Cabinet Maker details some of the exhibition highlights of the first half of 2007 January 10-13...

CM OFFCUTS: So happy to be me - or a writing desk.
November 3, 2006... Fiona Jones is Nomadic Collections sales manager for central England How did you get started in the industry? I started working with my husband 15 years ago at Bradgate Furniture. I came from the insurance industry and so knew very...

CM OFFCUTS: Pyjamas on the run.(Palatine Beds )(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Palatine Beds machinist Liz Smith took her job to the extreme when she completed The Great North Run for the fifth time - clad in pink and white pyjamas. Liz completed the course in two hours and 24 minutes and raised more than #500 for the Roy...

New road for Purves & Purves.
November 10, 2006... Retailer rethinks its strategy as high rents hit showroom's return to London High rents have forced retailer Purves & Purves to change its strategy and concentrate on the online and contract markets. With retail rents in London rising...

Recruitment drive to boost Asda online.
November 10, 2006... Supermarket giant Asda is planning to recruit 1,800 staff in a bid to catch up with rival Tesco in the chase for Internet customers. Both entered the furniture market earlier this year. Asda's recruitment drive comes after UK shoppers...

Homewares prove their value at M&S.(Marks and Spencer PLC)(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... High street chain reveals boost in turnover for home products Turnover for Marks & Spencer's furniture and homewares rose by 20.3% in the 26 weeks to 30 September. The company's 2006/07 interim results for home products show turnover...

Planning hitch for Ikea in Dublin.
November 10, 2006... Plans for a 330,000sqft Ikea store in North Dublin have been delayed following objections to the proposals. Fingal County Council granted planning permission to the Swedish giant on 9 October to build a new store in the Ballymun...

Furniture sales struggle as textiles stabilise.
November 10, 2006... Furniture sales fell in October compared to the same period in 2005 with big-ticket items struggling to sell as customers remained cautious. However, the British Retail Consortium/KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for October showed that home...

In brief: In bed with ITV.
November 10, 2006... Dreams has agreed a #2m sponsorship deal with ITV for the new series of Heartbeat. Bed specialist Dreams, which has 130 stores, will sponsor all 10 episodes of the 15th series, which is expected to attract 8million viewers each week. Mike...

In brief: Diversity issues.
November 10, 2006... Poor measures to ensure diversity in the workplace are threatening UK business, according to leadership development consultant Penny Ferguson. A report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that most employers have a...

In brief: Named and shamed.(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... Matalan, Homebase and BhS were among the retail `bullies' to be named and shamed by Nick Goulding, Forum of Private Business (FPB) chief executive. Following an ongoing high profile dispute with Matalan in which the store changed payment terms...

In brief: Sporting chance.
November 10, 2006... Fans of Doncaster Rovers reckon DFS could be the sponsor of the football team's new #32m community stadium. Comments on Internet message boards link the new 15,700-seater Lakeside sports complex with Lord Kirkham, DFS founder. According to...

Stress levels lower for UK family firms.
November 10, 2006... Research shows stress is rising more in other countries, but some UK businesses disagree Family-run furniture businesses in the UK are less stressed than many of their international counterparts. Research suggests that despite stress...

Blaze guts MFI store.
November 10, 2006... An MFI store in Barrow-in Furness was destroyed by a fire on Sunday evening (5 November). Firefighters were called out at 10.57pm on Sunday. It took 15 fire engines to contain the blaze which was scaled down by early evening on Monday. ...

Exclusive confusion.(Ligne Roset)(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... Ligne Roset has had to make changes to its website after its `Exclusive' section caused confusion among some of its concession stores. Discounts were offered to customers who registered on the Exclusive section of www.ligne-roset.co.uk....

City: Analysts' targets lift market mood.
November 10, 2006... Homestyle optimists set the tone for brighter trading year Homestyle lost 21p [18%], falling to 93p as widespread small-scale selling accelerated the recent downtrend. August's full-year figures were very disappointing, and Homestyle has...

Growth spurt set to peak at LoL.(Land of Leather)(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... Store expansion pushes up sales Land of Leather (LoL) expects a dip in growth even though the business has seen like-for-like sales orders up 5.1%. In a trading statement for the 13 weeks to 29 October the leather upholstery...

Kingfisher sheds speculators.
November 10, 2006... The chart shows the effects of news and comment on Kingfisher as the company struggled this year to end a long period of share price underperformance. The March high coincided with rumours that indifferent full-year figures would trigger a...

The Pier eyes Scottish sites.
November 10, 2006... Furniture and homewares retailer The Pier is set to increase its presence in Scotland as it moves out of its Glasgow premises into a bigger store. The Pier, which sells collections from around the world, currently has 45 stores and...

Stores anger over lost trade.
November 10, 2006... Chatham retailers petition council over trade drop after ring road change A two-way ring road which has been built as part of Chatham's ambitious regeneration has resulted in a downturn of trade, according to retailers. Home Co, a...

Inspired choices.(Elaine Cunningham Interiors)(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... Elaine Cunningham Interiors will open its flagship design studio in Liverpool today (10 November). The 1,200sqft studio, in Aigburth, will showcase interior collections from BoConcept, Designers Guild and Osborne & Little across two floors....

TALK: Do you think consumers care how green their furniture is?
November 10, 2006... `No, because I think it's too far away in their minds. I don't think they think about the furniture being green. I think it is important for other things, but not for furniture.' Doug Lapping, Wallaby Interiors owner, Warwick `Probably...

Leader: Taking stock of green choice.
November 10, 2006... Sir Nicholas Stern's report on the economic impact of climate change hit home hard last week, but it will have contained few surprises for corporate Britain, and many leading retailers. Think tanks and trend predictions agencies have been...

Views By Mark Lewis.(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... Marks & Spencer has been seeking properties to expand its home offer into standalone stores. Out of town stores of between 25,000-40,000sqft will merchandise its full range of furniture and homewares, in a strategy which bears comparison with...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Making principles pay.
November 10, 2006... Independent retailers are well placed to win sales from environmentally aware consumers prepared to pay for green products, reports Tess Andrews The past few weeks have been dominated by stern warnings that the country must change or face...

SHOP WINDOW - ACCESSORIES: Carbon fibre Flute vase.
November 10, 2006... Serralunga's 3metre tall carbon fibre Flute vase uses Formula 1 technology. The decorative effect is created by its irregular engraving which lets light filter through, a process devised by designer Marc Sadler. Copyright: CMP Information...

SHOP WINDOW - ACCESSORIES: Bone china urban gnomes.
November 10, 2006... Vitamin - A Life Less Ordinary has developed its second collection of bone china urban gnomes: Organic. The range has six designs, all with a take on nature, ranging from intricate flowers to ants following the London Underground map. ...

SHOP WINDOW - ACCESSORIES: Decorative accessories.
November 10, 2006... Designed by Bodo Sperlein, Lladro Re-Cyclos Magical is the company's second collection of decorative accessories reworking fragments of its figurines, this time with nature as the theme. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

STORE MANAGER: Alas, poor bloggers.
November 10, 2006... As blogging becomes mainstream, more companies are using it in their marketing. But, as Kolvin Stone explains, there are legal issues to address The attraction of blogging is that the author can create an online alter-ego. This new online...

STORE MANAGER: Joint efforts.(blogging)(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... One of the reasons why blogging has proved so popular is because a blog encourages audience participation. But who is legally responsible if a reader posts a libelous comment on a blogsite, for example. The reader or the blogsite operator? ...

INTERVIEW - CRAIG SENEL: Courting celebrity.(Interview)
November 10, 2006... Creating the perfect atmosphere was paramount for Craig Senel when he opened Puro Design to appeal to the media set, as Rachel Calton discovered When designer Craig Senel secured his first showroom, Puro Design, in London's Great Portland...

UPHOLSTERY - LIFT & RISE: Power struggle.
November 10, 2006... New British Standards aim to improve the safety of lift and rise chairs, but retailers are facing higher costs that could dent the sector's promise Retailers face increased costs for lift and rise chairs as a result of new British...

Undercover shopper: Macclesfield.
November 10, 2006... Macclesfield is a small market town in Cheshire with a population of more than 50,000. It is located on the edge of the Peak District and is most well known for its once thriving silk textile industry. It still feels like a traditional...

RETAIL INTELLIGENCE: September trading.
November 10, 2006... After the success of July and August, retailers wondered if it would carry through into September, helping to compensate for the relatively miserable summer. Fingers may have been crossed across the country combined with plenty of touching wood...

MARKETING - SLEEP COUNCIL: Catching the mood.(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... A survey with quirky findings can give significant low cost media coverage The Sleep Council's latest news campaign proved a hit with both national and international media, proving just how successful surveys can be for generating media...

MARKETING - SLEEP COUNCIL: Morning stories.(Survey)
November 10, 2006... Women are grumpier than men in the morning. They are not only grumpier more often than men but for longer. According to The Sleep Council survey, 24% of men say they never wake up in a bad mood as opposed to only 14% of women. And 13% of...

CM offcuts: Full of beans about life and business.(dialogue with Matt Roberts )(Interview)
November 10, 2006... Matt Roberts is director of bed in a beanbag firm Bean2Bed How did you get started in business? Completely by accident, really. My co-founder, Irfan Badakshi, and I came up with the concept of a beanbag with a bed inside while at...

CM offcuts: In the pink.(Ashley Manor Upholstery )(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... Ashley Manor Upholstery is holding a prize draw to win a `Pink' chair and a corner group from its new Yasmine collection, in aid of Breast Cancer research. Participants are invited to make a donation to the charity, and Ashley Manor will enter...

CM offcuts: Chair-raising antics.(City of Edinburgh Council)(Brief article)
November 10, 2006... A debate on chairs has been raging through the City of Edinburgh Council. The Labour administration voted through plans to spend #100,000 on new desks and a chair for the main debating chamber. But the Tories, Lib Dems and SNP wanted...

Toppers must meet fire laws.
November 17, 2006... A court ruling classes mattress toppers as furniture rather than bedding A court ruling forcing Dunelm Mill to withdraw certain mattress toppers from its shelves could have implications for the industry as they are being classed as...

Asbo considered for noisy factory.
November 17, 2006... A Lancashire council is considering issuing an Anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) to a noisy furniture factory. There have been complaints from residents in Nelson, Lancashire about noise pollution, vibrations, emissions and parking...

Copycat accusation.
November 17, 2006... Wildwood Trading Company has issued High Court proceedings for the alleged copying of one of its bed designs. The Cork, Southern Ireland company claims furniture manufacturer and importer Milo International, which trades as the Island Bed...

Think tank puts the web record straight.
November 17, 2006... Get the basics right online and in-store says report The size of the Internet retailing market is exaggerated, although it does have a huge influence on the way consumers interact with retail, particularly among the younger generation. ...

John Lewis plans another 10 stores.
November 17, 2006... John Lewis has confirmed that it will open 10 new department stores throughout the UK from 2007 at a cost of #350m. Each store will be an average of 255,000sqft. The announcement comes on top of plans for another 11 stores that are...

Environment team work.
November 17, 2006... Some of the UK's largest furniture retailers have pledged to reduce their environmental impact by teaming up with specialist Government initiative Envirowise. Argos, Homebase, Marks & Spencer and Asda will work with suppliers and...

Young eager to be their own boss.
November 17, 2006... Half of young British adults are keen to start a business thanks to TV programmes such as Dragons' Den and The Apprentice. A YouGov survey questioned Britons of all ages, and 52% of those aged 18-29 said they were interested in starting...

In brief: Still cooking.(Brief article)
November 17, 2006... The Takeover Panel has told Aga Foodservice to decide by 11 December whether it will make a firm offer for Enodis. Aga, which approached Enodis last month with a merger proposal, is the third company to approach the food equipment maker,...

In brief: Ilva clearance.
November 17, 2006... Danish homewares retailer Ilva is set to open a clearance outlet in its 650,000sqft distribution centre in Doncaster. The store will sell products that have been damaged in transit and customer returns at discounted prices. Colin Haggerty,...