Cabinet Maker articles from October 2005

Cabinet Maker archives from October 2005

Ingle begins MFI overhaul.(Matthew Ingle of MFI Furniture Group Ltd.)
October 7, 2005... Matthew Ingle, John Hancock's interim successor as MFI chief executive, faces mounting problems in the UK retail operation. Analysts are torn on what needs to be done to fix the operation and some are wondering aloud whether it might be...

John Hancock's circle of fortune.
October 7, 2005... 1998 December: Joins the retailer as a non-executive director. 1999 February: Becomes chief executive with the share price of the company at 28p. 2000 July: MFI reaches agreement with Dixons to operate kitchen...

Lisanti buys into Airsprung.(Tony Lisanti buys 14.65% of Airsprung Furniture Group PLC)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Tony Lisanti, Airsprung chief executive has bought 14.65% of the company in a deal which saw Cynthia Yates, wife of John Yates, former chairman, relinquish her 22% stock. Most of the rest of the shares, sold at well below the current...

Chelsea counts trade costs of CC backlash.
October 7, 2005... Furniture retailers on London's King's Road expect to see a drop in footfall and changes to their customer base in the wake of the extension to the congestion charge zone, which was confirmed on 30 September. The charge will be implemented...

Land of Leather grows sales at expense of margins.(forecasting campaign )(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Land of Leather has shaken off the downturn, but the 7% like for like sales increase in the six months to 2 October came at the expense of a fall in gross margin. A greater use of TV in its advertising campaigns increased the proportion of...

IN BRIEF: 100% Detail success.( )(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... The third edition of 100% Detail, the 100% Design fittings spin off, from 22-25 September showed attendance figures up by 47%. The total visitor number was 22,133. There were more than 130 exhibitors from the UK and Europe displaying a variety...

IN BRIEF: Warranty on the web.
October 7, 2005... The furniture sector now has its first online claims tracking system. Homeserve Warranties says its Homeserve WASP (web accessible service portal) facility is the result of feedback from retailers that want to access information quickly without...

IN BRIEF: FIRA sets up in China.(Furniture Industry Research Association)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... FIRA has set up an office in DongGuan, Guangdong province of China to service manufacturers, retailers and importers. Factory inspections, product and container audits will be carried out at local rates, saving delay and expense in servicing...

IN BRIEF: Crescent complete.
October 7, 2005... Furniture retailer, Housing Units is in the final phase of its property development plan, which will see `The Crescent' completed by the end of the year. The Crescent will comprise five modern retail units with over 12,500sqft of reclaimed...

Beaver & Tapley joins Drury relaunch.
October 7, 2005... A trio with limited furniture knowledge have bought Nottinghamshire furniture businesses, Jaycee and Beaver & Tapley from administrators in the space of four months. Clive Drury and co-directors, Bob Harper and Jenny Arthur are working...

Store closure takes staff unawares.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... The parent of four-store retailer Ideal Homes, went into liquidation on 28 September leaving staff unsure about their future. R&T, which does not own the Ideal Homes name but was trading under licence, has seen the demise of stores in...

Rate cut call as September sales figures hit record low.
October 7, 2005... The tide of retail news took a familiar turn last week as the Confederation of British Industry reported yet another grim month for Britain's furniture shops. The CBI's weakest retail survey in its 22-year history coincided with figures...

Decor update tops #34bn home spend list.
October 7, 2005... Britons are investing #34bn a year on interiors, according to research carried out by savings bank ING Direct. The survey findings show that one in 20 Brits is currently saving to update their family home, claimed the bank. Families...

PS: Check out Ikea website.
October 7, 2005... Ikea has launched an internet-only 3D commercial as part of a new campaign to promote its PS kitchen range. The Swedish giant also plans to use press advertising to get more people to use its website. The interactive commercials were...

High Point reviews its dates.
October 7, 2005... High Point is considering changing the dates of its bi-annual US market, two months after the first Las Vegas market proved so popular with exhibitors and buyers that some may not return to High Point. As a new contender, Las Vegas could...

Dream catcher.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Dreams, the beds retailer, confirmed it would no longer deal with Steinhoff beds subsidiaries, at a suppliers' conference at its head office in Wednesbury last week. The Dreams event, which gathered 30 of Dreams' top suppliers, shared its...

Retailers fear foam price rise fallout.
October 7, 2005... Retailers could be hit with increased costs after Vitafoam, raised its prices by 10%. The Manchester-based foam converting business is one of four major suppliers of slab stock foam to the industry, all of which are likely to follow suit....

Leader: You're only as good as your last sale.(good service to customer long last)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Why is it that good service comes as a surprise? I've experienced two contrasting furniture shopping experiences in the past few weeks, but it was the exceptional service that was unexpected. My first experience left me gasping when the...

Views By Mary Czulowski.(furniture market)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Has there been a revolution in the way that people shop? Total sales to households online grew in total from #6.4bn in 2002 to #11.4bn in 2003 with an expected growth to some #15bn in 2004. If you assume the same ratio of furniture and...

Talk: How far has e-retailing damaged your business?(electronic)(furniture store retailers opinion)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... `We have noticed a slowdown in the last two months but it is not drastic. This time of year is quiet anyway so it could be a bit of both. If someone wants a bathroom installed they will still come in. I am not worried.' Janet Bassett,...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Mass market defection?
October 7, 2005... With 4% of retail share up for grabs, there are opportunities for stores that can differentiate their offering and rebuild industry image, says Deven Pamben The demise of major furniture retailers means losses for some but this misfortune...

SHOP WINDOW - UPHOLSTERY: Alstons.
October 7, 2005... Alstons' Tuscany is the successor to the Province, with a more shapely design, updated arm and a stylish base. A wide choice of covers are available. Tel: 01206 765 343 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - UPHOLSTERY: The Rustic Leather Company.
October 7, 2005... Upholstered in a selection of semi and full aniline leather, the entry level Stanmore from The Rustic Leather Company is available with a five week lead time. Tel: 01656 842 832 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - UPHOLSTERY: Relaxateeze.
October 7, 2005... There are three and two-seater versions of Relaxateeze's Como sofa,as well as a chair. The sofas come in faced ivory or brown leather while the chair is also available in black. The recliner has three settings. Tel: 0141 420 7711 ...

SHOP WINDOW - UPHOLSTERY: Rolf Benz.
October 7, 2005... Rolf Benz has added a club chair to its Ego collection. Available in two models, it also has a choice of three seat heights, two comfort levels and a variety of soft and leather covers. Tel: 01908 604 629 Copyright: CMP Information...

SHOP WINDOW - UPHOLSTERY: Stouby.
October 7, 2005... Designed by Tom Stepp for Stouby, the Jass sofa has strong conical formed lines and a sharp angled profile. An armchair and high easy chair are also available. Tel: 00 45 75 65 01 00 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

STORE MANAGER: Credit for r&d.(research and development tax credits)
October 7, 2005... Research and development work can qualify for Government tax credits to promote innovation. Kevin Hindley explains how the system works Many companies fail to claim valuable research and development (R&D) tax credits which could allow them...

STORE MANAGER: How to work out the allowances.
October 7, 2005... Help in the kitchen ABC Kitchens is a large company that manufactures modern kitchen furniture on a large scale. The company spends #1,000,000 on R&D personnel involved in a qualifying project. Its aim is to research new materials for...

INTERVIEW - JEFF DAVIES: Bed fellow.
October 7, 2005... Jeff Davies retired from Sealy last week after 30 years in the bed industry. He shared his thoughts on the past and the future with Andrew Kidd Jeff Davies has seen most things after three decades in the bed trade. Although he was his...

New challenges.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Jeff Davies will be succeeded by Mike Walker, who has been working alongside him for several months. He was previously Silentnight Group Furniture Brands sales director. He brings with him a wealth of experience from the FMCG sector where...

LIVING ROOM - SIDEBOARDS: Get on board.(furniture in large usage )
October 7, 2005... Consumers are shunning wall units in favour of smaller pieces. But why, asks Andrew Kidd? If you haven't enjoyed increasing sales of sideboards over the past year, you must have been doing something really wrong. After shunning them as...

ACCESSORIES - HOUSEWARES: Full service.
October 7, 2005... With shoppers reluctant to commit to large ticket items such as furniture, will introducing housewares boost business asks Stephanie Baum? Accessories have been a significant addition to furniture store shopfloors from the niche specialist...

SHOW REVIEW - PROMOSEDIA: Sitting tight.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... For those in search of seating, Promosedia had plenty to please, as Sonia Soltani reports A chair is a chair is a chair. However at the 29th International Chair Exhibition in Udine, Italy (8-11 September) there was still room for the...

YOUNG - DESIGNERS: London calling.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Young design talent used to leave the UK in search of employment. Now it seems overseas designers are heading here, as Sonia Soltani discovers When Swiss student designer Christophe Bourban won first prize at this year's Promosedia...

YOUNG DESIGNERS: Tomoko Kagawa: more connections.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Tomoko Kagawa, 28, was born near Tokyo. She graduated in July from Buckinghamshire University College with a degree in contemporary furniture and product design. `I was always interested in design and making things,' she says. `After a...

YOUNG DESIGNERS: Andre Klauser: it's possible to get your work through.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Born in Langenhagen in 1972, Andre Klauser studied product design at the Trade High School in Munster before joining the Royal College of Art in London from which he graduated three years ago. He has worked for Jasper Morrison, a designer he...

YOUNG DESIGNERS: Per Fagring: there's no place like London.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2005... Per Fagring, 32, from Gothenburg, moved to London five years ago after graduating with a master's degree in architectural engineering at Chalmers Technical University in Sweden. `I thought that getting a job as an architect in London would...

LJUBLJANA FURNITURE FAIR: Growing in stature.
October 7, 2005... 7-13 November Furniture Fair Ljubljana, Slovenia 00 38 61300 2613 www.ljubljanafair.com More than 300 companies are expected to exhibit at the Ljubljana Furniture Fair, as the event continues to grow. Last year the event...

BRUSSELS FURNITURE FAIR: Five themes to choose.
October 7, 2005... 6-9 November MB Meubelbeurs Brussel Brussels www.meubelbeurs.be This year's Brussels Furniture Fair has been divided into five themed areas: City, Nomad, Mosaic, Privilege and Square. City is a young and urban area, acting as a...

INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR TOKYO: A lifestyle experience.
October 7, 2005... 22-25 November IFFT - International Furniture Fair Tokyo www.japantex.jp As part of its efforts to become the leading furniture and interiors trade exhibition, the Tokyo International Furniture Fair has increased the types of products...

RETAIL INTELLIGENCE: August trading.
October 7, 2005... After a dreadful July, the market showed some twitches of life. But there was still very little to cheer about. Compared with July, some 34% of retailers reported a decline in the value of sales, 34% had static sales and 32% managed to...

TECHNOLOGY - MARKETING: Texting discounts.
October 7, 2005... Two companies have teamed up to create a system for texting `safe' discount vouchers to consumers' mobile phones, reports Andrew Kidd The idea seems simple. About 80% of consumers have mobile phones, so why not send them text messages to...

MARKET REVIEW: Pulling power.(brochures plays the major role)
October 7, 2005... Shaun Davies examines brochures to see how they bring in new customers Every company owner or md will appreciate the power of the brochure for their company, but most will be filled with dread at the thought of having to create one. ...

Profit is sanity for Paul, or is it Peter?
October 7, 2005... Paul Dresner is md of Watford retailer Peter Adams Why does everyone call you Peter Adams, rather than your real name? I'm associated with the name of the store and everybody just thinks I'm Peter Adams. Customers call me Mr Adams,...

Making dogs and kids happy.
October 7, 2005... In a land far, far away, huge dogs live in caravans and small boys have overgrown drunken cabinets. It's a place where no-one drives on a Sunday due to the possibility of being crushed by a giant West Highland terrier taking its latest pair of...

Very fishy story.
October 7, 2005... OK, so the winner was a ringer. But Sam Perkins is also a 14-year-old. And the FTBA's first ever Fishing Challenge at the Meadowlands Fisheries in Coventry was a resounding success. The Prima Foam-organised event raised #2,500 for the...

Cousins opens in `too full' Manchester.
October 14, 2005... Cousins Furniture has opened the largest furniture store in the North West, making an entrance into the dense Manchester furniture market. The 85,000sqft store comes at a busy time for the city, which has seen a spate of openings recently....

Offers roll in to take on Furnitureland.
October 14, 2005... Furnitureland has continued to attract interest from potential buyers even as the stock is sold off and the stores wound down. The closing down sales have caused consternation among store and regional managers who have balked at them being...

Good signs.(sales increase)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... Marks & Spencer has stemmed the decline in its home division, reporting a 2.1% sales increase for the 12 weeks to 1 October. David O'Connor, furniture buyer, said the results were encouraging but warned against getting carried away. `If we are...

Wholesale change.(Mandarin Collections)(Clapham store)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... London retailer, Mandarin Collections has closed its Clapham store in favour of becoming a wholesaler. The importer of reproduction Chinese antiques has teamed up with Pacemaker, a logistics firm, to offer a straight to consumer service which...

Scottish rates fall back in line with UK.
October 14, 2005... Furniture retailers in Scotland have welcomed the decision by the Scottish Assembly to cut business rates by 5% in time for elections in April 2007. The reduction, the first tax cut in the Scottish Parliament's six-year history, will bring...

Still time to make Christmas orders.
October 14, 2005... Importers who have shorter lead times are benefitting in the run-up to Christmas from retailers making the most of pre-Christmas sales. Many suppliers are already beginning to close their order books. Depending on where products are shipped...

Drugs found in furniture.
October 14, 2005... An estimated #12m worth of cannabis has been found stashed in furniture at a port on the East coast of England on 6 October. It is the largest seizure of cannabis ever made by the Metropolitan Police in London, and had been imported from...

IN BRIEF: Open all hours.
October 14, 2005... Large retailers should be allowed to trade for longer on a Sunday, according to a campaign expected to launch as Cabinet Maker went to press. The Deregulate campaign is understood to have support from Tesco, Asda, Ikea and B&Q, and is likely to...

IN BRIEF: Money for Ikea UK.
October 14, 2005... Ikea has unveiled plans to inject #150m into its UK retail operation. The investment, which will go on additional floorspace as well as parking and in-store safety, is intended to insulate its growth in a difficult market. Sales for the year to...

IN BRIEF: Scaling down?(MFI Furniture Group PLC)(plan to close)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... MFI is said to be on the brink of implementing a plan to close at least 20 branches and scale down hundreds of others. The strategy, allegedly drawn up by John Hancock, the recently departed chief executive, would also see the retailer move its...

IN BRIEF: Not moving.(Highland Blindcraft Furniture)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... A Highland bed supplier, which has applied for outline planning permission to turn its premises into residential accommodation, insists it has no plans to move. Highland Blind Craft applied to demolish outbuildings and erect a two-storey...

Council says no to Ikea in Hillingdon.(build a store)(Coventry City Council)
October 14, 2005... Ikea's application to build a store at Hillingdon, London has been rejected by the local authority. The news comes as retailers in other areas of proposed Ikea developments gear up for sales rises on the back of its entry to their local...

Lebus bought by Dutch firm.(Globalguide bought Lebus)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... The long-running negotiations over the sale of Lebus finally ended when the firm was bought by Dutch company Globalguide. The sale draws a line under the saga at the former Christie-Tyler group, which saw the bulk of the firm's assets end...

City: Kingfisher falls while M&S rises.(Marks and Spencer )(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... In the gloom of the retail sector, Kingfisher lost 7p on continued selling, following disappointing interim figures. Most analysts see little upside in the group - including Castorama and Bricot in France, and smaller operations in Italy,...

Interest rate cut needed.
October 14, 2005... A slew of conflicting financial data have produced conflicting forecasts for economic growth, but have left retailers in no doubt that they need another interest rate cut before Christmas. Their hopes were dashed again as the Bank of...

ScS shines with sales and new store boost.(ScS sales)(17-store expansion programme)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... ScS continued to outperform the rest of the furniture retail market as it reported a 4% growth in sales in the year to 30 September. A trading statement said the results had been achieved despite the delivery disruption caused by...

The warning signs for MFI.(MFI Furniture)(Howden Joinery division)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... This bearish chart shows the effect of MFI's fourth profits warning in 13 months, with a gloomy trading update and the departure of John Hancock, chief executive. The group forecasted a small loss for the year to December, against previous...

Off to Bed goes fourth.(Scottish beds)(opened the store)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... Scottish beds chain Off to Bed, has opened its fourth store - a 3,000sqft shop in Park Head Forge, Glasgow. The chain, which is backed by a wealthy Scottish conglomerate, 3 Business Group, has aspirations for up to 24 Scottish stores by the...

United it brands.
October 14, 2005... The Silentnight Group debuted a Sleep Centre concept at its Salterforth At Home Show (9-12 October) to illustrate how a combination of the Group's brands can work together successfully for retailers. The company will be talking to its retailers...

Letter: Howdens success is linked to MFI distress.(Letter to the Editor)
October 14, 2005... MFI was in unbelievable demand for 20 years. It had sales growth for 20 years. The price promise was 20% cheaper then everyone else. Then the world changed. What everyone is missing is that while Howdens has had this unbelievable growth story,...

Letter: Looking after staff.(Letter to the Editor)
October 14, 2005... I thought I would drop you a line to tell you about buying group Furniture Traders' Sales Training Course held at Highgate House, Northampton during the week starting 5 September. I think it is important to present some good news to the...

Leader: Why MFI needs a little distance.(MFI Furniture Group Plc)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... This week's letter from a former MFI director highlighted some interesting points about the structure of MFI and Howdens. The mutual dependence between the two, he points out, is the reason for Howdens' cataclysmic success at the expense of its...

Views By Andrew Lydon.
October 14, 2005... Having recently returned from Decosit, I was struck by how empty it seemed. Gone were the massed ranks crowding the aisles. Instead I was confronted by the lonely faces of demotivated sales personnel, willing the perusal of their fabric and...

Talk: Who has the best advertising campaign?
October 14, 2005... `I don't particularly like it, but I think the Dreams one sticks in your mind. There are other manufacturers who are not dissimilar in name, and they are all post-Dreams. The TV and Press advertising campaigns work because they are all based on...

ANALYSIS: Foam adds to retail squeeze.
October 14, 2005... How will retailers already struggling with a consumer spending slowdown cope with the looming rise in bed and upholstery prices, asks Mark Lewis? Retailers can expect increased prices for beds and upholstery after the fallout from...

SHOP WINDOW - BEDS: Vogue Beds.
October 14, 2005... The New Princess from Vogue Beds is positioned at the mid-point of its pocket sprung collection. It has a 1,000 spring unit, and comes in six sizes from singe to super king size with several storage options. Tel: 01455 841 257 ...

SHOP WINDOW - BEDS: Airsprung Beds.
October 14, 2005... Airsprung Beds' Freestyle is available in three levels of firmness - soft, medium and firm. It features upholstered drawer fronts, half bow handles and linen damask ticking. Tel: 01225 754 411 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - BEDS: Harrison Beds.
October 14, 2005... Solitaire is Harrison Beds' top of the range Bed Tailor model, with a 4,186 pocket sprung base and a luxurious mohair, silk, wool and blended cashmere mattress top. Tel: 0113 2055 200 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - BEDS: Silentnight Beds.(Silentnight Beds)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... Silentnight Beds' Chill Out collection includes the Charcoal which is available in single and double sizes. The single features a sleepover base to provide an extra sleeping surface for guests. Instead of a headboard, there are two moveable...

SHOP WINDOW - BEDS: Dreamworks Beds.
October 14, 2005... Dreamworks Beds' Naples is a hardwood bedstead with a stump end and sprung beech slats. It is available from stock in three sizes:135cm, 150cm and 180cm. Tel: 01373 589 913 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

STORE MANAGER: Going begging.(Disability Employment Advisors)(new employees)
October 14, 2005... There is a plethora of funding and advice available for business start ups or ideas development if you know where to look, as Adam Bernstein reveals There isn't a furniture business in the country that doesn't need some form of support,...

PROFILE - JULIAN BOWEN: Chair man extraordinaire.(Julian Bowen)
October 14, 2005... He may come across as an eccentric, but his shrewd understanding of his market shows there is far more to this East End boy made good, as Mark Lewis finds out He likes to cultivate the image of a bumbling eccentric. But there is a...

UPHOLSTERY - CHAISE LONGUES: What's the secret of longue-evity?
October 14, 2005... Since Roman times, lying around on upholstery has been the ultimate in stylish relaxation. But how has the sector survived, asks Sonia Soltani No self-respecting citizen of ancient Rome would have been without one, and they were equally...

Le Corbusier's LC4: a design classic.(LC4 chaise longue)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... Why has the LC4 chaise longue created by in 1929 by Swiss architect and furniture designer Le Corbusier (real name Charles-Edoaurd Jeanneret) become the best-selling model? Featuring a black metal base, adjustable chrome frame, black leather...

INTERVIEW - MALCOLM NIX: Dark and moody.(Interview)
October 14, 2005... Having high quality products is not enough on its own for a UK manufacturer to survive. Companies need to be different, as Andrew Kidd finds out It's difficult to tell one retailer from another these days. `You can walk into more or less...

TRENDS - FASHION: Wardrobe mistress.(mens fashion)
October 14, 2005... Predicting the next big thing is a retailer's greatest challenge, but to stay ahead, Top Shop and Oasis may be the place to look, says Charlotte Walsh Trends are tricky beasts. They gather momentum gradually, slipping into the public...

TRENDS - FASHION: Key looks for 2006.(Worth Global Style Network)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2005... WGSN has tracked three main trends for next year. Familiar: This is a development of the Boho look, where comfort prevails. People fill their homes with things they love, so it's a mixture of the odd, the modern and the mismatched, where...

UNDERCOVER SHOPPER: CAMBRIDGE.(furniture industry)
October 14, 2005... Five stores are visited every month to check service. This month we look at: This picturesque city is home to one of the oldest universities in the world with students first coming to the institution in 1209. Cambridge is awash with both...