Cabinet Maker articles from September 2006

Cabinet Maker archives from September 2006

Robert Lloyd and Casamass join the liquidations list.
September 1, 2006... Increasing imports and poor sales cause another two furniture firms to fail Casamass and Robert Lloyd have both gone into liquidation. Design-led cabinet importer Casamass has been a feature of the industry for at least nine years....

Importer in dispute over `misleading' trade link.
September 1, 2006... A legal confrontation is brewing between importer, Verona Design, and wholesaler, Heartlands Furniture. Verona claims Heartlands is using pictures of Verona products in its marketing, which imply to retailers that there is still a...

Ducal set for brand comeback.
September 1, 2006... Ducal is to re-emerge from its enforced absence within the next few months. The brand whose products were in a proverbial coma since the death of DP Furniture Express last November, has been licensed to a new company which has been...

Surprise turnaround to summer sale slump.
September 1, 2006... Bank Holiday consumers break records for relieved retailers After a tough summer period with shoppers staying away from the high street, the Bank Holiday was welcome relief for many retailers. Some described the three day weekend as the...

Bespoke online offer.
September 1, 2006... Online furniture, lighting and accessory retailer The French Bedroom Company may branch out with a bricks and mortar outlet, after the success of its first three months of trading. Owner Georgina Metcalfe, a former interior designer and PR...

Store site swap for Sussex interiors chain.(Sussex interiors chain Marsha's Loft is to close one of its four stores )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Sussex interiors chain Marsha's Loft is to close one of its four stores while planning to start work on its largest outlet by the end of October. The company is holding a closing down sale at its High Street, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex,...

IN BRIEF: Police apology.
September 1, 2006... Police in Devon have apologised to furniture delivery company Premier Delivery Service for linking it to a telephone scam. Devon and Cornwall Constabulary had warned consumers about a firm called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) which had been...

IN BRIEF: Habitat move.
September 1, 2006... Habitat is to move its Finchley Road, north London store to the O2 Centre 300 yards away. The centre is a family destination occupied by retailers including Sainsbury's, Homebase, Books etc, Starbucks, Vue Cinema, Esporta and Gymboree Play and...

IN BRIEF: MFI fall.(Shares in MFI had fallen by 4.2%)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Shares in MFI had fallen by 4.2% to 85p as Cabinet Maker went to press after weekend media reports that talks between the chain and Merchant Equity Partners had stalled over the sale of MFI's retail division to the venture capital firm. A lack...

IN BRIEF: Save money.
September 1, 2006... Visitors to 100% Design and its associated events - 100% Detail, 100% Materials, 100% Light and 100% East - should pre-register at www.100percentdesign.co.uk before 15 September to save the #15 fee for purchasing tickets at the door. The events...

Sweden to ban flame retardant.
September 1, 2006... Research revealing carcinogenic effects prompts Sweden to flout EU laws by banning Deca-BDE After years of testing, the Swedish government has decided to breach EU law and ban flame retardant Deca-BDE. The chemical is used in...

Retailers watch as housing boom looks set to end.
September 1, 2006... London's housing market again outperformed the rest of the country, where the steady dribble of figures looks like revealing the end of the housing boom. The state of the housing market, whose buoyancy has helped otherwise struggling...

City: Laura Ashley leads the winners.
September 1, 2006... Most companies in the Cabinet Maker Index have made good progress this year, despite May's market correction. Laura Ashley leads the winners, up by 92%, although almost all the shares are owned by six investors, many associated with chairman...

Dorma makes positive moves.(company earnings)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Recent launches boost sales and margins for bedlinen company Dorma saw flat losses of #1.2m in the six months to 1 July 2006. Operating losses were cut by #100,000 to #500,000 but #700,000 was incurred in the switch to third party...

Holidays too costly.(Forum of Private Business survey on employee holidays)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A survey of 1,500 companies has found that Government plans to increase employee holiday entitlement to 28 days will raise costs for business. The research by the Forum of Private Business said the cost to individual smaller companies...

Staff could do better than bosses.
September 1, 2006... Report reveals that one in three workers believe their managers are ineffective A third of employees would swap places with their manager, with one in five thinking they could do the job themselves. Research for Investors in People by...

Outside in.(Interiors Event's new Outdoor Collection exhibition)(Barlow Tyrie)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Barlow Tyrie will form the cornerstone of the Interiors Event's new Outdoor Collection exhibition on 21-24 January 2007. The event will look to replicate the success of its high end Collection area in the outdoor furniture arena. James Tyrie,...

Fire destroys Kent store.
September 1, 2006... Police and fire officers are investigating the cause of a fire which destroyed a Matalan store in Strood, Kent over the Bank Holiday weekend. The fire broke out at 9am on Saturday, and was still being tackled by a 100-strong force of fire...

Manufacturers in debt.
September 1, 2006... UK furniture manufacturers are taking on more debt than they can afford, according to analysts Plimsoll Publishing. Over a third of the UK's top 1,000 furniture manufacturers are in more debt today than they have been for four years....

Talk: What do you think makes a good manager?(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... `Well, you have to be friendly to both staff and customers as well as courteous and pleasant. Nothing should be too much trouble either. It is the manager's job to please and to put across to staff what he or she wants from them.' ...

CM COMMENT: Leader - Making a brand stand.
September 1, 2006... The attempts to resurrect the Ducal brand will make an interesting case for how strong non-retail brands are in the furniture industry (see p4). Not so long ago the likes of Parker Knoll, G Plan, Stag and Nathan were household names. Now I...

CM COMMENT: Views - By Andrew Adamson.(reasons for career changes of sales persons)(Brief article)(Column)
September 1, 2006... Experience: now there's a funny word. When looking through job advertisements, they all require that the applicants have `experience' as well as the ubiquitous `self-motivation'. If a salesperson actually has experience, they must surely...

ANALYSIS: Interest rate rises, inflation and the squeeze on retailers.
September 1, 2006... Can retailers cope with more tightening from the MPC, questions Mark Lewis Retailers continue to face intolerable cost pressures, and the August interest rate increase has not helped. Even though it looks bleak, however, there is cause...

ANALYSIS: Who should set business rates?(Federation of Small Businesses )
September 1, 2006... Pressure groups want business rates to remain under central Government control fearing higher costs, but retailers are not so sure, says Deven Pamben Retailers up and down the country could see their bills soar if changes to business rates...

STORE MANAGER: Avoiding tax excesses.
September 1, 2006... Selling your business to a non-family member can bring with it large tax implications. Andrew Shilling explains how these can be minimised Every business owner must eventually retire, and many will pass on their business to sons or...

STORE MANAGER: Timing the sale.(of business to avoid tax)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The timing of any sale is important in establishing when the resulting tax liability is payable. The critical date is the beginning of the tax year, 6 April. If the shares in the business are sold on or after 6 April, the owner's capital...

SHOP WINDOW - Long Point: Baker Furniture.
September 1, 2006... Baker Furniture's contemporary stained Bergen solid oak dining range features dovetailed corner joints and brushed aluminium handles. It has a choice of three dining chairs. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

INTERVIEW - PETER HEWITT: On the road again.(Interview)
September 1, 2006... For eight weeks during the summer, Wiemann's Peter Hewitt kept a diary as he toured the UK and Ireland with a 40ft showvan and a succession of disorientated German drivers The week before we hit the road there is a quick trip to Germany...

INTERVIEW - PETER HEWITT: The final verdict.(furniture)(Interview)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... It was incredibly hard work for the whole team but it was worth it - we opened more than 20 new accounts; re-opened half a dozen old accounts; and sold additional ranges into more than a dozen others. Plus there's a dozen or more good prospects...

SHOW REVIEW - LAS VEGAS: Worth the gamble.
September 1, 2006... Las Vegas conjures up images of gambling and shows and the WMC did not disappoint with its showbiz touches to the event, says Rachel Calton Las Vegas is the city that knows no limits it seems. The investors behind the new Las Vegas market...

RETAIL DESIGN - ILVA: Clutter free zone.
September 1, 2006... Ilva made its long awaited debut in the UK in August. Andrew Kidd visits the Thurrock, Essex store to see if it lives up to expectations and found a clutter free zone. The arrival of retailer Ilva into the UK market has been one of the...

RETAIL DESIGN - ILVA: Variety and price.
September 1, 2006... Ilva boasts a product offer of more than 10,000 items. So how are its main product categories broken down? On leather sofas, it has 16 models and 27 options. Prices range from #396 for the Valencia daybed to #1,098 for the Malibu...

October diary: Hong Kong aims high.(Far East interiors exhibition)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Top designers are out in force with visions for offices, gardens and interiors After the hectic exhibition schedule of September, October brings a more relaxed pace - until High Point, at least. The month sees the debut of yet another...

October diary: Design reprise.(Interieur, furniture trade show)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... As well as the main furniture show from 13-22 October (13 October is trade only, 10am-9pm), Belgian exhibition Interieur will mark its 20th anniversary with a look back at the best design of the past decades. Since its foundation in 1968,...

October diary: Extra points.
September 1, 2006... As the High Point show (16-22 October) continues to respond to the emergence of Las Vegas's World Market, it has moved to make registration and access to the show easier. Visitors will now also be able to register at the 220 Elm and C&D...

October diary: Growth sector.(the International Exhibition of Outdoor Furnishing and Equipment )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The latest in garden and outdoor furniture will be on show at Sun - the International Exhibition of Outdoor Furnishing and Equipment - in Rimini, Italy. Some 700 exhibitors are expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors from 13-15 October....

October diary: Work and play.(Orgatechnik International Office Trade Fair)
September 1, 2006... One of the highlights of office furnishings show Orgatec, in Cologne from 24-28 October, will be the Ultima Office. Five visionaries from architecture, technology and futurology will offer a personal view of what the world might have in store...

CM - OFFCUTS: Family values count for a lot.
September 1, 2006... Steve Wilson is CFC Interiors marketing director Did you always have the intention of going into the furnishings industry? The industry has always been my life. My father had me sweeping the carpet aisles from eight years of age, by 15...

CM - OFFCUTS: A different turn on tables.(China)
September 1, 2006... Offcuts brings you its utterly abridged, completely unofficial list of the top nine most important tables of all time. Everyone supposes number one must be that oak table you buy with 15 others in a container from China. Sure that's important,...

Laptops hit home office.
September 8, 2006... A greater number of people working at home and blanket penetration of PCs in homes has made home office furniture one of the major growth areas for retailers over the past six years. But the home office will become less attractive as laptop...

Ikea takes low price message to the top.
September 8, 2006... High spec Stockholm aims to silence the quality doubters Ikea has stretched its price points in a move which puts it in direct competition with the kind of independents which traditionally dismiss the Swedish retailer as too downmarket to...

Bag battle intensifies with compostable carriers.(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... Ikea has increased the cost of its plastic bags from 5p to 10p and said that the charging policy introduced in June had achieved a 97% reduction in the number of carrier bags being taken by its customers. The Swedish retailer predicted that...

European boost for energy.(development of energy research)(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... The European Parliament has granted e50bn (#33.8bn) for technology research including development of LED and other energy efficient lighting sources. The money will be used to support small to medium sized business by way of grants so that...

Agency failing small firms says BCC study.
September 8, 2006... Call for radical reform of Small Business Service after BCC found `ineffective' support in six of its seven target areas The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has launched a stinging attack on the Government's approach to supporting smaller...

Clocking on.(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... Casa Lozano Red, the British-based firm which specialises in interior decor for British expats' properties abroad, is to introduce a sister company, A Breath of Fresh Air, at the Top Drawer Exhibition to be held at London's Olympia from 10-12...

Retail industry's staff turnover stays high.(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... More than a quarter of businesses tried to recruit new faces last year with 49% of retail establishments employing or trying to get new staff. A report by Jobcentre Plus shows that only the public sector looked to recruit more than retail....

IN BRIEF: Hurt at work.(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... One in ten people have been injured in the workplace in the past five years, including staff being attacked by customers and colleagues. According to an Axa Insurance survey of 4,000 people, 8% of all injuries were caused by shoppers. Staff in...

IN BRIEF: Slide slows.
September 8, 2006... Matalan has ended its recent slide with like-for-like sales, which exclude new stores, rising by 1.3% in the eight weeks to 26 August. The recent increase means like-for-like sales in the past six months fell just 0.5%, against a 6.3% dip last...

IN BRIEF: Expert tour.(Furniture Industry Research Association)(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... FIRA is holding a free open day at its headquarters to give visitors an insight into its facilities. The day will include a number of presentations from FIRA experts, followed by an opportunity to tour the site. The organisation said that...

IN BRIEF: Homes cost more.(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... House prices rose by 0.8% in August, the same as in July, raising the annual rate of growth to 6.6% according to the latest Nationwide housing survey. This is the fastest yearly growth rate since April 2005. The typical house in the UK now...

Bed makers revolt over foam increase.
September 8, 2006... British Vita price rise turns eyes to Far East sources British Vita, the country's leading supplier of polyether foam has raised its prices, citing unremitting cost pressures, raising the possibility that prices could be passed on and...

CBI adds voice to red tape criticism.
September 8, 2006... In his first major public speech, Richard Lambert, CBI director general, has warned that red tape and too much tax is threatening British businesses. The comments will not come as any surprise to furniture retailers and suppliers, who have...

New lines help sales revival.
September 8, 2006... Surveys showed homewares beats the retail trend as confidence builds Cooler weather in August slowed general sales growth but did encourage shoppers back to stores to purchase homewares and furniture. Promotions helped furniture trade...

HomeForm head leaves.(resignation of Andrew Stanway)(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... Andrew Stanway, HomeForm chief executive has left the company. The organisation, which includes Moben, Kitchens Direct, Sharps and Dolphin, has refused to comment on the circumstances of his departure. Stanway had been at the company...

Suburbs lead the mail order trend.
September 8, 2006... Barnes in south west London has topped the league for mail order shopping. Research by financial services group, Experian, found that most consumers in the top 20 UK locations were in and around London and `probably commuted to the City...

Peter Kelsey: a true character.
September 8, 2006... Peter Kelsey has died peacefully at the age of 89. He devoted all his working life to the furniture retail industry, from Philips sales director, Wendovers of Southsea co-owner and then to Wades department stores md. From startup in...

Fast and big.
September 8, 2006... Dwell, the online and London retailer has published its biggest catalogue yet at 96 pages. The new catalogue is for its autumn collection. The company, which is due to launch a flagship 12,000sqft store in Fort Dunlop, Birmingham, promises to...

Red tape will restrict growth.(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... Survey reveals small firms expect to expand despite bureaucracy and finance Small businesses expect to grow their companies both in terms of personnel and profit even though they anticipate more red tape in the next 12 months, according to...

Letter: Brand recognition.(Letter to the editor)
September 8, 2006... With reference to the Comment (CM, 1 Sep, p9) I did my own small poll of the 12 ladies in my book group who are under 40. It produced the following result on recognition of brand names: G Plan 11 Parker Knoll 10...

Talk: Ikea selling more expensive, high quality products.
September 8, 2006... Does it concern you that Ikea is selling more expensive, high quality products? `No. We sell beds and Ikea is only doing this to combat Ilva. Its beds are European sized and you cannot get sheets that fit them unless you buy them from...

COMMENT - Leader: Another clever move by Ikea?(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... Ilva's arrival into the UK market was greeted with much fanfare among the mainstream media who dubbed the Danish firm the `Ikea for grown- ups'. While this was of course a simplistic comparison based almost exclusively on the two firms' shared...

COMMENT - Views by Mike Spencer.(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... Whereas low to middle market businesses continue to suffer poor retail sales, top end sales are being sustained. However, selling the product is only half the battle. A lot of top end product is made in the UK and manufacturers are finding...

ANALYSIS: Accentuating the positive.(Harveys Furnishing, Homestyle Group PLC)
September 8, 2006... Homestyle's results are certainly bad but the feeling is that the group has learned from its mistakes and the worst is behind it, as Mark Lewis explains On the surface, the Homestyle results look pretty bad. A loss of #24.6m in the 61...

ANALYSIS: Internet hits on the high street.
September 8, 2006... With Tesco joining the online onslaught, bricks and mortar stores need to improve their service or lose sales. Deven Pamben looks at the evidence Customers continue to shun the high street as Internet spending grows at a rapid rate and...

SHOP WINDOW - 100% Design: Colour Light.
September 8, 2006... The Colour Light Co has updated its modular Chromawall lighting system using LEDs rather than filament lamps, giving it a much longer operational life and deeper and wider colour range. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

STORE MANAGER: Watch out, the OFT's about.
September 8, 2006... Trading online brings with it an array of rules and regulations retailers need to comply with or face action from the OFT and Ofcom, says Nigel Miller Businesses trading online face a complex array of legislation to comply with. And the...

STORE MANAGER: Data protection.
September 8, 2006... Traders who engage in poor Data Protection compliance may face enforcement action from the Information Commissioner (IC). The IC commissioned the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to perform a study into...

INTERVIEW - KAY & STEMMER: Collaborators.
September 8, 2006... Organic and curvaceous shapes are the hallmark of Sarah Kay and Andrea Stemmer's latest furniture designs for Heal's, as Rachel Calton discovers Considering today's general trend towards straight-cut furniture, walking into Heal's you may...

INTERVIEW - KAY & STEMMER: Natural pairing.(Brief article)
September 8, 2006... Kay and Stemmer both trained at Parnham College in Dorset, renowned for providing its graduates with a high level of craft and production skills. Although they graduated at different times they met in a shared workspace in Hackney, east London,...

CABINET TRENDS: Move to the dark side.
September 8, 2006... Oak has dominated the cabinet market, but can it maintain its position? Cabinet Maker looks for the coming trends in wood, finishes and designs As leather has swamped upholstery in recent years, oak has dominated cabinet sales in the past...

RETAIL INTELLIGENCE: July trading.
September 8, 2006... After the poor performance of June, retailers were in need of a significant improvement if the summer was not to prove a major disappointment. Did an upturn arrive? Yes. Compared with June 2006, some 58% of retailers reported a rise in the...

MARKET REVIEW: Why PR is worth it.
September 8, 2006... All you need to do is create some news, write a press release, send it to chosen magazines, follow it up with a phone call, provide support in the form of information and photographs, and perhaps loan furniture for photoshoots. Sounds...

MARKET REVIEW: Press for attention.
September 8, 2006... Correct presentation of press advertisements is vital to get your company's message across successfully. Shaun Davies offers advice on what to do Many retailers are wasting their often limited advertising budgets by providing poor...

CM OFFCUTS: Walking, but never without shades.
September 8, 2006... Tim Hargreaves is Albioncourt director in Gillingham, Dorset How did you get started in the interiors trade? My first venture was in 1975 with Maya Fabrics. I was importing hand- woven silks from Benares and Bhagalpur, India, having...

CM OFFCUTS: They said what?
September 8, 2006... Lila Paws, the pet accessories firm for slightly deranged, rich, dog owners has come up with another collection of accessories to pamper your almost certainly oblivious pets. As well as collars and leads sporting Swarovski crystals, it also has...

CM OFFCUTS: Ikea extravaganza.
September 8, 2006... For a firm which prides itself on offering brilliant value, Ikea's launch of its Stockholm range of products was a curiously lavish affair. Ingvar Kamprad,Ikea's founder, and sometimes richest man in the world, is famously frugal. He...

DPFL franchisee ultimatum.(Durham Pine Franchising Limited)
September 15, 2006... Negotiations break down as 10 franchisees accuse group of lack of support Durham Pine franchisees fear possible closure and even financial ruin, laying the blame firmly at the feet of franchiser Durham Pine Franchising Limited (DPFL). ...

Peddar bows out as F&B rebranding takes off.(Chris Peddar has resigned from Feather & Black)(Brief article)
September 15, 2006... Chris Peddar, Feather & Black md has left the company, citing an unwillingness to commute from Wales to West Sussex and his desire to move away from the middle market. `I live in Wales and Chichester [F&B head office] is a long way away. I...

Late but live.
September 15, 2006... Tesco finally ironed out its `technical glitch' and went live with its online, non-food website on Tuesday afternoon. Tesco Direct was supposed to go online on Wednesday 6 September, but `minor IT problems affecting the level of service on the...

Council calls for funds to tackle immigrants' poverty problem.
September 15, 2006... Westminster council and charities team up to help Polish workers find work and homes The downside to the influx of Eastern European workers who have successfully filled jobs in UK furniture warehouses and production lines has been revealed...

Cool weather boost for August sales.
September 15, 2006... Sales in London last month were 22.3% higher than August 2005 on a like- for-like basis, with mixed fortunes for furniture and homewares retailers. Last August was disastrous as sales dropped 11.5% in the wake of July's London bombings....

Firm fined #8,000 for unsafe floor.(David Pettit)(Fenland Pine)(Brief article)
September 15, 2006... The Health & Safety Executive has successfully prosecuted a furniture store and its boss for having an unsafe floor. David Pettit, Fenland Pine and Interiors director, appeared at Ely Magistrates' Court last week. The business was...

People: Dura Beds.
September 15, 2006... Douglas Mitchell has been appointed Dura Beds sales director. The West Yorkshire mattress and divan manufacturer said it was `delighted to welcome someone with Mitchell's skill and experience'. Imran Akhtar, md said the appointment of the...

People: Hilding Anders PPL.
September 15, 2006... Steven Warren has been named Hilding Anders PPL director. Warren will oversee production, purchasing and logistics at the Oldham manufacturer behind the Dunlopillo and Slumberland brands. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.