Cabinet Maker articles from September 2007

Cabinet Maker archives from September 2007

Homeserve restructure.
September 7, 2007... Homeserve Warranties is dividing its retail division between furniture and care solutions. The move follows Homeserve buying Multimaster from Uniters in May, creating the biggest furniture warranties business in the UK (CM, 4 May, p3). ...

Retailers face foam price rise dilemma.
September 7, 2007... With raw materials costs rising, retailers must decide whether to pass on the increases to consumers Retailers face a further blow after Vita Group announced it would increase its foam prices. Amid already tough trading conditions and...

Cabinet Maker online audit.(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... Cabinet Maker has become one of the first business trade magazine's to have its online offering ABC audited. The latest audit shows that www.cabinet-maker.co.uk had 5,060 unique users per month and 27,500 page impressions. ABC provides...

New concept in Surrey.(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... Swedish bed manufacturer Hastens has opened a concept store in Walton- on-Thames, Surrey - its first outside London. It is the firm's third UK store and showcases Hastens' beds including the Scandinavian Frame, Continental (divan-style) and...

Lombok is top shop in TCR.
September 7, 2007... With raw materials costs rising, retailers must decide whether to pass on the increases to consumers Lombok has come out on top in Cabinet Maker's first audio mystery shopper. The retailer of Colonial-style cabinet furniture was the...

Signs point to Romford revamp.
September 7, 2007... North London and Essex retailer Signs Furniture is to revamp its Romford, Essex premises after Wiemann opened a UK showroom in the store this week. `We want to upgrade the store to the same standard as the [Wiemann] showroom,' said Paul...

Big show.
September 7, 2007... Roche Bobois has opened Harrods' largest furniture concession at 5,000sqft on the third floor. The French brand's new venture is part of an international programme of growth and expansion for the company which has more than 220 stores...

IN BRIEF: Art Forma celebrates.
September 7, 2007... Upholstery manufacturer Art Forma is commemorating its 70th year in business with a champagne reception at its showroom on 17 September. The Castle Donnington firm, which also imports furniture from the US, will also open its showroom for four...

IN BRIEF: Sturtons' makeover.
September 7, 2007... Dorset retailer Sturtons & Tappers is undergoing a #150,000 facelift. The work includes a refit of the main shop areas, new roofing and limited rebuilding. The building occupied by the family-owned furniture retailer was previously four...

IN BRIEF: Fire safety seminars.
September 7, 2007... SATRA Technology Centre is running seven flammability seminars from November 2007 to November 2008 covering The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations. Particular attention will be paid to covers, interliners, foams and other...

IN BRIEF: No to road pricing.
September 7, 2007... Small business owners are opposed to road pricing, according to a YouGov poll on behalf of Alliance & Leicester. A survey of 699 owners revealed that 68% were against road pricing schemes, with 62% saying it would damage profits. ...

August sales suffer as confidence falls.
September 7, 2007... Consumer caution as interest rate rises bite is blamed for drop in furniture retail trading Sales of furniture and homewares in August slowed after a strong June and July. Trade also fell back on August last year. The British Retail...

Alternative trade monitor.
September 7, 2007... The British Shops and Stores Association (bssa) is to produce its own sales monitor providing an alternative snapshot of the health of the high street of the non-food independent sector. Using data from bssa members and non-members, the...

LEGALS: Liquidators appointments.
September 7, 2007... Draycott Mill Pine Ltd, manufacturer. Co no: 05073879. Liquidator: Simon Chandler and Alistair Wood, Mazars LLP, Nottingham. Appointed: 10 August. Global Retail Logistics Ltd, distributor. Co no: 05807447. Liquidator: Roderick Butcher,...

LEGALS: Administrator appointments.
September 7, 2007... Dukan Systems Ltd, manufacturer. Co no: 03543991. Administrator: John Dolder and Colin Wilson, both of Begbies Traynor (South) LLP, Milton Keynes. Appointed: 8 August. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

LEGALS: Final meetings.
September 7, 2007... Beat This Ltd, trading as Amys Furniture & Homewares, Ruislip. Co no: 04865697. Venue: Great Central House, South Ruislip, 26 September, 10.30am. Tel: 020 8841 5252. Sconce Furniture Ltd, Nottingham. Co no: 04310170. Venue: General...

China shows set for record visitors.
September 7, 2007... Booming manufacturing area in the spotlight as second Shanghai exhibition site opens its doors The JSWB Global Home Furnishings Center in Shanghai There are just four days before the battle of the Chinese furniture shows commences in...

Brand division to aid IMM visitors.
September 7, 2007... German furniture fair IMM Cologne is to launch a number of sub-brands aimed at making the exhibition more accessible to visitors. The nine sub-brands will see furniture separated by product category. The brands are IMM Pure (designer...

LETTER: Legal benefits.(Letter to the editor)
September 7, 2007... As the article `Keeping your eye on the ball' (CM, 24 Aug, p12) makes clear, being investigated by HM Revenue and Customs can be stressful and expensive if not handled properly. Under our legal benefits scheme, British Shops and Stores...

Burbidge on show.(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... Roomsets and brochure launch for kitchen ranges UK kitchen frontals and accessories manufacturer Burbidge has invested #175,000 in updating its national showroom. The Coventry-based showroom has launched kitchens displayed in `real...

VIEWS: Phil Reynolds.
September 7, 2007... The recall of millions of Mattel products due to faulty magnets and unacceptable levels of lead paint highlights the importance of testing to meet appropriate standards. Toys entering the UK market have to be CE marked, and this normally means...

How good are quality checks on imported products?(Dave Thompson employee of World of Suites)(Ian Sale employee of The Designer Sofa)(Guy Meredith employee of Villa and Hut Shop)(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... `I will not import from China. I suspect not enough testing is done but if we are going to apply standards they should not only be quality standards but moral standards as well. I know someone who went to China but he was not happy with the...

CM COMMENT: Keep track of customer data - online and in-store.
September 7, 2007... John Dean, bssa chief executive, has warned independent retailers to be more professional in embracing the online revolution in order to survive (CM, 31 Aug, p4). He said retail trade associations were under siege and independent retailers must...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Time to control China crisis.(furniture industry demand government finance to import best materials)
September 7, 2007... Trade organisations are calling for more Government funding to ensure that imported products meet UK standards, reports Deven Pamben After a series of high-profile problems with Chinese imports, there have been calls for more Government...

STATISTICS - COMPLAINTS: Upholding standards.(to manage consumer complaints in furniture industry)
September 7, 2007... Bed complaints may be on the up but perhaps retailers rather than the rise in imports are to blame, as Cabinet Maker's half-yearly look at trends reveals In December last year, bed complaints accounted for just 7.9% of consumer complaints...

MARKET DATA: Comfortably in the lead.
September 7, 2007... Retail Intelligence: Upholstered furniture Stores have the edge over the Internet when buying sofas, making attractive displays and customer service the important factors in maximising sales It has been a challenging year for furniture...

STORE MANAGER: Don't be chained to lease conditions.
September 7, 2007... The more you know about leases the higher your chance of getting a much better deal in your negotiations with landlords, as Bryn Morgan explains How long should my commercial lease be for? This depends on your needs, the circumstances...

STORE MANAGER: Business lease renewals.
September 7, 2007... The protection afforded to commercial tenants by leases subject to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 is wide ranging. A lease protected under the Act can only be terminated on certain grounds and in accordance with strict procedures. The...

SHOP WINDOW - 100% Design: Innermost.
September 7, 2007... Russell Samson's Array lamp for Innermost comprises sheaves of precision engineered stainless steel that unfold around the bulb, providing both the overall structure and the shade for the lamp. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW - 100% Design: Naughtone.
September 7, 2007... The Frog table is the second product for Naughtone by Stefan Bench. Available in three sizes - 75cm, 90cm and 110cm - larger sizes will be added. A variety of tops are available. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

INTERVIEW - MATTHEW HILTON: Brand new freedom.(Interview)
September 7, 2007... Doing what he wants to do is one reason why Matthew Hilton is about to become a brand with a launch at 100% Design, he tells Rachel Calton In two weeks time Matthew Hilton will become more than a name in contemporary British furniture...

INTERVIEW - MATTHEW HILTON: Design credentials.(Interview)(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... Matthew Hilton was head of furniture design at Habitat UK from 2000 to 2004, during which time he was also elected as a member of the faculty of Royal Designers for Industry. Some of his most recent projects include the commission to design...

HOME - OFFICE: Dedicated to work.
September 7, 2007... Consumers are going upmarket when working from home, including investing in standalone offices and quality furniture, says Jennifer Pulling Revolution is in the air: long suffering commuters crammed like sardines into trains have decided...

HOME - OFFICE: Growing a garden office.(most popular trend)(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... Why are offices in the garden so popular? David Granger, Cat & Mouse Landscapes md reckons it's because: `They can be put up in less than a week, are easy and cost effective. Remember, whatever you spend on a garden room is certainly going...

HOME - OFFICE: Is planning permission needed?
September 7, 2007... `It depends on the council,' says Simon Hendriksen, Crown Oak Buildings director. `The planning departments stipulate what can and cannot be done. We use staddle stone which sits on precast concrete which can be deemed a temporary structure.'...

HOME - OFFICE: A question of style.(customers request home with spacious storage space)(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... `The trend is for people to go back to more traditional styles they want to be comfortable,' says Sarah Patchett, Only Pine and Oak owner in Westham, East Sussex. `The contemporary minimalist look is all very well but people who work at...

REPRODUCTION TRENDS: Making a statement.
September 7, 2007... What happens in the antique sector can feed through into the reproduction market. Andrew Kidd spoke to dealers to gauge the mood among shoppers Be it Antiques Roadshow, Flog It or Lovejoy, the antiques market has long held a fascination...

SOFTWARE FRAUD: Goods faith.
September 7, 2007... As online sales grow, retailers are more exposed to possible fraud. Switching to alternative payment methods could reduce the cost, says Andrew Kidd Fraudulent transactions are costing etailers 5% of their turnover, but by not reporting...

SOFTWARE FRAUD: Top five fraud tactics.
September 7, 2007... 1 You receive a phone call from the `customer' post-order but pre- fulfilment requesting a change in delivery address. A clever ploy used by fraudsters is to press the `order' or `submit' button twice on purpose before then calling to express...

SOFTWARE FRAUD: Achieving security success.
September 7, 2007... `Fraud has never been a big problem for us due to the longer lead times associated with the furniture industry,' says Julian Field, Furniture123 ceo. `The delay between receiving an order and shipping the goods is long enough for most...

MARKETING - CINEMA: Big screen break.
September 7, 2007... Halo has sponsored Stardust as part of its new #1m marketing campaign Halo has achieved a marketing first for the furniture and furnishing industry, forming a partnership with Paramount Pictures for the release of its #33m firm Stardust...

MARKETING - CINEMA: A tale of one man's search for true love.(Stardust)(Movie review)(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... A young man named Tristran (Charlie Cox) tries to win the heart of Victoria (Sienna Miller), the beautiful but cold object of his desire, by going on a quest to retrieve a fallen star. His journey takes him to a mysterious and forbidden land...

CM OFFCUTS: Old romantic with a modern twist.
September 7, 2007... Howard Bushell is founder and creative force of manufacturer and designer Trifle Design in Worcestershire How did you get into the industry and why? I studied product design at Central St Martins College of Art and Design and furniture...

CM OFFCUTS: Log off to nod off.(bedding industry produces comfortable bed for teenagers)(Brief article)
September 7, 2007... Junk sleep could soon rival junk food as a major lifestyle worry among parents of teenage children. The Sleep Council's latest research among 12-16 year-olds found the unprecedented boom in teenage-owned entertainment gadgetry is having a...

Call for tough tests on imports.
September 14, 2007... The BFC wants more stringent testing after reports of allergic skin reactions to leather sofas add to the complaints about foreign furniture sold in the UK More vigorous inspections on furniture arriving in the UK has been called for by...

Bottom end not for JLP.
September 14, 2007... John Lewis has been warned not to expand further into the lower end market. The mid-market department store is trialling a clearance shop in Edinburgh selling damaged or returned furniture at a discount. It could roll out such stores...

China warns against West's protectionism.(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... The President of China's National Furniture Association has warned Western firms that trying to slow the growth of China's export market would only accelerate the flow of Chinese goods to Western markets. Jia Qingwen added that there would...

Online delivery deal.(Furniture123)(Bradley Homeserve)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Furniture123 and Bradley Homeserve have signed a two-year multimillion pound delivery deal. Bradleys Homeserve will handle the home delivery of orders suppliers cannot deliver direct to the final customer. Exact details of how much the...

Homeplus 10 for Tesco.
September 14, 2007... Supermarket giant to expand non-food offering in the UK Tesco is to more than double the number of its Homeplus non-food stores in the UK. Ten outlets will be added to the current seven Homeplus stores, which trade big-ticket items...

Ernest (Mick) Morris.(Ernest Frederick (Mick) Morris died)(Obituary)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Ernest Frederick (Mick) Morris, former purchasing officer of G-Plan Upholstery division E-Gomme has died, aged 87. Working at E-Gomme from 1960 to 1983, he was involved at the beginning of production in Nelson, Lancashire in 1962 and will...

IN BRIEF: Power for Kelly.(Ruth Kelly)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on Ruth Kelly to keep the power to approve local authority transport schemes. Responding to the consultation on the Draft Local Transport Bill empowering local authorities to meet local transport...

IN BRIEF: Sealy recognition.(Sealy Corp.)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... UK brand awareness of Sealy beds has hit an all time high, according to Heawood Research. An online survey, which polled more than 1,300 participants across the UK, showed 32% were aware of the bed brand. Neil Robinson, Sealy marketing director...

IN BRIEF: Green conference.(Conference news)
September 14, 2007... With carbon footprints, global warming and sustainability high on the political and business agendas, FIRA's National Furniture Conference will have a green theme this year. The ECOnomics of Sustainability will explore how companies are...

IN BRIEF: More Spoga visitors.
September 14, 2007... Spoga 2007 had 27,500 visitors, up by more than 6% according to last day estimates. Visitors from 95 countries were in Cologne for the international event for the garden and leisure sector. Some 1,547 firms from 56 countries exhibited, with 721...

Next plans seven new Home stores.
September 14, 2007... Company ups it marketing spend by #18m to boost the brand and entice consumers in-store Next will continue its Home store expansion by opening seven new outlets and pumping extra cash into its marketing campaign to boost footfall. The...

Leamington clear out.(Lee Longlands)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Lee Longlands has started a clearance sale at its Leamington Spa store ahead of its expected closure at the end of November. It is not known if the company will relocate elsewhere in the Warwickshire town where it has traded for 10 years....

HoF deal for Kaymed.(House of Fraser)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Kaymed has strengthened its partnership with department store House of Fraser (HoF). The bedding manufacturer will launch products in 20 HoF stores under Kaymed's own brand Numuru and HoF's exclusive label, Linea. The new range will hit...

City: Caution and warnings.(Beales')(Galiform)(Aga)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Galiform is on top form while Beales hits an all-time low Galiform gained 10p to 136p after pre-tax profits almost tripled in the 24 weeks to 16 June, on sales increased by 50%. Most analysts are cautious about second-half trading...

Profits up as Omega gains market share.(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Kitchen firm says that it is on target to double in size by 2010 Growing market share has helped improve sales and profits at kitchen manufacturer Omega. In the six months to 26 June 2007 turnover increased to #16.3m from #13.5m last...

Wet start to new Rossiters store.
September 14, 2007... Design-led store Rossiters was hit by flooding days after opening its new store in Cardiff. The shop opened on 30 August but last week an overflowing sprinkler tank damaged carpets in the basement where dining and bedroom furniture is...

Management move shares.(Airsprung Beds)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Airsprung Beds is climbing steadily before December's interim figures and then resting until January when Schroder Investment Management confirmed a 9% stake. The uptrend resumed in April, on increasing confidence that June's full year figures...

August sales dip.
September 14, 2007... With footfall down, London saw a fall in furniture trade after a strong June and July Furniture sales in London fell back in August after making gains earlier in the summer. The London Retail Consortium (LRC) Monthly Sales Monitor...

Corium sets up in China.(Corium Solutions)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Leather care firm Corium Solutions has opened its first factory in China to help UK retailers get more consistent products. Corium has 21 years' experience in the global leather industry and chose China because it is widely used for...

Views by Fiona Macdiarmid.
September 14, 2007... There tends to be three types of business: those that have a unique innovation, those with a monopoly on what they're doing and those that outpace the competition. Most successful businesses have got to where they are by outpacing the...

Talk: What could you do differently?
September 14, 2007... With declining footfall, some retailers will try new ways to entice customers into their shops (see Offcuts, p39). What could you do differently? `Word of mouth. Everyone wants to come here. I would never have a sale as it drives you mad....

CM COMMENT - Leader: More British firms need to fly the flag overseas.
September 14, 2007... September serves as a stark reminder of how international the furniture industry has become. Mark Lewis, Cabinet Maker web editor, is in Shanghai, covering two international furniture fairs and the World Furniture Congress and Rachel Calton,...

ANALYSIS - Mind the gap.
September 14, 2007... With consumers spending ever more of their income on their mortgage, furniture retailers need to foster the feelgood factor, reports Deven Pamben Consumer spending continues to slow down. The squeeze has once again been highlighted, this...

SHOP WINDOW: Decorex - Ecco Trading.
September 14, 2007... Ecco Trading's Rococo lamp has been inspired by an antique Italian candlestick. The black base is supplied with a black shade, and the white base with a cream shade as standard. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: Decorex - 4 Living.
September 14, 2007... 4 Living is expanding its Brighton collection into the bedroom, adding two tables to its Toulouse range and a display cabinet to Brighton. Decorex takes place at Royal Hospital Chelsea, London from 23-26 September Copyright: CMP...

INTERVIEW: 100% NORWAY - Natural talents.(Interview)
September 14, 2007... Norway is a design nation on the up. Rachel Calton talked to four emerging designers about what makes it Scandinavia's `untamed little sister' What do you think makes Norway an exciting design scene right now? Ann-Tove Engenes,...

RETAIL: EXPATRIATES - All abroad.
September 14, 2007... Offering complete furniture and furnishings packages to British consumers buying properties abroad is a growing and lucrative market It is not often people have to furnish an entire home in a very limited period of time. But for the many...

RETAIL: EXPATRIATES - Sand storm.
September 14, 2007... Another area of growing expatriate population is Abu Dhabi. While nearby Dubai has been the focus of growth and investment in recent years, attention has now switched to the United Arab Emirates capital. Already parts of the city resemble a...

RETAIL: EXPATRIATES - Supplier showcase.(Interiors UAE)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Sourcing interiors products in the United Arab Emirates is set to become easier next spring with the launch of Interiors UAE. Developed by CMP Information, owner of Cabinet Maker and Interiors Birmingham organiser, and Channels Exhibitions...

DINING: TRENDS - What's on the menu.
September 14, 2007... With eating out becoming more popular, people are trying to recreate the restaurant ambience in their own dining room. Wesley Yin-Poole asks the experts whether the design gap between the two is narrowing Carolyn Parker, Carolyn Parker...

REGENERATION: GLOUCESTER - Welcome change.
September 14, 2007... A #1bn investment over a decade will transform large areas of Gloucester, creating new leisure, housing and retail facilities, as Jennifer Pulling reports A new chapter is being written in the history of Gloucester. Building on its world...

What do the retailers think?
September 14, 2007... Gloucester Furniture Exhibition Centre `Gloucester has long been a notably poor shopping centre compared with Cheltenham and Cribbs Causeway,' says David Wood who has run Gloucester Furniture Exhibition Centre for the past 30 years. ...

CM OFFCUTS: Promoting quality is worth a try.(CPS (Wales))(Interview)
September 14, 2007... Simon Green is sales director at CPS (Wales) in Newport, a design and print service for the furniture industry How did you get started in the industry? By supplying adhesive labels to Lifestyle Upholstery which then asked if I could...

CM OFFCUTS: To catch an undie show in Harrogate.(To Catch A Dream)(Swanky Pants)(Brief article)
September 14, 2007... Pants! That's what customers got an eyeful of when they visited Harrogate led store To Catch A Dream recently. Shoppers couldn't believe their eyes when the bed emporium and Swanky Pants joined forces to put on a free lingerie show. The...

CM OFFCUTS: Lord Kirkham pays up...
September 14, 2007... True to his word, Lord Kirkham has fulfilled a promise to match The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers fundraising team's efforts up to #100,000. Livery members worked hard to meet the challenge and swell the cash-pot generated by...

Peroda to promote Eurosofa in the UK.(Brief article)
September 21, 2007... Mid-market Italian upholsterer Chateau d'Ax will be on the look out for a new agent following the departure of David Langford, Peroda md during Shanghai's Sino Expo. Peroda accepted an offer from rival upholstery firm Eurosofa at the show,...

Linkwise customers retain confidence.
September 21, 2007... Sofa test results find no evidence of skin irritation link The Chinese sofa company at the centre of the burns and blisters row has refused to take responsibility for the skin complaints caused to the legs and buttocks of Walmsley's...

Business as usual as M&F buys Mark Franklin rights.
September 21, 2007... Manufacturer and wholesaler McNally & Finlay (M&F) has bought the rights to Mark Franklin ranges after the company went into administration earlier this month. This is the second acquisition the Irish firm, which trades as Rossmore...

Homewares slow for LA.
September 21, 2007... Like for like furniture sales plunge as difficult conditions hit chain Laura Ashley suffered a double digit like for like fall in furniture sales in the first half of the year, compounded by a drop in like for like home accessory and...

Henry Overington.(Obituary)(Brief article)
September 21, 2007... Former Christie-Tyler and Sprung Slumber agent Henry Overington has died, aged 83. Overington, known as Pat within the industry, died on 10 September after a short illness at his home in Worthing, West Sussex. He began his career at...