News February 2010

US Viking dropped in UK

Sole UK distributor of Viking, Coolectric will cease to offer these appliances with effect from March 31. Coolectric cited the difficult trading conditions of the last two years as a key factor in its decision. Managing director of Coolectric, Mark Bristow commented: “Whilst there may be a long term future for the Viking brand in the UK, the investment required in the short to medium term is neither sensible nor sustainable. “Cooletric will focus on its core business of supplying Liebherr refrigeration to kitchen and electrical retailers.”

Coolectric had been importing and distributing Viking appliances since 2008. It aimed to tap sales potential in the top-end of the market for appliances which offered a gourmet lifestyle. Viking appliances were to be sold through kitchen showrooms and independent electrical retailers.

Designed and manufactured in the US since 1987, Viking cookers are sold in 80 countries worldwide. But the company also offers design co-ordinated fridge-freezer combinations, ovens, hobs, dishwashers and cookware. Coolectric had UK stock- holding of appliance spares and provided home delivery and installation. It offered dealer product training plus a marketing package, which was supported by an after-sales service from an in-house customer care team.

Joseph appointed Theobald's CEO

Former managing director of Allied Kingswood, Stephen Joseph has taken a controlling interest in Theobald’s Distribution and is now CEO. Joseph has been acting as a consultant to the Kent-based business since September 2009.

He will be working alongside the operations director Jamie Gardiner and sales director Steve Brooks. Commenting on his latest role, Stephen Joseph said: “I was impressed with Theobald’s from day one of my consultancy. It has a great portfolio of products and an extremely good customer base. “However, it soon became obvious that there was a bigger role for me at Theobald’s than that of a part- time consultant. My faith in the company and its staff is such that I was prepared to work with Theobald’s on a full- time basis and I have made a substantial investment in it.”

He added: “It’s no secret the company has had a temporary cash flow problem, due to the current economic climate. The injection of working capital will enable Theobald’s to put this probler behind them, retain the goodwill of its suppliers, and continue to supply customers: as usual. I am looking forward to my new role and to working with our suppliers and customers in building on the successful relationships Theobald’s already enjoys.”

Lapicida app launch

Stone specialist Lapicida has launched an iPhone application to provide a portable sample. Lapicida Design-in-Stone provides access to over 200 hi-res swatches for stone, marble flooring, kitchen and bathroom tiles. It is free to download at the App Store.

Samsung acquires Amica factory

In a bid to become market leader in the European home appliance market, Samsung has acquired manufacturing facilities from Polish brand Amica for $76million USD. The acquisition includes the Poland-based Poznan city factory and its assembly line for ifrigeration and washing machines.

Establishment of a manufacturing base in Poland marks the seventh country in which Samsung produces home appliances. Previously, most Samsung appliances sold in Europe were supplied from China. Securing this production facility will decrease lead times and minimise distribution costs.

Samsung has the No 1 market share in 16 countries in Europe for side-by-side refrigerators. It will now produce a higher- capacity drum washing machine, which is a premium product in Poland. This acquisition provides Samsung with the assets it needs to reach the top of Europe’s home appliance market, due to the synergy generated by Samsung’s technology and excellent human resources in Poland,” said Sangheung Shin, president of Samsung Electronics European headquarters. Amica has been in business for 65 years in Poznan and will continue to make cooking appliances in the city.

Mark Wilkinson awarded OBE

Furniture designer Mark Wilkinson has been honoured with an OBE for Services to the Furniture Industry and to Charity, in the 2010 New Year’s Honours listings. During the spring, Wilkinson is invited to attend an Investiture to receive his award from the Queen or another senior member of the Royal family.

This award marks a culmination of a number of honours the designer has been awarded over the past year. In April 2009 he was invested with the Fellowship of the City & Guilds Institute at a ceremony in London. This was for the support he has given over the years, to skills training, education and qualification, both in furniture-making and design creativity. In July 2009, Wilkinson was awarded the medal of the Order of the League of Mercy (OLM) for his support of the specialist teaching charity Dyslexia Action.

In addition, in September, he was presented with the Founded Fellowship of the Society of British Interior Design (FSBID) by chairman Vanessa Brady and the Queen’s Consul Laurence Bristow-Smith at the Fiera Milano in Milan.

Acova rebranded Zehnder Retail

Radiator manufacturer Zehnder Group has now introduced the Zehnder Retail brand, which will incorporate all products previously sold under the Acova brand. Zehnder Retail will distribute radiators and heating products, previously sold as Acova, as well as additions from the Zehnder range. Its customers will be bathroom and kitchen showrooms, as well as a merchant network.

Bisque, acquired by the company in 2007, will continue to offer its products to showrooms under its own brand name. Allan Jones, head of ZGUK Retail division commented: “Zehnder and Bisque will complement each other perfectly in their respective markets. By optimising the synergies of these two strong brands, we can offer positive advantages to our customers in terms of service and value.”

The Swiss Zehnder Group is a manufacturer and distributor of designer and central heating radiators. It has been producing central heating radiators since 1930 and has been a major supplier to the UK market for over 30 years.

Ideal Standard unveils architect studio

Ideal Standard International has opened the Bath Room, a resource centre and design studio for architects, interior designers, hotel and property developers in Clerkenwell, London. Created by interior design practice, Ben Kelly Design, the Bath Room showcases 300 products from Ideal Standard, Armitage Shanks, Sottini and Jado brands.

The 3,000sq ft space features a wall of basin options nicknamed the great wall of china hotel pods and rolling storage systems (usually associated with libraries) featuring displays. In addition, it has space for designers to research projects and also visualise products using 3D CAD.

Speaking at the launch, designer Ben Kelly commented: “The Bath Room has been developed as a hybrid environment. It has a reference to laboratories, studios and hotel bathrooms. “The exciting venue has really been thought through from a designer’s perspective. It’s the first of its kind offering both a showroom of products, and the scope to design and map out a bathroom on-site. It will also be a great place to meet network with other designers and architects.” In addition, there is a support team, on-site, who can offer designers and specifiers practical advice on the planning and designing of’ bathrooms and washrooms.

Cosentino creates design centres

Spanish worktop manufacturer, Cosentino has transformed its warehouses in Spain and Europe into Cosentino Centres with a showroom and training facilities. They have been created to provide a comprehensive service for architects, interior designers, fabricators and kitchen and bathroom studios.

With an investment of €43 million, nine of Cosentino’s 34 European facilities have been adapted and a further nine are expected to be transformed by the end of this year. In addition, Cosentino will also be expanding across Europe with Centres in Dublin in Ireland, Vienna in Austria and a second in France at Lyon. President of the Cosentino Group, Francisco MartinezCosentino said: “We are currently undertaking one of the most ambitious projects ir. our field. With the introduction of new Centres, we are establishing facilities and spaces conceieved by and for professionals; a place where wcan carefully and consciously display our product, but at t same time our clients and affiliates also feel as if it could be their own home.”

Vola good design

Danish brassware manufacturer Vola has been presented the Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design for two of its products. The T39 towel warmer and the FS3 freestanding shower were both recognised. All the award winners are listed on the website www.chi-athenaeum.org

BCG goes miles further

To mark the launch of its Airmiles loyalty scheme, bathroom and kitchen distributor BCG gave away 61,000 Airmiles in a prize draw at Big Tour 3. The top prize was 21,000 Airmiles, followed by five prizes of 5,000 Airmiles and a ftirther 10 prizes of 1,500 Airmiles.

Taking the top prize was Andy Millns of Al Interiors, who commented: “I am delighted to win this great prize. I have been invited to visit friends in New Zealand fora 40th birthday party but I didn’t think I would be able to go. Now I can use these Airmiles for two completely free return flights as I’ve won enough to take my partner too!”

The Airmiles loyalty scheme sees BCG customers rewarded with Airmiles against purchases on selected brands. Retailers and merchants can accumulate Airmiles as a business, on a monthly basis. These can be distributed to individuals in the company.

Tile Depot head office move

Independent tile and stone retailer, Tile Depot has relocated its head office and Slough store to a retail unit at Slough Trading Estate. The new premises provide double the warehousing capacity and more showroom displays for tiles, underfloor heating and tiling tools.

Tile Depot has 14 stores across London and the South East and provides tiles and flooring, natural stone, wood flooring, underfloor heating, as well as tiling accessories.

Operations director at Tile Depot, David Fitzgerald commented: The new unit is in a fantastic location and provides room for expanding the showroom and warehousing facilities. It has given us more scope in the style and presentation of the store, along with the amount of tiles and ranges we can stock and display.”

GM change at Fisher & Paykel

Fisher & Paykel Appliances has appointed Rakesh Tiwari to the role of general manager UK & Europe, succeeding Richard Bowe.

Bowe has relocated to Australia, as managing director of the Haier brand, where he will oversee the brand being integrated into the Fisher & Paykel setup. Tiwari joined the company in 2005, as service manager for UK and Europe, and he has held the position of operations manager UK and Europe since 2006.

He has worked alongside Richard Bowe for the past three years.