Bathroom, kitchen and bedroom news August 2009

Major names commit to Big Tour

Manufacturers have committed to exhibit at BCG's Big Tour 3, which the distributor claims will be more successful than previous years despite the economic climate.
BCG has cited an increase in exhibitors, which includes Fisher & Paykel, Maytag, Belling, Rangemaster, Mira Showers, Falcon and Amana.
Marion Morton of Glen Dimplex Home Appliances commented: "We were incredibly impressed with 2008's Big Tour and are committed to doing it again this year. The high standard and accessibility of the venues led to a good turnout and an excellent quality of visitor." Free to retailers and merchants, the Big Tour will take place at five venues throughout the UK.
These include Ashton Gate (Bristol City FC) on October 8; National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on October 13;
Twickenham Stadium in London on October 15; SECC in Glasgow on October 20 and Old Trafford (Manchester Utd FC) on October 23.
Managing director of BCG, Chris Honer commented: "We feel it is more important than ever to pull together an exhibition of tremendous quality this year. I'm not sure that any business within our industry could honestly say they have not felt the slightest pinch through these recent hard times. "I want this year's Big Tour to inspire confidence and growth for each and every one of our customers and suppliers."

BSH post satisfactory results

Parent company of Bosch, Neff, Siemens and Gaggenau, BSH announced stable global sales results for 2008 at its annual conference in Munich.
Standing at €8.758bn, global sales had dipped by a marginal 0.7% lower than in 2007, while total sales outside of Germany fell slightly from 80.5% to 79.9%.
Chief executive officer of BSH, Dr Kurt Ludwig Gutberlet commented: "The sales figure was lower than we had aimed for, but being only slightly below the 2007 figure and in view of the global situation, it is a result with which we are undoubedtly satisfied."
He added: "However, I can safely say at this point that BSH performed better than the market as a whole, proving once again that with our value-driven management strategy we are on the right track."
The group cited investment in research and development as its foundation for future success.
BSH's outlook for 2009 was that there would be no recovery for home appliances in Western Europe and the USA during the remainder of the year. It expects global revenues to drop by a single digit percentage.
However, Dr Kurt-Ludwig Gutberlet added: "But for all that, my outlook for BSH's performance in fiscal 2009 is not a negative one. Our market also has its positive aspects and our business is still in much better shape than is the case in many other industries. We can draw on a stable demand for replacement appliances."

Bosch wins best domestic appliance award

Bosch Domestic Appliances has been presented with the Which? Award for Best Domestic Appliance Brand in products and services for 2009.
It achieved 19 'Best Buys' honours across home laundry, dishwashing, cooking, floorcare and ironing ranges.
Bosch was singled out for its 'consistently strong technical performance at affordable prices'.
Ken Humphrey, Bosch brand manager, commented: "The Bosch ethos has always been to strive to produce products which can withstand the closest scrutiny - products which prove themselves to be superior in every respect, at an affordable price. Perhaps old fashioned values in today's market, but values which nevertheless are appreciated by our customers and retailers alike.
"The Which? Awards bear this out and we are delighted to receive the endorsement of such a highly respected and exacting consumer organisation."
Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: "Now, perhaps more than ever, consumers want to know that if they spend their hard-earned cash on a product or service it will be worth it. "We're delighted to be celebrating well-known consumer brands that
not only meet the highest standards, but also seek to deliver exceptional value."

PABL owners form Appliance 365

Following the administration of Premium Appliance Brands Limited (PABL), its former owners have purchased assets, designs and brand names from the Administrator.
Guy Weaver and Peter Brazier, who established PABL in 2002, have set up a new company, Appliance 365 Limited. It will remain in the same premises and with the same PABL staff.
Chief executive of Appliance 365, Guy Weaver commented: "The management team believespassionately in the business and that is why we decided to purchase the assets from the Administrators, with the objective of getting the business back on track as quickly as possible. "He added: "This is clearly a very difficult situation which developed over a very short space of time. Nevertheless our objective is to effect a smooth transition to the new business and minimise inconvenience to our customers:_
"I want to take thisopportunity to thank the staff for their loyalty and commitment under exceptionally difficult circumstances and also our major customers and suppliers who, virtually without exception, have been incredibly supportive of our new venture and encouraged us to continue to trade."
PABL, which imported products for sale, cited the rapid decline in the value of the Pound against the Dollar and the Euro, coupled with the onset of the UK recession.

GDHA sales growth in independents

Kitchen appliance manufacturer Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA) has reported sales growth through independent retailers, despite the decline of the UK cooking appliance market.
GDHA has reported an increase of 8% through the independent sector, driven by growth across its three cooking brands Stoves, Belling and New World. This growth includes a 25% increase in GDHA sales within freestanding and 21 % increasein sales within built-in ovens.
Overall, GDHA states it has 19% share of the cooking appliance market within the independent sector. Independent channel manager for GDHA, Jeanette Jones said: "It's encouraging to be able to report these figures - especially in the current climate.
"I'm very pleased with the performance of all three brands in these difficult
market conditions. "As a company, we have remained committed to theindependent sector and believe this strategy has paid off. The growth we've achieved comes as a result of working hard in partnership with independent retailers, supporting them in their sales strategies and securing high visibility for our products within their stores."
She added "On top of this, we believe that being the only UK manufacturer of built-in ovens and freestanding cookers, up to 600mm wide, is giving both retailers and consumers products tailored to their needs':

Third trade show closure for industry

Organiser of the newly launched show Kitchen & Bathroom Evolution has confirmed the event will not be going ahead.
The exhibition was created to be a low-cost event but despite this there was still not enough confirmed exhibitors for the show to take place.
Originally devised as a consumer and trade show, which would take place in Manchester during September, it then underwent a re-focus to become trade-only and moved its dates to October. However, this was not enough to save the exhibition and the show called it quits before its first outing.
Sam Cande of organiser Cande Communications commented in an open letter to Kitchens & Bathrooms News: "I personally feel that things are really starting to pick up. Yet companies are so nervous that the economic attack is still above our heads and committing to an exhibition was not something they were able to do."
Kitchens & Bathrooms Evolution is the third trade exhibition to be cancelled this year, following both EXPO and KBB London.

Government lifeline for troubled housing sector

The Government has thrown a lifeline to new build and regeneration sectors, doubling the lifespan of planning permits in a bid to encourage house building.
Following a drop in the number of permits being taken up, a temporary period of extending the life of planning consent is being introduced.
Permits that are not used usually expire automatically after three years, however Housing Minister John Healey has said that permits could be extended for another three years.
The changes apply to developments which are more than 10 homes but won't allow a developer to change what they are building.
Mr Healey commented: "During the downturn, our first concern has been to act and invest to accelerate recovery. The Prime Minister has said that we'll do whatever it takes to see people through these tough times, keep companies in business and people in their homes. So, I'm announcing the power for local authorities to extend the time limits for existing planning permissions. This will help to make sure that more homes, offices and factories get built at a time when investing in new developments is difficult and when funding is hard.
"The changes also make it easier to apply for planning permission in the first place and gives developers scope to make minor alterations without going i e, back to the start of the
application process, therefore saving time and money."
He also launched a consultation on changes to the Building Regulations to deliver the first step towards zero carbon buildings and carbon savings of over 3million tonnes a year.
Mr Healey said: "I have announced the next step towards zero carbon a 25% improvement on current standards for new homes or buildings from 2010. This consultation on changes to the Building Regulations means we are not only building to better standards, but making homes cheaper to heat and run for the families living in them."
they were able to do."