Stephen Johnson: “Some kitchen retailers can be a fickle breed”

Managing director of Quooker UK, Stephen Johnson has shown his frustration with kitchen retailers who don’t show manufacturer loyalty, lashing out: “Unfortunately, some kitchen retailers can be a fickle breed. They are very quick to say they want more support and service. But when they do get that, they don’t always recognise and reward it.”

Johnson explained: "What I mean by that, there may be a supplier who comes out with a new tap and it'll go into a showroom, where you've offered them a free display, five years of service and thousands of pounds in support."

He said he had a display given free to a showroom, whom he long-standing relationship with, taken out and replaced with a competitors. He said he hadn't been told the showroom had removed it, until he paid a visit.

"Providing we continue to offer a service and ensure the product is at the cutting edge of where it needs to be, and invest in that dealer, they should recognise and reward you with a significant level of their business", says Johnson

He continued: “We’re here to work hard for our dealers but what I don’t think is that some of them give you that loyalty back. They want the service from us and the quid pro quo is we want the business from them.”

Johnson added: "A number of kitchen dealers are obsessed with everything. I think some of them are guilty of stocking too much product."

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Electrolux names Aeroball as future appliance winner

Electrolux named the winner of its 10^th annual Design Lab 2012, a competition for household appliances of the future, as Aeroball by Jan Ankiersztajn from Poland.

Aeroball is a collection of luminescent, hovering balls that can filter and fragrance the air in the room and fall to the ground when they are ready to be changed.
This year's competition remit was to create concept household appliances that stimulate, engage and enlighten senses.
Design director at Electrolux, and head of the jury, Thomas Johansson explained: “We rely on our senses for almost everything, so considering the senses is an important factor when designing appliances.”

He continued: “This year’s winning concept, Aeroball is a truly innovative concept that uses space in a unique way and delights our surroundings. It also changes our perception of an air cleaner because it is delicate in aesthetics; it is emotional and also relevant, because it addresses the consumer’s needs.”

The second prize in the competition went to Ben de la Roche from New Zealand for his refrigerated wall, Impress, with bottles and containers placed directly in the wall. The third prize was presented to Christopher Holm-Hansen, from Denmark, for Tastee. It is a spoon has utilises receptors based on the human tastes buds to tell the chef what ingredients are needs to improve the dish.

These three prize winners were chosen from 10 global finalists. The UK had three entries in the Electrolux Design Lab competition, which qualified for this year’s semi-finals.

Jan Ankiersztajn from Poland follows last year’s winner, Adrian Mankovecky from Slovenia for his portable spot cleaner. Like, Mankovecky, he wins €5,000 Euros and a six-month paid internship at an Electrolux global design centre.

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tc bathrooms ceases trading

Following tc bathrooms adminstration, the company has held a sale of its entire stock, at its warehouse in Dewsbury, and now ceased to trade.

The stock was acquired by bathstore.com and although the figure has not yet been finalised, it will be included in the proposals to creditors by December 18, 2012.

Joint administrator Hunter Kelly said: “We received some expressions of interest in various parts of the business from a number of parties. No offers were made that included both the trade and retail operations of the business.

“Following the sale of stock – one of the Company’s most significant assets – the business has ceased to trade and is in the process of being wound. As a result, it has been necessary to make a further 68 redundancies. The remaining staff are being retained to assist us in winding down the business.”

The administrator is still seeking a buyer for the 205,000 warehouse in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

It is still unknown how much money the companies owes or the number of creditors.

tc bathrooms was a distributor and retailer of bathroom equipment and furnishings and operated 17 retail showrooms across the country. It employed 187 people, including 47 in showrooms across the country.

The administrator cited the economic downturn, contraction of new housing and refurbishment markets, as well as it being unable to service its debt which had funded a ‘recent consideration expansion’.

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DIY giants voted worst on-line shops

DIY giants Homebase and B&Q, with its diy.com website, have been voted among the worst online shops, as voted by their customers.

According to the annual Which? survey of the best and worst online retailers, the consumer champion asked 14,353 of its members to rate sellers based on customer satisfaction.

Homebase and B&Q were in the bottom five online retailers, along with interiors website Achica.com.

However, the home industry was buoyed by johnlewis.com rated second and Lakeland.co.uk rated fourth.

According to the survey, customers chose to shop online because it’s cheaper, easier to compare prices between shops and easier to find items. However, the shoppers also found delays with deliveries, faulty items and poor availability were the most common problems.

Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd said: “With household budgets squeezed, it’s not surprise that many more consumers are going more of their shopping online, with seven out of ten people saying they shop online for cheaper prices.

“But it’s clear some online retailers need to raise their game, with people complaining of delays with deliveries, faulty items and poor stock availability. Although we’ve found many are providing excellent customer service, we want to see the rest not only meeting the minimum fair trading rules but catching up with the best.”

The research follows an Office of Fair trading (OFT) investigation into retailers who are failing to meet online trading regulations. The OFT has written to 62 retailers after a check of 156 websites found problems including unreasonable restrictions on refunds, inadequate contact details and unexpected charges at the checkout.

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Neff awards top MasterPartner dealers

Appliance brand Neff presented its annual MasterPartner awards to its leading kitchen showrooms at a lunchtime event held at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham London.

Nine awards were presented at the ceremony, which this year was hosted by sports presenter John Inverdale. The winners also collected a prize hamper, courtesy of Neff, worth £500.

The best window display was awarded to Vanessa Sharp from James James Kitchens in West Kirby and the best MasterPartner showroom was presented to Nathan Hopper from Simply Kitchens in Plymouth. The best use of advertising and marketing was scooped, this year, by Mark Gilligan from Kitchen Design Centre in Uxbridge.

In addition, the best kitchen design using Neff (up to the value of £20,000) was presented to Steve Dempsey from Ebstone Kitchens in Uxbridge, and Best Kitchen design using Neff (over £20,000) was won by Development Direct in Edinburgh.

Completing the line-up of retail award winners, Gary Martin from Distinctive Kitchens in Prescot was awarded Best Newcomer and the anniversary award was presented to Chris Byle and Penny Tyon from Byles of Hyde in Cheshire. But the top honour of the event went to Simon Street of Sylvarna Kitchen Design in Chichester, who was acclaimed Supreme MasterPartner.

Finally, the MasterPartner Area Business Manager Award, which was nominated by Neff’s dealers, was given to Ian Adams.  

Simon Street, managing director of Sylvarna Kitchen Design which won Supreme MasterPartner said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the title of Neff Supreme MasterPartner after a relationship built with Neff over 30 years of business together. We are proud to offer the highest level of service and product knowledge to our customers and are committed to support the Neff product range by showcasing it in our award-winning kitchen showroom, demonstrated by our experienced designers. Receiving this award is the ultimate recognition of our hard work.”

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Ebac to open washing machine plant in UK

A washing machine factory set to be opened in the North East of England, by the Ebac Group, will create more than 200 jobs. The County Durham company is to develop the products in a £7million venture, made possible by £1million from the Regional Growth Fund.

Ebac currently employs 200 people and manufactures watercoolers, dehumidifiers and air coolers. With the development of the washing machine factory, it will double the company's workforce.

According to the firm, 4 million washing machines are brought into the UK, and Ebac believes it can replace those exports with appliances made in the UK.

Managing director of the Ebac Group, Pamela Petty said: “This exciting venture is a huge boost to manufacturing in the North East of England, because it opens up a new market for us, creating jobs and making County Durham home to the UK’s only washing machine manufacturing facility.

“We have spent months exploring not only the feasibility of manufacturing washing machines, but also the processes involved and we are very confident of having a high quality, competitive product on the market within the next two years. The money from the Regional Growth Fund makes all of this possible and will quickly reap returns for the economy.

“It’s good for Ebac, it’s good for the North East and it’s good for the country.

Ebac chairman John Elliott added: “During my 50 years in manufacturing, the trend has been for jobs to be lost in the North East. It is great to have this chance to bring sustainable jobs for County Durham people.

“If we are to resolve the UK’s economic problems, we need to start making things again and support for project, such as this, is a huge step in the right direction.”

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TALKING SHOP: Builder versus kitchen designer

Proprietor of Modern Homes in Leamington Spa, Tina Riley asks why is there a continuing battle between the builder and the kitchen designer?

I have often wondered why and how there is so often a battle of wills between a builder and a designer, when ultimately it should be a case of the client is king. We should be working together to come up with the best solution for our customers.

Now don’t get me wrong, we deal with some fabulous builders with whom we have built up great relationships over the years. They get us involved at the earliest opportunity, from the architect plans. It gives us plenty of time to work with the client and builder together, as opposed to the builder or client who calls us in when walls are plastered, services fitted and all electrical supplies are in the wrong place.

Let us design

Our good builders take advantage of both our expertise and our showroom. They often come and introduce their clients and then let us take over. We find that this can be a benefit to all parties. The builder can get on with what he does best – building – and we can get on with what we do best - designing. And the client gets the best of both worlds!

We, kitchen designers, often have to be extremely flexible to meet our clients’ expectations, so my heart sinks when the client tells me the builder has designed her kitchen. It’s not that I am questioning his ability as a skilled craftsman but kitchen design is a very different discipline to a house building project. We only just manage to keep up-to-date with current trends, new appliances and new furniture units, by working on kitchens every day, so I really don’t expect a builder to be as up-to-date as we are.

Better working together

Then there is the matter of actually working together with some builders, some of whom still seem to have an aversion to dealing with women. Possibly they think we should be washing-up in the kitchen not designing it! So, imagine my surprise on a recent technical survey, to discover a boiler, Megaflow, and heating manifold in the kitchen. This had been discussed and was all going to be in the basement but the plumber decided it would be easier to put it in the kitchen, then neglected to mention it. He uttered my favourite phrase of all time ever “can’t you just cobble the units around them, love!”

Not least, there’s the small matter of when the kitchen should actually be fitted. It doesn’t seem to matter how often I state it should be one of the last jobs. I have been on site to see plasterers working around a high gloss kitchen, electricians standing on brand new worktops and loads of rubbish all over the new off-white porcelain tiled floor!

So my plea to all builders and property developers who may be reading this, please let’s work together. I wouldn’t dream of being able to do your job, so please don’t think that you can do mine!

Are builders your bugbear when designing kitchens, or bathrooms, for that matter. Email the editor Philippa Turrell with your view.

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