IER-JAN2010-PG26-31.2:Layout 1 24/12/2009 11:44 Page 28
Reviews from the top
ARMOUR
There’s no disguising the fact, general
market conditions have been difficult
over the last twelve months. Despite
this, I’m pleased to report Armour
Home has performed beyond our
expectations. Due in no small part to
our continued investment in new
products, new technology, new
people, new premises and, of
course, training – we have seen record
numbers of trainees this year.
The many USPs built into our products have helped us maintain retail prices, despite the seemingly
desperate antics of some of our competitors, but of course, like everyone we have suffered from
exchange rate issues.
An ironic problem of doing better than expected is that we ran out of stock of some products.
Optimising stock levels in an unpredictable market is a real challenge and I confess we’ve got it wrong
on a few lines.
Armour has enjoyed record sales in the first quarter of our new financial year, starting September
2009. This has been our best ever sales period, for both Armour and Alphason, in over 30 years of
trading, so we have reasons to be optimistic.
Beyond this, the forthcoming World Cup is already having a positive effect on our ‘attachment sales’
of furniture, cables and ‘Q-TV2’, the amazing new ‘invisible’ sound upgrade system for televisions,
which is destined to be our most successful product ever — with innovation again the key feature.
Glen McClelland
Managing Director
HOOVER CANDY
Despite the challenging economic climate, 2009 was another successful year
of innovation for Hoover Candy Group.
Under the Hoover brand, we introduced the Dynamic 10 washing
machine, breaking the capacity barrier at the time with its 10kg load. Typical
of the products we’re committed to bringing to market across built-in and
freestanding, the Dynamic 10 answered demand for energy efficient
products that delivered on
performance and style.
In October, we launched the
Aristocrat range at the CIH trade
show, providing independent
retailers with the collateral they
needed to rival the best on the
market, with high specification products that provided real value for money. That same
month, our Candy U-SEE oven was awarded the gold standard for product innovation at
the Design Awards. The LED lights featured in the U-SEE’s unique lighting system use
95% less energy then a conventional oven.
Energy consumption will continue to be a key issue into 2010, and that’s why we’re
committed to not only developing technology which offers significant savings and
reductions, but minimising our own consumption. Since 2000, the Hoover Candy Group
has cut CO2 emissions by 29% and energy consumption by 21%. The amount of industrial
waste recycled by Hoover Candy has risen to 84.7%.
In a challenging market, Hoover Candy products offer retailers the opportunity to
capitalise on a well-known and trusted brand. With over a hundred years’ experience in
Steve Macdonald
domestic appliances, combined with insightful research and innovative technology,
Marketing Director
products from Hoover Candy offer a real point of difference.
28 TheIndependentElectricalRetailer January 2010
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