News
Samsung Electronics has appointed Andrew Griffiths as
the new managing director, to lead the Samsung business in the UK and Ireland. In his new role, Andrew will head up the Samsung UK and Ireland team which spans all three business groups: Consumer Electronics, Mobile and IT. Andrew has over 20 years’ experience in the industry, including six years with Samsung, most recently as vice president of Consumer Electronics.
In its 80th year of business, Roberts has announced
two personnel changes within the company’s senior management team. After seven years with the business and five as sales & marketing director, Owen Watters now takes the newly created role of deputy chief executive. Meanwhile Jonathan Burrage now steps into the role of global sales & marketing director following three years growing the international business.
Domestic & General has appointed Kam Kandola as business development director. Kam joins the UK’s leading specialist warranty services provider from The Warranty Group, where he had been business development director. The newly created role at Domestic & General will see Kam working on a number of new B2B projects across all business segments.
Future proofing
THE forecasts for 2012 for the retail industry make very sobering reading. With the all- important consumer confidence remaining depressed, we can expect slow growth at best. "2012 will be about future
proofing the business to ensure survival in a market that will not change any time soon," said KPMG’s UK head of retail, Helen Dickinson. She added: "The squeeze on personal incomes will continue despite the expected decline in the rate of headline inflation."
Some sectors of the industry are predicted to do better than others. Professor John Dawson of Edinburgh and Stirling Universities, explained: "High-end retailing whether fashion or food, online sales, pop-up shops, or retailers with an offer
emphasising convenience are more likely to be among those successfully negotiating 2012, but traditional operations targeting middle markets with large numbers of high street stores may find 2012 even more difficult than 2011." Also the Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee should provide a sales boost for retailers, although some market experts warn that the Games may keep a large proportion of the population in front of the television screens rather than visiting the shops. Many of you have already
streamlined your operations and adjusted your strategies to accommodate sudden market developments and … opportunities. So what other future proofing measures can you take? There isn’t an easy answer but keeping your eyes
wide open may help. An independent column, which appears monthly in IER, is a good source of ideas that work for other independents, also in the Beat the Competition interviews retailers share their ‘tricks of the trade’. Perhaps it’s also worth looking outside our industry for ideas on winning and keeping custom.
Anna Ryland, Editor
aryland@datateam.co.uk Facing Belling’s fans
The focal point of the Belling stand at this year’s BBC Good Food Shows was the Facebook- inspired cooker, a range cooker created using the Facebook profile pictures of Belling’s social media fans, which had visitors queuing up to find their own image.
Belling, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, has created a cooking world first by taking its Facebook fans’ profile pictures and producing a montage which was printed onto a Belling Classic range cooker.
Jane Rylands, brand manager for Belling, commented: “Whilst this is a one-off cooker, who knows, if it’s a popular request, then we might create Facebook-inspired cooker designs in the future.”
6 The Independent Electrical Retailer January 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44