association comments associat AMDEA ma EA y be w may be wi ay


kitche apn applianc Associatio xe u


tion comments m


Small Things… R


Sma


ecent estimates sugg av


add in gas andsolidfue go


a imbig pact n y o dtdao allTh


kitchen appliances, but much of its time is also spent on issues affecting smaller househ old items, writes at nex


widely known f r ts mem bu mu


me is


add in gas and solid fuel-powered white goods, AMDEA members’ products have a big impact on day to day living


40 electrical appliances.Ifw ,AMDEA ember m


rs’ products ha day vingli


av


average household has more than 40 electrical appliances. If we


t estimates suggest that t eh ge


ehousehold hasmore than el po eredwhi


or AM


e Sian L wis t that the


y known for iits member of its tim


mbers’ larg pen


o issn ues affecting smaller household i ems, wri Association executive Sian Lewis


s o nt sals tes


prominence depending on current activity. A problem with an elusive definition in a new standard meant that one of ourandard meant that one of our technical team spent time dealing with pond pumps.


For AMDEA, different items come to omine


fe ent items come t


A problem with an elusiv anew sta


nce depending on cur e definition in


t ac en tivit t


echnicalteam spent time dealing with pond pumps


Successful launch for


The Radio Electrical and Television Retailers’ Association (retra) has announced that retracare’s two new Service Plans - launched on August 1 - have beaten expectations, says retra chief executive Bryan Lovewell


R


etracare launched into the market with two Service Plans, which are competitively priced


and offer true value to consumers. The retracare Silver Service Plan enables


retra members to extend a manufacturer’s guarantee after the initial period, up to five years in total, which is renewable annually after the initial service plan period. The retracare Gold Service Plan includes accidental damage. Matthew Sheldrake, retracare’s manager,


said: “I’m delighted that we have successfully moved from a very manual driven system to a fully automated process. “The feedback that we’re getting from members has been very positive and we’re now geared to offer members a complete one-stop-shop; from start to finish in-store, you’re talking a matter of minutes.” Mr Sheldrake said that retracare has more than doubled the number of members offering service plans in-store. He added: “Members have really embraced the launch of retracare and the two new service plans. One member, who I will not name, made profit of more than £2,500 for the month of August – that’s net profit off the back of the service plans. “How many washing machines would


you have to sell to make a similar amount of net profit? In tough times, retracare is giving members a solution.”


He continued: “The retracare service plans


are two great options that are exclusive to retra members. There is an opportunity to earn profit from the retra trade price. You decide the price, and you decide the margin. “The Service Plans have been designed


for you, and are designed to be right for the market place, and they are backed by your association. If you sell warranties, we want you to sell retracare – we want you to sell our Service Plans.” “If you are selling policies at the moment,


have a look at what we have got to offer, because it could be an opportunity for you, it really could – why wouldn’t you want to put more profit into your business?If you’re not currently selling retracare service plans, give me a call.” Bryan Lovewell, retra’s chief executive,


said: “I have mentioned before and it’s worth repeating: all the profits made by retracare are given back to the membership in a number of ways, two of which are subsidised annual subscriptions and subsidised sales training. “It’s also worth reiterating that should a


product be declared a write-off during the plan period, it will be the member who sold the product and the service plan who will replace the product – and not one of your competitors.” For more information, call Matthew Sheldrake on 01234 245900 or email matthew.sheldrake@retra.co.uk


Meanwhile, the latest proposals from the Government for new consumer rights legislation came with a toaster as a suggested example. And then there is the issue of how big is a small ov


the Gov


while, the latest pr oposals fr fo


c


legislation came with a toa big is a “small oven”?


Even such mundane matt o measure the size of a pr can be crucial to ovingpr piece of legislation.


or new consumer rights aster as a suggest


Even such mundane matters, such as how to measure the size of a product accurately can be crucial to proving compliance with a piece of leg


t accurately, compliance with a


T ehe volution of energy labelling and eco-design regulations brought vacuum cleaners into the limelight some years ago. But it proved remarkably difficult to achieve a sensible outcome - and even now, with the egulations finally published, thereare still guments about how pra


The evolution of energy labelling and designregulations brought vacuum cleaners into the limelight some years ago But it proved r


acticable they ar ably difficult to achiev


a sensible outcome - and ev noen w, with the regulations finally published, there are still arguments about how practicable they are.


Thea The av averagehge household


hasmore than 40 l appliancesppliances


eat has more than 40 electrical


household 0e ectrical


European proposals that portable room heaters (such as small gas-filled radiators) should have stickers to warn consumers that they use a lot of electricity met with opposition. Manufacturers in countries with significant renewable energy sources saw no point, while others argued that portable heaterswer y heating provision.


European proposals that portable r h ers (such as small gas-fi should ha e stickers o wart they use a lot of elec


y anufacturers in countr r The ors) g


enewable energy sources saw no point, while others argued that portable heaters w e always a supplementary heating provision. The Waste Electrical and Electronic egulations aff


e Elec ical and Elec


Equipment (WEEE) regulations affect virtually all of our members’ products, so the consultation, so the consultation on proposals to change the UK WEEE system tiint


Equipment (


on proposals to change the UKWEEE syst was of great interest.


of our members was of g eat


est t.


Ther rea eon-going concerns about howt ensure that small items of WEEE do not end up in landfill. Under the existing regulations some items are not covered,, but the new regulations will include almost all electric or electronic


There are on-going concerns about how to e that small items ofWEEE do not end up


in landfill. Under the existing r items are not cov


y mat but the newregulations


will include almost all electric or elect onicr products.


contact with food) are increasingly subject to restrictions on their chemical content and their recyclability. And the number of kitchen gadgets on the market is increasing.


Many materials (especially those in t with ffo


ials (especially those in e increasingly subjec or their r tions on their chem gadgets on the mar et is in mical content and


clabilit . And the number of ki chent ncr


MDEA members provide the UK consumer with a host of essential items and they rely on us for adviceus or adviceffo


we can make to the development of the legislation and standards t


e can maketo the development of the legislation and standards that aff


that affect them.


AMDEA members provide the UK consumer with a host of essential items and they r fo mation and an


, information and any contribution ffe t them.


ffe t vir


. And then thereis the issue of how , such as how


rge


filled radiat rn consumers that met with opposition. ies with si nificant


18 | www


w..innova ivvativeelectricalre veele le ic


calretailing..c


co.u.uk


October2013


October 2013


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