NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS | Round-up
• This year’s kbb Birmingham show will mark the fi rst UK event where software and content solutions company Cyncly will showcase its product portfolio. The company – which owns software such as Virtual Worlds, Winner Flex, EQ Flex, Ideal Spaces, 3CAD, Mozaik and Insight – will be on stand L70 in Hall 19. The show at the NEC runs from March 3-6.
• Moores has donated a kitchen to West Yorkshire Destitute Asylum Network (WYDAN). Ted Britton, WYDAN chair of trustees, said: “The units supplied were fi tted and in use ready for the opening of the Night Shelter at the beginning of October. They’re perfect for our needs.”
• Workers at Hill’s Panel Products (HPP) joined charity group Harper’s Army to help raise funds to improve the survival chances of a 21-month-old cancer patient. HPP appealed to its 200-strong workforce to pitch in by taking part in a fund-raising day, which raised over £1,120.
• PJH’s new Bathrooms to Love website is now live. The company says it has has been designed with the purpose of supporting retailers, who can input their business hours, branding and installation capabilities.
• New Zealand-based luxury appliance brand Fisher & Paykel is set to offi cially open the doors to its Wigmore Street experience centre early this year. Fisher & Paykel is welcoming bookings for Master of Temperature culinary experiences and guided tours ahead of the offi cial opening.
• Wren Kitchens has opened a new 19,000sq ft showroom at Deepdale Shopping Park, in Preston. This marks the retail chain’s 112th showroom and was opened by Councillor Yakub Patel, Mayor of Preston.
• Enclosure manufacturer Roman has unveiled its new website, which is said to use an upgraded and modern design. CEO David Osborne said: “This is a huge stride forward for Roman and hopefully a huge benefi t for all of our customers and stakeholders.”
• Outdoor kitchen brand KönigOutdoor – part of surfaces company Königstone - is now a member of non-profi t organisation Made in Britain. The brand hopes that the new membership status will help give consumers peace of mind about the brand’s products.
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Global market in ‘era of instability’, warns Hafele CEO
management can be your compass”. Riekena went on to say that he believes the way for business leaders to cope with these problems is by promoting a healthy environment within their companies.
“Fostering a family-feel culture keeps people with your companies and will help you and your team come up with long-term solutions to these problems”, he said.
GREGOR RIEKENA, CEO Häfele Group, believes that the global kitchen market has entered a new “era of instability”, fuelled by the unique challenges of the past few years
Riekena warned that: “Before Covid, we had about 10 years of stability. However, that age is now over, thanks to things such as Covid, politics and technology. There are also threats to logistics, such as the recent problems with
using the Suez Canal as an
important trade route for businesses. With the rise in global awareness, thanks to things like social media, this is also a more stressful time.”
He added: “From a sociological perspective, there are so-called ‘tipping point’ moments that can’t be anticipated, so we need to be ready to respond to further problems when they develop.” However, he also offered advice for other business leaders, saying that “there is no road map for the way ahead. However, culture and positive
Riekena believes this is important because “cultures grow over decades and can transcend these periods of instability. People have a longing for togetherness, so we have made a special effort to make company culture part of our strategy going forwards”. Despite the current challenges, he is still optimisitic about the future of Häfele Group, as well as the overall health of the sector. “I’m confident that this will work out”, he said. “We need realistic but ambitious goals in these times, but with optimism, I think we will continue to prosper.”
He raised his views as part of a recent conference held at board manufacturer Egger’s headquarters in Austria.
Along with Riekena, the
managing directors of both Egger and Blum discussed what they feel are the biggest industry challenges affecting the current market.
‘Be adaptable’, warns retail chief as he predicts challenges ahead for 2024
THE BRITISH Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said it anticipates a challenging period ahead for UK retailers with economic headwinds still expected for 2024.
Bira said it was expecting more challenges for retailers in
the coming months and urged businesses to “prioritise resilience and adaptability”. Bira chief executive Andrew Goodacre (pictured) said:
“While optimism usually accompanies a new year, we anticipate 2024 to be another challenging period, given the prevailing pessimism in economic growth.” Goodacre spoke of the need for eco nomic stability to kick-start recovery. And despite feeling that challenges still lay ahead, he struck a positive note: “We expect inflation to stabilise, and interest
rates to remain where they are.
Economic stability is crucial for us to focus on economic recovery. Bira recognises the need for a stable economic environment to empower its members and foster a climate conducive to growth.” Consumer confidence remained key, said Goodacre, who went on to say: “Consumers will still lack confidence and will be looking for value and strong brands. We are committed to supporting our members in meeting evolving consumer preferences, ensuring they remain competitive in the market.” Pointing to what it described as a surprising shift with shoppers going back to bricks-and-mortar retail after the Covid-driven spike in online sales, Goodacre added: “The penetration of internet shopping declined in 2023, and we
do not expect it to increase in 2024 – most people will want to buy in shops. This insight underscores the enduring importance of bricks-and-mortar stores in the retail landscape.”
Goodacre also highlighted the potential for sales to an older demographic of shopper, adding: “The older generation represents a real business opportunity – higher levels of wealth and disposable income. We ask that retailers recognise not
the to ignore potential the purchasing power.”
Ending on a less positive note, Goodacre warned of the potentially huge effect of a general election: “We will obviously have a general election, and while many may welcome a change of government, it will lead to a period of instability.”
• February 2024 of this often-retired demographic, generation’s and significant
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