talking trade: CIH
‘We’re in a good place’ E
Combined Independents (Holdings) Ltd (CIH) chief executive Stuart Cook is optimistic for the future amidst the electrical buying group’s recent developments
lectrical buying group Combined Independents (Holdings) Ltd (CIH), part of Euronics, is experiencing
exciting times. From the appointment of a new chairman,
Stellisons Electrical managing director Steve Scogings, to a growing partnership with the Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group (KBBG) and the implementation of a new e-commerce offering, there has been plenty to keep CIH chief executive Stuart Cook busy in recent months. After a two year hiatus, the CIH showcase
at Birmingham’s NEC is also set to return in 2019 on April 7 and 8. The response from the industry has been especially rewarding, Stuart adds. “I’m really pleased with the reaction,” he explains. “I’ve just had a meeting with our new head of marketing and we have sold out all the space at the showcase now. I’m really chuffed about that.
The purpose of Associate
Membership is to open up the benefits of Euronics to more retailers
“The industry has wanted it back. When
you think about what’s going on in the wider market, with Brexit and some potential uncertainty for how some suppliers might sit in a few months’ time, the take up has been fantastic.” He adds: “The last couple of years we decided not to run with the showcase, both from prices increasing and suppliers struggling to find money to support it. Suppliers were finding it a challenge to plan for Brexit, along with price increases and exchange rates falling, so this response to the showcase returning is really encouraging and suggests there is more confidence from the supply side now.” There is also confidence within the walls of CIH that efforts behind the scenes over the past two years are now coming to fruition. “We have recently launched our new ecommerce site and SAP system – it has taken two years to put this project together,” Stuart says. “Touch wood, everything is in place now. I’ve done four implementations in my time and this is by far the best. I’m really pleased with it.
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www.innovativeelectricalretailing.co.uk
CIH chief executive Stuart Cook is optimistic about the future for the buying group, with investment behind the scenes now seeing the rollout of a new ecommerce site and SAP system
“We’re making sure the system is implemented and stable, then we have a couple more phases to go through, including talking to suppliers about the bigger picture for
Euronics.co.uk. We’ve also got a new rebrand for Euronics across the whole of Europe and the UK, so you’ll see the new lorry liveries going out and the new fasciae on stores being rolled out too. “We have the showcase coming up in April,
and I’m looking to bring back conference next year as well. So there is a hell of a lot going on. We’ve had things in the pipeline for a while, but it’s exciting to get down to it.” Another major initiative has been the introduction of Associate Membership for
the buying group. Stuart comments: “The purpose of Associate Membership is to open up the benefits of Euronics to more retailers, especially to those smaller and medium-sized independents who see full membership of the buying group as too expensive. “With Associate Membership, retailers can get hold of all of the agency and non-agency product in both of the CIH warehouses, with deliveries three times a week, at the best prices. We’ve introduced it slowly so far, but I expect that to ramp up over the next few months.” In a time of significant change at CIH, the appointment of Steve Scogings as chairman, after serving for two years as deputy chairman, is another reason for optimism, Stuart believes. “Steve is a forward thinking retailer, with
lovely stores,” he says. “That all bodes well, doesn’t it?” Steve replaces Robin Millwood, who held
the role for 12 years. Stuart comments: “Robin did a great job. We’ve been through some big transformations in the business and the time is right for him moving on and us looking to the future. I’m very pleased with how it’s all panned out. It’s onwards and upwards now.” That attitude extends to the wider operations of CIH, Stuart adds. “We’ve been on the back burner for two
years, with the SAP system and opening the northern warehouse,” he explains. “We’re coming out the other side of that now. I can get on with the main everyday elements of my job again, which will be nice, and drive all of these exciting developments. We’re in a good place.”
It has been a busy time for CIH in recent months, with the appointment of a new chairman and the renovation of the reception at its Andover headquarters to showcase its partnership with KBBG
December 2018 / January 2019
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