feature: floorcare
if the user has a big house with lots of carpets. And when the battery is dead, consumers want to know how long the battery takes to recharge. Once again, the Bosch Athlet comes into its own thanks to Bosch Lithium-Ion battery technology (adopted from the Bosch Power Tool division). Synonymous with high performance and extra-long performance times, Lithium-Ion battery technology is also characterised by short charging times. “Of course, a good battery life and short
charging time is worthless if the vacuum doesn’t clean efficiently. At BSH we believe the solution is sensor technology, which continuously monitors the cleaning performance of our cordless vacuum cleaners like the Bosch Athlet. When its performance drops, an LED light indicates that the filter needs to be cleaned. This ensures that the appliance always performs at its optimal level and also reduces maintenance requirements to a minimum.” James Aldridge points out that consumer habits are changing. “Consumers are vacuuming more frequently, and for shorter periods of time, as and when it is required. Cordless, lightweight vacuum cleaners are an ideal floorcare appliance for vacuuming quickly with minimal effort and time. Historically, consumers purchased a cordless vacuum cleaner as a second floorcare product, however, with the change in cleaning habits, the continuing investment and development of battery life and functionality, we expect to see the cordless vacuum continue to grow in popularity as a primary floorcare product.”
July / August 2019
Catrin Davies also advises retailers to focus on
cordless, and explains how hybrid models are now coming to the fore. “Cordless has become the number one choice for consumers. By the close of 2018, cordless models accounted for 52.7 per cent (in value) of the market; an impressive 7 per cent increase from the same figures in 2017. Our strategy to develop multifunctional lift out models has generated tremendous results. For example, the H-Lift 700 (3-in1) ticks the boxes for a consumer who wants to do a whole house clean. These can be used as traditional vacuums for those who prefer an upright, but they can also convert into a handheld and corded stick model. The beauty of this product development is that the consumer gets all of the power of a corded model, with the flexibility of a corded stick, handheld and upright vacuum; so the consumer is in total control of their cleaning.” For Geoff Johnson, the outlook for RVCs looks
promising, with new products expected to enter the UK market soon. “In the UK we can see over 70% volume market driven by premium RVC brands like iRobot (54.2%), Neato (17.7%) and Dyson 2%. We expect to see more from the likes of established Chinese manufacturers such Xiaomi & Ecovacs in the near future.” Joseph Yaxley, category manager for lloorcare
at Miele GB, emphasises performance and ease of use as perennial must-haves for consumers. “The key trends remain with consumers looking for the best performance and filtration as well as wanting a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use. All vacuum cleaners either use a dust bag or have a dust container– as to which to pick, this generally comes down to a consumer’s personal preference and individual needs." "Despite manufacturing our first bagless vacuum cleaner in 1927, Miele has historically made bagged vacuum cleaners with dust bags, viewed by many as the more hygienic option.
www.innovativeelectricalretailing.co.uk | 27
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
