contents


Festive cheer and new opportunities for 2022


T


his year has been somewhat of a rollercoaster, dominated by the


pandemic and varying health and safety measures across the country, but I am full of optimism as this fantastic industry heads straight into the peak selling season. This issue of IER features a review of the 29th IER Awards; it was very strange sifting through the many photos of the great event – I contracted COVID so, sadly, couldn’t be there. Congratulations to all the winners and those


EDITORIAL


Managing Editor: Simon King sking@datateam.co.uk


SALES


Special Projects and Events: Linda Dorling lindaedorling@gmail.com 01256 321337


Business Director: Carl Hearnden chearnden@datateam.co.uk


Artwork Editor Claire Noe cnoe@datateam.co.uk 01622 607963


Circulation Enquiries: datateam@c-cms.com 01825 749900


Annual Subscription: UK £91, Overseas £122


All press releases to be sent to: ier@datateam.co.uk


that were highly commended – and don’t forget to shout about your success; customers love to shop in award-winning businesses. This is big news for individuals and businesses, so don’t forget to use FREE marketing – Facebook, Instagram, Snap Chat, Tik Tok and LinkedIn – to promote your win. For this issue of IER, I headed to Symphony


Group in Barnsley. It wants to work with independent electrical retailers and working with the company will not only brighten up your showroom, but will give you another string to


REGULARS


4 News 10 Question & Answer: Derek Miller, president of the International Housewares Association


14 The Big Interview: Steve MacDonald, Haier Europe


16 The Big Interview: The Symphony Group’s Simon Collyns and Robert Williamson


18 Question & Answer: James Sandison, head of UK sales at Humax


20 Question & Answer: Dan Brown, operations director at Mitchell & Brown


Produced and published by Datateam Business Media Ltd., 15a London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY


All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including recording, photocopying or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the Publisher.


FEATURES


12 Charity issues winter warning as energy crisis set to see spike in portable electric heater use


21 Here comes Santa Claus – manufacturers off er their advice on key seasonal products


26 The IER Awards: A full review of the industry leading awards programme


November 2021 26 www.ierdaily.co.uk | 3


14 16


21


your bow. After fi nding out about Symphony, I headed to hear from two Sirius members about how they have found their experiences of partnering with the manufacturer. I think it’s fair to say that while it may have been a steep learning curve for both retailers, they are now thriving and looking to sell and design more kitchens. Symphony wants to work with you, check;


the kitchens will brighten your showroom, check; and there’s profi t to be made on both the kitchens and appliances, check – sounds like a winning combination to me. This is the last issue of IER in 2021; we’ll be back


in 2022. We hope you have a great Christmas, and we look forward to working with you again in 2022. . Simon King Managing Editor sking@datateam.co.uk


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