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CIH Euronics showcase gears up for 2024 C


ombined Independents (Holdings) Ltd (CIH), the electrical buying group,


part of Euronics, Europe’s largest electrical buying group, is preparing once again for its unique members only event for brands, CIH members and Euronics agents taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd April 2024. “We are excited to join together at Showcase


to celebrate a momentous year. As CIH turned 60, the hard work of the Euronics UK retail network was rewarded with a ‘Recommended Provider of Home appliances’ award by Which? who also placed us top in their Home Appliances Retailer performance table. Feefo have also been capturing the good work with customer ratings of 97%,” said Paul Tyler, CEO of CIH. “In this spirit, Showcase this year represents our continued endeavour to help our members and agents cultivate success.”


The event promises to be a dynamic showcase of the latest trends, products and technologies that are shaping consumer choices in the electrical appliance industry, all supported by more than 40 brands including Beko; Blomberg; CDA; Liebherr; Haier; Hoover; Asko; Vax; Product Care Group; Bosch; Neff; Siemens; Rangemaster; Whirlpool; Hotpoint; LG; Sony; Smeg; Shark; Ninja; AEG; Samsung; plus, many others. Attendees can look forward to exploring


the Euronics Store set-up area, featuring a comprehensive lineup of national campaigns for the year and an array of promotional tools designed to drive foot fall and boost online engagement. Additionally, the show home will highlight the latest innovations and consumer preferences shaping the industry landscape.


Retra to close after almost 82 years R


etra will close on March 31 this year, but members will be offered membership


of BIRA (British Independent Retailers Association), which will create a new division dedicated to electrical retailers and repair agents.


BIRA is a bigger trade association than Retra and it will continue to provide the current Retra support, with some additional enhanced services that are not currently offered. The announcement follows on from this


month’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), which was held on February 1. At the meeting, 98 percent of Retra’s members voted for the closure. The decision was taken after careful


consideration of the current landscape and the best interests of Retra’s members. However, to ensure that its members continue


to receive support and benefits even after Retra ceases its operations, in partnership with BIRA, Retra is pleased to offer all of its fully paid-up members – as of October 31 2023 – one year’s free membership of BIRA. This cost will be covered by Retra and the membership will start from April 2024.


BIRA is dedicated to supporting independent


retailers, and Retra, which was founded in 1942, believes it will continue to uphold the values and legacy of Retra, while providing valuable resources and networking opportunities to Retra members.


Transforming business updates and insights


into bitesize talks, the ‘Euronics Garden’ is hosting several sessions diving into useful topics for its members. Alongside this CIH will be turning its latest news into a Showcase special episode for its brand-new members-only Podcast. Euronics members will also be able to meet


Indie, the CIH Euronics Penguin mascot. After melting hearts and taking social channels and window displays by storm, Indie will be making several appearances around the show and hanging out in the Peng’win bowling alley. “We are excited to build on our continued success and want to thank our members for everything they do within their stores and communities, that brings strength and uniqueness to our Euronics network. Also, we must thank our Suppliers as none of this would be possible without their unwavering support towards Euronics as a whole,” concludes Tyler.


Retracare’s insurance


offering will continue through the Pacifica Group, and the financial services company, Novuna, will also support any existing and new dealers directly. “Rest assured that our commitment to the industry remains steadfast, even as Retra closes its doors,” said Howard Saycell, Retra CEO. “We understand that this news may come as a surprise, and we are here to address any questions or concerns you may have during this transition period. Your satisfaction and continued success are of utmost importance to us.” He added: “Thank you for your understanding,


support, and dedication to Retra over the years. We believe that with the support of BIRA and the continued efforts of Retracare and Novuna, our industry will thrive despite these changes.”


Beko plc receives Gold Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation B


eko plc has been accredited as a Gold Carbon Literate Organisation,


highlighting the company’s dedication towards tackling climate change, reducing its organisational carbon emissions, and its commitment to working towards a lower-carbon future. Carbon Literacy is defined as, “an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis,” and revolves around a day’s worth of learning and


Spring 2024


action on climate change. Beko plc has received its Gold Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation by maintaining a substantial proportion of its workforce as Carbon Literate and


demonstrating its commitment to Carbon Literacy through organisational behaviour. Teresa Arbuckle, managing director of Beko


plc, commented: “I am incredibly proud of our company’s recent Gold Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation and the positive


change we’ve seen in the company as a result of adopting the training on a wide scale. We understood that on our journey to reduce emissions in a significant way we needed the involvement


and support from every person in our business. Beko plc’s purpose is to inspire sustainable lives in every home, and we will continue to expand our training programmes, sharing knowledge and learning, to create further impact on a wider scale.”


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