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Smeg UK appoints Kris Horley as Head of Independent Retail


He added that his approach to his


Smeg UK has appointed Kris Horley as its new Head of Independent Retail. A major hire for the brand this year,


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Mr Horley (pictured) brings with him over 25 years of experience from a variety of sales roles within the industry. He will be responsible for Smeg’s ongoing development of its independent retail channel, which is a key focus for the brand in 2019. Speaking exclusively to ERT about


the importance of independent retailers across the electrical industry, Mr Horley said: “The best things have got to be their knowledge and their credibility. They are very good at selling up, but also offer great customer service. These retailers are an extension of our brand and we want to partner with people that will do a really good job of representing us. “They are our lifeblood and me and


my team will work closely with them all day, every day and we’re passionate about that.”


new role is to review how Smeg already works with its retailers. “We need to get our iconic products out on display; that’s a big part of my role and looking at how we get those products in front of the consumer and how we then create that desire with them. “It’s early days yet, but the important


thing for me is to take feedback from our retailers – what do they want from a preferred supplier? What are they looking for? What trends have they spotted? “This is a long-term thing; it’s not a


flash in the pan, coming straight out with offers. I’m going back to basics and going out to see people – taking some inspiration from what these retailers are doing. By the time this goes to print, I’ll have been as far north as Dundee and as far south as Cornwall!” Within his new role, which he officially


started in February, Mr Horley will be in charge of managing the independent field sales team across the UK, with an overall responsibility for both the CIH and Sirius buying groups.


“I feel part of the Smeg family already,”


Mr Horley continued. “There’s a certain warmth about working for an Italian company. We are not a big faceless organisation and we’re not about just moving white boxes. It’s about creating


a desire and passion for the consumer and our job in the commercial end of it is to actually install the same amount of fire in our retailers. For us, design and functionality come first, and then we look at the market.”


LG kicks off global roll out of 2019 TV line up


LG Electronics is now rolling out its 2019 premium TV lineup, featuring advanced OLED and NanoCell TVs. This year, OLED models will make up


20 per cent of the company’s high-end TV portfolio and with demand for OLED TVs expected to grow to 3.6 million units this year, seven million units in 2020 and 10 million in 2021, LG expects to extend its leadership in the premium TV segment. Customers in Europe will soon be able to see this new lineup. This year’s OLED and NanoCell LCD


TVs from LG will offer upgraded AI picture and sound quality thanks to the company’s advanced second generation  (Alpha) 9 Gen 2 intelligent processor and deep learning technology. The TVs will benefi t from Apple AirPlay 2 and Apple HomeKit as well as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support.


The 9 Gen 2 processor in LG’s W,


E and C series of OLED TVs elevates picture and sound quality to optimise the images by recognising source quality and implementing the best algorithm to display a stunningly real image.


The processor also analyses ambient conditions to achieve the optimal level of screen brightness. LG’s 2019 home entertainment


lineup is led by its OLED TVs in a variety of screen sizes. In addition, the


world’s fi rst 8K OLED TV (model 88Z9) expands LG’s premium TV portfolio while NanoCell, the company’s most advanced LED TV offering, comes in larger-screen options. LG’s NanoCell range for 2019 comprises 14 AI-enabled models, available in sizes varying from 49 to 86 inches (on some models). Other LG TV models include the one-of-a-kind rollable LG SIGNATURE OLED TV R (model 65R9), which wowed audiences at CES earlier this year. “LG continues to push the boundaries of TV technological innovation,” said Brian Kwon, president of Mobile Communications and Home Entertainment companies. “LG’s advanced AI technologies to improve picture and sound enrich and expand the viewing experience.”


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