April 2024
ertonline.co.uk
Panasonic has issued a ‘termination notice’ to a number of independent retailers saying that it has decided to “reduce the number” of dealers it sells to directly – based on current turnover levels.
The company sent out an email last month to an unknown amount of independent retailers. It said it would no longer be offering them the ability to purchase products directly from Panasonic “in the same way as previously”, and that direct orders would only be taken until 31 March 2024.
Smeg announces new UK Managing Director
Smeg has announced that Daniel Hadley will be its new UK Managing Director; he takes over from Mike Giddings, who has been with the company for over two decades. Mr Hadley has joined Smeg from Dyson where he led the sales team in MEA; he has over 16 years of experience working for blue chip organisations. “I am delighted to join Smeg at such an exciting time for the brand and I am keen to continue to develop the UK and Ireland business,” said Mr Hadley. “Mike
A Panasonic spokesperson told ERT: “This decision was not one we took lightly and was carefully considered. We constantly monitor the size and structure of the channel and make adjustments where necessary both in the interests of our customers and Panasonic.” ERT also spoke to several independent dealers (anonymously) about this ‘termination’ and their shared view was that this is “no surprise”… One retailer said: “We used to do a lot of business with Panasonic, not just brown goods but some white goods as well, so it feels like the end of an era. But we
was the lynchpin for so many incredible milestones at Smeg, no less the opening of the brand’s global incredible UK HQ in Abingdon.”
Mr Giddings joined Smeg as National Sales Manager in 2001, before becoming Sales Director. Then he spent more than 11 years as MD, spearheading the brand’s sales operation, service partnership and marketing direction across both the domestic and professional strands of the business. “I leave Smeg on a high and in the very capable hands of Daniel,” added Mr Giddings. “It has been extraordinary activations and innovations. I am now looking forward to spending more time with my wife Jill and our grandchildren.”
haven’t dealt with them properly for years so for me it’s no hardship that they’re closing my account. I saw the email come through, I shrugged my shoulders and thought ‘oh well’.” Another independent dealer, who said they hadn’t conducted any business with Panasonic since almost 2020, simply added: “This won’t make any difference to my business.” A third retailer, who did not receive the ‘termination’ notice, told ERT: “It’s a real shame as historically the brand is, in my view, great. They still have some cracking product, but they have been bumbling along for years and I think going forward it’s only going to get worse.” The Panasonic spokesperson continued: “Our commitment to the independent channel remains strong as we see growth year-on-year and we hope to be able to support our ongoing accounts further in FY24. We see limited impact to this growth with the closure of accounts which contributed less than one per cent of the channel result for FY23.”
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Daniel Hadley (left) with outgoing MD, Mike Giddings
DISCOVER HADEN’S Microwave Range Contact us:
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