December 2022 ertonline.co.uk


IFA confirms 2023 show dates


It has been announced that the IFA Berlin trade show will return to the Messe Berlin showground on 1-5 September 2023. The new organiser, IFA Management GmbH – which is a new joint


venture founded by gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH together with Clarion Events Ltd – said it wants to ensure next year will be the “greatest show ever”.


Once again, consumer electronics and home appliances brands will be back in full force, turning a spotlight on next-generation tech, home innovations, sustainability initiatives, wearable healthcare trends, and more. Under the new partnership, IFA plans to expand its digital offering and the IFA Next brand to add more start-ups and new products to the event. Organisers said they will invest in “new features, experiences and entertainment to generate more value and excitement”. Dr. Sara Warneke, Managing Director of gfu, commented: “I am delighted


that IFA is staying in Berlin. Messe Berlin’s expertise in staging a show of this size and the potential offered by the new IFA Management GmbH will be crucial in maintaining the show’s success in the years to come.” Martin Ecknig, CEO Messe Berlin GmbH, added: “IFA has its origins in


Berlin, where it was first held as the Funkausstellung in 1924. Therefore, we are very pleased that it will stay here for another 10 years.


Henley Audio appointed to distribute Onkyo and Pioneer in the UK


Henley Audio has been appointed by Premium Audio Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of VOXX International Corporation (VOXX), to exclusively distribute the audio solutions of Onkyo and Pioneer in the UK. Henley is already the official UK distributor for


VOXX’s speaker brands Klipsch and Jamo. In September 2021, Premium Audio acquired the Onkyo and Integra brands via its joint venture


with Sharp. Through VOXX, it established a licensing and distribution agreement with Pioneer Corporation. The joint venture includes all intellectual property and responsibility for product development, engineering, sales, marketing and distribution of Onkyo’s home entertainment business. As part of the joint venture, Sharp assumed all manufacturing of these products, which includes


‘We see retail in physical shops as a cornerstone of our business’: Hughes opens new store in Thetford


Hughes Electrical has opened a new store in Thetford, Norfolk, moved from its existing store in the town centre, where it has been operating since 1990, to a new larger retail park store. The new premises boasts over 4,000sq ft of retail


space, compared to 1,250sq ft in the previous unit, resulting in the recruitment of seven new members of staff, making 10 in total. Said Robert Hughes, Chairman of the independent


retail business: “This new store is fit for the future and specifically designed to meet the rapidly changing demands of our customers. They want stores offering ample free parking, that are large enough to


carry a huge range of stock for them to see and have demonstrated by knowledgeable staff. “The ‘click and collect’ option on the website is also very popular and our new store offers this too from the nearby, massive Thetford warehouse.” Mr Hughes continued: “As a company we see retail in physical shops as a cornerstone of our business alongside the web, trade department and rental. We will continue to invest in all four of these to improve customer experience.” Thetford is an important location for Hughes as it employs over 120 people at its main warehouse and distribution centre just two miles from the new store.


a variety of AV and stereo receivers, amplifiers and hi-fi components under the Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer and Pioneer Elite brands. Nick Fuller, Henley Audio’s Sales Director, added: “The addition of the Onkyo and Pioneer brands to the Henley Audio line-up is tremendous news for all, including dealers and their customers, and we are thrilled to help bring Onkyo and Pioneer back to the fore where they belong.”


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Mayor of Thetford, Cllr Jane James, officially opened the new store, with Robert Hughes (left) and Store Manager, Dean Honour (right)


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