January 2024
ertonline.co.uk
ERT AWARDS 2023
Best Independent Electrical Retailer Website Winner
The Powerhouse Sponsored by Calculus
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The Powerhouse is an independent retailer based on the island of Jersey. Not only does it operate a 13,000sq ft showroom covering MDA, SDA, TV, audio, IT and even electric bikes, but the instore offering is replicated online with its fully transactional website. The retailer’s omnichannel strategy enables customers to check
live stock levels before visiting the store, or they can arrange delivery through the website or opt to use the click and collect service. The Powerhouse reports that sales had been growing steadily year on
year, but 2020 revenue skyrocketed. Now, post-pandemic, online traffic and revenue maintains at “impressive levels”, it said. Gavin Murphy, Head of Retail at The Powerhouse, explains: “The stand-out features of our website include its user-centric design, shaped by a decade of customer feedback and hard work by our team. Tailoring our online platform to offer local services and integrating omnichannel capabilities for real-time stock checks sets us apart. “Our e-commerce operation is integral to our business and this victory
reflects our commitment to refining our e-commerce platform. We’ve differentiated ourselves by prioritising local services, such as next-day delivery, installation, appliance disposal, Wi-Fi surveys and click and collect.” Mr Murphy says that winning this award is a significant milestone: “Ongoing recognition from the ERT Awards is vital for industry growth and innovation. This acknowledgement validates our commitment to our customers, inspires continuous improvement and gives confidence to our customers that a local company can compete on a wider scale.”
Special Recognition Award Winner
John Reddington
John Reddington joined the consumer electronics industry in 1971 after a move from Mars Inc (the chocolate bar company!). He worked for the Rank organisation – distributor for Akai and Rotel hi-fi products – before being head-hunted by Harman International to work in its new UK subsidiary with its own brands Harman Kardon and JBL added to the Tannoy and Ortofon portfolio. After eight years as UK Sales Director, Mr Reddington was approached by the Danish manufacturer, Ortofon, to launch its own UK subsidiary. “I was there for another eight years,” he explains to ERT, “and I will always remember fondly my time spent with Jack Armstrong, Managing Director of Harman Europe, who mentored me as my Non-Executive Chairman; he was a brilliant operator and businessman.” Shortly after this, Mr Reddington had a short period back at Akai
UK before forming his own business, JR Associates, specialising in trouble-shooting, recruitment and training. This new venture gave him experience in many different disciplines across the sector, he says, including sales training projects and brokering other businesses – some were even within the CE industry. This included a small TV/audio/hi-fi furniture business called Alphason, based in the north of England. He then joined the company in 1992 and grew it rapidly to become a £20 million+ turnover business. Offers to purchase the business followed and it was sold to a PLC in 2005. After this, he started the independent sales agency, Big Red Sales.
Mr Reddington comments: “Over my 50+ years in our ever-changing, vibrant and fast-moving industry there has been one constant premier trade title, and that is ERT. I was therefore delighted to be asked to attend the 2023 ERT Awards ceremony where I was surprised and truly honoured to be awarded the Special Recognition Award! “After so long working in this wonderful industry it was definitely the icing on the cake! So a huge thank you to ERT, and congratulations to all the other winners this year! What a fabulous day it was!”
L-R: Rupert Woolger from Calculus, Sarah Naylor and Gavin Murphy from The Powerhouse, and Shaun Williamson
Highly Commended went to Dacombes of Wimborne
L-R: Shaun Williamson, John Reddington, and Retra’s Howard Saycell, who introduced Mr Reddington on stage with a moving speech
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