News : Changes at the top


After initially reported at the end of February, Bowers & Wilkins has offi cially


announced leadership


changes at B&W Group. Going forward, Bowers & Wilkins will have a Board which is independent of EVA Automation, the Silicon Valley start-up that acquired B& W back in 2016, although the businesses will continue


to co-operate with


other where mutually benefi cial. The recent developments


4


Haier retains major appliances top spot for


11th year A stuttering start to 2020


Political uncertainty in recent months has instilled a “thrifty approach” among UK shoppers, leading to a slow start to 2020 for retailers. This is according to the latest BRC (British Retail Consortium) and KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for January 2020. Total retail sales increased by 0.4 per cent in January, against an increase of 2.2 per cent in January last year. This is above both the 12-month average drop of 0.2 per cent – a new record low since records began in 1995. In January, UK retail sales were


fl at on a like-for-like basis from 2019, when they increased by 1.8 per cent compared with the previous year. Non- food retail sales declined by 3.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis in the three months to January 2020. Online


non-food sales increased by 2.5 per cent in January, against a


growth of more than double last year. Elsewhere, retailers are calling on the


Government to take review the current business rates system in the UK. The BRC is leading a campaign in which over 50 major retailers have signed a letter urging the Government to take the fi rst steps towards fundamental business rates reform in the Budget. The focus is on fi xing transitional relief – a component of the business rates system. Transitional relief limits the speed at which a fi rm’s business rates liability changes in response to changes in its rateable value. To achieve this, it staggers the speed at which ‘underpayers’ move to their higher business rate liability (upwards transition), and funds this by slowing the speed at which ‘overpayers’ move to their lower liability (downwards phasing). It was reported that retailers lost £500 million to transactional relief since 2017.


It was revealed last month that Haier, the parent company of the Hoover Candy brands, was the number one brand globally in major appliances in 2019. It is the 11th consecutive time the Chinese brand, which has a UK base in Woking, has achieved the top spot, having held it since 2009. Compiled by Euromonitor


International, the report ranks the world’s appliance brands by retail sales value. In addition to listing fi rst for major global appliances, Haier ranked fi rst for refrigerators for 12 consecutive years, in washing machines for nine years, in freezers for 10 years and in wine coolers for 11 years. Wang Ye, Vice President and General Manager of Smart Home at Haier Home Appliance Industry Group, said: “We are honoured to be the world’s top major appliances brand for the 11th year in a row. “Haier is constantly striving to listen to consumers’ changing needs and adapt to them, while simultaneously harnessing cutting-edge technology to stand out in the market.”


This comes after Haier was


recognised at the end of last year for its commitment to independents at the annual CIH awards ceremony. CIH members, which includes


the Euronics buying group in the UK, voted for


their winners and


Haier Europe received the ‘Support for Independents’ award. David Meyerowitz, CEO of Haier


Europe (pictured above with Field Sales Director – Independents, Sharon Hamer), said: “Independent retailers are key to our business and we’re delighted that they have recognised our hard-working teams’ total commitment. “A close relationship with independent retailers continues to be a priority for us, as we understand that high levels of support, along with an exclusive and comprehensive range of products, can make a huge difference to drive sales.”


each will


have no impact on the day-to-day management and direction of B&W,


the company said. The brand’s stakeholders are actively supporting its activities while it re-focuses its resources on the R&D, manufacture and distribution of premium loudspeakers, audio components and headphones. As part of the new structure, Gideon


Yu and Greg Lee are no longer leading B&W. Former Samsung President, Mr Lee, became CEO of B&W at the end of last year. He said at the time: “I’m looking forward to partnering with our dedicated audio customer base to


assert Bowers & Wilkins’ continued commitment to performance audio technology. The audio/video category is growing rapidly within the broader consumer electronics industry.” David Duggins has been appointed to the Board as sole Independent Director, with Geoff Edwards leading the executive team in assuming responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the business.


“Overall business performance


remains very good and the brand has just enjoyed one of its best-ever


sales quarters,” the company said in a statement. This includes “a full order book” for its premium 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers.


As well as this, its partnerships with Philips TV, BMW, Maserati, McLaren and Volvo will continue, with several “exciting” new product launches in the months to come, B&W reported. Despite these personnel changes, the brand said it remains committed to maintaining its UK and overseas operations, with its HQ, R&D and manufacturing remaining in the UK.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42