News Whirlpool scraps its delivery surcharge for indie retailers 4


Whirlpool is planning to scrap the £3 delivery surcharge that it introduced for all small trade units going to independent electrical retailers. Back in March this year, ERT was made aware of the plans as the company wrote to dealers outlining the “significant cost impacts experienced in the manufacture of domestic appliances”, as well as other costs across the supply chain.


Whirlpool said the “flat rate nominal delivery


surcharge” would be added per unit at the point of invoice, irrespective of the number of units being delivered and the frequency of deliveries. This applied to “all dealers served by Hotpoint Home Solutions”.


ERT spoke to several electrical retailers about this


at the time; one said this was “a direct attack on the independent retailer”. However, the manufacturer recently wrote to its trade partners to say that it is removing the charge, “effective on all deliveries from 1 October 2023”. In a letter to its partners, seen by ERT, Whirlpool UK Appliances Managing Director, James Goldsmith – who only took on the role back in June, said that since the initial plans were outlined earlier this year the company has “carefully listened” to feedback to understand the impact on its dealers’ businesses. As a result, the delivery surcharge will be scrapped.


Chris’s next job was with Thorn (Rumbelows/ Radio Rentals) in Theale as an Assistant Buyer. Recognising her talent her bosses soon promoted her to Buyer and then Senior Buyer and she was with the company for more than 10 years. When Thorn closed Chris worked with John at Alphason for over 10 years and managed some of the major accounts including John Lewis and Euronics. When John started Big Red Sales Ltd in 2010


to provide an independent sales force for the industry, Chris joined him and undertook the role of managing the accounts office.


Chris was diagnosed with late stages of colon cancer in April 2020. Her The passing of Chris Reddington


The electrical industry has lost one of its most loved and respected ladies. Chris Reddington, wife of Big Red Sales founder, John Reddington, has died aged 70. She had fought nearly a four-year battle with cancer. Although well known as John’s wife, Chris also forged her own very successful


career in the consumer electronics industry – starting in 1982 when she opened her own retail store. She saw a gap in the market in her local area for hi-fi products and she opened an electrical shop in Basingstoke with a friend and neighbour. The shop did extremely well and was sold after eight years.


local doctor insisted she be sent for exploratory scans and following this she was whisked into hospital to remove a growth. She then underwent a series of successful chemotherapy treatments. Three years of treatment followed where she went from strength to strength, continuing to work and enjoy many holidays with John and their family. The pair (pictured left together on a recent holiday) recently returned from a cruise around Italy and Croatia with the entire family. During Chris’s illness John has worked very closely with the NHS to raise money


to improve staff conditions at the local hospital where Chris undertook most of her treatment. To date he has raised more than £28,000. If you would like to contribute to this fund and help John reach his target figure of £85,000 for the NHS, please contact him by email at JohnBReddington@vqmail.co.uk.


Mr Goldsmith wrote: “We have always placed significant value on our mutual business partnership and will continue to listen and understand how we can grow our business together. We trust this clearly demonstrates that commitment.” Retra CEO, Howard Saycell, who shared his views when the plans were originally announced, told ERT: “Retra welcomes this news from Whirlpool. It was our belief that the charge was discriminatory towards independent electrical retailers. I’m delighted that Whirlpool has reconsidered its position and has listened to industry feedback.”


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