BSH Customer Service, which covers the Bosch, Neff, Siemens and Gaggenau appliance brands in the UK, has won the coveted Total Excellence and Quality (TEQ) service award for 2009.

An impressive 94.5% of customers gave BSH Customer Service top marks which won BSH first place in the white goods manufacturers' category of this annual independent national customer service award, beating eight other well-known domestic appliance service organisations to the title.

Retail training specialist Beyond The Box, is preparing a retail training package for the DSGi group, during which staff will receive product knowledge and sales skills coaching, in order to assist the consumer decision making process.  

Nearly 12% of shops in Britain's high streets now stand empty. These dire statistics, which deteriorated from just over 4% in the middle of 2008, illustrate the malaise spreading across the country and affecting all levels of retail from the largest regional centres to the smallest high streets.

New research from accountants and business advisers BDO Stoy Hayward LLP heralds the emergence of  the ‘hypersensitive consumer' - an individual that is both time and money poor, feels guilty about spending, is less loyal and believes that retailers are privileged to have them in their stores.

The Border TV region has become the first to complete the switchover to digital television. History was made on 22 July as the last analogue signals were switched off at the Caldbeck transmitter group. Following switchover, the availability of Freeview digital TV channels in the area has increased from 51% to 98% of households.

Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA), has appointed Rob Burton as commercial manager for range cookers across its three brands, Belling, New World and Stoves. Rob previously worked in the paper industry as a sales and marketing director. 

With unemployment hitting the 2.5 million mark, it is very difficult not to think about the recession even during the holiday season. Yet, some encouraging signs have started appearing on the generally gloomy horizon.

Film and TV celebrity Shilpa Shetty (pictured with Andy Griffiths, Samsung UK vice-president, on the left) added sparkle to the opening of the new Samsung Zone at PRC   Hi-Fi & Video's flagship store at Ilford, Essex, run by its director John Digwa (right)

The new Batteries Regulations came into force on 5 May 2009 in the UK. On 1 January 2010 producers will have to become compliant with the Regulations while on 1 February 2010 retailers will have to commence the take back of waste batteries. Bob Mead, batteries implementation project manager for the Environment Agency, advises IER readers on the responsibilities of the parties involved in the collection and recycling of batteries.

This was the motto of the recent event organised by German battery manufacturer Varta, with some 100 years of heritage and the number two position in the Europe battery market, to present its latest line-up of products.

The Philips PET744 portable DVD player gives users great flexibility to entertain themselves on the go due to a new 180˚ swivel screen design, an extended six hour battery life and a high resolution 7in display.

Beko has launched a collection of high gloss black products designed to make a statement in the kitchen. The black range includes a dishwasher, three combi frost free fridge-freezers, two washing machines and a tumble dryer.

Two new Cyber-shot cameras TX1 (pictured) and WX1 combine top imaging performance with sleek looks. At the heart of both cameras' performance is, unique to Sony, the Exmor R CMOS sensor, that captures more light than conventional CMOS designs, boosting sensitivity while reducing image noise. With a resolution of 10.2 effective megapixels, it's teamed with Sony's powerful BIONZ processor for superb pictures and rapid shooting responses.

The built-in ART 764 LCD combi fridge freezer stands out from the crowd with its innovative internal Firefly lighting system. It consists of four LEDs that create superb visibility throughout the fridge, while having a longer life span than a bulb and generating less heat.

New Professional undercounter built-in refrigerated two-drawer units from Viking fit any 61cm space and provide extra cold storage for vegetables, salads, desserts and drinks.

Elise, the first model in a new series of radios from Roberts, is a DAB/FM RDS digital radio with nine station presets and a favourite station button. With its easy-to-navigate menu, a clear LCD display and a large rotary volume control, the Elise simplifies listening for the user and also offers the option of search or manual tuning.

The Dyson digital motor V2 powers the new DC31 and the DC31 Animal handhelds: small, light machines with a 10 minute battery life and strong suction. Powerful but portable, they are designed for small cleaning tasks around the home or in a car.

'Q-TV2' from Q Acoustics, a brand of Armour Home, is a discreet, amplified, 2.1 channel, stereo loudspeaker system, which considerably improves the sound heard from modern flatscreen televisions and from any device connected to them such as DVD players, digital radios or games consoles.

When on 21 November 2008, Bridisco trading as BDC Independent went into administration, three of its directors - Jeff Moody, Ray Taylor and Steve Gallagher - prepared a management buyout of the company confident in its inherent strengths and in its long-established relationship with its customers - electrical independents.

In May 2009, BBG Distribution merged with Peerless Industries, the US-based leading manufacturer of TV and audio mounts and installation accessories for residential and commercial markets. Peerless has over 50 years' experience serving a wide range of customers in such sectors as  healthcare, hospitality and transportation, and its products have an established reputation for quality, ease of installation and functionality.

The EU's Ecodesign for Energy-using Products Directive (or ‘EuP') has, this year, proved a fertile compost for new legislation: eight new regulations have grown forth under the Directive, with July seeing the European Commission adopt four of the eight as its most current ‘package' on ecodesign.  While the ‘EuP Directive' and ‘Ecodesign Regulations' are something that manufacturers have to respond to, electrical retailers may be interested to learn that they are party to a revolution.  For as ecodesign legislation begins to take effect, so too does a transformation in electrical appliances.

Videocon, India's leading consumer electronics and home appliances company, has announced its entry into the UK market for consumer electronics products. The company has launched its brand in the UK, focusing is on selling high-quality products at affordable prices with a range of LCD TVs which will be available in UK retail chains by the end of this summer.

In an electrical retail market that is down in volume and value in most sectors, both warranties and retail finance, are enjoying quite a renaissance. Warranty conversions are increasing as customers look to protect themselves from an uncertain future and retail finance is enjoying double-digit growth through many retailers. With a nervous banking industry refusing to lend money generally, 0% credit card offers disappearing daily and the cheapest unsecured personal loans some 8% above base rate - perhaps it is little wonder financial services are booming at point of sale.

This periodical survey, conducted by IER in association with leading floorcare brand BISSELL is based on survey questionnaire featured in the March 2009 issue of the magazine and online. Its aim was to obtain an in-depth insight into the lifestyle of electrical independents - their work environment and their professional and personal situation. We hope that you will be able to identify yourself with the picture we have created from the survey responses.

Indesit Company, the UK's largest manufacturer of white goods markets a complete range of accessories that complement all categories of domestic appliances.

The product range is sold under the Professional Home Care brand and is endorsed by both Hotpoint and Indesit.

A popular theory, frequently quoted at various training courses, says that there are three main aspects to communications:

• 7% of the message is transferred by words
• 38% by the way the words are spoken and
• 55% by body language. 

Simple layout - matching products

It is unlikely that the customer will know the range of additional products and attachments which manufacturers offer to enhance the performance of their core products although they may be very grateful if a salesman recommends them and their benefits. It is essential therefore to stock and display product ranges and attachments together as this creates an opportunity to up-sell. If kitchen machines, such as the Kenwood Chef or kMix range, have additional attachments available, display them in one place so consumers can see the versatility of the products. 

The economic slowdown is uppermost in all our minds, and across every sector. With portable heating products, pricing has always been a significant force and that doesn't really seem to have changed. In the past, it has gone hand-in-hand as a financial pressure with the unpredictability of the British weather.

With one in two households in Britain owning a pet and 20 million Brits suffering from allergies, these two groups constitute a very large market with specific needs. They have been well addressed by electrical products manufacturers in such sectors as floorcare, laundry and air treatment, and as both segments are going to grow in importance in the future, it is essential that retailers get to know these markets better if they wish to capitalise on the opportunities they present.

A year ago Sir John Collins announced his intention to step down as DSGi's chairman at the Group's AGM this September.  After six years in the job, and with a new chief executive (John Browett) and group finance director (Nicholas Cadbury) in place, he thought it an appropriate time to bow out and allow someone new to oversee the group through a period of significant change.  John Allan takes over his role.