At its annual key dealer event in Scotland in February 2010, Sony announced a new direction for its market strategy. The company has decided to stop chasing market share and intends to ensure that Sony products are sold only through retail channels which add value to them and are able to give customers a good shopping experience.

BSH Customer Service is offering its dealers business cards in standalone holders providing phone numbers and website addresses for various types of customer services dedicated to its three brands.

AS a new requirement for shops to collect used batteries came into force in February 2010, the British Retail Consortium said retailers recognise their responsibilities and are confident that in-store collection facilities are now in place.  However on its own that will not be enough.

ALPHASON has launched a new training scheme for its retailers to help them increase sales of accessories. The company has developed an online training micro site featuring industry training expert George Morton. The facility is interactive and users can choose to participate in the entire experience in one sitting, or focus on specific areas that are appropriate at the time.

In partnership with the European Schoolnet project, which is to be piloted in the UK, PC manufacturer Acer, will help schools in introducing a new kind of interaction between teachers and students through the use of netbooks. Acer will supply classes in the project with one netbook per student, one notebook per teacher and a server with 19in monitor for sharing all class activities.

Maggie Thomas has joined retail training specialist Beyond The Box as sales and marketing director. Maggie brings with her over 20 years’ experience acquired with Philips Consumer Lifestyle and LG Consumer Electronics where she has managed in house trainers, in-store consultants and field marketing teams.

Sony’s announcement of its new selective distribution strategy at the company’s dealer event in Scotland will no doubt ruffle a few feathers. From now onwards Sony intends to sell its products only through retail channels which will add value to them and will be able to give customers a good shopping experience.

Responding to the requirements of modern living, Miele has introduced to the market its first high performance cordless vacuum cleaner. The Miele Hybrid S4812 offers both a cord and cordless option, seamlessly switching between the two power supplies.

Sony has just extended its Vaio range of notebooks by introducing the E series, the unique feature of which is its ease of use, and the W Eco series that is designed to be kinder to the environment.

Keeping up to speed within changes in employment law is a seemingly never ending challenge.  During the next 12 months we are likely to see new legislation providing enhanced rights for agency workers together with the much anticipated Equality Bill. In March, employers with more than 250 employees will have to get to grips with the employees having a statutory right to request time off to train.   

Philips has introduced an extensive range of accessories designed to make lives of laptop users easier at home and on the go. 

Keeping a laptop on the lap – often supported on a cushion – results in a build up of heat which is both uncomfortable and damaging for the computer.

The Beko GNE114610X multi-functional fridge freezer boasts not only a very large storage capacity (a gross capacity of 21.5 cu ft: fridge 13.6 net and freezer 5.4 net) but also considerable flexibility. Its ‘Flexi Zone’ compartment (lower right) can be changed between a fridge, chiller, wine cooler compartment and a freezer, just by simply pressing a button on its LCD control panel.

The Humax HD-FOX T2 – the UK’s first high definition (HD) digital set-top box for Freeview HD - gives users access to free HD channels from the BBC, ITV and soon Channel 4 and S4C Wales in addition to 50 standard definition digital TV, 24 radio channels and the interactive red button service – all subscription-free.

The new Lumix DMC-FT2 is a successor to Lumix’s first camera geared for active outdoor use. Featuring AVCHD Lite HD movie recording capability, the new 14.1-megapixel FT2 further strengthens its toughness to be waterproof to 10m, shockproof to 2m, freezeproof to -10 degrees C and dustproof. The camera is also empowered internally by the newly developed Venus Engine HD II integrating Intelligent Resolution technology.

Gorenje’s latest 7 kg condenser tumble dryer, the D72325/BK, uses high-tech electronics to achieve its class-leading ‘B’ energy rating, according to the manufacturer.  With the extra large capacity and delayed start, users can maximise load capacity and take advantage of cheaper energy tariffs. It features 12 programmes including three for synthetics, five for cottons and a mixed programme, together with a 20 minute refresh programme for freshening clothes and removing odours.

The latest outcome of Tefal’s partnership with Jamie Oliver is the Jamie Oliver Multicook which allows a complete meal to be cooked up to 70% quicker than conventional means. For example, pot roast chicken can now be cooked in 25 minutes instead of 1 hour and 30 minutes in an oven.

Whirlpool’s combi fridge freezer; the WBC3546 FCX, not only features 6th Sense technology but also benefits from new Fresh Control technology, which constantly controls the humidity of the fridge to keep food fresher for longer. 

The new Miele DGC 5080 XL steam oven combines all the benefits of steam cooking with the functionality of a conventional oven. The functions can be used in separate mode or together for specific cooking requirements.

Since a couple of years ago Sony has become more focused on its customers – their purchasing behaviour and motivations. Last year, following extensive market research, the company divided its customer market into six distinctive groups – and this year it will focus its product development and retail efforts on two of them: Status Seekers, who first embrace the latest CE technologies, and Innovation Enthusiasts, who purchase the latest technology and are very knowledgeable about it.

According to Panasonic, the future of film and television will be in HD 3D. With its latest product line-up and enormous investment in developing 3D technology the company demonstrated that it intends to take a leadership role in the 3D world.

Toshiba began its annual product showcase this year by revealing that despite tough market conditions the company achieved encouraging trading results in 2009. The value of its TV sales grew by 25%, while the sales value of its DVD players was up by 10%.

There is a common but unfortunate habit in many organisations to separate the work on technical issues from commercial or even ‘political’ matters.

This has become ever more obvious since the government and the regulatory authorities are imposing technical – particularly environmental – specifications on how we manufacture and market our products. So our response to these activities has to be broad and comprehensive.

Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the benefits of eco-efficient products. As well as messages about the environmental aspects of such technology, the exponential increase in green products has been largely fuelled by the recent economic downturn, as consumers try to save as much cash as possible.

The electrical independent Paul Taylor is well known in Spalding and the surrounding area. Every morning commuters to the town hear the company’s promise on local radio: ’If your appliance has broken down and you place an order with Paul Taylor for a new one before 10am it will be delivered and installed by the time you come back home in the evening’. With this approach he successfully wiped out most of the competition from Spalding. “When I took over Paul Taylor there were eleven electrical shops in Spalding, in one form or another, including department stores. Now there are only our shop and the Co-op,” says David.

For almost a decade, the market penetration of dishwashers in Britain remained under 30%. In other European countries, such as France, Austria and Switzerland, the levels of penetration of the appliance are over 65%. It is very significant therefore that this situation has suddenly begun to change.

Amica’s 60cm, fully integrated ZIM627 dishwasher is rated AAA for energy efficiency.

With 12 place settings and seven wash programmes in four temperatures including pre-wash and intensive programmes for really soiled dishes, an Eco wash and a 3-in-1 cycle for the best results from multi-component detergents, the ZIM627 is easy to control with soft-touch buttons and LED indicators.

The new TempoLine range of dishwashers from Zanussi has been designed to make life easier with its top range models offering extra time saving features for even more convenience. Highly efficient, all Zanussi’s TempoLine dishwashers have low water consumption, quiet noise levels and are A rated for energy, washing and drying performance.  The top of the range model ZDF4010 features Aquapulse - a wash system that combines gentle pulses of water to soak the dirty dishes with a high pressure jet of water to remove burnt on stubborn food residue and rinse away. 

A sleek kitchen is the stuff of dreams, but stylish appliances still need to cope with real life, with this in mind Beko has designed the OneTouch dishwasher.

Baumatic’s BDF638BL 60cm triple A-rated freestanding dishwasher has generous interior capacity, with room for 14 place settings, and features 8 wash programmes and five temperature settings. Alongside the normal setting programmes include intensive, economy, glass, rapid, rinse and 3 in 1. An auto-sensor feature automatically measures how soiled the items are and adjusts the wash programme accordingly, helping to save on water usage. The BDF638BL also has a super-quiet operation of 46dB making it ideal for open plan living. Pictured here in black this model is also available in stainless steel.

The DI6FAB integrated dishwasher is a first for Smeg’s retro-look appliances and combines serious style with high end technology.

The 60cm built-in FAB dishwasher is designed to complete any kitchen and is available in four fashion forward colours; cool cream and pink finishes for neutral interiors and striking black and red colour options to fit with any slick décor.

These top-of-the range dishwashers feature the innovative ‘zeolith’ energy recovery system – for large energy and water savings. ‘Zeolith’ is a mineral that absorbs the warm air in the washing cycle and then releases heat energy to dry the dishes.  It enables completion of the cycle in just 125 minutes, with AAA energy performance.   

The Ultima dishwasher incorporates ‘Flexipower’, a specialist motor that drives many useful features. This includes ‘Speed 25’, an ultra fast cycle that washes lightly soiled items in just 25 minutes – the fastest programme on the market, says the manufacturer. It’s also one of the quietest dishwashers working at only 42dB(A).

Recently released, the Hoover 3D dishwasher features an unique combination of three drawers and 15 place settings. The three washing levels help the consumer find the correct place for items of any size. The extra upper drawer is perfect for small coffee cups and side plates, saucers, cookware and utensils. It increases the number of items that can be loaded into the machine by 10% compared to a standard 15 place setting and by 35% compared to a 12 place setting. The product is available in standard 60cm size and is AAA rated.

Capacity is the unique selling feature of this dishwasher. With a 58cm high interior adding 40% more space inside, this is the industry’s first with four racks, including top height adjustable knife rack. It accommodates 17 place settings or 195 items using less than 10 litres of water.

To general relief the majority of shoppers shrugged off the gloom, ignored the recession and shopped enthusiastically over the Christmas and holiday period.  However the year-on-year comparisons were in the main soft and the disappearance of some well-known retail brands over the past year undoubtedly helped those still standing.  January was a stark contrast.  The BRC rated it the worst start in fifteen years, with snow, higher VAT and increasingly anxiety about the coming months keeping shoppers away from stores.