While Comet and Dixons posted two-digit sales declines, John Lewis continues to defy the tough trading conditions, reports Tom Cole.

Orbitsound is a new star of the audio market. Anna Ryland met John Cameron, the company’s chief operating officer, to find out why the independent sector should get interested in Orbitsound products.

As Which? celebrates its 54th birthday this year, IER takes a close look at the breadth of the organisation’s testing expertise and its Awards programme.

Stunning aesthetics, simple ergonomics with intuitive functionality, the latest technology or the association with a famous designer’s name? Which one of these factors, separately or combined, make an appliance a designer product?

The smooth swivel steering on the AEG Nimble allows it to twist and turn around furniture with ease, reducing the times you need to move heavy items and is much easier on the wrist. The quick release handle and extra long 4.2m hose mean that you can clean a flight of stairs without having to carry the cleaner, and the extendable tube allows you to reach those high or awkward places with ease.

The personal audio sector has seen some decline, largely fuelled by the increasing popularity of smartphones, but there are still profits to be made, especially with add-on products and music streaming developments. Libby Plummer reports.

Maintaining access to raw materials like minerals and ores is now seen as a strategic policy priority in London and Brussels.  AMDEA Technical Officer Alex Martin examines this issue and its implications for manufacturers and retailers of electrical products.

Alphason has launched a new range of premium stands designed in-house by the company’s young designers, appropriately named ‘Design First’. It consists of 12 models, which will retail from £199 to £500. Their design varies from more traditional wood products to very minimalist modern concepts – matching all consumers’ tastes. They will be available in stores by August.

Sirocco 550, is Pure’s latest internet-connected micro hi-fi system with digital radio, FM, CD and iPod/iPhone dock. Very powerful, with 80W RMS of stereo sound, Sirocco 550 is ideal for the main room in the house. Sirocco 550 incorporates PURE’s digital audio solution, Clearsound, which uses high-quality Class D amplifiers and digital audio shaping technology to deliver clear audio, high volume levels and low power consumption.

Siemens’ latest bean-to-cup coffee machines, the EQ7 Plus, are a step up from the original EQ7 model. A special Senso-Flow heating element ensures the water is kept at an ideal temperature for 30 seconds during the brewing process. Senso-Flow also offers the fastest first cup in this class of machines.

Beko’s latest dishwasher has been designed to appeal to eco-conscious customers. The DW686 boasts a 13-place setting capacity, but consumes only 10 litres of water.

The Electrolux ENL60710X frost-free fridge freezer has been designed to mimic the modern side-by-side US integrated style. With an A+ rating, it uses 20% less energy than standard A rated models. Equipped with climate control technology, it can keep perishable foods at the correct climate for optimum freshness and flavour, for longer. Its water and ice dispenser can produce up to 154 cubes a day.

Dimplex has added a new dimension to fire fashion with the contemporary Bingham which allows a view of the Opti-myst flame and smoke effect from three clear glass sides. The swirling smoke effects are created by a patented system that uses water vapour from a 1.7 litre refill water tank and the flickering flame effects are lit by long-lasting diachronic Xenon bulbs.

The MDW 606 AWG, the latest dishwasher from Maytag, has reduced water consumption to an unprecedented six-litre and eliminated the need to pre-treat dishes prior to dishwashing. With 13-place settings, the model owes its exceptional performance to Maytag’s electronic IntelliSense and new pump technology.

By combining the company’s SoundSphere technology with Apple’s Airplay System the Philips Fidelio SoundSphere, DS9800, has created a new category of dock. It offers convenience and true audiophile performance.

The new compact microwave, the C54L70, from Neff can be positioned within the furniture units or in a tall housing as a stack with other matching compact cooking appliances. At only 36cm high (as opposed to 45cm for most microwave-only built-in models), it is very versatile and suitable for kitchens of all shapes and sizes.

Glen Dimplex Home Appliances has become the first company to be approved and recommended by the Energy Saving Trust Recommended scheme across all three of its freestanding, built-in and range cooking categories. Almost one hundred products across all three of GDHA’s cooking brands, Stoves, Belling and New World, have been tested against Energy Saving Trust Recommended criteria, set by an independent panel.

On 4th July 2011, the public was encouraged to buy at least one item from their local, independent shop to keep their high street alive. Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail have teamed up with independent retailers and trade associations around the UK, including the Association of Town Centre Management and British Independent Retailers Association, to celebrate diversity on the high street.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova recently made a return to Wimbledon, this time to open the first of the new format Sony Centre retail stores.

The readers’ reaction to my editorial letter in the June 2011 reviewing the merits of internet tax, originally outlined by Tristan Cook in his letter to Vince Cable, was a great surprise. Clearly, many of you feel very strongly about this issue and believe that it should be promptly brought to the industry’s and the government’s attention.

AEG’s Neue Kollektion appliances played a starring role at Taste of London this June in both the AEG Taste Theatre and AEG Cookery school. Over 50,000 visitors, watched some of the capital’s best chefs, including Michel Roux Jnr and Gary Rhodes, rustle up their signature dishes on AEG induction hobs.

At the gala dinner of the Independent Business Awards 2011 in the Forest of Arden Hotel, Warwickshire, the industry cheered the achievements of the electrical goods manufacturers and their independent partners.

Over the next six months, the BSH Group will be introducing a new Dealer Partner Programme involving a number of significant changes to the trading policy for the company’s three brands: Bosch, Siemens and Neff. The new Programmes will aim to differentiate between the appliances in the Bosch, Siemens and Neff ranges.