At the annual suppliers lunch, held this year in the London Dorchester Hotel, Robin Millwood, CIH chairman, said: “In another consecutive poor year in retail, our turnover is only marginally down and this is with fewer members, but in a market place that in some areas is over 10% down. With more cost savings and streamlining, we have managed to reduce the members’ costs as well as maintaining profit in the company.”

Beko is investing heavily in its digital presence with a re-launch of its website (www.beko.co.uk), digital advertising and a series of online competitions.

Belling has announced a 12 month programme of activity for 2012 to celebrate its centenary year. Founded in 1912 by Charles Reginald Belling with capital of just £150, in a shed in Enfield, Belling has become a company with a multi-million pound turnover and more than 1,000 employees in the UK. The celebrations will include the Centenary Collection – a suite of specially designed products, plus a calendar of events for retailers, customers and employees.

Retail expert Mary Portas has published her report on the UK's high streets listing her recommendations for breathing new life into town centres.

The report is a result of a six-month review requested by the Government for which Portas consulted with retailers, councils and trade bodies to identify ways of helping high streets to prosper.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Independent Business Awards the organisers have teamed up with Belling, which is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. Together they are able to offer a golf day, on the spectacular golf course at The Forest Of Arden Hotel, on 20 June 2012.

The Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club, is one of the UK's most impressive golf destinations, featuring two top-class courses.

Anna Ryland, Editor

The forecasts for 2012 for the retail industry make very sobering reading. With the all-important consumer confidence remaining depressed, we can expect slow growth at best.

"2012 will be about future proofing the business to ensure survival in a market that will not change any time soon," said KPMG’s UK head of retail, Helen Dickinson.

The focal point of the Belling stand at this year’s BBC Good Food Shows was the Facebook-inspired cooker, a range cooker created using the Facebook profile pictures of Belling’s social media fans, which had visitors queuing up to find their own image. 

Belling, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, has created a cooking world first by taking its Facebook fans’ profile pictures and producing a montage which was printed onto a Belling Classic range cooker.

Bissell, the American floorcare brand, best known in Britain for its deep cleaning appliances, has redesigned its product line-up, with a number of market firsts scheduled for 2012, and has just launched a compelling rental proposition for the independent channel.

The company, founded in 1876 in Michigan by Melville and Anna Bissell, is still a family-run business, managed by Mark Bissell, CEO, the great grandson of the founders.

Combining a slot-loading CD player, iPod/iPhone dock, FM radio, a clock and alarm in a minimalist chassis, the Loewe Soundbox is a tabletop music system for every room in the house.Two four-inch, full-range speakers and twin digital stereo amplifiers give the Soundbox a powerful sound. The front-mounted display shows track information from CDs and docked devices, plus RDS data from FM radio stations.

The TrendNET 500Mbps Powerline AV Adapter Kit TPL-401E2K makes the creation of a secure building-wide high speed network child’s play. All the user needs to do is to plug one adapter into their network and another into any outlet on their electrical system and use the  easy sync button to obtain a super-fast, secure and reliable internet connection no matter where they are in the house.

The new Glamour White single oven from Whirlpool, finished in white glass, combines innovative engineering with Whirlpool’s 6th Sense technology; ’A’ energy efficiency, excellent performance and modern design.

The built-in multi-function oven has a 67-litre capacity.  The 6th Sense system uses two sensors that determine and also monitor the oven temperature, adapting the cooking time and process accordingly for energy efficient cooking and perfect results.

The new RecordЯ from ROBERTS is a DAB/FM RDS digital radio recorder that features a one touch record function enabling users to manually record from live FM and DAB radio direct to SD card. Consumers simply need to insert an SD or SDHC card into the radio, press and hold the PausePlus button and the station they are listening to can record up 24 hours or pause 60 minutes of live airtime enabling them to listen back at a later date.

The Origami hob accessories from Whirlpool have been designed to enhance and extend the cooking experience. The range includes a grill plate, cooking stone, panini toaster, and a chopping board.

Whirlpool’s grill plate (pictured) fits onto the hob with its own support. The non-stick, cast iron ribbed plate provides high quality grilling and barbecue-style results.

 The new Saratoga LED fire from Dimplex is a low energy version of the Optiflame flame effect. The Saratoga’s ‘flames’ have an energy consumption of just 9W per hour, around the same as a low energy light bulb.

The rectangular design has a black finish and offers the ultimate in simple installation.

Shaun Barrett of Barrett’s Digital World.

Barrett’s Digital World enjoyed a good year in 2010, and I believed that the market had recovered after the credit crunch and recession of 2007-08. What made 2011 so hard to grasp and comprehend was the size and speed of the downturn throughout the year.

AMDEA is the UK trade association for domestic appliance manufacturers.  Many people assume that this means large appliances such as cookers and washing machines but AMDEA members also make a range of small appliances. This month AMDEA’S Sian Lewis looks at the range of household gadgets available on the market that are subject to energy and safety regulations.

Although the finishing line is finally in sight, customers are still confused with digital TV options on offer, both in terms of services and recording, reports George Cole.

By the end of the year, the UK will have completed the switchover from analogue to digital television. UK Digital, which has been managing the switchover, says the last analogue signal will be switched off on 24 October 2012, and at the time of writing, just four TV regions – London, Meridian, Tyne Tees and Northern Ireland - have yet to complete the switchover. Around 18 million UK homes now have Freeview, and Freesat sales have passed two million.

Tavistock Sound and Vision, is one of the late Michael Peters’ companies, renowned for their customer service and retailing excellence. Paul Mead, managing director of Tavistock, told Anna Ryland how during the age of the internet, a local independent can stay at the heart of its community.

Paul Mead, managing director of Tavistock Sound and Vision and Michael R. Peters is not a stranger to receiving industry awards.

The Hoover Aristocrat range comes with a three-year warranty and guaranteed margins. Trevor Culmer of Supa Electrics explains what difference stocking the brand makes for his business.

Established more than 40 years ago, Supa Electrics has three standalone white goods stores in Surrey and Kent, as well as a concession in the famous Allders department store in Croydon. Trevor Culmer, the owner of the business, is also a director of Combined Independents (Holdings).

Nick Portlock General Manager, Digital Appliances

2011 was a challenging year with manufacturers operating in what proved to be very tough market conditions. It was the year that saw a much more price oriented consumer, resulting in a stark polarisation of the market; with entry level and premium products faring well, but those pitched at the mid-market experiencing a much tougher time.

Colin Rodgers General Manager - Independents 

 I am writing this article after having just returned from the official opening of the new Samsung Brand store at Westfield Stratford. This new exclusive store, operated by Micro Anvika – a key Independent channel partner of ours, showcases all areas of the Samsung product range under one roof and provides a fantastic consumer experience.

Steve MacDonald Marketing Director 

Hoover Candy has reaffirmed its commitment to the Hoover Aristocrat range of major domestic appliances.

Launched in 2009, Hoover Aristocrat is an exclusive brand, available only to members of the Combined Independents (Holdings) buying group. The range, which covers the home laundry, refrigeration and dishwashing categories, is backed by a three-year warranty.

Peter Blampied, Director of Sales

Despite a continued challenging economic environment, 2011 has been a year of innovations for Pure and we continue to look forward with a positive view. We’ve brought to market what we believe to be game-changing products and services that have inspired our retail partners and their customers alike, and helped to drive our mutual businesses forward.

James Chambers Retail, Marketing Manager     

With such an exciting year ahead, you might think that Freeview has been resting on  its laurels in 2011.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In these uncertain times,  Freeview has again shown itself to be a winning option for digital TV. And with so  many ways to enjoy the best TV the UK has to offer including ‘+’ recorders, HD and  increasingly Freeview equipment with Smart functionality, things are looking rosy for  the future.

Ian Nicholson, Sales and Marketing Director 

Despite the gloomy economic outlook and market predictions for last year, 2011 has been  a hugely successful year for Bosch Small Appliances.

Over the past twelve months, the company has introduced several innovative  products, launched its premier stockist scheme for independent retailers; received  many product awards and won the coveted Total Excellence and Quality (TEQ)  customer service award for the third year running.

Bryan Lovewell,  Chief Executive 

In 2012, retra celebrates its 70th anniversary and the association is as important now, as it  ever has been.  Over the last 70 years, retra has worked tirelessly on behalf of its members and reaching  this fantastic milestone in its history is testament to the strength of the independent electrical  retailer in the UK.

Hannah Dedman  Publishing Director

As we start 2012 I am just getting prepared to go to CES and must say I am most excited and also intrigued at all the new products and technologies we will be reporting on and then relaying to our readers, although I am sure that there will be many retailers taking that flight to see for themselves the opportunities that are being showcased and how the lookand content of their showrooms may be affected this year.

Is a recession the right time to sell best in class cooking appliances?

Anna Ryland investigates.

Even the most experienced retailers admit that the current trading conditions are very tough and the Christmas season is unlikely to deliver the usual volume of cheer to the electrical stores. Can you hope, therefore, to be able to tempt customers with cooking appliances that represent the best that the industry can offer?

Tom Cole reviews recent events in the multiples sector and the prospects for 2012.

 cole.tom@virgin.net

Wherever you look there is no shortage of gloomy news, but whilst the general outlook is clearly bleak for many retail sectors, the shake-out in electrics, with Best Buy closing down and Comet soon to be under new management, will be welcomed by others in the trade.