Maytag
Announces Major Restructuring and Lowers Earning Expectations
Maytag
Corporation announced on June 4th a comprehensive business restructuring
that consolidates the Hoover Floor Care, Maytag Appliances and Corporate
Headquarters organisations. The 'one-company' transformation is designed
to achieve market-focused speed of execution, to improve Maytag's competitiveness
and to achieve an 8 percent operating profit margin goal in the first
quarter of 2005. The company also lowered its earnings expectations for
the second quarter and full year 2004.
Maytag Chairman and CEO Ralph F. Hake stated, 'Maytag has made significant
progress in product portfolio, brand position, process improvement and
quality trends. The restructuring announced today will leverage those
strengths for improved performance in the highly competitive global marketplace
of the major appliance and floor care industries and help us grow operating
income.'
Restructuring Expected to Add Value to Retail Customers
Hake emphasised that Maytag is committed to its premium brands and innovation
strategy. 'We have selected the one-company approach as the most effective
structure to go to market with our brands and innovative products, and
it was determined that this approach should dramatically improve competitiveness
and position us for future growth,' Hake commented.
Hake pointed out that the major appliance and floor care businesses serve
many of the same customers. 'The restructuring will create enhanced value
for our retail customers through one sales force and one marketing organisation.
It will eliminate redundancies across the organisation in areas including
logistics and administrative functions, and will also result in infrastructure
cost savings. Maytag will be a much leaner organisation, capable of better
serving customers and more rapid decision-making.'
As a result of the transformation, the Hoover brand will join the existing
strategic business units within the marketing organisation. The units
will be Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana and Hoover, as well as a unit that will
include Maytag Housewares and Hoover Diversified Products.
Integration of Hoover and Maytag Appliances into the new organisation
will eliminate about 20 percent of the salaried workforce, reduce Hoover's
North Canton facilities to an R & D and manufacturing site, and downsize
Maytag Appliances and corporate headquarters.
The restructuring will also include implementation of key operational
process improvements and disposition of underutilised assets.
The restructuring is expected to save $150 million annually and to be
completed by yearend 2004. In connection with the restructuring, Maytag
expects to incur restructuring charges of $75 million to $100 million,
primarily for severance costs and asset write-downs. The cash portion
of the charge is expected to be in the range of $45 million to $60 million.
Hake commented, 'This restructuring will cause hardship and challenges
for many of our employees and their families. Maytag Corporation has skilled
and talented employees, which makes this decision so difficult. However,
in order to succeed and grow, Maytag must rapidly reduce costs and improve
market execution.'
He also said, 'Our restructuring is a necessary step in transforming us
into a customer-focused, lean, responsive company. I am confident that
our people and systems are fully capable of successfully executing the
transformation, based on our proven track record with the Amana integration
implementation.'
Full-Year Earnings Expectations Lowered
Maytag lowered its earnings expectations for the full year. Hake stated:
'We now expect that earnings will not meet previous expectations for the
second quarter and the full year 2004. This is the result of lower than
anticipated sales volume at Hoover and Maytag Appliances, coupled with
lower factory volume related to balancing inventory levels, as well as
higher steel and resin costs. In addition, we expect to incur restructuring
charges and asset impairments associated with the comprehensive business
restructuring announced today.'
Hake explained that there are other items that may impact the second quarter.
These include a legal charge for the unsuccessful appeal of a previously
disclosed lawsuit and a gain in discontinued operations from the pending
sale of Maytag's joint venture in China.
'Furthermore, while we continue to progress in our labour contract negotiations
in Newton, the potential impact of the outcome is unclear,' Hake said.
'Due to the fluid nature of some of these items regarding amount and timing,
we are not providing specific guidance for the second quarter. For the
full year 2004, including the items previously mentioned, we expect reported
earnings per share to be in the range of $1.00 to $1.10 assuming continued
favourable industry conditions and no further significant increases in
steel and resin costs. This 2004 full-year guidance reflects restructuring
charges of approximately $1.00 per share for the business restructuring
and Galesburg, Ill., plant closure.'
Despite the lower earnings expectations and cash required for restructuring,
free cash flow remains on track and is expected to be approximately $150
million for the full year 2004. In addition, Maytag has completed $90
million in voluntary pension contributions for the year.
Groupe
SEB buys All-Clad Group from Waterford Wedgewood for $250m
SEB is purchasing from Waterford Wedgwood its US-based cookware subsidiary
All-Clad. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days, subject
to approval by Waterford Wedgwood shareholders and by the Federal Trade
Commission. All-Clad reported 2003 sales of $105 million under the All-Clad
and Emeril brands. These are exclusively done through high-end selective
channels like specialist chains, department stores, etc. All-Clad manufactures
its products at its Pennsylvania plant or sources them from external subcontractors.
The acquisition price of $250 million (Euro 204million) cash will be fully
financed by debt. This operation will not be dilutive for Groupe SEB.
Given the good results of All-Clad, the continuing cash generation of
SEB as well as its solid financial structure, the Group gearing should
remain around 50% by year-end 2004.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman and CEO, said 'This move reflects
SEB's ability to seize opportunities when they occur. The acquisition
of All Clad perfectly matches our strategy : not only does it allow us
to pursue our international development but it also consolidates our presence
at the high end of the market through a premium brand and a unique access
to selected distributors in the US as well as it expands our cookware
business beyond the boundaries of the successful Tefal brand'.
GROHE
Products in Seven out of Ten Stadiums at European Football Championship
2004
When
in autumn of 2000 the UEFA chose Portugal to host the European Football
Championship in 2004, spontaneous rejoicing broke out all over the country.
The Portuguese are crazy about football. A total of nine billion viewers
will watch the matches on TV. Seven of the ten stadiums hosting the event
are new. The other three arenas have been renovated. For the EURO 2004,
they will host 1.1 million visitors who will watch the 31 matches. Seven
of the ten stadiums were counting on the expertise of water technology
specialist GROHE when equipping the sanitary facilities. Durability, ease
of operation and economy of energy, ability to withstand stress, protection
against vandalism and problem-free maintenance and upkeep - these were
some of the criteria that were a must for all sanitary products.
The ‘Estádio Municipal de Braga’, with its unusual architecture,
is thought to be the most idiosyncratic of the stadiums. The arena on
the edge of the town of Braga nestles in the natural ambiance formed by
an ancient quarry, and has just two rows on the sides. These are linked
with steel cables, which carry the roofing and had to be installed with
the help of mountaineers with a strong head for heights. The arena was
designed by the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Focus
on non-physical interaction
When it came to the sanitary facilities intended for the use of the spectators,
the stadium operators opted for technology that would function in keeping
with requirements. GROHE ‘Tectron Electronics’ comes into play
here - for instance in the ‘Europlus E’ washbasin fittings and
automatically flushing urinals.
After a top class performance on the playing field, the footballers have
earned the right to a really relaxing shower. At the ‘Estádio
Municipal de Braga’ comfort is a factor: the ‘Eurodisc SE’
self-closing shower thermostat offers simple and constant temperature
regulation, as well as user-friendly stop-start functionality. It has
been combined with ‘Relexa Plus’ shower-heads. The athletes
have the choice of a bubbly champagne shower or a powerful jet.
GROHE: First for functionality
With seating for 65,000, the ‘Estádio da Luz’ in Lisbon
is the biggest of the stadiums constructed for the European Football Championship
and an ideal location to host the finals. GROHE's camouflage installations
were in demand here, as the technology is accommodated ‘behind the
scenes’ - behind the tiling, that is to say - and thus presents limited
opportunities for vandalism. Thanks to the stable metallic construction
of the ‘Rapid Pro’ elements, the washbasins, WCs and urinals
could be installed in line, speedily and without complications. In over
80 public conveniences, almost 14,000 meters of Rapid Pro profiles, 19,500
connecting elements, 8,700 angular mounting brackets and 2,800 spacers
have been installed.
The ten stadiums in eight cities have been fully equipped to meet the
needs of the 1.1 million people who are expected to attend the games.
So fans will be able to share the excitement of Figo and all his merry
men, while being reassured to know at the same time that the perfectly
designed sanitary facilities behind the scenes cater for all their requirements.
Simple, inviting and effective: the facilities for the European Championship
- and for many more such encounters - have been optimally designed.
Web: http://www.grohe.co.uk
Could
your Bathroom and Kitchen Designs Win you £500?
The
Bathrooms And Kitchens Industry Awards are searching for up and coming
talent, with the Student Designer Award for Bathrooms and the Student
Designer Award for Kitchens. Entries are being called from universities
and colleges across the UK to recognise, and financially reward, the best
young kitchen and bathroom design skills in the country.
The Student awards are open to students over the age of 18 who are enrolled
on a full-time design related course. If you have a bathroom or kitchen
design to be proud of, then call today to get your entry in.
The winner will receive a cheque for £500 and also the opportunity
to receive a great step-up on the career ladder. The student awards have
run for the past five years, and many finalists and winners have gone
on to great things in the industry. You can find out more on the website
at http://www.bathroomskitchens.co.uk/awards.
The prize will be presented at the Bathrooms And Kitchens Industry Awards
– a black-tie event at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 1st
February 2005, attended by the leading lights in the bathrooms and kitchens
industry.
The Student Designer Award is sponsored by Twyford Bathrooms, joining
many of the industry’s leading manufacturers as sponsors of the main
awards including Hotpoint, Ideal Standard, Jacuzzi UK, and Neff.
Download your entry form at http://www.bathroomskitchens.co.uk/awards
or email Clare Coe at mailto:ccoe@quantumbusinessmedia.com.
The entry deadline for the Student Awards is 10th December 2004, so please
get your entry forms today!
Planit Announces Further Improvements in Service and Suport
Software
provider Planit International has
announced a new service offering which will provide its’ customers
with more information and a faster more efficient support service. The
‘Data Guarantee’ service will ensure that any corrections, updates
or remedial amendments to the range of catalogues that are maintained
by Planit will benefit from a defined and guaranteed turnaround service.
‘This is just one of many improvements that we are making as part
of our ongoing commitment to develop all aspects of our service and support
provision,’ says recently appointed Sales Director at Planit, Mark
Plant.
‘The new service will considerably enhance the management and provision
of data updates and will provide supported users with consistent, accurate
and up to date information with which to manage their business.
‘We are committed to providing our users with the very best levels
of support and are actively looking at other ways in which we can work
more closely in partnership with them.’
The Planit Data Guarantee provides defined timescales for all remedial
fixes and updates to catalogues.
Planit has provided CAD solutions to the kitchen retail industry for over
20 years. The company is an accredited Microsoft Solutions Provider, testament
to the highest quality standards of the company’s software engineering,
as well as to the robustness of its systems.
Tel : 01233 635566
Web : http://www.planit.com
European
Sales Agencies Announce new Product Portfolio
European
Sales Agencies has recently been appointed as UK agents for Porta taps,
mixers and thermostatic shower valves and Furnara and Maulini shower fittings
and accessories.
European Sales Agenices also represent manufacturers of the following
product groups:
Azzurra sanitary ware in contemporary and classic styles
Idea bathroom furniture in a comprehensive range featuring both modern
and traditional designs
Pressalit toilet seats and bathroom accessories
Richard Hance says that he and Mike Bulman have together built European
Sales Agencies into a professional, reliable and comprehensive partnership
offering a high level of service thoughout the UK and Ireland to their
principals and their customers.
European Sales Agencies can be contacted at either:
Eastbury House, 62 Rofant Road, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 3BE, tel: 01923
842108 or
Leith House, 39 Campion Drive, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, Co. Durham, DH 9
9PQ, tel. 01207 236622.
Web: http://www.europeansalesagencies.com
Aquatec
Water Softener Leaflet Attracts Complaint
A
complaint, objecting to a leaflet for Aquatec RainSoft (Bristol) Ltd -
a
water filter company - that comprised a household water survey and sample
bottle, was not upheld in three of
the four objections according to published details from the Advertising
Standards Authority.
Complaint:
Objection, via Bristol Trading Standards department, to a leaflet for
a water filter company that comprised a household water survey and sample
bottle. The front of the leaflet was headlined 'FREE WATER SURVEY collection
after 11am tomorrow' and the bottom of the leaflet stated 'Electrolux
and RainSoft presented by aquatec your local independent water treatment
company'. The back of the leaflet was headlined 'Electrolux presented
by aquatec your local independent water treatment company' and stated
'Electrolux Water Survey During the next two weeks, we will be conducting
household water tests in this district on behalf of Electrolux. We do
not wish to inconvenience you in any way, but would welcome your co-operation
... 1 FILL the enclosed water sample bottle with tap water from your kitchen
sink ... Please answer the following questions ... 4 Have you experienced
any of the following? Chlorine smell Hardness Odours Cloudiness 5 Does
anyone in your household suffer from skin problems? ... 6 Has your water
been tested recently ... 7 Are you concerned about the growing number
of reports on water purity? ... This is a FREE test ... if you have any
concerns about your water supply, a consultant may offer you methods of
purification, but there is no obligation whatsoever to make any purchase
... '. Smallprint at the bottom of the leaflet stated '*this free survey
is not carried out in association with the water board'.
The complainant challenged:
1. whether the leaflet was misleading because it did not make clear the
nature of the advertisers' business or that it was advertising material;
2. whether the claims 'your local independent water treatment company'
and 'this free survey is not carried out in association with the water
board' misleadingly implied the advertisers were an official, impartial
organisation;
3. whether the leaflet misleadingly implied samples provided by householders
would be scientifically analysed for purity, because he believed that
samples should be taken after running the tap to avoid unrepresentative
results from standing water in the pipes and
4. whether the questions in the questionnaire were likely to cause undue
fear and distress about the safety of the public water supply.
Adjudication:
1. Complaint not upheld
The advertisers asserted that their leaflet was not misleading; they said
the text 'aquatec your local independent water treatment company' made
clear the nature of their business. The Authority considered that, because
it included the brand names 'Electrolux' and 'RainSoft' as well as the
text ' ... a consultant may offer you methods of purification ... ', readers
were likely to understand that the leaflet was advertising material. The
Authority did not object to the approach.
2. Complaint not upheld
The advertisers said they had included the brand names 'Electrolux' and
'RainSoft', as well as the claim '*this free survey is not carried out
in association with the water board', to avoid the implication that they
were an official, impartial organisation. The Authority considered that
readers were unlikely to interpret the claims 'your local independent
water treatment company' and '*this free survey is not carried out in
association with the water board' to mean that the advertisers were an
official and impartial organisation. The Authority accepted the claims.
3. Complaint upheld
The advertisers said they would add the instruction to take the sample
of water after the tap had been run. The Authority welcomed the advertisers'
co-operation but was nevertheless concerned that they had not commented
on, or provided substantiation for, the tests they performed on the water
samples provided by householders. The Authority considered that the leaflet
misleadingly implied the water samples would be scientifically analysed
for purity. It told the advertisers to remove that implication from the
leaflet and told them to consult the CAP Copy Advice team before advertising
again.
4. Complaint not upheld
The advertisers asserted that they had not intended to cause undue fear
and distress; they believed water quality was a matter of public interest
and concern. The Authority considered that the questions in the questionnaire
were unlikely to cause undue fear and distress about the safety of the
public water supply and did not object.
Oliver
Heath Unveils the World's First Recycled Kitchen
Designer
and BBC Changing Rooms presenter Oliver Heath unveiled the world's first
recycled kitchen brought to you by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action
Programme) at the ldeal Home Show.
'lt doesn't look like rubbish .... But it is' said Oliver. 'The sleek
and stylish kitchen units, the cutting-edge flooring and the fashionable
accessories all owe something to your household dustbin.'
But this isn't 'Junkyard Wars', the Recycled Kitchen is a realistic design
proposition with the race on to find new and innovative uses for our rubbish.
'There are fantastic and exciting opportunities out there for manufacturers
and designers working with recycled or reclaimed materials,' continued
Oliver. 'ldeas are constantly being re-invented and retro has never gone
out of fashion, so the Recycled Kitchen represents the next step in modern
design.'
Oliver, a regular on BBC's 'Changing Rooms', has used reclaimed materials
to great effect both on national television and in his own apartment and
studio. He is currently transforming his own home using a range of recycled
products along with energy-efficient appliances. 'I always try to apply
the principles of the 3Rs' he said 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.'
The Recycled Kitchen features products from up-and-coming designers and
smaller enterprises such as award-winning Green Glass, exhibiting glassware
made from glass bottles using a top-secret manufacturing process. Products
from a number of high street retailers including John Lewis, lKEA and
Habitat, are also displayed and are widely available.
Julie Parry, head of communications at WRAP says: 'The Recycled Kitchen
is based on obtaining a balance between the unusual and the practical.
The kitchen is unusual in the sense that it will challenge people's perceptions
of recycled materials through showcasing what can be achieved. It is practical
because this kitchen can be easily recreated in the home, and is both
attractive and desirable.'
The world's first recycled kitchen has been made possible by advances
in technology over the past few years which have transformed recycling
into a technologically advanced and burgeoning industry, manufacturing
highly engineered and 'clean' products.
With government targets set at recycling or composting 25% of our rubbish
by 2005 in the UK and our current recyciing rate standing at 12%, the
opportunities for new product development using reclaimed or recycled
materials are set to increase.
Web: http://www.wrap.org.uk
East
Coast Fittings offers Customers new Advantage Strategy
The
re-location of East Coast Fittings – supplier of premier furniture
fittings – to a new 60,000 square feet facility has enabled the company
to devise a strategy which it says is directly advantageous to its customers
nationwide.
Apart
from having a wide ranging portfolio of furniture fittings and components,
East Coast Fittings has concentrated on developing a distribution and
infrastructure network aimed at offering an unrivalled service.
Unveiling the company’s planned and structured strategy East Coast
Fittings detailed the features of the new headquarters and what they would
mean to customers:
The main points are both increased stockholding and product ranges and
improved supply chain solutions. Tangibly there will be a large technical
showroom, a modern office complex and a state-of-the-art manufacturing
facility. Behind the scenes the internal sales staff has been enlarged,
new computer systems installed and improved customer liaison schemes activated.
East Coast Fittings has also set up a dedicated internal product sales
staff.
Managing Director Derek Goodman says that ‘having this infrastructure
will further enhance the way we wish to develop the profitable relationships
with all of our business partners.
‘This development will give ECF the opportunity to become one of
the best suppliers in the industry. Ensuring that our customers receive
the best products, the best prices and above all the best quality.’
East Coast Fittings plans to issue a new and technically comprehensive
catalogue later this year which will detail the depth and extent of the
product variety offered.
Tel: 01664 424288
Thermic
Closed Measuring Cabin for Accurate Heat Emission Measurements
Thermic
has brought into use a new measuring laboratory - with an investment of
12 million BEF - in which the heat emission of radiators can be measured
in accordance with the current European standard EN442. This laboratory
will be used for both the continuous development of new models and for
optimising existing radiator types.
This project was supervised by the HLK reference- and research institute
in Stuttgart. The purpose of the project was to build a copy of their
standard cabin, in order to guarantee very accurate measurements.
Previously the heat emission of Thermic radiators was measured in an open
cabin, as required by the previous standards. The disadvantage of this
type of cabin was that outside influences could not completely be ruled
out. Keeping the surrounding temperature at a constant level without influencing
the measuring was not easy, certainly in the case of higher emission levels.
Software
The entire process can be visualised and regulated by means of special
software and the measuring runs fully automatically. However, if necessary
one can take full control of the process.
There are four EN442-reference laboratories in Europe, which have a mutual
divergence of not more than 1% in their capacity measurings. Radiators
are regularly sent around the four sites and measuring results compared
in order to ensure that any deviations are immediately detected.
A number of reference radiators of HLK were measured in the new Thermic
measuring cabin. The measuring results prove that the maximum divergence
amounts to less than 1%. A quality system is being established, so that
the reference radiators, the exact capacity of which is known, will be
measured again at regular intervals. The cabins are regularly calibrated
in co-operation with HLK.
Info Centre for factory visits
Thermic says that it is flooded with requests for factory visits. Professionals,
students, clubs,etc areall curious about the secrets behind the ‘designer
radiator’.
To be able to offer visitors a smooth and pleasant stay Thermic has opened
a large and extremely modern info centre for welcoming visitors.
By means of a digital presentation on a large screen, people travel through
the entire Thermic history, they get a better idea of the ‘keys to
success’ behind the Thermic story, are informed about the most modern
production techniques and the strengths of the Thermic products and learn
about the market of designer radiators and the position of Thermic within
this market. The high-technological light and sound installations in the
centre add a special touch to the story.
After the presentation, the visitors are guided through the factory itself.
This way, they can see that Thermic works with the best of machinery and
the most modern production methods.
Thermic price lists 2004 updated
Both the comprehensive Technical Price List and the reference Stock Price
List have been given a new layout. For the purpose of achieving increased
product recognition with the Thermic range, from now on all Thermic printouts
will be released with an identical cover.
Product brochures redesigned
Not only the price lists, but also the general product brochures (size
A4 and mini) have been redesigned. The lay-out of the brochures has undergone
quite a metamorphosis but the concept remains the same. The new brochures
show the latest Thermic products and explain the qualities of Thermic
designer radiators in six languages - Dutch, French, German, English,
Spanish and Italian.
Thermic colour chart
The new and accurate Thermic colour chart offers 90
RAL-colours, 50 sanitary colours and 6 British colours (the
colour samples are painted rather than printed). The Thermic colour chart
is available from £13.00 per set and Thermic now also offers five
new metallic colours.
Majority
of Home and Garden Retailers have yet to Offer Online Shopping Despite
Buoyant Market
Research
carried out by Zendor, the fulfilment and e-business expert, shows that
only a quarter of home and garden retailers have a transactional website
in the UK. This is despite recent predictions by the Interactive Media
in Retail Group (IMRG) that by 2009, a quarter of all UK purchases will
be carried out online or via a mobile device. The IMRG also claims that
a further 20% of all purchases will be influenced by online research.
Zendor’s research, which was based on 80 of the UK’s major home
and garden retailers, found that 14% do not even have a basic website.
Although almost two thirds of the retailers reviewed do have ‘informational’
sites, Zendor found that many supplied little more than general company
or store details.
Of those retailers selling homewares, furniture, and floorcoverings 4%
had no website at all and a massive 70% had a non-transactional site.
This was compared to 17% of DIY and garden retailers having no online
presence, and 58% maintaining an informational site. This means that the
majority have, so far, failed to capitalise on the burgeoning online retail
market, currently worth almost £5 billion in the UK.
According to Verdict, online spending for DIY, homewares, and furniture
and floorcoverings totalled £736 million in 2003 (Verdict on e-Retail
2004).DIY online sales, in particular, have experienced solid growth and
the sector is predicted to grow a further 32.6% by 2008.
Verdict estimate that homewares, furniture and floorcoverings retailers
will experience significant growth of more than 20% by 2008, although
they will face more competitive forces from supermarkets, department stores
etc.
It has been predicted that the retail market will be worth £80bn
in 2009. With industry research estimating that the e-retail market will
account for a substantial share of it, driven by more than 10 million
online consumers seeking convenience, Zendor advises that 2004 is the
year for home and garden retailers to move online and/or to further develop
their propositions.
Nick Allen, Zendor’s Chief Executive, says ‘Home and garden
retailers could miss an exciting opportunity this year if they do not
seriously consider online retailing as part of a multi-channel proposition.
Our advice would be to claim a share of this healthy and prosperous industry
now. This is the year to make your move, if you haven’t already done
so.’
Zendor provides a range of e-commerce services. For further information
please contact Zendor direct on 0161 237 4900, email mailto:curious@zendor.com
or visit http://www.zendor.com
XDeep
Refrigeration from Bosch
This
year, Bosch is developing the top freezer sector with X-Deep - a roomy,
extra deep top fridge freezer. It's 70cm deep, 70cm wide and 185cm high.
The extra 10 cm in depth is vital for providing 25% extra shelf space,
making this a real family sized appliance.
The XDeep would suit anyone who cooks using a lot of fresh ingredients,
with the emphasis placed on the large capacity fridge section, or perhaps
customers who are looking for a large fridge/freezer, but lack the space
for American style.
In the fridge compartment there's a 'door shower' which showers cold air
down through the door compartments to maintain a constant temperature
as well as a chiller, wine rack and deep deli drawer. Agion anti-bacterial
coating lasts the lifetime of the appliance and means that bacteria cannot
proliferate on the walls of the fridge.
The freezer compartment offers advanced features too, including a 'lazy
twist' ice cube maker and quick freezer function. There are no worries
about messy de-frosting with the Xdeep as this is a frost free model.
The Xdeep has the distinctive Bosch high door design, external LED control
panel and enclosed back, giving a cleanly closed off back wall.
Tel: 0870 727 0446
Web: http://www.boschappliances.co.uk
More
than Skin Deep with New Solid Surface Airspas - The V&A 02 Collection
Victoria
& Albert is launching its solid surface Quarrycast™ freestanding
airspas. Available from July 1st, the new V&A 02 Collection is made
up of the Capri 02 (pictured) and Monaco 02 which both feature a powerful
750w air system. Based on two of the most successful modern double ended
baths in the Quarrycast™ range, the company says that the new V&A
02 spas provide Victoria & Albert aficionados with a totally new bathing
sensation combined with the super-insulated comfort they expect.
Designed to be ample in size for two to share, Victoria & Albert has
retained the baths’ looks through the development of a waterproof,
floating radio remote that provides ‘invisible’ wireless control.
With the benefit of an integrated 250w heater to generate the optimum
air temperature, the V&A 02 models offer an invigorating experience
that’s also controllable to suit every mood. The system is effective
at countering stress and tension-related health problems and is suitable
for use with aromatherapy.
V&A 02 airspas use ozone enriched air pumped through seventeen stainless
steel non-return inlet valves. Charging each of the thousands of bubbles
with micro bacteria beating ozone provides hygiene and ease of long-term
ownership - an active system that ensures your Capri 02 and Monaco 02
is always fresh and ready to use.
'The eagerly awaited range comes in response to a surge in worldwide demand
for our contemporary products,' says Joe Matthews, MD of Victoria &
Albert Baths.
'With a suggested retail price of £3,599.99 for the Capri 02 and
£3,399.99 for the Monaco 02, our market research in the UK and Europe
suggests that the baths will be highly sought after by the discerning
consumer.'
Fisher
& Paykel Appliances - Changes in Distribution
Fisher
& Paykel Appliances is positioned to increase its number of retail
stores in the USA, while change in New Zealand is also imminent.
An agreement has been reached to supply America's fastest growing home
improvement chain, Lowes, with Fisher & Paykel branded appliances.
With Lowes having nearly 950 stores, Fisher & Paykel is positioned
to potentially increase distribution by around 50 per cent across the
USA.
Fisher & Paykel Appliances' strategy in the USA market is to work
at the high-end with its products, providing customers with features and
benefits not available from more traditional technologies.
'To now have our distribution aligned with Lowes presents us with an exciting
opportunity to take our brand to a new level', said John Bongard, Managing
Director of Fisher & Paykel Appliances. 'We see Lowes as being complementary
to the highly valued existing retail network that we have already established
in the United States.'
In the New Zealand market the appliance retail chain, Harvey Norman, has
decided to withdraw from the Exclusive Dealer Arrangement (EDA) with Fisher
& Paykel Appliances, as from 1st July 2004.
Fisher & Paykel Appliances does not anticipate that the change in
distribution will materially affect its earnings. It is expected that
the existing distributor base will ensure that the Fisher & Paykel
brand remains well represented in the marketplace.
Tel: 09 2730600