SEB Restructures in France

On 24 January 2006 , the management of Groupe SEB presented an industrial reorganisation project to its France Group Committee.

As all manufacturers in its sector, Groupe SEB is facing rapid and deep changes in its environment, marked by the strong competition from Asian products and the drop in prices due to the fast growing entry-level market segment. For several years it has been showing a marked decline in its sales in Europe , and particularly in France.

Unlike its competitors, Groupe SEB manufactures the major part of its products in France , where to date it employs over 7,000 people – half of its global staff.

In order to maintain its competitiveness with Asian manufacturers and to ensure its future, Groupe SEB has to adapt its industrial tool, maintain its innovation strength, and recover in Europe.

Groupe SEB has decided to reorganise its activities in order to concentrate and strengthen its industrial expertise centres in France . These will bring together, over 10 sites, research, development, industrialisation and production teams, with a view to reaching critical size.

At the same time, the manufacturing of commodity products such as kettles, filter coffee makers, table-top ovens, toasters and meat grills will be outsourced, as their production is no longer economically viable in France.

Groupe SEB will drive this project over a 2-year period, in order to ensure the redeployment of the 890 employees concerned.

During 2006, operations of Fresnay and Mayenne will be united at the Mayenne site, and the Vernon plant will be resized.

The Dampierre and Vosges sites will continue to operate until the beginning of 2008.
The social approach of Groupe SEB in this reorganisation project will give priority to internal mobility, re-industrialisation of the labour pools, and early retirement for older employees. There will be no enforced redundancies without compensation.

At the end of this project, Groupe SEB will remain the largest manufacturer of small domestic appliances in Europe , with over 6,000 employees in France

Maytag UK's New Initiative: 'Partners In Business'

Maytag UK has had a successful twelve months with a raft of new product launches, the introduction of new refrigeration categories, extended sales and marketing teams and great support from its loyal retailer base.

Richard Thompson, Managing Director Maytag UK explains, 'With the new year upon us even greater challenges lie ahead. With these factors top of mind, Maytag is introducing a number of strategic initiatives to assist and support our business partners in continuing to grow their businesses.' He adds, 'Our new initiatives will offer our loyal retail partners even more support, helping them through the tough trading times ahead.'

Maytag's new business programme, 'Partners in Business' is a 12-point retailer support plan. Encompassing operational, business and advertising support the programme is designed to increase contact with Maytag's internal teams providing additional and specific contacts for the retailers with the benefit of releasing more time for Areas Sales Managers to spend with their business partners. There will be a raft of in-store support including display stands, point of sale material, promotions and training. Advertising and PR will be dedicated to each and every loyal retail partner, customised to local and regional needs.

The business programme has been developed with hard-hitting initiatives to give Maytag's business partners the edge. This is all topped with growth rebates, review meetings and a guaranteed retailer business partner trip for those that succeed.

For more information on Maytag UK's 'Partner in Business' programme, contact your Area Sales Manager or call Maytag UK on 01737 231 000.

Swap to ELECSA for FREE and save £400

If you have signed up to self certify under Part P and you want to change to another scheme provider  but feel stuck because you have already paid for the full year, you can swap over to ELECSA for FREE without paying for the annual registration and assessment fee again.

As Julian Carter, General Manager, ELECSA said 'You have nothing to lose when you swap over to ELECSA since you do not need to pay for the annual registration or assessment - therefore saving you £400. Your free registration with ELECSA will simply continue.'

Once you have transferred over, you simply notify ELECSA of your installations in the same way as you would do with your current scheme provider – by fax or over the internet for £1.50+ VAT each. ELECSA will send a certificate to your householder to confirm that your work complies with Part P and take care of everything else for you on the Local Authority side so that your work is legally covered under Part P.

So why not kick start the year by transferring your Part P registration over to ELECSA for FREE, saving £400. There are no catches. It is very simple. All you need to do is to:
· Fill in a simple application form
· Provide a copy of your public liability
· Provide a copy of your paperwork confirming that you have passed the assessment with your current scheme
When your free registration period expires, then you will have your surveillance visit as normal.

For further information on how to transfer over to ELECSA for free and therefore save £400, please contact the ELECSA Registration team on 0870 749 0080 or email enquiries@elecsa.org.uk.

New Corporate Member For KBSA

The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association has welcomed components giant Hettich as its latest corporate member.

Hettich UK supplies innovative lighting and furniture fittings to the UK interiors industry and is a subsidiary of Hettich International, a manufacturer based in Germany for over 75 years, that now has a global turnover of more than 500 million euros.

Left to right: Phil Tipson, Director of Sales Hettich, Lucinda Kenny,
Operations Manager KBSA, Tim Leedham, Managing Director Hettich

Neil Schofield, Area Sales Manager for Hettich UK comments: 'The principles and beliefs of the KBSA and their membership fit perfectly with the ethos behind the Hettich range of products and our future strategy for growth. The Hettich brand is clearly focused on the quality market and the KBSA provides a perfect vehicle for many of our products, particularly the Magic lighting and ProDecor handle ranges.'

KBSA operations manager Lucinda Kenny added: 'We are delighted to welcome Hettich UK as a corporate member of the KBSA, they are sure to benefit from the opportunity to network with the UK's best specialist kitchen, bathroom and bedroom retailers.'

http://www.kbsa.co.uk

Gaggenau Appoints First Marketing & Showroom Manager

Mr. Juan Pillay has been appointed to the newly created dual role of Marketing Manager & Showroom Manager for luxury built in kitchen appliance company, Gaggenau.

Juan joined Gaggenau in September 2005 from Samsung Electronics where he held the post of white goods product manager for just under a year.

Prior to that, he was at Whirlpool UK for a total of 6 years, initially working in the commercial department as a trainee accountant straight after graduation from university and then moving into sales as a key account manager for mail order houses and department stores. This was followed by four years on the marketing side, first as product manager for built in ovens and then as category manager for built in cooking.

Juan's appointment at Gaggenau follows on from a total re-structuring of the brand and the clearly defined separation of the sales & marketing functions in 2005, together with the opening of the company's first UK showroom in Wigmore Street in central London. He reports directly to Adam Roddan, Gaggenau's first Sales Director who joined the company almost a year ago.

In his new role, Juan Pillay is responsible for product marketing for all appliance categories, from cooking and cooling to dishwashing, liaising with Germany over product supply and dealing with outside agencies for all marketing and advertising support.

He is also responsible for managing the company's prestigious new showroom facility at 40 Wigmore Street where he oversees the day to day running of the outlet and supervises two full time staff members. The showroom does not sell directly to the public but offers potential customers the unique opportunity to inspect the entire Gaggenau range under one roof before being recommended to a Gaggenau retail outlet for further help and assistance.

Comments Juan Pillay: 'I feel very privileged to have had such a stimulating role created for me. Wearing two 'hats', I can be 'behind the scenes' on the marketing side yet 'front facing' in the showroom, giving me a totally unique perspective on the brand. I get direct feedback from end customers which is hugely rewarding and a very rare combination in this industry'

On the personal front, it's a busy time for Juan who is due to get married in February 2006 to his fiancée, Leah. Having just moved to a new home in Horsham, West Sussex and changed jobs too, tying the knot means Juan has achieved the 'triple' in a very short space of time!

Stoves Genus Secures Harrods Listing

Harrods, recently named by Forbes magazine as the world's best department store, is the latest retailer to display the revolutionary Genus oven from Stoves.

Genus - which uses a unique combination of heating technologies to cook foods up to four times faster than conventional ovens - is the ultimate in cooking appliances, and now shoppers at the ultimate department store can experience the time-saving appliance first hand.

Harrods is displaying Genus in the bespoke Genus display cabinet, which incorporates a screen showing a short educational features and benefits film, and is running the free 'year's supply of wine for every Genus customer' promotion.

Gavin Laniger, buyer at Harrods comments: 'Genus is a very impressive innovation and one which we felt would appeal to our discerning customers. We were impressed not only by the technological advancements Genus brings to the cooking market, but also its contemporary design and easy-to-use controls. For any customers looking for a stylish and feature packed appliance that will genuinely help with their busy lifestyles, Stoves Genus is sure to be of interest.'

Richard Binks, business development manager, Glen Dimplex Home Appliances comments: 'We are thrilled at Harrods' decision to list Genus, the first product to be stocked by the store. It compliments the growing list of national and independent retailers that have recognised the quantum leap Genus makes and the tremendous sales opportunity presented. GDHA is committed to supporting Genus as demonstrated by our £2million marketing campaign investment, which includes a bespoke website, television, magazine and internet advertising, POS and display materials and the 'year's supply of wine' promotion. In addition, Genus has received numerous awards and commendations in recent months.'

Geberit to Launch Consumer Campaign

Geberit Ltd., specialists in frame systems for wall mounted sanitaryware, will be launching in April 2006 a major consumer campaign to inspire the general public about the 'wall hung' look and dispel people's fears about the technology. Wall hung is the fastest growing market in the sector and is becoming increasingly fashionable; Geberit estimates that the UK market will increase by at least six fold over the next five years.

Offering a sleek, modern, minimalist look, wall hung technology allows unsightly pipework to be hidden and eliminates awkward hard to clean areas, as well as offering the impression of extra space. Homeowners without any knowledge of how a wall hung system works may be apprehensive about how strong such fittings are and what happens if something goes wrong with the cistern. These are key concerns that Geberit will address with this campaign, but the company will also highlight the stunning looks and design flexibility offered.

With the key message of 'Let Geberit transform your bathroom' the company will be working closely with Geberit displaying bathroom retailers. A range of supporting marketing material aimed at the consumer, which includes a stylish brochure on how wall hung technology can be used to stunning effect within different bathroom situations, will be available. In addition, a Geberit consumer website and helpline will answer people's questions and direct them to their nearest Geberit displaying retailer.

Geberit is committed to helping bathroom retailers achieve sales growth for wall hung products. Retailers interested in signing up with Geberit, or who want more information on the campaign and supporting collateral should contact Geberit Ltd. on 01662 717811. Special product discounts are also available for retailers looking to set up wall hung displays in store.

The key to a good wall mounted bathroom is a first class frame system which is sturdy, reliable, easy to fit and versatile. The Geberit Duofix wall hung frame system has been perfected over more than 20 years and is considered the industry's standard. Complete with built in cistern and ready to connect pipework it is incredibly easy to install and maintain. Load bearing in its own right the Geberit Duofix frame can take a 400kg (64 stone) load and the patented Geberit cistern design offers easy access through the flush plate aperture for simple maintenance.

www.geberit.co.uk

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TrueLife Lifetime Guarantee Launched from Roman

Roman Limited, the UK shower manufacturer, has launched a fully service backed 'TrueLife' Lifetime guarantee on its range of products.

The Roman TrueLife Lifetime guarantee covers all Roman Shower Enclosures and Bath Screens, throughout the product’s life.

Roman’s Managing Director, David Osborne, said: 'Some guarantees you find have so many exclusions that when it comes down to it very little is really covered.
Feedback from retailers has confirmed this is so often the case and this clearly leaves retailers (and consumers) with an ongoing problem. That is why with a Roman TrueLife Lifetime guarantee it means consumers can rest in the knowledge that their product is fully protected during its lifetime. The guarantee is designed to bring peace of mind to both the consumer and the retailer, who can rest assured that Roman experts will resolve any issues.'

The new Roman guarantee, which comes into effect on all purchases from February 1st, 2006, will be fully backed by a national network of around 36 people which includes, a Customer Service team, Central Booking team, and a team of Technical Representatives, covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Customer Service team has been fully trained to deal with new enquiries about the extended guarantee with the vast majority of queries expected to be solved over the telephone. If the query can’t be resolved in this way, the Central Booking team will arrange for a Roman specialist Technical Representative to visit the customer within five working days to assess the query.

Steve Danby, Roman’s Customer Service Manager, said: 'Often when a customer rings with a problem or a query, the problem actually turns out to be caused by incorrect installation. When the Roman Technical Representative visits the enclosure, they can assess the problem and are happy to talk through or train with the original installer or homeowner how to rectify the problem.'

Roman is very aware that incorrect installation causes many of the problems end users experience with shower enclosures. Roman’s team of Technical Representatives are fully trained on how to correct any installation issues - they can either resolve the problem themselves or talk it through with the original installer.
Roman can even offer a training facility to demonstrate to installers how to fit the product correctly.

Roman is a very big supporter of industry training. The Bathroom Manufacturers Association has now launched a range of training modules available for plumbers and showroom staff to participate in. These relate to generic industry knowledge, terms and product variation. The modules available include; Shower Enclosures, Shower Trays, Shower Controls, Brassware and Baths – with many more to follow.

Mr Osborne added: 'It is vital that we have well-trained staff with detailed knowledge of all our products to back up the Roman guarantee. It is Roman’s policy to be always thinking of new and innovative ways to provide the best possible products to suit all consumer groups and their needs.'

Full copies of the terms and conditions of the TrueLife Lifetime Guarantee are available in Roman’s brochure, with every product, or on request.

KBSA Unveils Award Winning Bath At KBB

KBB Showstopper: Triton's Body Dryer

Set to revolutionise the bathroom market, Triton has launched a cutting-edge new 'Luxury Body Dryer' which can quickly dry its user and at the same time heat up the entire bathroom for a luxurious showering and grooming experience.

A complete first for the industry, the new body dryer has been designed in accordance with the trend for creating added comfort and convenience in the bathroom. In addition to heating up the room, the body dryer also alleviates condensation and will greatly reduce laundry requirements of towels.

Like all of Triton's products, the new luxury body dryer is easy to install, energy-efficient and comes with the added assurance of Triton's quality brand and comprehensive service package.

Lorna Fellowes, Managing Director for Triton said;
'One of the key considerations when bringing the body dryer to the market was that more consumers are looking to enrich their overall bathroom experience.

'The benefits for both installers and merchants are clear. With the introduction of the new body dyer we have further enhanced our total bathroom package and provided installers with a highly aspirational product that will appeal to the discerning, design-conscious consumer.'

http://www.tritonshowers.co.uk

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Gaggenau Wins Raft of Design Awards

Luxury built in kitchen appliance specialist Gaggenau is once again the recipient of a raft of 2006 design awards for its highly aspirational product range. Not one, but two prestigious organisations have honoured Gaggenau with the ‘iF design’ award and the ‘Good Design’ award respectively, as detailed in full below.

Not one but eight ‘iF’ design awards
The jury of the prestigious ‘iF design award’, handed out by the ‘Industrie Forum Design’ in Hanover, has again honoured Gaggenau for its product design.

Remarkably, this year all eight of the products submitted by Gaggenau’s chief designer Reinhard Segers received one of these coveted awards.

The ‘iF’ prize-winning products are listed below.
[Please note: not all of these are available in the UK].

Gaggenau wall-mounted oven BL 253
Gaggenau microwave oven EM 221
Gaggenau large gas hob KG 491
Gaggenau induction hobs CI 481 / CI 482
Gaggenau glass ceramic cooktop CE 490
Gaggenau ventilation table AT 400
Gaggenau wall-mounted hood AW 560

All eight ‘iF design’ awards will be presented to Gaggenau at the CeBIT IT trade fair in March 2006 where all the prize winning products will be on display.

‘Good Design’ award for Gaggenau’s fully automatic CM 200 coffee machine
Gaggenau has also received an award from a leading US design institute: The ‘Good Design’ award of the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design has just gone to the company’s CM 200 built-in fully automatic coffee machine.

The luxury appliance, which can be elegantly integrated into kitchen furniture units and teams up perfectly with other Gaggenau appliances, is available in aluminum or brushed stainless steel. Not only does the CM 200 look good, but this high-performance machine also ensures the connoisseur can look forward to pure coffee enjoyment, with espresso, cappuccino or latte macchiato - without the irritating wait between milk-foaming and the coffee being brewed. The special Aroma Whirl brewing technique really does release all the aromatic elements in the coffee and the water pipes are rinsed out after each brewing session to keep the coffee totally fresh.

Comments Gaggenau Sales Director, Adam Roddan: ‘These awards are a testament to the superb design & development created by Gaggenau in Germany. To win one award is an achievement: to win a total of nine awards is quite spectacular. We are thrilled that our products have been so publicly recognised in this way: what a great start to the New Year!’

The Oven That Cleans Itself

De Dietrich, the premium appliance brand is always keen to support its dealers by helping them increase sales on the shop floor. Pyrolytic cleaning is a far more cost effective, time saving and environmentally friendly option than cleaning the oven by hand. Offering the customer the opportunity of an hour spared and a chance to relax, as opposed to performing this dirty and unpleasant task is a genuine selling point; as cleaning the oven is a universally hated chore.

The average pyroclean cycle in De Dietrich ovens not only provides a more thorough result, but is a far more cost effective option than manual cleaning using gloves, cleaning pads and oven cleaner. Using the 1hr 30 minute cycle, which is available on all pyro ovens, the average cost is just under £0.25 pence per cycle, whereas a manual clean costs an average of £1.19, as is shown in the table below:

GDHA Goes That Extra Mile On Christmas Eve

Service engineer for Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, Wayne Hampton, literally went that extra mile this Christmas Eve when he answered a last minute distress call from a desperate customer. Mrs M Connolly discovered her freestanding Belling cooker was not working on Christmas Eve further to an unexpected power failure, which affected homes in her local area.

Despite being close to home, having completed a job in North Wales at around 2pm, Wayne made the extra journey to Chester to deliver and fit the vital part required to repair the cooker in time for the customer to prepare a full Christmas dinner for nine family members, all of whom were making a long distance journey for the holiday.

Grateful customer, Mrs Connolly said:

'At 11.30am on Christmas Eve I had just prepared two turkeys and a ham and was ready to start cooking in my Belling Format. The ham had been in for 5 minutes when all my electrics went off and unfortunately, when power returned, I found to my horror that the cooker wasn't working. Having explored several avenues to find a solution including my insurance company - who said Belling were closing at 12 noon - the local shop where I bought the cooker and a local electrician, I was on the verge of a heart attack and absolutely desperate.

'A neighbour agreed to cook the ham but would have a full oven on Christmas day, so no such luck for the turkeys. I decided to give Belling a call - just in case - and was amazed when the phone was answered. Within half an hour, Belling called back to say they had managed to locate an engineer with the right part and that he would be with me by 3pm. Just before 3 o'clock, the phone went and it was the Belling engineer. He was coming from somewhere in North Wales and I live in Chester.

'When he arrived he was a super guy, good tempered and kind throughout, and not only did he repair the cooker, he also checked the timer, the fan and the thermostat to make sure all was well. I can't thank Belling enough and thanks to the customer service team and the engineer we had a super Christmas. I just didn't expect service of this sort'.

Customer Service Director for GDHA, Paula Hodkinson, commented:

'It's fantastic to receive such heartfelt letters as the one we received from Mrs Connolly. The customer service team was really geared up for Christmas to ensure as many emergency repairs as possible could be carried out in time for Christmas Day. We kept the call centre open until 2pm on Christmas Eve and over 100 of our 139 engineers volunteered to work. All faults reported on the 24th December were resolved by close of business, ensuring no customers were left without cooking facilities for the festive period.

'To get such positive feedback makes it really worthwhile, so thank you to the team and all the engineers who clocked up the miles to help get turkeys on the table'.
GDHA recently won the Domestic and General Award for customer service excellence when the organisation achieved the highest ever score for customer satisfaction in 2005.

Maytag Corporation Challenges Legislators' Letter

Maytag Corporation was disappointed to learn that U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D - Iowa) and U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell (D - Iowa) had sent a letter to the Justice Department expressing concern about the competitive effects of Whirlpool Corporation's proposed merger with Maytag.

Maytag said that the letter ignores fundamental competitive realities of the appliance industry. The four largest U.S. retailers now control over 65 percent of U.S. appliance sales, and, as a result, exert tremendous pressure on appliance suppliers to be competitive on price and features. Moreover, foreign competitors like LG, Samsung, Haier and Bosch-Siemens, with strong consumer brands, are expanding rapidly at these and other retail outlets.

Maytag added that the transaction will result in significant efficiencies that will make the combined firm better able to compete with growing foreign competition, as well as with its traditional rivals -- GE, Frigidaire and Sears' Kenmore brand of products. Maytag also noted that the market shares contained in the letter are significantly overstated.

Through their letter, it is obvious that Sen. Harkin and Rep. Boswell are concerned about job loss in Iowa. However, it is important to note that whether or not a transaction occurs, the tough environment in which appliance industry manufacturers operate will continue to impact employment levels at facilities that are not cost competitive.

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Let the Trilobite do the Work

Electrolux says that the Trilobite is the ultimate lifestyle accessory - not only does it free you up to do the things in life that you really love, but it’s also a style statement in its own right.

Fully automated, the Trilobite allows daily cleaning and avoids the build up of dust that so loves your carpets and wooden floors. And, with the advantage of its low height (13cm) and compact diameter (35cm), it is also able to clean those hard to reach areas, such as under beds and low furniture.

Sophisticated technology at its best, yet easy as pie to use, the Trilobite has an LCD display which gives you a choice of three different cleaning programs (for normal, quick and spot vacuuming) and shows when the dust-container is full (no dust bags are needed), as well as when the filter needs to be changed.

You don’t even have to worry about it knocking into your coffee table, as it uses bat-like acoustic technology to detect obstacles in its path, such as furniture or plants, and works its way around them. When the job’s done, it’ll automatically return to its charging station to boost its juice, so it’ll be ready for action the next time you turn it on! And, if it runs out of power half way through the job, it even has the intelligence to recharge itself and resume cleaning where it left off!

Sound too good to be true? Happily not. The Trilobite can found in department stores, design and furniture shops and selected electrical retailers nationwide, and is expected to sell at a price level of around £999.

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NKBA/CKBER Announcement

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) has announced that as of January 1st, 2006 it would no longer be providing financial or administrative support to the Center for Kitchen and Bath Education and Research (CKBER).

Organised under the guidance of the NKBA, the Center for Kitchen and Bath Education and Research and its Board has been operating as an independent organisation since early July 2005.  Accordingly, 'the Board of Directors of the NKBA felt that outside of supporting CKBER as a valued industry partner and educational resource for the betterment of our industry, continued financial and administrative support was no longer appropriate given CKBER's current status' said Michael Kelly, CEO of the NKBA.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the Board of Directors of CKBER and the entire CKBER foundation for their dedication and efforts on behalf of the kitchen and bath industry.

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