100 years at the heart of great British cooking.Founded in 1912 by a pioneering engineer, Belling has been at the heart of British cooking for 100 years, producing uniquely British products for British cooks which are manufactured right here in the UK. Join us for a year of celebrations to mark our centenary.

Here’s to 2012, the year of Belling. www.belling.co.uk

16874 Belling 100yrs Connected 230x160.indd 1 13/1/12 16:36:05

TV IN 2012 With CES in Las Vegas producing some Smart developments, 3D ideas, big screens, impressive new OLED products and fresh, fi ne designs, George Cole looks at the prospects for retailers in this core Consumer Electronics sector

INDUCTION HOBSInduction has been a slow-burn proposition in the UK, but its benefi ts in style, convenience, controllability and energy effi ciency are being increasingly appreciated by UK consumers, and lower prices are drawing the technology into the mainstream

GROWTH FROM KNOWLEDGEGfK’s factual look at the UK induction hobs market

FROM THE BENCHAlan Bennett considers the “digital dividend” as analogue fades

BACKCHATSquareTrade’s Vince Tseng gives a 2-minute interview

w w w. g c m a g a z i n e . c o . u kJ A N / F E B 2 0 1 2

3JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

CONTENTS

04 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Editorial comment

06 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The Word In and around the industry

11 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Warranties in the UK The market is becoming more competitive

and off ers many opportunities for retailers. Feature sponsored by UK Warranty

12 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The Product Gallery

14 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / TV in 2012 Smarter, bigger, slimmer. George Cole looks at the core of the Consumer Electronics market

17 / / / / / / / / / / George Cole Gets Connected

18 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Induction Feature A long, close look at the cooking technology

that is revolutionising the UK hobs market

24 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Growth from Knowledge GfK with the facts & fi gures on the growing

induction market in the UK

25 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / From the Bench Alan Bennett assesses the “digital dividend”

as the UK’s analogue TV shuts down

26 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Backchat Industry comment and a 2-minute interview

with FairTrade MD Vince Tseng

p13 FAGOR SPOUTNIK FREESTANDING MICROWAVEwww.fagor.co.uk

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher. Get Connected is published by Mud Hut Publishing Ltd., Alresford House, 60 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7EH.

Copyright © 2012 Mud Hut Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Editor in Chief: Marlinda Conway Telephone: 01420 886 33 marlinda@gcmagazine.co.uk

Editorial & Publishing Director: Terry HeathTelephone: 01420 886 33 terry@gcmagazine.co.uk

Magazine Advertising Sales:Telephone: 01420 886 33 sales@gcmagazine.co.uk

Creative Director: Will Dobson design@willdobson.co.uk

Advertisement Production Administration: Will Dobson Telephone: 01342 850 456 gcads@willdobson.co.uk

Production and Print: Blackmore Press, Shaftesbury, Dorsetwww.blackmore.co.uk

Subscriptions & Circulation: GCCD, 13 Premier AvenueGrays, EssexRM16 2SB.Telephone: 07818 088 671Fax: 01375 370 436 circulation@gcmagazine.co.uk

Annual subscription rate (inc. postage): UK £88; Overseas £108.

Get ConnectedGreyfriar CottageWinchester RoadChawtonAltonHampshireGU34 1SB

www.gcmagazine.co.uk

3JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

CONTENTS

04 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Editorial comment

06 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The Word In and around the industry

11 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Warranties in the UK The market is becoming more competitive

and off ers many opportunities for retailers. Feature sponsored by UK Warranty

12 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The Product Gallery

14 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / TV in 2012 Smarter, bigger, slimmer. George Cole looks at the core of the Consumer Electronics market

17 / / / / / / / / / / George Cole Gets Connected

18 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Induction Feature A long, close look at the cooking technology

that is revolutionising the UK hobs market

24 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Growth from Knowledge GfK with the facts & fi gures on the growing

induction market in the UK

25 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / From the Bench Alan Bennett assesses the “digital dividend”

as the UK’s analogue TV shuts down

26 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Backchat Industry comment and a 2-minute interview

with FairTrade MD Vince Tseng

p13 FAGOR SPOUTNIK FREESTANDING MICROWAVEwww.fagor.co.uk

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher. Get Connected is published by Mud Hut Publishing Ltd., Alresford House, 60 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7EH.

Copyright © 2012 Mud Hut Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Editor in Chief: Marlinda Conway Telephone: 01420 886 33 marlinda@gcmagazine.co.uk

Editorial & Publishing Director: Terry HeathTelephone: 01420 886 33 terry@gcmagazine.co.uk

Magazine Advertising Sales:Telephone: 01420 886 33 sales@gcmagazine.co.uk

Creative Director: Will Dobson design@willdobson.co.uk

Advertisement Production Administration: Will Dobson Telephone: 01342 850 456 gcads@willdobson.co.uk

Production and Print: Blackmore Press, Shaftesbury, Dorsetwww.blackmore.co.uk

Subscriptions & Circulation: GCCD, 13 Premier AvenueGrays, EssexRM16 2SB.Telephone: 07818 088 671Fax: 01375 370 436 circulation@gcmagazine.co.uk

Annual subscription rate (inc. postage): UK £88; Overseas £108.

Get ConnectedGreyfriar CottageWinchester RoadChawtonAltonHampshireGU34 1SB

www.gcmagazine.co.uk

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED4

The price-based promotions, sales and off ers that both food and non-food retailers applied to persuade shoppers to part with their cash may achieve more volume, but with a disastrous eff ect on margins.

Even the mighty Tesco has had to admit that its “Price Drop” promotion was a disaster. Sacrifi cing profi t for share is always a dangerous option, but the panic of Christmas drives retailers to it every year. The choice of selling ten items at a loss, or fi ve items at a profi t, shouldn’t be a diffi cult one to make. But our industry – particularly Consumer Electronics – seems to have chosen to pursue the “share is everything” route, devaluing genuine technological advances, failing to extract full value from investment in R&D, and – critically for our retail industry – leaving dealers with very little manoeuvrability on margins.

This time last year, in this column, we quoted the then MD of Sony UK & Ireland saying “we have to stop the race to the bottom.” With many consumers facing anxiety about employment and a drop in real disposable income, it seems that, for some in this business, that race is seen as the only option to keep them in with a share of the fi ercely competitive market, especially in consumer electronics.

That’s not any great comfort to bricks-and-mortar specialist electrical retailers who have to manage their customers’ expectations alongside their need to maintain some sort of margin.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, CES was in January presenting its usual glitzy, upbeat,

celeb-laden, new technology-oriented show. Back in the UK, specialist electrical retailers were probably thinking “that’s all very exciting, but let’s focus on what’s coming for me to sell in 2012. What’s going to stimulate my customers into buying, and what’s going to deliver me a livable margin?”

Don’t mistake my drift. CES is very exciting, there are some outstanding products ready to go or on the way, and nobody can fail to have been impressed by stunning new OLED panels, 3D systems and Smart TV developments. But journalists do tend to dwell on the brown goods and gadgets, failing to fully acknowledge that CES is about white goods too, now, and that’s where retailers in the UK have more prospects of earning a living in 2012. So we did ask our correspondents in Las Vegas this year to try, while communicating the excitement, to focus as much as possible on the practical realities, to avoid getting too carried away by the celebrity sightings, the opulence, the free drinks and food and entertainment, and to remember who our readers are. It can’t be much of a spirit-raiser for our retailers, at the beginning of what may be another diffi cult year, to be told that someone is having a great time in the fantasy world of Las Vegas.

On the bright side, this is the year of the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. A chance for retailers to work with the feelgood factor, and to off er ways to watch and celebrate the big events with the latest, brightest, biggest kit.

REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.GCMAGAZINE.CO.UK FOR YOUR FREE COPY OF GET CONNECTED MAGAZINE

Average net circulation for the 12 issues distributed between Jan-Dec 2008 is 6,228

Marlinda Conway Editor in Chief

Terry HeathEditorial & Publishing

Director

George ColeConsumer Electronics

Consultant

Lynne HenryCommunications Offi cer,

GfK Marketing Services

James McIntoshConsumer Consultant

Will DobsonCreative Director

The New Year is well under way with more indications – if any

were needed – that retail is struggling for business against consumer caution and

apprehension.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

NEW FOR 2012Get Connected is bringing its established experience in industry Awards to a new partnership.

Get Connected has agreed to become Trade Media Partner in a new Electrical Industry Awards Scheme to be launched this year.

MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE SOON...

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED4

The price-based promotions, sales and off ers that both food and non-food retailers applied to persuade shoppers to part with their cash may achieve more volume, but with a disastrous eff ect on margins.

Even the mighty Tesco has had to admit that its “Price Drop” promotion was a disaster. Sacrifi cing profi t for share is always a dangerous option, but the panic of Christmas drives retailers to it every year. The choice of selling ten items at a loss, or fi ve items at a profi t, shouldn’t be a diffi cult one to make. But our industry – particularly Consumer Electronics – seems to have chosen to pursue the “share is everything” route, devaluing genuine technological advances, failing to extract full value from investment in R&D, and – critically for our retail industry – leaving dealers with very little manoeuvrability on margins.

This time last year, in this column, we quoted the then MD of Sony UK & Ireland saying “we have to stop the race to the bottom.” With many consumers facing anxiety about employment and a drop in real disposable income, it seems that, for some in this business, that race is seen as the only option to keep them in with a share of the fi ercely competitive market, especially in consumer electronics.

That’s not any great comfort to bricks-and-mortar specialist electrical retailers who have to manage their customers’ expectations alongside their need to maintain some sort of margin.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, CES was in January presenting its usual glitzy, upbeat,

celeb-laden, new technology-oriented show. Back in the UK, specialist electrical retailers were probably thinking “that’s all very exciting, but let’s focus on what’s coming for me to sell in 2012. What’s going to stimulate my customers into buying, and what’s going to deliver me a livable margin?”

Don’t mistake my drift. CES is very exciting, there are some outstanding products ready to go or on the way, and nobody can fail to have been impressed by stunning new OLED panels, 3D systems and Smart TV developments. But journalists do tend to dwell on the brown goods and gadgets, failing to fully acknowledge that CES is about white goods too, now, and that’s where retailers in the UK have more prospects of earning a living in 2012. So we did ask our correspondents in Las Vegas this year to try, while communicating the excitement, to focus as much as possible on the practical realities, to avoid getting too carried away by the celebrity sightings, the opulence, the free drinks and food and entertainment, and to remember who our readers are. It can’t be much of a spirit-raiser for our retailers, at the beginning of what may be another diffi cult year, to be told that someone is having a great time in the fantasy world of Las Vegas.

On the bright side, this is the year of the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. A chance for retailers to work with the feelgood factor, and to off er ways to watch and celebrate the big events with the latest, brightest, biggest kit.

REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.GCMAGAZINE.CO.UK FOR YOUR FREE COPY OF GET CONNECTED MAGAZINE

Average net circulation for the 12 issues distributed between Jan-Dec 2008 is 6,228

Marlinda Conway Editor in Chief

Terry HeathEditorial & Publishing

Director

George ColeConsumer Electronics

Consultant

Lynne HenryCommunications Offi cer,

GfK Marketing Services

James McIntoshConsumer Consultant

Will DobsonCreative Director

The New Year is well under way with more indications – if any

were needed – that retail is struggling for business against consumer caution and

apprehension.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

NEW FOR 2012Get Connected is bringing its established experience in industry Awards to a new partnership.

Get Connected has agreed to become Trade Media Partner in a new Electrical Industry Awards Scheme to be launched this year.

MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE SOON...

THE Word

in and around the industry

Comet sheds jobs Comet, which recently passed into the control of purchaser OpCapita, is to lose around 450 jobs among repair services staff as “part of a strategic review of the business.”

Commenting on the decision, chief executive Bob Darke said: “The proposal to reduce our staff numbers has been a very tough decision to make but signi cant savings are required to secure the long-term viability of our business.”

In its last trading statement the UK chain reported sales down 14.5% compared to the same period last year.

John Clare, who became chairman of Comet when the sale to OpCapita was nalised, had already indicated that the chain would be outsourcing repair and delivery operations to cut costs. “The opportunity is for Comet to get back to its core proposition,” he said in an interview. “I’ve known this business since the 1980s, and giving value to customers is what’s embedded in its roots.”

Repair and delivery are, said Mr Clare, services that “can be performed more competently by others, whose core competency it is.”

Non-food in ation falls to zeroThe BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index for January 2012 shows that, while overall shop price in ation fell to 1.4% (from 1.7% in December), non-food in ation was down to zero, and electrical goods prices fell at the fastest rate for three years, into negative in ation.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson said: “With the impact of the 2011 VAT rise nally gone from annual comparisons these gures show how retailers are holding down prices for customers. Even though retailers are facing higher transport and property costs, overall non-food prices are exactly the same as a year ago. Within that, clothing, furniture and electricals were all cheaper than 12 months ago with the price of electrical goods falling at its fastest rate for three years.”

January sales fall 0.3%January retail sales recorded the second worst like-for-like performance in 17 years as values fell 0.3% on the same period last year. The BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed sales rose 2.1% on a total basis (taking new stores into account), against a 4.2% increase in January 2011.

Helen Dickinson, Head of Retail at KPMG, said the fi gures were “rather sobering” after a stronger than expected December.

Unsurprisingly, food sales slowed sharply after their Christmas boost. Non-food also weakened and any gains were largely driven by widespread heavy discounting in clearance sales.

Non-food non-store (internet, mail-order and phone) sales growth slowed again after picking up sharply in December. Sales were 11.3% up on a year ago, against December’s 18.5% gain, but roughly in line with the 12.3% in January 2011.

More empty shops on UK high streets in 2012The Local Data Company is forecasting that the number of vacant shops on the UK’s high streets will increase in 2012, after relatively stable vacancy rates were maintained at around 14.3% in 2011.

LDC said that out-of-town centres’ share of shopping increased from 28.1% in 2000 to 31.5% in 2011, and highlighted the fact that the overall average high street shop vacancy rate conceals massive regional diff erences, from a high of more than 30% in Stockport to a low of 8.2% in St. Albans.

Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “There are a number of proposals on the table for tackling declining town centres – many from the Portas Review – and we believe it is vital to stop talking and get

on with implementing them as quickly as possible. Bringing empty shops back into use by allowing conversion to residential

is one that could be implemented quickly and easily.”

Speaking for the BRC, director general Stephen Robertson said vacancy rates are “worryingly high,” and reiterated

calls for the

Government to reduce business rates, which are due to go up by 5.6% in April this year.

The report follows the initiative from the Government, off ering a total £1 million in funding for 12 UK high streets to apply to become “Portas Pilots” in a revitalisation support scheme.

The scheme invites applications from local retail groups, as part of the measures proposed by Mary Portas. Local Government minister Grant Shapps said: “What we’re looking for are innovative ideas, towns who are prepared to come together, put together their own town-teams, involving retailers and landlords and probably their local council and MP, to put their proposals forward that work in their particular area.” The scheme is a “golden ticket” opportunity for town centres, he added.

Applications should take the form of a video – which Mr Shapps said need not be professionally made but “just YouTube style things” – and must be submitted by 30 March.

6 JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED

THE Word

in and around the industry

Vita Audio brought under Ruark bannerRuark has brought its Vita Audio brand under the Ruark Audio umbrella after rapid expansion of Vita’s radio and small audio products.

Ruark said in a statement that the products had been called Vita to save confusion with Ruark loudspeakers, many of which have become highly regarded by audio enthusiasts worldwide for sound quality and aesthetics. However, the company said that the greater than expected success of its small audio range has prompted the decision that, for the time being, it will no longer produce loudspeakers.

Extended Warranties: OFT market study nds room for improvementThe Of ce of Fair Trading market study on the extended warranties electricals market has provisionally concluded that “features of this market prevent, restrict or distort competition,” and that there are grounds to refer it to the Competition Commission. However, legal undertakings offered by Dixons, Comet and Argos, the largest retail providers of extended warranties, may avoid the matter being referred for investigation.

If the OFT accepts the legally binding and enforceable undertakings from these retailers, it will be only the second time it has done so in lieu of making a Market Investigation Reference to the Competition Commission.

In short, if warranty providers and electrical retailers were hoping for a clear-cut decision from the OFT, and closure of one kind or another on this market study, they have been disappointed. We will now have to wait and see if the OFT is minded to accept the retailers’ undertakings to improve warranty sales practices, and that will be subject to further consultation. The OFT expects to reach a nal decision on whether to accept the undertakings later this spring.

Where exactly this leaves electrical retailers who are not Dixons, Comet or Argos, and who have not given legally enforceable undertakings to the OFT, is not yet clear. This is the third time in a decade that the OFT has looked into extended warranties, and there is still no clear-cut decision or ruling on which the industry can move forward with con dence.

For further detail of the OFT’s market study and said retailers’ undertakings, visit: www.gcmagazine.co.uk

Former Best Buy executive appointed MD of ArgosHome Retail Group has announced the appointment of former Best Buy Executive Vice President John Walden as Managing Director of its struggling Argos business.

Walden held the role of Executive Vice President at Best Buy Co., Inc. from 1999 to 2007. He was a member of the executive committee and had a range of responsibilities which included the internet and direct channels division and customer centric strategy.

Terry Duddy, Home Retail Group Chief Executive, said: “We look forward to John bringing a valuable, fresh perspective to the future development of Argos.”

Home Retail Group reported like-for-like sales down 8.8% at Argos in the fi nal 18 weeks of 2011 and announced plans to reduce the number of stores from 759 to around 750 this year.

Sir Howard Stringer to step down as Sony CEOSir Howard Stringer, the fi rst non-Japanese national to head Sony when he took over the running of the business in 2005, is to step down as CEO on April 1 2012. He will be replaced by Kazuo Hirai, head of consumer products, who takes on the titles of President and Chief Executive. Mr Stringer will remain as Chairman.

Sony said in a statement that Mr. Stringer recommended to the Sony Board of Directors that Mr. Hirai, currently Executive Deputy President, be his successor as President and CEO. “Mr. Stringer will continue as Chairman of Sony Corporation until his ascension to the Board Chairmanship, which will become eff ective upon Board approval following the annual meeting of shareholders in June, when the current Chairman, Yotaro Kobayashi, will retire. Mr. Hirai is also expected to be appointed to the Board at the June shareholders meeting.”

John Browett leaves Dixons for AppleDixons Retail, owner of Currys and PC World, has announced that chief executive John Browett is to leave the company in April to join Apple as senior vice president of retail.

Browett, who had been piloting a long-term revitalisation and refurbishment strategy, will be replaced as CEO by Sebastian James, currently the group operations director, who has been with Dixons since 2008.

Katie Bickerstaffe, who has worked with Sebastian James on Dixons’ revitalisation plan since 2008, will be promoted to the board and become head of operations in the UK and Ireland.

See www.gcmagazine.co.uk for the stories behind the news…

Consumers confused by technologyStudy highlights the everyday challenges presented by gadgets and appliances

De’Longhi acquires Nokia manufacturing plantRomanian facility will help “rebalance” Italian company’s manufacturing structure

Birmingham youngster wins Beko Mums United competition6-year old striker nets £1,000

Specialist electronics retailers failing to convert online browsers to buyers52% of shoppers buy from internet mass merchants

“Halt damaging business rates hike,” appeals BPFBritish Property Federation calls on Government to cap annual business rates increase

UK businesses plan to reduce capital investmentSMEs “most likely to create jobs” over next 12 months

THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

7JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

THE Word

in and around the industry

Comet sheds jobs Comet, which recently passed into the control of purchaser OpCapita, is to lose around 450 jobs among repair services staff as “part of a strategic review of the business.”

Commenting on the decision, chief executive Bob Darke said: “The proposal to reduce our staff numbers has been a very tough decision to make but signi cant savings are required to secure the long-term viability of our business.”

In its last trading statement the UK chain reported sales down 14.5% compared to the same period last year.

John Clare, who became chairman of Comet when the sale to OpCapita was nalised, had already indicated that the chain would be outsourcing repair and delivery operations to cut costs. “The opportunity is for Comet to get back to its core proposition,” he said in an interview. “I’ve known this business since the 1980s, and giving value to customers is what’s embedded in its roots.”

Repair and delivery are, said Mr Clare, services that “can be performed more competently by others, whose core competency it is.”

Non-food in ation falls to zeroThe BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index for January 2012 shows that, while overall shop price in ation fell to 1.4% (from 1.7% in December), non-food in ation was down to zero, and electrical goods prices fell at the fastest rate for three years, into negative in ation.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson said: “With the impact of the 2011 VAT rise nally gone from annual comparisons these gures show how retailers are holding down prices for customers. Even though retailers are facing higher transport and property costs, overall non-food prices are exactly the same as a year ago. Within that, clothing, furniture and electricals were all cheaper than 12 months ago with the price of electrical goods falling at its fastest rate for three years.”

January sales fall 0.3%January retail sales recorded the second worst like-for-like performance in 17 years as values fell 0.3% on the same period last year. The BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed sales rose 2.1% on a total basis (taking new stores into account), against a 4.2% increase in January 2011.

Helen Dickinson, Head of Retail at KPMG, said the fi gures were “rather sobering” after a stronger than expected December.

Unsurprisingly, food sales slowed sharply after their Christmas boost. Non-food also weakened and any gains were largely driven by widespread heavy discounting in clearance sales.

Non-food non-store (internet, mail-order and phone) sales growth slowed again after picking up sharply in December. Sales were 11.3% up on a year ago, against December’s 18.5% gain, but roughly in line with the 12.3% in January 2011.

More empty shops on UK high streets in 2012The Local Data Company is forecasting that the number of vacant shops on the UK’s high streets will increase in 2012, after relatively stable vacancy rates were maintained at around 14.3% in 2011.

LDC said that out-of-town centres’ share of shopping increased from 28.1% in 2000 to 31.5% in 2011, and highlighted the fact that the overall average high street shop vacancy rate conceals massive regional diff erences, from a high of more than 30% in Stockport to a low of 8.2% in St. Albans.

Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “There are a number of proposals on the table for tackling declining town centres – many from the Portas Review – and we believe it is vital to stop talking and get

on with implementing them as quickly as possible. Bringing empty shops back into use by allowing conversion to residential

is one that could be implemented quickly and easily.”

Speaking for the BRC, director general Stephen Robertson said vacancy rates are “worryingly high,” and reiterated

calls for the

Government to reduce business rates, which are due to go up by 5.6% in April this year.

The report follows the initiative from the Government, off ering a total £1 million in funding for 12 UK high streets to apply to become “Portas Pilots” in a revitalisation support scheme.

The scheme invites applications from local retail groups, as part of the measures proposed by Mary Portas. Local Government minister Grant Shapps said: “What we’re looking for are innovative ideas, towns who are prepared to come together, put together their own town-teams, involving retailers and landlords and probably their local council and MP, to put their proposals forward that work in their particular area.” The scheme is a “golden ticket” opportunity for town centres, he added.

Applications should take the form of a video – which Mr Shapps said need not be professionally made but “just YouTube style things” – and must be submitted by 30 March.

6 JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED

THE Word

in and around the industry

Vita Audio brought under Ruark bannerRuark has brought its Vita Audio brand under the Ruark Audio umbrella after rapid expansion of Vita’s radio and small audio products.

Ruark said in a statement that the products had been called Vita to save confusion with Ruark loudspeakers, many of which have become highly regarded by audio enthusiasts worldwide for sound quality and aesthetics. However, the company said that the greater than expected success of its small audio range has prompted the decision that, for the time being, it will no longer produce loudspeakers.

Extended Warranties: OFT market study nds room for improvementThe Of ce of Fair Trading market study on the extended warranties electricals market has provisionally concluded that “features of this market prevent, restrict or distort competition,” and that there are grounds to refer it to the Competition Commission. However, legal undertakings offered by Dixons, Comet and Argos, the largest retail providers of extended warranties, may avoid the matter being referred for investigation.

If the OFT accepts the legally binding and enforceable undertakings from these retailers, it will be only the second time it has done so in lieu of making a Market Investigation Reference to the Competition Commission.

In short, if warranty providers and electrical retailers were hoping for a clear-cut decision from the OFT, and closure of one kind or another on this market study, they have been disappointed. We will now have to wait and see if the OFT is minded to accept the retailers’ undertakings to improve warranty sales practices, and that will be subject to further consultation. The OFT expects to reach a nal decision on whether to accept the undertakings later this spring.

Where exactly this leaves electrical retailers who are not Dixons, Comet or Argos, and who have not given legally enforceable undertakings to the OFT, is not yet clear. This is the third time in a decade that the OFT has looked into extended warranties, and there is still no clear-cut decision or ruling on which the industry can move forward with con dence.

For further detail of the OFT’s market study and said retailers’ undertakings, visit: www.gcmagazine.co.uk

Former Best Buy executive appointed MD of ArgosHome Retail Group has announced the appointment of former Best Buy Executive Vice President John Walden as Managing Director of its struggling Argos business.

Walden held the role of Executive Vice President at Best Buy Co., Inc. from 1999 to 2007. He was a member of the executive committee and had a range of responsibilities which included the internet and direct channels division and customer centric strategy.

Terry Duddy, Home Retail Group Chief Executive, said: “We look forward to John bringing a valuable, fresh perspective to the future development of Argos.”

Home Retail Group reported like-for-like sales down 8.8% at Argos in the fi nal 18 weeks of 2011 and announced plans to reduce the number of stores from 759 to around 750 this year.

Sir Howard Stringer to step down as Sony CEOSir Howard Stringer, the fi rst non-Japanese national to head Sony when he took over the running of the business in 2005, is to step down as CEO on April 1 2012. He will be replaced by Kazuo Hirai, head of consumer products, who takes on the titles of President and Chief Executive. Mr Stringer will remain as Chairman.

Sony said in a statement that Mr. Stringer recommended to the Sony Board of Directors that Mr. Hirai, currently Executive Deputy President, be his successor as President and CEO. “Mr. Stringer will continue as Chairman of Sony Corporation until his ascension to the Board Chairmanship, which will become eff ective upon Board approval following the annual meeting of shareholders in June, when the current Chairman, Yotaro Kobayashi, will retire. Mr. Hirai is also expected to be appointed to the Board at the June shareholders meeting.”

John Browett leaves Dixons for AppleDixons Retail, owner of Currys and PC World, has announced that chief executive John Browett is to leave the company in April to join Apple as senior vice president of retail.

Browett, who had been piloting a long-term revitalisation and refurbishment strategy, will be replaced as CEO by Sebastian James, currently the group operations director, who has been with Dixons since 2008.

Katie Bickerstaffe, who has worked with Sebastian James on Dixons’ revitalisation plan since 2008, will be promoted to the board and become head of operations in the UK and Ireland.

See www.gcmagazine.co.uk for the stories behind the news…

Consumers confused by technologyStudy highlights the everyday challenges presented by gadgets and appliances

De’Longhi acquires Nokia manufacturing plantRomanian facility will help “rebalance” Italian company’s manufacturing structure

Birmingham youngster wins Beko Mums United competition6-year old striker nets £1,000

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THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

7JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

Sony Ericsson, the mobile telephone company that Sony is shortly due to take full ownership of by acquiring Ericsson’s 50% share for €1.05 billion, posted a pre-tax loss of €207 million for the fi nal quarter of 2011. Full-year fi gures showed a net loss of €247 million compared to a profi t of €8 million Euros in the previous year.

Apple recorded a record-breaking quarterly net profi t of £8.36 billion for the three months to 31 December 2011, 118% up on the same period in 2010. 37 million iPhones were sold in the period, a 100% increase on last year. Waning sales of the iPod (down 21%) were more than compensated by a 111% increase in iPad sales and a 26% increase in sales of Mac computers.

Samsung announced full year 2011 revenue at an all-time high of 165 trillion won, up 7% from the previous year. Net income registered 13.73 trillion won, down 15% compared with 2010, while operating profi t, at 16.25 trillion won, declined 6%.

Philips Electronics confi rmed a net loss of €160 million (£134 million) for the last three months of 2011, and a loss for the whole year of €1.29 billion. This is the fi rst annual loss recorded by the group since 2008.

BSkyB reported pre-tax profi ts up 27% in the last six months of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010, with sales largely driven by TV, telephone and broadband packages to existing customers. Sky said its annual revenue per customer increased from £536 to £544, and churn rate has been kept down to 10%.

Amazon announced that, despite a 35% increase in revenues in the three months to December 31st 2011, net income took a sharp drop, down to $177 million for the quarter, compared to $416 million in the same quarter of 2010. The company warned that it may show a loss in the fi rst three months of 2012 as it continues to invest in Kindle products.

LG Electronics reported a net loss of KRW 112 billion in Q4 earnings, down from a loss of KRW 414 billion in Q3. Sales in the quarter increased 7.1% to KRW 13.8 trillion, compared to KRW 12.9 trillion in Q3. A total net loss of KRW 433 billion was posted for full-year 2011.

Sony reported a bigger-than-expected net loss of ¥159 billion (£1.3 billion) for the 3 months ended 31 December 2011, against a profi t of ¥72 billion in the same quarter of 2010. Sales were down 17%. The company has now forecast a loss of ¥220 billion for the full fi nancial year to end of March 2012, a sharp increase on the loss of ¥90 billion forecast in November.

Panasonic recorded a pre-tax loss of ¥350 billion for the 3 months ending 31 December, the Corporation’s third fi scal quarter, and warned that the net loss for the full year to 31 March 2012 will be a record ¥780 billion. The TV and Mobile Phones segment reported losses of ¥32.7 billion, compared to a ¥101.2 billion profi t the year before. Home Appliances fared better, with sales up 1% to ¥979.2 billion and a profi t ¥78.6 billion.

Electrolux posted Q4 earnings just ahead of forecast and said it expected fl at or falling demand in the European market this year. Overall sales in the quarter rose to SEK28.34 billion, up from SEK27.56 billion a year earlier. The company reported adjusted earnings before interest and tax of SEK1.44 billion, down from last year’s SEK1.71. Net sales for the full year 2011 declined 4% (up 1.9% in comparable currencies) to SEK101.59 billion.

Virgin Media posted annual net income of £76 million in 2011, the fi rst time a full-year profi t has been achieved. In the fi nal quarter to 31 December, strong demand for its TiVo television service and broadband products drove profi t to £48.2 million, reversing the previous quarter’s loss of £73.8 million.

Whirlpool posted Q4 net earnings of $205 million compared to $171 million during the same period last year. Sales slipped to $4.9 billion from $5.0 billion as improved price/mix was off set by unfavourable currency and lower industry demand. An operating profi t of $205 million compared with $202 million in the prior year was recorded. Full-year 2011 sales reached $18.7 billion, up 2% on 2010, while operating profi t totalled $792 million, down from $1.0 billion.

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED8

Sony’s “big role” in the connected worldGildas Pelliet, MD of Sony UK & Ireland, speaking at this year’s Sony Technology Conference, presented an upbeat but realistic vision of the “big role” Sony is expected to play in the connected, multi-device, content-hungry future of the consumer electronics market, and emphasised that Sony, with its synergies in the provision of content, services and products, is well placed to take a strong position in “helping people enjoy great quality content.”

M. Pelliet said that, as consumers demand faster, more convenient and more connected ways to access, create and share content across a growing number of devices – such as tablets, telephones and Internet TV – with AV-connectable potential, the UK’s uptake of connected technology shows it is “clearly leading in this area.”

However, M. Pelliet and his UK team are acutely aware that, even with the opportunities presented by the UK’s clear appetite for connected Audio Visual and IT (AVIT) products, there is work to be done to maximize AVIT sales through giving consumers a clear understanding of what they can do. “Retail is the challenge,” said Sony marketing director Shaun Dorrington. “Consumers don’t understand the extent of available content access yet, and we are committed to working with retailers to help them explain.”

M. Pelliet added that the “business reality” is that, in the UK, the share of discretionary spend taken by AVIT sales was down 10% in 2011, emphasizing that consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers are not only competing with each other for sales, but with all the other goods and services – for example holidays, home improvements, motor vehicles

– that are fi ghting for a share of the UK’s £321 billion a year discretionary spending power. He said that consumers often pay less than they intended to for CE products, because the added benefi ts of superior products are not clearly presented, explained and demonstrated. Customers are given no good reason to spend more, and settle for a cheaper version, paying less than they had budgeted, and often being disappointed. Some £2.2 billion is lost in sales value through retailers selling under their customers’ budgeted spend.

Sony’s own research has shown, as well, that 27% of consumers who set out to buy a consumer electronics product give up through confusion or lack of clear information, and fail to follow through to purchase. “We must work with our retailers to correct this,” says M. Pelliet. “High quality in-store broadband and wi-fi connections, for example, are essential for demonstration because all devices are becoming Internet-connected. And product training is more important than ever. Independents can take on the challenge, because they have quality staff . We are really going to work with them.”

He outlined Sony’s ongoing retailer training programmes, including face-to-face and online training, and said that the Retail Activation Team had achieved a 30% uplift in average per-sale value. Sony’s European Partner Support Programme, aimed at supporting retailers who demonstrate and explain the quality and full potential of products will also be strongly resourced in 2012.

In 2012, the focus for Sony will be on “sustainability,” and M. Pelliet said there will be a “3-pronged attack”: restructuring the

GILDAS PELLIET, MD OF SONY UK & IRELAND

business to meet changing conditions will necessitate “tough decisions”; broadening and expanding the consumer proposition will improve such things as attachment rates; and work will follow through on delivering against customers’ needs and wants.

“The UK is a sophisticated market,” said M. Pelliet. Consumers research, source and compare products through a number of diff erent information media, but “most customer journeys end up in-store.” This means that the quality of staff and service provided by independent retailers will be a key element in selling the complex but highly appealing range of Consumer Electronics products.

Call Sales on 01494471100 Visit: www.direktek.co.uk Email: sales@direktek.co.uk Fax: 01494 768668

Images are not representative of the actual product - Trade Only - While Stocks Last - All prices exclude VAT and delivery

Explore the iLuv Audio Range Available from DirekTek Distribution...

ILUV013

IMM288 Stereo Speaker Dock for iPhone, iPod

£31.00ILUV018

£26.00

- Bed shaker vibrates a bed or a pillow to wake up the heaviest sleepers- Speaker integrated Bed shaker for personal listening- Wake to iPhone or iPod, selectable alarm sound, FM radio, buzzer, or bed shaker- Programmable presets for up to 8 FM radio stations

iPod Dock Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker

- Powerful built-in stereo speakers for incredible depth and clarity - Features clock display options, creative alarm sounds, searchable weather forecasts, Internet Radio and more with the iLuv App (FREE from the App Store) - Play and charge your iPhone or iPod with one connection

THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

9JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

Sony Ericsson, the mobile telephone company that Sony is shortly due to take full ownership of by acquiring Ericsson’s 50% share for €1.05 billion, posted a pre-tax loss of €207 million for the fi nal quarter of 2011. Full-year fi gures showed a net loss of €247 million compared to a profi t of €8 million Euros in the previous year.

Apple recorded a record-breaking quarterly net profi t of £8.36 billion for the three months to 31 December 2011, 118% up on the same period in 2010. 37 million iPhones were sold in the period, a 100% increase on last year. Waning sales of the iPod (down 21%) were more than compensated by a 111% increase in iPad sales and a 26% increase in sales of Mac computers.

Samsung announced full year 2011 revenue at an all-time high of 165 trillion won, up 7% from the previous year. Net income registered 13.73 trillion won, down 15% compared with 2010, while operating profi t, at 16.25 trillion won, declined 6%.

Philips Electronics confi rmed a net loss of €160 million (£134 million) for the last three months of 2011, and a loss for the whole year of €1.29 billion. This is the fi rst annual loss recorded by the group since 2008.

BSkyB reported pre-tax profi ts up 27% in the last six months of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010, with sales largely driven by TV, telephone and broadband packages to existing customers. Sky said its annual revenue per customer increased from £536 to £544, and churn rate has been kept down to 10%.

Amazon announced that, despite a 35% increase in revenues in the three months to December 31st 2011, net income took a sharp drop, down to $177 million for the quarter, compared to $416 million in the same quarter of 2010. The company warned that it may show a loss in the fi rst three months of 2012 as it continues to invest in Kindle products.

LG Electronics reported a net loss of KRW 112 billion in Q4 earnings, down from a loss of KRW 414 billion in Q3. Sales in the quarter increased 7.1% to KRW 13.8 trillion, compared to KRW 12.9 trillion in Q3. A total net loss of KRW 433 billion was posted for full-year 2011.

Sony reported a bigger-than-expected net loss of ¥159 billion (£1.3 billion) for the 3 months ended 31 December 2011, against a profi t of ¥72 billion in the same quarter of 2010. Sales were down 17%. The company has now forecast a loss of ¥220 billion for the full fi nancial year to end of March 2012, a sharp increase on the loss of ¥90 billion forecast in November.

Panasonic recorded a pre-tax loss of ¥350 billion for the 3 months ending 31 December, the Corporation’s third fi scal quarter, and warned that the net loss for the full year to 31 March 2012 will be a record ¥780 billion. The TV and Mobile Phones segment reported losses of ¥32.7 billion, compared to a ¥101.2 billion profi t the year before. Home Appliances fared better, with sales up 1% to ¥979.2 billion and a profi t ¥78.6 billion.

Electrolux posted Q4 earnings just ahead of forecast and said it expected fl at or falling demand in the European market this year. Overall sales in the quarter rose to SEK28.34 billion, up from SEK27.56 billion a year earlier. The company reported adjusted earnings before interest and tax of SEK1.44 billion, down from last year’s SEK1.71. Net sales for the full year 2011 declined 4% (up 1.9% in comparable currencies) to SEK101.59 billion.

Virgin Media posted annual net income of £76 million in 2011, the fi rst time a full-year profi t has been achieved. In the fi nal quarter to 31 December, strong demand for its TiVo television service and broadband products drove profi t to £48.2 million, reversing the previous quarter’s loss of £73.8 million.

Whirlpool posted Q4 net earnings of $205 million compared to $171 million during the same period last year. Sales slipped to $4.9 billion from $5.0 billion as improved price/mix was off set by unfavourable currency and lower industry demand. An operating profi t of $205 million compared with $202 million in the prior year was recorded. Full-year 2011 sales reached $18.7 billion, up 2% on 2010, while operating profi t totalled $792 million, down from $1.0 billion.

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED8

Sony’s “big role” in the connected worldGildas Pelliet, MD of Sony UK & Ireland, speaking at this year’s Sony Technology Conference, presented an upbeat but realistic vision of the “big role” Sony is expected to play in the connected, multi-device, content-hungry future of the consumer electronics market, and emphasised that Sony, with its synergies in the provision of content, services and products, is well placed to take a strong position in “helping people enjoy great quality content.”

M. Pelliet said that, as consumers demand faster, more convenient and more connected ways to access, create and share content across a growing number of devices – such as tablets, telephones and Internet TV – with AV-connectable potential, the UK’s uptake of connected technology shows it is “clearly leading in this area.”

However, M. Pelliet and his UK team are acutely aware that, even with the opportunities presented by the UK’s clear appetite for connected Audio Visual and IT (AVIT) products, there is work to be done to maximize AVIT sales through giving consumers a clear understanding of what they can do. “Retail is the challenge,” said Sony marketing director Shaun Dorrington. “Consumers don’t understand the extent of available content access yet, and we are committed to working with retailers to help them explain.”

M. Pelliet added that the “business reality” is that, in the UK, the share of discretionary spend taken by AVIT sales was down 10% in 2011, emphasizing that consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers are not only competing with each other for sales, but with all the other goods and services – for example holidays, home improvements, motor vehicles

– that are fi ghting for a share of the UK’s £321 billion a year discretionary spending power. He said that consumers often pay less than they intended to for CE products, because the added benefi ts of superior products are not clearly presented, explained and demonstrated. Customers are given no good reason to spend more, and settle for a cheaper version, paying less than they had budgeted, and often being disappointed. Some £2.2 billion is lost in sales value through retailers selling under their customers’ budgeted spend.

Sony’s own research has shown, as well, that 27% of consumers who set out to buy a consumer electronics product give up through confusion or lack of clear information, and fail to follow through to purchase. “We must work with our retailers to correct this,” says M. Pelliet. “High quality in-store broadband and wi-fi connections, for example, are essential for demonstration because all devices are becoming Internet-connected. And product training is more important than ever. Independents can take on the challenge, because they have quality staff . We are really going to work with them.”

He outlined Sony’s ongoing retailer training programmes, including face-to-face and online training, and said that the Retail Activation Team had achieved a 30% uplift in average per-sale value. Sony’s European Partner Support Programme, aimed at supporting retailers who demonstrate and explain the quality and full potential of products will also be strongly resourced in 2012.

In 2012, the focus for Sony will be on “sustainability,” and M. Pelliet said there will be a “3-pronged attack”: restructuring the

GILDAS PELLIET, MD OF SONY UK & IRELAND

business to meet changing conditions will necessitate “tough decisions”; broadening and expanding the consumer proposition will improve such things as attachment rates; and work will follow through on delivering against customers’ needs and wants.

“The UK is a sophisticated market,” said M. Pelliet. Consumers research, source and compare products through a number of diff erent information media, but “most customer journeys end up in-store.” This means that the quality of staff and service provided by independent retailers will be a key element in selling the complex but highly appealing range of Consumer Electronics products.

Call Sales on 01494471100 Visit: www.direktek.co.uk Email: sales@direktek.co.uk Fax: 01494 768668

Images are not representative of the actual product - Trade Only - While Stocks Last - All prices exclude VAT and delivery

Explore the iLuv Audio Range Available from DirekTek Distribution...

ILUV013

IMM288 Stereo Speaker Dock for iPhone, iPod

£31.00ILUV018

£26.00

- Bed shaker vibrates a bed or a pillow to wake up the heaviest sleepers- Speaker integrated Bed shaker for personal listening- Wake to iPhone or iPod, selectable alarm sound, FM radio, buzzer, or bed shaker- Programmable presets for up to 8 FM radio stations

iPod Dock Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker

- Powerful built-in stereo speakers for incredible depth and clarity - Features clock display options, creative alarm sounds, searchable weather forecasts, Internet Radio and more with the iLuv App (FREE from the App Store) - Play and charge your iPhone or iPod with one connection

THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

9JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

Major industry fi gures to speak at retra Conference Industry body retra has announced some of the headline speakers confi rmed for this year’s annual Conference, which will be held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel on April 16-17.

Gildas Pelliet, Sony’s managing director, Michael Steinle, chief executive of BSH Home Appliances, Jonathan Casley, sales and marketing director at Glen Dimplex Home Appliances and Gary Sharp, sales director at Morphy Richards, are among the high-profi le industry fi gures confi rmed for the event, which this year is themed “The Winning Pitch”.

Also on the bill are Nigel Catlow, business group director of consumer electronics at GfK, who will give delegates an update on where the industry is heading, Charles Gordon, owner of whatvacuum.com, Graham Loosley, a senior consultant in search engine marketing and optimisation at KPI Business Services, and James Drummie, a product manager at AWE Europe, one of the largest distributors in the custom installation market.

Product recalls up 27% in 2011UK product recalls rose 27% in 2011, driven by a combination of cash-strapped consumers buying cheaper goods and the supply chain disruptions resulting from last year’s Japanese and Thai disasters, according to research by City law fi rm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP.

The study by RPC shows that 291 product recalls were recorded in 2011, compared to 229 in 2010, fuelled by a rise in faulty electrical consumer products, up 45% from 2010, along with a doubling in the number of recalls involving food products.

RPC partner Stuart White said the increase this year could have been fed by high consumer demand for cheaper brands, particularly in the case of bigger ticket household products like cookers or freezers. “It may be that some white label or smaller producers have had to source cheaper suppliers to be competitive,” he said.

2011 was the second year in a row to see record-breaking rises, according to the fi gures.

Onkyo Corporation forms alliance with TEACOnkyo Corporation has announced a strategic alliance with TEAC Corporation, through which both businesses will acquire shares of each other’s stock. The two companies said they are exploring ways to share manufacturing facilities, logistic centres and R&D resources.

The move is reported to be part of Onkyo’s corporate goal to enhance shareholder value and meet the demands of a changing marketplace. It follows the partnering with Gibson Guitar Corporation earlier this year, which put Gibson in the position of second largest shareholder in Onkyo Corporation Japan and majority stakeholder in Onkyo USA.

Distributor “cannot any longer make a living”Distributor Harris and Russell has closed its operation after 90 years of trading. In a press statement, the company said it was “signing off with much regret, since we cannot any longer make a living distributing Panasonic, Samsung, Sanyo, Sony and Toshiba and we can’t see any likelihood of improvement.”

H&R wished its customers and suppliers well and thanked them for their business, adding: “It’s been a long journey together over three generations…. it’s always been interesting, often challenging (dif cult), occasionally rewarding (though not lately).”

MidwichHome has acquired H&R’s trade names and customer list.

Assurant Solutions has appointed Emma Poultney as Client Development Man-ager, responsible for delivering business growth for a number of key clients in the mobile and extended warranty sectors.

Big Red Sales Limited has been appoint-ed to handle the UK sales of AM, Den-mark’s AV and IT accessories specialist. The arrangement covers AM’s range of AV cleaning products and cables.

LG Electronics’ new range of TrueSteam™ dishwashers (D1454BF & D1454TF) has been awarded the ‘Quiet Mark’ – a mark of approval given by the Noise Abatement Society and validated by the Association of Noise Consultants.

Loewe has restructured its UK sales team and brought two new members on board. Graham Knowles joins as Account Manager for premier department stores and the custom install sector, and Graham

Groves as Account Manager responsible for Partner/Partner Plus accounts. Former Account Manager Adam Jones takes charge as UK Sales Manager, and Wayne Dowridge becomes Galerie Account Manager, having previously worked on the brand exclusively with Harrods.

BSH Home Appliances Ltd has announced the appointment of Brendan Bul n as Head of Customer Services in the UK. He succeeds Bernhard Vocke, who held the post from 2002 to 2011 and has now moved to BSH head of ce in Munich to run all overseas Customer Service operations for the Group.

GDHA has named stem cell charity Anthony Nolan as its Charity of the Year. The initiative is part of Belling’s centenary celebrations and the brand hopes to raise at least £10,000 from staff fun-draising and a contribution from sales of a product range created to mark the 100th year anniversary.

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED10 11JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

UK Warranty aims high

A lthough the UK warranty market is competitive, we believe our business model, which focuses on a one-stop-shop

approach, will prove attractive to the affi nity market. UK Warranty will provide warranty from the moment of sale as well as the manufacturers’ warranty across brown and white goods, computers, gadgets and small domestic appliances, gas and boiler breakdown. We are also planning to introduce home emergency cover from the early part of this year.

New propositionThe UK Warranty proposition diff ers from our competitors because we can cover the customer journey from start to fi nish on behalf of our affi nity partners. Our partners can put their trust in one provider, as opposed to having to manage relationships with two or more links in the chain. We have spent plenty of time talking to potential clients, and they have told us that a single provider is attractive.

The joint venture will manage all aspects of the warranty value chain, from underwriting and pricing, building on our existing track record and market leading underwriting knowledge, to the repair and replacement process. We also have an existing track record; UK General is already a successful player in the market, thanks to a number of affi nity deals, which gives it 10% of the market.

In our research we found that other providers off er an ‘all or nothing’ approach, which may work for the provider, but may not be the best option for clients. Our solution is to build a product and service package to suit our clients, not ourselves, and we have focused on creating additional revenue streams, such as white labelled solutions delivered post-sale with little or no need for interaction by the manufacturer or retailer. All our propositions have been benchmarked to ensure they are at least as good as, or better than, our rivals.

Protect, ful ll, service, growUK Warranty is looking forward to making our expertise in the schemes and affi nities market work harder for the benefi t of our partners. We aim to be the number three player in the UK within the next two years, using our four strand approach to winning and retaining business: protect, fulfi ll, service and grow:

PROTECT: Our market-leading range of warranty products protects customers and their goods while providing additional income and a competitive edge to our partners’ business.

FULFILL: UK Warranty off ers a choice of distribution and fulfi lment options that have been designed to seamlessly integrate into our partners’ existing business models with minimal disruption.

SERVICE: Our UK-wide repair and replacement service provides an effi cient, ‘peace of mind’ service with the customer at the heart of every decision and action we undertake. Our affi nity partners’ brand reputation is protected and enhanced by the quality of service we deliver to the end customer.

GROW: We believe there is always the opportunity to grow and UK Warranty has a proven track record of enhancing our partners’ revenue and maximising growth potential.

UK Market changes need fresh approachThe overall size of the UK warranty market for brown and white goods has shrunk slightly since the fi nancial crisis, but was still worth over £11.3bn in 2010, and was forecast to grow marginally to £11.6bn by 2014 [source: Finnacord].

UK warranty aims to establish itself in the UK market during the next 12 months by off ering a fresh approach. The established players have become complacent, and we want to shake things up. For example, we don’t believe warranty customers are best acquired at point-of-sale, especially as so much shopping has moved online. We will be targeting electrical retailers and wholesalers, online and offl ine, as well as supermarkets, department stores, kitchen specialists and mail order businesses.

UK Warranty can off er fully white labelled products, but we have also created new opportunities for retailers and manufacturers other providers cannot off er.

Our extended warranty products can also guarantee the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s warranty and we can streamline effi ciency for manufacturers and enhance customer service for retailers by storing spare parts on their behalf.

Our proposition includes a nationwide 0800 repair network of CRB-checked engineers, giving our clients’ customers extra peace of mind. This gives UK Warranty a big point of diff erence from competitors as our repair team is trained and managed centrally, so the service we provide is consistent. Many providers subcontract work to local traders who may not apply the service standards expected by clients; poor service refl ects badly on their brand and reputation.

We have spent time on product development and have benchmarked them to ensure that they are off ering competitive prices and a more comprehensive warranty product for clients. Some warranty products have hidden costs that are passed on to the customer when repairing or replacing a product. Our products have been developed to new ABI (Association of British Insurers) standards so there are no hidden clauses or caveats.

Our research has also determined that, aside from generating new revenue streams, affi nities want minimal disruption to their core business and protection for their brand and reputation. In eff ect this translates into high quality seamless customer service, which we are confi dent UK Warranty can provide. Our warranties will also be net-rated, so our clients can set their own rates.

New deals UK Warranty has already signed two deals this year worth over £500,000.

We have made a fast start with these two deals and have received expressions of interest from a number of other affi nities. I am confi dent that UK Warranty will quickly establish itself as a name to watch in the warranty market next year.

JOHN NEILL IS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF UK WARRANTY LTD.

The UK af nities market welcomes a major new player in the warranty sector in 2012. UK Warranty Ltd will provide bespoke end-to-end brown and white goods warranty solutions to manufacturers, electrical retailers, supermarkets, online retailers, mail order catalogues and department stores. UK Warranty is based in Durham and is a joint venture between service and support provider Paci ca Group and Leeds-based specialist insurer UK General Limited. John Neill managing director, UK Warranty Ltd., talks to GC about the new business’ plans to capture 5% of the UK’s circa £550 million warranty marketplace within the next couple of years.

“The established players have become complacent”

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THE WORD | INDUSTRY NEWS

Major industry fi gures to speak at retra Conference Industry body retra has announced some of the headline speakers confi rmed for this year’s annual Conference, which will be held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel on April 16-17.

Gildas Pelliet, Sony’s managing director, Michael Steinle, chief executive of BSH Home Appliances, Jonathan Casley, sales and marketing director at Glen Dimplex Home Appliances and Gary Sharp, sales director at Morphy Richards, are among the high-profi le industry fi gures confi rmed for the event, which this year is themed “The Winning Pitch”.

Also on the bill are Nigel Catlow, business group director of consumer electronics at GfK, who will give delegates an update on where the industry is heading, Charles Gordon, owner of whatvacuum.com, Graham Loosley, a senior consultant in search engine marketing and optimisation at KPI Business Services, and James Drummie, a product manager at AWE Europe, one of the largest distributors in the custom installation market.

Product recalls up 27% in 2011UK product recalls rose 27% in 2011, driven by a combination of cash-strapped consumers buying cheaper goods and the supply chain disruptions resulting from last year’s Japanese and Thai disasters, according to research by City law fi rm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP.

The study by RPC shows that 291 product recalls were recorded in 2011, compared to 229 in 2010, fuelled by a rise in faulty electrical consumer products, up 45% from 2010, along with a doubling in the number of recalls involving food products.

RPC partner Stuart White said the increase this year could have been fed by high consumer demand for cheaper brands, particularly in the case of bigger ticket household products like cookers or freezers. “It may be that some white label or smaller producers have had to source cheaper suppliers to be competitive,” he said.

2011 was the second year in a row to see record-breaking rises, according to the fi gures.

Onkyo Corporation forms alliance with TEACOnkyo Corporation has announced a strategic alliance with TEAC Corporation, through which both businesses will acquire shares of each other’s stock. The two companies said they are exploring ways to share manufacturing facilities, logistic centres and R&D resources.

The move is reported to be part of Onkyo’s corporate goal to enhance shareholder value and meet the demands of a changing marketplace. It follows the partnering with Gibson Guitar Corporation earlier this year, which put Gibson in the position of second largest shareholder in Onkyo Corporation Japan and majority stakeholder in Onkyo USA.

Distributor “cannot any longer make a living”Distributor Harris and Russell has closed its operation after 90 years of trading. In a press statement, the company said it was “signing off with much regret, since we cannot any longer make a living distributing Panasonic, Samsung, Sanyo, Sony and Toshiba and we can’t see any likelihood of improvement.”

H&R wished its customers and suppliers well and thanked them for their business, adding: “It’s been a long journey together over three generations…. it’s always been interesting, often challenging (dif cult), occasionally rewarding (though not lately).”

MidwichHome has acquired H&R’s trade names and customer list.

Assurant Solutions has appointed Emma Poultney as Client Development Man-ager, responsible for delivering business growth for a number of key clients in the mobile and extended warranty sectors.

Big Red Sales Limited has been appoint-ed to handle the UK sales of AM, Den-mark’s AV and IT accessories specialist. The arrangement covers AM’s range of AV cleaning products and cables.

LG Electronics’ new range of TrueSteam™ dishwashers (D1454BF & D1454TF) has been awarded the ‘Quiet Mark’ – a mark of approval given by the Noise Abatement Society and validated by the Association of Noise Consultants.

Loewe has restructured its UK sales team and brought two new members on board. Graham Knowles joins as Account Manager for premier department stores and the custom install sector, and Graham

Groves as Account Manager responsible for Partner/Partner Plus accounts. Former Account Manager Adam Jones takes charge as UK Sales Manager, and Wayne Dowridge becomes Galerie Account Manager, having previously worked on the brand exclusively with Harrods.

BSH Home Appliances Ltd has announced the appointment of Brendan Bul n as Head of Customer Services in the UK. He succeeds Bernhard Vocke, who held the post from 2002 to 2011 and has now moved to BSH head of ce in Munich to run all overseas Customer Service operations for the Group.

GDHA has named stem cell charity Anthony Nolan as its Charity of the Year. The initiative is part of Belling’s centenary celebrations and the brand hopes to raise at least £10,000 from staff fun-draising and a contribution from sales of a product range created to mark the 100th year anniversary.

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED10 11JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

UK Warranty aims high

A lthough the UK warranty market is competitive, we believe our business model, which focuses on a one-stop-shop

approach, will prove attractive to the affi nity market. UK Warranty will provide warranty from the moment of sale as well as the manufacturers’ warranty across brown and white goods, computers, gadgets and small domestic appliances, gas and boiler breakdown. We are also planning to introduce home emergency cover from the early part of this year.

New propositionThe UK Warranty proposition diff ers from our competitors because we can cover the customer journey from start to fi nish on behalf of our affi nity partners. Our partners can put their trust in one provider, as opposed to having to manage relationships with two or more links in the chain. We have spent plenty of time talking to potential clients, and they have told us that a single provider is attractive.

The joint venture will manage all aspects of the warranty value chain, from underwriting and pricing, building on our existing track record and market leading underwriting knowledge, to the repair and replacement process. We also have an existing track record; UK General is already a successful player in the market, thanks to a number of affi nity deals, which gives it 10% of the market.

In our research we found that other providers off er an ‘all or nothing’ approach, which may work for the provider, but may not be the best option for clients. Our solution is to build a product and service package to suit our clients, not ourselves, and we have focused on creating additional revenue streams, such as white labelled solutions delivered post-sale with little or no need for interaction by the manufacturer or retailer. All our propositions have been benchmarked to ensure they are at least as good as, or better than, our rivals.

Protect, ful ll, service, growUK Warranty is looking forward to making our expertise in the schemes and affi nities market work harder for the benefi t of our partners. We aim to be the number three player in the UK within the next two years, using our four strand approach to winning and retaining business: protect, fulfi ll, service and grow:

PROTECT: Our market-leading range of warranty products protects customers and their goods while providing additional income and a competitive edge to our partners’ business.

FULFILL: UK Warranty off ers a choice of distribution and fulfi lment options that have been designed to seamlessly integrate into our partners’ existing business models with minimal disruption.

SERVICE: Our UK-wide repair and replacement service provides an effi cient, ‘peace of mind’ service with the customer at the heart of every decision and action we undertake. Our affi nity partners’ brand reputation is protected and enhanced by the quality of service we deliver to the end customer.

GROW: We believe there is always the opportunity to grow and UK Warranty has a proven track record of enhancing our partners’ revenue and maximising growth potential.

UK Market changes need fresh approachThe overall size of the UK warranty market for brown and white goods has shrunk slightly since the fi nancial crisis, but was still worth over £11.3bn in 2010, and was forecast to grow marginally to £11.6bn by 2014 [source: Finnacord].

UK warranty aims to establish itself in the UK market during the next 12 months by off ering a fresh approach. The established players have become complacent, and we want to shake things up. For example, we don’t believe warranty customers are best acquired at point-of-sale, especially as so much shopping has moved online. We will be targeting electrical retailers and wholesalers, online and offl ine, as well as supermarkets, department stores, kitchen specialists and mail order businesses.

UK Warranty can off er fully white labelled products, but we have also created new opportunities for retailers and manufacturers other providers cannot off er.

Our extended warranty products can also guarantee the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s warranty and we can streamline effi ciency for manufacturers and enhance customer service for retailers by storing spare parts on their behalf.

Our proposition includes a nationwide 0800 repair network of CRB-checked engineers, giving our clients’ customers extra peace of mind. This gives UK Warranty a big point of diff erence from competitors as our repair team is trained and managed centrally, so the service we provide is consistent. Many providers subcontract work to local traders who may not apply the service standards expected by clients; poor service refl ects badly on their brand and reputation.

We have spent time on product development and have benchmarked them to ensure that they are off ering competitive prices and a more comprehensive warranty product for clients. Some warranty products have hidden costs that are passed on to the customer when repairing or replacing a product. Our products have been developed to new ABI (Association of British Insurers) standards so there are no hidden clauses or caveats.

Our research has also determined that, aside from generating new revenue streams, affi nities want minimal disruption to their core business and protection for their brand and reputation. In eff ect this translates into high quality seamless customer service, which we are confi dent UK Warranty can provide. Our warranties will also be net-rated, so our clients can set their own rates.

New deals UK Warranty has already signed two deals this year worth over £500,000.

We have made a fast start with these two deals and have received expressions of interest from a number of other affi nities. I am confi dent that UK Warranty will quickly establish itself as a name to watch in the warranty market next year.

JOHN NEILL IS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF UK WARRANTY LTD.

The UK af nities market welcomes a major new player in the warranty sector in 2012. UK Warranty Ltd will provide bespoke end-to-end brown and white goods warranty solutions to manufacturers, electrical retailers, supermarkets, online retailers, mail order catalogues and department stores. UK Warranty is based in Durham and is a joint venture between service and support provider Paci ca Group and Leeds-based specialist insurer UK General Limited. John Neill managing director, UK Warranty Ltd., talks to GC about the new business’ plans to capture 5% of the UK’s circa £550 million warranty marketplace within the next couple of years.

“The established players have become complacent”

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Fagor Spoutnik freestanding microwaveFagor has launched a new and rather unusual design of microwave oven which it believes represents “an exciting new sales proposition for electrical retailers.” The product has a dome-shaped translucent top-opening lid with smooth operating system and a 28cm turntable with illumination that changes from blue to red when food is cooked.

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ATAG HI9271SV induction hobATAG has expanded its induction hob range with the addition of three models incorporating bridge zones – 2 rectangular cooking areas which connect together to create a single zone measuring 200 x 400mm. The 5-zone, 900mm HI9271SV with Iris Slide Control® (pictured) comes with a complimentary set of induction pans and features:

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Hotpoint SH103CX NewStyle multifunction ovenHotpoint’s new 58-litre SH103CX built-in oven has 10 cooking programmes – 4 Hotpoint ‘Intelligent’ functions: roast, bread, cake and pizza, and 6 standard programmes: circulaire fan, fan grilling, variable grill, low temperatures 40ºC, 65ºC and 90ºC. The appliance is fi nished in stainless steel and is the latest addition to the brand’s NewStyle collection.

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Dimplex Redway wall fireDimplex has extended its Display and Demonstrate range of fi res with the launch of the Redway wall fi re, featuring the award-winning Opti-myst® variable smoke and fl ame eff ect and a black and anthracite fi nish. The Display and Demonstrate range has been created to help drive sales via independent retailers. Products come with an extended guarantee.

¿ Remote control

¿ Concealed 2kW fan heater with fast warm-up and thermostat control

¿ Quick-fi t IEC kettle-type connection

¿ BEAB approved

0845 601 5111 www.dimplex.co.uk

Tefal Fresh ExpressThe new Fresh Express from Tefal promises an easy way for consumers to get their ‘5 a day’, without the eff ort of manual food preparation. The appliance has 5 attachments for thick slicing, fi ne slicing, coarse shredding, fi ne shredding and cheese grating and is said to handle food prep “in a fl ash.”

¿ Compact design with drum storage system

¿ Direct serve spout

¿ Dishwasher-safe attachments

¿ Retractable cord storage

01753 834900 www.tefalfreshexpress.co.uk

GenevaSound Model XS portable hi-fi sound systemThis portable Bluetooth-enabled hi-fi sound system from GenevaSound is a compact clamshell unit incorporating a complete system of speakers, amplifi ers, radio and alarm clock. Its waterproof case, available in red, white or black faux leather, fl ips open to reveal a piano-lacquered cabinet inset with the brand’s distinctive domed grille.

¿ 2.1 speaker system with two 1” tweeters and one 2¼” woofer

¿ Rechargeable lithium battery with more than 5 hours’ playtime / AC power adapter with cable

¿ Digital FM radio tuner with auto search function / Digital clock with alarm

¿ LED display for volume/mode/frequency / TouchLight controls – backlit, touch-sensitive

¿ Stereo mini line-in jack for external audio

0843 2897195 www.sav-distibution.co.uk

Elipson BS50 loudspeaker Elipson has reintroduced its BS50 loudspeaker to honour the landmark models that have shaped its history, in celebration of the brand’s 60th birthday. As the fi rst speaker to achieve fame, the BS 50 has been reproduced using the latest 21st century materials while preserving the acoustic sound qualities that were unique to the original design.

¿ System: 2 way / Enclosure: Bass Refl ex

¿ Frequency range (+/- 3dB): 40 - 20000 Hz

¿ Impedance: 8 Ohms Ω / Sensitivity: 90 dB

¿ Max music power: 80 Watts

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Fagor Spoutnik freestanding microwaveFagor has launched a new and rather unusual design of microwave oven which it believes represents “an exciting new sales proposition for electrical retailers.” The product has a dome-shaped translucent top-opening lid with smooth operating system and a 28cm turntable with illumination that changes from blue to red when food is cooked.

¿ Electronic LCD control panel

¿ Cooking modes: High temperature, Low temperature, Reheat and Defrost

¿ Quick Start option

¿ Available in 3 bright colours: Blue Odyssey, Green Flash and Ultra Violet

01256 308 067 www.fagor.co.uk

Q Acoustics 2050i floor-standing loudspeakerQ Acoustics’ 2000i Series fl agship model, the 2050i, boasts “ultra-low, class leading levels of distortion, a superfast transient response, extended bass and wonderfully smooth, open treble.” The unit is available in Graphite Black/Walnut and Piano Black/White.

¿ Enclosure type: 2-way refl ex

¿ Bass vUnit: 2 x 165mm / Treble Unit: 25mm

¿ Frequency Response: 44Hz - 22kHz

¿ Nominal Impedance: 6Ω / Minimum Impedance: 4Ω

¿ Crossover Frequency: 2.6kHz

01279 501111 www.qacoustics.co.uk

ATAG HI9271SV induction hobATAG has expanded its induction hob range with the addition of three models incorporating bridge zones – 2 rectangular cooking areas which connect together to create a single zone measuring 200 x 400mm. The 5-zone, 900mm HI9271SV with Iris Slide Control® (pictured) comes with a complimentary set of induction pans and features:

¿ Middle zone with 40-3000W / Left and right bridge induction 40-3700W per zone

¿ Preset programmes for simmering, keep warm, stir-frying, roasting and grilling

¿ Automatic cooking function / Boost mode / Digital timer per zone / Pause key

¿ Child lock, cooking time restriction, residual heat indication, overheat shutoff

0208 247 3993 www.atag.co.uk

Hotpoint SH103CX NewStyle multifunction ovenHotpoint’s new 58-litre SH103CX built-in oven has 10 cooking programmes – 4 Hotpoint ‘Intelligent’ functions: roast, bread, cake and pizza, and 6 standard programmes: circulaire fan, fan grilling, variable grill, low temperatures 40ºC, 65ºC and 90ºC. The appliance is fi nished in stainless steel and is the latest addition to the brand’s NewStyle collection.

¿ Energy effi ciency class A / Energy consumption 2,800W

¿ 24 hour electronic programmable timer

¿ Triple glazed door with easy-clean inner glass

¿ Catalytic liners

¿ Air fl ow cooling fan and internal chimney venting

08000 921 922 www.hotpoint.co.uk

Miele CM5200 Barista bean-to-cup coffee machineMiele’s fl agship CM5200 Barista bean-to-cup countertop coff ee machine features an integrated automatic milk frother and one-touch operation, with single or double shots delivered in minutes. The appliance is available in a new Jet Black SoftTouch fi nish.

¿ Adjustable 15-bar pump pressure

¿ Water temperature controls

0845 365 6600 www.miele.co.uk

¿ Automatic rinsing system

¿ Choice of coff ee grind

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JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED14

THE 3D EXPERIENCE IN THE HOME

TV IN 2012

Television sales are often boosted by major events, and they don’t come much bigger than this year’s London Olympics. So there’s every reason to be optimistic that 2012 could be a good year for the television market, even with economic gloom hanging over it like a dark cloud. George Cole talks to some of the big players about the prospects for the coming year.

access the content you want to watch at any time of the day is really important to consumers. Smart TV is essentially an extension of the on-demand content that’s been available on PCs for a while, so transferring this service to the living room TV has been really welcomed by consumers.”

Samsung says it has focused on educating consumers about Smart TV and is off ering lots of content. “We believe that we have the highest activation rate [of consumers connecting their TV to the internet] – it’s more than 90%,” says Steve Mitchell, Samsung’s general manager, (marketing) TV. “TV viewers are going online and downloading apps.” Samsung off ers more than 300 apps including apps for games, puzzles, music, photos and services such as YouTube and Twitter. Samsung’s Mitchell adds that making it easy to connect a TV to the internet is crucial to the uptake of Smart TV, and so Samsung is including online set-up as part of the initial set-up process. “Connectivity shouldn’t be an afterthought,” he says.

UK a strong market that needs educating “We know from extensive research that UK consumers are generally more likely to connect their devices to the Internet than any other

Consumers often invest in a big screen TV for the big occasion, and two features look set to dominate this year’s

market – Smart TV and 3DTV, both of which feature heavily in manufacturers’ top-end TV ranges. Panasonic says all its top-end sets off er both features, while Samsung says more than 60% of its LED TVs are Smart TVs, with more than 80% of plasma TVs off ering 3DTV. Half of Toshiba’s current range off ers Smart TV functionality and half of these include 3DTV. All of the company’s 3DTV sets have some Smart TV features, such as access to BBC iPlayer. More than 60% of Sony’s TV products are 3D-enabled, and the Sony Entertainment Network off ers a 3D-over-IP [internet] service.

Getting smartThe ability to watch broadcast TV and internet content on a television has much appeal, says Amit Rullay, UK marketing manager, Philips TV, “Smart TV has been very well received by the consumer, especially when off ering functionality that complements normal TV content, such as BBC iPlayer or streaming fi lms via AceTrax. Consumers are also very much behind apps such as Facebook and Twitter.”

Glenn Zanoni, Toshiba product marketing manager, TV and Blu-ray, adds: “Being able to

TELEVISION IN 2012 George Cole

THE 3D EXPERIENCE IN THE HOME

TV BIG SCREENS, BIG PLANS, BIG EVENTS...

EASY ACCESS TO CONTENT IS KEY

Flair for repairA great customer experience doesn’t just come down to fantastic products. At Domestic

& General we understand how excellent after-sales care will improve customer loyalty

to your brand. And with a 94% post-repair satisfaction rate, we’re expert at giving our

customers and our partners something to smile about.

contact@domesticandgeneral.com

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED14

THE 3D EXPERIENCE IN THE HOME

TV IN 2012

Television sales are often boosted by major events, and they don’t come much bigger than this year’s London Olympics. So there’s every reason to be optimistic that 2012 could be a good year for the television market, even with economic gloom hanging over it like a dark cloud. George Cole talks to some of the big players about the prospects for the coming year.

access the content you want to watch at any time of the day is really important to consumers. Smart TV is essentially an extension of the on-demand content that’s been available on PCs for a while, so transferring this service to the living room TV has been really welcomed by consumers.”

Samsung says it has focused on educating consumers about Smart TV and is off ering lots of content. “We believe that we have the highest activation rate [of consumers connecting their TV to the internet] – it’s more than 90%,” says Steve Mitchell, Samsung’s general manager, (marketing) TV. “TV viewers are going online and downloading apps.” Samsung off ers more than 300 apps including apps for games, puzzles, music, photos and services such as YouTube and Twitter. Samsung’s Mitchell adds that making it easy to connect a TV to the internet is crucial to the uptake of Smart TV, and so Samsung is including online set-up as part of the initial set-up process. “Connectivity shouldn’t be an afterthought,” he says.

UK a strong market that needs educating “We know from extensive research that UK consumers are generally more likely to connect their devices to the Internet than any other

Consumers often invest in a big screen TV for the big occasion, and two features look set to dominate this year’s

market – Smart TV and 3DTV, both of which feature heavily in manufacturers’ top-end TV ranges. Panasonic says all its top-end sets off er both features, while Samsung says more than 60% of its LED TVs are Smart TVs, with more than 80% of plasma TVs off ering 3DTV. Half of Toshiba’s current range off ers Smart TV functionality and half of these include 3DTV. All of the company’s 3DTV sets have some Smart TV features, such as access to BBC iPlayer. More than 60% of Sony’s TV products are 3D-enabled, and the Sony Entertainment Network off ers a 3D-over-IP [internet] service.

Getting smartThe ability to watch broadcast TV and internet content on a television has much appeal, says Amit Rullay, UK marketing manager, Philips TV, “Smart TV has been very well received by the consumer, especially when off ering functionality that complements normal TV content, such as BBC iPlayer or streaming fi lms via AceTrax. Consumers are also very much behind apps such as Facebook and Twitter.”

Glenn Zanoni, Toshiba product marketing manager, TV and Blu-ray, adds: “Being able to

TELEVISION IN 2012 George Cole

TV BIG SCREENS, BIG PLANS, BIG EVENTS...

EASY ACCESS TO CONTENT IS KEY

Flair for repairA great customer experience doesn’t just come down to fantastic products. At Domestic

& General we understand how excellent after-sales care will improve customer loyalty

to your brand. And with a 94% post-repair satisfaction rate, we’re expert at giving our

customers and our partners something to smile about.

contact@domesticandgeneral.com

THE WORLD FROM THE TV SCREEN

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED16

TV IN 2012

European consumer,” notes Edward Uzzell, category development manager of home entertainment at Sony. “This has largely been driven by the growth of key services such as BBC iPlayer and Lovefi lm. The quality of TV in this country is fantastic when compared with many other countries, and so consumers are eager to enjoy Catch-up TV on the big screen.” Panasonic ran a survey which showed that the public were very receptive to Smart TV, says Fabrice Estornel, the company’s senior manager for Viera TVs. “However, consumers do not understand all the elements of Smart TV, and so both manufacturers and dealers need to educate them about the features.”

3D gaining momentumReaction to 3DTV is also largely positive. “Feedback from resellers and market research suggests it is now an important part of the purchase decision,” notes Sony’s Uzzell. “3D market share is growing and overall adoption of 3D technology is high.”

Philips’ Rullay says that 3D is a fast-moving area where performance is improving very quickly and cost is decreasing, plus content is now becoming more readily available. Philips off ers both passive and active 3D systems versions with its Easy 3D and 3D Max systems. Toshiba also off ers both types of 3D formats and is set to launch its fi rst 55-inch glasses-free 3D television, the 55ZL2. “Consumers are expecting a top-end TV to have 3D capability as standard,” notes Panasonic’s Estornel.

Everyone agrees that compelling content - and lots of it – is the key to 3DTV’s success, so is there enough out there, especially on free-to-air platforms such as Freeview and freesat? Bandwidth issues mean that we are unlikely to see 3DTV on Freeview for a long time yet, but James Strickland, freesat’s director of product and technology development, says: “The majority of freesat HD set top boxes are 3D capable, and last year the BBC broadcast Men’s and Ladies’ Wimbledon fi nals in 3D to freesat viewers. We’ll be continuing to work closely with our partners, and with such a phenomenal year of sport ahead of us, I’m sure we’ll see more 3DTV broadcasts this year.”

More 3D content availableSamsung’s Mitchell says there is a defi nite interest in 3DTV, and the company’s Explore 3D app gives viewers access to 3D fi lms, programmes, documentaries and music videos. “You have to make it easy for viewers to access 3D content,” he adds. “There is currently a lot of 3D content available, for example, Sky 3D. It is not yet available readily on a free platform, but more content is coming. It has just been announced that the fi nal of Strictly Come Dancing will be fi lmed in 3D and shown on TV and at selected cinemas,” says Panasonic’s Estornel.

Philips’ Rullay adds that “3D Blu-ray content has become more prevalent, and the availability of other aspects of entertainment such as 3D-enabled photography, movies and websites has also increased. In particular, 3D gaming is increasingly becoming more mainstream, with many titles now taking advantage of the built-in 3D capabilities of new games.”

“Subscription broadcasters are already heavily promoting their 3D services, but free-to-air content remains limited, although time will tell how much this will change,” says Toshiba’s Zanoni. “In the meantime, 2D-to-3D conversion technology is a feature we include on some of our existing 3DTVs, letting consumers enjoy all their existing 2D content in 3D.”

Easy-access content and faster broadband requiredWhen it comes to the main drivers for Smart TV, catch-up services such as BBC iPlayer fi gure high on everyone’s list, but also highly rated are social network services such as Facebook and Twitter, and video services such as AceTrax and YouTube.

So what would be on top of everyone’s wish list for an initiative or development that would help drive sales of Smart TV and/or 3DTV? For Toshiba’s Zanoni, “It’s important that there is aff ordable,

high quality catch-up TV and video content readily available.” .Panasonic’s Estornel believes that faster broadband would help Smart TV, and so does Sony’s Uzzell. “One of our major challenges remains broadband speed and availability, both in the home and in stores for demonstration purposes. We can load the TV with the best content, but we are reliant on the internet service providers to deliver good broadband connections to consumers’ homes so they can enjoy them. Coverage varies wildly, even for people living in the same street, so it’s important that the government continues to drive investment in high speed broadband.” Open standards are the key to the takeoff of Smart TV functionality, says Philips’ Rullay, “and off ering both passive and active 3D systems, over a range of price points, will be key to consumer uptake of 3DTVs,” he adds.

ProspectsManufacturers are upbeat about the prospects of Smart TV and 3DTV in 2012. “Both formats will be increasingly important in 2012, and we will respond by extending Smart TV functionality to smaller screen sizes, while 3D technology will also be extended into more mainstream product ranges,” says Rullay. Toshiba’s Zanoni thinks that Smart TV and 3D technologies will continue to be key features for consumers in 2012, but adds that it’s important not to forget that design, image quality and value for money are also important elements to those looking for a new TV.

Samsung’s Mitchell says, “3D is now a TV feature that we will continue to support, and more content will become available. There was a lot of hype about 3D in the beginning, but more and more people are realising that you might only watch a 3D fi lm once a week or once a month, rather than on a daily basis. We believe Smart TV and 3D will become more prevalent in 2012.”

“Mindful of the continuing economic uncertainty aff ecting pretty much the whole of the retail sector, notes Sony’s Uzzell, “this year remains challenging for all consumer electronics fi rms. However, with so many massive sporting events, as well as the ongoing digital switchover over the next 12 months, there are reasons for optimism as well.”

“Smart TV has been very well received by the consumer”

“Two features look set to dominate this year’s market – Smart TV and 3DTV”

17JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

There are some who believe that you only get one chance to get things right when it comes to launching a new consumer electron-ics product or format: mess up the launch and it’s curtains. I don’t

completely agree, but it’s certainly true that rst impressions matter, and if you screw up, it can be a long road back to consumer acceptance, let alone enthusiasm, for your offering. By the time you read this, the rst UltraViolet video title will have been launched in the UK: Warner UK’s Final Destination 5 was set to reach the shops on Boxing Day. Just a brief recap on UltraViolet: the lm and video industries hope that UltraViolet will boost the packaged media market. DVD sales are falling and while Blu-ray sales are growing, they are not making up for these losses. More and more consumers are accessing movies online, either by download-ing them from services like Apple iTunes, or having them streamed to their PCs, set-top boxes, games consoles and Smart TVs.

If you purchase the DVD or Blu-ray of Final Destination 5, you can also ac-

cess a digital le version of the movie stored in a “digital locker” online. The

idea is that you can watch the movie le on lots of different devices – such as

smartphones, tablets and laptops. It’s hoped that by giving consumers this

extra choice, they’ll purchase more Blu-ray discs and DVDs – and desist from

copying or ripping video titles. Ultraviolet was launched in the US in October

and it’s fair to say that consumer reaction to it has been mixed.

Many consumers were initially positive about UltraViolet, so it’s a shame

that this initial enthusiasm has been dampened by the decision to launch

UltraViolet as a streaming service only, with a download option promised

for later. The result is that at present, you can only access the digital le

via a broadband connection. For many consumers this is a backwards step,

because many video titles already come with a digital le that can be stored

on a laptop or tablet, and viewed when, say, you are on a train or aircraft.

But these options are impossible with a streaming service – my local train

service, for example, offers free Wi-Fi, but won’t let you use data-hungry

services like BBC iPlayer. The result has been a lot of negative feedback on

UltraViolet. Check out the reviews for Warner’s Harry Potter and the Deathly

Hallows Part 2 on Amazon.com: “Stay away from UltraViolet!” says one re-

viewer, “Horrible,” says another, while a third claims that, “UltraViolet is a

scam!” One person who complained was even given a voucher to purchase

their movie on the rival iTunes service... This is most unfortunate and some-

thing needs to be done quickly to restore faith in UltraViolet.

E-mail: georgecole@gcmagazine.co.uk

WI-FI PRODUCTS CAN BE PAINLESSThe other week, I replaced my clapped-out

printer with a new one from Epson, designed

to be used on a home Wi-Fi network for wire-

less printing from a PC. Connecting

devices to a home network is very

much a hit-and-miss exercise –

some devices connect with

ease, while others require

hours of ddling, con g-

uring and recon guring.

Someone I know owns a

wireless printer but has

never been able to get it to

work on his network, so he’s

connected the printer to his PC

using a USB cable, which rather

defeats the object...

Anyway, I linked the new printer to my PC

with a USB cable, made a couple of mouse

clicks, and hey presto – it was connected to

my Wi-Fi network. I then put away the USB

cable and moved the printer to another room.

There was no messing around with pass-

words, pass phrases or long encryption key

numbers. The Wi-Fi-Protected Set-up (WPS)

standard is designed to make Wi-Fi connec-

tivity a doddle – you just use a PIN code or

press a couple of buttons on your wireless

router and the device should connect to the

network. But in my experience, it’s not always

that simple – and not all routers support WPS.

Lots of consumer electronics devices are

now designed for Wi-Fi connectivity – such

as Smart TVs, Blu-ray players and digital

radios – and if Epson can make Wi-Fi con-

nectivity a piece of cake, so should every

consumer electronics manufacturer. But is

this really the case?

In my interview with Roger Darlington, chairman of the Digital Consumer Expert Group in last month’s issue, he’s quoted as saying there are 30 million DAB radios in circulation. The real fi gure is 13 million and the error was mine.

GEORGE COLE GETS CONNECTED

George Cole pinpoints hotspots in the world of consumer electronics.

THE WORLD FROM THE TV SCREEN

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED16

TV IN 2012

European consumer,” notes Edward Uzzell, category development manager of home entertainment at Sony. “This has largely been driven by the growth of key services such as BBC iPlayer and Lovefi lm. The quality of TV in this country is fantastic when compared with many other countries, and so consumers are eager to enjoy Catch-up TV on the big screen.” Panasonic ran a survey which showed that the public were very receptive to Smart TV, says Fabrice Estornel, the company’s senior manager for Viera TVs. “However, consumers do not understand all the elements of Smart TV, and so both manufacturers and dealers need to educate them about the features.”

3D gaining momentumReaction to 3DTV is also largely positive. “Feedback from resellers and market research suggests it is now an important part of the purchase decision,” notes Sony’s Uzzell. “3D market share is growing and overall adoption of 3D technology is high.”

Philips’ Rullay says that 3D is a fast-moving area where performance is improving very quickly and cost is decreasing, plus content is now becoming more readily available. Philips off ers both passive and active 3D systems versions with its Easy 3D and 3D Max systems. Toshiba also off ers both types of 3D formats and is set to launch its fi rst 55-inch glasses-free 3D television, the 55ZL2. “Consumers are expecting a top-end TV to have 3D capability as standard,” notes Panasonic’s Estornel.

Everyone agrees that compelling content - and lots of it – is the key to 3DTV’s success, so is there enough out there, especially on free-to-air platforms such as Freeview and freesat? Bandwidth issues mean that we are unlikely to see 3DTV on Freeview for a long time yet, but James Strickland, freesat’s director of product and technology development, says: “The majority of freesat HD set top boxes are 3D capable, and last year the BBC broadcast Men’s and Ladies’ Wimbledon fi nals in 3D to freesat viewers. We’ll be continuing to work closely with our partners, and with such a phenomenal year of sport ahead of us, I’m sure we’ll see more 3DTV broadcasts this year.”

More 3D content availableSamsung’s Mitchell says there is a defi nite interest in 3DTV, and the company’s Explore 3D app gives viewers access to 3D fi lms, programmes, documentaries and music videos. “You have to make it easy for viewers to access 3D content,” he adds. “There is currently a lot of 3D content available, for example, Sky 3D. It is not yet available readily on a free platform, but more content is coming. It has just been announced that the fi nal of Strictly Come Dancing will be fi lmed in 3D and shown on TV and at selected cinemas,” says Panasonic’s Estornel.

Philips’ Rullay adds that “3D Blu-ray content has become more prevalent, and the availability of other aspects of entertainment such as 3D-enabled photography, movies and websites has also increased. In particular, 3D gaming is increasingly becoming more mainstream, with many titles now taking advantage of the built-in 3D capabilities of new games.”

“Subscription broadcasters are already heavily promoting their 3D services, but free-to-air content remains limited, although time will tell how much this will change,” says Toshiba’s Zanoni. “In the meantime, 2D-to-3D conversion technology is a feature we include on some of our existing 3DTVs, letting consumers enjoy all their existing 2D content in 3D.”

Easy-access content and faster broadband requiredWhen it comes to the main drivers for Smart TV, catch-up services such as BBC iPlayer fi gure high on everyone’s list, but also highly rated are social network services such as Facebook and Twitter, and video services such as AceTrax and YouTube.

So what would be on top of everyone’s wish list for an initiative or development that would help drive sales of Smart TV and/or 3DTV? For Toshiba’s Zanoni, “It’s important that there is aff ordable,

high quality catch-up TV and video content readily available.” .Panasonic’s Estornel believes that faster broadband would help Smart TV, and so does Sony’s Uzzell. “One of our major challenges remains broadband speed and availability, both in the home and in stores for demonstration purposes. We can load the TV with the best content, but we are reliant on the internet service providers to deliver good broadband connections to consumers’ homes so they can enjoy them. Coverage varies wildly, even for people living in the same street, so it’s important that the government continues to drive investment in high speed broadband.” Open standards are the key to the takeoff of Smart TV functionality, says Philips’ Rullay, “and off ering both passive and active 3D systems, over a range of price points, will be key to consumer uptake of 3DTVs,” he adds.

ProspectsManufacturers are upbeat about the prospects of Smart TV and 3DTV in 2012. “Both formats will be increasingly important in 2012, and we will respond by extending Smart TV functionality to smaller screen sizes, while 3D technology will also be extended into more mainstream product ranges,” says Rullay. Toshiba’s Zanoni thinks that Smart TV and 3D technologies will continue to be key features for consumers in 2012, but adds that it’s important not to forget that design, image quality and value for money are also important elements to those looking for a new TV.

Samsung’s Mitchell says, “3D is now a TV feature that we will continue to support, and more content will become available. There was a lot of hype about 3D in the beginning, but more and more people are realising that you might only watch a 3D fi lm once a week or once a month, rather than on a daily basis. We believe Smart TV and 3D will become more prevalent in 2012.”

“Mindful of the continuing economic uncertainty aff ecting pretty much the whole of the retail sector, notes Sony’s Uzzell, “this year remains challenging for all consumer electronics fi rms. However, with so many massive sporting events, as well as the ongoing digital switchover over the next 12 months, there are reasons for optimism as well.”

“Smart TV has been very well received by the consumer”

“Two features look set to dominate this year’s market – Smart TV and 3DTV”

17JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

There are some who believe that you only get one chance to get things right when it comes to launching a new consumer electron-ics product or format: mess up the launch and it’s curtains. I don’t

completely agree, but it’s certainly true that rst impressions matter, and if you screw up, it can be a long road back to consumer acceptance, let alone enthusiasm, for your offering. By the time you read this, the rst UltraViolet video title will have been launched in the UK: Warner UK’s Final Destination 5 was set to reach the shops on Boxing Day. Just a brief recap on UltraViolet: the lm and video industries hope that UltraViolet will boost the packaged media market. DVD sales are falling and while Blu-ray sales are growing, they are not making up for these losses. More and more consumers are accessing movies online, either by download-ing them from services like Apple iTunes, or having them streamed to their PCs, set-top boxes, games consoles and Smart TVs.

If you purchase the DVD or Blu-ray of Final Destination 5, you can also ac-

cess a digital le version of the movie stored in a “digital locker” online. The

idea is that you can watch the movie le on lots of different devices – such as

smartphones, tablets and laptops. It’s hoped that by giving consumers this

extra choice, they’ll purchase more Blu-ray discs and DVDs – and desist from

copying or ripping video titles. Ultraviolet was launched in the US in October

and it’s fair to say that consumer reaction to it has been mixed.

Many consumers were initially positive about UltraViolet, so it’s a shame

that this initial enthusiasm has been dampened by the decision to launch

UltraViolet as a streaming service only, with a download option promised

for later. The result is that at present, you can only access the digital le

via a broadband connection. For many consumers this is a backwards step,

because many video titles already come with a digital le that can be stored

on a laptop or tablet, and viewed when, say, you are on a train or aircraft.

But these options are impossible with a streaming service – my local train

service, for example, offers free Wi-Fi, but won’t let you use data-hungry

services like BBC iPlayer. The result has been a lot of negative feedback on

UltraViolet. Check out the reviews for Warner’s Harry Potter and the Deathly

Hallows Part 2 on Amazon.com: “Stay away from UltraViolet!” says one re-

viewer, “Horrible,” says another, while a third claims that, “UltraViolet is a

scam!” One person who complained was even given a voucher to purchase

their movie on the rival iTunes service... This is most unfortunate and some-

thing needs to be done quickly to restore faith in UltraViolet.

E-mail: georgecole@gcmagazine.co.uk

WI-FI PRODUCTS CAN BE PAINLESSThe other week, I replaced my clapped-out

printer with a new one from Epson, designed

to be used on a home Wi-Fi network for wire-

less printing from a PC. Connecting

devices to a home network is very

much a hit-and-miss exercise –

some devices connect with

ease, while others require

hours of ddling, con g-

uring and recon guring.

Someone I know owns a

wireless printer but has

never been able to get it to

work on his network, so he’s

connected the printer to his PC

using a USB cable, which rather

defeats the object...

Anyway, I linked the new printer to my PC

with a USB cable, made a couple of mouse

clicks, and hey presto – it was connected to

my Wi-Fi network. I then put away the USB

cable and moved the printer to another room.

There was no messing around with pass-

words, pass phrases or long encryption key

numbers. The Wi-Fi-Protected Set-up (WPS)

standard is designed to make Wi-Fi connec-

tivity a doddle – you just use a PIN code or

press a couple of buttons on your wireless

router and the device should connect to the

network. But in my experience, it’s not always

that simple – and not all routers support WPS.

Lots of consumer electronics devices are

now designed for Wi-Fi connectivity – such

as Smart TVs, Blu-ray players and digital

radios – and if Epson can make Wi-Fi con-

nectivity a piece of cake, so should every

consumer electronics manufacturer. But is

this really the case?

In my interview with Roger Darlington, chairman of the Digital Consumer Expert Group in last month’s issue, he’s quoted as saying there are 30 million DAB radios in circulation. The real fi gure is 13 million and the error was mine.

GEORGE COLE GETS CONNECTED

George Cole pinpoints hotspots in the world of consumer electronics.

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED18

“ADVANCED AND VERSATILE”: DE DIETRICH’S ZONELESS

PIANO INDUCTION HOB

INDUCTION

The advantages of induction are well documented for the trade, but has the industry done enough to raise the public pro le of this smart, elegant challenger of tradition, or do its attributes remain cloaked in mystery? GC reports

We are not claiming the gift of prophecy, but this time a year ago GC characterised the induction

hob as “a dark horse awaiting its glory”. A prediction that proved to be true – even if a safe bet! As consumer awareness heightened, signifi cant sales growth was recorded, and it certainly wasn’t a case of divine intervention at a time deep economic strife that lifted the market; rather, a combination of the eff orts of manufacturers and retailers to show rather than tell of the benefi ts and a greater selection of products at a wider range of prices – the latter eff ectively bringing the technology to the mainstream market after being limited initially to a consumer group categorised by New World commercial manager Jon Brennan as “cash rich, technology focused.”

GfK fi gures for the 12 months to October 2011 show a 15.3% rise in unit volume and a 10.19% increase in value; the discrepancy between the two a demonstration of how average price has fallen due to the number of

entry- to mid-range products on the market rising, and as Neff Sales Director Mike Jarrett brings to our attention, “most consumers are buying into the concept at a fairly basic level.”

Jarrett maintains, however, that this behaviour is not specifi c to induction: “Unlike other countries in Europe, the UK is not a market that goes in for highly sophisticated hobs, which means that, historically, sales of all gas and normal ceramic hobs have been largely towards the functional rather than feature-laden models.”

Nonetheless, induction now accounts for almost a quarter of electric hobs, according to Electrolux’s Sophie Davidson, Product Manager for Built-in Hot, and volume has grown by 64% since 2008 – a statistic that reveals the slow uptake the nigh-on thirty-year old category has experienced.

Baumatic Marketing Manager Rita Balestrazzi believes this “rocky start” was due to induction being unfairly saddled with the reputation of being costly and impractical, but maintains that consumers are now discovering that quite the opposite is true. Gorenje Sales &

power

“With space getting tighter and tighter in city dwellings, induction can keep small galley kitchens much cooler” Rita Balestrazzi, Marketing Manager, Baumatic

19JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

Marketing Director Bill Miller concurs: “Without a doubt, many consumers are awakening to the benefi ts of induction and making it their cooking method of choice,” he says. “As with all technology, it will take time to become fully accepted in all sectors of the market, but we believe an increasing number of consumers will choose induction, and in the future it will be the most popular cooking medium.”

Shifting trendsFurther evidence of the rise of induction is provided by De Dietrich Sales & Marketing Director Richard Walker, who points out that 2011 was the fi rst full year in which sales of electric hobs remained consistently higher than gas: “A trend which looks likely to continue as there is little doubt that these fi gures are due to the growing market for induction hobs,” he

comments, adding that DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Aff airs) predicts 80% of all electric hobs will be induction by 2020.

Walker also highlights the decline in the gas hob market, explaining that this is not only due to the rising retail cost of gas as a commodity, but also because of mandatory legislation requiring the additional cost of obligatory thermocouples and the pricey business of installation using a Gas Safe registered installer.

While many consumers remain convinced that gas is more controllable than other hob types, Walker believes that the understanding and awareness of induction is greater than ever before: “This is evident when we exhibit at consumer shows such as Grand Designs, and thanks not only in part to articles in the media but also to continued promotion both by manufacturers and retailers. It is only when induction is demonstrated that consumers realise the technology is faster, more controllable and, ultimately, safer than any other type of hob.”

Baumatic’s Balestrazzi touches on another means of consumer education on induction – that of social media. She cites the growth of retailers’ online help sites, blogs and forums as aiding awareness and understanding and believes this type of communication has helped the market to grow: “Consumers often feel prohibited from making in-store enquiries – not wanting to feel under pressure to make an

on-the-spot purchase – and on websites and blogs they are invited to post questions and learn more so they can make an informed purchasing decision. They also get to remain anonymous, so can ask all the questions they like, however silly their enquiries may seem.”

DemographicsIf social media – a growing part of the marketing mix – is helping to drive the uptake of induction, does this indicate a young demographic for the product? Samsung believes so. The company says that those currently buying into the technology are younger professionals with disposable income whose homes tend to be ultra-modern and kitted out with the latest chic appliances and furnishings.

“It cannot be denied that demographic factors can impact on the demand for certain

appliances,” says Gorenje Sales and Marketing Director Bill Miller. “Younger people in particular are more tech-savvy than ever before and will demand appliances that display advanced cooking innovation.” Miller adds that

homeowners improving their properties rather than risking a move in an unstable economic

climate are also interested in induction – the motive being the desire for superior products to “show off .”

Premium brand Miele has encountered no strong demographic in the market for induction. Kitchen Category Manager Neil Pooley says: “We have a range of customers who have purchased and are interested in induction hobs – from the accomplished chef to the fi rst-time buyer. Customers like the aesthetic qualities of induction hobs: they work fantastically well from a design point of view, are very easy to maintain and keep clean, and produce quick and eff ective results.”

Built-in cooking market leader Neff recounts a similar experience – the appeal and benefi ts of induction being universal. In particular, the responsiveness and ease of cleaning is proving

NEFF’S 90CM, 5ZONE FLEXINDUCTION HOB WITH CENTRAL 32CM TRIPLE ZONE

INDUCTION

power

“Extra-large and exible zones that can be merged or ‘joined up’ to cater for the largest pasta pan or sh kettle is becoming a key trend”Simona Bara, Whirlpool Product Manager, Built-in

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED18

“ADVANCED AND VERSATILE”: DE DIETRICH’S ZONELESS

PIANO INDUCTION HOB

INDUCTION

The advantages of induction are well documented for the trade, but has the industry done enough to raise the public pro le of this smart, elegant challenger of tradition, or do its attributes remain cloaked in mystery? GC reports

We are not claiming the gift of prophecy, but this time a year ago GC characterised the induction

hob as “a dark horse awaiting its glory”. A prediction that proved to be true – even if a safe bet! As consumer awareness heightened, signifi cant sales growth was recorded, and it certainly wasn’t a case of divine intervention at a time deep economic strife that lifted the market; rather, a combination of the eff orts of manufacturers and retailers to show rather than tell of the benefi ts and a greater selection of products at a wider range of prices – the latter eff ectively bringing the technology to the mainstream market after being limited initially to a consumer group categorised by New World commercial manager Jon Brennan as “cash rich, technology focused.”

GfK fi gures for the 12 months to October 2011 show a 15.3% rise in unit volume and a 10.19% increase in value; the discrepancy between the two a demonstration of how average price has fallen due to the number of

entry- to mid-range products on the market rising, and as Neff Sales Director Mike Jarrett brings to our attention, “most consumers are buying into the concept at a fairly basic level.”

Jarrett maintains, however, that this behaviour is not specifi c to induction: “Unlike other countries in Europe, the UK is not a market that goes in for highly sophisticated hobs, which means that, historically, sales of all gas and normal ceramic hobs have been largely towards the functional rather than feature-laden models.”

Nonetheless, induction now accounts for almost a quarter of electric hobs, according to Electrolux’s Sophie Davidson, Product Manager for Built-in Hot, and volume has grown by 64% since 2008 – a statistic that reveals the slow uptake the nigh-on thirty-year old category has experienced.

Baumatic Marketing Manager Rita Balestrazzi believes this “rocky start” was due to induction being unfairly saddled with the reputation of being costly and impractical, but maintains that consumers are now discovering that quite the opposite is true. Gorenje Sales &

power

“With space getting tighter and tighter in city dwellings, induction can keep small galley kitchens much cooler” Rita Balestrazzi, Marketing Manager, Baumatic

19JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

Marketing Director Bill Miller concurs: “Without a doubt, many consumers are awakening to the benefi ts of induction and making it their cooking method of choice,” he says. “As with all technology, it will take time to become fully accepted in all sectors of the market, but we believe an increasing number of consumers will choose induction, and in the future it will be the most popular cooking medium.”

Shifting trendsFurther evidence of the rise of induction is provided by De Dietrich Sales & Marketing Director Richard Walker, who points out that 2011 was the fi rst full year in which sales of electric hobs remained consistently higher than gas: “A trend which looks likely to continue as there is little doubt that these fi gures are due to the growing market for induction hobs,” he

comments, adding that DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Aff airs) predicts 80% of all electric hobs will be induction by 2020.

Walker also highlights the decline in the gas hob market, explaining that this is not only due to the rising retail cost of gas as a commodity, but also because of mandatory legislation requiring the additional cost of obligatory thermocouples and the pricey business of installation using a Gas Safe registered installer.

While many consumers remain convinced that gas is more controllable than other hob types, Walker believes that the understanding and awareness of induction is greater than ever before: “This is evident when we exhibit at consumer shows such as Grand Designs, and thanks not only in part to articles in the media but also to continued promotion both by manufacturers and retailers. It is only when induction is demonstrated that consumers realise the technology is faster, more controllable and, ultimately, safer than any other type of hob.”

Baumatic’s Balestrazzi touches on another means of consumer education on induction – that of social media. She cites the growth of retailers’ online help sites, blogs and forums as aiding awareness and understanding and believes this type of communication has helped the market to grow: “Consumers often feel prohibited from making in-store enquiries – not wanting to feel under pressure to make an

on-the-spot purchase – and on websites and blogs they are invited to post questions and learn more so they can make an informed purchasing decision. They also get to remain anonymous, so can ask all the questions they like, however silly their enquiries may seem.”

DemographicsIf social media – a growing part of the marketing mix – is helping to drive the uptake of induction, does this indicate a young demographic for the product? Samsung believes so. The company says that those currently buying into the technology are younger professionals with disposable income whose homes tend to be ultra-modern and kitted out with the latest chic appliances and furnishings.

“It cannot be denied that demographic factors can impact on the demand for certain

appliances,” says Gorenje Sales and Marketing Director Bill Miller. “Younger people in particular are more tech-savvy than ever before and will demand appliances that display advanced cooking innovation.” Miller adds that

homeowners improving their properties rather than risking a move in an unstable economic

climate are also interested in induction – the motive being the desire for superior products to “show off .”

Premium brand Miele has encountered no strong demographic in the market for induction. Kitchen Category Manager Neil Pooley says: “We have a range of customers who have purchased and are interested in induction hobs – from the accomplished chef to the fi rst-time buyer. Customers like the aesthetic qualities of induction hobs: they work fantastically well from a design point of view, are very easy to maintain and keep clean, and produce quick and eff ective results.”

Built-in cooking market leader Neff recounts a similar experience – the appeal and benefi ts of induction being universal. In particular, the responsiveness and ease of cleaning is proving

NEFF’S 90CM, 5ZONE FLEXINDUCTION HOB WITH CENTRAL 32CM TRIPLE ZONE

INDUCTION

power

“Extra-large and exible zones that can be merged or ‘joined up’ to cater for the largest pasta pan or sh kettle is becoming a key trend”Simona Bara, Whirlpool Product Manager, Built-in

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED20

to be a signifi cant consideration across all demographics, according to Mike Jarrett, who says: “One of the biggest negatives for normal ceramic hobs has been the lack of responsiveness compared with gas, while, on the other hand, gas is far more diffi cult to clean than ceramic. Induction off ers the best of both worlds and is more effi cient so, in my opinion, the only demographic that will infl uence this would be the ability to aff ord it and, away from demographics, the level of engagement with cooking as a whole.”

Price constraintsElaborating on the aff ordability of induction, Jarrett maintains that there will always be consumers for whom price is a prohibitive barrier. “This is true for all areas,” he remarks. “High defi nition, Smart internet large plasma TVs at £1,500 are going to be prohibitive for most customers, so why would induction be any diff erent? Smartphones and iPhone 4s carry a signifi cant price, and although most people understand the benefi ts and want to own one, for some, the price is prohibitive. This means that in situations where induction is being considered as a standalone purchase – i.e. replacing an existing hob – price is a signifi cant issue. Therefore, induction is proving increasingly successful in kitchen-related outlets and has yet to establish itself fully in replacement channels.”

“THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS”: WHIRPOOL’S AKT 477 HYBRID GAS AND INDUCTION HOB

AEG MaxiSense® induction hob with interactive MaxiSight™ TFT colour display This sleek, designer induction hob offers features that make it one of the most cutting-edge models available today. Its MaxiSight® and DirekTouch controls have been designed to interact smoothly and intuitively with consumers who demand complete and precise control over the cooking process.

The MaxiSight® TFT colour display is the rst colour TFT display for hobs in Europe and provides optimum visibility on all cooking functions via graphics that can be read at a glance. DirekTouch controls further enhance the precise temperature

control of induction cooking. The ne tuning is incredibly precise for cooking delicate sauces. Yet almost instant high heat means you can be ready to sear meat or sh in seconds.

Hk884400xg 80cm Maxisense TFT hobwww.aeg.co.ukTrade Sales Number 08445 610561

Miele’s Neil Pooley sees the ‘prohibitive price’ perception growing weaker, and this is supported by a number of commentators. It’s a “misconception,” says Baumatic’s Balestrazzi, “but the myth is gradually being dispelled.”

New World’s Brennan notes that, in early 2010, over 60% of induction hobs on the market exceeded the £500 price bracket, while Electrolux’s Davidson highlights the latest fi gures that show a 6% drop in average price, taking the category to sub-£500. So, as Indesit Advertising and Communications Manager Libby Morley points out, “the technology, once regarded as a high-end purchase, is now available to everyone, having benefi tted from the introduction of more cost-eff ective models from mass market brands.”

Smeg product development and training manager Joan Fraser acknowledges that the entry price-points have reduced considerably over the last fi ve years but maintains that purchasers are opting for induction as a premium alternative to traditional ceramic or gas. “Buyers are likely to be in the higher demographic groups and be aware of the benefi ts of cooking with induction,” she says. “Consequently, they will be more accepting of the higher price points.”

For Hoover Candy Marketing Director Steve Macdonald, the equation is quite straightforward: “The benefi ts often outweigh cost caution as they make up the diff erence in energy and time savings.”

Purchase barriersDespite heightened consumer awareness of the existence of induction hobs and the fall in entry-level price points, a number of stumbling blocks to purchase continue to bug the sector. Hotpoint Brand Director Ian Moverley believes that one of the reasons for the initial slow uptake is a perception that cooking habits need to

INDUCTION

21JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

change and a “whole load” of cooking equipment needs to be bought. And while older copper or aluminium pans won’t work on an induction hob, he is keen to point out that most new pans (even copper and aluminium ones) may well have some magnetic material introduced, at least into the base, specifi cally to make them compatible. “Otherwise,” he says, “cooking is as straightforward as it is with conventional gas and electric hobs.”

Moverley also notes that many consumers don’t appreciate the diff erence between induction and ceramic models: “All they see is black glass and a comparatively high price compared to ceramic hobs, and that’s why retailer advice and guidance is particularly important in this area.”

Demonstrating and communicating the well-documented benefi ts of induction appliances is clearly a must, but while Moverley believes that the technology itself needs to be explained, not all cooking brands agree. Simona Bara, Whirlpool Product Marketing Manager for Built-in, is adamant that understanding the technology and how it works is not a necessity for consumers. However, she stresses that it is essential for retailers to “defrag the jargon” and to relate the outstanding, hidden functionality to consumers’ lifestyles by showing them how well the technology works.

Steve Dickson, commercial manager for Belling and Stoves, agrees, believing that an explanation of how induction works can be daunting for consumers. “Most people,” he says, “unless they are science teachers, don’t deal with the concepts of vibrating iron molecules

AMICA INARI ‘OPEN ZONE’ INDUCTION HOB WITH TOUCH SLIDER CONTROL

and electromagnetic energy on a daily basis. However, when induction is demonstrated it never fails to impress in terms of speed, control and productivity, and people are almost always converted.”

“Seeing really is believing,” adds Hotpoint’s Moverley. “Having a working induction hob or demonstration video showing how induction cooking works, including all the safety aspects, will defi nitely help to sell the product.” Moverley’s opinion is endorsed by Smeg’s Fraser, who also recommends a live hob as the best means for demonstrating the speed and controllability of induction; however, she advises that “where it is not practical to have a hob fully operational, either for safety reasons or due to installation restrictions, a looped video showing various demonstrations is a helpful tool.”

Better the devil you know?Consumers are often wary about choosing new technologies, particularly if the benefi ts supposedly warranting a higher price tag are little understood, the result of which, says De Dietrich’s Walker, could lead people to lean towards a hob style that they are used to. And as Samsung

INDUCTION

“Easier to clean and faster, safer and more energy ef cient than standard electric hobs, induction is really taking off and can only grow in popularity”

Simon Freear, Country Manager, Amica UK

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED20

to be a signifi cant consideration across all demographics, according to Mike Jarrett, who says: “One of the biggest negatives for normal ceramic hobs has been the lack of responsiveness compared with gas, while, on the other hand, gas is far more diffi cult to clean than ceramic. Induction off ers the best of both worlds and is more effi cient so, in my opinion, the only demographic that will infl uence this would be the ability to aff ord it and, away from demographics, the level of engagement with cooking as a whole.”

Price constraintsElaborating on the aff ordability of induction, Jarrett maintains that there will always be consumers for whom price is a prohibitive barrier. “This is true for all areas,” he remarks. “High defi nition, Smart internet large plasma TVs at £1,500 are going to be prohibitive for most customers, so why would induction be any diff erent? Smartphones and iPhone 4s carry a signifi cant price, and although most people understand the benefi ts and want to own one, for some, the price is prohibitive. This means that in situations where induction is being considered as a standalone purchase – i.e. replacing an existing hob – price is a signifi cant issue. Therefore, induction is proving increasingly successful in kitchen-related outlets and has yet to establish itself fully in replacement channels.”

“THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS”: WHIRPOOL’S AKT 477 HYBRID GAS AND INDUCTION HOB

AEG MaxiSense® induction hob with interactive MaxiSight™ TFT colour display This sleek, designer induction hob offers features that make it one of the most cutting-edge models available today. Its MaxiSight® and DirekTouch controls have been designed to interact smoothly and intuitively with consumers who demand complete and precise control over the cooking process.

The MaxiSight® TFT colour display is the rst colour TFT display for hobs in Europe and provides optimum visibility on all cooking functions via graphics that can be read at a glance. DirekTouch controls further enhance the precise temperature

control of induction cooking. The ne tuning is incredibly precise for cooking delicate sauces. Yet almost instant high heat means you can be ready to sear meat or sh in seconds.

Hk884400xg 80cm Maxisense TFT hobwww.aeg.co.ukTrade Sales Number 08445 610561

Miele’s Neil Pooley sees the ‘prohibitive price’ perception growing weaker, and this is supported by a number of commentators. It’s a “misconception,” says Baumatic’s Balestrazzi, “but the myth is gradually being dispelled.”

New World’s Brennan notes that, in early 2010, over 60% of induction hobs on the market exceeded the £500 price bracket, while Electrolux’s Davidson highlights the latest fi gures that show a 6% drop in average price, taking the category to sub-£500. So, as Indesit Advertising and Communications Manager Libby Morley points out, “the technology, once regarded as a high-end purchase, is now available to everyone, having benefi tted from the introduction of more cost-eff ective models from mass market brands.”

Smeg product development and training manager Joan Fraser acknowledges that the entry price-points have reduced considerably over the last fi ve years but maintains that purchasers are opting for induction as a premium alternative to traditional ceramic or gas. “Buyers are likely to be in the higher demographic groups and be aware of the benefi ts of cooking with induction,” she says. “Consequently, they will be more accepting of the higher price points.”

For Hoover Candy Marketing Director Steve Macdonald, the equation is quite straightforward: “The benefi ts often outweigh cost caution as they make up the diff erence in energy and time savings.”

Purchase barriersDespite heightened consumer awareness of the existence of induction hobs and the fall in entry-level price points, a number of stumbling blocks to purchase continue to bug the sector. Hotpoint Brand Director Ian Moverley believes that one of the reasons for the initial slow uptake is a perception that cooking habits need to

INDUCTION

21JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

change and a “whole load” of cooking equipment needs to be bought. And while older copper or aluminium pans won’t work on an induction hob, he is keen to point out that most new pans (even copper and aluminium ones) may well have some magnetic material introduced, at least into the base, specifi cally to make them compatible. “Otherwise,” he says, “cooking is as straightforward as it is with conventional gas and electric hobs.”

Moverley also notes that many consumers don’t appreciate the diff erence between induction and ceramic models: “All they see is black glass and a comparatively high price compared to ceramic hobs, and that’s why retailer advice and guidance is particularly important in this area.”

Demonstrating and communicating the well-documented benefi ts of induction appliances is clearly a must, but while Moverley believes that the technology itself needs to be explained, not all cooking brands agree. Simona Bara, Whirlpool Product Marketing Manager for Built-in, is adamant that understanding the technology and how it works is not a necessity for consumers. However, she stresses that it is essential for retailers to “defrag the jargon” and to relate the outstanding, hidden functionality to consumers’ lifestyles by showing them how well the technology works.

Steve Dickson, commercial manager for Belling and Stoves, agrees, believing that an explanation of how induction works can be daunting for consumers. “Most people,” he says, “unless they are science teachers, don’t deal with the concepts of vibrating iron molecules

AMICA INARI ‘OPEN ZONE’ INDUCTION HOB WITH TOUCH SLIDER CONTROL

and electromagnetic energy on a daily basis. However, when induction is demonstrated it never fails to impress in terms of speed, control and productivity, and people are almost always converted.”

“Seeing really is believing,” adds Hotpoint’s Moverley. “Having a working induction hob or demonstration video showing how induction cooking works, including all the safety aspects, will defi nitely help to sell the product.” Moverley’s opinion is endorsed by Smeg’s Fraser, who also recommends a live hob as the best means for demonstrating the speed and controllability of induction; however, she advises that “where it is not practical to have a hob fully operational, either for safety reasons or due to installation restrictions, a looped video showing various demonstrations is a helpful tool.”

Better the devil you know?Consumers are often wary about choosing new technologies, particularly if the benefi ts supposedly warranting a higher price tag are little understood, the result of which, says De Dietrich’s Walker, could lead people to lean towards a hob style that they are used to. And as Samsung

INDUCTION

“Easier to clean and faster, safer and more energy ef cient than standard electric hobs, induction is really taking off and can only grow in popularity”

Simon Freear, Country Manager, Amica UK

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED22

Electronics notes, “consumers often like to stick to what they know.” But the Korean manufacturer believes that the main stumbling block to purchase is a simple one: “encouraging consumers to make the change.” In order to do this, Samsung says that time and resources need to be invested in education at the point of sale. “The technology is there to aid the customer’s life, be it saving them time and energy, or simply by creating a safer cooking environment.”

It is said that the most diffi cult consumers to convert to induction are those committed to gas, believing it to be faster, more controllable and, on the whole, more effi cient. But Baumatic’s Balestrazzi says that this is an easy assumption to prove wrong. “Induction has all the benefi ts of gas cooking, but with none of the drawbacks. Users can enjoy more power and control at their fi ngertips, as well as much faster cooking times.”

Nevertheless, retailers may fi nd it diffi cult to prise many gas users away from their comfort blanket and the theatre of the live fl ame, yet it is in addressing this challenge that the broad range of hob confi gurations can come in to play, off ering the reassurance of the traditional with the enticing and refreshing prospect of the new, diff erent and positively more inspiring cooking methods brought about by the range of cooktops now available.

While 60cm induction hobs remain the most popular size – up 27% year-on-year and representing 71% of the category in the last 12 months, according to Electrolux’s Davidson

– Whirlpool’s Bara sees an increasing number of hob shapes and sizes being enthusiastically adopted and notes that the brand off ers single zone models from 37cm wide to multiple-zone in a variety of layouts – single and hybrid mixed fuel – to provide “the best consumer choice.” For the majority of people, she suggests that the mixed fuel variety off ers “the best of both worlds,” allowing consumers to overcome any reticence as both fuels are available within the same hob. “The familiar and comforting gas fl ame enables the use of all their favourite pans and the latest induction technology off ers the energy effi cient and smarter technical advantages,” she comments.

Gorenje’s Miller agrees that mixed fuel hobs are the ideal stepping stone between gas and induction models, as the confi guration and its accompanying reduced price bracket means products are more accessible to consumers at the lower and middle sectors of the market. “Independent retailers should certainly consider them as an addition to their range,” he advises.

Neff ’s Mike Jarrett, on the other hand, is convinced that mixed fuel has limited appeal in the UK and recommends the brand’s domino range for maximum fl exibility and specialisation as it accommodates the linking of various cooktops with 60cm, 80cm or 90cm standard electric, gas and induction from the same design family.

Domino, or modular hobs as they are also known, provides the ultimate in versatility, catering for a diverse range of cooking methods,

THE IT6SYB INDUCTION HOB, FROM GORENJE’S SIMPLICITY RANGE

INDUCTION

“Panoramic hobs are incredibly eye-catching, yet with real bene ts from a safety and ergonomic aspect as well”Bill Miller, Sales and Marketing Director, Gorenje

23JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

CANDY’S C1640 CBA ‘PLUG & PLAY’ INDUCTION HOB

Style with sophisticated features Stoves Sterling SEH600iRX 60cm induction hob The Stoves SEH600iRX is a stylish 60cm induction hob that combines the speed, controllability and energy ef ciency of induction with the added bene t of familiar and intuitive rotary controls. With its ush- tting and clear 4-zone induction element layout, this is a hob with the looks and user-friendly features to create powerful consumer appeal.

It has power boost function on all four zones, the convenience of auto heat-up and ‘keep warm’ functions and pan detection technology.

Important safety features include child lock, pan overheat protection, safety shutdown and hob-hot indicators.

The rotary controls provide instant, precise adjustment, from the gentlest simmer to ultra-fast heat up, and its energy ef ciency outperforms both gas and traditional electric hobs.

Like all of GDHA’s induction products, it has the added advantage of being made in Britain.

and for those with the propensity to “show off ” their appliances – an earlier observation made by Gorenje’s Bill Miller – the opportunity to create a talking point along with a touch of drama. It is now possible to bring the outdoors in with a low-profi le stone grill – perfect for indoor barbecuing – or to incorporate a professional-style, inset deep fryer into modular confi gurations, these in addition to teppanyaki hobs, wok burners, both gas and induction, and traditional hob options.

FlexibilityRefl ecting on how trends have changed in the induction hob market over the past 25 years, De Dietrich’s Richard Walker highlights 2007 as a turning point, when the brand “heralded a new era” for the category. The year marked the launch of De Dietrich’s Continuum hobs – the fi rst to feature ‘zoneless’ cooking areas. It is a concept that has since been reproduced by a number of brands, some of which have assigned titles to such products to assist in conveying the advanced technology: Neff with FlexInduction and Samsung with its AnyPlace hob, for example.

But De Dietrich claims to have the “most advanced and versatile” zoneless product. In 2011, the brand launched the Piano induction hob. Positioned at the very top end of the market, the appliance features automatic pan detection across the entire cooking area, and as Walker explains, “it has been developed and designed to function using three simply defi ned cooking modes: Expert, Piano and Solo, and its Power Tracker function is so advanced that a pan can be lifted off the hob and re-sited anywhere on the cooking area, yet wherever it is moved to, the temperature will remain constant.”

Whirpool’s Bara comments that zoneless, being at the very top end of the market, “is for most, totally out of bounds.” But as Gorenje’s Bill

Miller points out, “it is likely that the technology will fi lter through to other price points over time.”

“Zoneless models will join most manufacturers’ ranges, if they haven’t done so already,” adds Smeg’s Joan Fraser.

The fi nal comment on the subject comes from Samsung, who believes that, “although still very much in its infancy, zoneless technology is extremely successful at engaging consumers as it demonstrates the unique benefi ts of induction cooking in an extremely visual way.”

INDUCTION

“Induction hobs are faster and safer than ceramic and gas. They are also 90% energy ef cient, as opposed to 50% for gas hobs”Libby Morley, Indesit Advertising and Communications Manager

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED22

Electronics notes, “consumers often like to stick to what they know.” But the Korean manufacturer believes that the main stumbling block to purchase is a simple one: “encouraging consumers to make the change.” In order to do this, Samsung says that time and resources need to be invested in education at the point of sale. “The technology is there to aid the customer’s life, be it saving them time and energy, or simply by creating a safer cooking environment.”

It is said that the most diffi cult consumers to convert to induction are those committed to gas, believing it to be faster, more controllable and, on the whole, more effi cient. But Baumatic’s Balestrazzi says that this is an easy assumption to prove wrong. “Induction has all the benefi ts of gas cooking, but with none of the drawbacks. Users can enjoy more power and control at their fi ngertips, as well as much faster cooking times.”

Nevertheless, retailers may fi nd it diffi cult to prise many gas users away from their comfort blanket and the theatre of the live fl ame, yet it is in addressing this challenge that the broad range of hob confi gurations can come in to play, off ering the reassurance of the traditional with the enticing and refreshing prospect of the new, diff erent and positively more inspiring cooking methods brought about by the range of cooktops now available.

While 60cm induction hobs remain the most popular size – up 27% year-on-year and representing 71% of the category in the last 12 months, according to Electrolux’s Davidson

– Whirlpool’s Bara sees an increasing number of hob shapes and sizes being enthusiastically adopted and notes that the brand off ers single zone models from 37cm wide to multiple-zone in a variety of layouts – single and hybrid mixed fuel – to provide “the best consumer choice.” For the majority of people, she suggests that the mixed fuel variety off ers “the best of both worlds,” allowing consumers to overcome any reticence as both fuels are available within the same hob. “The familiar and comforting gas fl ame enables the use of all their favourite pans and the latest induction technology off ers the energy effi cient and smarter technical advantages,” she comments.

Gorenje’s Miller agrees that mixed fuel hobs are the ideal stepping stone between gas and induction models, as the confi guration and its accompanying reduced price bracket means products are more accessible to consumers at the lower and middle sectors of the market. “Independent retailers should certainly consider them as an addition to their range,” he advises.

Neff ’s Mike Jarrett, on the other hand, is convinced that mixed fuel has limited appeal in the UK and recommends the brand’s domino range for maximum fl exibility and specialisation as it accommodates the linking of various cooktops with 60cm, 80cm or 90cm standard electric, gas and induction from the same design family.

Domino, or modular hobs as they are also known, provides the ultimate in versatility, catering for a diverse range of cooking methods,

THE IT6SYB INDUCTION HOB, FROM GORENJE’S SIMPLICITY RANGE

INDUCTION

“Panoramic hobs are incredibly eye-catching, yet with real bene ts from a safety and ergonomic aspect as well”Bill Miller, Sales and Marketing Director, Gorenje

23JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

CANDY’S C1640 CBA ‘PLUG & PLAY’ INDUCTION HOB

Style with sophisticated features Stoves Sterling SEH600iRX 60cm induction hob The Stoves SEH600iRX is a stylish 60cm induction hob that combines the speed, controllability and energy ef ciency of induction with the added bene t of familiar and intuitive rotary controls. With its ush- tting and clear 4-zone induction element layout, this is a hob with the looks and user-friendly features to create powerful consumer appeal.

It has power boost function on all four zones, the convenience of auto heat-up and ‘keep warm’ functions and pan detection technology.

Important safety features include child lock, pan overheat protection, safety shutdown and hob-hot indicators.

The rotary controls provide instant, precise adjustment, from the gentlest simmer to ultra-fast heat up, and its energy ef ciency outperforms both gas and traditional electric hobs.

Like all of GDHA’s induction products, it has the added advantage of being made in Britain.

and for those with the propensity to “show off ” their appliances – an earlier observation made by Gorenje’s Bill Miller – the opportunity to create a talking point along with a touch of drama. It is now possible to bring the outdoors in with a low-profi le stone grill – perfect for indoor barbecuing – or to incorporate a professional-style, inset deep fryer into modular confi gurations, these in addition to teppanyaki hobs, wok burners, both gas and induction, and traditional hob options.

FlexibilityRefl ecting on how trends have changed in the induction hob market over the past 25 years, De Dietrich’s Richard Walker highlights 2007 as a turning point, when the brand “heralded a new era” for the category. The year marked the launch of De Dietrich’s Continuum hobs – the fi rst to feature ‘zoneless’ cooking areas. It is a concept that has since been reproduced by a number of brands, some of which have assigned titles to such products to assist in conveying the advanced technology: Neff with FlexInduction and Samsung with its AnyPlace hob, for example.

But De Dietrich claims to have the “most advanced and versatile” zoneless product. In 2011, the brand launched the Piano induction hob. Positioned at the very top end of the market, the appliance features automatic pan detection across the entire cooking area, and as Walker explains, “it has been developed and designed to function using three simply defi ned cooking modes: Expert, Piano and Solo, and its Power Tracker function is so advanced that a pan can be lifted off the hob and re-sited anywhere on the cooking area, yet wherever it is moved to, the temperature will remain constant.”

Whirpool’s Bara comments that zoneless, being at the very top end of the market, “is for most, totally out of bounds.” But as Gorenje’s Bill

Miller points out, “it is likely that the technology will fi lter through to other price points over time.”

“Zoneless models will join most manufacturers’ ranges, if they haven’t done so already,” adds Smeg’s Joan Fraser.

The fi nal comment on the subject comes from Samsung, who believes that, “although still very much in its infancy, zoneless technology is extremely successful at engaging consumers as it demonstrates the unique benefi ts of induction cooking in an extremely visual way.”

INDUCTION

“Induction hobs are faster and safer than ceramic and gas. They are also 90% energy ef cient, as opposed to 50% for gas hobs”Libby Morley, Indesit Advertising and Communications Manager

GROWTH FROM KNOWLEDGE

Growth from Knowledge

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED24

2011 has been another successful year for the induction hob market. Following several years of consistent growth, the past twelve months have continued this positive trend, with sales up by 11% in volume and 7% in value. This growth means that the induction hobs category is now worth £28 million, and accounts for a quarter of all value sales within the built in hob category.

Heat turned down on induction hobs, but future remains bright

For further information please contact Richard Allen in the UK on +44 870 603 8124 or email richardp.allen@gfk.com www.gfkrt.com/uk

GfK. Growth from Knowledge

T he sales during the festive period (Dec10-Feb11) were infl uential towards the year’s performance, with

shoppers taking advantage of the New Year’s promotions, as well as the prolonged freeze on VAT off ered by many retailers. Sales during this period represented a 27% growth in value compared to the same period last year. Indeed, double digit growth was sustained up until May, before growth rates started to subside.

Benefi ts worth the priceWith an average price of £490 (Dec10-Nov11), over twice the market average, this poses the question as to why consumer demand continues to grow for this type of hob. The answer lies with its advanced heating technology.

Induction hobs are the most responsive form of cooking, giving the consumer a higher level of precision and control. The hobs are heated using an electromagnetic current, resulting in the heating process being almost twice as fast as traditional gas hobs. Temperatures can be changed instantly, providing a highly accurate cooking performance.

The use of a current also has substantial safety advantages. The electromagnetic current ensures that the heat is generated in the pan, rather than at the hob surface. This means the hob itself never becomes dangerously hot to touch, making them far safer within the family surroundings of the kitchen. This also makes them easier to clean as spillages don’t get burnt on top.

Induction hobs are also considerably more energy effi cient, consuming almost half the energy used by traditional gas hobs. With effi ciency becoming an ever increasing factor in domestic life, induction hobs will certainly attract interest from energy conscious consumers.

indicating the market is simply slowing down rather than in decline.

2012 could be a challenging year for many premium domestic appliances, and induction hobs will be no exception. A prolonged period of economic uncertainty could see consumers appear less willing to part so easily with their hard earned cash and look set to brace themselves for the tough times ahead.

Good longer-term prospectsThe long term future however, remains very optimistic, with sales of induction hobs set to challenge gas hobs in the forthcoming years. As we have already started to see, prices will continue to fall as they become more mainstream, helping them become more aff ordable to a wider audience. With greater emphasis placed on quality, energy effi ciency and safety within the home environment, it is surely only a matter of time before induction hobs, like electric hobs before them, start becoming a familiar sight within our kitchens.

Summer/Autumn setbackDespite these advantages, the tide seemed to turn fairly signifi cantly from August onwards, with each of the next four months recording a greater drop in sales than the last. This culminated in November value sales falling by 21% compared to November 2010. Few home appliance sectors have escaped price erosion, and induction hobs, despite strong resistance, has been forced to follow suit. Average prices fell below £450 for the fi rst time in November, putting a further strain on margins. That said, total value from Dec10-Nov11 has improved from the Dec09-Nov10 period,

INDUCTION HOBS: VALUE % GROWTH DEC ‘10 NOV ‘11

FROM THE BENCH

25JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

E-mail: fromthebench@gcmagazine.co.uk

Alan Bennett reports on the future of the UHF band after analogue shutdown

Digital dividend

I t’s not much of a dividend for TV viewers or dealers, but a super one for the Treasury and the mobile operators! It’s

been estimated that up to £3bn will change hands for a sizeable chunk of the UHF broadcast band hitherto used for analogue TV transmissions...

AuctionI shouldn’t be so cynical! The government

is strapped for cash and this should save

the taxpayer from having to stump up a like

amount, while 4G mobile communications,

the likely new use for the freed spectrum,

will bring many bene ts – with good value

because of competition in this eld – to

ordinary users, to industry and to the GDP. It

is just that whenever private and commercial

rms have nancial dealings with the

government they always seem to do better out

of it than the taxpayer: look at Northern Rock

and other banks, look at privately funded

hospitals and schools. The old UHF TV band

will have 128 MHz (channels 31-38 and 61-68)

extracted and auctioned to the highest bidder

later this year, leaving the rest, 66% of the

resource, for digital terrestrial television, i.e.

Freeview. It cannot be denied that the lost

spectrum would have afforded lots more SD

and/or several more HD channels; indeed the

lower chunk of the liberated (600 MHz) band

may still be used for TV – if the broadcasters

can outbid the phone companies!

The 800MHz band, UHF channels 61

upwards, is very attractive for 4G and similar

communications use because of its excellent

propagation characteristics in urban and

other environments; it’s good for mobile phone

use, and lends itself to such applications as

broadband internet traf c in place of xed wire

links, where it can offer speeds of 100-150Mb/s.

The frequencies in question are being released

throughout Europe, and this harmonisation has

bene ts in equipment costs and compatibility.

The nal UK analogue TV switch-off will be

on September 26 this year in the north-east of

England, and the auction will take place some

time after that, though it will take a year or more

to get the new systems up and running.

RetunesOne of the problems with the settling down

of the TV service into its new form will be the

need for retuning digital receivers in STB or

TV-integrated form. While late-model receivers

can automatically retune themselves as and

when necessary, the majority of existing ones

require manual retuning, and readers of this

magazine don’t need to be told how unable

the average viewer is to do this! Ofcom has

estimated that 7million homes will need to

retune as Freeview broadcasts are shuf ed

around during 2013, and more retunes could

become necessary further in the future,

especially in the south-east. Who will pick up

the tab for these? Not the mobile operators, so

far as can be seen at present.

InterferenceA big problem will arise with interference

to DTT broadcasts from mobiles and base

stations working in the same bands. The three

main interference modes are ‘power wipe-out’

(blocking), where a very strong local signal at

almost any frequency paralyses the receiver’s

rst ampli er stage; adjacent channel

interference, in which a medium to strong local

signal within a few channels of the wanted

broadcast frequency affects it to a greater

or lesser degree; and ‘image acceptance’,

whereby strong signals spaced 70MHz away

from the wanted carrier can break through

and cause mischief due to the superhet

operating mode of receivers. Of these the

biggest ashpoint is in the region of 790MHz,

where Freeview transmissions on Channel 60 –

and to a lesser extent channels 59 and 58 – are

received in dwellings close to communication

base stations working on or near Channel 61.

Here a guard-band just 1MHz wide will be

provided between the two, and no viably-

priced lters can fully separate them because

they do not have a steep enough attenuation

slope. They can help, but much depends on

the relative strength of the signals: worst case

is a weak Freeview broadcast signal and a

strong local communications carrier.

Ofcom has estimated that about 2million

people in 760,000 homes will be vulnerable

to TV interference, the majority (550,000) of

which work from communal aerials. The most

effective cures will be in-aerial-line lters at

home, costing about £20 million, £33 million

for tting. In some cases new Freeview boxes

will be needed at a cost, with installation etc,

of up to £200 in multi-screen homes. Where all

mitigation fails, about 30,000 homes, nding

no solution to the interference problem, will

be forced to migrate to a different platform:

satellite or cable. The total cost of solving the

interference problems has been estimated,

again by Ofcom, at about £100 million and

they say this should be borne by the licence

holders, the mobile communications/phone

companies. Hear hear! But this would reduce

the value of the deal, and at the time of

writing it’s not certain that this will be made

a condition of the licences.

Neighbourhood televisionAfter analogue shutdown there will be odd

gaps between DTT broadcast channels in

some areas, and these can be used for local

TV broadcasting. There are over 60 locations

with this potential, including many big cities.

See the Ofcom website at:

http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/localtv

GROWTH FROM KNOWLEDGE

Growth from Knowledge

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED24

2011 has been another successful year for the induction hob market. Following several years of consistent growth, the past twelve months have continued this positive trend, with sales up by 11% in volume and 7% in value. This growth means that the induction hobs category is now worth £28 million, and accounts for a quarter of all value sales within the built in hob category.

Heat turned down on induction hobs, but future remains bright

For further information please contact Richard Allen in the UK on +44 870 603 8124 or email richardp.allen@gfk.com www.gfkrt.com/uk

GfK. Growth from Knowledge

T he sales during the festive period (Dec10-Feb11) were infl uential towards the year’s performance, with

shoppers taking advantage of the New Year’s promotions, as well as the prolonged freeze on VAT off ered by many retailers. Sales during this period represented a 27% growth in value compared to the same period last year. Indeed, double digit growth was sustained up until May, before growth rates started to subside.

Benefi ts worth the priceWith an average price of £490 (Dec10-Nov11), over twice the market average, this poses the question as to why consumer demand continues to grow for this type of hob. The answer lies with its advanced heating technology.

Induction hobs are the most responsive form of cooking, giving the consumer a higher level of precision and control. The hobs are heated using an electromagnetic current, resulting in the heating process being almost twice as fast as traditional gas hobs. Temperatures can be changed instantly, providing a highly accurate cooking performance.

The use of a current also has substantial safety advantages. The electromagnetic current ensures that the heat is generated in the pan, rather than at the hob surface. This means the hob itself never becomes dangerously hot to touch, making them far safer within the family surroundings of the kitchen. This also makes them easier to clean as spillages don’t get burnt on top.

Induction hobs are also considerably more energy effi cient, consuming almost half the energy used by traditional gas hobs. With effi ciency becoming an ever increasing factor in domestic life, induction hobs will certainly attract interest from energy conscious consumers.

indicating the market is simply slowing down rather than in decline.

2012 could be a challenging year for many premium domestic appliances, and induction hobs will be no exception. A prolonged period of economic uncertainty could see consumers appear less willing to part so easily with their hard earned cash and look set to brace themselves for the tough times ahead.

Good longer-term prospectsThe long term future however, remains very optimistic, with sales of induction hobs set to challenge gas hobs in the forthcoming years. As we have already started to see, prices will continue to fall as they become more mainstream, helping them become more aff ordable to a wider audience. With greater emphasis placed on quality, energy effi ciency and safety within the home environment, it is surely only a matter of time before induction hobs, like electric hobs before them, start becoming a familiar sight within our kitchens.

Summer/Autumn setbackDespite these advantages, the tide seemed to turn fairly signifi cantly from August onwards, with each of the next four months recording a greater drop in sales than the last. This culminated in November value sales falling by 21% compared to November 2010. Few home appliance sectors have escaped price erosion, and induction hobs, despite strong resistance, has been forced to follow suit. Average prices fell below £450 for the fi rst time in November, putting a further strain on margins. That said, total value from Dec10-Nov11 has improved from the Dec09-Nov10 period,

INDUCTION HOBS: VALUE % GROWTH DEC ‘10 NOV ‘11

FROM THE BENCH

25JAN/FEB 2012 GET CONNECTED

E-mail: fromthebench@gcmagazine.co.uk

Alan Bennett reports on the future of the UHF band after analogue shutdown

Digital dividend

I t’s not much of a dividend for TV viewers or dealers, but a super one for the Treasury and the mobile operators! It’s

been estimated that up to £3bn will change hands for a sizeable chunk of the UHF broadcast band hitherto used for analogue TV transmissions...

AuctionI shouldn’t be so cynical! The government

is strapped for cash and this should save

the taxpayer from having to stump up a like

amount, while 4G mobile communications,

the likely new use for the freed spectrum,

will bring many bene ts – with good value

because of competition in this eld – to

ordinary users, to industry and to the GDP. It

is just that whenever private and commercial

rms have nancial dealings with the

government they always seem to do better out

of it than the taxpayer: look at Northern Rock

and other banks, look at privately funded

hospitals and schools. The old UHF TV band

will have 128 MHz (channels 31-38 and 61-68)

extracted and auctioned to the highest bidder

later this year, leaving the rest, 66% of the

resource, for digital terrestrial television, i.e.

Freeview. It cannot be denied that the lost

spectrum would have afforded lots more SD

and/or several more HD channels; indeed the

lower chunk of the liberated (600 MHz) band

may still be used for TV – if the broadcasters

can outbid the phone companies!

The 800MHz band, UHF channels 61

upwards, is very attractive for 4G and similar

communications use because of its excellent

propagation characteristics in urban and

other environments; it’s good for mobile phone

use, and lends itself to such applications as

broadband internet traf c in place of xed wire

links, where it can offer speeds of 100-150Mb/s.

The frequencies in question are being released

throughout Europe, and this harmonisation has

bene ts in equipment costs and compatibility.

The nal UK analogue TV switch-off will be

on September 26 this year in the north-east of

England, and the auction will take place some

time after that, though it will take a year or more

to get the new systems up and running.

RetunesOne of the problems with the settling down

of the TV service into its new form will be the

need for retuning digital receivers in STB or

TV-integrated form. While late-model receivers

can automatically retune themselves as and

when necessary, the majority of existing ones

require manual retuning, and readers of this

magazine don’t need to be told how unable

the average viewer is to do this! Ofcom has

estimated that 7million homes will need to

retune as Freeview broadcasts are shuf ed

around during 2013, and more retunes could

become necessary further in the future,

especially in the south-east. Who will pick up

the tab for these? Not the mobile operators, so

far as can be seen at present.

InterferenceA big problem will arise with interference

to DTT broadcasts from mobiles and base

stations working in the same bands. The three

main interference modes are ‘power wipe-out’

(blocking), where a very strong local signal at

almost any frequency paralyses the receiver’s

rst ampli er stage; adjacent channel

interference, in which a medium to strong local

signal within a few channels of the wanted

broadcast frequency affects it to a greater

or lesser degree; and ‘image acceptance’,

whereby strong signals spaced 70MHz away

from the wanted carrier can break through

and cause mischief due to the superhet

operating mode of receivers. Of these the

biggest ashpoint is in the region of 790MHz,

where Freeview transmissions on Channel 60 –

and to a lesser extent channels 59 and 58 – are

received in dwellings close to communication

base stations working on or near Channel 61.

Here a guard-band just 1MHz wide will be

provided between the two, and no viably-

priced lters can fully separate them because

they do not have a steep enough attenuation

slope. They can help, but much depends on

the relative strength of the signals: worst case

is a weak Freeview broadcast signal and a

strong local communications carrier.

Ofcom has estimated that about 2million

people in 760,000 homes will be vulnerable

to TV interference, the majority (550,000) of

which work from communal aerials. The most

effective cures will be in-aerial-line lters at

home, costing about £20 million, £33 million

for tting. In some cases new Freeview boxes

will be needed at a cost, with installation etc,

of up to £200 in multi-screen homes. Where all

mitigation fails, about 30,000 homes, nding

no solution to the interference problem, will

be forced to migrate to a different platform:

satellite or cable. The total cost of solving the

interference problems has been estimated,

again by Ofcom, at about £100 million and

they say this should be borne by the licence

holders, the mobile communications/phone

companies. Hear hear! But this would reduce

the value of the deal, and at the time of

writing it’s not certain that this will be made

a condition of the licences.

Neighbourhood televisionAfter analogue shutdown there will be odd

gaps between DTT broadcast channels in

some areas, and these can be used for local

TV broadcasting. There are over 60 locations

with this potential, including many big cities.

See the Ofcom website at:

http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/localtv

BACKCHAT

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED26

He is enthusiastic about good food, and balances that with an enjoyment of running. He’s optimistic and truthful, likes animals (as long as they’re well cooked!), and admits to a dislike of getting up in the morning. He could see himself as the magical master of his own enchanted island. Vince Tseng is managing director of warranty provider SquareTrade Limited.

Why did you choose to work in the electrical industry? I saw a tremendous opportunity in the extended warranty industry – lots of money being made, but with tons of consumer unhappiness. It was an industry ripe for innovation

Who in the industry would you like to spend time with? Jonathan Ive [senior VP of design at Apple, and recently honoured with a knighthood], who designs the most beautiful devices in the world

Who makes you laugh? Ricky Gervais

What was the greatest turning point in your life? Living and working in London as a student back in 1997

Hobbies? I run to eat, and I eat to run

What’s the worst lie you’ve ever told?I’ve never told any lies(!)

What’s your greatest regret? Not having learned to read and write proper Chinese

How would you describe yourself? An optimist

How do you think others see you? Hopefully as an optimist

What’s your pet hate? Restaurants that serve stale bread

Any bad habits? Hitting the snooze button for an hour in the morning

If you weren’t in your present position, what job would you choose to do? Food Critic for the New York Times

What’s your favourite TV programme? QI – Quite Interesting

What surprises you? The depths of human ignorance and human kindness

Favourite cuisine? The good kind. Anything from a great falafel to 3-star Michelin

You have been off ered a leading role in a fi lm of your choice. What character would you like to play? Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest

You have been off ered the opportunity to rule the world for a day. What would be the fi rst change you would make? Implement a worldwide carbon tax and trading scheme

Is there anything about yourself that you would like to change? I’d like to be able to sleep less. I’m one of those people who gets very grumpy without 8 hours of sleep a night!

Do you have any hidden talents? Many. But if I told them, they wouldn’t be hidden any more, would they?

Any particular fetishes? Great musicians

What would you put into Room 101?The wing of American politics that needs to be straitjacketed and put in a padded room

What’s your greatest achievement? Developing the idea for a warranty business and watching it transform into a wildly successful business

What sort of music do you like? Everything from Shostakovich to Fleet Foxes to German techno

Favourite quote? “Without music, life would be an error” – Friedrich Nietschze

Who has been the greatest infl uence in your life? My parents

Name your poison Aspall cyder in the summer, High West Bourbon Rye in the winter

What do you daydream about? Scoring the winning goal in the World Cup

Favourite holiday destination?Kauai, Hawaii

Independent Electrical retailer:“While it’s great to read about the ‘next big things’ being shown at CES in Las Vegas, I’ve been sitting here in my shop hoping there’ll be new things for me to sell that won’t be cheap as chips (and I don’t mean the kind you get in Vegas) six months after I’ve got them on the shelf.”

White goods manufacturer:“It’s a great pity that all the journalists rush to report on the latest CE gadgets and gizmos at CES, and still ignore the much more pro table and equally technologically exciting major domestic appliances that are now part of the Las Vegas show.”

What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?Once got trapped in a crowded lift with a claustrophobic man who started screaming and then hyperventilating, which set off everyone else in a fi t of screaming and hyperventilating. (We were on the ground fl oor)

What’s the best kind of punishment….?Execution, being hacked to bits, then being doused in hot oil

…and who deserves it? Tasty animals

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?Qualifying for the Boston Marathon

What’s your greatest fear?That the polar ice caps will melt, and all the great cities on Earth will be just underwater piles of concrete and steel

Whom do you most admire? Franklin D Roosevelt

What’s your favourite piece of kit? My iPad 2

What motto do you live by?Give to the world and you shall in turn receive

Tomorrow I will…….Hit the snooze button for an hour.

Check out our new website: www.dad-online.co.ukEmail us today for your log in details so you can take advantage

of the new site!

P Live Stock Levels

P New Ordering System

P Wider Range of Products

P New Weekly Offers

P Downloadable Special Offer Sheets

P Downloadable Shop Floor Specials

TEl: 0844 854 6715

Domestic Appliance Distributors, Henry John House, Northway Lane, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 8JH

Open 6 days a week

Domestic Appliance Distributors are your home goods specialist. We are a major distributor of domestic appliances and electronic goods throughout the UK. It is our job to bring you the newest appliances at the lowest prices.

We stock the latest brands and continue to offer expert and friendly advice to our customers. We pride ourselves with offering the best prices with the best service.

Email our web team on webenquiries@dad-online.co.ukAnd check us out on

We bring you the lowestprices

BACKCHAT

JAN/FEB 2012GET CONNECTED26

He is enthusiastic about good food, and balances that with an enjoyment of running. He’s optimistic and truthful, likes animals (as long as they’re well cooked!), and admits to a dislike of getting up in the morning. He could see himself as the magical master of his own enchanted island. Vince Tseng is managing director of warranty provider SquareTrade Limited.

Why did you choose to work in the electrical industry? I saw a tremendous opportunity in the extended warranty industry – lots of money being made, but with tons of consumer unhappiness. It was an industry ripe for innovation

Who in the industry would you like to spend time with? Jonathan Ive [senior VP of design at Apple, and recently honoured with a knighthood], who designs the most beautiful devices in the world

Who makes you laugh? Ricky Gervais

What was the greatest turning point in your life? Living and working in London as a student back in 1997

Hobbies? I run to eat, and I eat to run

What’s the worst lie you’ve ever told?I’ve never told any lies(!)

What’s your greatest regret? Not having learned to read and write proper Chinese

How would you describe yourself? An optimist

How do you think others see you? Hopefully as an optimist

What’s your pet hate? Restaurants that serve stale bread

Any bad habits? Hitting the snooze button for an hour in the morning

If you weren’t in your present position, what job would you choose to do? Food Critic for the New York Times

What’s your favourite TV programme? QI – Quite Interesting

What surprises you? The depths of human ignorance and human kindness

Favourite cuisine? The good kind. Anything from a great falafel to 3-star Michelin

You have been off ered a leading role in a fi lm of your choice. What character would you like to play? Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest

You have been off ered the opportunity to rule the world for a day. What would be the fi rst change you would make? Implement a worldwide carbon tax and trading scheme

Is there anything about yourself that you would like to change? I’d like to be able to sleep less. I’m one of those people who gets very grumpy without 8 hours of sleep a night!

Do you have any hidden talents? Many. But if I told them, they wouldn’t be hidden any more, would they?

Any particular fetishes? Great musicians

What would you put into Room 101?The wing of American politics that needs to be straitjacketed and put in a padded room

What’s your greatest achievement? Developing the idea for a warranty business and watching it transform into a wildly successful business

What sort of music do you like? Everything from Shostakovich to Fleet Foxes to German techno

Favourite quote? “Without music, life would be an error” – Friedrich Nietschze

Who has been the greatest infl uence in your life? My parents

Name your poison Aspall cyder in the summer, High West Bourbon Rye in the winter

What do you daydream about? Scoring the winning goal in the World Cup

Favourite holiday destination?Kauai, Hawaii

Independent Electrical retailer:“While it’s great to read about the ‘next big things’ being shown at CES in Las Vegas, I’ve been sitting here in my shop hoping there’ll be new things for me to sell that won’t be cheap as chips (and I don’t mean the kind you get in Vegas) six months after I’ve got them on the shelf.”

White goods manufacturer:“It’s a great pity that all the journalists rush to report on the latest CE gadgets and gizmos at CES, and still ignore the much more pro table and equally technologically exciting major domestic appliances that are now part of the Las Vegas show.”

What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?Once got trapped in a crowded lift with a claustrophobic man who started screaming and then hyperventilating, which set off everyone else in a fi t of screaming and hyperventilating. (We were on the ground fl oor)

What’s the best kind of punishment….?Execution, being hacked to bits, then being doused in hot oil

…and who deserves it? Tasty animals

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?Qualifying for the Boston Marathon

What’s your greatest fear?That the polar ice caps will melt, and all the great cities on Earth will be just underwater piles of concrete and steel

Whom do you most admire? Franklin D Roosevelt

What’s your favourite piece of kit? My iPad 2

What motto do you live by?Give to the world and you shall in turn receive

Tomorrow I will…….Hit the snooze button for an hour.

Check out our new website: www.dad-online.co.ukEmail us today for your log in details so you can take advantage

of the new site!

P Live Stock Levels

P New Ordering System

P Wider Range of Products

P New Weekly Offers

P Downloadable Special Offer Sheets

P Downloadable Shop Floor Specials

TEl: 0844 854 6715

Domestic Appliance Distributors, Henry John House, Northway Lane, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 8JH

Open 6 days a week

Domestic Appliance Distributors are your home goods specialist. We are a major distributor of domestic appliances and electronic goods throughout the UK. It is our job to bring you the newest appliances at the lowest prices.

We stock the latest brands and continue to offer expert and friendly advice to our customers. We pride ourselves with offering the best prices with the best service.

Email our web team on webenquiries@dad-online.co.ukAnd check us out on

We bring you the lowestprices

100 years at the heart of great British cooking.Founded in 1912 by a pioneering engineer, Belling has been at the heart of British cooking for 100 years, producing uniquely British products for British cooks which are manufactured right here in the UK. Join us for a year of celebrations to mark our centenary.

Here’s to 2012, the year of Belling. www.belling.co.uk

16874 Belling 100yrs Connected 230x160.indd 1 13/1/12 16:36:05

TV IN 2012 With CES in Las Vegas producing some Smart developments, 3D ideas, big screens, impressive new OLED products and fresh, fi ne designs, George Cole looks at the prospects for retailers in this core Consumer Electronics sector

INDUCTION HOBSInduction has been a slow-burn proposition in the UK, but its benefi ts in style, convenience, controllability and energy effi ciency are being increasingly appreciated by UK consumers, and lower prices are drawing the technology into the mainstream

GROWTH FROM KNOWLEDGEGfK’s factual look at the UK induction hobs market

FROM THE BENCHAlan Bennett considers the “digital dividend” as analogue fades

BACKCHATSquareTrade’s Vince Tseng gives a 2-minute interview

w w w. g c m a g a z i n e . c o . u kJ A N / F E B 2 0 1 2