Panasonic Corp. reported that its Appliances business segment saw a 10% sales increase in its just-ended fiscal year. Appliances business sales ended fiscal 2014 with sales of 1,196.6 billion yen (approx. USD $11.7 billion), up from 1,089.4 billion yen in the previous fiscal year.
Servis
Domestic appliance brand Servis has launched its first ever fully responsive website which is available to view across all devices, including smart phones and tablets.
The website has reportedly been designed to appeal to all consumers, ‘from the kitchen design enthusiast to the reluctant home maker’. It highlights the ‘most important user-benefits in easy-to-follow points that can be read at a glance’ and includes an interactive product wizard. This requires consumers to answer a few yes/no questions before directing them to their ‘ideal washing machine’ based on their responses. The site also comes with a stockist locator, enabling consumers to search for stores in their local area.
The website includes a social hub, in which consumers can connect with Servis via its new Facebook and Twitter pages. There is also a media centre, blog section and regular competitions.
Of the new Servis online platform, Servis category manager Simon Hedges commented: “We’re delighted to be launching a website on which consumers can so easily engage with our brand. Servis is all about catering to the real needs and desires of UK consumers, so it is only fitting that we have an online platform that has been especially designed with them in mind.”
UK manufactured washing machine.
This year, Ebac will launch the only UK manufactured washing machine. We will keep you updated.
Baumatic
Hoover Candy has restarted the production of Baumatic products and is rebuilding its customer base in the UK
Hoover Candy saved Baumatic from administration when it acquired all rights to stock and intellectual property for just £970,000 in November last year.
BSH
Munich-based appliance maker BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH reported preliminary 2013 full-year revenue of EUR 10.5 billion, up 7% from 2012.
BSH had double-digit growth in the United States and in China in 2013 and was able to extend its market position in Europe. BSH said 2013’s record-setting revenue cements its position as the third-largest global appliance maker (after No. 1 Whirlpool Corp., based in the United States, and No. 2 Electrolux, based in Sweden).
Iceland return to appliance sales
Frozen food supermarket chain Iceland has launched a new online white goods store in partnership with DRL, the parent company of AO.com (Appliances Online).
Iceland Appliances, which can be accessed viawww.iceland.co.uk , offers more than 2,800 products from 29 major brands, with a Price Match guarantee backed by daily checking of more than 25,000 prices against its competitors.
Customers can order up to midnight for next-day delivery – deliveries will be made nationwide, seven days a week. An Iceland Appliances call centre in Bolton, Lancashire, will be responsible for customer service. Staff aim to answer calls within 20 seconds and lines are open from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.
Britannia
Chris Honer, the former sales and marketing director for appliance manufacturer Britannia, has been promoted to managing director.Mr Honer, who has worked at the company for the past 18 months, brings over 25 years’ experience to the role. He said: “This is a significant time and very exciting time for the business. I am looking forward to managing the team to deliver some fantastic business results and continuing to develop the Britannia brand.”Britannia Living is a division of Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA).
Haier has pulled out of the joint venture agreement
News has reached us today that Haier has pulled out of the joint venture agreement that it had entered with Fagor for a new factory in Poland due to Fagor’s current bankruptcy.
De Longhi 9-Month Revenues Up 5%
De’Longhi SpA’s third quarter 2013 revenues reached EUR 367.2 million (+6.6%), from EUR 344.4 million in the third quarter of 2012.
Higher nine-month revenues came thanks, in part, to the consolidation of Braun Household.
De’Longhi saw strong nine-month performance from Kenwood-brand kitchen machines. Hand blenders were also strong, benefitting significantly from the Braun contribution.
Espresso coffee makers sales were slightly negative in the first nine months, both fully automatic coffee makers and Nespresso capsules machines. Dolce Gusto coffee makers showed growth in the first nine months, thanks in part to new market launches.
Portable heaters sales were negative in the first nine months
