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Latest News [2009] archive from April 2009
| DSGi seeks £311m to boost finances
The owner of Currys and PC World has called on investors for £311 million to help it bolster its finances and revamp stores. | |
| Indesit helps to ease one of Britain’s biggest home life irritations
Hotpoint, Indesit or Cannon customers requiring maintenance will no longer have to hear that the engineer will arrive at an “am” or “pm” slot and confine them to spending at least half a day indoors waiting for the doorbell to ring. | |
| Sky profits up, thanks to new HD customers
BSkyB has announced a profit gain in the last quarter, driven by more customers signing up for its high-definition digital services. | |
| Sky to offer extended "green button" ads
Satellite broadcaster Sky is to offer advertisers the chance to show extended advertisements with viewers able to access the additional content via the green button on their handsets. 29 April 2009 | |
| DSGi to seek rights issue?
DSG International is said to be getting ready to raise around £300 million from a rights issue, according to a report in the Financial Times. | |
| Profits down 24% at Home Retail Group
Home Retail Group, owner of high-street catalogue retailer Argos and DIY chain Homebase, saw its benchmark pre-tax profits fall 24 per cent to £328 million in the 52 weeks to February 28. | |
| Retail sales rise in April
UK retail sales remained broadly flat in the year to April, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), although there was a slight rise last month, reported to be the highest since January last year. | |
| Sennheiser supports International Noise Awareness Day
Premium headphone and audio brand Sennheiser has announced its support for International Noise Awareness Day on April 29. | |
| Internet TVs could give indies an advantage, says Samsung boss
Internet enabled flat-screen TVs could give independent retailers the upper hand over the multiples, providing they are sold and installed correctly, according to Samsung’s vice president of consumer electronics, Andy Griffiths. | |
| Chipmakers confirm merger talks
Japanese chipmakers NEC Electronics and Renesas Technology confirmed today they are to enter into negotiations about integrating their business operations. 27 April 2009 | |
| The rise of the netbook market
The netbook market is set to grow, at the detriment of the traditional PC market, according to Simon Turner, the former managing director of PC World. | |
| Retra president “unashamedly optimistic”
Retra president Robert Hughes has told members of the electrical retailers’ association that he is “unashamedly optimistic” about the future. | |
| Retra disappointed with Budget
Disappointing is how electrical retailers' association Retra described Chancellor Alistair Darling's Budget. 27 April 2009 | |
| Toshiba ends TV production at Plymouth
Toshiba today told staff at its Ernesettle plant in Plymouth (pictured) that it is stopping all flat-screen TV production at the site, resulting in the loss of 270 jobs. 24 April 2009 | |
| Samsung profits fall 72 per cent
Samsung Electronics saw its net profits slump 72 per cent in the first quarter to Won 619 billion (around £316.4 million) from Won 2.2 trillion a year ago. 24 April 2009 | |
| Weekly sales fall at John Lewis
Department store group John Lewis has reported an 11.6 per cent cent drop in weekly trading. 24 April 2009 | |
| Humax launches new service for independent retailers
Humax, the digital TV recorder and set-top box manufacturer, has announced the launch of Humax Trade, a new initiative to support independent retailers across the UK. | |
| Profits rise at Debenhams
Department store group Debenhams has posted an 11.1 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £102.2 million in the 26 weeks to February 28. 23 April 2009 | |
| Carphone Warehouse to split retail and telecoms into two companies
Carphone Warehouse has confirmed it is to split its retail and telecoms businesses to create two separately listed companies. 23 April 2009 | |
| One-off charges push Electrolux into Skr 346m loss
Swedish appliance maker Electrolux reported a first-quarter net loss of SKr 346 million (around £28.3m) but this was down to one-off marketing costs and restructuring charges totalling SKr 424m for reducing manufacturing capacity in Italy, Russia and China. 23 April 2009 | |
| Budget a two-fingered salute to next government says think tank
The Chancellor's Budget was a two-fingered salute to the next government that will damage the economy long term, a leading economic think tank has warned. 23 April 2009 | |
| Internet radio search engine brand launches into CE sector
After putting on hold plans to spearhead its launch into consumer electronics with an internet radio, Radiopaq has decided instead to enter the UK brown goods sector this month with a four-model range of advanced technology earphones. | |
| Mixed reaction to "Budget for Jobs"
Trade and industry reaction to Mr Darling's Budget has been mixed. 22 April 2009 | |
| Chancellor confirms trade credit insurance top-up
The Government has confirmed that it is to set up a top-up trade credit insurance scheme to support companies' cash flow. 22 April 2009 | |
| Game notches up record sales and profits
Record results unveiled today by video games retailer Game show the sector is bucking the recession. 22 April 2009 | |
| Switchover completes in South Devon today
Freeview coverage will be available to all households served by the Beacon Hill transmitter group as the final stage of digital TV switchover completes today in Torbay and south Devon. 22 April 2009 | |
| RPI falls below zero
The Retail Prices Index (RPI) fell into negative territory in March, down from zero per cent in February to -0.4 per cent. 21 April 2009 | |
| Boxer pulls out of Irish digital terrestrial TV
Boxer, the Swedish consortium that won the race to operate three Irish terrestrial digital TV multiplexes last July, has withdrawn its bid. 21 April 2009 | |
| Beko announces move into built-in
Freestanding appliance manufacturer Beko has unveiled its first ever fully coordinated built-in collection at a special key dealer and customer event in Istanbul, Turkey. | |
| Tesco profits hit £3bn
Tesco has reported underlying annual pre-tax profits of £3.1 billion, up 10 per cent on the previous year. | |
| NHK World TV to launch on Freesat
Freesat, has announced that international news service NHK World TV, will on launch on its platform tomorrow (Tuesday). | |
| The worst could be over says CBI
The worst of the recession could be over, said the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). 20 April 2009 | |
| Best Buy to open 30 UK stores next spring
Best Buy is to open around 30 UK outlets along with its UK website next spring. 20 April 2009 | |
| BRC in credit insurance plea to Government
Retail chiefs are calling on the Government, ahead of next week's Budget, to provide top-up credit insurance cover up to the level that private insurers are prepared to offer. 17 April 2009 | |
| John Lewis reports strongest sales week
Department store group John Lewis has reported its strongest week of the year so far, with sales dipping by only 1.5 per cent. 17 April 2009 | |
| Recession hits mobile phone makers
The recession is taking its toll in the mobile phone market. 17 April 2009 | |
| Panasonic claims HD demonstrations are key
Demonstration is the key to successful selling of Panasonic’s new Blu-Ray recorders, launched as part of its new ‘HD Everything’ concept. | |
| Chipmakers in merger talks
Japanese chipmakers NEC Electronics and Renesas Technology are reported to be in the final stages of merger talks. 16 April 2009 | |
| High street sales still struggling
Like-for-like retail sales fell 1.2 per cent last month compared with the same period a year ago. 16 April 2009 | |
| Deadline extended for instore battery collections
Retail chiefs are relieved that the requirement for shops to collect used batteries has been put back a month to February 1 next year. 15 April 2009 | |
| Frontier Silicon to offer Last.fm services for CE products
Frontier Silicon, a chief supplier of connected audio technology, has announced that it has become the latest chipset technology platform provider to partner with Last.fm for its internet radio service. | |
| Co-op launches online TV channel
The Co-operative Group has launched its own online TV channel. 15 April 2009 | |
| Lord Mandelson to speak at BRC dinner
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is to be the keynote speaker at the annual retail industry dinner organised by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) in partnership with MasterCard Europe. 14 April 2009 | |
| Philips reports a €74 million loss for the first quarter
Philips has reported a loss of €74 million before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITA) for the first quarter of 2009. | |
| Hughes Electrical acquires eight Apollo 2000 stores
Hughes Electrical has revealed plans to expand into the Midlands, with the purchase of eight Apollo 2000 stores. | |
| John Lewis sees sales slump
Department store group John Lewis saw year-on-year sales slump by 6.7 per cent in the week to April 4. 09 April 2009 | |
| Bank of England holds rates
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5 per cent. 09 April 2009 | |
| Shoppers return to UK high streets
The slump in high street sales could be coming to an end said a leading retail commentator. 09 April 2009 | |
| Which? encourages shoppers to haggle
Shoppers are being encouraged to haggle with shopkeepers for bargains this Bank Holiday weekend. 09 April 2009 | |
| LG unveils its first Freesat TV
LG has launched its first TV with built-in Freesat - the LF7700 Freesat LCD TV is available from this month in screen sizes from 32in to 47in. | |
| Robert Dyas rescued in management buyout
High street hardware chain Robert Dyas has been rescued in a management buyout. 08 April 2009 | |
| Whirlpool to close Shanghai washing machine factory
Whirlpool is to close its washing machine factory in Shanghai, China, with the loss of around 600 jobs. 08 April 2009 | |
| West Country digital TV switchover begins
Analogue BBC Two was permanently turned off at transmitters across Torbay and South Devon this morning as digital TV switchover got under way in the West Country. 08 April 2009 | |
| Best Buy promises UK retail revolution
US electrical retail leader Best Buy maintained that it will "completely revolutionise" the UK's consumer electronics market when it makes its belated entry on to Britain's retail scene next year. 08 April 2009 | |
| Government steps up campaign on carrier bags
With research showing that UK shoppers use 13,000 carrier bags in their lifetimes, the Government and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have launched a "Get a bag habit" campaign. 08 April 2009 | |
| Price deflation slows in electricals
Year-on-year prices of electrical goods fell 3.7 per cent in March, new figures show. 08 April 2009 | |
| One per cent fall for UK GDP in first quarter
UK gross domestic product (GDP) fell by one per cent in the first quarter of this year according to a study by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and is expected to shrink by more than three per cent during the year as a whole. 08 April 2009 | |
| iPhone and iPod Touch users can now record Sky+ through their phones
The iTunes website is offering an application that allows iPhone and iPod Touch customers to set up Sky+ recordings from their mobile phones. 07 April 2009 | |
| Millions fear losing their jobs, according to Asda survey
A nationwide poll conducted by Asda has revealed millions of people fear losing their jobs in the next six months, with many ready and willing to take a pay cut or reduced hours to prevent being made unemployed. | |
| KitchenAid commemorates 90th anniversary of Stand Mixer
America’s iconic KitchenAid brand has celebrated 90 years of its KitchenAid Stand Mixer with a limited edition coloured Candy Apple version. | |
| Switchover mayhem on Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight residents have been left with blank or crackly TV screens following the digital switchover. | |
| LG puts Dirt Compression technology into an upright
LG has launched the first upright vacuum cleaner to include its Dirt Compression technology. | |
| Stars are on the ball for Sony sports pub
Celebrities including Jaime Winstone, Alfie Allen, Chloe Madeley, Ralf Little, Will Mellor and Sarah Cawood turned up the watch the England versus Ukraine football World Cup qualifier match in HD at the recent launch of Sony’s pub.like.no.other – the Sports Bar & Grill Marylebone (www.sportsbarandgrill.co.uk) in London. | |
| Argos launches entertainment website
High street catalogue retailer Argos has launched an entertainment website. 03 April 2009 | |
| Anger as Government backtracks on bid to cut red tape
In a move condemned by business leaders, the Government has used the financial crisis as an excuse to scrap plans to tackle the burden of red tape carried by British firms. 03 April 2009 | |
| Sales pick up at John Lewis
John Lewis department stores have reported their strongest week so far in the half year, with sales down just two per cent. 03 April 2009 | |
| Keep Britain's Working Time opt-out urge business groups
Business groups have reacted strongly to moves in Europe to end the UK's opt-out to the Working Time Directive. 02 April 2009 | |
| CE industry heavyweights blogging for ERT
ERTonline has secured the services of some consumer electronics (CE) industry heavyweights to blog on important issues in the electrical retailing sector. | |
| Virgin Media sells shopping channels
Virgin Media has sold its Sit-Up TV division, which runs shopping channels Bid TV, Price-Drop TV and Speed Auction TV, to German restructuring company Aurelius. 02 April 2009 | |
| Sony at the beating heart of football
A beating mechanical heart made entirely out of Sony products is the on-screen "ident" Sony is using to support its exclusive sponsorship of England's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. 01 April 2009 | |
| Commit to free trade BRC tells G20 leaders
Politicians and protestors at the G20 summit in London tomorrow should realise the answer to the worldwide recession is more globalisation, not less. 01 April 2009 | |
| Chancellor staggers rise in business rates
Chancellor Alistair Darling has backtracked on moves to increase business rates by five per cent from today. 01 April 2009 | |
| First TV campaign for Freesat airs today
The first TV advertising campaign for free-to-air satellite service Freesat starts today. 01 April 2009 | |
