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Latest News [2008] archive from August 2008
| Samsung uses IFA to launch "Seamless Experience" strategy
Samsung has unveiled plans to take the lead in developing products that help consumers who feel left behind by the rapid pace of technological advances. | |
| Pace goes green
Pace is planning to become a world leader in "green" set-top boxes. 29 August 2008 | |
| Small firm loans were hard to get before the credit crunch
Small businesses struggled to get finance even before the credit crunch began to bite, according to a Government-commissioned survey. 29 August 2008 | |
| Confidence at an all-time low
UK householders are experiencing their highest level of economic gloom since modern opinion polls began. 29 August 2008 | |
| Retail sales hit record low
The worst monthly figures for retail sales in 25 years have been reported by the Confederation of British Industry. | |
| Retra launches packs to help suppliers work with independents
In a move it described as crucial for the survival of many small retailers and the long-term prosperity of the industry, electrical retailers' association Retra has produced a pack for its associate members - suppliers - outlining ways in which they can work more closely with the independent trade. 28 August 2008 | |
| ASA slams Apple TV ad
Apple has been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for a TV ad which claimed its iPhone can reach all parts of the internet. | |
| Metronic to make Freesat digital boxes
Electronics manufacturer Metronic has signed a deal to produce high-definition Freesat digital boxes that will go on sale by the end of the year. | |
| Courier company Amtrak goes into administration
A courier company used by several major online electrical retailers has gone into administration and ceased trading. | |
| UK internet access on the up
Nearly 16.5 million homes in the UK now have internet access, 1.23m more than a year ago. | |
| Finlux TV brand to re-enter the UK
Scandinavian television brand Finlux has re-entered the UK market under the ownership of Europe’s largest TV manufacturer Vestel. | |
| Sky launches seven more HD channels
Sky is to launch seven new HD channels on its Sky+ services from October bringing the total number of HD channels on the satellite broadcaster's platform to 26. | |
| Free alarms for small and medium-sized businesses
Small and medium-sized businesses are being offered free monitored security systems in a new programme launched by Action Against Business Crime (AABC). | |
| Cubo exceeds expectations at Harrods
The response of customers at Harrods and Selfridges to Sonoro's Cubo DAB radio took everyone by surprise, said distributor BBG. | |
| ITV and Channel 4 bid for HD on Freeview
ITV and Channel 4 have submitted bids to run high-definition services on digital terrestrial TV platform Freeview when switchover makes capacity available. | |
| Police swoop on card fraudsters
West Midlands police have swooped on a counterfeit card factory in Birmingham. | |
| Majority of UK consumers confused over HD TV
A whopping 80 per cent of UK consumers don’t know the difference between HD-Ready and HD-Ready 1080p (Full HD), according to new research undertaken by consumer electronics manufacturer LG. | |
| New technical development director at Freesat
Freesat has appointed James Strickland as its director of product and technology development. | |
| Pure unveils new Evoke Flow internet radio
Users of the new Pure Evoke Flow internet radio, which was officially unveiled today, will be able to download and purchase music from the unit before the end of the year. | |
| Best Buy denies stores claim
Reports that US electrical retailing giant Best Buy is planning to open 200 stores in the UK before rolling out to the rest of Europe has been denied by the company. 21 August 2008 | |
| Record profits for Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, brought in record second-quarter profits. | |
| Indesit fridge factory to close with over 400 job losses
Indesit has confirmed it is to shut its Woodston refrigeration manufacturing plant on November 28 this year with the loss of 423 jobs. | |
| Maytag widens service to Scotland
Maytag UK has extended and increased its depth of service to Scotland. | |
| Armour wins CI award
Armour Home has been named best trading partner for the UK home cinema and custom installation industry. | |
| Digital TV switchover awareness on the up in West Country
There has been a big jump in the number of people in the West Country who know there is less than a year to go to digital TV switchover in their region. | |
| Britons spending more time using communications services
Britons are spending more time using communications services and paying less for them, a new report said. | |
| Samsung signs accessories deal with Vivanco
Vivanco has signed a deal to exclusively distribute Samsung AV accessories in the consumer electronics market. | |
| Comet drops 100 staff
More than 100 staff at Comet face losing their jobs in a shake-up that will see the post of deputy store manager chopped. | |
| ERT Lions' Lair competition winner is announced
Independent retailer Stephen Savage of Bill Savage Electrical in Frome, Somerset, has been chosen as the winner of the ERT Weekly Lions’ Lair competition – our Dragons’ Den-style search for the best new invention from a person employed in the electrical retailing and wholesaling industries. | |
| Sony backs ERT Industry Awards to raise standards in retailing
Sony wants to raise the overall quality of electrical retailing in the UK and is hoping its sponsorship of this year’s ERT Industry Awards will help to achieve that. | |
| Retails costs rising faster than prices
Retail costs are rising faster than prices, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). | |
| Economy worse than thought
The UK economy is deteriorating faster than was previously thought, said the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). | |
| Woolworths gets a new chief
Woolworths has appointed a new chief executive to replace Trevor Bish-Jones who left the group in June. | |
| Tough year ahead for retail
The next 12 months will be the most difficult time for retailers and the immediate six months will be the worst. | |
| Online radio brand moves into CE market
Internet radio search engine provider Radiopaq has moved into the consumer electronics market with the launch of its first piece of hardware – the innovative Rp5 home entertainment system. | |
| Comet launches enhanced website
Electrical retailing chain Comet has launched its new home page today (Aug 14) at www.comet.co.uk. | |
| Over 250 million households watching HD TV by 2013
Around 255 million households around the world will be watching high-definition TV by the end of 2013. | |
| High street retailers winning online shopping
High street retailers in the UK are winning the battle to attract online shoppers. | |
| Mobile phone is consumers' top life changing gadget
More than 1000 people rated heated hair straighteners and curlers above TVs when it came to choosing products that had changed their lives. | |
| Wincanton to build second WEEE site
Electrical recycler Wincanton has begun work on its second electrical waste treatment facility in Daventry, Northants. | |
| Retail sales worst for three years
UK retail sales are the worst since summer 2005, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. | |
| Miele wins D & G TEQ award
Miele has won the nationwide Domestic & General Total Excellence and Quality (TEQ) award for 2008. | |
| Roberts website offers new services
Roberts has re-launched its website in order to provide a convenient first port of call for its independent retailers. | |
| Sony climbs to number 10 position in Superbrands league
Sony has claimed the number 10 spot in this year’s Superbrands top 500 league table – jumping from number 41 in last year’s listing. | |
| Freesat adds more specialist channels
Freesat, the free-to-air digital satellite TV service, has announced the addition of Black Entertainment Television (BET UK) to its line-up. | |
| Home-tek launches video demonstration website
Home-tek has set up a new website which will allow retailers and the public to watch video demonstrations of Home-tek, Light ‘n’ Easy and Ainsley Harriott branded products. | |
| Bank of England must avoid turning slowdown into slump
The Bank of England's decision to keep interest rates on hold is the right one says the British Retail Consortium (BRC) but the Bank should not rule out making rate cuts as soon as it can. | |
| Korean manufacturer I-Do-It launches new satellite brand in UK
Korean electronics company I-Do-It has launched into the UK with its satellite brand SelfSat. | |
| Tesco selling 'the smallest and cheapest personal DAB radio'
Supermarket chain Tesco is selling what it claims is the smallest and cheapest personal digital radio on the market. | |
| Date set for first digital switchover in Wales
The date for the start of the switchover to digital television in Wales has been announced today by Digital UK, the independent body leading the process. | |
| Pace first-half box sales soar by 55%
Set-top box maker Pace saw a 55 per cent rise in sales during its first half year. | |
| Parking fees killing high streets
Parking charges are killing Britain's high streets a leading business organisation has warned. | |
| Sky axes 700 agents
Sky is to ditch more than half of its remaining Approved Sky Agents (ASAs). | |
| New switchover TV ad campaign from Digital UK
Digital UK is stepping up its public information campaign as the national rollout of digital TV switchover starts this November. 06 August 2008 | |
| British manufacturing hits 10 year low
British manufacturing output fell at its fastest rate in nearly 10 years in June. | |
| BBC HD to offer 300 hours of Olympic coverage
The BBC HD channel is extending its regular transmission times to broadcast around 300 hours of HD coverage from the Olympic Games in Beijing. 06 August 2008 | |
| Sony sponsors ERT Industry Awards
Consumer electronics giant Sony is to sponsor the ERT Industry Awards 2008. | |
| D & G dealer conference to go biannual
The annual D&G dealer sales conference in Malaga has proven such a success the event is set to go biannual from October. | |
| Apple to launch "nano" iPhone
Apple is about to launch a "nano" version of its popular iPhone, according to a story in the Mail on Sunday. | |
| Magic Box chooses Nevada as independent distributor
Magic Box has announced the appointment of Nevada as its distributor for the independent retail trade. | |
| UK public set to buy green gadgets this Christmas
Over a third of Brits who say they will buy electronic gadgets as Christmas presents will buy energy efficient versions, according to new research carried out by the Energy Saving Trust. | |
| Consumer laptop market yet to feel impact of credit crunch
Consumers are still spending money on computer products such as laptops, despite the current ‘credit crunch’, according to new figures issued today by GfK. | |
| Pure hits two million mark
Pure has sold two million digital radios worldwide. The company pointed out that it took six years to get to the one million mark, announced in December 2006, and only 18 months to double that. 01 August 2008 | |
| New chairman for Freesat
Freesat, the free-to-air digital satellite TV service, has announced the appointment of a new chairman. | |
| Carphone Warehouse clinches Best Buy deal
Carphone Warehouse has concluded its deal with US electricals giant Best Buy to launch a European retail business. | |
