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Latest News [2007] archive from October 2007
| Store staff need to emphasise HD content, says Sony
Retail sales staff are not emphasising high definition content when they talk to consumers about HD, according to mystery shopping activity carried out by Sony UK. | |
| New waste warning for small businesses
Small businesses face "uncertainty and confusion" following the introduction today of new waste laws. | |
| Argos boosts Home Retail first-half profits
A 40 per cent rise in half-year pre-tax profits has been reported by Argos parent Home Retail Group. | |
| New brand image for Jessops
Jessops, the UK photographic retailer, is focusing on images as part of a £1 million brand re-launch. | |
| Darling digs in over CGT changes
The Chancellor has rejected calls to scrap the planned changes to capital gains tax (CGT) despite an hour-long meeting with representatives from business lobby groups. | |
| Alphason urges dealers to join 2008 Window Display competition
With the December deadline of this year’s Alphason Window Display competition looming large, the AV furniture brand is this week urging retailers to book their slots for 2008. | |
| Vodafone doing its bit for small businesses
Vodafone claims that it is backing Britain’s growing army of small businesses with a simple value-for-money price plan designed specifically for needs of businesses with 20 staff or less. | |
| Facebook users risk losing their jobs
ERTWeekly.com's independent retail blogger, Graham Knight, has voiced his concerns over store staff from major electrical stores using social networking websites like MySpace, FaceBook and Bebo to share confidential information about their employers with their friends. | |
| Start date for Scotland’s TV switchover
Scotland will begin the switch to digital television on November 6 next year; it was announced today by Digital UK, the body leading the process. | |
| Understand how people prefer to shop online
Businesses that have an online presence can benefit from an awareness of how people prefer to use ecommerce, it has been claimed. | |
| HD for Freeview? Ofcom has a way
Regulator Ofcom has hinted that it may have found a way to bring HD content to Freeview while still auctioning off the spectrum freed up by analogue switchoff. | |
| Broadband take-up slows for Carphone Warehouse
Carphone Warehouse's plunge into the broadband market risks stalling after the mobile phone retailer unveiled a sharp slowdown in the take-up of its "free" fast internet service amid fierce competition. | |
| Phones threat for audio
The biggest threat to sales of portable audio equipment is the mobile phone. | |
| Jingle bell shock in store for retailers
Just when it matters most to retailers the effect of five interest rate rises, credit constraints and rising debt levels will finally rein in consumer spending. | |
| Union fights to keep jobs at Spennymoor
Trade union Amicus is hoping that Electrolux "will not follow the trend of so many companies who relocate production in favour of cheaper labour elsewhere". | |
| Good growth for DAB
Figures released today (October 25) by RAJAR show digital radio continuing to grow in terms of reach, hours and platform share. | |
| Workers feel obliged to work when they are ill
A third of employees feel their health is neglected at work and feel under pressure to continue working when they're unwell. | |
| The end begins for analogue TV
Britain's switchover to digital-only TV began in earnest last week when Whitehaven became the first area to permanently switch off an analogue TV signal. | |
| Companies should think recruitment and retention
Businesses should start thinking ahead about how they will recruit, keep and motivate their staff, according to new research. | |
| One for the record book
More than quarter of a million Pure Digital One radios have been sold in the 18 months since its launch. | |
| Sports bill kills store footfall
It was not just rugby and Formula 1 fans that were disappointed last weekend – retailers suffered, too. | |
| PC glitch dents DSGi profits
A nine per cent jump in sales during the first six months of the trading year was reported by retailer DSG International, the parent company of Dixons, Currys and PC World. | |
| Pensions hamper investment
UK companies remain committed to providing pensions for staff, but the high cost of funding final salary schemes is damaging business competitiveness and investment, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Watson Wyatt. | |
| Benefits highly valued by staff
Two-fifths of employees consider benefits as important as a good salary, but 66 per cent receive no benefits at all, according to new research. | |
| Philips lights up the National Theatre
Philips and the National Theatre have announced a five-year partnership to replace the landmark London venue’s lighting scheme. | |
| FSB says beware of corporate fraud
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ensure they are safe from corporate identity fraudsters. | |
| New MD for Electrolux UK
Brad Tribble has been appointed as vice president and managing director, Electrolux UK & Ireland. | |
| Otter Group buys Kettle Solutions
Hong Kong-based kettle controls firm Kettle Solutions has been bought by the Otter Group, for an undisclosed sum. | |
| WEEE boom in UK
The UK has jumped ahead of most of Europe in meeting its recycling commitments under the European electrical waste WEEE Directive. | |
| Join in the Rugby World Cup fun with ERT
Sporting events like the Rugby World Cup are always a great catalyst for sales of TVs – especially when England is in the latter stages of the tournament. | |
| Vita wins What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year
Vita Audio has been honoured by consumer electronics industry magazine What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision in its annual Awards. | |
| Empire joins Go&Pay cash payment service
Empire Direct has adopted Go&Pay, the cash-based payment service for Internet shopping. 19 October 2007 | |
| Euro Suisse snaps up Magicbox
UK telecoms brand Magicbox has been acquired by Hong Kong-based company Euro Suisse International, for an undisclosed sum. | |
| Cool weather boosts sales
Cooler weather in September unexpectedly pushed like-for-like sales three per cent ahead of those notched up in September last year. | |
| Not a Darling for small firms
Chancellor Alistair Darling's first pre-Budget report (PBR) is bad news for small businesses, according to a number of business groups. | |
| UK workers take less time for lunch
New research shows that the average member of staff takes less than two hours a week for his or her lunch. | |
| Difficult times in prospect
Although the number of corporate failures in the UK continues to decline, an increase in businesses failures in key industry sectors points to tough times ahead. | |
| Digital dawn for Whitehaven
Whitehaven in Cumbria made broadcasting history today, becoming the first town in the UK to start switching to digital-only television services. | |
| TEQ hat-trick for GDHA
Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA) has won the Domestic & General’s prestigious Total Excellence and Quality Award (TEQ) for the third time in a row, securing its position as the only UK based home appliances manufacturer to retain the high profile title for three consecutive years. | |
| EXCLUSIVE:Toshiba unveils new LCD TV plant
Toshiba officially opened its new LCD TV production plant in Poland today. | |
| Whitehaven gets set to lead UK digital switchover
The UK’s digital television switchover starts tomorrow (Oct 17) when thousands of homes in Whitehaven, Cumbria, will receive digital channels for the first time. | |
| Blogging from Hong Kong
ERTWeekly.com has been blogging on a day-to-day basis from this year’s Hong Kong Electronics Fair (autumn edition). | |
| FPB critical of DBERR reform plans
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has responded to the Government's consultation on plans to streamline the support it offers to businesses. | |
| Disposable income at its lowest level for 10 years
Britons have less spending money in their pockets than at any point over the past 10 years, a report has found. | |
| Hotpoint runners go the distance for charity
On their marks for charity, Hotpoint's long-distance runners raised nearly £4,000 for ChildLine, the young people's helpline. | |
| Digital downloads set to increase
Legal music and video downloads will increase by 45.5 per cent to £163 million this year. | |
| Don't let education fail business, pleads FPB
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has urged the Government to prevent the education system from failing smaller businesses. | |
| Slim pickings at CEATEC Japan 2007
Super-thin TVs were all the rage at the recent CEATEC JAPAN 2007 show, at the Makuhari Messe. | |
| Frontier Silicon DAB sales top 5 million units
Frontier Silicon has shipped over 5 million DAB ICs and modules. | |
| Our retail role of honour
Black Horse, the sponsor of ERT Weekly’s Take a Town competition, held an awards lunch last week to present the six 2007 winners with their prizes. | |
| Pessimism points to a recession
Increasing pessimism among small businesses indicates that the sector is sliding into recession, it has been claimed. | |
| Warranties: no control
Government attempts to regulate the extended warranty market are not working. | |
| Steve Holton takes up senior role at Electrolux
Steve Holton has joined Electrolux Major Appliances in the newly created role of product and brand director. | |
| Job security is boosting confidence
Rising job security is helping to maintain consumer confidence, despite the ongoing credit market turmoil according to the latest consumer barometer from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets. | |
| Green move for Amdea
Seven out of 10 people want tax breaks or cash-back schemes to encourage them to buy energy-efficient products. | |
| DAD moves into brown goods
Leading white goods distributor Domestic Appliance Distribution (DAD) has launched itself into the consumer electronics market. | |
| EXCLUSIVE: Peter Mann takes over as Retra President
New Retra President Peter Mann has expressed his desire to get all parts of the industry talking for the long-term benefit of independent electrical retailers. | |
| Seven hours a week wasted
Small businesses spent around seven hours a week dealing with red tape, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) which has published a report and DVD examining the impact that regulation has on entrepreneurs. | |
| EXCLUSIVE: Electrolux investigates future of its UK Spennymoor factory
Electrolux has decided to launch an investigation into the future viability of its cooker factory in Spennymoor, County Durham. | |
| EXCLUSIVE : Three hundred Freeview boxes up for grabs at Currys
Currys is to give away 300 Philips Freeview digital set-top boxes in two of its stores this Saturday. | |
| Black makes a comeback with Siemens
Siemens has introduced its first pair of black laundry appliances, a washing machine and tumble dryer that are spearheading the launch of a black freestanding range this autumn. | |
| Bank of Scotland targets SMEs
Bank of Scotland (BoS) has launched a fresh attempt to capture a larger slice of the small business banking marketplace in an effort to overturn the dominance of its 'Big Four' rivals. | |
| Woolworths thinks small
Woolworths has unveiled plans to open smaller stores on UK high streets to support its fast-growing multi-channel retail operation, which requires convenient locations for the collection and ordering of products. | |
| Ofcom fears at Sky free line-up
Sky's bid to replace its free-to-view channels on Freeview with pay TV services has drawn the attention of Ofcom. | |
| FSB offers support when serious illness strikes
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), has launched FSB Care, a service intended to support small business owners who are struck down by serious illnesses. | |
| Record-breaking Bravia ad from Sony
The new ‘Play-Doh’ campaign to promote the latest range of Sony Bravia High Definition LCD TVs breaks the record for the largest number of animators working together on a single scene – 40. | |
| Electra offers product training with ERT online
Electra has launched a new training video for its Electra 1600 rpm spin speed 8.5kg washing machine on ERTWeekly.com's Business Development Zone. | |
| Experian helps in battle against direct debit fraud
Credit reference firm Experian claims it is leading the fight against direct debit fraud, by enabling organisations to identify when a prospective customer is providing false or incorrect bank account details for automated payments. | |
| Acas free guide to help with holiday regulations
Employment relations service Acas has launched a new guide offering free advice to help employers introduce the changes to holiday entitlements that came into force on October 1. | |
| Sales up as temperatures and prices fall
UK retail sales rose 3.0 per cent on a like-for-like basis, compared with September 2006, when sales were up 2.4 per cent, according to the BRC’s Retail Sales Monitor. | |
| Sony re-launches Dealer Support Team
This month will see a re-launch of Sony’s Dealer Support Team. | |
| Ears on my pillow
Comfy Quilty claims to have come up with the ultimate cure for insomnia – a pillow that incorporates a miniature covert speaker, allowing insomniacs to listen to their iPod or MP3 player without disturbing their partner. | |
| BRC calls for cut in interest rates
The British Retail Consortium has joined its voice to those who are calling for the Bank of England to cut interest rates, currently at 5.75 per cent. | |
| Major awareness drive for identity fraud
Seventy nine per cent of Britons continue to throw away their identities, according to new research. | |
| No consumer panic in high street
The widespread panic that erupted in the financial sector failed to seep into the high street, according to retail analysts. | |
| Stoves teams up with Morphy for promotion
Anyone buying a Stoves range cooker before the end of the year can now claim a free Morphy Richards espresso machine or a Lec counter-top drinks cooler. | |
| Sky's the limit for pub, club and hotel sign-ups
The commercial arm of satellite broadcaster Sky has launched a commission-based scheme that enables non-Sky retailers to benefit from new business subscribers. | |
| Power cuts loom
A voluntary scheme to start removing energy-guzzling light bulbs from UK shops early next year could be expanded to cover other products. | |
| Medium is Hitachi European Distributor of the Year
Medium UK has been named Hitachi's European Distributor of the Year for the fifth time in a row. | |
| Jessops slips up on disabled access
Photographic retailer Jessops has paid compensation to a disabled man who couldn't get into their Bournemouth shop because of steps at the entrance. 05 October 2007 | |
| NMW erodes pay differentials
The knock-on effect of last year's rise in the National Minimum Wage cost retailers £200 million more than they had expected. | |
| Retail staff face rising tide of violent attacks
Violent attacks on shopworkers have more than doubled during the past year. | |
| Bosses can help fight debt
Insurance giant AXA is calling on all UK business owners to make a commitment to helping employees take control of their finances by giving them one hour off work to spend on personal money management. | |
| Le Bon jour for Muon
Top London store Harrods invited its richest customers and celebrities to an evening reception to launch Kef's Muon loudspeakers. | |
| Guide dog charity benefits from Pure Digital
Pure Digital has raised more than £6,000 for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association from the sale of its Sonus-1XT DAB digital radios. | |
| BCC calls for vision of future
A call for the Government to set out its vision for the future of British business has been made by the British Chambers of Commerce. | |
| Microsoft puts TV on your PC without a card
Microsoft last week launched a beta test of Windows Media Center Internet TV, which will offer more than 100 hours of entertainment from MSN Video. | |
| No 'current' plans for nationwide road pricing
Transport secretary Ruth Kelly has revealed that the government has no present plans to introduce congestion charging across the UK. 03 October 2007 | |
| Comet on Call hits TV
Comet is backing its computer care and repair service Comet on Call with TV advertising. | |
| Workers benefit from increased pay and leave entitlements
British workers have benefited from an increase in the national minimum wage and additional annual leave entitlements, which come into effect on Monday, (October 1). | |
| UK soon to become a nation of home workers
The office as we know it may soon become a thing of the past, according to new research suggesting Britain is becoming a nation of home workers. 02 October 2007 | |
| Online digital postcode checker launched
With 16 days to the start of the first digital television switchover in Whitehaven in Cumbria, a new online postcode checker has been launched to provide viewers across the UK with essential information about the switch to digital television in their area. | |
| Jessops’ summer fun in online competition
Jessops, the photographic retailer, has been inviting customers to capture the spirit of 'summer fun' in an online photographic competition. | |
| Business owners warned of cigarette ban 'stress'
Business owners are being warned not to crack down on employees that still want to enjoy a cigarette break as it could lead them to suffer from stress. 01 October 2007 | |
| More rock stars sign Pure radio for charity
New names have been added to the RockStarRadios charity auction which goes live today. | |
