Get Connected Magazine - January / February 2015 by Get Connected Magazine

JAN/FEB 2015

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T H E M AG A ZI N E O F T H E E L E C T R I C A L G O O D S I N D U S T RY

DURACELL SMARTPHONE AND TABLET CHARGERS THE REASONS GO ON AND ON DURACELL BATTERIES, CHARGERS, SYNC & CHARGE CABLES

THE GREEN ROOM With electricity prices putting continuing pressure on householders into 2015, what’s being done to help them save energy – and help retailers sell efficient appliances?

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TV IN 2015 The British public loves its TVs, and George Cole examines what is likely to catch the imagination and drive sales in the coming year

FROM THE BENCH How retailers can benefit from the installation of TV screens and accompanying audio equipment

GEORGE COLE What’s news in the TV and Audio future? And will we need a retune in 2022? Visit gcmagazine.co.uk for the latest

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Contents

04 06 14 16

Editorial Comment The Word

In and around the industry

The Product Gallery The Green Room

Energy efficiency is a major theme for householders going into 2015. GC examines the appliances and policies setting the energy-saving pace in the coming year

CAMBRIDGE CX SERIES cambridgeaudio.com

Editor in Chief: Marlinda Conway Telephone: 01420 886 33 marlinda@gcmagazine.co.uk Magazine Advertising Sales: Brian Shilling Telephone: 01892 677 741 brian@gcmagazine.co.uk

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16 22 25 26

TV in 2015

George Cole with what’s going to be big in what promises to be an exciting year

George Cole Gets Connected

UHD TV, Audio and plans for the band migration of Digital Terrestrial TV

From the Bench

Alan Bennet advises on the positioning and installation of TV and accompanying audio equipment in the modern home

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., Greyfriar Cottage, Winchester Road, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1SB.

25 JAN/FEB 2015 GET CONNECTED

Editorial Comment

Comment world’s Research published last month indicates that 1% of the super-rich 1% population owns nearly half of total global wealth. The it’s predicted have increased their share by some 3% since 2010, and will have that, by 2016, more than half of the world’s wealth (52%) rs that accumulated in the hands of this tiny minority. And it appea ity of major 99% the on global recession, while it imposes “austerity” us, has helped the very rich to get even richer.

ho are these very wealthy people, and what do they do? A glance at the list of their sources of wealth shows a preponderance of activities such as “banking”, “leveraged buyouts”, “investments”, “hedge funds”, “money management”. In other words, not making anything real, but manipulating the paper economy and the money markets to ensure that bigger and bigger proportions of wealth are diverted into their pockets from the efforts of those who do actually make real things. And what are they doing with their money? The evidence is that they’re holding on to it. Why should we in the electrical industry care, as long as we have the opportunity to work hard at the design, manufacture, logistics, sales, servicing and safe disposal of electrical goods, and thereby, if we’re industrious and talented and a bit lucky, become “well off”? Not super-rich, obviously, but “comfortable”, and even “rich” by the modest standards of us 99%. We should care because, if the majority of the world’s wealth is controlled by a very few very rich people, and the “smoke and mirrors” part of the economy is siphoning off more and more of the fruits of our industry, the scope for bigger, more disastrous and more intense boom and bust cycles increases. Who suffers from these cycles? We’ve seen that it’s not the 1%. It’s the 99%. The recession the world has undergone over the past five years or so was the result of the financial world messing up. If we mess up in business and go bankrupt, the mega rich don’t

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bail us out. They pick over the bones, strip the assets and become even richer. Look what happened to Comet when it fell into the hands of private equity interests. It was picked clean, and the workforce were left unemployed with not even any redundancy money. The taxpayer (that’s you and I) picked up that bill, too. And look at how many more retail businesses have taken that route through private equity involvement into liquidation. If financial organisations mess up and are facing bankruptcy, they’re saved by taxpayers’ money. Our money. At this rate, recession will hit again within a decade. And we will suffer again. Have we learned nothing? Surely some lessons have been well and truly learned? For instance, a major cause of this recession was the pressure to achieve bonuses by lending more money, and when creditworthy customers were fully loaded the banks turned to “sub-prime” lending. That is, they deliberately, and in order to put business on their books, lent money to people who were unlikely to be able to repay it. That won’t happen again, will it? It already is happening. There’s been concern expressed at the growing amount of “non-prime” lending (a freshly coined term to cunningly avoid using the toxic “sub-prime” description) that is creeping into the system. For example, General Motors has just had a great year. But some commentators are worried that booming car sales have been stimulated by loans made to vehicle purchasers whose ability to repay is somewhat shaky. How “comfortable” can any of us afford to feel?

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Marlinda Conway Editor in Chief

Terry Heath Editorial & Publishing Director

Will Dobson Creative Director

James McIntosh Consumer Consultant

George Cole Consumer Electronics Consultant

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Sony’s exciting new TV range for 2015 was announced to rave reviews at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this month.

welve new models will join the range, including the world’s thinnest 4K model, the stunning X90C, and for the first time Sony Android TV™, allowing users to explore the exciting world of movies, music, photos, games and apps in the living room. Six of the new models will offer a 4K, demonstrating Sony’s commitment to the 4K experience. Powered by Sony’s new 4K processor brings stunning clarity to 4K content, High Definition, Standard Definition and even low-resolution internet videos do users can experience the best possible quality, whatever they’re watching.

The X90C features a new, breathtaking ‘Floating Style’ design and is just 4.9mm thin, ,making it the world’s thinnest 4K television Using the supplied innovative wall mount the X90C when ﬂush against the wall truly becomes a work of art.

Sony brings Android to life in the living room, consumers are used to viewing content on a smartphone or tablet and now they can enjoy the same experience on the big screen. Using Voice Search via the built-in microphone on the touchpad remote users can ask questions and control their TV, or using GoogleCast™ they can easily send content from their smartphone or tablet to the TV.

For information about the Sony TV range visit: www.sony.co.uk JAN/FEB 2015 GET CONNECTED

The Word : Industry News

WITH ALL THE VERY LATEST IN THE ELECTRICAL GOODS INDUSTRY

Industry News Shop prices continue to fall O

verall shop prices reported deflation for the 21st consecutive month, decelerating to 1.3% in January following deflation of 1.7% in December. Deflation in non-food goods slowed to 1.8% from 2.8%, while food recorded annual deflation of 0.5% following inflation of 0.1% in December. On a 12 month average basis, the BRCNielsen Shop Price Index recorded deflation of 1.6%.

Empty shops show North-South divide Shop vacancy rates recorded a marked improvement in 2014, dropping from 12.3% at the end of 2013 to 11.8% at the end of last year, well below February 2012's 14.6% peak. But figures released by the Local Data Company show a widening divide between England’s northern and southern towns and cities. According to LDC, one in five shops in the North are now empty, compared with one in ten in the South, with the worst performing areas having vacancy rates above 25% – the top ten ranging from Stockport in the North West at 25.9% to Burslem, West Midlands, with a vacancy rate of 29.4%. Local Data Company director Matthew Hopkinson said that 20% of the shops tracked had been empty for more than three years. “LDC data identifies 49,538 vacant units across the country, which therefore implies that 9,908 are never going to be re-occupied. This is the equivalent of five Manchesters lying empty," he said.

Consumer confidence bounces back UK consumer confidence rebounded in January with all five measures used to calculate the Index score increasing. GfK’s UK Consumer Confidence Index shows that the headline figure increased by five points to 1.

Nick Moon, Managing Director of Social Research at GfK, said the jump in the Index will be very welcome news for the Government, but he added that there is a need to look at the bigger picture.

“If next month sees another rise, this will definitely signal good news for the Government. But, if not, it will suggest that the growth in GDP is not making people feel better off.”

Retail staff top list of UK’s most miserable workers A survey of over 1,000 UK workers across 30 industries has revealed that 52% of Britain’s employees are unhappy with their rate of pay, feeling underpaid for the hours they work or duties they carry out. The research conducted by job search engine Adzuna showed that retail staff were amongst the most miserable of all UK workers, with 65% professing “extreme unhappiness” with their rate of pay and only four in ten

shop assistants hopeful of a pay increase in 2015. Nationwide, only 3% of employees are completely satisfied with their current salary level. Workers in the East of England proved to be the gloomiest, with 62% of those surveyed feeling they were owed a pay rise. This was closely followed by the East Midlands (60%) and Scotland (60%). At the other end of the scale, employees in the South West were the happiest workers in

England, with the North West and London following closely behind. Londoners topped the list as the most ambitious workers, with 57% angling for a pay increase this year. Those in the East Midlands, North West and South East also entertained high hopes of a rise in pay.

New SDA solution for retailers SDA distributor EPE Group has launched an “SDA Solution Pack” aimed at retailers that have yet to embrace the market for premium small domestic appliances, allowing them to trial EPE, risk free. Group investment and marketing director Harry Singh said EPE will give interested retailers a selection of SDA brands across many product categories as a trial. He explained that EPE will invoice retailers for the stock and if for any reason the trial is not successful, it will take the goods back. “We will make sure we give them the edge,” he added. “This is a risk-free solution to enter the premium branded SDA market – only offered by EPE – and our team of regional sales managers is relishing the opportunity to get retailers out of the me-too product categories and into the exciting and profitable area of premium small domestic appliances.”

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The Word : Industry News

Retail sales growth expected to top out at 2% in 2015 T

he KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank has warned that retail sales are predicted to grow by 2% at most in 2015, due to fragile consumer confidence. Concerns around the outcome of the general election, coupled with a Budget planned for later than expected (18th March), could cause consumers to pause their spending while they wait for greater clarity, and political uncertainty remains a real risk to consumer confidence with the general election and turmoil in the Eurozone expected to cause unease. A possible rise in interest rates and VAT could also constrain consumers' ability to spend in 2015, according to the Think Tank. "Whoever is in power, a rise in VAT looks almost inevitable by the end of the year," commented Retail Consultant Nick Bubb. "It is an unfortunate truth that one of the easiest taxes to generate enough revenue to help with the Government deficit is VAT, as in the short term this is simply a tax on retailers’ profit margins. The current 20% rate is a little below VAT rates in some parts of Europe, with the 23% VAT rate in Ireland one benchmark to consider."

David McCorquodale, Head of Retail at KPMG, said 2015 will see some growth, but retailers will do well to break through the 2% barrier. “There is undoubtedly growth coming through online sales, but this is a doubleedged sword. Online sales have a higher 'cost to serve', putting even more pressure on retailers' margins.” Mark Teale, Head of Retail Research at CBRE, said online sales growth has exacerbated profitability problems because of the inability of many retailers, particularly in grocery markets, to claw back the full cost of fulfilment from online shoppers. “Margin dilution is the inescapable result of this pressure. Online has proved brilliant at capturing sales; its record as a profit generator is much less impressive,” he added. Martin Newman, CEO of Practicology, warned that domestic retailers also need to brace themselves for competition from overseas firms starting to invade the online arena. “Many US brands are investing to make their ecommerce propositions to the UK more competitive, as are European e-tailers such as Zalando. And 2015 could see Chinese ecommerce giants, including Alibaba, throw themselves into the mix,” he said.

It is an unfortunate truth that one of the easiest taxes to generate enough revenue to help with the Government deficit is VAT...”

Retail crime tops £600 million The impact of theft on UK retailers has reached its highest level in a decade, with the average value of each customer theft in-store increasing by 36% to £241 per incident, helping to push the direct cost of retail crime up to £603 million. Incidents of robbery and burglary fell by 29% and 22% respectively but employee theft, although falling for the third year in a row, remains above the long-term average, at £1,031 per incident. According to this year's BRC Retail Crime Survey, the vast majority of respondents also reported suffering increasing levels of fraud, most of which is now committed online. Fraud increased by 12% in 2013-14 and accounts for 37% of

Official launch for AMDEA ‘register my appliance’ website

he AMDEA ‘register my appliance’ website, providing access to the registration pages of 47 leading brands of domestic appliances, launched officially in January. www.registermyappliance.org.uk is the result of commitment from the industry association’s members to a long-term programme to encourage owners to register their appliances and to promote understanding of why this is a wise safety precaution. It is designed to make it quicker and easier for the public to register their appliances.

Violence, threats and abuse against shop staff still a big problem

hop workers trade union Usdaw has revealed the results of its Freedom From Fear survey, which tracks the levels of violence, threats and abuse against shop staff. In a study of over 5,000 UK retail staff, the results show that in the last twelve months an average of 241 store staff were assaulted every day. The survey also reveals that 33% of workers were threatened by customers and over half were verbally abused. “Our survey shows that life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shop workers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them,” said Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. He added that it is time for the Government to act, stating that on four occasions in the current Parliament the Government has defeated amendments to its own legislation that would have provided stiffer penalties for those who assault shop workers.

See www.gcmagazine.co.uk for the stories behind the news Retail sector gains 10,000 new

businesses in 2014

the total cost of retail crime. Retailers warned that they expect fraud to pose the single most significant threat to their business over the next two years. The trends are, in part, thought to be a consequence of retailers being targeted by more organised, sophisticated criminals. In its key findings, the BRC also reported 32 incidents of violence and abuse per 1,000 employees.

Dubious discounts on electrical goods

revealed

Electrical retailers failing to tell shoppers

they have the right to return goods

UK consumers fast becoming a nation of

audiophiles

iKBBI launches business software

solution for members

Analogue radio listening falls

to lowest ever level

JAN/FEB 2015 GET CONNECTED

The Word : Industry News

Argos to open digital stores in Sainsbury’s supermarkets

LG’S 105” CURVED ULTRA HD TV ARRIVES IN THE UK LG’s largest ever Curved TV has launched in the UK and is available to buy exclusively from Harrods’ technology department for £60,000.

he 105” LG 105UC9 is LG’s first 21:9 aspect ratio Curved ULTRA HD TV, offering a wide viewing angle and the ability to deliver minute detail in remarkable clarity. The unit delivers outstanding audio via its built-in 7.2 channel 150W sound system, incorporating LG’s ULTRA Surround concept and developed in partnership with premium audio product

manufacturer Harman Kardon. “With a resolution of 11 million pixels, the 105-inch Curved Ultra HD panel is proof of our continued leadership in the next generation display market, offering exceptional world-class value to our customers,” said Andrew Mackay, LG Commercial Director, Consumer Electronics (UK & Ireland).

Sony builds YouView into new BRAVIA™ range S

ony has become the first TV manufacturer to integrate internet TV service YouView into its range of televisions. The service will be available on the new 2015 BRAVIA™ range from summer this year, providing consumers with the facility to view BBC iPlayer, 4oD, ITV Player and Demand 5 as well as live TV using the YouView interface, with no need for a separate set-top box. The twelve 4K Ultra HD TVs in the new Sony series will combine YouView with Android TV™ and Sony’s One-Flick Entertainment for an effortless Smart TV user experience with access to a wide range of content. John Anderson, Sony UK and Ireland country head, said: “We believe that our new BRAVIA range now has an unparalleled combination of Sony’s fantastic picture quality, fantastic design and the widest choice of content ever, complete with Sony High Resolution Audio.”

rgos is to open 10 new format digital stores within existing Sainsbury’s supermarkets, providing customers with a choice of over 20,000 products which they can buy instantly in store via tablets or reserve online for collection the same day or the following day. An extended range of around 40,000 products can also be ordered in store for home delivery. The Argos digital stores in Sainsbury’s will range in size from around 1,000 to over 5,000 square feet and will open by summer this year. Mike Coupe, Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s, said the stores will complement the supermarket’s offer. “They will bring something new and different to our customers and fit well with our strategy of making our supermarkets more convenient.”

FREESAT ADDS ANOTHER 24,000 HOMES IN FINAL QUARTER

reesat has announced that it added 24,000 new homes in the three months to the end of December 2014, bringing its total additions for 2014 to 56,000. The service is now available in over 1.9 million households and

is watched by more than four million viewers every week. Freetime, the broadcaster’s connected television service, accounted for almost 50% of all Freesat set-top box sales in the last quarter.

Toshiba plans to licence TV business in global markets

oshiba is to undertake a fundamental restructuring of its Visual Products business by ceasing TV development and sales operations in North America and licensing the TV business to Taiwan’s Compal Electronics Inc. Toshiba said it is in discussion with candidates on promoting the same strategy for other global regions. The new business structure will start to deliver products to the American market in March this year.

Toshiba stated that it intends to transform its consumer TV business in regions other than Japan, replacing own development and sales with a brand licensing structure. The target date for completing the new scheme and concluding negotiations with candidates is April this year. The Japanese manufacturer said the move is the result of a slowdown in global market growth and continuing harsh price competition.

PRESTIGIO ANNOUNCES “OFFICIAL” UK LAUNCH Prestigio, an international manufacturer of mobile devices, consumer electronics and home & car accessories headquartered in Cyprus, has “officially” entered the UK market with 8

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a base in Hounslow, Greater London. The Prestigio brand is already well established within the EMEA markets, represented by 32 offices and sold in 84 counties. Its

business model focuses on offering luxury and cuttingedge technologies aimed at competing with the high-end market. “Our focus in the coming months is to open as

many new accounts as possible, which thus far is turning out to be very successful, with the likes of JD Williams, Rymans and Maplin Electronics on board already,” commented

Sales Director Martin Macnamara. “Our goals are simple: to obtain market share, to make profit, and ensure our retailers have the best products and pricing available to them.”

The Word : Industry News

Audio brand Clint Digital launches in the UK

Ruark Audio sets sights on Irish market R

uark Audio is expanding its UK sales force to cover the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland following continued year-on-year growth in the two regions. Distribution had previously been via sales agents. Ruark said it is looking to aggressively grow this market in the next 12 months by supplying traditional hi-fi retailers, design shops and department stores. Handling sales direct, with its sales reps visiting the areas every six to eight weeks, would guarantee the same high level of service that it now offers in the UK, the company said. Ruark sales director Richard McKinney said NI and ROI have an extremely strong independent base which has great knowledge and provides excellent customer service – “key when selling premium brands like Ruark Audio.” Having already secured distribution deals with companies such as Lyric HiFi, Savins Music Centre and Limetech, Ruark said it is certain that growth in the Irish market will shortly make it an important territory for the company.

Onkyo and WOOX partner to drive growth in headphones and connected speakers

nkyo and WOOX Innovations have entered into a long-term partnership spanning product development and distribution, initially focusing on creating high-fidelity Bluetooth speakers and headphones under the Onkyo brand. WOOX, the former audio and lifestyle entertainment business of Netherlands-based Royal Philips, was acquired by Gibson Brands in June 2014 following the partnership entered into by Onkyo and Gibson in January 2012. The agreement advances Gibson Brands’ ambition to become the largest music lifestyle company in the world.

Radio listeners to benefit from major digital radio expansion Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy Ed Vaizey has announced the single biggest expansion of local digital radio coverage, which means that nearly eight million more people will receive local radio stations on DAB. Speaking at the ‘Drive to Digital: NOW’ conference held by Digital Radio UK and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) at BBC Broadcasting House, Vaizey confirmed that 182 new digital transmitters will be built by 2016, doubling the network of local digital transmitters and increasing coverage of local DAB from 72% to 91%, in line with commercial radio FM coverage. The expansion, he said, will help accelerate the transition to digital radio.

Work to deliver the infrastructure will start in March this year and complete in the second half of 2016. The expansion of local DAB radio will get underway as the extension of BBC national DAB coverage completes, with the new national digital transmitters bringing the

coverage of BBC national stations on DAB to 97%. 80 of these transmitters are already in place. This programme of new local and national transmitters will mean that the national coverage element of the Government’s radio switchover criteria could now be met by late 2016. In his speech to the Digital Radio UK conference, Vaizey welcomed news that competing bids had been received by Ofcom for the new national commercial network (D2) from two major broadcast consortia: Sound Digital and Listen2Digital. Ofcom plans to award the D2 licence by the end of the first half of 2015 and the new stations could be on air early in 2016.

anish audio brand Clint Digital has launched in the UK with the contemporary Clint Asgard™ series Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers, brought to the UK market by network audio specialist Sygnifi. Clint Digital, which is understood to have been pioneering DAB, DAB+ and internet radio technology and winning product and design awards in the Nordics since 2008, was founded by a group of well established entrepreneurs in the field of digital audio with roots going back to 1994. Now it is actively seeking independent dealers in the UK, pitching its products as a viable and stylish alternative to mainstream brands such as Sonos. Visit www.clintdigital. com for product information.

Ministry of Sound and Bullitt Group partner in new audio range

usic brand Ministry of Sound and designer and manufacturer of audio products Bullitt Group have announced a partnership to develop a “groundbreaking” new range of premium audio devices including wireless Bluetooth and connected multi-room speakers, and a series of high-quality headphones incorporating a DJ-spec over-ear model for home use. The new Ministry of Sound products will feature premium materials and designs with touch panel gesture controls. The audio specifications are being developed in conjunction with the audio engineers responsible for ‘The Box’, the main room at the Ministry of Sound nightclub, considered by many to have the greatest nightclub sound system in the world. Products will also feature built-in access to Ministry of Sound’s radio channels and the live club feed. Scott Steinberg, who will lead the project as Bullitt Group’s newly appointed audio division CEO, said: “Bullitt Group’s ‘ground up’ design and manufacturing process is a perfect fit with Ministry’s mission to build a more personal connection between music and its fans. Every single element of each product has been refined to deliver a true Ministry of Sound experience.” The new products will be available from May 2015. JAN/FEB 2015 GET CONNECTED

The Word : Industry News

WITH ALL THE VERY LATEST IN THE ELECTRICAL GOODS INDUSTRY

HUGHES HELPS LOCALS COPE WITH LATEST TECHNOLOGY

(Left to right): Jan Campbell, Fakenham Library Manager; community librarian Alan Leventhall; Warren Sayer, Hughes Electrical.

new scheme established by Hughes Electrical and a local library is helping people living in and around the town of Fakenham in North Norfolk come to grips with the latest technology. The initiative started when Hughes offered to lend Apple and Android tablets to the library, for use by its own volunteers in giving practical demonstrations to those wanting help in getting the most out of such devices.

Growth in demand for the bi-weekly sessions set up has resulted in the sessions becoming a weekly event. “The scheme has been a resounding success and enhanced the services we can offer people from Fakenham library. Initially it was on a drop-in basis but it quickly became so popular that people had to book an appointment,” said community librarian Alan Leventhall.

The library is also planning a drop-in event in March at which there will be a full range of tablets and laptops, with Hughes Electrical’s experts on hand to give advice. Warren Sayer, manager of the Hughes Electrical store in Fakenham, said: “As a company we are committed to help the local communities in which we operate and hope we can repeat the success of this exercise in other parts of East Anglia.”

SHORTCUTS Four appliances in Beko’s CAST by Patricia Urquiola range have each received a Good Design Award. The products recognised are the CAST 90cm Hood, Builtin Oven, 90cm Built-in Gas Hob and Built-in Single Burner Domino Gas Hob.

Electrolux has been ranked Industry Leader Household Durables in RobecoSAM’s Sustainability Yearbook for the fourth consecutive year. The company received all three top awards: Industry Leader, Gold Class and Industry Mover. Hotpoint has been awarded Superbrand status by the 2015 Consumer Superbrands survey. The Superbrand status highlights Hotpoint as a brand that has established the finest reputation in its field and one that offers customers significant emotional and tangible advantages over its competitors.

InSinkErator® has announced its sponsorship funding of a new kit and equipment for Reading-based junior football team the under-12 Binfield Tornadoes.

Amica is supporting GloTIME.TV’s Mama’s Kitchen schedule as part of a targeted digital media campaign for 2015. GloTIME.TV was established by Thunderbird’s creator Sylvia Anderson and her daughter Dee. 2015 will see the station benefit directly from media and consumer interest in the 50-year celebrations of the launch of the original Thunderbirds.

GET CONNECTED JAN/FEB 2015

The Tefal ActiFry range is to receive a major boost from a £700,000 nationwide TV advertising campaign running during the key Easter sales period, from 23rd March to 19th April, on channels including ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5, Daybreak and Multichannel. The campaign will also introduce the all-new ActiFry Express XL.

Haier has been recognised as the number one brand of Major Appliances in the world for the sixth consecutive year by business intelligence and research provider Euromonitor International. The brand achieved a 10.2% retail volume market share in 2014, surpassing the double-digit mark for the first time. Linsar has mounted a consumer campaign sponsoring online competitions in titles ranging from Woman’s Weekly and Woman’s Own to What’s on TV. The campaign highlights the brand’s X24 TV with soundbar and its Bluetooth connectivity feature and is estimated to reach an audience of more than 3 million. Inventor of the windup radio Trevor Baylis was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours list for his services to intellectual property. The Londonborn inventor received an OBE in October 1997. Viewers of ITV’s new Mel & Sue chat show will have experienced a taste of Smeg’s Italian design. The programme, starring The Great British Bake Off duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, shows Smeg’s SE70SGH5 five-burner

gas hob, two SFP390X 60cm pyrolytic multifunction ovens and the FQ55FX French door fridge-freezer being used on the set. The show is scheduled to run for 30 episodes.

Miele has been named ‘Best Brand Overall’ in five of the eight categories it is featured within in the Which? 2015 Best Appliance Brands Survey: cylinder vacuum cleaners, upright vacuum cleaners, washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers.

Big Red Sales has launched a sales agent incentive offering the prize of a new MercedesBenz C 220 CDI car. The contest will involve a series of points-based competitions supported by the company’s manufacturing clients. The winner will keep the car for three years and have the option to purchase at the end of the period.

The Word : Industry News

LG shows consumer-centred products at InnoFest 2015 LG

Electronics’ annual Innovation Festival (InnoFest) Roadshow got underway in Portugal in January, under the theme of “Innovation for a Better Life.” LG InnoFest has been an annual event for the company since 2013 and is an opportunity for it to showcase a diverse range of CE products and home appliances to regional partners. LG hosted audiences from the Middle East, Africa and Europe before taking the show to

Highlights of this year’s InnoFest included LG’s flagship 4K OLED TV line-up of 55-, 65and 77-inch models with curved and flat displays; an expanded ULTRA HD TV line-up including LG’s new ColourPrime series; the new Music Flow Wi-Fi Series collection, and the curved 34-inch UltraWide monitor in Quad HD resolution (3440 x 1440). Smart appliances on display included the latest eco-friendly washers with TurboWash™ and 6 Motion Direct Drive technology.

Malaysia and China in the weeks to come. “LG is taking a huge leap forward to strengthen our status as an industry-leading company in regional markets world over,” said Wayne Park, executive vice president and head of LG Electronics Global Sales and Marketing Company. “We are committed to making local consumers’ lives more convenient and LG InnoFest will help us get off to a great start this year.”

Moves

business across different market segments.

Assurant Solutions has appointed Gilles Giacosa to the role of Senior Vice President of Strategy and Strategic Initiatives of its Connected Living division. The PJH Group has announced the appointment of Martin Voisey as National Sales Manager for its Retail Division.

British audio brand Mitchell and Johnson has appointed Haydn Abbott, a former MD of Sony UK and VP of Sony Europe for broadcast and professional AV products in the EMEA region, to the position of nonexecutive chairman.

Get Connected JanFeb 2015.pdf

15/01/2015

Simon Jones

Linda van Rossi has joined EPE Group to manage accounts in the north central region. She succeeds regional sales manager David French, who retired from the company after 10 years’ service. Michael Hitchen has been appointed as EPE Group’s new operations manager.

Haydn Abbott Baumatic has appointed Simon Jones as regional sales manager for the North West, responsible for servicing key accounts in the region and increasing

Dynaudio has announced the appointment of Claus P. Rasmussen to the role of Group Sales Director, responsible for developing its global

LG also showcased its collection of energy-efficient refrigerators equipped with the Inverter Linear Compressor and the latest Door-inDoor™ refrigerators.

the Baumatic client portfolio within kitchen studios and independent electrical retailers.

Claus P. Rasmussen

Martin Voisey

LG Europe Region Head Brian Na introducing products at LG InnoFest 2015

The iKBBI has announced the appointment of two new members of its panel. Iain Hayes, Operations Manager of iKBBI sponsor HIPPO, has been appointed to represent the waste disposal industry, and Michael Barratt, who works with iKBBI sponsor UK Special Risks (UKSR), will represent the specialist insurance sector.

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The Word : Industry News

WITH ALL THE VERY LATEST IN THE ELECTRICAL GOODS INDUSTRY

Amazon’s full year 2014 net sales

UK & Ireland and in Northern Europe.

Sky revenues for the six months to

increased 20% to $88.99 billion, but

Sales in Southern Europe declined 11%.

31 December 2014 grew 5% to £5,604

operating income fell from $745 million

In a later trading statement for the 9

million, translating into a 16% increase

to $178 million. A net loss of $241 million

weeks ended 3 January 2015, the Group

in operating profit, to £675 million.

was recorded, compared to a net income

reported like-for-like sales up 7% for

Group profit after tax increased 10% to

of $274 million last year.

the Christmas trading period and said

£453 million. The company recorded

it expects pretax profits to be ahead of

a “significant outperformance” in

market expectations, in the region of £355

the UK and Ireland, with 204,000 new

million to £375 million for the full year.

customers, the highest growth in nine

AO World plc said it is confident of meeting full year expectations, after announcing strong

years, and over a million new products,

sales for the third quarter. AO website

Electrolux reported Q4 income

revenue for the three months to 31st

of SEK 970 million compared to a loss of

December 2014 was up 38% and total

SEK 987 million in the same period last

revenue (including third party retail

year. Operating income amounted to SEK

and logistics) rose 26%. The figures

1,472 million, corresponding to a margin

exclude Germany, in which the company

of 4.7%. Sales increased by 8.7% to SEK

launched operations in October 2014.

31,400 million.

Apple posted record quarterly revenue of $74.6 billion and net profit of $18 billion for its fiscal 2015 first quarter ended 27 December 2014. The results compare to revenue of $57.6 billion and net profit of $13.1 billion in the same quarter last year and were fuelled by record revenue from iPhone and Mac sales as well as record performance of the App Store. iPhone unit sales of 74.5 million also set a new record. Gross margin during the period was 39.9%, up from 37.9% in Q1 2014.

Argos reported like-for-like sales up 0.1% to £1,822 million for the 18 weeks from 31 August 2014 to 3 January 2015, with further growth in sales of electrical products as a whole. Strong performances in video gaming, TVs and mobiles were

downwards following the favourable impact of foreign exchange rates on sales. The business said it expects a net loss of ¥170 billion for its fiscal year

John Lewis reported a “marketbeating omni-channel Christmas” with total sales of £777 million for the five

October forecast of ¥230 billion. It also raised its annual sales forecast from ¥7,800 billion to ¥8,000 billion.

weeks to 27 December 2014, up 5.8% compared with last year and 4.8% on a like-for-like basis. Online sales grew 19% and represented 36% (versus 32% last year) of total John Lewis sales during the period.

LG posted a full-year net profit of KRW

Toshiba posted significantly higher year-on-year sales for the first nine months of its fiscal year ending 31 March 2015, primarily due to growth in the Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions and Electronic Devices & Components segments. Operating

501.40 billion for 2014, up 125% on 2013.

income grew by ¥9.6 billion to ¥164.8

Operating profit increased 46% to KRW

billion on net sales of ¥4,716.2 billion, up

1.83 trillion on consolidated revenues of

¥184.2 billion year on year.

KRW 59.04 trillion, mainly boosted by a 24% increase in smartphone shipments,

Net income increased by ¥33.2 billion to ¥71.9 billion.

the company said. A total of 59.1 million smartphones were shipped amongst the 78.2 million mobile handsets sold in 2014.

Whirlpool posted Q4 net earnings of $81 million, compared to $181 million

Samsung’s year-on-year net

for the same period last year. Net sales rose 18% to reach a record $6.0 billion.

profit fell 27% to KRW 23.4 trillion, due

Whirlpool EMEA Q4 net sales rose from

in part to a decline in mobile phone

$0.8 billion to $1.7 billion in the same

a pretax profit of £78 million for the

sales, which fell 21% to KRW 107.41

prior-year period, with over $800 million

31 weeks ended 1st November 2014, up

trillion won. Total sales at Samsung fell

of the revenue growth attributed to the

30% on the same period last year. It

from KRW 228.69 trillion in 2013 to KRW

acquisition of Indesit Company S.p.A.

did, however, record a statutory loss

206.21 trillion in 2014. Operating profit

The region recorded Q4 operating profit

before tax from continuing operations

declined from KRW 36.79 trillion to KRW

up from $10 million to $41 million.

of £20 million after taking into account

25.03 trillion. In its outlook for Q1 2015,

Whirlpool Corporation’s full year sales

exceptional charges of £100 million.

Samsung said it expects a decrease in

rose from $18.8 billion in 2013 to $19.9

Like-for-like Group revenues increased

smartphone and tablet demand under

billion in 2014. Operating profit for the

5% in the first half with 6% rises in the

weak seasonality.

year remained steady at c.$1.2 billion.

Dixons Carphone reported

Sony revised its annual loss forecast

ending to 31 March 2015, down from its

partially offset by a market-driven decline in tablets.

the highest growth in four years.

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The Word : Industry News

GREAT YARMOUTH’S TWO BEARS ARRIVE AT NEW HOME T

he £1m regeneration of the site of the former derelict Two Bears Hotel in Great Yarmouth reached a significant high point in January, as the fully restored two bears, each standing six foot high and weighing 800lb, were lowered into position over the entrance to the new Hughes Electrical store, which is due to open this summer.

The site was acquired by Hughes Electrical just over a year ago for the construction of a brand new 5,500 sq ft state-of-the-art store that would acknowledge the heritage associated with the former building. The store will be branded as a ‘Hughes Plus’ outlet.

Liebherr GB establishes specialist division for direct supply to UK trade

iebherr has officially assumed responsibility for its UK business after shelving its UK importer Coolectric at the backend of 2014. Liebherr’s British headquarters represents an investment in excess of £15 million by the German brand, which will be serving the market direct from a new specialist division at Liebherr GB’s 3.7-hectare site at Stratton Business Park, Biggleswade in Bedfordshire.

In a statement released to the press, the company said it is determined to ensure that its trade customers and end users receive a “seamless, dependable and ultimately improved service.” Customers using previous contact information will be redirected to ensure that all enquiries can be dealt with efficiently. The company will also uphold warranties and liabilities to give customers and end users confidence in the new setup. The existing stock is currently being moved from its previous holdings and a new logistics infrastructure is being established. Lutz Weber, Regional Sales Manager, West and North Europe, commented: “Liebherr is a huge global brand and the formation of the new division at Liebherr GB to handle the company’s appliances in the UK will ensure that we have a greater measure of control of the brand, and critically, the service that we provide will greatly improve. I would like to thank our retailers in advance for their patience through this period.” Liebherr can be contacted on 01767 60 2221.

ELECTROLUX REVEALS NEW VISUAL IDENTITY Electrolux has introduced a new visual identity for the company brand, refreshing the logotype and setting new standards for imagery and colours. The design is created to have more “stopping power” and to “stand out from the crowd.” The new logotype introduces the company name in a new font, exclusive to Electrolux, and puts greater emphasis on the brand’s symbol, which was first used in 1962. “Electrolux is on a journey to become a world-class consumer marketing company, with a clear focus on consumerdriven innovation and strong

brands. A key ingredient of this is to create an exciting and differentiating brand experience that is consistent across every consumer touch point. Our new visual identity will help us achieve that in a digital and retail landscape that has changed dramatically over the

past years,” said MaryKay Kopf, Chief Marketing Officer at the Electrolux Group. The new branding will be seen in-store, online, on packaging and through mobile devices. The rollout, which commenced 14th January, will happen in phases.

ARÇELIK BREAKS GROUND ON THAILAND PLANT Beko parent Arçelik A.Ş. has broken ground on its seventh production facility outside Turkey. The new refrigerator plant, located on a 263,000 sq m plot in Thailand, will go into operation by the end of 2015. US$100 million is being invested in the plant, which will produce more than 800,000 refrigerators within three years, with the potential to expand output.

Britannia Living opens new showroom Britannia Living has opened a new showroom at its headquarters in Stokeon-Trent, providing a modern showcase for its portfolio of brands, which comprises Britannia, Bertazzoni and designer cooker hood specialist BEST. The selection of products on display include the Jackson Pollock-inspired Britannia range cooker, built-in and freestanding products from Bertazzoni and the award-winning Overside hood by BEST. Michael Haigh, marketing manager at Britannia Living, commented: “Due to the high-quality nature of our products we always find it beneficial for our customers to be able to look at and feel our appliances, so it is great to have a forum to showcase them.” The showroom is now open for appointments. 0844 463 9705 | www.britannialiving.co.uk

JAN/FEB 2015 GET CONNECTED

The Product Gallery

The

Gallery HEOS by Denon soon to be Google Cast ready Audio manufacturer Denon has announced that its HEOS wireless multi-room sound systems will soon be Google Cast Ready, allowing users to cast their favourite music, radio stations and podcasts to HEOS speakers from Google Cast apps on Android phone or tablet, iPhone, iPad, Mac or Windows laptop or Chromebook. The HEOS range comprises the HEOS 3 (£249), HEOS 5 (£349), HEOS 7 (£499), and two models that integrate current Hi-Fi into the HEOS eco-system: the HEOS AMP (£399) and HEOS LINK (£299). j www.denon.co.uk

Nespresso by KitchenAid comes to UK market The new Nespresso by KitchenAid coffee machine has a fast heat-up time of 25 seconds and offers precise temperature control which, combined with a powerful 19-bar pressure pump, ensures maximum flavour and consistent delivery every time. It has a removable 1.4-litre water tank and a container that holds up to 14 used capsules. Settings include an auto power off button. The appliance will be in UK stores from the end of February 2015, available in Onyx Black, Candy Apple Red, Empire Red, Medallion Silver, Frosted Pearl and Almond Cream. j

www.kitchenaid.com

Whirlpool 73-litre 6th Sense® induction oven Whirlpool’s new 6th Sense® induction oven saves up to 50% in energy and time and can be used as a conventional multifunction oven when not in induction mode. The feature-rich AKZM 8790/IX incorporates thirty 6th Sense® pre-programmed recipes and the company’s Cook3 – cooks three different dishes at the same time without flavours or aromas intermingling – and Ready2Cook system, which eliminates the need for preheating. j

Caple to launch CM123 microwave with grill This new CM123 built-in 900W microwave with 1000W grill from Caple launches in April 2015. The appliance has a 25-litre capacity and a stainless steel front and cavity. It incorporates an auto-defrost function and an auto-cook menu that provides a set of preset cooking modes. Other features include a child lock, minute timer (up to 95 minutes) and a push door function for easy access. j

0117 938 1900 | www.caple.co.uk

www.whirlpool.co.uk

Onkyo introduces budget amplifier Onkyo is expanding its line of Pure Hi-Fi components with the introduction of a versatile integrated stereo amplifier priced at £199. The A-9010(UK) delivers up to 44 W/Ch of high-current power and incorporates specially selected audiophile-grade components and a circuit design designed to deliver class-leading pace, rhythm and timing. It also has a quality MM phono equalizer and grounding terminal for turntable connection, five analogue inputs, a line output and a set of phono inputs. j

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www.uk.onkyo.com

The Product Gallery

Belling 80cm and 90cm induction hobs With large induction hobs enjoying significant year-on-year sales growth, Belling’s new IHK80 (80cm) and IHK90 (90cm) five-zone models make a timely entrance to the market. Both have individual touch slider controls and timers for each zone, 13 power levels, and a Power Boost that increases power to the zone by 60%. Additional features include: child lock, pause button, pan detection and pan anti-overheat, three preset temperature controls and residual heat indicators.

Fisher & Paykel SmartDrive™ washing machines Fisher & Paykel’s SmartDrive™ technology has been incorporated in a new range of washing machines that are said to be quick, quiet, gentle on garments and reliable. The appliances are both energy and water efficient and the majority of programmes take less than an hour to complete due to the company’s Vortex Wash. 9 of the 13 cycles on the premium machine and 7 of the 9 cycles on the mid-range machine take less than an hour at 30oC. All machines hold a 2-year parts and labour warranty. The Direct Drive motor holds a 10-year parts warranty. j

08000 886 601 | www.fisherpaykel.com/UK

www.belling.co.uk

Smeg introduces 90cm ‘Classic’ oven Smeg’s new 90cm ‘Classic’ multifunction oven has a net capacity of 80 litres and offers 10 functions, including Smeg’s Circulaire for even distribution of heat. It features a digital electronic programmer, an external air cooling system, closeddoor grilling, four cooking levels and an end-of-cooking acoustic alarm. The SF9310XR is finished in fingerprint-resistant stainless steel and the interior is equipped with Smeg’s Vapor Clean function. j

0844 557 0070 | sales@smeguk.com

Cambridge CX Series to launch end of Q1 2015 Cambridge Audio is to launch a totally new CX series of high-performance hi-fi and home theatre components offering high-quality sound, advanced networking capabilities, large colour displays and “exceptional” build quality and design. The range comprises six products: CXN network music player (pictured), CXA60 integrated amplifier, CXA80 integrated amplifier (pictured), CXC dedicated CD transport, CXR120 and CXR200 AV receivers. It will go on sale from the end of Q1 2015, RRPs from £300 to £2,000. j

www.cambridgeaudio.com

Gorenje grows Karim Rashid line Gorenje’s new-look Karim Rashid collection now offers a new 30cm induction hob and a reduced price point. The induction hob is a new addition to the existing six-piece collection of two ovens, two hoods and two hobs. Each product in the range features user-friendly touch-control operation to enhance the collection’s focus on simplicity. j

020 8247 39 80 | www.gorenje.co.uk JAN/FEB 2015 GET CONNECTED

The Green Room

The Miele K20 G6995. All Miele dishwashers offer a minimum A+ rating for energy efficiency and the option to use as little as 6.5 litres of fresh water on a sensor wash programme

d an w ne a ed m su as as h cy en ci ﬁ ef “Energy ” fe li ay yd er ev to e nc va le re d te en ed ec pr un 2015 has so far brought a modicum of relief for households struggling to cope with energy bills. At the time of writing, five of the six big energy companies had buckled under pressure to reduce prices to consumers, with cuts ranging from 3.5% to 5.1%, albeit effective on various dates.

he price reductions are the result of calls from politicians and consumer groups to recent sharp falls in oil prices and consequently gas prices. But while consensus holds that the cuts are too little too late, the energy companies reason that they buy gas in the wholesale markets way in advance to help stabilise prices to the consumer; therefore, it takes a considerable length of time for cost reductions to filter through. Also, wholesale energy costs now make up less than half of the typical household energy bill, according to SSE, which is reducing its prices by 4.1% from April this year. SSE said it is calling for political action to drive down the other rising costs which make up more than half of the typical bill, including governmentsponsored environmental and social 16

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policies and its smart meter rollout costs. Meanwhile, none of the ‘big six’ has reduced electricity prices. Controversy envelops the actions of the energy companies, which are currently undergoing “close monitoring” by the government and are in the midst of a Competition and Markets Authority investigation. Adding to the woes of the operators during 2014 was the warmer weather experienced throughout – good for consumers, but not so for the big six. According to data compiled by the Met Office and the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit, 2014 “nominally” ranks as the joint warmest year on record, tied with 2010. Consequently, the demand for household energy declined over the year.

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN?

The greatest factor in the energy game appears to be that of uncertainty. It is not known for how long oil prices will remain low. On this occasion, the tried and trusted theory of supply and demand has been jettisoned in what could be loosely described as a standoff between oil-producing nations, resulting in price cuts as opposed to production cuts. But it is the “rocket and feather” effect that, as always, has left consumers feeling cheated – when oil prices rise, the price of fuel rockets, but when oil prices fall, the price of fuel edges down at a significantly slower rate, analogous to a feather’s leisurely descent. Consequently, trust in the UK energy companies is in short supply, and the consumer’s stance has been to take greater responsibility for their energy usage. As of the end of 2014, 74% of Britons were reported to be worried about the rising cost of energy bills, according to Servis UK’s Rita Balestrazzi. The UK public has had many years of energy price rises (the average dual-fuel

The Green Room

bill rose 75% between 2004 and 2013) and economic austerity forced upon them, which in part has played a significant role conditioning the psyche to appreciate the benefits of energy-saving appliances and in raising the profile of those that save water and conserve foodstuffs for longer. Balestrazzi maintains that energy efficiency has assumed a “new and unprecedented” relevance to everyday life. “Spiralling household bills have finally precipitated the eco revolution, motivating consumers to trade up and invest in greener appliances,” she asserts. George Mead, Brand Manager at Beko, highlights research from the Energy Saving Trust which shows that the cost of running kitchen appliances equals nearly half of annual household electricity bills, which on average currently stand at £615. “Reducing energy consumption is more important than ever for consumers who are looking to save money in the long term,” he says. “This is evident in recent research from Mintel, highlighting that 62% of consumers are likely to consider ‘green’ factors when purchasing large appliances. “One of the key reasons why consumers are placing energy efficiency as a priority when purchasing large appliances is due to the appliances being heavily relied upon every day of the year. Further evidence in the stats shows that over a third of UK homes are now fitted with water meters, meaning consumers are increasingly becoming conscious of water usage both for washing machines and dishwashers.”

Beko’s A+++ energy rated WMG11464 washing machine offers an 11kg capacity and spin speeds of up to 1400rpm

scale, as Servis’s Balestrazzi points out: “The cooking categories, with their higher energy ratings, may now be offering greater standards of efficiency, but it is still the cooling and wet sectors that are generating the most eco interest, providing unrivalled moneysaving potential. Washing machines and fridge freezers have in recent years each accounted for around 7% of households’ yearly bills, while cooking products have collectively made up only 4% of such annual costs.” Miele’s Richard Treffler, product manager for kitchens, maintains it is the cooling, laundry and dishwashing categories that are on the eco-radar for consumers, but most are more aware of the energy consumption of cooling products as appliances operate 24 hours a day. A view that is disputed by Gorenje UK National Sales Manager Stuart Benson, who says: “Consumers tend to be more aware of the efficiency and eco-friendless of products that they use for household chores; for example, dishwashers and laundry appliances. While most people put

”We need to help consumers understan d what the energy labelling actually means…”

COLD AND WET

While all electrical categories have benefited from attention to environmental impact, some appliances continue to stand out more than others on the eco-

food in and take food out of their fridge freezers without even thinking about it, loading a dishwasher with plates or a washing machine with laundry is a much more conscious action. “Also, as the fridge freezer is on at all times, consumers don’t necessarily think about its running costs from day to day; however, most wait until the dishwasher or washing machine is full before they use it because they associate it with a financial and environmental cost.” Steve Macdonald, Trade Marketing Director of Hoover Candy UK’s Freestanding Division, also believes that wet appliances are perceived by consumers to provide the greatest potential for energy savings. “Not just laundry models, but dishwashers too,” he says. “A variety of low temperature economy cycles, shorter programme times and large load capacities have helped consumers to economise and go green by offering shorter running times as well as cutting down the number of weekly washes. “On-product POS energy labels have also played their part, with grading classifications that include information on water usage, spin efficiency, energy consumption and wash performance.” Caple product manager Luke Shipway puts the case for dishwashers, remarking that such products stand out because

Energy -Efﬁcient Dishwashing from Amica An efficient dishwasher is environmentally sound as well as time and labour saving. These 60cm freestanding models in black or white from Amica score an impressive A++ for energy efficiency.

14 place settings and host of flexible and efficient wash programmes offer further savings from low temperature and express washes. 5 wash temperatures and 6 wash programmes take care of every dishwashing challenge.

amica-international.co.uk JAN/FEB 2015 GET CONNECTED

The Green Room

Green Induction Technology from Belling Leading British cooking brand Belling has unveiled its first range of 80cm and 90cm induction hobs. With the market for larger induction hobs enjoying significant year-on-year growth, Belling has launched the IHK80 and IHK90 five zone models to expand its range.

Both hobs feature five induction zones with individual touch slider controls and timers, 13 power levels and a Power Boost function which increases the power to the cook zone by 60%.

One of the most slated products in the crusade against excessive energy consumption in the home is the tumble dryer, an appliance which is finding it 18

GET CONNECTED JAN/FEB 2015

belling.co.uk

Other features of these ‘Made in Britain’ hobs include a child lock, pause

their eco-benefits are more obvious to consumers. “For example, dishwashers are instantly more resource-efficient than washing dishes by hand and the user can make them more efficient by taking advantage of the various features appliances may offer. There are so many programmes available now which add to the energy efficiency, such as alternative washes that allow them to select the upper or lower baskets for the load, saving water and energy with smaller loads. Auto wash programmes come with sensors that check the level of cleanliness of the load to make maximum savings in time, energy and water, delivering a wash using as little as 8.4 litres. Half-load functions cater for small loads using both the upper and lower baskets with the benefit of water and energy reduction.” According to Servis’s Balestrazzi, kitchen taps and dishwashers account for 8% to 14% of a typical household’s water usage, “a fact which is inspiring manufacturers to design and develop a greater range of efficient dishwashing technology,” she maintains. “Water-saving functionality has, historically, always generated sales interest but manufacturers now have the technology required to capitalise on this growing demand. As well as producing generously sized 15 place setting models that can now run on as little as 9 litres of water per cycle, manufacturers are working on large capacity dishwashers that can operate on just 5.5 litres, recycling water from previous washes.”

ENERGY AND DRYERS

button, pan detection and pan anti-overheat, three preset temperature controls and residual heat indicators.

difficult to rid itself of a poor reputation stretching back as far as its conception. Yet an efficient heat pump dryer will cost as little as an average of £30 per year to run. According to Electrolux, “there has been a 300% increase in sales of heat pump tumble dryers, yet many consumers still don’t know what heat pump technology actually is.” A spokesperson for the company provides this explanation: “A tumble dryer with heat pump technology uses up to 40% less energy than a standard ‘A’ rated model by recycling air and using lower drying temperatures. Unlike traditional tumble dryers, heat pump dryers use a heat exchange unit that re-circulates the air within a closed system to reduce energy loss. The internal temperature of a heat pump dryer is up to 25ºC less than a normal condenser dryer. Not only is this good for the environment and energy bills, but it is also fantastic for clothes, as it allows garments to gently dry with the TLC they deserve.” Dawn Stockell, Head of Brand at LG Electronics UK, says a number of LG’s tumble dryers also benefit from an EcoHybrid system, whereby the user can choose an energy-saving mode or a timesaving mode. “The machine benefits from a heat pump as well as a regular heater, which can be used together to save up to 30% of the cycle time, or the heat pump can be used alone by selecting Eco Mode, enabling the user to fully dry their laundry at an A++ energy rating.” She adds: “When communicating to consumers, it is crucial to emphasise not only the potential cost savings to be made

in more ecologically efficient appliances over the product life time, but also that a step down in water and energy usage need not be accompanied by a step down in functionality. “Retailers should invest in educating sales staff, champion eco products and demonstrating the new technology to ensure it resonates with customers. Quantifying the savings in time and monetary values by investing in one product over another can work effectively and can help the consumer to understand energy labels.”

BE CLEAR

The energy label is accepted as an important guide for consumers considering the purchase of a new appliance, but most industry commentators believe that, on its own, it’s not enough – there are other variables that need to be taken into account. “Although the energy label has been a common sight in showrooms since its introduction in 1995, it really only gives the consumer an at-a-glance evaluation of how efficient an appliance is,” says Hoover Candy’s Macdonald. “There is more that needs to be done to build on consumers’ eco-awareness in terms of the benefits delivered by energyand water-saving products. “Manufacturers can help with clear POS messages that explain the benefits and help clarify some of the messages on the energy label, like the fact that actual energy consumption can differ £ significantly between products that have the same rating; for example, fridge freezers can have the same energy rating but can cost more to run because of their size.” “We need to help consumers understand what the energy labelling actually means and go into more detail about the actual benefits of the products, making things simpler,” comments Smeg UK product development manager Joan Fraser. “Then, the most important step is to interpret these benefits into a real plus point for the customer. For example, explain that it will save them a certain amount of money. “Since the first raft of energy relabelling, all manufacturers have become very aware of the energy labels on their products and the changes are driving them to achieve the highest possible levels of energy efficiency. Most manufacturers see this as a priority when they design new products and are continuing to innovate and improve on an ongoing basis.” Baumatic marketing director Owain Harrison believes there is little doubt that

”An efﬁcient heat pump dryer will cost as little as an average of 30 per year to run”

Vacuuming will never be the same again. 150100#0201GG

iRobot Roomba® Vacuum Cleaning Robots iRobot has been building robots that make a difference in people’s lives for 23 years, selling more than 10 million robots worldwide, with Roomba leading the way. Roomba vacuums dirt, dust and pet hair from all types of floors for you, cleaning around, behind and under your furniture. The new Roomba® 800 Series, powered by revolutionary AeroForce™ Technology, replaces conventional vacuum brushes with a powerful brushless system to give you greater cleaning performance. So you spend less time cleaning, and more time living.

Available at

STYLISH DESIGN EXCELLENT FUNCTION Did you know that induction hobs compared to gas or ceramic hobs are significantly more energy efficient and economical to use? The reason is that the induction technology is faster and has a far better energy utilization and thereby wastes less energy. Witt induction hobs give you state-of-the-art technology, Scandinavian design and a lifetime of cooking pleasure!

Exclusive for independent retailers! Available from UK warehouse.

Witt UK & Ireland Ltd. · Tel. 01483 516633 info@witt-ltd.com · www.witt-ltd.com

The Green Room The Servis FD91185SS fridge freezer comes equipped with a VitaStore drawer that extends the longevity of perishable foodstuffs by up to 60%

The EU directive outlawing the manufacture or import of vacuum cleaners with motors of more than 1600 watts, effective from 1st September 2014, met with scenes of panic buying in stores, with UK shoppers rushing to get their hands on the last of the “proper” vacuum cleaners as the UK consumer press predictably moved to provoke action, with headlines reading “Ten days left to vacuum up a powerful cleaner”, “Powerful vacuums outlawed”, “Buy a powerful vacuum cleaner before they are BANNED”… Dyson, whose range of cleaners, even then, was below 1600W, is seeking a judicial review of the legislation at the European Court of Justice, but is not alone in his criticism of the testing process. Which? tested 38 vacuum cleaners that carry the newly introduced EU energy label and found that, while the label has some benefits, performance ratings on some bore little relation to how well one model will clean in the home, when compared to another. Which? said that, in principle, the label is good news for the consumer as it should make it easier to find the best models, but its independent tests uncovered inconsistencies between some label ratings. “Our results suggest that a model with an A for cleaning performance on its label is not necessarily any better at cleaning than models with lower ratings, and could actually be a lot worse.” Looking into the not too distant future, the EU will require all vacuum cleaners to have motors of less than 900W by September 2017. Miele floorcare category manager Jamie Carboni is of the opinion that vacuum cleaners will become smaller and lighter with less main motor power, but will provide the same, if not better, cleaning results. “All brands are working on this to be ahead of the legislation change in 2017, where 900W will be the maximum with an A rating approximately 230W. All vacuums will also have to pick up a minimum of 75% of dust on carpets and 98% on hard floors,” he advises. Speaking about the company’s eco product developments, Carboni said that Miele will be introducing a new AAAA rated vacuum cleaner. Sebo – whose director Justin Binks has also voiced strong opposition to the testing methodology behind the EU regulations for vacuum cleaners – remodelled its designs in line with the changes for lower energy consumption at the backend of 2014. Models in the Sebo Felix Eco collection, which includes

”There is more that needs to be done to build on consumers’ eco-awareness”

Eco-Friendly and Safe All four models in the TexStyle 7 range of irons from Braun boast a powerful preconditioning steam function and precision tip, releasing steam where clothes need it most to ensure fast and effective crease removal. The TexStyle TS745A also features a clever ‘auto-off’ mode, allowing the iron to automatically switch off after eight minutes in a vertical position or 30 seconds in a horizontal position if not in use. This is not only an eco-friendly feature, but also a safety measure. The iron also boasts a unique Eloxal soleplate which is up to two times harder than stainless steel: perfect for gliding over all types of garments efficiently. Braun TexStyle 7 TS745A (RRP: £69.99)

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the EU energy label has made an impact on the way consumers buy certain kitchen appliances. “Where the energy label has been on stream for over a decade, better energy and water efficiency has become a key factor in the choice of cooling, laundry and dishwashing appliances,” he says. “It has also clearly had an impact on the purchase of electric ovens, as the market has significantly increased during the five-year period that the energy label has been in place. However, the label is a broad indicator and does not highlight the features and benefits of an appliance that might also be ideal for the user.” Prominently displaying the energy label on every appliance in a showroom has been a legal prerequisite for bricks and mortar retailers, and Harrison notes that the EU has legislated that it must also be displayed on every online shopping site as of 1st January this year. This, he says, will bring fairness and consistency to the overall retail marketplace whilst also bringing consumer eco-consciousness further to the fore.

CONTENTION

This year also sees the introduction of energy labelling for gas ovens (labelling previously covered only electric models), cooker hoods and vacuum cleaners, the latter of which has caused controversy, not due to the introduction of the A-G labelling itself, but to certain manufacturers believing the system for testing appliances to be flawed.

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the Navy, Pet, Rosso, Royale and Vogue vacuum cleaners, were modified to incorporate powerful yet eco-friendly 700watt suction motors. “Due to the efficient airflow, the machines clean as effectively as ever before,” the company said.

THE CHALLENGE

Moving back to major kitchen appliances, Jacqui Hoctor, Commercial Manager at Britannia Living, observes some of the

complexities involved in ascertaining just how energy efficient products are in use in the home. “You can have an energy efficient product on paper, which will have been tested against a set of criteria and conditions,” she says, “but apart from refrigeration, which is in constant use, efficiency can also be affected by how a product is used. For instance, if a family has a number of members who eat at different times and operate the oven several times a day, this is inefficient use. Conversely, if this is the living style, it’s important to have a very efficient oven to compensate.” Commenting on what more could be done to consolidate and build on consumers’ eco-consciousness, Hoctor asserts: “Energy efficiency is here, whether we feel we need it or not. However, it means different things to different people. Whether they are conscious of the bigger picture or just their immediate home environment, it’s important for the experts in the industry such as designers and specifiers to guide their clients to select appliances that fit in with their lifestyle and that work for them. “Firstly, the expert needs to take the time to understand the needs of the client, then they need to be well-versed in the benefits of the appliances and this can only be achieved by thorough training. The manufacturer, distributor, retailer, designer and specifier all need to make time to do this. Only then will consumers understand how energy labels and ratings can help to improve their home’s overall performance and start to see cost-saving benefits.” Looking ahead, Smeg’s Joan Fraser believes that consumers will become more aware of energy ratings, although she highlights some reservation when it comes to trading up to that additional “plus”. “In the early days of energy labelling only a few consumers were prioritising it as an important part of their decision, but since general awareness has risen, the pricing

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of eco-efficient appliances has become more accessible and energy prices have increased, so energy efficiency is more of a consumer consideration than it used to be. “But there is still some resistance from consumers: for example, if an energy rating goes from A to A++, the consumer may feel that the difference is not worth a much higher price unless this higher-rated product is partnered with an additional premium feature that offers a real benefit.” Gorenje UK’s Stuart Benson believes it to be unlikely consumers will buy brand new appliances simply because they are energy efficient when they already own less efficient, but fully working, models. “However,” he adds, “when it comes to replacing an old or broken appliance then we expect to see more and more buyers making the conscious decision to select a product that is as energy efficient and eco-friendly as they can afford within their budget.”

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TV Developments in 2015

Viewing the future

What have TV platforms and TV manufacturers got in store for consumers and retailers when it comes to new television developments in 2015? The answer is: rather a lot. George Cole focuses on some of the highlights

ver the coming year a raft of new sets, services, apps and technologies will emerge onto the market, offering televisions that are even bigger, sharper and smarter – and even better connected. LCD and LED, the leading television display technologies, will be challenged by even more new sets using OLED technology. “Consumers are in for a treat when it comes to exciting new premium experiences” declares Roy Dickens, retail director of Sony Direct CE and Photo Specialists UK and Ireland. “At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sony’s 2015 TV proposition was unleashed to retailers and consumers and the reaction was amazing.” New products included a new Ultra High Definition (UHD) or 4K TV lineup that included the X90c, the

world’s slimmest 4K TV at just 4.9mm thin. “We also announced our new Android TV platform, which will provide consumers with the chance to explore the world of movies, music, photos, games apps and more, through a platform that has become standard to millions,” adds Dickens.

NEW CLARITY IN UHD AND OLED

Samsung’s new range of UHD TVs (which are branded SUHD) come in nine screen sizes, from 4888 inches. Stephen Mitchell, general manager TV and AV, Samsung UK, says: “With four times the detail of HDTV, people can now experience incredible detail like never before. We believe our newest Curved UHD TV models represent the next phase in the evolution of the home viewing experience, with a deeper sense of depth, wider viewing angles and a clearer picture quality with higher contrast levels creating a more immersive viewing experience.” OLED TVs, which offer super-slim screens with incredible clarity, are likely to make an even bigger splash this year, with Panasonic unveiling a 65-inch 4K curved OLED TV. LG is adding seven new 4K OLED TVs to its lineup, which will come in a variety of forms – flexible, curved and flat. Screen sizes will range from 55-77 inches. LG’s new Smart TV platform, WebOS 2.0 will offer a new interface and features.

Consumers are in for a treat when it comes to exciting new premium experiences”

Freesat with Freetime upgraded with a new user interface 22

GET CONNECTED JAN/FEB 2015

GREAT ON, GREAT OFF

Ketan Hitani, managing director PictureFrame TV, says: “Mirror TVs are becoming increasingly the norm in some of the most well designed homes in Britain. The idea of having your television sit seamlessly amongst the rest of your well thought-out decor has become so important. The introduction of 4K products into our range serves to prove that this is a growing market and definitely a sign that this is part of the future to come. The decision was born out of an increased demand for 4K TVs being incorporated into our products over the past year and a growing demand for 4K products.” Amit Rullay, marketing manager TP Vision UK, adds: “We are likely to see the continued expansion of 4K UHD TV. Consumers are already very positive about 4K and we believe that, as the supply of native 4K UHD content improves, the demand for the high-resolution screens will increase substantially.” He predicts that improved Smart TV solutions will also feature heavily this year, with TP Vision adopting the Android L operating system for its 2015 Philips Smart TV range. Android L brings dedicated Android TV apps to the big screen, providing users with access to games and services available on the Google Play app store, including the OnLive gaming service. The 2015 range of Philips Smart TVs will feature an improved version of Philips Smart TV graphical user interface, which makes use of the new Android TV launcher and processing power. 2015 will also see the expansion of Philips

TV Developments in 2015

Ambilight onto more models, with 3-sided Ambilight available lower down the TV range for the first time.

4K GOING MAINSTREAM

Terry Reid, director of Linsar, says: “2015 will be the year of the 4K Ultra HD TV. As prices continue to fall, I believe 4K will become a standard feature on 50-inch TV screens or larger by Q4. As more 4K screens are sold, then demand for content will increase, and this will be the catalyst for content providers to catch up with the hardware revolution.” Mark Knowles, head of new product development and innovation at Philex, says: “The consumer adoption of 4K TV will continue to rise as manufacturers reduce pricing and new brands enter this premium sector of the market. However, true 4K content is still very rare. Although most movies are created in 4K resolution, they are delivered to consumers in HD or SD. This leaves them judging the quality of their picture by using the upscaler found in the TV, which can vary quite considerably from brand to brand.” The Thor 4K Image Enhancing HDMI cable includes a video processor and upscaler, which performs to industry standards laid down by Technicolor.

2015 will be the year of the 4K Ultra HD TV”

Thor’s 4K Image Enhancing HDMI cable including video processor and upscaler

CONTENT AND ACCESSIBILITY

Broadcasters and television platforms are also embracing new TV technologies and formats, and in the process are bringing new features to viewers and bridging the gap between TVs and smartphones. Sky says that in the past twelve months it has connected more than three million Sky+HD boxes to broadband, with more than half of its 10.7 million Sky TV customers now having access to the full range of On Demand services. Sky has also conducted some 4K tests – including at 2014’s Ryder

GET CONNECTED JAN/FEB 2015

Cup. “We are keeping a close eye on developments, such as how quickly the sets come to market and are purchased by customers,” adds Sky. Sky claims to be the UK’s number one connected TV platform, operating three dedicated over-the-top (OTT) services – Sky Go, NOW TV and Sky Store. Sky Go allows users to watch TV whenever and wherever they like on a compatible mobile, tablet or laptop, anywhere in the UK and Ireland with an internet connection. NOW TV is a contract-free internet TV streaming service providing access to movies, live sports and 13 pay TV channels. NOW TV is supported on a wide range of devices including the NOW TV Box, PlayStation 4, iPad, iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets. Sky adds that the growth of the connected home has seen the launch of new services such as Sky Store, where customers can buy or rent movies. Sky’s investment in technology company Elemental Technologies will give it access to software that enables broadcasters and pay TV operators to stream live and on-demand content to laptops, tablets, smart phones and TVs. Sky also offers a variety of other apps such as Sky Sports for iPad, and also Sky News and Sky Movies apps.

FREESAT DEVELOPMENTS

Sky’s EPG – a gateway to extensive services

Freesat’s Matthew Huntingdon promises more services on the platform in 2015

PictureFrame TV developing decor-friendly mirror TVs

Freesat is now in more than 1.9 million households, and Matthew Huntington, Freesat CTO, says the free-to-air satellite platform plans to build on its 2014 developments, including its successful Freetime hybrid TV service, which includes On Demand services such as BBC iPlayer and a Roll Back TV Guide that lets viewers watch the shows they’ve missed from

the past seven days across 26 channels. “Freetime was launched in 2012, but last year it became a break-through product,” says Huntington. The Freetime app – which is available for Apple and Android devices - has been downloaded more than 400,000 times. Interestingly, many of those downloading the app are non-Freesat viewers looking for an easy-to-use freeto-air guide, notes Huntington. Freetime was originally launched on Humax set-top boxes, and later on Panasonic satellite TVs. It has since been introduced to some Panasonic digital terrestrial sets. The Showcase smart TV guide available on Freetime has also been upgraded with a new user interface. Freesat has also launched new apps for BBC news and sport, and pay-TV content providers such as Curzon (movies) and Hopster (children’s). “You can expect to see more of these types of services joining the Freesat platform,” says Huntington. A new mobile app gives customers a unique ID when they register with Freesat. The aim is to create a direct relationship with Freesat viewers and offer dedicated features. One of these includes the ability to book remote recordings. Later this year, registered Freesat viewers will be able book recordings using email, tweets and Facebook posts. Last year saw more than twenty new channels on the Freesat platform, bringing the number of channels to more than 200 - eleven of them in HD. This year, Freesat will be available on a wider range of brands, and in even more affordable products, thanks to new deals with Manhattan and OEM TV giant Vestel. Looking to the future, Freesat is a member of the Free TV Alliance, which is developing common standards for features and services. The first standard set will be for a common mobile app remote specification. Most industry observers believe that satellite and high-speed broadband are best placed to offer UHD broadcasts, thanks to their wider bandwidth availability. So when will we see UHD transmissions on Freesat? “We’re obviously very interested in UHD TV and sit on a number of bodies,” says Huntington, “but we won’t start broadcasting in UHD until the content providers offer UHD channels. When that happens, you can be sure that we’ll be supporting UHD TV.”

George Cole

GEORGE COLE G E T S

C O N N E C T E D

So,

how will the consumer electronics market fare this year, and what will be the major trends? No prizes for predicting that even more noise will be made around Ultra High Definition (4K) television and, as predicted, we saw lots of new sets launched at the CES Show in Las Vegas in early January. The biggest barrier to UHD TV is content, although it looks as though the first UHD Blu-ray discs could arrive before the end of this year.

But perhaps the most note-worthy development will be the continuing rise of online TV and video. Websites like YouTube and online services from companies such as Netflix and Amazon are hugely popular, not least because consumers like to watch TV when it suits them rather than the broadcaster. VCRs, DVD recorders and PVRs have long offered this convenience, but many people are bypassing these devices and going straight to the web to catch up. Ask any TV retailer what is the most popular Smart TV feature and they’ll say catch-up TV. Expect sales of DVD recorders and PVRs to be under even greater pressure

as a result. The rise in online video is also affecting Blu-ray and DVD disc sales, although UHD Blu-rays are likely to boost sales. But sales of physical disc formats will continue to be chipped away by video streaming and download services. Plus, the number of high street retailers selling discs is likely to decline – while those continuing to sell discs will allocate less shelf space to them. The BBC certainly sees a lot of its future growth in the online sphere. Last spring, it revamped BBC iPlayer and extended the catch-up time period from seven to 30 days. Now, the BBC plans to move BBC3 from its terrestrial platform to online. Not only will consumers

George Cole pinpoints hotspots in the world of consumer electronics

watch even more TV online, but the devices on which they view the content are changing. The BBC says that 30% of iPlayer viewing is on a PC; 23% on a tablet, and 19% each for mobile phones and television. Research company Ooyah forecasts that tablets and mobile phones will account for 50% of online viewing by the end of 2015. Not only are online TV services like Netflix offering unique programming, but they are leading the way when it comes to UHD content, making the internet an even stronger TV platform. The living room TV is a long way from becoming extinct, but other devices will continue to take a growing share of our TV viewing.

A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER?

fcom has its sights on shifting digital terrestrial TV from the 700MHZ band to 470-694MHz band by 2022, but thinks it could be even sooner – perhaps in four years. The argument for moving DTT is that the 700MHz band can be used for mobile broadband services. According to Ofcom, for the vast majority of consumers, the changeover will involve a “simple retune” and that “only 0.5%” of households might need to change their TV aerial. That still works out at around 100,000 homes. And Digital UK (whose members include the BBC and ITV) points out that not everyone finds it easy to retune their TV and video equipment, and if someone lives in an area where there is signal overlap, manual retuning can be quite complex. Digital UK is also sceptical about the promised benefits of this changeover (such as cheaper mobile broadband services for consumers) and points out that the new frequency spectrum could result in a reduction of some DTT channels and HD services.

georgecole@gcmagazine.co.uk

Audio CD sales will continue to fall, as consumers increasingly turn to streaming and download services. Last year, there was much excitement over the rise in sales of vinyl records, but this really is a niche market, and will continue to be so. Digital music formats are the future. The progress to a Digital Radio switchover stalled last year, as the government (and opposition) decided to kick the issue into the long grass. It’s hard to see digital radio being a major priority for whatever new government is formed in May, but hopefully, we’ll see some signs in this Parliament of a determination to get the digital radio bandwagon rolling again. GET CONNECTED

From The Bench

Screen and speaker placement Many dealers install TVs, wall mounts and loudspeakers. Many more are asked for advice about their positioning. Alan Bennett offers advice on this aspect of sales and servicing no room at the back. Subwoofers can go almost anywhere that is convenient; their sound has no real directivity, but is reinforced by nearby walls and floors. Be careful, though, with party walls, and considerate of downstairs neighbours!

he first thing to say is that no two rooms are the same in respect of layout, lighting and acoustics; and that users’ preferences and lifestyles are important factors in screen and speaker placement. Even so, there is usually some choice, especially where the furniture can be rearranged if necessary.

TV SCREENS

The two main choices for screens are stand-mounting and wall-hanging, offering respectively a home for ancillary equipment and a useful saving of space – also an opportunity for a fixing service. The picture on a TV facing a window is compromised by reflections and image washout, while an under-window placement involves bright backlighting during the day, so that optimum positioning is on a wall at a right-angle to the main window. Regarding height, a mounting at about eye level for mid-screen, give or take 30cm, is best for comfortable viewing. The best image is obtained with subdued light rather than blackout, and with the contrast and brightness at moderate settings. The ideal viewing distance is about two to three times the screen diagonal, hence 2.5m/8ft for a 42˝ screen and pro-rata. Alternatively, specify a screen diagonal in inches to be around 16 times the viewing distance in metres, thus a 60˝ screen for viewing from 3.75m away. Sometimes, for instance in a bedroom, a vertical tilt is needed: keep it to 10° or less if possible. Mounting over a fireplace or radiator may be called for. It requires an intervening shelf, and a comparison of the measured temperature at the mounting point with the setmaker’s ambient temperature specification. You can get room-corner mounting brackets of various sorts. In all cases when 26

GET CONNECTED JAN/FEB 2015

Built-into-TV loudspeakers perform relatively poorly, and certainly don’t do justice to big hi-def screens. mounting onto plasterboard the fixing screws need to go into the wooden studs. For big TVs a really strong wall fix is required: if you encounter crumbly plaster go well back into the brick with long stout screws and wall plugs. An alternative to fixed-stand and wall mounting is a wheeled stand, which can be very good with medium-sized and small screens where there are no small children.

LOUDSPEAKERS

Built-into-TV loudspeakers perform relatively poorly, and certainly don’t do justice to big hi-def screens. Sound bars below the screen solve many people’s (and installers’!) problems, but many questions arise on moving up into 5.1 and 7.1 surround-field systems. Placement of the centre speaker (which, I’m told, carries 80% of the total sound) is obvious: above or below the screen and as close as possible, ideally behind an acousticallytransparent screen in projection systems. Best positioning for L/R main speakers is equidistant from the TV and the room’s side walls, to form an equilateral triangle with the prime viewing spot. Vertical position is not too critical, and largely dictated by existing arrangements, but a level where one-third down the enclosure matches a point about one-fifth down the screen, or with the internal tweeters at ear level, is good. If possible the L/R speakers are best spaced 30cm or more from the walls behind and beside them to avoid spurious effects. Up-firing Atmos speakers are generally designed to sit on top of existing column or block speaker enclosures. Rear speakers are less fussy, position-wise, than front ones, and most effective at 30-45cm above ear level. They can be mounted at the rear of the side walls – facing each other – if there’s

ANCILLARIES

Satellite boxes, disc players and amplifiers do not have to be under – or even near – the screen. Subject to concealment of wiring they can go anywhere that’s convenient, given long connecting cables and if necessary infra-red remote control repeaters, for instance from Keene Electronics. Strong light falling on their faces (including that from the TV screen) can inhibit their remote control operation, however, and in-room reflection of zapper signals cannot always be relied upon. A shelf or cabinet to match the room decor, perhaps incorporating storage for DVDs and games, can be a good choice. For long runs, good quality cables, each in one piece, is important.

WIRING

TV viewers dislike visible wiring as much as they do 3D viewing glasses, and wireless equipment such as loudspeakers and subwoofers has not solved all the problems by any means! The choice and specifications of connecting cables have been dealt with before in this column and elsewhere. For wall-mounted TVs various wireless outfits are available, but they cannot remove the need for a mains power feed. It is possible to drop signal and power cables down a wall cavity, but of course you cannot do that in the chimney space above a ‘real’ or gas fire. For use along walls you can get flat thin cables (they can go under wallpaper and carpets) for use with AV signals and loudspeaker feeds; also available is specially-profiled ducting which attaches unobtrusively to skirting boards. All these avoid the need to bury cables in walls or under floorboards. If surface wiring is unavoidable colour matching and flooror picture rail- mounting goes a long way to reduce visibility. Finally, in the realm of wiring: pay special attention to loudspeaker polarity/ phasing; and avoid flex-connectors in mains leads, untidy and sometimes dangerous...

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