APPLIANCE
NOW IN ITS 24TH YEAR
RETAILER
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2020
BUILT-IN COOKING
CONSUMERS SEEK SEAMLESS AESTHETICS AND SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE
FREESTANDING COOKING NEW COLOURWAYS AND FINISHES GROW IN POPULARITY
RANGEHOODS
INCREASING DEMAND FOR INTEGRATED MODELS
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
SMALL APPLIANCES AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS TOPPING THE WISH LIST
AR EDITORʼS NOTE
Resilience shines through the uncertainty After a short hiatus from our print magazine, I would like to welcome you back to the latest physical copy of Appliance Retailer. Although we enjoyed creating our first digital-only magazine for June/July, in response to your positive feedback and support from our valued clients, we are excited to return to print. For those who enjoyed the digital experience, this magazine will also be sent to your inbox in digital format with the addition of interactive elements including photo galleries and videos. COVID-19 continues to present challenges to both suppliers and retailers alike, particularly those based in Victoria as they deal with a second lockdown and face masks become mandatory for all Melburnians. But recent discussions with some of you have shown signs of optimism and the extension of government stimulus such as JobKeeper has been welcomed. During economic crisis, consumers are known to tighten their purse strings for household spending, but this pandemic has overturned that theory with
consumers investing in their home more than ever to make their new ‘cocooned’ lifestyle as comfortable as possible. In this issue, we speak to suppliers and retailers to understand how the lockdown in Victoria has impacted business, how they are approaching social distancing, what new products and promotions are planned and their message to the market. We then delve into three major appliance categories that have benefitted from the upward trend in spending – built-in cooking, freestanding cooking and rangehoods – as well as the latest gift ideas for Christmas. With the pandemic disrupting the regular seasonality of key categories, it is yet to be seen whether sales have merely been brought forward, or the historical peaks of Black Friday and Christmas will be just as strong as previous years. Only time will tell.
Appliance Retailer is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd ABN 940 025 836 82 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Australia P 02 9660 2113 | F 02 9660 4419 E appliance@intermedia.com.au W www.intermedia.com.au ISSN: 1328-1852 Managing Director Simon Grover Publisher James Wells james@intermedia.com.au Editor Emily Bencic ebencic@intermedia.com.au Features Editor Kymberly Martin kymberly@intermedia.com.au National Sales Manager Ben Curtis bcurtis@intermedia.com.au Art Director Adrian Tipper Prepress Tony Willson Production Manager Jacqui Cooper jacqui@intermedia.com.au Subscriptions 1800 651 422 subscriptions@intermedia.com.au
Editor Emily Bencic
ROD RILEY RETIRES AFTER 25 YEARS WITH APPLIANCE RETAILER
Appliance Retailer general manager of sales, Rod Riley has retired after 25 years in the role. He was one of the founders of the publication in 1995. The team is extremely thankful for the significant contribution Rod made to the magazine and we wish him well for his retirement. He will be dearly missed by all. Ben Curtis has been appointed national sales manager. He has been with publisher of Appliance Retailer, The Intermedia Group, for eight years, most recently as sales manager for sister publication, Convenience & Impulse Retailing.
MEET THE APPLIANCE RETAILER TEAM
James Wells
Emily Bencic
FOR MORE INDUSTRY NEWS FOLLOW US ON
Kymberly Martin
Ben Curtis
AdrianTipper
CHECK OUT WWW.APPLIANCERETAILER.COM.AU
Average Net Distribution Per Issue: 5,139 AMAA/CAB Yearly Audit Period ending 31st March 2019.
The Intermedia Group takes its corporate and social responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers. This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody. PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests. The wrapping used in the delivery process of this magazine is 100 per cent biodegradable.
VOLUME 26 / ISSUE #4
IN THIS ISSUE EDITORʼS NOTE
04 Resilience shines through the uncertainty
NEWS
06 Electrolux biosecurity issue closes stores and warehouses 08 Fisher & Paykel unveils new Brisbane distribution centre; Magimix brings in former Groupe SEB managing director 10 Bosch opens training facility; Sharp moves into smalls and floorcare 14 Miele's next generation: How the company is pivoting during Covid-19 16 T he Big Question: Exclusive interviews with leading manufacturers and retailers
CATEGORY FEATURES
25 Built-In Cooking Appliances: Ovens and Cooktops 37 Freestanding Cooking Appliances: Freestanding Cookers 48 Rangehoods: Canopy, Undermount, SlideOut and Downdraft Rangehoods 58 Christmas Gifts: Small Appliances, Personal Care, Health and Wellbeing Products
WHAT’S HOT
66 Pick of the crop: Smeg Classic Oven, Hisense Washing Machine and Panasonic Mirrorless Camera
Industry leading innovation meets signature Italian style
Smeg’s most iconic design Classic has been reimagined to celebrate confident simplicity in the kitchen. Best known for its world class aesthetic, Classic has stood the test of time as Smeg’s most enduring collection to date, even earning a place at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. With a range of new technological features and user control interfaces, the reimagined Classic collection champions industry leading innovation and signature Italian style synonymous with Smeg, illustrating simplicity in the technology and beauty in the results.
www.applianceretailer.com.au
5
AR NEWS
ELECTROLUX BIOSECURITY ISSUE CLOSES STORES AND WAREHOUSES An outbreak of a dangerous beetle which infested Westinghouse refrigerators imported from Thailand has resulted in numerous warehouse and retail store closures by the Australian Border Force. Following the discovery of the beetle by a member of the public who purchased a Westinghouse refrigerator, the Australian Government stepped in to close the Electrolux warehouse at Casula in Sydney where the container of 45 refrigerators was unpacked after travelling from the company’s factory at Rayong in Thailand. Subsequent closures for further investigation included one of the Winning Appliances and Appliances Online distribution centres in Sydney as well as three of The Good Guys Stores in Canberra as well as a Good Guys distribution centre at Marsden Park in Sydney. The Department of Agriculture has estimated that the Khapra Beetle could cause up to $15.5 billion in damage to the Australian rural industry by wiping out large swathes of the grains industry and also affecting trade with export partners. Winning Appliances CEO John Winning said he was “shocked” by the biosecurity threat that has seen one of its distribution centres close in New South Wales due to a biosecurity threat from Westinghouse refrigerators. “Khapra beetle poses a significant threat to Australia’s biosecurity and could cause significant losses to the Australian agricultural industry and national economy more broadly. We have
The Khapra Beetle (Trogoderma Granarium) is one of the world’s most serious pests of stored grain products. It is regarded as one of the most resilient pests of its kind and is able to survive inactively for long periods of time within stored food, packaging and transport facilities.
been informed that there is no threat to the health and safety of people,” the statement continued. “The Winning Group takes Australia’s biosecurity extremely seriously and we were shocked to learn that one of our sites may have been compromised. We are working cooperatively with the Department of Agriculture. Thankfully, there is no threat to the health or safety of people. We are one of multiple retailers that have been impacted by this shipment,” said Winning Group CEO John Winning. The CEO of The Good Guys parent company, JB Hi-Fi, Richard Murray A week after discovering the beetles, the Electrolux warehouse in Casula had not been fumigated.
6
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
said he was co-operating with the Department of Agriculture. “We are working with the Department to get the stores and the distribution centre in Marsden Park in Sydney open as soon as possible,” he said. The Good Guys confirmed that traces of the beetle have been found in the Electrolux shipment delivered to its Belconnen and Tuggeranong stores (ACT) and Home Delivery Centre in Sydney. “The Khapra Beetle is not harmful to humans, but we have temporarily closed our Fyshwick, Belconnen and Tuggeranong stores,” the statement said. A week after the initial discovery of the beetles, Electrolux confirmed that the warehouse in Casula had not been fumigated. “Our current situation following this unfortunate and unforeseen issue involving the Khapra beetle is that our Crossroads Distribution Centre remains closed,” Electrolux Home Products Australia General Manager and Head of Sales for Australia and New Zealand, John Featherstone. “We are working with both the Australian Government and of course our retail partners closely to ensure we are able to facilitate a resolution as soon as possible. We will continue to assist the authorities as they conduct their investigative process.”
FUJITSU GENERAL WELCOMES FIRST FEMALE TO EXECUTIVE TEAM Fujitsu General has appointed head of people and culture for Australia and New Zealand, Sarah Gatehouse, as the first female in the history of the Australian business to become a member of the executive team. Her appointment represents a significant shift towards the growing diversity of Fujitsu General and its focus on fostering inclusive corporate culture. Gatehouse has worked with Fujitsu General Australia since 2014 and during that time has energised significant cultural change with key initiatives such as team building, training and development, as well as talent identification. She has also driven workplace transforming initiatives including flexibility, benefits, policy and system innovation. “Sarah is an exceptional leader who has an in-depth understanding of the organisation, its people and the community we serve. Her promotion will ensure our people have a strong voice of representation at an executive
level along with her contribution to agile projects,” Fujitsu General Australia and New Zealand managing director, Philip Perham said. Gatehouse expressed her gratitude and excitement at being provided this new opportunity. “This new approach provides Fujitsu General with an outstanding team of leaders, who have extensive knowledge of the air conditioning industry and its people. These appointments are significant in driving employee and talent development programs and cementing Fujitsu General as an industry leader.” This restructure has also included the appointment of Darrin O’Brien to the newly created role of people and culture manager for Australia and New Zealand. O’Brien has supported Gatehouse in managing broad operational requirements and he will now enable Gatehouse to transition into her executive role and take over the daily operational activities.
Sarah Gatehouse has become the first female to join the the Fujitsu General Australia executive team.
EUROLINX LAUNCHES AGENCY PRO-FORMA PLATFORM FOR ILVE Eurolinx has launched its new ILVE Majestic, Nostalgie and Professional Plus cooker ranges on a new agency proforma platform. Eurolinx national sales manager, Tristan Peters shared some details about the new platform with Appliance Retailer. “For ILVE, it was always going to be an active and exciting year with our freestanding offer being released into the market on a new platform, starting with the Majestic range, which is being rolled out into stores now,” he said. “It’s a new product with updated burners, oven, TFT interface and so far, it has been received in the market exceptionally well. There are new colours that capitalise and concentrate on ILVE’s heritage of a custom hand-built appliance. “We have launched the Majestic range on an agency proforma platform – it’s the perfect product for this platform as its custom-built and unique. Price shouldn’t be the deciding factor for where it is bought – it should be about the experience and the offer. “Following on from the Majestic range, our Nostalgie range will also be similarly upgraded and launched on that agency pricing model, followed by our Professional Plus upright cookers. Our new premium upright offering will all be on a new pricing platform by the end of the year. “ILVE Italy had geared up for a release of these new upright cookers in the Majestic, Nostalgie and Professional Plus series, as well as a new built-in range, which is exciting, and we already have samples here. Everything has been slowed down a bit as the factories were shut for six weeks so whether we see the builtin range in 2020 is a question mark, but definitely in 2021.”
The new ILVE Majestic freestanding cooker.
www.applianceretailer.com.au
7
AR NEWS
Fisher & Paykel purpose-built distribution and training centre in Lytton, Brisbane.
Fisher & Paykel unveils new Brisbane facility Fisher & Paykel has opened a new purpose-built distribution and training centre in Lytton, Brisbane. It replaces the former DC located in nearby Cleveland. The new location was chosen for its close proximity to the Port of Brisbane and key road networks that allow fast access to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, as well as close proximity to key customers. Measuring 20,000 square metres, the new DC features worldclass VLM spares storage and fulfilment automation technology, a functional Social Kitchen and training spaces, as well as click & collect and direct to consumer capabilities. It boasts five-star green building standards including solar PV arrays, rainwater tanks, energy saving LED lighting and triple glazed windows to reduce consumption of energy drawn from
the grid. The new location has also enabled a 90% reduction in container travel time and CO2 emissions from wharf to DC. In addition, there is a fully electric forklift fleet, new security, monitoring and access control systems, as well as Haier MRV heating and cooling throughout the facility. Fisher & Paykel general manager of operations Ben Sheehan told Appliance Retailer, “The new state-of-the-art distribution and training centre allows fast access to the Port of Brisbane, greater storage and distribution capacity and fulfilment technology that allows us to process inbound and outbound shipments more efficiently. It helps us serve our customers much faster and significantly reduces our carbon footprint, reflecting one of our core values of being sustainability minded in everything we do.”
MAGIMIX BRINGS IN FORMER GROUPE SEB MANAGING DIRECTOR Magimix has appointed former Groupe SEB managing director, Wivina Chaneliere as managing director for its newly created Australian subsidiary, to further develop the brand and grow the cooking food processor category. Chaneliere was managing director for Groupe SEB Australia and New Zealand for 15 years until her departure in mid-2017. Shortly after, Chaneliere established a premium French homewares business, Table Manners, for the Australian retail and hospitality markets. Prior to her tenure at Groupe SEB, she worked in marketing roles for Prestige Brands, Philips and HPM Legrand. Commenting on her appointment at Magimix, Chaneliere said, “Magimix is an iconic brand well known by all food connoisseurs and home chefs. The products are super reliable and have an unequalled reputation in the market. Product Review and Choice have recommended the brand over many years and it has won several awards. “It’s time to further boost the brand awareness of Magimix in the food preparation category across all marketing avenues including social media. Being French and having worked in small appliances throughout my career in Australia, this was an association meant to be. I am honoured to develop the brand in Australia and would like to sincerely thank the Cambur team for all the work and passion put in this brand to where it is today.” 8
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
New Magimix managing director, Wivina Chaneliere.
Michael Doyle leaves Electrolux Home Products
EHP sales director, Michael Doyle has left the company after four years.
Electrolux Home Products has confirmed the departure of sales director – Michael Doyle. “Electrolux Home Products today announced the departure of Michael Doyle, who leaves after four years in the role of director of sales,” the company said in a statement issued to Appliance Retailer. “He will be replaced in an interim capacity by Chris Coen. Currently product line director – taste, Coen will assume interim responsibilities immediately in addition to his current role,” the statement said. “We thank Michael for his service over the last few years and wish him the very best for the future. Chris Coen is highly respected
in the industry and is well equipped to lead the sales team and implement our plans,” general manager for Australia and head of sales for Australia and New Zealand, John Featherstone said. Doyle has been actively involved in the recent transformation of Electrolux introducing the E100 and Westinghouse product rollouts and is widely regarded as a sales professional with some of the strongest relationships in the appliance industry. He has spent over two decades in the appliance and consumer electronics industry in Australia, including as director of LG Electronics and national sales manager at Hitachi and Panasonic.
The new Olimpia Splendid Unico Pro air conditioner.
OLIMPIA SPLENDID RELEASES WORLD-FIRST WALL-MOUNTED UNICO PRO AIR CONDITIONER Italian designer and manufacturer of domestic and commercial heating and cooling solutions, Olimpia Splendid, will launch the world’s fist wall-mounted air conditioner with no external unit. The Unico Pro generates far less noise and enhances the aesthetic of external walls by eliminating the need for an outdoor motor. Installation is faster, easier and more cost effective as it is installed from the inside, including the positioning of its external vents, and can be positioned at the top or bottom of a
wall and still create even air distribution. Designed and made in Italy, it features modern inverter technology and low-noise operation. It has five basic comfort settings – heating, cooling de-humidification, ventilation (fan only) and auto – as well as three comfort enhancements – economy, silent/sleep and airflow adjustment modes. The unit can be controlled from the intuitive onboard backlit touchscreen display or the fullfunction remote control. If servicing is required, the unit can be removed
from its hooks and transported to the nearest agent. The Unico Pro Inverter 2 HP with 3.4kW cooling capacity and 3kW heating capacity will be available at select retailers in Australia and New Zealand from October for RRP $3,999. It is backed by a two-year warranty. Olimpia Splendid has been designing and manufacturing air conditioners, heaters, air purifiers and hydronic systems in Italy for more than 60 years and markets its solutions in more than 45 countries.
www.applianceretailer.com.au
9
AR NEWS
SHARP MOVES INTO SMALLS AND FLOORCARE
The Bosch training facility will be home to a fully functional kitchen, plumbed laundry and dishwashing areas.
Bosch opens training facility Bosch has opened a training facility with its entire appliance range at the Bosch Group Oceania headquarters site in Clayton, Victoria. Measuring 230 square metres, the facility will feature a fully functional kitchen, as well as plumbed laundry and dishwashing areas. It will also be home to the first Bosch Home Connect appliance showcase in Oceania, with plans to incorporate the Bosch Smart Home system when available in Australia. Home Connect Plus enables Bosch customers to control their appliances, as well as other devices such as heating, lighting, and curtains, from one software platform. The primary purpose of the training facility is for the industry to see the breadth of the Bosch product portfolio as a destination for other Bosch subsidiaries, including building solution products such as heating and security systems, Bosch powered ebikes, smart agriculture solutions and more, for commercial customers, building developers and retail partners. BSH general manager, Robert Warner said the new facility will showcase the entire Bosch Home Appliance product portfolio to key stakeholders. “In the current climate, it will allow us to create new digital and social content to stay connected with our partners and customers. Long term, it will provide a space to engage, train, demonstrate and deliver an experience for our retailers, architects, developers and end consumers,” he told Appliance Retailer. 10
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
Sharp Australia will expand its small appliance range beyond microwaves and make its debut in the floorcare category for the first time in Australia. The new products, including an air fryer, are expected to be available from Q1 2021. The announcement comes shortly after Tempo was appointed the local distributor of Sharp microwaves, adding to Tempo’s existing portfolio of Sharp air conditioners, air purifiers, refrigeration and laundry. Tempo Australia general manager for appliances, Craig Handley said the Sharp brand has great brand awareness and trust among consumers and is now in a position to offer a more comprehensive suite of products. “We are excited to announce the Sharp portfolio will extend into small appliances and floorcare – a first for Sharp in Australia and positioning us alongside the rest of the world,” he told Appliance Retailer. In late 2020, Sharp will expand its laundry line-up with a matching suite of laundry products including European manufactured front loaders and dryers with energy efficient heat pump technology. The company will also grow its refrigeration line-up, adding models with true flat doors and glass and dark inox finishes. Sharpdeveloped technology such as Plasma Cluster, which eliminates bacteria and viruses, found in 2020 air purification and refrigeration ranges will also be seen in additional categories in the future. “The Sharp brand won’t stop at these current categories and already in the pipeline is a full range of builtin cooking products with specific ranges for retail and commercial markets, with accompanying dishwashers that we are confident will make an impact. Few brands can cover such a broad category offer with the strength and history of the Sharp brand,” Handley said.
The first wall-mounted air conditioner with no external unit
COMING SOON
ITALIAN
COMPANY SINCE 1956
The stylish new Unico Pro Inverter 12 HP eliminates the need for a bulky outdoor motor to dramatically improve the look of external walls. Designed and made in Italy, Unico Pro delivers beauty inside and out.
For more, visit olimpiasplendid.com.au
Unico Pro is conveniently installed from the inside, including the positioning of its external vents, making installation faster, cheaper and easier.
AR NEWS
MIELE ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY-FIRST 10 YEAR WARRANTY Miele has introduced a 10 year warranty on its range of major appliances – the longest warranty the premium brand has ever introduced into the Australian and New Zealand markets. This industry-leading warranty will support Miele’s targeted premium brand positioning and reinforce its key values of product quality, reliability and longevity and complements the launch of its Generation 7000 kitchen range this year as well as the launch of the game changing G7000 dishwasher and the brand’s first stick vacuum cleaner, Triflex, all launching in September. The 10 year warranty will be available as a special promotion for the month of September only and will be available on all Miele built in cooking, refrigeration, dishwashing and laundry appliances. In New Zealand, the promotion will provide consumers with the option of either a 10 year warranty or a 10% discount. In an exclusive interview with Appliance Retailer, Miele Australia and New Zealand managing director, Yves Dalcourt, said the promotion was first attempted during his time running the Canadian subsidiary for Miele before arriving in Australia earlier this year.
Miele’s 10 year warranty is the longest warranty ever introduced into the Australian and New Zealand markets
“I am very excited to announce this promotion that worked very well during my time as managing director of Miele Canada and it was an easy decision to bring it to the local markets as it not only delivers brand value, but it also resonates for consumers seeking quality and longevity. “During COVID-19, we are dealing with a unique global situation and we have realised that consumers have a different outlook towards the
environment and brands that can offer sustainability and by providing peace of mind for 10 years with products built to last, Miele is offering reassurance for its customers,” Dalcourt said. According to Miele Australia and New Zealand marketing director, Michele Laghezza, the promotion focuses on the key messages of premium quality and unprecedented confidence. “There are many good reasons for choosing Miele,” he said. “From our beginning in 1899, we have remained true to our brand promise – Immer Besser, Forever Better – ensuring that everything we do sets a standard of ‘forever better’ products that are durable, sustainable and high performing with a stylish finish. We are proud to be able to offer a 10 year warranty. For consumers, when they purchase a Miele appliance, they are supported every step of the way and this should be very reassuring for retailers. From complimentary demonstrations to specialist Miele service technicians as well as a dedicated Customer Contact Centre based in Australia and 24/7 Live Chat to answer queries online combined with a library of inspirational recipes to assist consumers master their appliance,” Laghezza said.
CES 2021 to proceed as digital-only event The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has confirmed that CES 2021 will be an all-digital experience for exhibitors, customers, thought leaders and media from around the world. The CTA plans to return to Las Vegas for the 2022 instalment for a physical and digital show. The new format – scheduled for January 6 to 9, 2021 – will allow participants to hear from technology innovators, see the latest product launches and engage with brands and start-ups, from the safety of the home. CTA president and CEO, Gary Shapiro said the decision made by the executive board was driven by one mandate – to do the right thing – not only for the industry and its people, but for the nation and the world. “We did not make our decision on financial or legal grounds, but on what is right. It is simply not possible to safely gather over 100,000 people indoors with a raging COVID-19 virus and no real hope for a tested and widely available vaccine by January. The world does not need more COVID-19 cases, and we decided we would do our part by ensuring we are not helping spread the disease,” he said. “We commit to producing the best possible global digital innovation event to spread the gospel of 5G, artificial 12
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
intelligence, self-driving vehicles and new forms of mobility, digital and telehealth, resilience, robotics, drones, new forms of entertainment, 8K Ultra HD screens and smart TVs to the curious, entrepreneurs, investors, business and media who can access the best of CES from their homes and offices. “Our CES 2021 attendees will hear and see the future. They will also learn first-hand from global policy leaders about big policy issues involving privacy, competition and the regulation of new technologies and media platforms.” CES 2021 will be an all-digital experience
PREMIERE
Premium quality. Unprecedented confidence. Discover an elevated peace of mind only Miele can make possible. Quality built to endear and endure is now backed by a 10-year warranty* and supported by the dedicated Miele service team and customer care centre.
TRP MI 9227
Plus save up to 10%** on kitchen appliance packages. *10-year warranty offer effective 1 – 30 September 2020. Includes all built-in cooking, refrigeration, dishwashing and laundry appliances. Exclusions and Terms and Conditions apply. **Kitchen package saving. Terms and Conditions apply, see Miele.com.au/promotions for details.
AR PROFILE Miele Australia and New Zealand managing director, Yves Dalcourt.
Miele’s next generation
I
n January this year, Yves Dalcourt started his role as the fourth managing director of the local Miele subsidiary in three decades. Well before the Covid pandemic, he was greeted with bushfires and floods when he landed in Victoria, but it was a year prior to his arrival, while still managing director of Miele Canada that he was first alerted to the possibility of moving to Australia. “I was first approached about the role to become managing director of Australia and New Zealand at the beginning of 2019 at a global sales conference in Austria when the current head of the local subsidiary, Sjaak Brouwer, announced his intention to retire. After some back and forth with my wife, as we are a very close family, we decided this was an opportunity of a lifetime.” Dalcourt’s professional experience commenced three decades ago with a string of consumer packaged goods roles including Procter & Gamble, Black & Decker small appliances and then seven years with Mars Confectionery. After answering a job advertisement in a Canadian newspaper he discovered at an airport in London while waiting for a flight home, Dalcourt was appointed as sales director for Miele Canada – with his only previous experience with the brand being a dishwasher owned by his wife’s parents. After leaving Miele temporarily to run other businesses within Canada, Dalcourt returned to run the Canadian subsidiary in mid-2016 after his former boss, Jan Heck, was promoted to run the U.S. subsidiary. When asked about the key differences between Canada and Australia, the only two Miele Chartered Agency (MCA) subsidiaries globally, Dalcourt claims the brand awareness is up to four times higher in Australia 14
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
BY JAMES WELLS
with the pro-forma concept understood and embraced by a larger proportion of the trade in Australia thereby delivering broader reach, while in Canada the brand is younger and has a smaller reach in terms of retail distribution.
PIVOTING DURING COVID-19
Since the departure of former managing director, Sjaak Brouwer, on what has been humorously regarded as one of last flights before Covid restrictions in Australia, Dalcourt has been forced to pivot like many other businesses facing the ’new normal’. “The first thing you have to think about when you enter a crisis is your people. We have over 500 employees across Australia and New Zealand and it is important to be empathetic to their situation as everyone is different,” he says. “From the beginning of Covid, we had two objectives – the health and safety of every single employee and how do you keep the business running despite the headwinds that we are going to be facing. And to achieve this, we decided to communicate and over communicate to make sure people within the business were aware of the next steps. So, from early March, I sent an email every single day to all employees outlining the steps we have taken, here is where we are, and this is where we are going to keep that encouragement going. The people in the business got very close very quickly and it felt like a unification as an organisation because we are all in this together.” With the vast majority of Miele staff at the company’s head office in Knoxfield working from home, particularly during the recent Level 4 lockdown, Dalcourt used the opportunity to cleanse and rejuvenate the 30 year-old premises.
PROFILE AR “We had a warehouse that was no longer being utilised and it was a bit of a dumping ground – so we cleaned it up and turned it into a basketball court and indoor soccer court. All of the desks are now completely open plan, so we have assigned seating not by department but by business teams so finance is sitting with marketing and marketing is sitting with sales – so there is much more unification. There is already a different energy in the business The Miele TriFlex handstick with three configurations for flexibility, extreme suction and everybody is looking and faster cleaning. forward to coming back to the office. I have spent a lot of time communicating with my people during Covid – I think I have called over 100 people directly to see how they are doing and how they are managing during Covid and for me it is important – I have a couple of kids at home so I understand the difficulties in juggling work and home schooling and so forth. The priority is family and to spend time with them, the business will come and the work will get done and you need to ensure that you support them in times of crisis.”
THE 10-YEAR PROMOTION
One of the key events for Miele this year will be the introduction of a complete 10-year warranty across its entire range of major appliances in the month of September. “It is a promotion and a message that has never been presented in Australia and New Zealand before,” Dalcourt says. “We are offering consumers a complete 10-year warranty for the entire month of September on all of our major domestic appliance products and it is something that has worked very well in Canada. It was an easy decision to bring this promotion to the local market as it not only resonates well with consumers, it also delivers more brand value. “It performed very well in Canada and consumer acceptance was very strong. Consumers connected with the message of quality and understood Miele was standing behind the longevity of the products. During Covid we are dealing with different situations around the world now and what we are realising is people are having a different outlook towards the environment, and the brands that are being sold in the marketplace and by offering peace of mind for 10 years when you purchase one of our products in September delivers a lot of extra value to our premium brand positioning. “In New Zealand, we are trying something a bit different, where consumers will have the option of either a 10% saving or 10-year warranty. The reason for this is that we wanted to give the option to the consumer and being a pro-forma brand, we are able to understand the preferred option for consumers. So for example they will be able to buy an oven with a 10-year warranty or a dishwasher with 10% off, and we will be able to analyse the behaviour of consumers based on this promotion and we will get a lot of learnings from this.”
GENERATION 7000 LAUNCHES
Earlier this year, Miele began rolling out the most significant launch in the company’s history – Generation 7000 – with 138 models, this range is the largest new offering by any built-in manufacturer to date with technology that has never been seen before in the industry. “To explain the many different features and benefits, we have placed the marketing messages into four The revolutionary new Miele G7000 dishwasher and its world-first AutoDos with different segments to integrated PowerDisk educate consumers with Generation 7000 – Intelligent Living, Sustainability, Easy Living and Fascinating Technology supported by Miele’s USPs in all of the different categories. During Covid, we have been using more digital media to promote our marketing message through social media as well as through online cooking events and virtual training. Key products to be launched from September include the G7000 dishwasher with world-first AutoDos with integrated PowerDisk. The PowerDisk has rewritten the rules of dosing and lasts up to one month because it will automatically provide you with the exact detergent that is needed for the wash program selected. “In floorcare, Miele is also about to release the TriFlex handstick with three configurations for exceptional flexibility, extreme suction and faster cleaning.”
PLAYING OFFENCE, NOT DEFENCE
When describing his first six months in Australia, Dalcourt immediately uses a sporting analogy which reflects the passion he has for his home-town ice hockey team the Toronto Maple Leafs and his inherited local football team – the Richmond Tigers. “We are definitely not playing defence, we are an offensive player in the marketplace. We have a message that we are here to promote our brand, we have a lot of added value and we have different propositions behind our brand. There is an expectation from consumers about Miele and we are moving forward and pivoting fast and enjoying the response we are getting from consumers and retailers alike. “There are two things that are very important to me – people and brand – and one does not come without the other. The people that work for our organisation every day are people that love and support the brand and keep it moving forward as they represent the brand. Then of course you have a very good brand that is premium and there is an element of pride when you are talking about our product or our brand. So those two are never compromised in my mind. “The biggest challenge for our business is ourselves. If we limit ourselves, that is what is going to stop us. It is about having that aggressiveness and that positiveness to go for it, and if we make mistakes then we will pivot and shift as we see fit – it is not about being conservative and holding back.” AR www.applianceretailer.com.au
15
16
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
Q&A AR
The
Big Question We speak to suppliers and retailers about how the lockdown in Victoria has impacted business, how they are approaching social distancing, new products and promotions in the pipeline and what their message to the market is in these unprecedented times.
The impact of lockdown in Victoria
BSH
Robert Warner
GENERAL MANAGER
“It has certainly been a challenge. Our BSH headquarters are here in Victoria and one of the benefits we have had that our team was moved off-site a number of months ago when we first went into lockdown so we do have the capability to be fully operational from home. We have managed to cope with some of the challenges presented early in the peace. The biggest challenge for us right now is stock and transfer of stock across interstate borders and it something that we are very mindful of. Thankfully we have major warehouses in three different locations across the country and that has been managed for the most part. Also, maintaining the morale with our team and staying connected with them is also something we are particularly mindful of at this time.� www.applianceretailer.com.au
17
AR Q&A E&S
Rob Sinclair
MANAGING DIRECTOR “After we came out of the first lockdown, we saw momentum return to the marketplace, particularly in May and June, there was considerable consumer activity. That momentum rolled into the first week of July and then it became a week by week proposition with the second week of July still okay but by the third week of July, the number of COVID-19 cases kept ticking and you could see the consumer had become nervous and were taking on board the government’s mandate of if you’re not doing something important, stay at home and that reflected in our numbers. Interestingly though there were regular phone calls and telephone activity has been solid, as well as email activity and online is ticking along nicely. But there was a lot of quotation activity so it’s difficult to pick and it’s become a day by day proposition as you watch the immediate effects of numbers translate into consumer confidence and activity.”
FISHER & PAYKEL
Jeremy Sargeant CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
“We already had strict protocols in place with our team working from home and we hadn’t yet enabled our staff to come back to the office fully. From a sales, admin and marketing point of view, our team have continued to operate from their home environment. For our warehouse, we had to increase our protocols around health and safety with temperature checks, cleaning processes and hand sanitiser. We did have a scare in our warehouse, so we did a deep clean, tested all of our team but thankfully they all come back as negative. But it’s one of those things, if you’re a business in Victoria, you need to be highly vigilant, aware of what’s happening in the community and take precautions wherever you can.”
HARVEY NORMAN COMMERCIAL VICTORIA
Glenda Bailey
DIRECTOR
“We have been very fortunate – the building industry has stayed open and hasn’t slowed down at all so our sales have continued to be extremely strong and we haven’t seen a downturn whatsoever. We managed to open our new Selection Centre in December just before the initial lockdown so we had a couple of months with a lot of clients. The response was extremely strong and we were picking up business because of it. We were going very well but with the first stage of lockdowns, we decided to close it. Firstly, for the health and safety of our staff, clients and supply partners. We decided to split the staff and the ones who were unable to work from home could work from the Selection Centre which helped us manage social distancing by using the space in the Selection Centre. It did help business because we have picked up a lot of good clients with the Selection Centre and we are pleased with the response so far.” 18
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
Q&A AR
Approaching Social Distancing BERTAZZONI
George Alikakos
GENERAL MANAGER SALES “One of our major third-party logistics partners is M3 and we adhere to their requirements. This has affected where we can and can’t deliver as far as inside a home and the pertinent questions of people being unwell or having any experience with COVID-19. From that perspective, the delivery aspect is controlled by the transport companies. As far as social distancing policies, spare parts and warehouse teams have been separated into two teams so if something was to occur, there could be an amalgamation of those areas without one team affecting the other. We are finding less traffic in our showroom, but it is appointment-driven to help facilitate customer selections. Our space is not the largest so we are quite restricted somewhere between six and eight people at a time but that is well and truly within the parameters we follow anyway. “We adhere to our retail partners’ requirements. Harvey Norman have a specific policy, as do Winning Appliances. The Good Guys have provided us with greater access and are quite willing to have people in store. It is a great opportunity to make sure that our product is presentable and to carry out additional training with staff. We have also been utilising digital communication including Mail Chimp to get the message across to people individually and as a store group. The communication of those touch points has been very positive.”
GLEM GAS
David Gilmore
MANAGING DIRECTOR “It’s now a benefit to be a small business as we are able to maintain social distancing within our large office quite easily, but our showroom is now closed to visitors. Anyone who wants to come in must call us and we will address their needs in a contactfree manner. With NSW, it is uncertain with what’s happening, and we are based in the western suburbs where there is activity with infection rates, so we are being very conservative. “Up until now, we have been very careful – we do everything that is recommended but from here on end, we will be the lone ranger. Everyone will be wearing masks in stores for NSW and VIC and if the situation changes in other states, it will be the same everywhere.”
YAMAHA
Simon Goldsworthy
GENERAL MANAGER AUDIO VISUAL “Our corporate offices based in Melbourne are closed and they have been closed since March 20 this year. Therefore, we don’t really have any concerns with social distancing but as the pandemic has gone on, we have had staff needing to call on dealers again or have needed to go into the office to do work that they simply can’t do from home, such as technicians that need access to specialised tools and equipment. When staff have been required to go into the office, we have made sure they are going to be the only ones in the office at that time. With our sales managers, they are going into stores by invitation only with some dealers not happy to have sales reps in stores so we service their account via phone and Team video meetings and there has been a high level of productivity around that. We have also been able to deliver training via Teams. There are some stores that are happy to welcome sales reps and on that basis, all of our sales managers understand social distancing requirements and hand sanitiser use. There are a number of stores that continue to refuse sales managers such as Harvey Norman that we can all identify with that is still asking for no sales reps to attend and we respect their wishes.” www.applianceretailer.com.au
19
AR Q&A
New products and promotions EUROLINX
Daniel Bertuccio MARKETING MANAGER
“Starting with the ILVE brand, we have the new Majestic range, which has recently been released to the Australian market and moved to an agency model, as will other products in the range including the Professional, Nostalgie and Quadra Series. We did also start some consumer promotions in mid-July with bonus giveaways across our built-in and freestanding ranges. With Fhiaba, it’s business as usual, having just launched the brand, we are focused on product training and having our channel partner set up to the best of our ability. There are new products for the Hoover brand being released later in the year including dishwashers, refrigerators and new laundry range in early 2021. For Artusi, we are constantly releasing new products – ovens, cooktops, alfresco and outdoor products. We are currently offering bonus cooking accessories with Artusi purchases.”
SHRIRO
James Cocking HEAD OF MARKETING
“On the product front, we have got exciting things coming up with Blanco. We have been working closely with the German HQ on new silgranit colours. In September, we will be launching the black silgranit across a number of our ranges; in particular, our best sellers in the Subline range, as well as a couple of additional models. We will also have a few models released in concrete silgranit – a design trend that has taken off in Europe and is a good opportunity for the Australian market. We are excited to bring it here and see how the market responds.”
ARLO
Brad Little
MANAGING DIRECTOR & VICE PRESIDENT APAC “We have several new products coming through for the rest of the year and some that have just launched. The most notable ones include the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight – a fantastic new addition to the Arlo Pro 3 line-up. It’s 100% wire-free and captures video details in 2K. We also have a motion activated floodlight just as powerful as your car’s headlights and it can light up the entire yard or scare off an intruder. The beauty of this product is that its 100% DIY so it can run off solar power or battery power and an electrician is not needed to set it up and get it up and running. The next product we have coming through is a new line-up of cameras – our Essential family of cameras. The first product will be the Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera. It’s going to provide great value for homes and businesses that are getting into the smart home or want to install their first monitoring camera. Its 100% wire-free, full HD video, weather resistant, two-way audio and integrated spotlight with colour night vision and it will be available early September.”
20
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
Q&A AR
Your message to the market ARISIT
Simon Taylor
MANAGING DIRECTOR “Patience is the first thing that pops to mind with the increased volumes of people coming into stores – everyone wants everything now. Try to be patient and understand that everyone is doing their best to do everything they can, and I think I speak on behalf of all suppliers and retailers. I am expecting current volumes to continue throughout the remainder of the year, but the challenge is that we are all going to run into stock shortages. Understand that everyone has tried to get the stock in – it’s just a volume thing. The pressure on everyone to deliver is unprecedented and I think we just need to be understanding of that. And enjoy, it is great business and we are lucky to be on a side of business that is benefitting from these tragic circumstances.”
“From our perspective as a local 74-year old family business to our local partners, we are looking to join with our retail clients to stay nimble, work with stock issues and our supply partners have been very understanding through the pandemic so far. We understand that expectations and reality probably aren’t aligning as much as we would like but those lines of communication are so important in this situation. We look for continued support and continued transparency which is vital to enable us as a business to join the dots from supplier to end result for our clients. We know that there are still some hurdles to overcome but we work with the world’s best brands – Miele, Smeg, Neff, Gaggenau, Weber, Gessi – there is such a huge range of support options available in Adelaide, in Australia and overseas. Aligning with key partners bodes well for us as a business moving forward.”
RAWSONS
Peter Lawson
MARKETING MANAGER
JURA
George Liakatos
MANAGING DIRECTOR “There is a lot to be optimistic about. It is challenging no doubt, the environment that we are in is a difficult one, particularly here in Melbourne, where the health situation hasn’t improved but all of us in the industry can see how much we have personally benefited with an increased focus on the home and I don’t see that dissipating anytime soon. People will naturally gravitate towards creating a nice environment in their home, whether it be a coffee machine or homewares, I think we will see this space grow significantly in the next six to 12 months. Retailers, as are we, are really buoyed by the announcements made concerning the economic stimulus through JobKeeper and JobSeeker. I think having some guarantee that those measures will continue after September has been very welcomed and it gives us a certain amount of confidence that there will be stimulus and strong economic activity. It is challenging, it is concerning but overall, the message should be one of optimism. Certainly, we are looking at it that way and planning for an even bigger 2021.”
www.applianceretailer.com.au
21
TV range in the Bi-Rite Underwood store.
Bi-Rite welcomes AV specialists to the group BY EMILY BENCIC
Len Wallis Audio Sydney, New South Wales. (photo credit: Peter Tsui)
22
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
Todds Hi-Fi Brisbane, Queensland.
Complete Audio Maroochydore, Queensland.
Bang & Olufsen Adelaide, South Australia.
O
RETAIL PROFILE AR
ver the last 12 months, Bi-Rite has been working on a project to incorporate audio specialists from around the country into the group. Four stores have been welcomed so far: Todds Hi-Fi in Brisbane, QLD, Complete Audio in Maroochydore, QLD, Len Wallis Audio in Sydney, NSW, and Bang & Olufsen in Adelaide, SA. Bi-Rite’s Hamza Hussein said their attention to service and customer experience is a perfect fit with the group’s ethos and once coupled with the efficiency of the backend of its business, it was a logical choice for these members. “With a lot of these specialist members, there was a strong focus on audio, however, as the television market evolved over the last 10 years, there has been a gap in their visual offering,” he told Appliance Retailer. “Traditionally these stores have provided a total home theatre solution focusing on projectors, as well as being aligned with brands like Panasonic for the visual story. Understandably, the television category is one which sees massive changes in technology, functionality and form factor every year. In particular, LG’s premium OLED televisions have been a great product to match the customer profile of a specialist store.” Allan Todd from Todds Hi-Fi said, “Joining Bi-Rite has given us access to major brands like LG who do not sell to Independent retailers. BiRite has a low overhead structure and an excellent buying team with savings passed back to us.” Tony Ovenden from Complete Audio said, “We were recommended to the Bi-Rite group by an industry colleague and we haven’t been disappointed. Excellent people and excellent systems have made it a great move for us.” Len Wallis Audio said, “It made a lot of sense for Len Wallis Audio to join Bi-Rite. It gave us access to a wide range of TV screens, in particular from LG, at competitive and consistent pricing.” Daniel James Porter from Bang & Olufsen said, “Bang & Olufsen Adelaide has collaborated with the Bi-Rite specialty AV team to provide customers with the most comprehensive retail experience. Bi-Rite has enabled us to have a direct relationship with brands like LG, to enhance the customer experience from marketing through to purchase and after sales support. “This integrated approach simplifies the market chain, whilst building consumer confidence and brand recognition. We now have ease of access to AV solutions and can expand our horizons whilst providing all options to the customer in the specialty market.” Bi-Rite’s Hamza Hussein concluded: “We are in discussion with a number of other retailers and look forward to growing the group with other like-minded members”. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au
23
AR NEWS and passionate individuals that have serviced the industry for many years. I have also had the privilege of employing the next generation of appliance industry specialists which has been a pleasure to watch them grow and step up to the challenge, some of which have moved into management in a relatively short period in time. I am fortunate to have had an amazing career and I look forward to the next chapter in my life. I thank all who I have worked with. I know it is no one individual that makes you a success, it’s the team you have that come together that makes us all a success.” E&S retail operations manager, Mike Bishop retired in July 2020.
E&S AND MIELE EXECS TRIBUTE TO MIKE
Mike Bishop retires from the appliance industry after 26 years
E
&S retail operations manager, Mike Bishop has retired from the industry following a career spanning 26 years, of which the last six years was with E&S. Former Narta national retail manager, Mark Tragear has been appointed as his successor. Tragear’s relationship with E&S spans more than 20 years, which first began in 1999 when he represented Sampford & Staff and worked with E&S on Gaggenau and Hansgrohe. Bishop started in the appliance industry in 1994 as sales manager in South Australia for Backwell IXL (now known as IXL Home). In 1998, he moved to Victoria as state manager and later became the regional manager for south west. Six years later in 2004, Bishop moved from IXL to Miele and spent eight years as state manager for Victoria. In 2012, he was appointed to head of retail for Miele Australia. In 2014, he transitioned to E&S as retail operations manager. Commenting on his retirement, Bishop said he has enjoyed working for privately owned family businesses for the past 26 years. “The industry has changed significantly over the years but the one thing that has remained consistent is the advancement in technology and consumers’ hunger to drive demand,” he said. “Most recently, I have very much enjoyed the opportunity to work for the Sinclair family business at E&S – a truly amazing retailer that always puts staff and the customer first, a true credit to Rob, Mike and Greg Lake. “During my time with E&S, I have had the privilege of working with some experienced
24
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
E&S executive director, Greg Lake first employed Bishop in 1994 while he was national sales and marketing manager at IXL. Bishop was the first sales manager for IXL in South Australia. “In his time at E&S Mike has been instrumental in helping shape our retail experience as well as contributing at a more senior level as part of the executive management group. Mike has been one of those quiet achievers that just gets the job done. One who never looks for the accolades, always humble, but dogged in his approach to what it takes to run a successful retail business. He is one of this industry’s true gentlemen, and someone that I will personally miss having around. On behalf of everyone at E&S, I wish Mike and his wife Debbie all the best in their retirement and thank him very much for the enormous contribution he has made to not just E&S, but the industry as a whole.” Former Miele Australia and New Zealand managing director, Michael Jeanes said when he first took the helm in 2005, Bishop was assisting Miele state manager for Victoria, Alan Bell. “When Alan retired, Mike was his natural successor and he not only proved to be an excellent replacement but became a reliable sounding board for the changes that I looked to implement nationally,” he said. “Mike’s longstanding relationships with the Victorian retailers were based on a mutual respect and trust that grew even deeper during my tenure. “When we changed our structure from a state led operation to a national one broken down by channel, Mike was the only candidate I considered to manage the Miele Chartered Agents. He was able to transfer his knowledge and experience built in Victoria to all our Agents on a national basis. “Mike had a long and distinguished career with Miele and when he left in 2014 to join E&S, Miele’s loss was their gain. Mike is and always will be committed to his family and I know from experience they will be at the heart of his retirement plans. Patricia and I wish him, Deb and their family all the best that retirement will bring.” AR
BUILT–IN PREMIUM OVENS AND COOKTOPS IN HIGH DEMAND
AR BUILT-IN COOKING
Built-in appliances continue hold over freestanding counterparts BY EMILY BENCIC
W
ith consumers spending more time at home and eating meals out less often, there has been an uptick in the replacement market for cooking appliances, coupled with upgrading appliances with kitchen renovations – perhaps earlier than anticipated due to concerns around stock availability – which has seen the cooking category go from strength to strength over the past few months. Despite growth in freestanding cookers, built-in cooking appliances continue to drive volume in sales in the major cooking appliance market, according to recent Euromonitor data, with consumers accepting higher average sell prices (ASPs) across built-in ovens and cooktops. Consumers are investing in home renovations with the kitchen one of the first rooms to be renovated, again driving sales growth for cooking appliances. In particular, steam cooking is picking up pace with more consumers opting for appliances that offer steam options. According to Euromonitor, Electrolux Home Products (EHP) leads the charge in the major cooking appliance market with both Electrolux and Westinghouse brands, although Bosch and Smeg also have strong market share. AR
Smeg Classic Oven SFPA9305SPX
`Thermoseal Plus `Multi-step cooking `Temperature probe `Pyrolytic cleaning RRP: $8,990
SMEG
Leon Wolf National Product & Procurement Manager Sleek and minimalist looks are high on the agenda for built-in appliances with consumers choosing complementary colour palettes to suit their interior style, according to Smeg’s Leon Wolf. “The built-in appliance category has seen an increase in demand for monochromatic colourways, as consumers strive to fully integrate new appliances into their existing kitchens. In addition, the category has seen the introduction of a wide variety of cooking technologies and functions encouraging aspiring home cooks to take cooking to the next level,” he said. With consumers increasingly time poor, demand for innovative, easy to use oven functionality is more prominent than ever as it allows consumers to ‘set and forget’. “Cooking prepared meals in the oven using a pre-set time and temperature allows users to focus on more important tasks at hand. New functionalities such as Smeg’s automatic
cooking programs ensure every meal is cooked to perfection. For example, determining whether steam and temperature probes are necessary to provide the ultimate cooking environment. The new multi-step cooking function on the reimagined Classic range allows consumers to perfect time intensive, method dense dishes such as pork belly.” The renovation market has been growing with consumers wanting to breathe new life into the kitchen as they spend more time at home. “WIth this rise, there is an increased opportunity for built-in appliances to match projected demand and as such, provides the opportunity for enhanced category performance,” Wolf said. AR
PROMOTION
With the purchase of a Smeg Classic or Victoria built-in or freestanding cooker, plus two other appliances, consumers will go in the draw to win $10,000 towards a kitchen renovation. Purchase three appliances from Smeg’s Dolce Stil Novo or Linea collections and receive 10% off the purchase price and add a fourth product to increase the discount to 15%.
AR BUILT-IN COOKING
ELBA APPLIANCES Helen Finlayson Category Manager
2020 has heralded a return to the kitchen with the emergence of a new wave of home cooks, Elba Appliances’ Helen Finlayson said. “Now more than ever, kitchens are the hub of family activity. Consumers seek built-in appliances that not only look good and complement the space, but deliver on performance, are user-friendly and easy to clean.” With more people cooking at home, there is high expectation that their oven will be easy to use and produce the desired results.
Omega 90cm Gas Cooktop OCG95FFETGG
“Cleaning is also paramount. No one wants to cook in a dirty oven or spend the time to clean it. Pyrolytic models are now more affordable, and whilst the technology has been around for years, it has fast become a must-have feature.”
RRP: $899
`Front knob controls `Five burners featuring flame failure `Anodised matte black enamel coated with cast iron trivets `Lateral wok burner to allow space for other pots and pans
SHRIRO
With factory closures in Italy impacting production, coupled with high demand locally, there has been pressure on supply.
Michael Sultana Divisional Manager – Product
“No amount of forward planning could have foreseen the extent of the issue. However, we are now open for business and have ramped up production lines,” she said.
Consumers are moving away from stainless steel appliances and are seeking black glass and dark finishes to fit within current kitchen design trends, Shriro’s Michael Sultana said.
Finlayson expects dark stainless steel to continue growing but said the upswing in consumer demand will be seen when technologies, such as pyrolytic cleaning and auto cook programs, become even more affordable. AR
“Omega recently launched a range of ovens incorporating a sleek black glass finish with newly designed handle and knobs. Additionally, the Omega double oven was updated with the 60cm double oven ODO684XTGG launching into The Good Guys with positive feedback so far.”
PROMOTION
De’Longhi executes a year-round calendar of promotional activity to support the builtin cooking category. The promotions offer a generous consumer bonus to provide increased incentive to close the sale.
De’Longhi 60cm Oven DEP7410P `11 function touch control `Pizza function cooks crispy pizza in under 5 minutes `Larger 85 litre cavity in the same 60cm cut-out size `Pyrolytic self-cleaning and cool touch triple glaze doors RRP: $2,499 28
Appliance Retailer August April / May / September 2020 2020
The Omega double oven offers a total 102 litre capacity – 42 litres in the top oven and 60 litres in the bottom oven with easy view door and interior light. There are eight functions and a programmable touch timer, in addition to automatic switch off. The oven comes with two chrome wire shelves, one shallow baking tray and one grill insert for RRP $999. With the new range of ovens, Omega has launched a new range of gas cooktops in 60cm and 90cm. “Newly designed cast iron trivets give the Omega brand a distinctive look and feel, alongside new knobs that can be seen on the ovens as a perfect complement,” Sultana said. Within the gas cooktop range, Omega has introduced a new black enamel finished gas cooktop in 60cm and 90cm, in response to the trend toward dark appliances. AR
AR BUILT-IN COOKING
MIELE
Kylie Taylor Senior Product Manager – Built-in Cooking Miele has launched its largest ever built-in appliance range to date, the Generation 7000, offering never-before-seen technology that makes daily cooking tasks simpler and more enjoyable, Kylie Taylor said. “With more people spending time at home, an increasing number of consumers are wanting to cook restaurant quality meals and experiment in their own kitchens, so we are proud to offer built-in cooking appliances that had the home chef in mind during design and creation. Offering Miele Con@ctivity through our Wi-Fi connected technology and Miele@mobile app, customers can control or monitor their built-in appliances remotely.” A key category trend is the need for greater integration of kitchen appliances into everyday life with consumers seeking appliances and product features that help make the cooking process as seamless as possible. “In the cooktop category, customers want to use the appliance to its full potential. Earlier this year, Miele launched the Generation 7000 Full Surface Cooktop allowing up to six pots or pans to be placed on the surface and the heat settings replicated wherever they might move them.” Taylor said there are no major challenges impacting category performance; however, given the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 lockdowns and more people staying home, Miele has had to find ways to engage customers to experience product benefits before they buy.
Miele Oven H 7860 BP
`Reacts to movements with intuitive motiondetecting technology, MotionReact `FoodView integrated camera allows users to watch food and adjust settings remotely `MoisturePlus creates superior roasting and baking results with additional moisture `Integrated wireless food probe with display that shows cook time remaining RRP: $8,099 30
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
New features to watch in the Miele built-in range include the ability for the appliance to react to users, with oven lights and displays turning on as someone walks past with MotionReact.
“We have been working to bring the Miele experience into people’s homes and through social media content including IGTVs, Q&As with our culinary experts and chef ambassadors to help customers along their purchase journey,” she said. New features to watch in the Miele built-in range include the ability for the appliance to react to users, with oven lights and displays turning on as someone walks past with MotionReact. Overbaking or overcooking is now a thing of the past with TasteControl, as the door automatically opens slightly at the end of the cooking cycle to rapidly cool the oven. A maintenance temperature can be set from the appliance or via the Miele@mobile app to keep food warm or allow meat to rest. AR
PROMOTION
The ongoing Miele Kitchen Package benefit allows customers to save up to 10% in-store and online on Miele kitchen appliances packages of up to five appliances.
BOSCH HOME APPLIANCES Christine Haas Product Manager – Cooking
The convenience offered by pyrolytic selfcleaning, added steam and full steam functions are driving the built-in oven market, according to Bosch’s Christine Haas. “Consumers are often looking for appliances that make their daily lives easier and their time spent in the kitchen as enjoyable as possible,” she said. “Consumers are cooking more at home and are seeking healthy recipe options. This is where steam cooking comes in as it preserves vitamins and minerals and is prepared without the use of oil and fat.”
Bertazzoni 60cm Oven F6011HERVPTAC
`11 functions `Touch TFT display and knobs `Total steam functionality and pyrolytic self-cleaning `Soft opening, quadruple glazed door RRP: $4,499
BERTAZZONI
George Alikakos General Manager – Sales
Another major trend Haas has observed is the increasing importance of design and style when selecting new appliances for the home.
COVID-19 has forced the world to change and as a consequence, we have built up the home fortress with food and new ways to nourish ourselves and our family, Bertazzoni’s George Alikakos said.
“We have seen a significant shift from more traditional stainless steel to sleek black glass as the predominant design aesthetic. Consumers are getting more comfortable experimenting with different materials and designs in their kitchens along with their choices of hardware and kitchen furniture,” she said.
“Consumers are trying new recipes in the safety of the kitchen – food is not only nourishment but a new hobby, adventure and way to bond. Healthier eating habits have created a greater desire to produce meals that are better for us.” There has been a strong replacement market for dated, commodity appliances that are no longer working, but with international travel restrictions, there are also people taking their appliances to the next level, according to Alikakos.
In addition to this design trend, there has been a shift toward two full size models rather than compact combination steam or microwave oven. In response, Bosch has released a black full-size combination steam oven in the Series 8 range.
“We are seeing people invest in their home and upgrade their cooking appliances in terms of design and function.”
A major challenge for the built-in cooking category is overwhelming choice for consumers. “The challenge is understanding how features will benefit consumers and educating them to make a choice that they will be happy with for the lifetime of their kitchen.” AR
Bosch Series 8 Oven HSG656XB6A `Steam function with sous-vide `4D HotAir for even heat distribution `TFT touchscreen control with full text and colour images `Bosch Assist sets optimal type of heat, temperature and time for a range of dishes RRP: $5,399
Rather than just upgrading one or two appliances, consumers are purchasing the complete kitchen suite, from an air movement system, induction or gas hob, compact oven (microwave or steam), warming drawer, built-in ovens and dishwasher. The biggest challenge during COVID-19 has been added complexity to forecasting and production cycles. “However, the business is very supportive of the Australian market and responsive to our needs,” he said. AR
PROMOTION
Package pricing is available for customers purchasing a complete Bertazzoni kitchen suite. With the purchase of two appliances, customers will receive a 5% discount; three appliances attracts a 7% discount and four or more appliances is eligible for a 10% discount.
www.applianceretailer.com.au
31
AR BUILT-IN COOKING
Fisher & Paykel Oven OB60SDPTDB1 `Pyrolytic self-cleaning technology `16 cooking functions and a food probe `AeroTech technology circulates heat evenly `CoolTouch door ensures the oven is safe to touch from the outside RRP: $3,399
FISHER & PAYKEL
Charlene Dizon Product Manager – Cooking Kitchen design trends continue to evolve and although white kitchens remain a relatively safe choice, black is also being considered as a timeless choice, according to Fisher & Paykel’s Charlene Dizon. “Black appliances are incredibly striking and have been embraced by designers because they are simple and elegant and don’t distract or add visual clutter to a kitchen. The precision and gloss of black glass can be an ideal contrast with natural materials like timber veneer or stone and can add a crispness and definition to a space with a lot of texture,” she said. “We expect the popularity of black appliances to continue and at Fisher & Paykel, our hero products are our minimal black appliances that can retreat into a dark colour scheme and look seamless in the kitchen.” In addition to the increasing shift to black appliances, combi-steam ovens remain in demand as they deliver convenience with faster cooking times and a healthier alternative to baking. “Fisher & Paykel’s combination steam oven offers two-in-one-functions, allowing ingredients 32
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
to retain their nutrients and flavours, moisture content and colouration through steam whilst the convention element allows for even and quick cooking,” she said. When asked about noteworthy technology or features making their way into the category, Dizon highlighted guided cooking as one to watch. “Fisher & Paykel’s new range of built-in touchscreen ovens help cooks of all skill levels intuitively produce perfect results in the kitchen. The high-resolution digital interface lets users cook by key ingredient, food type or pre-loaded recipes – either following step-by-step or creating a dish with their own signature twist. This is supported by Fisher & Paykel Wi-Fi Connect.” AR
PROMOTION
With the purchase of an eligible Fisher & Paykel appliance from a participating retailer, consumers can extend the two-year manufacturer’s warranty by an additional three years with the same terms and conditions. This offer is available via an online claim until 31 December 2020.
ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS
Dominic Wong Category Manager – Food Preparation The modern kitchen is about more than just cooking, and in many families, it is the multifunctional heart of the home, according to Electrolux’s Dominic Wong. “With consumers spending increased time at home, and cooking more, they are also demanding a lot more from their appliances,” he said. There is a strong desire for appliances that make cooking simple, and in response Westinghouse recently launched two new induction cooktops (WHI645BC and WHI945BC) with BoilProtect, and an oven with SteamAssist and AirFry technology (WVEP618DSC) which enables consumers to airfry directly in the oven. In addition, the unique tray ensures that every bit of food is surrounded by hot air to maximise crispness and tenderness without having to turn food. “With an increasing reliance on digital content amid COVID-19, consumers are now looking to online product ratings and reviews in the research phase of the purchase decision,” Wong said. AR
PROMOTION
The new Westinghouse product launch has been supported by TV and online advertising, as well as PR activity.
Westinghouse 90cm Black Glass Gas Cooktop WHG958BC
`19 MJ/h for high heat with even flame distribution `Smart Dual Valve flame control goes from boil to simmer in an instant `Cast iron trivets feature a flat design for a safe and stable cooking environment `Flame Failure Device automatically shuts down the gas supply if the cooktop flame unexpectedly goes out RRP: $1,649
GLEM GAS Emilia 60cm Oven EMF61MVI
`Triple glass door `10 amp plug in connection `Five cooking functions with fan assisted gas function `Electricity not required to operate, ideal for off grid applications RRP: $1,599
David Gilmore Managing Director Although it has been a complex year and it is difficult to predict the future, Glem Gas’ David Gilmore said there is no reason to have a pessimistic outlook for the built-in appliance market. “Demand for our built-in appliances has been surprising with sales ahead of our forecasts and expectations.” Over time Glem and Emilia ovens and cooktops, especially gas, have become more popular with an increasing interest in self-sufficiency, which has made gas an important energy consideration, according to Gilmore. “Alongside the trend toward gas, design and styling continue to be an important consideration, and consumers are more interested in the addition of steam functions and seeking increased oven capacities.” Gilmore said there was no new challenges impacting the built-in category, other than the usual issues with distribution, price and demand. “Connectivity is making its way into the category, but the benefits are yet to be proven. Do we really need cameras inside ovens to watch the frozen pizza cook on our phones?” AR www.applianceretailer.com.au
33
AR BUILT-IN COOKING
ARISIT
Andrea Gunn National Retail Sales Manager Consumers have been forced to spend more time at home, and in many cases, reacquainted themselves with their kitchens, learning to enjoy the art of cooking again, Arisit’s Andrea Gunn said. “Consumers are becoming more educated and aware of products and features available to them, as well as the range of appliances that can aesthetically enhance their kitchen. They are no longer looking at appliances that serve a purpose and just do the basics.” One major trend is a growing awareness of the benefits of steam cooking. The new Ariston FA3S841PIXAAUS gentle steam oven is designed as an introduction into steam cooking with eight functions, three steam levels, pyrolytic cleaning and a five-year warranty. “We are also starting to see smart cooking appliances being launched into the market. Used in conjunction with smart home hubs and mobile apps, connected products are designed to perform the simplest of cooking tasks, through to providing recipes and menu options, as well as suggested shopping lists to minimise food waste,” she said.
34
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
“
As more connected products enter the market, we may see brands that don’t have this technology available diminish.
”
With an increasing desire for innovation, Gunn said the gas cooktop category, which has not seen any significant innovation in recent times, may be impacted moving forward. “With the continual growth in induction, now with the addition of connectivity, gas cooktops may start to take a back seat. Further, as more connected products enter the market, we may see brands that don’t have this technology available diminish,” she said. AR
Ariston Induction Cooktop NIS 952 FB AUS `Five induction cooking zones `Instant temperature control `Two Flexi-Zone cooking areas `Three automatic cooking features: simmer, boil and melt RRP: $2,999
GAGGENAU
Olya Yemchenko Brand Communications Manager Gaggenau has seen a sustained focus on design within the built-in cooking category, particularly when it comes to the integration of appliances in stacked tower or horizontal configurations, Olya Yemchenko said. “Home chefs are looking for a wide array of appliances to suit various cooking techniques to enjoy culinary exploration, while creating an impressive visual display within their home.” A key trend that shows no sign of slowing down is steam and sous-vide cooking methods. “The health and flavour benefits of steamed food not only impress star chefs but can be achieved in the home with appliances such as the Gaggenau combi-steam oven paired with the Gaggenau vacuuming drawer.” The biggest challenge facing the category is consumers sacrificing their desired appliances, simply because they can’t visualise how it would fit within their kitchen space. “When it comes to designing a kitchen that utilises space in the most efficient way, many consumers struggle, especially with island benchtops. It can be daunting to find the perfect balance of design and functionality,” she said. “The Gaggenau Vario 400 and 200 series cooktops create a cohesive work surface by combining modular cooktops and ventilation, allowing a grill, teppanyaki, deep fryer and downdraft ventilation to sit together as one cohesive workspace alongside induction or gas cooktops.”
Gaggenau Combi-Steam Oven 400 Series BS 470 112 `Stainless steel-backed full glass door `Handleless door and automatic door opening `Rotary knob and TFT touch display operation `Ability to save individual recipes including core temperature probe
Gaggenau has recently refreshed its 400 and 200 series ovens, introducing fixed water connections to ensure that fresh water is constantly available. The addition of a multicore temperature probe to both series, offers an accurate reading with a variance of one degree within a certain range. The probe features three temperature sensors and continually revises the estimated cooking time based on the sensor’s readings. The oven cavity of the new combi-steam ovens 400 and 200 series has been increased to 50 litres filling the full width of the appliance. AR
RRP: $11,999
www.applianceretailer.com.au
35
AR BUILT-IN COOKING
FROM THE FLOOR
L&M Goldstar – Trina Hockley
36
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
T
here has been a noticeable increase in premium appliance sales at L&M Goldstar located in Burleigh Heads, Queensland. L&M managing director, Trina Hockley attributes this to the shift in discretionary spend with international travel budgets now being used to upgrade the kitchen. “I expect this growth to continue and hold a positive outlook for the major appliance category with consumers spending more time at home and re-assessing their cooking needs,” she told Appliance Retailer. “Furthermore, brand loyalty has tapered with customers switching to other manufacturers due to stock issues caused by COVID-19.” When asked for the top performing categories in the built-in market, induction cooktops and steam ovens topped the list, as they offer tangible benefits to the end-consumer. Hockley also expects the connected home to become more present in the kitchen. “Australians are early adopters of new technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) so this should translate to cooking. For example, ‘Hey Google, pre-heat my oven to 180 degrees’.” Currently the most important considerations when making a purchase decision are local support, brand popularity, particularly for resale, as well as online reviews. “Promotions are also now an expected part of the selling and buying experience. Customers will purchase during bonus periods; however, the marketing needs to be targeted directly to consumers,” she said. L&M Goldstar is a member of Designer Appliances created by the BSR Group in 2019 for cooking specialist retailers. AR
FREESTANDING UPRIGHT COOKERS TO SUIT ALL KITCHEN DESIGNS
AR FREESTANDING COOKING
New colourways and technologies adding to premium features
W
BY KYMBERLY MARTIN
hen it comes to the most popular cooker arrangement across Australian kitchens, look no further than a separate cooktop and oven, which accounts for around 60% of cooking facilities, according to the latest BIS Oxford Economics research. “Within this segment, there is little separating electric cooktop/electric oven and gas cooktop/electric oven, while gas cooktops with gas ovens are less popular,” associate director market research, Paul Giles told Appliance Retailer. However, he said noticeable differences occur across states. For example, in Queensland there is a strong preference for an electric cooktop/electric oven set-up, while in Western Australia and Victoria the gas cooktop/electric oven combination is preferred, he said. Outside of separate cooktops and ovens, uprights can be found in around 30% of Australian kitchens and are most prevalent in shared and single households. “Interestingly around 10% of kitchens contain a cooktop only with no oven,” Giles said. BIS Oxford Economics has just completed detailed research into ownership rates and trends across a range of household appliance in Australia with 5,000 households involved weighted up to 9.2 million households nationally. AR
STAND THE TEST OF TIME
38
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
Smeg’s Classic collection was designed by world renowned architect Guido Canali 35 years ago. Symbolising the best of form and function with technological performance, a Classic freestanding cooker will deliver the best results every time in undeniable Smeg style.
SMEG
“
Monochromatic colourways, especially black, showcased through pure gloss and matte finishes, are a dominant trend.
”
Leon Wolf National Product & Procurement Manager
Smeg Portofino Pyrolytic Cooker CPF9GPANA
`Thermoseal technology `Optimal energy efficiency `126 litre capacity `Rapid preheat RRP: $7,490
Over time, freestanding cooking has begun to reflect similar trends to the built-in cooking category. In the past, Smeg has seen freestanding cookers act as the central element to the layout and design of a new kitchen. However, in recent times this mindset has shifted amongst consumers, Leon Wolf said. “Now integration is at the forefront and freestanding cookers with seamless lines and sleek designs are selected to incorporate effortlessly with existing kitchen cabinetry and appliances,” he said. Monochromatic colourways, especially black, showcased through pure gloss and matte finishes, are a dominant trend too, although consumer colour preferences are constantly evolving. “There is an increased desire for appliances that blend into the overall kitchen aesthetic. In addition, the trend of pyrolytic cookers is still evolving, in the same way built-in ovens did several years ago. With cookers boasting large family size capacities, the need for a pyrolytic cleaning function is growing and the range of brands offering this is also increasing. “Similarly to built-in, the recent rise in the renovation market introduces a unique opportunity for freestanding cooker category performance, as consumers seek to reimagine their existing kitchen appliances with innovative technology and design,” he said. AR
PROMOTION
Purchase a Smeg Classic or Victoria built-in or freestanding cooker plus two other appliances and go in the draw to win $10,000 towards a kitchen renovation. Purchase three appliances from Smeg including the Portofino collection and receive 10% off the purchase price. Add a fourth product to increase the discount to 15%.
www.applianceretailer.com.au
39
AR FREESTANDING COOKING
ANDI-CO
Robin Werth Marketing Manager So far this year Falcon has experienced strong performance in range cooker sales, according to Robin Werth. “With home cooking on the rise and consumers spending more time in the home due to COVID-19, the need and desire for cooking appliances is on the increase,” he said. “Whether sales have been brought forward or the recent growth has been incremental remains to be seen, but one thing for certain is that consumer behaviour will continue to evolve and that Falcon is well-positioned to respond to these changes.”
ILVE Majestic Series Freestanding Cooker
`TFT touch control display `Burner with Nano technology `Five sizes and eight colour options `Soft close door and drawer RRP: TBC
He said Falcon is seeing strong growth in new colourways and finishes with slate and stainless steel leading the way along with softer shades, such as China Blue, now offered in the new Falcon Elise model. Falcon is also experiencing growth in customisation and the opportunity to create a unique kitchen statement.
EUROLINX
Daniel Bertuccio Marketing Manager
“Consumer investment into their homes and renovations is driving current growth but the longterm outlook remains uncertain.”
The home appliances industry seems to have progressed ‘as usual’ through the COVID-19 epidemic and looks to be coming out the other end unscathed which is good for all involved, according to Daniel Bertuccio.
This year Falcon has introduced the Nexus SE 110cm range cooker with a dedicated slow cooking compartment and contemporary symmetrical design, as well as the Elise, a European design influenced by French kitchens in new colour schemes and nickel accents.
“Currently we are seeing some positive signs. We have found that special order products and larger platform cookers have been popular amongst customers. It is to be expected that there is a delay with products arriving from Italy so this may be a precaution but as many travel plans have been cancelled perhaps that same money is being redirected into home improvement. This is another positive for the category as a whole.”
In late 2020 Falcon will launch Nexus Steam, Australia’s first range cooker with a dedicated injection steam oven. AR
PROMOTION
Nexus Steam will be supported via a full marketing campaign and roll-out of dedicated in-store display stands.
Falcon Nexus Steam
`35 litre steam oven with grill element and descale function `79 litre multifunction oven with 11 functions `Bread proving/warming drawer `In black, slate, stainless steel and ivory with black glass fascia panel RRP: From $14,984 40
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
A big product upgrade for ILVE is the new Majestic Series cookers that were launched in July. The upgrade incorporates new features including a touch control 4.3-inch TFT colour display, burner with Nano technology ‘Lotus effect’ matte black finish, oven cavity, soft close door and drawer, as well as a copper/rose gold knob and handle option. These upgrades are also set to appear on other ranges later this year with new built-in products such as a 3-in-1 microwave/steam/oven scheduled for late 2020 or early 2021. AR
PROMOTION
The focus is on launching the ILVE agency model with premium cookers and promotional activity still to be confirmed.
STAND THE TEST OF TIME
Smeg’s Classic collection was designed by world renowned architect Guido Canali 35 years ago. Symbolising the best of form and function with technological performance, a Classic freestanding cooker will deliver the best results every time in undeniable Smeg style.
AR FREESTANDING COOKING
De’Longhi Vintage Cooker DEFV908BK `Family size 130 litre gross capacity `Eight cooking functions including rotisserie `Catalytic liners and telescopic runners `Powerful gas cooktop with dual burner RRP: $4,299
ELBA APPLIANCES Helen Finlayson Category Manager
More kitchen designs and configurations are incorporating a freestanding oven, that is no longer the domain of the country kitchen, Elba Appliances Helen Finlayson said. “Today’s freestanding ovens will not look out of place in a contemporary kitchen with clean sleek lines.” According to Finlayson, these ovens now represent over 40% of total ovens sold, with over 50% of those sales being 90cm and over. “This will continue as manufacturers increasingly offer the same features and technologies as they do in for their built-in ranges. “As mentioned earlier, larger capacity ovens dominate the space but we are also seeing a move away from traditional robust stainless steel design to contemporary designs featuring more glass and dark stainless steel.” The De’Longhi Black Vintage design is also enjoying growth with smooth, rounded edges that are a contemporary take on the traditional Vintage cooker design.” As for challenges, she said with the De’Longhi built-in oven category 100% Italian-made, manufacturing and supply has been an issue. “We are playing catch-up as demand has not abated but we are now in recovery mode.” Freestanding ovens will increasingly carry the same technologies as their built-in counterparts, she said. Features such as high output burners, telescopic runners, larger capacity ovens and twin fan cooking used to afford a heavy premium, but are now available across a range or price points. “This gives more consumers access to technologies that will help make their cooking experiences seamless,” she said. AR 42
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
“
We are also seeing a move away from traditional robust stainless steel design to contemporary designs featuring more glass and dark stainless steel.
”
BOSCH
Christine Haas Product Manager – Cooking In the freestanding cooking category, larger size appliances of 90cm+ widths continue to be an important segment in Australia for Bosch, according to Christine Haas. “In terms of kitchen trends, which generally lean towards seamless built-in options, there will always be consumers looking to make a statement and this is where freestanding cookers come into their own,” Haas said. “While design aesthetics might drive the major trend, consumers also require products that are flexible enough to meet their design needs, and in some cases, the timelessly elegant look of freestanding cookers perfectly fits the bill.” She said as consumers become more educated and undertake more in-depth research before making their purchase decision, they are also increasingly discerning and demanding in their expectations when it comes to the variety of designs and the usability functions of what is available on the Australian market.
Bosch Series 8 Dual Fuel Freestanding Cooker HSB838357A `Pyrolytic self-cleaning with three stage function `112 litre capacity plus rotisserie `Six gas burners with 14 Mj/h dual wok burner `10 heating modes RRP: $4,899
As for new technologies Haas nominated pyrolytic cleaning for its time saving benefits. AR
www.applianceretailer.com.au
43
AR FREESTANDING COOKING
MIELE
James Cameron Product Manager – Cooktops & Rangehoods Consumers continue to seek out a more premium offering in the freestanding cooker category that incorporates technological innovations and the integration of multiple appliances into one, according to Miele’s James Cameron. “They are looking for an appliance that can integrate perfectly into any kitchen design.” In 2019, Miele entered the category with its first freestanding cooker to the local market, with design and product features influenced by American models, combined with German engineering and the unique Miele technology that consumers seek out, Cameron said. “This has been our first year in the freestanding cooker market and it has been great to add another competitive model to the space.” Key features to watch are the Speed combination oven and warming drawer integration. Both Miele cookers have oven and microwave capabilities, creating a sense of ease for the home chef. AR
Miele Freestanding Cooker HR1956G PROMOTION
The Miele Kitchen Package offers customers up to 10% in-store and online on Miele kitchen appliances packages comprising up to five appliances.
44
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
`Six burners and grill plate `Speed oven and warming drawer integration `Wireless food probe measures core temperature of food during cooking `Save up to 20 favourite cooking programs at the touch of a button RRP: $32,999
Fisher & Paykel Freestanding Cooker OR90SCG6B1
`CoolTouch door `Pyrolytic self-cleaning `140 litre capacity `10 cooking functions RRP: $5,999
FISHER & PAYKEL
Charlene Dizon Product Manager – Cooking Large capacity ovens remain a favourite for serious home cooks and entertainers who have a taste for pushing culinary boundaries, according to Charlene Dizon. “Freestanding cookers are designed to respect a heritage design aesthetic while bringing modern cooking technology to the kitchen. Freestanding cookers offer the best of both worlds, with a dual fuel cooktop and oven providing plenty of space to cook multiple dishes at once,” she said. A technology that has made its way into the category is AeroTech that circulates air evenly throughout the entire oven so dishes on the top shelf turn out just as perfectly as the food cooking on the bottom shelf. AR
PROMOTION
Purchase a qualifying Fisher & Paykel appliance from a participating retailer until December 31, 2020 to be eligible to claim online for an extension of the two-year manufacturer warranty by an additional three years with identical terms and conditions.
www.applianceretailer.com.au
45
AR FREESTANDING COOKING
GLEM GAS
David Gilmore Managing Director The freestanding cooking appliance market has remained strong through the pandemic, but according to David Gilmore, it is too early for any evidence showing a swing towards freestanding away from built-in. “However, the signs are good and we feel confident about the future for freestanding cookers,” he said. Colours, especially black continue to sell strongly and large oven capacities and higher quality products across the market are trending well. His view on challenges was to keep freestanding cookers important for retailers because they take up a lot of floor space, so need to show a return. “If the area allocated to freestanding cookers is reduced, the category performance will reduce along with it. While freestanding cooker sales have performed well this year there is a lot of pressure from categories such as refrigeration for retail floor space.”
Glem Bi Energy Cooker IT965GGEN2 Bi
`90cm in Gloss Black `Roast using moist heat of gas/bake using dry heat of electricity `Multifunction electric or gas oven `Exclusive to Harvey Norman RRP: $4,199
46
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
An indication of how the freestanding category is evolving is in oven heating and cleaning. In 2021, Glem Gas and Emilia brands will launch the Specialista Series sporting new Doppio oven technology with new developments in gas and electric cooking. AR
“
While freestanding cooker sales have performed well this year there is a lot of pressure from categories such as refrigeration for retail floor space.
”
Bertazzoni PRO90 5I MFE S AR T `11 function electric oven `Triple glaze door with antislam system `Oven racks with telescopic sliding rail `Digital programmer with food probe RRP: $6,990
BERTAZZONI
George Alikakos General Manager – Sales “With COVID-19, we have had to restrict our international adventures, and as a result, consumers are bringing the level of their appliance up a step or two,” Bertazzoni’s George Alikakos said, and this has led to design and function upgrades. He gave an example that allows the consumer to purchase a Bertazzoni induction or gas hobs freestanding cooker in 90cm or 120cm, in Heritage or Professional models. “We offer stainless steel for a pure replacement or any of our car colour or enamel finishes which will enhance any kitchen.” He said these cookers are easily matched with a compact microwave/oven or compact steam/oven and warming drawer. “Bertazzoni has been doing the car colour finish for a while and are now able to offer the 90cm T Series in induction with all these finishes. The Professional electric range of freestanding cookers comes with a food probe to get the meal cooked to the customers satisfaction every time.”
PROMOTION
The Bertazzoni kitchen suite offer applies a 5% discount to two items, 7% with three and 10% with four.
www.applianceretailer.com.au
47
AR RANGEHOODS
Under and Out
Undermounts and integrated hoods extracting good sales BY KYMBERLY MARTIN
A
round three-quarters of Australian kitchens contain a rangehood with ownership peaking in New South Wales and Victoria, 79% and 81% respectively, according to new data from BIS Oxford Economics. “Under-cupboard models are the most popular and while declining slightly in popularity in recent years, they are still found in 52% of kitchens,� associate director market research, Paul Giles told Appliance Retailer. Canopy style rangehoods have made their way into 20% of kitchens and recorded a high 36% penetration in Western Australia. Remaining rangehoods are island models and downdraft extractors, and while household penetration is in single figures, they have both recorded growth since the 2018 survey, he said. AR
48
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
SHRIRO
Michael Sultana Divisional Manager Consumers are moving away from stainless steel for their appliances, styling up their kitchens with a black glass/dark finish in line with current trends, Shriro’s Michael Sultana said. To match new ovens and cooktops, Omega has launched four matte black rangehoods, available in 60cm and 90cm canopy models and 52cm, 70cm and 90cm undermounts. “These stylish finished hoods with LED lighting and powerful extraction ensure these won’t look out of place in any kitchen when matched up with an Omega oven and cooktop,” Sultana said. Shriro has also recently released the Robinhood Duke rangehood RHWC1600B, which is the brand’s most powerful rangehood to date. It is super quiet with noise levels as low as 46dB and maximum motor performance as high as 1600m³/hr. The Duke features a patented Dual Wing metal bladed fan with Teflon finish to ensure smooth airflow, reduced smoke back-flow and to maximise extraction power. The patented ‘cleaningless’ filters effectively separate the oil whilst smoke and steam is extracted without delay, while the optimised 39 degree smoke collection angle optimises the hood’s ability to collect the maximum amount of smoke. AR
Smeg 90cm Classic Undermount SHR900X `Ceiling mounting `Quiet operation `High air extraction `LED lighting RRP: $3,190
SMEG
Leon Wolf National Product & Procurement Manager Rangehoods are often a last-minute purchase decision, with consumers making larger appliance decisions first. As such, consumers often prioritise design and overall aesthetic when seeking new rangehoods, to align with their existing kitchen plan, according to Leon Wolf.
Omega Canopy Rangehood ORC90MB
“Following on from the built-in and freestanding cooker trends, rangehoods are also championing seamless integration. In addition to this, the power capacity of rangehoods has seen a significant increase over recent times and continues to be a key factor behind new innovation.
RRP: $849
“With open plan island and cooktop installations on the rise, ceiling hoods and integrated cooktop hoods are more in demand than ever before. Great for entertaining, these cooktops centralise cooking in the kitchen and have seen a demand increase on par with built-in undermount rangehoods.”
`Backlit buttons `Ducted or recirculated installation `Energy efficient 25-watt LED panel 3 `1000m /hr with three speeds and one set of aluminium mesh lights
Understanding the purpose of a rangehood is an essential talking point for prospective customers, which in turn impacts category performance, Wolf said. “Rangehoods not only exhaust cooking vapours but provide a clear working atmosphere in the kitchen and as such, ensuring customers understand the best rangehood to suit their kitchen needs will be a vital element of the purchase process.” AR www.applianceretailer.com.au
49
AR RANGEHOODS
Schweigen IN. Paradigma Ceiling Cassette
SCHWEIGEN
Anthony Fletcher Managing Director Feedback from retailer partners suggests rangehoods are fast becoming one of the key appliances when considering kitchen designs and renovations, Anthony Fletcher said. “This is great news for Schweigen, as consumers become increasingly savvy about what they expect from their rangehood, and in particular, how a silent rangehood can help them reclaim one of the key hubs of their homes.” Schweigen silent rangehoods feature the Australian-designed and German-manufactured Isodrive motor that is mounted externally for silent and powerful extraction over the cooktop. “Our rangehoods are available across five profile categories, sizes and motor options so consumers are increasingly spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a rangehood design, with functions and power that’s perfect for their purpose and lifestyle. “We are experiencing a sharp increase of buyer interest for the UM1390 undermount series that features deeper cabinetry integration and increased coverage over cooktops for larger and more effective extraction zones,” Fletcher said. There has also been exponential sales growth in ceiling cassettes, a product category that features larger or modular rangehoods designed 50
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
to integrate seamlessly into the bulkhead or ceiling for uninterrupted views across island/ peninsula-style benchtops. “This significant uptick has been the result of a designer push for what is now considered the crowning glory to any modern kitchen design,” he said. “As with the majority of retail, we are experiencing anomalous trends in how consumers are accessing product information and transacting through the COVID-19 restrictions. Our online presence is experiencing unprecedented traffic and online enquiries have gone through the roof. “The easing of restrictions has helped improve instore footfall, but we believe online buying behaviour, even for big-ticket appliances, has changed forever. Buoyed by recently-announced initiatives like HomeBuilder and First Home Owner Grant, the demand for quality appliances continues to rise.” AR
PROMOTION
New store exclusives and a roster of seasonal promos includes cashback redemptions, giftwith-purchase, purchase with purchase, free motor upgrades, social media contests plus store-specific NFC-powered retail activations in partnership with Tap Media.
`Available in two, three or four modules `Silent extraction with Isodrive motor `Mounted externally through roof, wall or eave `Perimeter Aspiration for a more effective extraction zone RRP: From $4,375
Our Premium Collection of rangehoods. Powerfully quiet.
With open-plan kitchens and lounge areas now the norm, the quieter the rangehood, the better. At Robinhood, we believe in beautiful minimalist design that also minimises sound, bringing calm to cooking. Sound good? View The Premium Collection of rangehoods at robinhood.com.au
AR RANGEHOODS
De’Longhi Rangehood DETHALASSA90
`Tilted design in black glass `Blue LED indicator lights `Three speeds and countdown timer `Powerful 985m3/hr maximum air flow RRP: $1,299
ELBA APPLIANCES Helen Finlayson Category Manager
Rangehoods have become an integral part of the kitchen and are a necessity whether the consumer purchases a built-in oven and cooktop or a freestanding oven, according to De’Longhi. “There are two schools of thought when a consumer selects a rangehood. One is that the hood should be the focal point of the kitchen, and the second preferring that the hood is integrated and out of view,” Helen Finlayson said. De’Longhi caters for both these consumer options as well as a multitude of design choices ensuring De’Longhi has a hood to match any cooking appliance. “Undermounts in particular continue to show strong growth as these allow consumers to integrate into the kitchen without impacting 52
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
design. In correlation to the growth we see in our freestanding Black Vintage model our matching canopy rangehood has also been a strong seller,” she said. “As for challenges, the only issue impacting category performance is supply while demand is strong and recovery is in progress.” Mindful to continue to complement today’s kitchen styles, De’Longhi is reviewing the current line up and will introduce new designs across all installation types during the first half of 2021. In conjunction with design the company will focus on extraction performance and decibel ratings, which will be paramount to the range, Finlayson said. AR
PROMOTION
During key selling times rangehoods are offered as a strategic bonus with the purchase of a larger item or a cooking pack.
ARISIT
Rachael Williams Sales & Marketing Manager – Specialist Brands Unlike some other appliance categories, rangehoods have room to grow when it comes to product design, technology and ASPs, Arisit’s Rachael Williams said. “While we will always have the undermount market, we are seeing a massive push in downdrafts, ceiling cassettes and pendants from the customer wanting to make a cutting-edge design statement in their kitchen. These trends started emerging several years ago at industry shows like EuroCucina, and these are finally filtering into the local design scene.” However, she said one of the challenges the industry is facing is the influx of extra brands into a specialist category. “Rangehoods are still the workhorse of the kitchen and if they are underpowered or incorrectly installed, they can ruin the customer’s new dream kitchen.” Arisit is launching new features to its Sirius range, comprising dynamic lighting, energy saving bi-power motors, filtration and sensors — all voice controlled through Google and Alexa. The recently released Sirius app is designed to make adjusting the dynamic lighting system and the bi-power feature easy and gives the customer a reminder to clean or replace filters. AR
Bosch Induction Cooktop with Integrated Downdraft Ventilation PVS851F21E
`2-in-1 solution a single appliance `Easy Plug & Play installation with recirculation solution `Brushless EcoSilence Drive motor with maximum extraction of 689 m3/hr `Noise level as a low as 42 dB(A) for open plan living RRP: $6,099
Sirius Valentina ‘The Halo’ SLT973
`Powerful and sleek ceiling cassette `Multiple colour options `Available in light only version `Italian styling with German motor and six-year warranty RRP: $3,899
BOSCH
Christine Haas Product Manager – Cooking Growth for Bosch is coming from integrated ventilation solutions as consumers seek more flexibility in design and layout. And the reason? “Because this type of ventilation means consumers don’t have to compromise on lifestyle and this represents ideal solution for open plan kitchens,” Christine Haas said. “It allows the kitchen to become a central hub where people gather to socialise, as well as a functional cooking workspace.” Haas said cooktops with integrated rangehoods in a single appliance are very popular in Europe and more of these products are arriving in Australia. Bosch has just launched a 2-in-1 induction cooktop with integrated ventilation. “The flexible planning that these appliances allow changes the way open plan kitchens can be designed, as it frees up the headroom taken by traditional rangehoods. There’s also no need to compromise on underbench cupboard space due to the appliance’s compact design.” An issue that can arise is consumer awareness in regards to using the correct form of ducting during installation to ensure optimum performance, she said. As for new technologies, look no further than the Bosch Hob-to-Hood that allows the rangehood to adjust itself to the consumers cooking styles without the need for any manual interference. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au
53
AR RANGEHOODS
MIELE
James Cameron Product Manager – Cooktops & Rangehoods
Miele CSDA 7000 FL Rangehood
Miele is still seeing the trend for connectivity as a key driver behind consumer purchasing choices.
into the benchtop while still providing the same quality functions as an overhead rangehood.
According to James Cameron, customers are seeking a seamless integration into their cooking routine which the Miele Con@ctivity function allows by automatically adjusting the power output of the extractor to the cooktop setting. “The appliance does all the hard work while cooking and automatically switches off afterwards so you can get back to enjoying family mealtimes,” he said.
“Our downdraft extractors are equipped with Wi-Fi Conn@ct via Miele’s Con@ctivity function making it even easier to cook than it was before. Once you’ve finished cooking you can simply turn the rangehood off via the connected smartphone and Miele@mobile to app while you are sitting down to eat.” AR
Another trend is for downdraft extractors that integrate into the island benchtop kitchen design. Cameron said these are the perfect option for open plan living as the channel integrates effortlessly
54
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
PROMOTION
The Miele Kitchen Package benefit allows customers to save up to 10% in-store and online on Miele kitchen appliances packages of up to five appliances.
`Power levels and times can be selected separately for each cooking zone `Installed flush or raised and seamlessly integrated with other SmartLine CombiSets `Dishwasher-safe stainless steel grease filters `ECO motor operates with DC current and saves up to 70% energy compared to conventional motors RRP: $2,899
FISHER & PAYKEL
Charlene Dizon Product Manager - Cooking Rangehoods designed to match and add to the overall aesthetic of the kitchen is the trend coming from Fisher & Paykel. “Cooking appliances that rise from floor to ceiling communicate their own design cues to create a kitchen that is considered and beautiful,” Charlene Dizon said.
Glem Quiet Air Undermount Rangehood GQA85UC `1200 m3/hr extraction `Full installation kit with ducting `Strip LED lighting `Commercial spec construction RRP: $2,419
The new Fisher & Paykel wall rangehood has been designed to pair perfectly with the classic Fisher & Paykel freestanding cooker and is available in black, red, white and stainless steel. It delivers powerful airflow with edge-to-edge extraction which maximises the extraction area effectively removing cooking odours, grease and steam without removing excessive interior air and not affecting the interior climate. AR
PROMOTION
Purchase an eligible Fisher & Paykel appliance from a participating retailer between January 1 to December 31, 2020 to claim online for an extension of the two-year manufacturer warranty by an additional three years with the same terms and conditions.
GLEM GAS
David Gilmore Managing Director The outlook for rangehoods remains positive for Glem Gas with more premium product sales than previously. “Our product development program continues and we are confident that products with realistic features and benefits will sell,” David Gilmore said. “Rangehoods have become more sophisticated and much better constructed with extraction performance up and noise levels down. Our buyers are starting to recognise what an important product a rangehood is in the kitchen and are more receptive to the message on the difference a good rangehood makes,” he said. According to Gilmore, the industry has changed. “A decade ago, we were selling anything at a discount but now it is very much about the product. Our challenge is to keep working to increase the level of involvement and interest in rangehood purchases.”
Fisher & Paykel Classic Wall Rangehood
`Pyramid chimney shape for efficient extraction `Powerful 780m3/hr maximum air flow with edge-to-edge extraction `Three fan speeds `Dishwasher safe filters RRP: $2,549
When it comes to the features of influence in rangehoods he listed extraction rate, noise level, lighting, filtration and interface, even before considering style, type and design. “New technology must be relevant and durable with improved lighting and filters recent features that have succeeded, whereas built-in screens, remote controls and motion sensors are yet to find their place.” AR
www.applianceretailer.com.au
55
AR RANGEHOODS
ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS
Dominic Wong Category Manager – Food Preparation The priority for consumers is reliable appliances which give them confidence to experiment in the kitchen, while also making life easier with clever functions and technology, Dominic Wong said. “Challenges are coming from the impact COVID-19 has had on consumer behaviour which means we are increasing our reliance on digital content and seeing the importance of online product ratings and reviews to influence consumer purchase,” he said.
PROMOTION
The new Westinghouse launch has been supported by TV and online advertising.
Qasair Cylindrical Rangehoods `Wholly Australian owned, designed and manufactured `Available in type 304 stainless steel in any Dulux powdercoat colour `Fully customised to suit consumers specific design `Available with one or two motors, for a total air movement of 1800m3/hr RRP: From $4,600
CONDARI
Kate Scanlon Sales Director
Westinghouse Integrated Rangehood WRI824BB
“Despite the challenges of a year in which we have experienced drought, fires, floods and COVID- 19, we have been pleasantly surprised by the buoyancy of the economy and remain optimistic for the rest of the year,” according to Kate Scanlon.
RRP: $899
“As more consumers spend time in their homes, and more specifically, their kitchens, we have seen their focus turn towards their appliances. Now more than ever the need for quiet, powerful ventilation has been driven to the forefront of consumers’ minds, as the need for a quiet, odourfree home becomes more compelling,” she said.
`Hob2Hood technology works seamlessly with an induction cooktop `Powerful extraction rates `Long-lasting and low-energy LED lighting `Aluminium micro-mesh dishwasher or hand wash filters
“We are finding a greater number of consumers seeking a bespoke or customised solution for their home ventilation needs. As Australia’s only manufacturer of bespoke hoods, we are uniquely situated to work within this space. We work extensively with the design community, regardless of whether it is an individual home, or a luxury multi-residential project like Victoriana in Melbourne or Barangaroo in Sydney.” From her perspective, the category is always up against the challenge of products coming into market which are not suited for Australian requirements. Rangecraft recirculating rangehoods featuring Plasmanorm technology, used in space and in before the military, provides a great alternative for homes and particularly apartments where it is not possible to duct to the external environment, she said. “These are being widely specified into homes with longer than usual duct runs, as well as into passive houses which are becoming increasingly common due to the desire to minimise impact on the environment.” AR 56
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
GAGGENAU
Olya Yemchenko Brand Communications Manager Consumers are now looking for discreet functionality, which differs from the show stopping display pieces that were popular in the past, according to Olya Yemchenko. “At Gaggenau we understand that luxury products do not necessarily have to be conspicuous and visible to others,” she said. She has also observed that ventilation and rangehoods are often one of the last considerations that consumers make when designing their kitchen. “They start by choosing their main cooking appliances such as an oven and cooktop, yet put much less thought into ventilation systems, despite the importance of rangehoods in a space that is evolving to include both cooking and entertaining. “The challenge for retailers is to be able to educate consumers early on in the process and convey the importance of ventilation and how it will impact their lifestyle,” she said. When consumers are after a more minimalistic approach, the integrated cooktop ventilation options are ideal. Where the downdraft ventilation is subtle, removing steam and odour almost unseen, the AL 400 telescopic tabletop ventilation rises from the surfaces like a metallic wall, disappearing back into the benchtop when not in use. The Gaggenau ventilation 400 series automatically determines the power required to clear vapours and odours from the room.
Gaggenau Telescopic Table Ventilation 400 Series AL 400 121
`Extendable table ventilation for kitchen islands and open spaces `Disappears completely into the worktop when not in use `Three power levels plus intensive mode `Run-on function RRP: $7,999
Bertazzoni Modern Series Induction Cooktop with Integrated Ventilation P784ICHNE `Black ceramic glass `Four cooking zones/two flexi bridge zones `Nine power levels 3 `720m /hr air flow RRP: $5,299
BERTAZZONI
George Alikakos General Manager – Sales According to Bertazzoni’s George Alikakos the world has changed the way it does things. “As a result of COVID-19 we have built up the home fortress with lots of food and new ways to nourish ourselves and the family. Food is not only nourishment but a new hobby, adventure or just a way to bond.” Bertazzoni has a traditional stainless steel canopy in 90cm or 120cm which marries perfectly with its Professional range of freestanding cookers. This is in addition to three undermount hoods in 54cm, 70cm and 86cm that permit fully integrated installation that does the work without being conspicuous in the kitchen. “We are also excited about our 78cm induction cooktop with integrated ventilation that is perfect for an island bench or installed to take advantage of any beautiful vista on offer,” he said. “Air movement is important because if odours and oils are not dispelled they end up in airways or walls. The induction cooktop with integrated ventilation is a great way to utilise space and reduce overhead obstructions. Our system permits it to be ducted out or recirculated with the added benefit of being able to have two shallow drawers underneath the appliance.” He said while COVID-19 has added complexity to forecasting and production cycles business is very supportive of the Australian market and responsive to company needs. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au
57
AR CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Christmas: The most important yet most unpredictable selling period this year
BY EMILY BENCIC
P
re-Christmas spend (between 12 November and 24 December) totalled $52.89 billion in 2019, growing 2.6% year-on-year, according to sales data from Roy Morgan and Australian Retailers Association (ARA). ‘Household goods’ was the second largest spending category comprising over one-in-six dollars spent in the period. In recent years, the pre-Christmas sales period has been boosted by Black Friday and Cyber Monday in late November. Australia Post found that these sales events were 77% bigger than the first week of November in 2019, although the first half of December had the highest volume for the year, closely followed by the two weeks prior to Christmas which grew by 18%. Leading into COVID-19, benchtop appliances tracked well with steady single-digit growth and then between March and May demand surged with a greater number of consumers creating a wider variety of meals for themselves, according to the latest GfK data measured to May 2020. Air fryers led the charge, growing 50% in unit terms and 52% in value terms, with multi-cookers 58
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
experiencing growth of 9% in units and 22% in value. Food preparation saw growth of 8% in units and 11% in value. GfK said the pandemic has disrupted the regular seasonality of these categories and whether sales have merely been brought forward, or the historical peaks of Black Friday and Christmas will be just as strong, remains to be seen. Unlike benchtop appliances, GfK data has revealed that the personal care market has been more negatively impacted by COVID-19. The restrictions on social gatherings lessened the need to frequently style or blow-dry hair, or otherwise delayed the replacement of an existing model, according to the research company, with hair dryers and hair stylers declining 10% and 8% in units, respectively. On the contrary, male grooming products saw a spike with many men unable, or unwilling, to visit a barber during this time. Hair clippers recorded growth of 17% in units and 27% in value, while shavers saw growth of 5% in units and 3% in value. AR
SMEG
Arthur Banbas National Small Appliances Manager Christmas is one of the biggest selling periods for small appliances and Smeg’s Arthur Banbas is looking forward to strong growth. “The Smeg breakfast collection offers consumers a choice of colours and an opportunity to express themselves in the kitchen, while the Dolce & Gabbana range provides a touch of luxury to the heart of the home,” he said. High demand for espresso coffee machines, drip coffee machines, coffee grinders and coffee accessories has also continued, in addition to growth in food preparation driven by a resurgence in the bench mixer category and a spike in cooking at home.
Miele CM 7750 Benchtop Coffee Machine
`CoffeeSelect offers more choice with three bean containers `CupSensor recognises the rim of the cup to position the spout accordingly `AutoDescale thanks to self-cleaning cartridges that degrease brew units and clean milk lines `OneTouch for Two allows two cups of coffee or espresso to be made at the same time RRP: $3,999
“Smeg is very well represented in all these categories with stylish and innovative appliances for the avid home cook.”
MIELE
Josh Hall Category Manager – Small Appliances Miele continues to perform strongly in the coffee machine category as consumers seek quality appliances for their daily coffee consumption, Josh Hall said. “Many people enjoy a morning coffee with their co-workers and one way they can continue this is by replicating the café quality experience at home. Miele recently launched the Generation 7000 range which puts the user experience first and makes the overall kitchen experience as effortless as possible.”
When asked about category challenges, Banbas said: “The only issues that may occur will be challenges post-COVID-19 that we have not foreseen. Anticipating these changes as we navigate our way to a new normal will be an essential element of looking to new opportunities on the horizon”.
Hall said customers want functions that seamlessly fit into their everyday lives and the Miele@Mobile app responds to this by offering remote connectivity and control. “Connectivity is a strong trend that continues to evolve throughout the kitchen. The ability to have the coffee machine warmed and ready to brew is something that our customers are now actively seeking in their new machine.”
As for new product, the flex edge beater on Smeg’s latest stand mixer is like no other attachment available in today’s market, according to Banbas. “We are proud to have an attachment that mixes efficiently with incredible speed, but also looks stylish on the kitchen bench. Its sheer weight, shape of the silicone edges and planetary action achieve results within minutes not seen before.” AR
Consumers are also looking for coffee machines that cater to the whole family, which is why Miele coffee machines have three bean containers, so users no longer need to wait to finish one type of bean before starting the next. Miele’s floorcare category is also performing quite well as customer’s focus turn towards health, hygiene, and superior cleaning.
Smeg Stand Mixer SMF13WHAU
`800-watts of power `Direct drive motor `Variable speed control and smooth start function `Front accessory port for optional accessories RRP: $759
“We are proud to offer a dynamic range of products including bagged and Blizzard canisters and our successful Scout Rx2. We are now introducing our first ever handstick, the Miele TriFlex,” Hall said. The new TriFlex range offers the exceptional flexibility of three cordless vacuums in one with reach mode, comfort mode and compact mode. Its unique design positions the motor in two locations on the machine for a lightweight solution and superior suction performance with 120 minutes runtime. RRP is $1,199. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au
59
AR CHRISTMAS GIFTS
GROUPE SEB
Marine Pestel Marketing Director Christmas is a vital selling opportunity for Tefal with sales traditionally increasing across all categories, and Groupe SEB’s Marine Pestel expects this year to be no different. “Although 2020 has seen drastically changed retail conditions due to COVID-19, we are well ahead of last year at this point and expect to finish the year with strong growth,” she said. Historically for Groupe SEB, November has been the busiest month for retail sales, more so than December, with many consumers putting more consideration into gifts and endeavouring to try and avoid the Christmas rush.
Magimix Cook Expert
`30-year motor warranty `15 automatic programs `Induction heating system `Available in three colours – Chrome, Black and Red `More than 1,000 recipes available on the app RRP: $2,099
“This year has seen an increase in kitchen appliance sales – most notably multicookers and air fryers – as people spend more time at home cooking for their families. Linen care sales have slightly slowed down during lockdown but that is expected to rebound as restrictions ease and people can resume going out and travelling again.” Tefal has two key product launches in time for Christmas. The new EasyFry XXL boasts a family size capacity of 1.6kg or 5.6 litres, large enough to cook for up to eight people. It also features eight preset menus, digital touch screen interface and 60-minute timer with auto-off functionality. The OptiGrill Elite is the latest model in the OptiGrill range with a new digital screen and touch-sensitive panel, new searing boost function and 12 programs. AR
60
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
Wivina Chaneliere Managing Director New Magimix Australia managing director, Wivina Chaneliere is confident about strong Christmas sales for retailers as consumers continue to invest in the home during the pandemic.
“In 2019, our sell-through over the Christmas period increased by more than 30%, reflecting our wide product range from cookware and linen care to SDA.” Consumers are looking for ingenuity and gifts that are inherently useful by benefitting the recipient in terms of ease of use and time-saving features, according to Pestel.
MAGIMIX
Tefal Easy Fry XXL `1.6kg or 5.6 litre capacity to cook for up to eight people `Hot Air Technology for fast and even cooking with little or no oil `Eight preset menus: Fries, Steak, Shrimp, Bake, Pizza, Fish, Grill, Roast `Precision temperature up to 200 degrees Celsius RRP: $349.95
“I believe Christmas is going to be huge this year. Nobody is travelling because the borders won’t be open until at least 2021 so this Christmas, the home has become even more than ever before the centre of our lives and the main safe haven. As a result, consumers will upgrade and invest into the home with cooking at the top of the list,” she said. “According to a tourist industry expert, there are usually around 11 million overseas tourists that come to Australia every year and spend $45 billion in our country. Although that isn’t the case this year, there are usually around 11 million Australians that also travel overseas, and they spend $60 billion outside the country and now that money is staying within the country. That extra disposable income will be used to upgrade the home.” The hero product for Christmas is the Magimix Cook Expert, which replaces up to 15 appliances, including the blender, juicer, steamer, multicooker, rice cooker, chopper, and food processor, as well as pots and pans. “It’s one appliance that can cook everything. Instead of having multiple appliances in the cupboard that will eventually go into landfill, you only need this one appliance that will take up less space and is more environmentally-friendly as it is repaired – not replaced – if there is a warranty issue.” Chaneliere said. “The Cook Expert machine has an induction heating system for more precise cooking temperatures, in addition to a glass lid to monitor the cooking process and double walled bowl to keep food warm. The interchangeable food processor accessory comes with three bowls - not only one - for small, medium and large tasks.” AR
SO FLEXIBLE. SO POWERFUL. SO FAST. TRP MI 9226
#LifeBeyondOrdinary mieleexperience.com.au/triflex
AR CHRISTMAS GIFTS
KITCHENAID
Rebecca Edwards Marketing Director Off the back of the success of the launch of the KitchenAid KSM160 stand mixer in new-tomarket matte colours – Ink Blue, Fresh Linen and Shaded Palm – KitchenAid will introduce a new matte colour, Dried Rose, in the second half of 2020, designed to add warmth to the kitchen. “In line with the launch of our KSM160 stand mixer matte colours earlier this year, we launched three ceramic bowls to allow existing customers to personalise and update their stand mixer with a ceramic bowl,” Rebecca Edwards said. “New customers are able to match their new stand mixer colour with a ceramic bowl and an attachment – an experience unique to KitchenAid and the stand mixer category. We will continue this in the lead up to Christmas, where our ceramic bowls will make the perfect gift.” Edwards said unprecedented demand and growth in the stand mixer category over the past few months has presented an opportunity to educate new stand mixer customers and tell the brand’s attachment story.
Vitamix Ascent Series A3500i High Performance Blender in Black Stainless `Blending cups starter kit and blending bowl starter kit sold separately `Five program settings: Smoothies, Hot Soups, Dips & Spreads, Frozen Desserts and SelfCleaning `Interlock technology prevents the blender from operating if the lid or container is not secure `Self-Detect technology recognises the blender container size and automatically adjusts blending time RRP: $1,545
Kitchen design and colour scheme are determining appliance purchases and there has been a recent spike in the selection of darker colours for the home, according to Vitamix’s Euan Mitchell. “Searches for kitchen appliances in black and dark colours have continued to increase over the last six months. Inspired by monochromatic trends in interior design, Vitamix has launched the Vitamix Ascent A3500i high-performance blender in a Black Stainless Steel Metal Finish,” he said.
“Consumers are searching for a multi-functional kitchen appliance that will align with healthy eating and declutter the kitchen. Every Vitamix high-performance blender performs more than 10 culinary techniques from hot soups, frozen desserts and smoothies to whole-food juices, non-dairy milk and nut butter, delivering the same results found at commercial smoothie and juice bars and restaurants.”
KitchenAid Stand Mixer KSM160 `10 speeds `Over 14 attachments available `Original planetary mixing action for thorough ingredient incorporation `Includes 4.8 litre and 2.8 litre mixing bowls, pouring shield, wire whisk, flat beater, and dough hook RRP: $949 Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
Euan Mitchell Country Manager
Healthy eating has become more important than ever, but with a busy lifestyle and without the right kitchen tools, it can be difficult to make nutrition a priority.
“Many stand mixer owners are not aware of the possibilities beyond baking when using a stand mixer and the opportunities that attachments can bring, from making your own pasta from scratch to creating the perfect fluffy cake.” AR
62
VITAMIX
To assist consumers on their blending journey, Vitamix has introduced the My Vitamix 30 program, which provides tips and recipes to help add more fresh fruit and vegetables to meals. “The four-week program helps consumers explore culinary recipes they may have never thought were possible in a Vitamix.” On a final note, Mitchell said: “With the trend in healthy eating and spending more time at home, consumers are searching for high performance blenders that offer more versatility, performance and the same texture expected from commercial smoothie bars and restaurants. They are looking for touch button controls and screens, digital timers and programmable timers that remove the guess work and provide added convenience”. AR
NEWELL BRANDS
Katie Cannaby Manager – Food Preparation Health and fitness are front of mind and in turn, appliances that help form healthy habits are in demand, according to Newell Brands’ Katie Cannaby. “Having emerged from isolation, many consumers have either adopted healthy habits that they want to continue or have realised that they indulged in a little too much over this time,” she said. “Blenders are synonymous with a healthy lifestyle and have long been an appliance used by consumers to form healthy habits such as enjoying a power green juice after a workout. However, blending a fresh smoothie outside the home is not possible – until now.” The Sunbeam FitBlend rechargeable blender, available from October, has enough power for up to 10 drinks and is charged by USB cable. Additionally, it is designed to incorporate nutritional powders into drinks, from standard vitamins to superfoods, antioxidants and even beauty supplements like collagen. RRP is $49.95.
Sunbeam 4 in 1 Air Fryer + Oven
Sunbeam will also release the ActiveSense Blender with patented ActiveSense technology which enables the blender to adjust speed, time and direction depending on ingredients and function for RRP $399. Newell Brands manager for cooking, Marie Liganaris highlighted air frying as another continuing health craze with increasing demand for multi-functional appliances that deliver faster, convenient and versatile cooking. “Consumers are more open to experiment with new recipes meal-prep for the week and want an all-in-one appliance that saves kitchen space.” AR
`Air fryer, rotisserie oven and dehydrator all in one `Large 10 litre capacity that fits 1kg of fries and 2kg chicken `Four manual modes: Air Fry, Bake, Roast and Dehydrate `Seven accessories included: three air flow racks, mesh basket, rotisserie handling fork, rotisserie spit and drip tray RRP: $299
WANT A SLICE OF THE FAST-GROWING COOKING FOOD PROCESSOR MARKET? ou wy
No
!
can
• Multi-function cooking food processor – replaces up to 15 kitchen appliances • Cooks meals in minutes • Thousands of recipes available on the Magimix Cook Expert App • Additional accessories: juice extractor, large steaming basket, puree kit, chip maker, spiralizer kit and dough hook • Smart induction from 30°C to 160°C • 30 year warranty on motor
Find out more:
CONTACT:
sales@magimix.com.au
Magimix_HPH_Aug20.indd 1
10/8/20 10:12 am
AR CHRISTMAS GIFTS
REMINGTON
Michele Sterkenburg Brand & Communications Manager The personal care category has experienced growth with consumers forced to isolate at home, Remington’s Michele Sterkenburg said. “The rising unemployment rate has adversely affected some categories, but personal care appliances have largely benefited. As we move closer to Christmas, it is likely that restrictions will ease, the population will return to work and the economy will slowly recover and this will create a heightened sense of celebration,” she said.
Electrolux Pure i9.2 P192-6SGM
`Improved onboarding 3.0 software `3D vision for autonomous cleaning `Create map zones for more control `Customise push notifications to a smart device
However, with many still suffering the effects of reduced income, consumers will gravitate towards products that are good quality, at a reasonable price.
RRP: TBC
“Consumer research shows that Remington is viewed as a brand that has good quality products and is trusted, so in the current environment, the brand is well placed.” The strongest trend is growth in hair styling appliances which don’t damage the hair, Sterkenburg said.
ELECTROLUX
Tanya Mudge Product Line Director
As such, Remington is releasing the new Hydraluxe Pro range in October 2020, offering expert results and no damage, through research and development conducted at Remington global HQ in Madison, Wisconsin. AR
Small appliances are an important offering around Christmas, and consumers are increasingly choosing gifts with technology that can improve the lives of their loved ones, according to Electrolux’s Tanya Mudge. “Building a connection with consumers and demonstrating shared values throughout the year is important, so when it comes to Christmas, consumers can understand what resonates with them. At Electrolux, Swedish thinking for better living underpins everything we do, and is the philosophy that connects the brand with consumers,” she said. Floorcare is becoming increasingly autonomous and technology that makes everyday life easier is in high demand. The new Electrolux Pure i9.2 uses 3D vision mapping technology to remember the home layout to clean more intuitively. “Increased connectivity between appliances and people is becoming the norm, and the Pure i9.2 vacuum will send push notifications, so users know when and where it is cleaning at all times. Australia is a nation of pet lovers, so the Electrolux Pure i9.2 was also designed to expertly clean up animal hair, leaving owners with a clean, fur-free house.” AR 64
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
PROMOTION
The Remington Hydraluxe Pro straightener and Hydraluxe Pro hair dryer are major launches that will be supported by significant TV and digital advertising.
Remington Hydraluxe Pro Hair Dryer EC9001AU
`Hydracare Sensor technology regulates the air temperature `Powerful digital motor delivers precise airflow with speeds of up to 160km/h `Ionic Conditioning distributes millions of ions for a smooth and shiny finish `Ergonomic design with short barrel for even weight distribution when drying RRP: $149.95
Panasonic Hair Dryer EH-NA98
`Intelligent air-flow design for reduced drying time `Quick Dry nozzle intelligently varies the air flow pressure `Patented Nanoe and Double Mineral technology is proven to reduce visible hair damage RRP: $349
Tory Rooney Product Marketing Manager – Personal Care
“Personal care products continue to provide soothing and therapeutic support and make a significant contribution to the feeling of being able to take control of something particularly during these unusual times.”
An easy-to-read display is accompanied by a risk indicator and arrhythmia detection, in addition to automatic switch-off, an incorrect usage message and low battery indicator. German designed and engineered, the BC57 offers a five-year warranty and comes in a storage box for convenience. RRP is $99.95.
“Personal care products are always popular Christmas gifts as consumers seek to pamper their loved ones and provide a relaxing experience during the festive season. Consumers look for a personal touch when buying gifts, which is why Panasonic shavers and hair dryers cater to a range of skin types and hair types,” she said.
The Beurer FM90 Dual Action Foot Massager, available from October, incorporates Shiatsu massage along with Air Compression to provide soothing relief for soles and heels. AR
There is growing demand for products that enhance health and wellness. In haircare, consumers want products that add strength and nourishment, whilst protecting from damage.
“There is growing demand for multi-functional products that deliver precision and a smooth, even finish. Panasonic’s ES-LV9Q shaver employs an innovative Multi-Flex 5D head that improves shaver-head movement, offering precision, flexibility and comfort.” AR
During times of increased focus around self-care and minimising communal activities, there has been an invigorated desire to take control of health and wellbeing, FitZone’s Maria Russo said.
The Beurer BC57 Bluetooth Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with auto inflation technology allows consumers to regularly check on their blood pressure. Measurement data can be transferred to a smartphone via Bluetooth and the free Beurer Health Manager app.
Christmas is a time for celebration with family and friends, as well as an opportunity to spoil loved ones with gifts, which will be especially important after the events of this year, Panasonic’s Tory Rooney said.
When it comes to skincare, men are searching for shaving products that utilise the most innovative technology to make grooming easier.
Maria Russo Director
Sitting for extended hours, using screens as a source of social interaction, and generally feeling more isolated can add stress to the mind and body which typically translates into pressure and pain points, Russo noted.
PANASONIC
A recent Panasonic survey showed that women aged between 25 and 45 are most concerned about hair damage when purchasing a hair dryer. Panasonic’s EH-NA98 hair dryer is boosted with patented Nanoe technology, proven to reduce visible hair damage such as split ends and frizz.
FITZONE SOLUTIONS
Beurer FM90 Dual Action Foot Massager
`Three preset massage programs `Circulation-boosting foot reflex zone GAF 12L Air Fryer massage `LED touchwith `Function display display screen LED on the coloured `Rotisserie button and `Powerful dehydrator and soothing and aircomplete pressure `Oven Shiatsu function massage with light RRP: RRP: $299.95 $199 www.applianceretailer.com.au
65
AR WHAT'S HOT
Reimagined Smeg Classic collection
The new Smeg 90cm Classic Thermoseal oven champions innovation with Smeg’s signature Italian style. Illustrating simplicity in the technology and beauty in the results, the stainless steel oven introduces an array of easy-to-use technology to Smeg’s most enduring collection. An intuitive touch screen with scrolling navigation ensures simplicity of operation with over 100 customisable cooking auto programs and the ability to save up to 64 recipes, to guarantee stress free cooking. Perfect for the home cook or aspiring masterchef, triple fan technology delivers optimal heat distribution while Thermoseal Plus steam assist ensures maximum efficiency and flavour. Master authentic pizzas with the ingenious pizza function or perfect time extensive dishes such as succulent pork belly with the new automatic multi-step cooking function and achieve impressive results.
RRP: From $3,990
Panasonic Lumix G100 Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera
The Panasonic Lumix G100 mirrorless camera has been designed with vloggers and online video content creators front of mind as the first interchangeable lens camera to offer OZO Audio incorporating three microphones that track and capture sound, removing the need for an external microphone. There are also five modes including tracking, surround, front, back and auto. New features on the G100 include content sharing via smartphone, Lumix Video Selfie functionality via free-angle monitor and Frame Maker with a range of aspect ratios, which are accompanied by 4K video, quick and slow video modes, and V-Log L recording pre-installed for wider dynamic range for colour grading. Content can be shared using Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy connection and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and images can be geotagged with a smartphone.
RRP: $1,099 (body only)
Hisense 10kg PureJet Washing Machine
The 10kg PureJet washing machine from Hisense features an ergonomic high-handle design and large LED display inclined at 15 degrees, making text and buttons clearly visible. There are 14 automatic programs, including ‘pause and add’ functionality for forgotten dirty items, and the ability to save and store ‘favourite’ wash settings. With Auto Dosing technology, enough detergent and softener is held for up to 20 washes, measuring and dispensing the correct dosage for best results and minimal wastage each time. Equipped with a durable inverter motor that delivers spin speed of 1400 RPM, the PureJet has a unique snowflake drum design, offering a better clean and enhanced protection for garments, and is built to last with its 95-degree drum clean cycle.
MSRP: $1,099 66
Appliance Retailer August / September 2020
COMPANY INDEX AR COMPANY
PAGE #
READERSHIP GROUPS
Andi-Co......................................................................................................... 40 Arisit................................................................................................. 21, 34, 53 Arlo............................................................................................................... 20 Bertazzoni................................................................................... 19, 31, 47, 57 Bi-Rite Home Appliances........................................................................ 22, 23 Bosch.................................................................................... 10, 17, 31, 45, 53 Condari......................................................................................................... 56 E&S......................................................................................................... 18, 24 Elba Appliances................................................................................. 28, 42, 52 Electrolux.................................................................................. 6, 9, 33, 56, 64 Eurolinx....................................................................................... 2, 3, 7, 20, 40 Fisher & Paykel........................................................................ 8, 18, 32, 45, 55 FitZone...........................................................................................................65 Fujitsu General.................................................................................................7 Gaggenau................................................................................................35, 57 Glem Gas.....................................................................................19, 33, 46, 55 Groupe SEB....................................................................................................60 Harvey Norman Commercial Victoria.............................................................18 Hisense..........................................................................................................66 Jura................................................................................................................21 KitchenAid.....................................................................................................63 L&M Goldstar.................................................................................................36 Magimix..............................................................................................8, 60, 63 Miele................................................................... 13, 14, 15, 30, 44, 54, 59, 61 Mitsubishi Electric..........................................................................................43 Newell Brands................................................................................................62 Olimpia Splendid.......................................................................................9, 11 Panasonic.................................................................................................65, 66 Rawsons.........................................................................................................21 Schweigen.....................................................................................................50 Sharp.............................................................................................................10 Shriro...........................................................................................20, 28, 49, 51 Smeg................................................. 25, 26, 27, 29, 37, 38, 39, 41, 49, 59, 66 Spectrum Brands...........................................................................................64 Vitamix..........................................................................................................63 Yamaha..........................................................................................................19
DISCLAIMER This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication. Copyright © 2020 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.
www.applianceretailer.com.au
67
L4 Glass Series FRENCH DOOR
Glacier White
Argent Silver
Brilliant Black
Designed for larger living
Glass Door Finish
Touch Control Panel
Large Capacity
Toughened glass front panels present a luxurious finish that are easy to keep clean.
Featuring three smart operation modes - including Eco Mode, Rapid Cool or Freeze which cools quickly to preserve the freshness of food.
The French Door design delivers a wide internal space, perfect for large platters and maximising storage capacity.
For more information on our products please visit www.mitsubishielectric.com.au
Phone:1300 280 625