This is a chronological listing of Group press releases.

For further information contact Mick Weedon, t:01295 712277 e:michaelweedon@bhfgroup.co.uk

Scottish Conference and Supplier Showcase Scotland: 10 – 12 October 2010

22/7/2010

Showcasing a world of products and business services in one unique trade event with special discounts, exclusively for independent retailers! BHF-BSSA Group invites all independent retailers from the Hardware, Housewares, Garden, DIY and Home related industries to the Scottish Conference and Supplier Showcase Scotland, 10th – 12th October 2010. This is a unique 3-day trade event organised by Independents for Independents. Hosted by the Scottish Council of BHF-BSSA Group, this event is the first of it's kind.

The Scottish Conference and Supplier Showcase Scotland will incorporate a half-day afternoon Conference on Sunday 10th, followed by an informal Welcome Party on the evening; a one-day exhibition on Monday 11th followed by a Gala Dinner on the evening.

This event will give independent retailers the opportunity to network with fellow retailers and suppliers whilst discovering some of the financial savings that they could be making to their business. Retailers will also be able to take advantage of the exclusive discounts from selected suppliers, during the actual event.

These are just some of the suppliers who will be exhibiting:

• Arthur Price
• Carl Kammerling Int.
• CPC
• Deanston Electrical Wholesalers
• DF Wishart
• DKB Household
• Draper Tools
• EPE International
• FW Mason & Sons
• HG Hagesan
• Jegs Electrical
• King Cole
• LG Harris
• London & Lancashire Rubber Company
• Metaltex UK
• Meyer Group
• Sterling Hardware
• Toucan Scotland

Great reasons to attend:

• Secure exclusive show-only discounts
  
• See all key suppliers in one place on one day
• Network, share your ideas
• Interact with suppliers, retailers & industry experts
• Get to know your trade association officials
• Discover a wealth of savings, services and discounts
• Members and non-members welcome

Costs:

• Retailer Package - £250 (+ VAT), which includes a half-day Conference, Welcome Party ticket, one-day exhibition, Gala Dinner ticket, and 2 nights accommodation at the 4 star Norton House Hotel.
• Exhibitor Package - £350 (+ VAT), which includes a Welcome Party ticket, 3x2m exhibition stand (including a power supply), Gala Dinner ticket and x100 FREE exhibition attendance tickets for you to invite your retailers.

For further details on the event or to secure your booking, please contact Natalie Coulson, Event Executive on - Tel: 0121 446 6688 Email: nataliecoulson@bhfgroup.co.uk

CHA Sweet Sixteen

22/7/2010

This year the Cookshop & Housewares Association will be celebrating its sixteenth year on the CHA village at Autumn Fair. Joining in on the celebration will be the CHA Village suppliers who will be offering special 16% themed discounts exclusive to members during Autumn Fair only.

Suppliers include:

• Amefa (UK) Ltd
• Churchill China UK Ltd
• Dartington Crystal (Torrington) Ltd
• Dexam International
• Garlic Twist
• Hahn Trading Company Ltd
• Kitchen Kapers International Ltd
• La Cafetiere
• Lawrence of Bath
• Meyer Group Ltd
• NordicWare
• Paul Hargreaves Associates
• Taylors Eye Witness Ltd
• WMF UK Ltd
• Zwilling J. A. International

3 months free membership for new members:
The CHA will also be offering three months free (15 months for the price of 12) to new members who sign up for CHA membership during Autumn Fair.

Recommend a member – receive £50:
All current members of BHF-BSSA Group including the CHA division and associate members can recommend a member and receive £50 off their 2011 membership subscription renewal. This promotion is valid from 1st July to 30th September 2011 and Autumn Fair provides a fantastic opportunity for CHA members to recommend fellow independent retailers and suppliers, with the opportunity to earn up to a maximum of £150 off their own 2011 membership subscriptions.

The programme of events will include:

The Cook’s Companion:
The new 2010 Cook’s Companion will be launched with a Champagne reception on Sunday 5th September. Once again, CHA retail members will have the opportunity to pre-order The Cook’s Companion and receive the early bird discount of up to £250 cashback, provided the order is place before 8th September (the last day of Autumn Fair). This year the catalogue cover star is Raymond Blanc OBE, with a selection of his Anolon Bakeware, also featured inside the Companion, courtesy of Direct Company promoted supplier Meyer Group. The catalogue also features a superb range of unique and specialist cookware, kitchenware and tableware from a range of suppliers at specially negotiated buying prices. The catalogue lasts a full twelve months and will be ready to capture the consumer audience in time for the run up to Christmas and beyond. The new edition again looks set to prove a fantastic investment for independent cookshop and housewares retailers looking to market their business effectively.

CHA @ Autumn Fair Awards:
To show reward and recognition to suppliers and their products exhibiting at Autumn Fair on Monday 6th September a panel of CHA retailer judges will search the kitchen and dining hall for the best products under the following key categories: Best New Product At Show, Best Product At Show, Most Innovative Product At Show and Best Packaging At Show. A champagne awards presentation for the winners will take place at 2pm on the CHA Village.

Home Decoration Retailers Association (HDRA) Awards:
To show acknowledgement, hard work and commitment to the home decoration industry, on Tuesday 7th September the HDRA Awards will be presented at 12pm at the CHA Village, at a Champagne reception. The award categories are: Best Member of Staff & Runner Up, Best Wallpaper Collection, Best Fabric Collection, Best Blinds Collection and Best Window Furnishing Product.

Event schedule summary:

The CHA welcome all independent retailers to come and join them with the celebrations and to take advantage of the special offers available during Autumn Fair. Visit the CHA village at Autumn Fair, stand D5/6 and hall 2. CHA staff will be on hand to explain the many benefits that membership offers and answer any questions about the services that make CHA a unique trade association for independent cookshop & housewares retailers across the UK.

Tax: Relief?

22/6/2010

There is widespread relief that VAT is "only" going up to 20%, but this is only because the Chancellor so successfully put the frighteners on business in the run up to the emergency Budget. The 2.5% hike will depress employment, dampen spending and rack up inflation. On the other hand, many are thinking, it could have been worse. It could have seen children's clothing, books and even food brought into the full VAT regime.

It could also have been implemented tomorrow, so 4th January may well herald a bleak midwinter, but might provoke a consumer boomlet and a happy Christmas in the run up to the new year. Retailers would have preferred to undertake the massive repricing exercise, if they had to do it at all, after the new year sales and ideally as late as April, but at least they do not have to get the pricing guns out right now.

There is much that will appeal to small businesses in this Budget, especially as they have been expecting the worst. Cutting corporation tax, capital gains tax changes, particularly the increase in the entrepreneurs' relief limit to £5m, National Insurance support for new businesses outside London and increases in personal allowances will all receive a warm welcome from retailers..

On the other hand, 77% of the real Budget still has to be detailed (in the public sector spending round and the reviews of pensions) with departments of government facing budget cuts of 25%, so there is a lot of bad news yet to come. Given the axe that is to be taken to government itself the only thing that rings false in the Chancellor's predictions is that unemployment will peak this year and then begin to fall through the period until 2015.

There are a lot of "ifs" in this. The recovery is not firmly established and could easily be destabilised. If unemployment does not turn down, but instead turns upward, 2011 and beyond could well turn out to be even harder than George Osborne has predicted.

And there will be no relief in that, at all.

Red or White (in Black and White)

3/6/2010

BAGMA gets clarification on the use of red diesel by agricultural machinery dealers.

In a letter to BAGMA HMRC has made it clear dealers can use red diesel to deliver and collect agricultural vehicles. This applies where they are being being “hired, loaned, demonstrated or sold to an agricultural, horticultural, or forestry practitioner.” This also includes delivery and collection for servicing or repair.

It cannot be used where a new agricultural vehicle is being delivered to a purchaser or potential purchaser and dealer to dealer vehicle movements are not included.

Director of BAGMA Keith Christian said: ‘This clarification is a significant achievement in reducing some of the concerns of dealers in relation to their everyday operations and will ease some of the confusion and the frustration that has surrounded these issues.’

He continued: ‘BAGMA are very grateful to the HMRC for giving consideration to these issues and the problems faced by dealers and look forward to receiving the final, formalised rules, in due course.’

Trade body urges tax caution

2/6/2010

The new coalition government needs to be very careful with both its cuts and its tax increases says the independent retailers' trade association, the BHF-BSSA. New research for the BRC, of which BHF-BSSA is a member, clearly demonstrates the potential perils for the economy of a range of potential tax adjustments.

"Tax hikes, whether direct or indirect, depress economic activity to a greater or lesser extent. This research estimates in great detail what 'greater' and 'lesser' could actually mean", said Mick Weedon, communications director of the BHF-BSSA. He continued: "Over the next five years a jump in VAT to 20% would increase unemployment by a six figure sum. That will depress economic activity and demand, so after the inital rise in income the real economic cost will kick in. We urge the new Chancellor to recognise the full nett cost of any increase in his plans."

The trade association, which represents independent retailers across the UK, also advises that the timing of any VAT change would need to be very carefully thought out. January 1st, for example, might seem like a convenient date, but it places the mass price change right in the middle of the busiest sale period of the year. It would also impact more heavily on the independent, generally less well equipped with IT and more likely to be manually repricing. This is not speculation: retail has first hand experience of two VAT-driven repricings and the experience is fresh in the memory.

The organisation has great concerns about the possibility that the Chancellor might extend the scope of standard rate VAT to cover a range of products that are currently zero-rated. Childern's clothes, in particular would be hit hard by any change in the rating regime."

He concluded: "The main parties and the markets agree that the deficit is huge and must be addressed. But the new government must take account of more than just the opinions of the markets. Matters of degree, timing and scope of taxation can have serious long term outcomes. The devil, as they say, is in the detail."

The Great British Cookshop Challenge from the CHA

25/5/2010

CHA Independents’ Day - Monday 14th June 2010, Worcestershire   The CHA has lit the gas under the next course of its serving of Independents’ Days. This year entitled “Great British Cookshop Challenge” the event takes place on Monday 14th June 2010 at the fabulous Eckington Manor Cookery School in Eckington, Worcestershire.   The menu of activities has been designed by retailers for retailers and their staff, to provide a cost-effective opportunity to learn new product related skills, hands on, with real food in a real kitchen. Participants will join in the fun with a brand new level of cooking challenges, from sausage making to pies, preserves, canapés and cupcake decorating. The day will be great fun, as always, and provide useful insider knowledge of products and cooking tips to pass on to staff and customers. Retailers will pick up tips and share ideas and feedback with fellow retailers, as well as to network with leading suppliers in the cookshop and housewares industry. The day is sponsored by a host of leading suppliers, whose products will be used in the workshops, including: Nordicware, Kitchen Kapers, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Le Creuset, Eddingtons, Utensa, The Direct Company, DKB. Groupe SEB and T&G Woodware.

Tickets are just £65 +VAT per person, including all workshop materials, lunch and refreshments throughout the day. The day will start with coffee on arrival at 9.30am for a 10am start and finish by approximately 4.30pm. Places are strictly limited to 30, so CHA members should book now to avoid disappointment.

For those wishing to travel on Sunday 13th June and stay locally, there is a special package of £150+VAT, which includes 1 nights B&B accommodation at Eckington Manor or a local Coaching Inn (there are limited rooms at Eckington Manor, which will be allocated on a first come first served basis).

For further details of the event, please contact Matthew Froome on 0121 446 6688 or email matthewfroome@bhfgroup.co.uk

Pet Product  RETAIL ASSOCIATION (PPRA) AWARD WINNERS 2010

19/4/2010

The PPRA, the fastest growing division in retail trade association BHF-BSSA Group presented its sixth annual awards at PATS in Harrogate on April 28th. The awards were:

PPRA RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2010

Suppliers were asked to choose their Retailer of the Year, using the criteria of Business Etiquette, Professionalism, Reputation and Store Ambience – this prestigious Award being the perfect platform for a supplier to acknowledge retailers’ hard work and commitment in promoting the gold star standard within the pet product industry.

The 2010 Retailer of the Year also won in 2008 – they are obviously proving to be a popular company with our Suppliers. That winner is Natural World in Leicestershire. It started in a small store on Market Street, in Loughborough in 1992 and after two years moved into larger premises just a few doors away from which it still trades. It opened an 8000sq ft Pet Superstore in Syston, Leicester in 2004 and now employs 20 people between the two shops. The company says that its main strength is that it focuses on training and motivating its staff. Scott Hendry, proprietor, says that he has many friends and contacts within the Industry and he believes that networking is fundamental to the company’s success.

Natural World has been chosen as the PPRA Retailer of the Year 2010 because they are open minded to new product ranges, and are quite prepared to take product on from wholesalers if they like it, rather than simply dismiss it because of potential issues with order size, for example.They have a refreshing and honest attitude.They have a large, well presented store with knowledgeable and friendly staff and they are also renowned for having the very latest product ranges and innovations within the pet industry. Customers are always greeted with a smile and there is a dedicated member of staff who is devoted to each area of the shop.

PPRA SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR 2010

Retail members were asked to select their supplier of the year for 2100 taking into consideration the criteria of Level of Service, Value for Money, Availability and Retailer Support.  Some excellent companies were put forward for this Award but the outright winner is a new company, who are producing some exciting ranges, in exciting packaging, all sold with a touch of humour. 

This company produces Addititive Free Dog and Cat Food saying “We are all a bit more careful about what we eat these days and it's also good to care about what we feed our pets, after all 'they are what they eat'. This is why we have developed an ultra premium range of easy to understand, down to earth pet foods that only contain bundles of the best quality, all natural ingredients.  They even have testimonials on their websites from cats and dogs who appreciate their products.  The PPRA Supplier of the Year for 2010 is Barking Heads, Miaowing Heads.

PPRA BEST PRODUCT 2010

PPRA members were asked to choose their best product for 2010 using the criteria of  Design, Durability, Innovation and Presentation when making their selection. They chose a very new product on the market which was proving to be an excellent seller, good packaging, and something just a little different that was building a good customer base.

The 2010 Best Product has is an exciting range of eight shampoos and sprays for dogs, with designer looks and functional tube packaging the range that not only looks good, but also has a fantastic smell, cleans wonderfully and is also very sensibly priced.

The winner of the PPRA Best Product for 2010 is the Animology pet care excellence range.

PPRA BEST REPRESENTATIVE 2010

The representative is a vital part of any suppliers’ business in the promotion of their product to retailers. It appears that a good representative becomes a friend in need for the retailer, by showing a comprehensive understanding of the type of products sold, and offering an excellent service to ensure the retailer gets the best from the company they are promoting.

Some excellent people were put forward for this new Award, with the winning company having two representatives vying for the prize!  Several well known companies had nominees for this award, and all nominees will be receiving a certificate. The winner for 2010 sounds to be an outstanding person, who is totally dedicated to the company he represents, in addition he has built up some excellent relationships with his customers, who all seem to think he is just the best!  The winner of the PPRA Best Representative is Mark Tossell from Barking Heads, Miaowing Heads.

PPRA BEST MEMBER OF STAFF RUNNER UP 2010

Our Runner Up is a lady who shows deep commitment and loyalty to her company.  She is, apparently, a ray of sunshine, nothing is too much trouble for her, the customers adore her and not only is she excellent for the business she works for, she also is a good friend and housesits the pets when the owners need a well earned break away from the business.  Julia Gait is the 2010 Best Member of Staff

PPRA BEST MEMBER OF STAFF 2010

The winner sounds to be truly exceptional in her dedication to her employers.  They say of her: “Loyal – she has never let us down.  Hardworking – gives GREAT service.  Funny – makes customers laugh.  Creative – always changing displays.  Stoic – works every day despite having the furthest to travel/snow/back and leg injury and personal tragedy this year.  Friendly – the customers love her.  We want to clone her.  The 2010 PPRA Best Member of Staff is Shirley Tremlett from Bath Pet Centre.

Deere Tops Dealers' Table

19/4/2010

John Deere has beaten thirteen other tractor makers to return the highest overall score in dealer feedback from the first ever BAGMA dealer satisfaction survey. The new inititative assesses manufacturers on the service and support they provide to their dealerships.

The survey sets out to gain a nationwide assessment of the performances of tractor manufacturers, in a number of categories, by grading performance in specific areas into five levels of satisfaction. A total of 53 tick-box questions answered provide the data that will reveal the standing of each of the manufacturers in the eyes of their dealers. UK Results will be compared to others from European countries and where past surveys provide data there will be a comparison with their previous year’s performance to give an ongoing picture of manufacturers' performance.

"The survey is", says director of BAGMA Keith Christian, "much, much more than a popularity contest. Its detailed results will help improve the quality of the work that manufacturers and dealers do to maximise the success of their brands."

Challenged with the assertion that scrutiny from downstream in the supply chain might not be universally popular with manufacturers Christian commented: "Brand owners monitor the performance of their dealers continuously and quite rightly so. It can only be to the good for there to be an impartial 360 degree view of the relationship: after all, it is the dealers who have to work with the suppliers, to nurture the brands and deliver the products and service in the field."

European scope
Closely based on an established dealer survey, run by France's SEDIMA, the project set out to assess how dealers rate their manufacturers' performance on a wide range of business areas including parts, warranty policy, management attention and sales materials.

The SEDIMA survey, with four years worth of results under its belt has now begun to build up data on trends over time. With the newer HAG (German dealer organisation) equivalent and the BAGMA dealer survey this forms the basis of a Europe-wide reporting structure under the aegis of the Europe-wide CLIMMAR (the European Dealers Trade Association Umbrella Group).
It will be extended to include other European dealer trade organisations over the coming years, giving a Europe-wide breadth of view of relations between the two groups. The detailed basis of the survey matches those in France and Germany exactly, to ensure that equivalent data can be compiled across the EU.

The SEDIMA survey compares performances of ten tractor manufacturers across a number of regions. The maturity of the French survey is such that there are indications that some manufacturers have begun to use some of the information to address their weaker areas and have welcomed the survey as a positive tool to improve their service to their dealers. A subset of the information is shared with tractor manufacturers by the trade associations.

Confidentiality
Given the sensitivity of manufacturer-dealer relations, the survey was carried out completely anonymously. Survey forms were sent directly to individual machinery dealers who hold tractor franchises but the returned forms are not identifiable in any way that can be traced back to an individual company.
Photocopied, faxed or scanned and emailed forms were not allowed, in order to avoid duplications or false returns.
While the headline results will be available to all, different subsets of the results will be made available to participating dealers, manufacturers, the press and some industry stakeholders. All results will be produced in the standard CLIMMAR format so that they can be compared with results from other countries.

Future benefits
Past president of BAGMA, Mike Hughes and its new president Howard Pullen, have worked closely on determining the value of this survey to BAGMA members and industry as a whole and are convinced that the survey will benefit the whole of our industry. Howard said: "This is not a witch hunt to try and embarrass or attack manufacturers. It is a tool to improve industry's understanding of what it needs to meet future demands and iron out some of the wrinkles created by a ‘them and us' attitude."
Mike Hughes added: "This is a fantastic opportunity to use a tried and tested process with proven results to help all our members and the industry in the UK to improve itself by having a better understanding of where the problems lie."

BAGMA will be writing to manufacturers/suppliers to invite them to discuss their results and will be coordinating with BAGMA Regional secretaries to provide local presentations of some of the dealer data received. The second round of the dealer survey will begin in the summer of 2010.

Direct Company gets up close and personal with stars of the trade
14/4/2010

Threesomes, speed dating and connubial bliss were out in the open as the Direct Company went upfront about the importance of togetherness with its suppliers at the Direct Away Day (14th April, Stratford on Avon).

Mr & Mrs, three-minutes quickie interviews and an orgy of awards made for a breathless day's entertainment at the annual get together between the trade association-owned buying group and its suppliers.

Winners of the Direct Company Awards 2010

While no-one went home empty handed, six happy companies and one lucky individual went home with more than just a smile on their faces. The award winners were:

Most Promising Newcomer: Winner: EPE International
Finalists: Churchill China, Dartington Crystal

Best Turnover Growth: Winner: Rayware
Finalists: Culpitt, CPC, Groupe SEB

Best Marketing: Hardware, DIY, Garden & Pet: Winner: CPC
Finalists: Draper Tools, LG Harris

Best Marketing: Cookshop & Housewares: Winner: Zwilling J.A Henckel
Finalists:  Bodum, EPE International

Direct Diamond Supplier of the Year Award: Cookshop & Housewares: Winner: Dexam
Finalists: Eddingtons, Horwood

Direct Diamond Supplier of the Year Award: Hardware, DIY, Garden & Pet: Winner: Jegs Electrical
Finalists:  LG Harris, Toolstream

Special Award: Special award in recognition of Commitment to The Independent: Martin Gibbons, Jegs Electrical

Music to retailers’ ears as appeal court rules PPL tariffs “excessive”

24/2/2010

Following extensive lobbying by BHF-BSSA Group, including consistent representation through the British Retail Consortium, there is finally some good news for retailers who play music in their shops. 

Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) is one of two licensing bodies issuing licences to retailers playing music in their shops, distributing payments to record companies, recording artists and musicians.

On 12 February 2010 an appeal court ruled in favour of the licencees, stating that since 2005, PPL had increased its tariffs excessively, in some cases by over 400%, and that previous increases should have been capped at 10%.

Commenting on the appeal court decision, Bob Jarrett of BHF-BSSA said: “This victory follows several years of lobbying on the part of BHF-BSSA Group to challenge the excessive charges. Independent retailers face a daily struggle to comply with regulation, the burden of which falls disproportionately on smaller businesses, and this result will be warmly welcomed by our members.”

Licensees are entitled to refunds for any overpayments made between 2005 and 2009. There are two ways in which licensees can apply for a refund:

• By calculating the level of overpayment themselves and send it to PPL, stating the area of their premises in which music is audible, the amounts paid since 2005, the amount which should have been charged, and the refund due.

or

• By completing the claim form which PPL will be circulating and have PPL make the refund calculation instead.

BHF-BSSA Group has a factsheet on Music in Shop: members can contact the Information Office on 0121 446 6688 or email information@bhfgroup.co.uk to receive their copy.

British Hardware Federation rewards the best at Totally DIY

10/2/2010

British Hardware Federation Retailer Of The Year: The Tool Shop, Waterloo, London
BHF commented: “We received some amazing testimonials about some fairly amazing retailers. It seems our suppliers are impressed with quite a few of our members and it is a great shame we cannot reward everyone that was nominated.  However, one retailer stood out above the rest."

Some of the comments made about the winner were:
• This retailer offers a wide selection of shops covering central London.
• This retailer carried a good range of tools and housewares to reach all price targets.
• This retailer has excellent stock availability and the ability to get stock from other branches, if so required, on the same day.
• This retailer has friendly staff, all of whom are very willing to offer help and advice.

.

British Hardware Federation Supplier of the Year: Toolstream Ltd
BHF Members were asked to make their choices for their top Supplier, and for the third time (2006 and 2009) the members chose Toolstream as their British Hardware Federation Supplier of the Year for 2010. Following on from winning this prestigious Award in 2006, Toolstream (then called Silverline Tools) became a BHF Direct Supplier and have continued to prove their value to BHF members. They are probably the fastest growing supplier of top quality hand and power tools to wholesalers, merchants and retailers in the UK. Established in 1978 and now based in Yeovil at a new purpose-built office and warehouse complex, the company carries huge stocks enabling it to supply ex-stock and offer next day delivery. The company’s product range is constantly being reviewed, tested and extended to meet the needs of today’s tool buyers, and their customers.

British Hardware Federation Best Tools Product for 2010: Thirteen-Piece Bit Magazine Screwdriver Set From Draper Tools
The set incorporates a Blade with ¼” bit holder and rotating magazine to hold bits.  Ergonomic comfort handle increases torque.  Supplied in a counter top display.  The content of each Screwdriver Set includes a Screwdriver with ¼” hexagon holder, 5 plain slot bits size: 3, 4 and 5mm.  3 PZ TYPE bits, No. 1, 2 and 3.  3 Draper TX-STAR bits, T10, T15 and T20. and 3 hexagonal bits size 3, 4, and 5mm. 
One of the comments from a voting retailer about the screwdriver set was: “The product sells exceptionally well and flies out of the shop” 

The British Hardware Federation Best DIY Product for 2010: The Harris Range of paint brushes by L G. Harris.
Harris brushes feature only the finest natural bristles and synthetic filaments keeping bristle loss to an absolute minimum.  They have been designed to make loading as easy and effective possible. By using the finest bristles and synthetic filaments brushes absorb more paint, requiring less frequent reloading. Thanks to their high volume of quality bristles Harris brushes hold more paint allowing you to cover larger areas before reloading is necessary.  They also hold more paint allowing you to cover larger areas before reloading is necessary.  Harris brushes retain their shape after being used and cleaned; ensuring tidy edges are possible every time you paint.

British Hardware Federation Best Garden Product for 2010: Silverline Heavy Duty Garden Sack
600 x 600 x 1000mm high.
Produced from pierce-resistant material.
Strong webbing corner handles and stitched seams.
360 litre capacity (approx).
This does what it says on the tin.
Simple, but truly effective, good seller, a handy garden tool.

British Hardware Federation Best Member of Staff for 2010: Beverley Ireland, Torrys Hardware & DIY
BHF members certainly appreciate their staff and  it is wonderful to know that the members find their staff to be such a valuable assets to their businesses.  Accordingly, everyone nominated will receive a Certificate to show their employers appreciate their efforts. However, BHF can only reward one winner unfortunately. 
The person nominated sounds to be a paragon for anyone to have in their business. The lady in question has just celebrated 30 years of working for Torrys Hardware & DIY.  She started as a Saturday girl, and is, says her employer, utterly reliable, loyal, extremely knowledgeable and always gives an exemplary level of customer service. 
Her employer commented that she is able to order supplies independently and the business can be left in her hands if necessary.  Within a month of the present owner taking over the business, tragic circumstances meant that the owner could not be hands on in the business, and without this wonderful employee the business would not have survived and subsequently thrived. She has become a true colleague and friend. 

Images available on request (michaelweedon@indices.co.uk)

CHA helps hone knife sale rules

10/2/2010

Clear rules on what is and is not a knife have finally appeared after persistent pressure from the BHF-BSSA Group’s Cookshop & Housewares Association, a sister body to the British Hardware Federation.

Scissors, pruning saws and skewers have all been targeted as age controlled items by local trading standards offices, often in test purchasing “sting” operations. Retailers have found themselves threatened with court action for selling items that would not normally be considered to be knives. Worse, the interpretation of the rules has varied from authority to authority, making the task of retailers trying to fully understand the issue even more difficult.

The Cookshop & Housewares Association, whose members are at the cutting edge of the problem, has persistently lobbied central and local government on the issue. The organisation has made a real breakthrough in its work with LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services), which directly advises local departments, with clear new guidance on exactly what constitutes a knife for the purposes of age related sales – and it’s not a pair of scissors. The newly clarified rules are included in the CHA’s Knife Sales Information Support Pack, developed in conjunction with the Home Office. The pack, which contains detailed guidance and point of sale support material, is free, but retailers have to sign up, so that government can keep track of the success of the scheme.
Following on from that, in a new development, the local-authority recognised status as Responsible Retailer is to become available to those signing up to the Pack.

Communications director Mick Weedon commented: “This is all the result of unstinting work by members and staff of BHF-BSSA Group over a period of years. Regulations like this, released into the real world, are interpreted and applied by local authorities, but there is an appalling lack of consistency and clarity in that interpretation and retailers suffer as a result. Now we have clearer rules and recognition of their importance by central authorities. None of that removes any of the responsibility of the retailer to abide by the regulations, but now they will be much clearer about what those responsibilities are. If they don’t know, then the Knife Sales Information Support Pack will tell them – and it is available to them just for the asking.”

Scottish knife sale licensing scheme flawed, says trade body

10/2/0210

With just over four months until the start of the new non-domestic knife sales licensing scheme for retailers in Scotland, retailers remain uncertain whether they should have applied – and what exactly constitutes a non-domestic knife.

The Criminal Law and Licensing Division of the Criminal Justice Directorate has written to retail trade bodies encouraging their members to take timely action before the new regime comes into force on June 1st.

Retailers, in the meantime are still seeking clarification from those trade associations, and others, on several issues:
• What exactly is a non-domestic knife? Are domestic kitchen knives out of the scope of the regulations and if they are not then do they still sometimes qualify if bought for business purposes, such as commercial food preparation?
• What exactly is a knife? The definition used in the scottish initiative is the same open-ended catch-all definition only recently clarified by LACORS for the rest of the UK.
• Are trade-to-trade sales really exempt from the regime?

The BHF-BSSA Group has written to the Criminal Law and Licensing Division of the Criminal Justice Directorate to raise these questions and will be pressing for an answer.

Direct Company tops decade of expansion with better than a dozen percent growth

110/2/2010

The Direct Company has continued its decade long run of growth with an increase in turnover of over 12% despite trading through the worst year that many businesses can remember. The overall result conceals the fact that in the last quarter the increase was running at over 20%.

Managing Director Paul Woolley explained the impressive result: “This not rocket science. The bulk of the increase has come, this time, from members opening more accounts with more suppliers. The encouraging thing about that is that there is plenty of scope for more of the same.”

The company celebrated its success with the launch of a new website (www.directcompany.co.uk) designed to provide an extra promotional channel between suppliers and members.

In a new development the Direct Company has also launched its service to the BSSA members of the new BHF-BSSA Group. Paul commented: “The potential for both members and suppliers is huge. We are in no hurry to extend into new markets but we will be led by our members and we really relish the opportunity and the challenge.”

New trio for BHF-BSSA Marketing

10/2/2010

The structuring of the BHF-BSSA Group Marketing department to deliver for the newly-enlarged group has taken three decisive steps forward with the appointments of:

Matthew (Matt) Froome, Marketing Executive matthewfroome@bhfgroup.co.uk. Matt joined the organisation on 19th January and will become the lead marketer on BHF Finance, amongst many other things.

Charlotte Smith, Marketing Coordinator charlottesmith@bhfgroup.co.uk. Charlotte begins her work on 15th February, but has already attended the Spring Fair and Totally DIY shows to get a feel for the company and to introduce herself to many of the Direct Company suppliers she will be dealing with. Amongst other projects, she will take the lead marketing role for the Direct Company and its suppliers, replacing Kirsty Shaw.

Kate Perrett, Marketing Administrator / PA to Paul Woolley kateperrett@bhfgroup.co.uk. Kate joined the team on 1st February, and will pick up where Helen Brawn left off with administrative support to the marketing team, coordinating significant projects like the Direct Buyers Guide and Cook's Companion product selection. A key role will be in supporting Paul Woolley as his long-needed PA; she will manage his appointments and administration.

Images available on request (michaelweedon@indices.co.uk)

Cash for members at Spring Fair

10/2/2010

Over £8,000 worth of cheques was readied to be handed to CHA Members at a champagne reception on the opening Sunday of Spring Fair 2010.

The cashback flowed from the successful 2009 Cook’s Companion booklet, which members have praised enthusiastically. Suppliers provided support for personalisation and distribution of the independents’ promotional booklet.

In a second cash distribution, key supplier Meyer, readied more of the readies for handing out to cookshop members on the CHA Stand. making members happy to the tun eof nearly £5,000.

Communications director Mick Weedon commented: “Members engage with the CHA for a number of reasons, but rarely just for straight cash handouts. It’s nice, though, to be able to do that as well in these difficult times. The suppliers should be congratulated on sending them away with smiles on their faces (and cheques in their pockets)”

Images available on request (michaelweedon@indices.co.uk)

Boxing clever

10/2/2010

As highlighted recently on GMTV, retailers selling over 32kg of batteries each year, that’s just a couple of 4-packs of AAs a week, are now obliged to offer in-store take-back of used batteries. They may or may not want to, but that’s the law.
 
However, they are not alone. Disposal does not have to cost the retailer and even the pain of collection can be reduced.
 
BHF-BSSA Group has teamed up with Valpak to bring them a free battery collection service including no-cost battery box for use in-shop.

Members should contact the BHF-BSSA Information Office to receive their free battery box today. Members can request their box on 0121 446 6688.

Images available on request (michaelweedon@indices.co.uk)

WEEE renewal deadline looms

10/2/2010

Retailers of electrical and electronic goods have to take back goods like-for-like (eg a toaster for a toaster) when selling new product. This is is a requirement of the only set of regulations ever to make a nine year old boy snigger - the WEEE regulations. Unfortunately this may not make retailers laugh when faced with accepting, storing and disposing of the old toaster (it becomes trade waste as soon as it is taken back)

To be exempt from the legal requirement to accept in-store take-back retailers simply need to renew their Valpak-run DTS takeback scheme membership today. Time is now running short, but BHF-BSSA group is at hand with an easy to renew, or join, scheme membership.

China & glass,cookware, toys & books shine amidst improvement

in BHF-BSSA Survey

10/2/2010

The trend of gentle improvement in trade continued into the last quarter of 2009, although muted and certainly weaker than that indicated by some other surveys according to the BHF-BSSA Quarterly Business Survey.

There is cause for guarded optimism in the short term, although increasing consumer confidence, by no means a given, will be critical to retail performance in 2010. Above all, the general election and the plans of the new government, whateber its political hue, makes prediction difficult, to say the least. Nevertheless, the balance of business confidence is now on the side of optimism.

China & glass, cookware, toys and books headed the list of positives, with the impending VAT increase helping big ticket sales along. Regionally the North West and the Midlands continue to lag behind more fortunate areas.

For fuller detail please contact michaelweedon@indices.co.uk.

Marketing and events power-up for challenges of 2010

BHF-BSSA Group has fundamentally refashioned its marketing and events departments to rise to the challenge of its first full year as the leading trade association for independent non-food retailers.

Sarah Golden has been promoted to Director of Marketing, a promotion that reflects her increased role within the group since the merger and the wider role she has moved into for group marketing activities. The first great challenge that she faces will be the major task of rebranding the new group. 

Esther Purvey has been promoted to the role of Marketing Manager as she takes on more of the role previously covered by Sarah Golden.

Three other appointments will be made in early January, increasing the overall resource of the department. An additional marketing executive is currently being recruited to bring the department back up to its 2008 strength. A new marketing assistant will not only provide administrative support for the marketing department, but also act as PA to Commercial Director, Paul Woolley, whose general area of responsibility, particularly the Direct Company, continues to achieve spectacular growth.

Trade shows, a key area of business for the group, will be handled by Nicola Shoolbred, who will also handle conferences and awards ceremonies.

Diana Truman will take on the main day-to-day administrative needs of the group branches, working closely with Nicola on more unusual events such as the regional meet-the-members events planned for 2010.

Group CEO Alan Hawkins commented: “All in all, the revamping of the Marketing and Events Departments will give us a better resourced, Group wide facility to continue the additional expansion of the Group arising from the BSSA merger.”

BHF Finance top of internet league on savings too

Already top of the comparison sites for loans BHF Finance has scaled the same heights for savings. It is increasing its Easy Access Cash ISA rate to 3.0% gross (3.02% AER) from 1st January and the rates will stay that way for at least the next six months.

John Collins, joint managing director of BHF Finance commented: “BHF Finance is currently topping the best buy table on Easy Access Cash ISA accounts as well as consistently outperforming the competition on vehicle lending rates over the past 18 months. Undoubtedly, you can get better than 3.0% gross if you are prepared to tuck your money away for four or five years, but if you want to keep it within easy reach then look no further. Don’t just take our word for it, go onto moneysupermarket.com and simply enter your Cash ISA account requirements.”

Along with the recent increase in the annual Cash ISA allowance to £5100 for anyone turning 50 by 5th April 2010, this makes an even stronger case for BHF-BSSA Group members sheltering their savings now in a Cash ISA to avoid paying tax on the interest they earn.

For more information members should give the BHF Finance team a call on 0121 446 6688 or visit the website at www.bhf-finance.co.uk 

Terry Reeks is newest Direct director
Industry figure Terry Reeks is the newest member of the board of The Direct Company. Terry brings decades of experience in the trade in retail and supplier roles, from Carpenters to Glenchewton PLC and Boxstar, giving him a unique overview of issues within the supply chain. Now operating in retail again from his Isle of Wight base, Just Home, in Ryde, Terry continues to take an active role in his trade association, the BHF-BSSA Group as well as in trade charity the Rainy Day Trust.

Managing director Paul Woolley commented: "Terry has been involved in all aspects of retail for forty years and he will be a great asset to members in his role on the board of the Direct Company."

Double-digit Duo
19th November 2009

Record-breaking results in both the Direct Company and the Clearing House have followed hot on the heels of the merger of BHF Group and the BSSA.

Clearing doubled its October throughput with a year on year increase that took the monthly turnover above £20 million for the first time.

Direct produced an October turnover 13% ahead of the same month in 2008, taking the year to date increase to 10%.

Mick Weedon, deputy group managing director said: "These would be wonderful results at any time, but in a year in which we have been challenged by both the recession and the merger, they are doubly so. Clearing has demonstrated amazing flexibility by incorporating the whole of the BSSA equivalent in just a couple of months and Direct continues to confound expectations with double-digit growth against all the economic odds. It demonstrates that the potential for the new group to serve up great services and great results for its members is immense. Bring on 2010."

Credit card costs cut

6th November 2009

Small shops get their first big bonus from the merger of trade associations BHF and bssa with a new credit card deal that will cut their card costs to 1.195% and can even take them as low as 0.995%.

BHF Group members switching from any other provider are being offered three months’ free terminal rental to encourage them to switch to the new deal. To make the switch, all members have to do is phone the new customer telephone number of 0800 731 8921 or, for further advice, the BHF-BSSA Group membership department on 01295 713 333.

"More than useful” utility savings for BHF-BSSA members

5th November 2009

Retailers have saved a whopping £47,221 on their telephone, gas and electricity bills through the work of the BHF-BSSA Group scheme provider, Utility Options. This is an average saving of over £800 per member; more than enough to cover even the highest level membership subscription fee.

BHF member, Bob Thomas from Bridge Hardware said: “We have saved at least 50% on our previous company's costs. We would recommend this scheme to all members.”

Member Jonty Mayo, of Musgraves in Windermere commented: “We transferred our four telephone lines from BT to Utility Options on 1st April 2009. The telephone service we received has not changed at all. We did not even notice the switch over, only the drop in charges”

With their wealth of experience, Utility Options do all the work for the retailer, providing them with best advice, sourcing the lowest cost quotations for their business and taking them through a smooth switchover, all for free.

The BHF Group Utilities / Telecoms Scheme was set up to help BHF-BSSA Group members ensure that they are getting the best deal possible on their utilities and telecoms bills, and to save them precious time, doing the hard work behind the scenes so members don’t have to. 

Retailers looking for expert help with their electricity and gas contracts should call Utility Options on 0800 849 1056, send a free-fax on 0800 849 1057 or email to bhf@utility-options.co.uk. This service is free of charge to BHF-BSSA Group members.

A big day for small shops

30th September 2009

Hard-pressed independent retailers got some good news today (30th September) when their two prime trade associations signed the formal merger documents creating the leading member organisation for non-food high street shops. The new body, BHF-BSSA Group, formed to strengthen the supporting services and representational power of thousands of local shops, was unveiled at a signing ceremony at the Army & Navy Club in London's Pall Mall.

New Group CEO Alan Hawkins said of the merger: "Bringing together these two well-established retail trade associations has to be the right move for the members. With over 8,000 retail members we will speak as the most important group representing small and medium non-food retail businesses. The increased negotiating power for our services, a larger market into which they can be delivered and real economies of scale will all help bolster the ability of the association to support its members at a time when it is needed more than ever."

John Dean, retiring CEO of BSSA was equally expansive: "The resources, skill and expertise being merged into the new organisation could not be brought together at a better time. The heritage of both groups will be protected, but more importantly, the enhanced value for money and strengthened range of services will make membership of the BHF-BSSA Group an absolute must."

Communications Director Michael Weedon added: "Expect to hear from us about every issue that bears disproportionately on the independent high street retailer, whether it is regulation, business rates, employment, age-restricted sales, town centres, taxes, planning, competition or any of a hundred burdens heaped on them by government. This new body will have a loud voice to shout for the independent."

The video of National President Sadie Chalkely's speech marking the merger is here.

Consumers take dim view of incandescent phase out, retailers tell TV viewers

27th August 2009

John Poore explains the differences between incandescents and CFLs on Sky News

Retailers took to the TV over the bank holiday weekend to explain why consumers are stocking up on incansdescent bulbs before the lights start to go out as the EU ban on import and manufacture of some incandescent bulbs comes into force.

Speaking live from his shop in Chorleywood, John Poore (Poores of Acton and Chorleywood) told the Sky morning news programme that consumers had been taken by surprise by rhe ban on bulbs which they perceive as being brighter than the replacement Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs.

He argued that the government has failed to inform the public of the changes, causing some "mild panic buying". Fortunately for those wishing to stock up before the import ban sees the end of stocks already in the supply chain, both independent retailers and their suppliers have good stocks - at the moment.

He also pointed out that government subsidies on CFLs strongly favoured multiples, who are able to sell them more cheaply than independents can buy them.

In a later broadcast Briitish Hardware Federation member Chris Abbott of Abbotts (Ottery St Mary and Seaton) told Sky News that consumers want the choice of which bulbs to use. Interviewed aongside Professor Heinz Wolff of Brunel University, Chris told viewers that consumers remained unconvinced of the benefits of the replacement lights, despite claims that the saving in CO2 produced to light them, in comparison with incandescents, would save millions of tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere.

Professor Wolff, putting a scientific view, argued that CFLs do represent a carbon saving but that the light output is some way off that suggested by the manufacturers. CFLs, he claimed, are themselves only an intermediate technological step towards the real saving, which will come with the perfection of Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology.

You can see the interview below.

Chris went on to give a radio interview in which he attacked subsidies, unavailable to independents but available to multiples to support unfairly low prices for CFLs. The BHF Group is in talks with the Lighting Association on the subject.:

Bulb Ban Baloney

27th August 2009

Retailers have been reacting with alarm at press reports that the sale of opaque incandescent bulbs is to be banned as of next week.

"This is clearly wrong." said Mick Weedon of BHF Group, "Manufacture in, or importing these bulbs into the EU will end next week, but bulbs already in the supply chain can be sold quite legitimately by retailers that want to sell them to customers who want to buy them."

Concern has also been expressed by suppliers, worried that stories about an imminent sales ban might lead shops simply to stop selling. Both Stax and Jegs have confirmed that they have ample stocks of the bulbs.

Even greater concern has been provoked by suggestions, attributed to DEFRA, that consumers are to be encouraged to "shop" shops that flout the import ban by importing on the sly. "This irresponsible suggestion ignores the fact that retailers, especially independents, don't imprt lightbulbs themselves and that anyway the government controls what can an cannot be imported into this country."

Battery system partly charged up, not yet ready to roll, says trade association

1st June 2009

The new battery recycling regime will be a bit more manageable for small retailers now that the government has acted on some of its concerns, says trade association BHF Group. Retailers selling more than about a pack of AAs a day will soon be forced to take back used batteries from their customers and the method by which this is done will impact far more on small businesses than larger ones. A couple of important suggestions from the trade association have been incorporated into the regulations.
"Used batteries become classed as hazardous waste as soon as you put them in the boot of your car to transport them to a collection point, so our worry was that small rural businesses, if they had to transport waste batteries any distance at all, would find it difficult to participate legally. Fortunately the government has listened to our suggested solution and the DfT has issued an order exempting up to 333kg of used batteries from the regulations controlling the transport of hazardous materials." said BHF Information Manager Rebecca Abbott.
The BHF had argued that this was an important  point as small shops who were not obliged to take part in the scheme, might wish to opt-in, purely to do their bit for the environment.
Rebecca also commented: "They also raised the minimum volume of annual sales at which a retailer will be required to operate the take back, from the proposed 16 kilograms per year to 32. Realistically this small change will make almost no difference to the numbers of retailers involved, whereas our proposed alternative of 100 kilos would have, but it is a welcome sign that the authorities are actually listening to the comments of those who take part in their consultations."
One area of great concern remains, though, that the dangers of storing and moving batteries containing Lithium have not been fully worked out. Loose Lithium batteries can cause fires through friction and sparking. BHF Group argues that simply piling up batteries of unknown condition and unknown chemical content is inherently risky, whether in a collection bin in a shop or at an open public collection point. The regulations are strict on the careful packing requirements of batteries intended for transport, but not on their collection and initial storage. BHF Group feels that there is more work to be done yet, before battery recycling becomes a completely practical solution to this growing environmental problem and it is calling on government to help properly connect up all parts of the battery life-cycle circuit.

Notes for editors:
The battery recycling regulations came into force on May 4th 2009 and shops will be required to accept in-store take-back on 1st February 2010.
The regulatory amendment on the carriage of Lithium batteries is Authorisation 110 Rev. to The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2007. It was signed on 16th April.

Sadie, First Lady

4th May, 2009

Terry Reeks receives the Past President's medal from newly elected Sadie Chalkley

For the first time in its 110-year history BHF Group has a female president. Sadie Chalkley of Tenbury Wells' JG Banfield, her family firm, was voted into office by members at the group AGM on April 24th. At the same meeting she was also re-elected as chairman of the British Hardware Federation division.

Sadie told members in her inaugural address: “Just like many of you, we are struggling to make a way in the current harsh retail environment, but I am heartened by the fact that my business has survived previous recessions and hope it is still standing in another 150 years.

“I know that my father would be proud that his daughter has been entrusted to represent the main trade association for his industry. I intend to put all my efforts into advancing the interests of the BHF during my year, with the theme of onward and upward as my driving force.”

Her mouldbreaking election means that she will preside over the most significant year for the retail trade association in its history to date: the proposed merger by year-end with the British Shops and Stores Association will lead the creation of the largest trade association for independent non-food retailers and the wroldwide IHA Congress in September, which the group will host in Westminster, will be the biggest event of its type that the group has hosted.

Images of Sadie Chalkley are available on request.

Applause for merger vote

4th May, 2009

The BHF Group and British Shops and Stores Association are on course to merge later this year, forming the largest trade association for independent non-food retailers in the UK, following the unanimous vote in favour at the recent extraordinary meeting at Eastnor Castle last month. With neither votes against nor abstentions on the day, members spontaneously applauded the historic decision.

Speaking for the merger, outgoing BHF Group president Terry Reeks, a member of both organisations, described the merger as being: “in the best interest of both parties”. He believes, he said, that it is vital to have a strong trade association that is recognised and respected by government.

The new president, Sadie Chalkley, said: “We can build on the extensive influence that will be achieved through weight of numbers. Our lobbying activity with government will be strengthened and we will push harder for the regeneration of the high street and town centre. There is vast work to be done from property through to crime, waste disposal, employee rights and all the legislation and red tape which obstruct a retailer these days. I shall be there to ensure that members of both organisations get the political and commercial benefits that have been promised as the basis of the merger.”

The merged membership will give the association more than 8,000 members and a wide range of services from banking and insurance to training and legal advice.

Images of the vote are available on request. Video of the vote can been seen here.

Empty Budget - missed opportunity

22nd April 2009

"An empty budget from an empty Treasury." is how trade association for independent retailers, BHF Group, has described Chancellor Alistair Darling's budget.

BHF managing director Alan Hawkins said of the eagerly awaited annual statement: "There is little or nothing in it for either consumers or retailers. The move on credit insurance is both overdue and underdone."

The trade body had proposed that the budget should be the occasion to extend the period of 15% VAT, arguing that: "The return of the rate of VAT to 17.5% should not take place at the turn of the year, right in the thick of the Sale season, but would be better deferred 15 weeks to early April. This quieter period helpfully coincides with the end of the tax year."

Going further it also suggested that with the receding date of recovery foreseen by the Chancellor "The reversion would be best left until the crisis has passed and recovery is well underway, not to be undone by the sudden increase to 17.5%. Rather than extending the period by just 15 weeks, BHF Group believes that it should be extended by a full fifteen months, to April 2011."

That opportunity still exists and the government should take full advantage of it, the association believes,.

15% for 15 months more, says BHF Group

17th April 2009

Trade association BHF Group has put to the Chancellor, in advance of next week's Budget, that the return of standard rate VAT from 15% to 17.5% should be deferred by at least 15 weeks and ideally by a full 15 months. The letter reads:

"Chancellor,

BHF Group, which represents several thousand independent retailers across the UK would like to put forward one suggestion for your forthcoming Budget.

The return of the rate of VAT to 17.5% should not take place at the turn of the year, right in the thick of the Sale season, but would be better deferred 15 weeks to early April. This quieter period helpfully coincides with the end of the tax year.

This much has been suggested by others. We would go further.

While the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) argues that as the rate cut to 15% has resulted  £2.1 billion in extra retail sales it should be extended for a further six months. We would go further.

The rate cut was introduced as an emergency measure in a crisis. We are still in the crisis. The reversion would be best left until the crisis has passed and recovery is well underway, not to be undone by the sudden increase to 17.5%. Rather than extending the period by just 15 weeks, BHF Group believes that it should be extended by a full fifteen months, to April 2011."

Direct marches onwards and upwards

17th April 2009

The Direct Company, the buying arm of BHF Group, has reported an unseasonal increase of 18% in its March 2009 trading compared to the same month a year earlier. This is despite economic conditions that observers have described as the worst for 80 years.

Paul Woolley, managing director, said :“This is a huge increase to report in view of the less than favourable trading conditions but follows on from some good sales results in January and February”. He added : “The offer is obviously working for our retail members and there must be some suppliers who are very happy to be working with The Direct Company."

Responsible retailers request right to return WEEE

14th April 2009

WEEE Compliance Scheme members are calling for a change in the rights that come with their payment for the upgrading of the recyling system to handle waste electricals. "A shop can't take a used toaster to its local recycling centre without having to pay for the privilege, even if it has paid to upgrade the centre to handle WEEE through its membership of the WEEE compliance scheme." said Rebecca Abbott, who has co-ordinated retailer submissions to the recent government consultation for BHF Group.

Rebecca, Information Manager for the retail trade association continued: "While membership of the scheme enables retailers to direct consumers to their local authority centre rather than taking back electrical items in-store, the naturally generous among them also often take an item back just to be helpful to their customers. That is when their problems start, because as paying members or not, the WEEE item then becomes trade waste and the shop gets charged for returning it for recycling."

Putting its members' opinions forward in the recent consultation on the WEEE regulations, BHF Group has also argued that the government should also do more to promote the fact that the right to return used electricals actually exists. "Many people are probably not even aware that they have this right because the government has spent little or nothing on telling them, even if you include recent activities," said Rebecca "which will make it an uphill struggle to get retailers to contribute to funding the next round of the compliance scheme, if the shops do not think it likely that there will be much WEEE coming in through the door."

Small shops angry at exclusion from anti-burglary initiative

Immediate: 9th April, 2009

"I feel that we have been locked out of this initiative by the government" said Kent hardware retailer Russell Johnson of the "Cracking down on burglary" scheme announced on 7th April by the Home office. He described his "shock" at finding that the Home Office programme included incentives to purchase security products with vouchers at only two retailers in the UK, B&Q and Focus.

He added that he found this choice particulary odd as, in his view, the product needed to secure UPVC and metal door and windows, with their increasing dominance in the market, would be most likely to be available from specialists and independents.

Independent retail trade association BHF Group, of which Russell is a member, has written to the Home Office to air the concerns of its members at this exclusion. The text of that letter is reproduced below.

***************************************************************************************************************************************

Extract of BHF Group letter to the Home Office

L H Harris won twice

Hi-res image here Right click to "Save Target As"

Direct – The Next Chapter - Direct Away Day and Awards 2009

Immediate: 7th March, 2009

The Direct Company wrote the next instalment in its Suppliers Away Day story in Robin Hood territory, the heart of Sherwood Forest, with its latest event on March 6th. Over 140 delegates were treated to a feast of Direct updates, awards and BHF Group presentations as the company celebrated another year of growth, despite the surrounding economic situation.

David Corby, a retail member of the BHF Group with a talent for presentation, acted as compere, introducing speakers including the directors of BHF Group, Paul Woolley, Alan Hawkins and Mick Weedon, Head of Marketing Sarah Golden, and Kirsty Stanyard and Helen Brawn covering marketing, buying and exhibitions. Presentations consisted of future marketing initiatives, information regarding the IHA Congress that BHF Group are hosting in September this year. It also included valuable sections on ways in which the Group support suppliers by providing a range of services from insurance to finance, via healthcare.

Delegates also heard directly from retail members themselves in presentations given by Caroline Gordon of Kitchen Kapers and CHA Chairman, plus Jonty Mayo, owner of Musgraves of Windermere.

All finalists together

Hi-res image here Right click to "Save Target As"

The afternoon featured the prestigious Direct Diamond Awards ceremony.

This year three suppliers, LG Harris, Select Hardware and William Armes, were recognised with awards in recognition of their decade long relationship with The Direct Company:

The retail members of BHF Group rewarded two companies for for their ongoing commitment, service and support by voting to reward them with the Supplier of the Year Awards

• Supplier of the year, Cookshop & Housewares sector: Dexam Hi-res image here, right click to "Save Target As"
• Supplier of the year Hardware, Garden, DIY and Pet sector: L G Harris Hi-res image here, right click to "Save Target As"

The winners of the other four Direct Diamond Awards were:

• Most Promising Newcomer: Culpitt . Hi-res image here, right click to "Save Target As"
• Best Percentage Turnover Increase: Portmeirion Potteries. Hi-res image here, right click to "Save Target As"
• Best Marketing (Cookshop & Housewares): Meyer. Hi-res image here, right click to "Save Target As"
• Best Marketing (Hardware, DIY, Garden & Pet): JVL . Hi-res image here, right click to "Save Target As"

British Hardware Federation Awards 2009

Immediate: 23rd January, 2009

The British Hardware Federation Awards were presented at Totally DIY by federation chairman Sadie Chalkley.

BRITISH HARDWARE FEDERATION RETAILER OF THE YEAR is W Maycock which trades as Hensons Hardware, Manchester.
Mr Maycock has been with the business for the last thirty years, although Hensons Hardware has been in existence for over sixty years, retailing hardware, ironmongery and housewares. British Hardware Federation Chairman Sadie Chalkley siad of the winner: “Their shop is presented to a high level and the layout is user friendly and their loyal customer base, both retail and trade, are happy with the service and product ranges that are available, and in all our dealings with Mr Maycock we find him to be both professional and open to new ideas and innovations.”

BRITISH HARDWARE FEDERATION SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR is Silverline Tools.
British Hardware Federation Members were asked to make their choices for their top three Suppliers and Silverline Tools came out on top to become the British Hardware Federation Supplier of the Year for 2009. Following on from their previous win in 2006 of this prestigious Award, Silverline Tools became a BHF Direct Supplier and have continued to prove their value to BHF members. Silverline Tools is probably the fastest growing supplier of top quality hand and power tools to wholesalers, merchants and retailers in the UK. Established in 1978 and now based in Yeovil at a new purpose built office and warehouse complex the company carries huge stocks enabling it to supply ex-stock and offer next day delivery. The company’s product range is constantly being reviewed, tested and extended to meet the needs of today’s tool buyers, and their customers.

BRITISH HARDWARE FEDERATION SUPPLIER BEST NEW PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2009 has been won by the Viking 17” Roller Mower (Model MB 545 VR) produced by Andreas Stihl.
The judges commented: “This mower achieves a clean cut striped lawn comfortably and effortlessly. Its self propelled Vario drive petrol mower with Ready Start and rear roller, offers easy handling, with a sturdy but lightweight chassis that guarantees excellent results. This mower ticked the boxes of functionality, usability, quality, value for money and selling power, with the proviso of ‘but works better than others’.”

BRITISH HARDWARE FEDERATION BEST INNOVATION FOR 2009 has been won by the Polycell Less Mess Paint Stripper
The judges said: “This helps to reclaim woodwork without any stress or mess, with this new paint stripper doing all the hard work and is a revolutionary way to strip gloss paint effectively. The stripped paint forms a dry crust, ready to be brushed off easily & safely – No scraping necessary!  This is a new non toxic paint stripper that you paint on and it simply turns the paint to dust.”

BRITISH HARDWARE FEDERATION BEST MEMBER OF STAFF FOR 2009 – Twenty hard working members of staff were nominated for this Award, but unfortunately there cannot be twenty winners. British Hardware Federation Chairman Sadie Chalkley commented: “It is wonderful to know that our members find their staff to be such a valuable assets to their businesses.  Accordingly, everyone nominated will receive a Certificate to show their employers appreciate their efforts.”

The Runner Up award British Hardware Federation Best Member of Staff 2009 Award goes to Alan Cousins of Teed Tools and DIY
Alan scores highly on customer service, enthusiasm, product knowledge, friendliness and reliability. As his employer Hugh Teed says: “When I was off sick for some time, Alan dealt with everything. People like being served by him. He is dedicated, provides useful feedback and advice and knows all the stock inside out – if not then he is willing to find out to inform the customer.”

British Hardware Federation Best Member of Staff 2009 goes to Paul Dixon of F G Adamson & Sons.
Paul has detailed technical and sales product knowledge, which he passes on to customers in a confident and unassuming manner. Customers are always at ease with him and trust his information. Nothing is ever too much trouble for customers or colleagues. His employer John Adamson says: “He is a very helpful person and extremely likeable, customers trust Paul with good reason and this makes selling a lot easier. He really does care about our customers and will go out of his way to help them at all times - In addition he is very punctual and is scrupulously honest”.

Immediate: 8th January, 2009

Bank rate is no longer the key, says BHF Group

Whilst the Bank of England's further half percent base rate cut is welcome and expected, in reality base rates are no longer the real issue, according to retail trade association BHF Group.

Group managing director Alan Hawkins commented: “The big commercial banks are not passing on the base rate cuts to customers and many businesses are finding that the availability of bank finance has dried up, or that the margin the banks want has substantially increased.”

He continued: “Retaining depositors has been a major issue for most banks and, contrary to popular opinion, low interest rates do not mean savers then chose to spend rather than save, instead they spend even less, then struggle to maintain their lifestyles.”

Immediate: 8th January, 2009

Year of growth for trade association

Member numbers for BHF Group rose by a nett 93, or 3.5%, in 2008, the trade association has announced. Posting a healthy overall increase in view of the increasing severity of the economic downturn, the representative body for independent retailers has bucked the trend on the high street.

Group managing director Alan Hawkins commented: "This is a good result. It was not easy to achieve as businesses are under pressure whichever walk of retail life they inhabit. It is the outcome of a great deal of hard work: we work had at gaining members, we work hard at keeping members and we work hard at providing valuable services that make membership a 'must have'."

The news comes as BHF Group prepares to implement the proposed merger with the British Shops & Stores Associatiion (bssa) that was announced in December. Intended for completion no later than the end of 2009, the merger will bring two major trade associations together to form the premier non-food trade body for retailers in the UK.

Embargoed until 9.00am 16th December 2008

Independent Retail Trade Associations Announce Merger

The British Hardware Federation Group (BHF Group) and British Shops and Stores Association (bssa), two of the leading independent retail associations with long histories, announce their intention to merge in the near future.

‘This merger will create a powerful voice for over 8,000 independent retailers and provide the opportunity to leverage further economies of scale, giving members even better value for money. It is a perfect fit between two very similar and strong trade associations’ said John Dean, CEO bssa.

Alan Hawkins, Group MD of BHF Group added ‘this is a bold move and one that makes absolute business sense particularly in the current economic climate. It will lead to some significant savings in overheads and to greater efficiencies’.

‘It will be very much business as usual with members noticing no difference in their day to day dealings’ said Dean, ‘however, it will result in synergies in both our combined ability to negotiate better deals for members and our unified voice will undoubtedly carry more influence’.

Subject to any necessary approvals or consents, both Associations will be working closely together in the months ahead to bring this proposed merger to fruition by the end of 2009 at the latest’ said Hawkins. ‘This is no time to stand alone, when the opportunities of a merger ensure not only our long term survival but, far more importantly, enhance the service we can provide to members well into the future’.

The proposed merged Group will have a combined balance sheet of in excess of £8m and will own its own bank and insurance brokerage, and particular benefits will follow in the areas of card transactions, training and central buying. It is probable that both Associations will maintain their current head offices.

Immediate: 4th December, 2008

Bank gets this one right

"The Monetary Policy Committee realy got this one right with their one percent interest rate cut" said BHF Group communications director Mick Weedon today.

Speaking for BHF Group, the retail trade association, he welcomed the full point reduction as "both clear and decisive." With retailers passing on the VAT reduction, and adding serious discounts to prices as well, concerns about inflation are subsiding, he argued, therefore, this further boost to the economy is timely.

"The next one needs to be timely as well. January would be the right time and one percent would be the right number" he added, arguing that still more needs to be done to invigorate the economy in the face of recession.

Immediate: 26th November, 2008

Expensive cheap trick

With its members up to their necks in repricing to account for the VAT reduction to 15% BHF Group has welcomed parts of the Chancellor's pre-budget statement but expressed disappointment that a small, temporary, reduction in VAT is being used to draw attention away from the serious, and permanent, long term changes looming for National Insurance rates.

Managing director Alan Hawkins commented "It is good to see the government taking serious action to try to avert the oncoming crisis, but it is not clear that a two-percent reduction in prices will even be noticeable amid heavy seasonal disounting. In thirteen months' time after another Christmas, retailers will be left with the headache of repricing all over again in the middle of the January sales. - and policy makers will have the headache of a sudden 2% jump in inflation. Let us hope that by the time it comes to pass the economy really is returning to growth."

He added: "The increases to both employees' and employers' national insurance rates, on the other hand, will affect everybody, will be significant and will be permanent."

Immediate: 7th November, 2008

Banker to Bankers - let the money flow

"The startlingly large cut in interest rates makes up for the previous, halfhearted, reduction. The Bank's intention is clear - banks must remove the tourniquet and let funds, the lifeblood of business, start to flow again." said BHF Group managing director Alan Hawkins. Uniquely he stands with one foot in each camp, as joint managing director of a bank, BHF Finance, and as head of a trade association representing independent retailers, BHF Group.

"Banks triggered this crisis. Banks have recived unprecedented support from taxpayers to keep them in business. Banks have been ramping up overdraft rates to small businesses to dangerous levels. The banks' credit card companies have even started to hike card charges to retailers. With this massive rate cut it is now time for bankers to remember that banking is not an end in itelf, it exists to enable businesses do business." he continued.

BHF Group members and their difficulties have been much in evidence in the media last few weeks. Vin Vara of the Tool Shop in London has appeared on Channel 4 detailing the damage that banks and the downturn have done his business, costing one branch and several jobs already. Gary Gordon of Kitchen Kapers in Surrey has been interviewed by both the Telegraph and the Daily Mail commenting on the downturn, the increasing burdens of bank charges and the pressure that quarterly rent payments are placing on his diminishing cashflow.

Alan concluded: "Everything is now in place for the pulse of business to begin to beat again. Banker to bankers - let the money flow."

Immediate - 3rd November, 2008

Double Digit Direct Defies Downturn

Sales for BHF Group's Direct Company jumped by over 10% in October, compared to the same month in 2007, defying the vertiginous fall in many areas of the economy.

Managing director Paul Woolley ascribed the rise to the strength of the relationships formed between suppliers and retailers through the trade association owned business. He commented: "'This result is outstanding considering the current economic downturn. It highlights the benefits that 3,700 member retailers and over 200 suppliers can enjoy when working closely with the Direct Company."

Immediate: 8th October, 2008

Rate cut half-hearted, says BHF Group

"The surprise half percent cut in interest rates is overdue and welcome, but only a half-hearted gesture, when what we needed was a full-blooded full percentage point reduction", said Alan Hawkins, managing director of retail trade association BHF Group, after the announcement.

While welcoming the move, mirrored by the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the central banks of Canada and Sweden and Switzerland, Hawkins sounded a note of caution: "If this doesn't feed through to the benefit of real businesses on the ground then it will have been pointless."

He went on to remind central bankers that the headline bank rate tells only half the story. In the UK the Bank base rate is no longer the benchmark for rates in the real economy. Last time the Bank rate went down, on the more usual Thursday, the main inter-bank lending rate went up on the Friday.

Immediate - 8th October, 2008

PPRA rewards the best in the pet industry

Pet Product Retail Association have once again presented their annual awards. The winners recieved their trophies from PPRA Chairman Simon Carr.
The five award categories are:

* PPRA Best Retailer 2008
* PPRA Best Supplier 2008
* PPRA Best New Product 2008
* PPRA Best Innovation 2008
* PPRA Best Member of Staff 2008

.PPRA Best Retailer 2008 ...

...is Natural World in Leicestershire. It started in a small store on Market Street, in Loughborough in 1992 and after two years moved into larger premises just a few doors away from which it still trades.

It opened an 8000sq ft Pet Superstore in Syston, Leicester in 2004 and now employs 20 people between the two shops. The company says that its main strength is that it focuses on training and motivating its staff. Scott Hendry, proprietor, says that he has many friends and contacts within the Industry and he believes that networking is fundamental to the company’s success.

Natural World was chosen as PPRA Retailer of the Year 2008 because it has a large, well presented store with knowledgeable and friendly staff. It is renowned for having the very latest product ranges and innovations within the pet industry. Customers are always greeted with a smile and there is a dedicated member of staff devoted to each area of the shop.

PPRA Best Member of Staff 2008...

...is Lindy Pollard. Employers Debbie and Richard Keeling of Pets Corner say: “Lindy has been working for us for only the last year, coming on board to manage our newly opened second shop. She came with a glowing reference from our Johnson’s representative. She is very hard working, committed, and knowledgeable. Our customers love her. In addition to her managing the shop she also does dog grooming in our recently opened grooming parlour. She is an essential part of our team and we would be completely lost without her. Completely trustworthy and honest, she is a wonderful asset to our business.”

PPRA Best Member of Staff 2008 - Runner-up...

...is Rebecca Rickatson, who has recently come back to full time work as a representative for Burns Pet Nutrition.

Before leaving for her maternity leave she ensured that she contacted all her customers to keep them up to date on products. Even during her maternity leave she took the time to keep in touch with her customers and ensured any problems were ironed out.

PPRA members say “She is not just a ‘rep’ she cares passionately about the products and, being a qualified nutritionist, she also understands the foods she advises on and sells to retailers.” Her work is much more than a job to her and her visits to her clients are always very welcome.

PPRA Best Member of Staff 2008 - nominated...

Trevor Beaton of Royal Canin was nominated in the Best Member of Staff Award Category and presented with his certificate at PetIndex.

PPRA Best Supplier 2008...

...is Arden Grange Products. PPRA members were asked to select their top three Suppliers, taking the following criteria into account. Range and quality of products. Professionalism. Reputation and Availability. The Winner, Arden Grange Products, was well ahead of the other contenders in the final count.

Arden Grange is a family-run business, founded in 1981. Its Arden Grange range was launched in 1996 and was the first product of its kind to be able to claim human-grade fresh chicken as its prime ingredient. Arden Grange range uses only the highest quality ingredients, is hypoallergenic and contains no artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives. The product values represent wholesome ingredients, superior nutrition, excellent palatability and visible results in the condition of the animal. Arden Grange is opposed to animal testing and guarantee that it will not and will never fund any invasive research projects conducted in relation to the development or refinement of pet foods manufactured or sold by it. Nor would it be party to any act that could be deemed harmful or injurious to animals.

PPRA Best New Product 2008...

...goes to Healthy Paws Puppy Food – this new puppy food was launched in July this year, following the successful range of Healthy Paws Adult Food.

Healthy Paws is a Merseyside based family run business started by Managing Director Lisa Horne. Lisa worked for the RSPCA before studying to become a veterinary nurse. During this time she saw very clearly what poor diet and nutrition does to our pets and determined to do something about it, Lisa studied pet nutrition before starting to bake healthy dog treats by hand. This progressed to the development of Healthy Paws Rabbit and Brown Rice Adult complete food, and this, along with the range of treats were launched to fill a clearly identified gap in the market. With the winning new Product Healthy Paws Rabbit and Brown Rice Puppy food being added to the range in July. The puppy food is a palatable way of encouraging puppies to eat quality food that is both natural and healthy, and which grows a healthy dog. Retailers say that Healthy Paws supports the independent market with an excellent product that makes and keeps dogs healthy.

In December 2007, Lisa beat hundreds of other high calibre entrants to be named “Merseyside Entrepreneur of the Year 2008” by The Search Merseyside, an award presented by Cherie Blair.

PPRA Best Innovation 2008...

...is the Marine Conversion Kit from Reef One. The tropical marine environment is one of the most colourful and beautiful locations in the world. Recreating this underwater paradise in an aquarium has traditionally been very complicated and expensive. The latest innovation from Reef One is a ‘one box solution’ that eliminates complexity and finally makes marine fish keeping easy. The Marine Conversion Kit is an exciting entry into the fascinating world of marine fishkeeping. Traditionally, large marine aquariums include a complicated array of equipment from Power Headers to Protein Skimmers, not to mention the bewildering assortment of chemical additives and adjusters. However, the Marine Conversion Kit allows one to simply change your tropical biOrb or biUbe into a complete Marine aquarium. The Marine Conversion Kit is designed to allow owners to effectively keep small marine fish and a variety of other marine creatures such as hermit crabs, shrimps and marine snails.

Immediate: 30th September, 2008

BHF Finance ramps up buyer power

BHF Finance has strengthened the hand of members buying vehicles in October by bringing loan rates for used cars and vans down to the same levels as for new ones.

New car sales have fallen to the lowest level since 1966 and only 63225 new cars were registered in Britain in August, a fall of 18.6% on the previous year. Orders taken by dealers have fallen off a cliff as a result of the credit crisis, a lack of consumer confidence and the impact of escalating fuel prices. Dealers are trying to shift new cars any way they can and this will hit the value of the second hand car market. October should be a good month for buyers of used vehicles, with dealers keen to shift trade-ins taken against new registration car sales in September.

The move follows the extraordinary success of the special summer promotion which featured typical APRs reduced by nearly 2%. The company stresses that as it does not raise its funds on the money markets but instead has cash ready and waiting to meet members’ borrowing, it is able to match very competitive rates with readily available funds.

BHF Group members should call the finance team on 0121 446 6688 or visit the website for further information at www.bhf-finance.co.uk

Immediate: 26th September, 2008

First woman president for BHF Group

Sadie Chalkley, managing director of Tenbury Wells hardware and housewares retailer J G Banfield will assume the BHF Group chain of office in 2009. In doing so she will become the first woman to lead the trade association.

Sadie said “I look upon this opportunity to serve the members as a great honour and I can assure members that I will give my all to the task, not because I’m a woman, but because I am an independent retailer and independent retailers deserve the best.”

Alan Hawkins, group managing director commented: “We have awaited the arrival of our first woman president for a very long time and I am delighted that Sadie will be taking up this important leadership role.”

Roger Lownsbrough of The Complete Cookshop in Bakewell, who was to have stepped up to the presidency next year has instead stood aside, citing the need to give his full attention to his business in difficult times. Alan Hawkins said of this: “It is sad to be losing Roger so close to his planned presidency, but I quite understand his reasons and must thank him for all the hard work he has put in as vice president over the last three years.”

Immediate - 14th September 17th, 2008

PPRA to reward the best in the pet industry at Petindex

Pet Product Retail Association will once again be presenting their annual awards on their Stand No, K37 Hall 6-8 Petindex on Sunday 21st September 2008. Launched in 2005 at Petindex, these awards reward the best in the pet industry – winners in 2007 included Rosewood Pet Products (Best Innovation) Best Pets (Best Supplier) and Robert Dobson (Best Member of Staff).

The five awards are:

* PPRA Best Retailer 2008
* PPRA Best Supplier 2008
* PPRA Best New Product 2008
* PPRA Best Innovation 2008
* PPRA Best Member of Staff 2008

Voting forms were mailed out to suppliers to choose their best retailer, and to retailers to vote for their best supplier, best new product, best innovation and best member of staff during July 2008, and the five worthy winners have now been selected.

Simon Carr, Chairman of Pet Product Retail Association will be making the presentation at 12 noon on the 21st during a Champagne Reception and everybody is welcome to join the party.

Immediate - 15th September, 2008

Six of the Best for HDRA

The Home Decoration Retailers Association Awards for 2008, won through real votes by real people, were presented at the Autumn Fair at the NEC.

One! HDRA Best Retailer of the Year Award 2008

J W Treadwell of Solihull beat off strong opposition from other leading, proactive, forward-thinking retailers. Treadwells offer superior style, striking designs and exclusive collections from their newly refurbished midlands showroom. They have a large range of high standard living and bedroom furniture, soft furnishings, fabrics, carpets, wall coverings and blinds from many top designers.
Comments about them included:

“They are professional, with a good knowledge of product. Helpful, friendly staff and they are a long established company where the customer is always paramount.”
and:
“They have a stunning showroom, which has established itself as a leading destination store for new design ideas in the world of interior design”
Treadwells has been a member of Home Decoration Retailers’ Association since the early 1970s making them one of the longest standing members of the association.

Two!.HDRA Best Member of Staff Award 2008

Angela Neal of Amity Blinds has been voted HDRA Best Member of Staff for 2008.

Angela has given 13 years of “110% loyalty, dedication and total customer focus” say her employers. She provides expert colour scheme advice, and is so dedicated that she never stops for lunch and never even breaks for a hot drink, Amity says of Angela: “She has a real passion for Window Fashion - and just to put the icing on the cake – she is fun as well.”

Angela is the front of house for Amity Blinds, which started from a family business idea 30 years ago. It has continued to grow, offering an established knowledge of the window furnishings market from both the trader’s and the customer’s perspective. The Amity Team strive to establish the highest standard of quality and expert advice and Angela embodies both of those qualities.

Three! HDRA Best Member of Staff Award 2008 –Runner-up

Claire Stone of Sylver Star DIY in Barry has been awarded the runner up prize for HDRA Best Member of Staff.2008.

Claire started as a Saturday girl and has progressed in the business, having been assistant manager of Sylver Star for the last five years. Her knowledge of the products in this industry is exceptional. “She has proved to be outstandingly helpful to both staff and customers and has become a really good friend to many of the regular customers.” said Terry Sylvester of Sylver Star.

Sylver Star has been a member of Home Decoration Retailers Association since the 1970s, and has been in the DIY industry since the 1950s. Claire, despite being only in her early 30s has worked in the home décor trade for over 20 years.

Four! HDRA BEST SUPPLIER of the Year Award 2008

HDRA members love their chosen suppliers and they put forward a very strong and diverse mix of companies in nominating their top three suppliers. The suppliers themselves provide an eclectic mix of product with top and middle market operators getting votes. HDRA came down strongly for wallcovering suppliers, but curtain pole suppliers and manufacturers of paints, brushes, blinds and trimmings were also put forward as contenders, emphasising the breadth and width of the industry.

The Home Decoration Retailers’ Association Supplier of the Year for 2008 is Harlequin Fabrics & Wallcoverings. Despite the very strong competition, Harlequin was a clear and outright winner in the voting. In winning the award they repeat the feat that they first achieved in 2005.
With a reputation for quality and innovative design Harlequin is one of the premier brands in the competitive interiors market. With an eclectic, well presented product portfolio, Harlequin strives to offer style, glamour and inspiration to its ever-growing customer base. Part of the Walker Greenbank Group, Harlequin counts itself strongly placed to meet the stiff challenges of the interiors industry. Imaginative and versatile products are supported by a dedicated, highly professional sales force, an inventive and pro-active marketing department and the flair and skill of an experienced design team.

Five! HDRA Best New Product Award 2008

Wallcoverings have once again dominated nominations from HDRA members. In a closely contested vote, ranges from Graham and Brown, A S Creation and Galerie all featured, but the Saphyr Range from Galerie ran out the winner.

Launched just over three months ago this range truly has the “wow” factor. Eloise Rowland of the winning supplier has commented that they knew this would be a winner and that “it is just flying out the door!”

Established just under 20 years ago Galerie has grown to be a leading supplier of specialist wallcoverings collections in the U.K. Using an extensive network of manufacturers in many different countries worldwide, Galerie are able to create collections using all methods of production and a wide range of design styles. With a total of over 70 different collections, all specially selected and coloured for U.K. taste, the Galerie offer is considered to be among the most complete on the market today. This strategy of offering distinctive and successful collections has allowed the company to grow steadily and to invest in a new purpose built distribution centre and showroom in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Opened just over two years ago this facility has enhanced service levels and provided further space for the company’s continued development.

Six! HDRA Best Innovatiom Award 2008

The winner of the HDRA Best Innovation Award for 2008 is the Surface Print Floxo machine.

Exactly when flock wallpaper became a joke is not clear, but, after a long period of decline, it is popular once more .,.. and nobody is laughing now. One of the companies leading the resurgence is The Surface Print Company, who, when asked in 2004 if they could produce flock, when no other company was even considering the machine printing of flock, initially tried some “interesting” and complicated procedures to learn how to produce it. With early efforts producing “a bald splodgy mess”, much effort and high stress levels, sleepless nights, and broken relationships, Surface Print finally cracked the secret of making the process work. Once the company had solved the problem it found that the demand for flock was enormous and flock collections for Nina Campbell, Osborne & Little, Lorca Manuel Canova, Larsen, Colefax & Fowler, Romo, Zoffany, Eijffinger, Designers Guild, York Wallcoverings, Anna French and others followed.

Surface Print put their single flock machine running at four metres a minute into 24-hour, 7-day a week running, but even with updating to produce at nine metres a minute help was required. With demand still high, they made the decision to install a state of the art, inregister flexo/flock machine, called a Floxo! This particular machine is unique and has been designed by John Mark Watson and a brilliant machine manufacturer. Now the two flocking machines are running side by side in a purpose built flocking shed.

John Mark says “I can honestly say it has been an interesting project, hard as it was, but certainly rewarding, now, when I see quality and innovative designs that are being produced on those two machines.

Immediate - 15th September, 2008

CHA finds four finest at Fair

A crack team of CHA members searched the kitchen and housewares section of the Autumn Fair for the best new products in four key categories. They found these:
Best New Product at Show – Beer Buddies by Plas Stak
Simple plastic racks (three in a pack) for stacking bottles and cans in a fridge, stopping them from rolling over. The product was voted for its simplicity, clever design and low retail price.

Most Innovative Product at Show – Ravi Wine Chillier by Jeray Sales Ltd
A compact wine cooler with an integral coil filled with freezable gel that goes in the freezer.The Chiller fits on top of the wine bottle and chills the wine as you pour it. The product won votes for its compact size, and for presenting an innovative alternative to the more traditional, and larger, wine coolers. Easy to use and space saving.

Best Packaging at Show – The Cross Cutting Garlic Twist by GW International
The information on the packaging was clear and concise. It displays the product well, makes good use of
space and minimises packaing waste.

Best Product at Show – Thermolon Endurance range of ‘Green Pans’ by Typhoon Housewares Ltd
The overall product range was judged to be good, with an appealing design, look and feel, good functionality, and featuring an environmentally friendly, PTFE free surface.

Immediate - 12th September, 2008

Cookshop to win James Martin

"More retailers have already signed up for more copies of the Cook's Companion than in any previous year - even before the official launch!" said CHA chairman Caroline Gordon at the Autumn Fair unveiling of the 2008-2009 promotional booklet for independent cookshops. "We now know that our members will buy more that half a million copies of the Companion for the first time ever", she continued.

Shoulder to shoulder with a lifesize facsimile of celebrity chef James Martin, whose Lamina Cookware features prominently in the Companion, Caroline announced that the record-breaking performance could yet become even better, as CHA members can sign up right until the end of September.

For the 2008-2009 edition the CHA had provided a supplier-funded guaranteed cashback, available until the last minute of the last day of the show and a PR campaign to raise consumer awareness of both the Companion and the independent cookshop. E-commerce options and POS materials rounded out the retailer-led promotion and one lucky retailer, announced Caroline, would win the lifesize chef to grace their doorway and drag in the shoppers.

With a lifecycle of a full twelve months the Companion is designed to offer great flexibility to those who prefer to use it not just for the pre-christmas period but also to drive footfall in their quieter periods or to attract return visits with bag stuffers.

With the TV chef of the day gracing the front cover, featured with his Lamina stainless steel cookware and a wealth of specialist cookshop products inside, this year's A5 catalogue has been targeted as the perfect marketing tool for retailers to promote their business in their local area. The 2008-2009 Cook’s Companion is supported by eleven CHA Direct Company Suppliers including:

* Dexam
* DKB Household
* Eddingtons
* Falcon Products
* Hahn
* Horwood Homewares
* Kitchen Kapers International
* La Cafetiere
* Meyer Group
* T & G Woodware
* Utensa

all of which have set their prices at specially negotiated Cook’s Companion rates for at least six months available exclusively to retailers who take the Companion.

Immediate: 4th September, 2008

"No surprise", says BHF Group

The MPC's decision to leave interest rates unchanged for a further month is no surprise - but in a world of unpleasant surprises it is probably the right decision for now, says retail trade association BHF Group.

"But with the likelihood of externally-driven inflation beginning to recede and the probability, if not the fact, of recession rising by the day, it will soon be time for interest rates to begin their inevitable decline and by soon, I mean October or November." says BHF Group managing director Alan Hawkins, continuing: "The currency traders have already priced a drop into their calculations and we are already seeing the effects of this on Sterling."

Immediate - 8th August, 2008

Three for the Show: CHA prep Autumn Fair feast

The Cookshop & Housewares Association has cooked up a banquet of headline activities for its appearances at the Autumn Fair (7th-10th September 2008).

1) Cook's Companion Champagne Launch

The 2008 Cook’s Companion will be launched at a champagne reception at noon on the opening day of Autumn Fair, Sunday 7th September 2008.

CHA Retail members will have the opportunity to be the first to place their orders for the personalised marketing tool, which will be ready to hit the streets in time for the run up to Christmas. The catalogue lasts a full twelve months, for those who prefer to use it to drive footfall in their quieter periods or to attract return visits with bag stuffers.

With TV chef of the day James Martin gracing the front cover, featured with his Lamina stainless steel cookware and a wealth of specialist cookshop products inside, this years A5 catalogue is the perfect marketing tool for retailers to promote their business in their local area. This years Cook’s Companion is supported by eleven CHA Direct Company Suppliers including:

* Dexam
* DKB Household
* Eddingtons
* Falcon Products
* Hahn
* Horwood Homewares
* Kitchen Kapers International
* La Cafetiere
* Meyer Group
* T & G Woodware
* Utensa

all of which have set their prices at specially negotiated Cook’s Companion rates for at least six months available exclusively to retailers who take
the Companion.

CHA invite independent retailers to come along and enjoy a glass of bubbly at the CHA Village (Hall 2 stand H36/J37) and to celebrate the launch on the opening day.

2) 21 CHA Suppliers exhibit at CHA Village at Autumn Fair 2008

The Cookshop & Housewares Association will make a big impact at this year’s Autumn Fair, NEC Birmingham, from 7-10th September 2008. This year the CHA Village will be home to 21 key names in the cookshop & housewares industry, all offering exclusive promotions and special terms to members for the duration of the show.

These 21 top Direct Company suppliers include:

* Arthur Price
* Beka
* Bodum (UK) Ltd
* Dexam International Ltd
* Utensa
* Garlic Twist
* Giles and Posner
* Lagostina (Groupe SEB)
* Hanson (UK)
* Home-tek International Ltd
* Kitchen Kapers International Ltd
* Le Creuset (UK) Ltd
* Little Red Hen
* Meyer Group Limited
* Paul Hargreaves Associates
* Pik-a-Pak Home Electrical
* Proven Products Ltd
* Royal Doulton (UK) Ltd
* Samuel Groves Co Ltd
* The Really Sensible Trading Company
* WMF UK Ltd.

CHA Members and non-members alike are invited to visit the CHA Village to learn more about their trade association. CHA staff will be on hand to outline the many benefits available through membership and answer questions about the services that make the CHA a unique trade association for independent retailers across the UK.

The CHA is encouraging retailers and suppliers seeking further information on the benefits of Full Retail or Associate (supplier) Membership to visit
the CHA Village (Hall 2 stand H36/J37) at Autumn Fair 2008. Alternatively they can contact Sue Beard, Membership Secretary on 0121 446 6688 or email membership@bhfgroup.co.uk

3) Suppliers look out! - CHA retailers hunting the best in kitchen and dining

The Cookshop and Housewares Association (CHA) in conjunction with Autumn Fair show organisers, will judge the CHA Awards at the Autumn Fair on Monday 8th September, during the show itself.

The awards include four categories:

* Best New Product,
* Most Innovative Product
* Best Packaging
* Best Product at Show

They will be judged by a panel of CHA retail members. The winner of each category will receive a certificate, a stylish glass award, a bottle of champagne and enormous kudos.

Judging will take place from 10am on Monday 8th September, with the winners announced in a champagne ceremony at the CHA Village, Hall 2 stand H36/J37.

Immediate: 30th June, 2008

BHF Group surveys state of the High Street

"The antidote to supermarket-dominated sales monitors" was how BHF Group communications director Michael Weedon described the retail trade association's new online quarterly business survey.

"We are regularly consulted by government in the UK and in Brussels, by statistical and banking authorities, by the press and by our members themselves, about the state of trade on the high street. This survey will enable our members to paint a realistic picture of the fortunes of retail across the country, drawing on their own, everyday experience."

The survey itself will run alongside that already established by the bssa and the data from both groups of independent retailers will be merged to provide the most accurate statistical report available.

Entirely hosted online, the survey can be accessed from www.bhfgroup.co.uk/surveyf.htm and will be available for members to complete from 30th June to 14th July.

"This is a chance for members to really make a difference in telling government how trading life really is for them. It isn't the loudest voice that carries the greatest weight, but the most authoritative opinion that convinces most. The survey is designed to be very quick to complete, with a small number of simple, unambiguous questions. A few simple clicks can be heard throughout the corridors of power." Michael Weedon concluded.

Immediate: 30th June, 2008

Credit Crunch becomes Credit Stretch

As the big banks continue to squeeze small business credit, trade association bank BHF Finance has, in an unprecedented move made major changes to its new and used vehicle loans, to loosen the straightjacket of the credit crunch.

In a series of major changes BHF Finance has brought relief to independents with:

* A straight cut of almost 2% from it’s normal APR’s on all new and used vehicle loans
* A reduction in the deposit required on all vehicles to 10% from the previous 20%

and

* The introduction of a cash back to unlock cash from the trade-in value of a vehicle

The key aim in making these moves is to persuade members of the association to make BHF Finance their preferred choice of finance for their vehicle investment.

The rate reduction for vehicles will be a three month special offer until the 30th September 2008. Unusually it applies to both new and used vehicles.

The cash back facility will be available to vehicle buyers who have a trade-in and apply for a BHF Finance loan to help with the purchase. BHF Finance will release up to 80% of the trade-in value in the form of a cash back payment to release the equity.

BHF Finance is well aware of the belt tightening that high street banks are imposing on small business and is also well aware of the need to remain competitive in a saturated marketplace.

Newly appointed Joint managing director, John Collins commented: “With the new vehicle registrations due in September, the timing of this special offer is perfect to demonstrate to members that we are not just their trusted source of finance, but that we do our best to compete with heavily sponsored competitors and manufacturer offers and to help their credit stretch to meet their needs.”

Call 0121 446 6688 or email enquiry@bhf-finance.co.uk

Immediate: 30th May, 2008

Keith Christian now Director of BAGMA

Keith Christian has been promoted to Director of dealer trade association BAGMA, one year after his initial appointment as general manager. The appointment was announced at the May national conference in Vilamoura, Portugal.

BAGMA president Mike Hughes commented: "Keith came to BAGMA from the supplier side of the industry and he brought with him a great wealth of knowledge of the realities of life for dealers and an amazing range of contacts. He has really proven himself in his first year as the man that BAGMA needs."

Alan Hawkins, managing director of BAGMA parent, BHF Group, said: "There are weighty issues facing dealers and Keith has shown that he is a real heavyweight, in taking on those issues with both government and industry. His promotion reflects his stature in the industry and the strategic importance of his role."

Keith is a past president of the manufacturers association, the AEA, and past managing director of outdoor power equipment supplier Claymore Grass Machinery.

Keith said: "I am keen to work with industry stakeholders on areas of common interest as well as help to secure the future of BAGMA’s specialist agricultural and garden machinery dealers, by working toward fairer dealer agreements and better representation at government level."

Immediate: 27th May, 2008

"The High Street is under attack" warns Ryde retailer as National President

Terry Reeks, proprietor of homewares retailer just Home in Ryde's High Street is the newly elected national president of retail trade association, BHF Group. Taking on the prestigious role at the recent annual general meeting in Bristol he declared: "To help independent shops survive we must focus on those things that make them prosper."

On the national stage, with government, as much as within the Isle of Wight and the council, Terry can be expected to be a fierce advocate of independent businesses. He warned in his inaugural speech at the AGM in Bristol: "The High Street is under attack. One day we will wake up and find that there are only four shops left." He is particularly concerned that the interests of small businesses need to be promoted by by national government and local councils, saying: "Parking, planning and property costs (rates) are all big issues for small shops and they are all competition issues in the face of the overwhelming might of the multiples."

Since the AGM he has led the BHF Group's annual national conference to Vilamoura in Portugal. Specialist speakers at that event concentrated on how to make independents survive and thrive in a hostile retail environment.

Terry, who runs the local business with wife Pauline, has spent a lifetime in retail, working in decor, buliding supplies, hardware, DIY, housewares and cookshop before moving on to business consultancy and the supply side of the trade with Boxstar, of which he was a director.

His intention in moving to the Isle of Wight had everything to do with retirement and little to do with getting into a whole new business. He says of this decision: "We came down here basically to relax and buy ourselves something simple." Instead, he and Pauline visited just Home, a past customer of his and ended up buying the business.

Between them they have computerised the shop, retrained themselves and the staff, revamped the layout and changed sixty percent of the suppliers. The shop now sells a comprehensive range of homewares stretching from cookshop, picture frames, storage and giftware through to curtains, bedding and bathroom accessories.

Terry remains an optimist. Even in the face of threatened recession he is encouraged by the prospects within the town and its seasonal tourist boost: "Even if it's pouring with rain, which isn't so often, visitors will come and look around the town, see that Ryde is not another clone town and has many independent businesses - and they'll buy something because it's different."

Immediate - 21st May, 2008

Direct Shines in Economic Gloom

Amidst the prevailing economic doom and gloom The Direct Company has lit up the market with a turnover increase of more than 21% for April 2008, in comparison with the same month last year.

Managing Director, Paul Woolley commented: “With the overwhelming weight of reports of difficult trading conditions, it’s good to announce a bright spot of retail success.”

Despite the inclement retail weather, turnover in The Direct Company is up over 10%, like for like, in the year to date.

In ascribing reasons for this success, Paul continued: “It’s easy for retailers to use the service and gain from better terms, whilst suppliers benefit from some level of financial stability through our guaranteed payment and promotional platform – providing a little bit of sunshine all round.”

Immediate: 11th May, 2008

All the Factsheets fit to print (or, maybe, not)

Every single Factsheet from the BHF Group information office has been revised, redesigned and reissued in the biggest shakeup of the popular members' service since records began.

Covering subjects from from Statutory Sick Pay (1) to CE Marks (94) and passing through ninety two information points, including Armed Robbery (not a "How to"), Price Indications and Age Restricted Sales, the factsheets are free on demand to all BHF Group members, including associates. Each is the result of enquiries put by members to the busy information office at BHF Group headquarters and each is designed to provide all the facts that the business needs, accurately, concisely and in plain english.

Information manager Rebecca Abbott said: "The new Factsheets put a fresh face on this valuable resource for our members. All are available for free, on request, in electronic form as well as on paper. So, members can not only save themselves a lot of trouble finding out what they need, they can also help out the environment by asking us for the electronic versions, so that the sheets do not even need to be printed.",

Thirty one of the Factsheets are also included in a major overhaul of the Platinum Personnel Pack, a human resources manual available on subscription to BHF Group members. The latest update to the Platinum Pack runs to over 100 pages, the most significant change in its lifetime.

The Information Office also publishes the weekly e-mail Information Update, carrying fast changing news about legislation and regulations. Member Veronica Carter of Costmill Ltd recently e-mailed Rebecca to say " The factsheets save us time finding the information relevant to small businesses. The Updates ensure we are kept up to date with the ever changing legislation and remind me of the vast information available from BHF. These two things alone are worth our subscription. Keep up the good work."

The information office can be called on 0121 446 6688, faxed on 0121 446 5215 or e-mailed on information@bhfgroup.co.uk.

Immediate: 8th May, 2008

"Rate cut not even a quarter enough...", says BHF Group

The Monetary Policy Committee's April interest rate cut was "Not half enough" according to retail trade association BHF group. This month's decision to cut the rate by nothing is therefore not even a quarter enough, in the view of the organisation.

"Another quarter point reduction is badly needed " said managing director Alan Hawkins, "All the indicators point to a significant slowdown in the economy and while the Bank of England has a duty to give no quarter to inflation, the price pressures that there are, are coming from external sources, in energy, raw materials and manufactured products, rather than internal sources such as wage increases. Interest rate cuts will not raise or lower the price of crude oil, but they can raise the confidence of consumers and businesses. We need that boost to confidence now, to avoid slipping into recession, but we have to hope that at least there is one more cut in the MPCs armoury this quarter."

Immediate: 30th April, 2008

Ryde Retailer is National President

"To help independent shops survive we must focus on those things that make them prosper" declared Terry Reeks, the newly elected national president of retail trade association, BHF Group.

Describing the association as "a just banner" beneath which independent businesses could rally, he warned in his inaugural speech that "The High Street is under attack. One day we will wake up and find that there are only four shops left." His themes for the year will, accordingly, include making sure that all members benefit equally from their trade association and that the BHF Group should build bridges with other industry bodies.

Managing director of the group of trade associations, Alan Hawkins, welcomed Terry's priorities as they chime with the six pillars of the new Group strategic plan, which stresses the importance of member involvement, good representation in all divisions, an involved Board of Management, a strong lobbying role, modernisation and commercial success.

Terry's background gives him many years experience in retail, manufacturing and business consultancy. He recently "retired" to the Isle of Wight, only to buy a high street home accessories business, Just Home, and start up with wife Pauline as a retailer all over again.

Terry has been a member of the BHF for 28 years and has been very active in local, branch, membership. He has also been a tireless fundraiser for industry charity the Rainy Day Trust. Outgoing president Bob Chapman complimented Terry on being very "generous hearted" and told members to expect that "This President will raise record amounts of money for the Rainy Day Trust."

Immediate: 30th April, 2008

Supermarkets report is a licence for monopoly, says BHF Group

The Competition Commission asked itself the wrong questions and, accordingly, has come up with the wrong answers, according to retail trade association BHF Group. The inquiry was triggered by the All Party report which predicted the death of the independent retailer on the high street by 2015 and this report, says BHF Group, will not avoid that result, it will hasten its arrival. As recently as 2000, in a previous report, the Commission had concluded that on three counts there existed a "complex monopoly" in the grocery market and there is no doubt that that monopoly still exists and is more restrictive that ever. The "remedies", however, aim merely to promote competition between the big four supermarkets, ignoring the damage to the retail ecology that has already occured.

Ian Firth, Chairman of the BHF Group Legal & Parliamentary Affairs committee commented: "The 'planning test' which will apply only to stores with more than 1,000 sq m in selling space and even then only when there are fewer than four big shops in the area, will only apply where a supermarket has more than 60% of the market. While competition authorities can normally be expected to think of 20-25% market shares as the beginnings of monopolies, the Commission has ignored suggestions from Waitrose*, among others, that 40% might be a reasonable trigger level and decided arbitrarily that a supermarket can control well over half of a local market before any competition concerns are raised at all. These recommendations constitute a licence for monopolists to stamp out their smaller competitors."

He went on: "It is shortsighted of the Commission to ignore the effects that this will have on consumer choice as the monopoly power of the big four grows even stronger over time. We are already facing the knock-on effects of this concentration of power on British manufacturers and suppliers as most of these giants exploit their strong links with India, China and others."

The Commission has decided that independent convenience stores are "not in terminal decline" yet they ignored the warnings of the supplier of the data that in relying on statistics concentrated on prime High Street and retail park locations they were ignoring the reality of the full retail environment. They were, argued Ian Firth, also ignoring the fact that the big supermarkets are much more than just grocers, as one quarter of their turnover is already in 'non-food' so the outcome of the report would be felt from one end of the retail ecology to the other.

The trade association welcomed the ban on restrictive covenants on land use, but expressed disappointment that there is no provision for any disposal of land banks. It also welcomed the toughening of the code of practice for relationships with suppliers, particularly the prohibition of retrospective adjustments to terms of supply, but expressed regret that the Commission was not able to offer any such substantial support to the independent retailer.

Ian Firth concluded: "In the light of these perverse conclusions, which will do active damage to retail diversity across the country, it is more important than ever that government does what it can to ensure that regulation is made to bear down less heavily on the time and resources that smaller businesses need to concentrate on competing with the increasingly deregulated retail giants."

* Managing Director Mark Price quoted in The Observer, 20/4/2008.

Immediate: 30th April, 2008

"It doesn't hurt to ask" says BHF as OFT cleared to investigate bank charges

A High Court ruling on 24th April has given the Office of Fair Trading the authority to press ahead with it’s investigation into unfair bank charges. This was first launched in March 2007 following a consumer backlash which saw thousands of Britons reclaiming fees going back up to six years. In the first half of 2007, banks refunded more than £400 million. Banks are thought to make £2 billion to £3.5 billion per year on fees imposed when customers go into unauthorized overdraft, or where a cheque bounces. Campaigners claim that the actual cost to the bank in these circumstances is £2.50 whereas banks levy penalties as high as £39.

The test case is expected to take years to resolve. Thursday’s decision follows a hearing in January at which lawyers for RBS, Abbey, Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, HBOS, Clydesdale Bank and building society Nationwide disputed whether the banks could be sued under the 1999 Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations.

John Collins, BHF Group Financial Director comments: “I would advise any BHF member who believes he or she has suffered unauthorised bank charges to ask for their money back. You can claim up to six years worth of charges. There are websites available to guide you through this process e.g. (www.thisismoney.co.uk).” BHF Finance has always prided itself on the transparency of its loan agreement charges, with no administration fees and no early settlement charges. As the only Trade Association owned bank, it relies upon the support of its members. It is not driven by maximizing shareholder value at the expense of members.

Immediate: 14th April, 2008

"Rate cut not half enough", says BHF Group

"Last Thursday's quarter point base rate cut is at best half of what the market needs", claims retail trade association BHF Group. "A full half percent reduction would have sent a less half-hearted message."

While recognising that the MPC will naturally be as wary of inflation as of recession, the trade association reckons that this will be just the first of two reductions needed to give some confidence back to consumers shocked by the credit crunch and needing encouragement, if sales are to retain any bouyancy this year.

The headline rate, though, is only half the story, it argues. The Bank base rate is no longer the benchmark for rates in the real economy. On Thursday the Bank rate went down. On Friday the main inter-bank lending rate went up. For banks which borrow to lend, this is the more important measure. The group's own bank, BHF Finance, was unusual in actually lowering its rates on Monday, but BHF Finance is unusual in lending from members' deposits, not from borrowed money.

"The other half of the equation", says group managing director Alan Hawkins, "is in the amount of liquidity in the system. If the Bank really wants to help the economy, then it needs to make more government liquidity available, so that banks start to become willing to take normal commercial risks again and move the whole economy forward."

Immediate - 14th April, 2008

Pet Product Members Multiply

Membership of the Pet Product Retail Association jumped by 88% in ‘07. Announcing the healthy increase, the PPRA ascribed its success to the promotion of excellent membership benefits to non members through:

* · Its new quarterly PPRA newsletter, Pet Product Focus
* · Advertising in the trade press
* · Exhibiting at PetIndex
and
* · Writing and speaking to retailers at every opportunity,
* picking up every lead, collaring every order.

Simon Carr, PPRA Chairman said:

“I am delighted to report that measures this Committee have put in place to encourage more awareness of Pet Product Retail Association have resulted in the exceptional result of our membership figures increasing by 88% during 2007. I have been delighted with the progress the Association has made during 2007 and am now looking to continue on this path of improvement.”

Immediate: 14th April, 2008

Credit squeeze pressure: Banks tighten up on lending

It is now clear that the major high street banks have lost their appetite for lending. This is especially obvious in the asset-based finance area where one or two household names have declared that they are not offering help to new applicants, or have simply reduced the size of their dedicated team as the credit squeeze has depleted their interest in low margin business. Such is the premium price being paid by banks for cash at present that they cannot make ends meet on asset-based finance.

Trade association owned BHF Finance does not rely on other banks for funds but on its members' own deposits, which remain high. Consequently, neither its appetite nor its capacity for lending has diminished as a result of the general lack of funds in the banking system. It remains committed to making funds available at all times to members to assist them with both business and personal needs, especially in the asset based lending arena.

Retailers who have been turned away by their bank recently in their efforts to secure funding for whatever purpose, should speak to one of the BHF Finance team who will only be too happy to help. Call 0121 446 6688 or email enquiry@bhf-finance.co.uk

Immediate: 19th March, 2008

World-class business content for a world-class business congress ...

An outstanding programme of presentations on global issues, from the supply chain to the enviromnent, from human-resources to competition, will provide a compelling range of subjects for the business sessions for the IHA Centenary Congress, to be held in London, in September 2009. Full details can be found at http://www.iha2009.co.uk/news/.

The IHA (International Federation of Hardware and Housewares Associations) has held its conferences in great cities right across the planet, with the last, in 2006, held in Shanghai. In 2009 its congress will bring together in London delegates from every continent. BHF Group, the Birmingham based retail trade association is acting as host. It's own national retail conference will be an integral part of the congress.

The congress has impressive credentials, with the patronage of Princess Anne, Princess Royal. Business sessions will take place in Westminster's Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, in the heart of UK government. Exclusive dinners and viewings will include events at the Guildhall, the Tower of London and Hampton Court. Leading exhibition Glee will welcome the entire delegate party to Birmingham's NEC for a day.

Glee also features in a prestigious roster of sponsors including Towergate Risk Solutions, Toolbank, BDC Independents, Horwood Housewares, L G Harris, Pik-a-Pak, Silverline Tools and Draper Tools, with other big names expected to join them in the run up to the event, now just eighteen months away.

Chris Patterson, IHA President commented:

"The Centenary Congress in 2009 is on track for a landmark event. Your hosts BHF Group have prepared a programme of business interest and social entertainment which will reward your support. Designed with a professional understanding of the independent retailer the occasion will appeal to progressive retailers and their suppliers who are looking to protect and develop their business. Full of imagination and practical experience you will take away stimulating ideas as well as a memorable event."

The strapline for the centenary congress is Meet the world ... to tie in with Visit London`s description of the capital as the city Where the world meets. Everyone is invited to meet the congress at the website www.iha2009.co.uk and register today for regular e-mail updates so that they can be kept fully up to date as as this prestigious congress develops.

Meet the world ... where the world meets: IHA Centenary Congress, London, September 2009

Immediate - 18th March, 2008

Direct Celebrates Good Times…

The Direct Suppliers Away Day event was held at the Heart of England Conference Centre, Coventry.

With over 170 delegates in attendance, the annual event, which is designed to inform and support The Direct Company suppliers in their bid to grow their business within the Independent sector, was deemed a huge success for The Direct Company

With David Domoney as compere, and speakers including ‘Direct’ Managing Director Paul Woolley, Head of Marketing Sarah Golden and Marketing Executive Tracey Callaghan, the message delivered was positive and uplifting, thanking the suppliers, thanking them for their support over the last 12 months and giving them the pointers to succeed in the next 12 months.

The topics of the day covered a variety of important key issues. Paul Woolley focused on key points including supplier achievements in 2007, expectations and improvements intended by The Direct Company including the assistance with supplier growth in the coming year. The improvement of internal systems, a targeted increase in turnover of 10% for 2008 and building existing relationships was also discussed. Paul’s main focus was to highlight that both parties have the same goal, to increase turnover and keep independent retailers in business.

Tracey Callaghan discussed existing marketing opportunities and highlighted key points to increase brand awareness and sales and Sarah Golden launched the NEW Direct Deals Extra quarterly booklet, a fantastic opportunity for promoted suppliers to exclusively target a wider range of BHF Group members with ‘Extra special’ offers at minimal cost. Feedback on this new incentive has been extraordinary and registered interest has been greatly received.

The 2007 IHA, Century Congress was outlined by Group Managing Director, Alan Hawkins. This was met with an enthusiastic response followed by Vin Vara, owner of The Housewares Centre and The Tool Shop representing the realities of small businesses and the need for change, to ensure a smooth transaction between retailers and suppliers. Vin focused on key points most of all the Service element of the business.

The tenth annual event was focused around a diamond theme, highlighting the main focus of the day, the Direct Diamond Awards.

The retail members of BHF Group rewarded LG Harris and Horwood Homewares for their ongoing commitment, service and support with the Supplier of the Year awards for the CHA and BHF sections respectively.
The winners of the other Direct Diamond Awards were:

* Best Newcomer: Silverline Tools Ltd
* Best Turnover Growth: Eddingtons Ltd (second year running)
* Best Marketing Hardware, Garden & DIY: Draper Tools Ltd

New category Best Marketing Cookshop & Housewares was awarded to Bodum UK Ltd.

A special service award was presented to Dexam International for their continued support and commitment to BHF Group members and The Direct Company and a special plaque was presented for this honour.

All suppliers were entered into the prize draw on the day for our luxury hamper and whether winners or not, delegates left the event with a positive outlook and renewed enthusiasm over their success with The Direct Company and a personalised gift-boxed Diamond themed pen set.

Paul Woolley commented, It is important to note that The Direct Away Day is all about rewarding our suppliers. Our Direct Diamond Supplier awards highlight those suppliers who have gone that ‘extra’ mile. It’s good to give the suppliers something back rather than the usual, ‘can we have!’

Supplier comments included:

John Rae, Dexam:"The reason why we are so committed, is due to the fact that The Direct Company are great to work with and always so enthusiastic in everything you do, which reflected in an excellent event"

Mathew Basford, Bodum,"I would like to thank you for inviting me to the Direct suppliers away day. I thought the day was excellent and 150 people singing happy birthday to me was great although a little embarrassing"

Gerard Herbert, Carl Kammerling International,"Thank you for a brilliant day, it was probably the best Away Day to date!"

Pauline Morrison, F. W. Mason & Sons Ltd"Yesterdays Supplier Away Day was excellent. The venue and entertainment made the occasion very special and the effort that the team had put into the day was obvious, very professional presentations by all concerned. The beautiful pen set gift was appreciated. Thank you so much for giving something back to the suppliers."

Chris Jordan, Youngman Group Ltd "Congratulations on a great day yesterday, both myself and Larry Trott found it most informative and entertaining."

Immediate - 1st February, 2008

Direct tops twenty

The BHF Group's buying arm, The Direct Company has burst through the £20 million pound turnover barrier in style. With a increase in business of over 15% in 2007 the company has almost quadrupled its turnover in the past decade.

"There's no secret to this" said managing director Paul Woolley "more BHF Group members are using the service, they are opening more accounts and buying more from their suppliers."

Chairman Simon Jackson, himself a member of the BHF Group said: "Congratulations to everyone on the Direct team. This is a fantastic result."

Paul also commented: "We thought that 2007 and would be tough and it was. We think that 2008 will be tougher. Nevertheless, with the support of the membership we look forward to another very positive result at the end of the year." -- ”

Immediate: 24th January, 2008

Not so fast, Chancellor ...

BHF Group has welcomed the Chancellor's about-turn on Capital Gains Tax for small businesses while pointing out that he is still getting away with most of the loot from his smash-and-grab raid on business.

Managing director Alan Hawkins commented: "The proposed, then amended CGT hike to a flat rate of 18% threatened to do serious damage to the long-held and carefully pursued plans of many small businesses. It also, in the past quarter, introduced unnecessary uncertainty for those looking to their financial future."

Creating a 10% for gains below seven figures, the trade association argues, may look like a major concession by the Chancellor and may be a victory for small businesses but this is only a small part of the story. The fact is that abolishing taper relief and ramping up the tax on capital gains above the magic million still represents a massive tax grab from business. The lower rate may have kept government hands off £200 million, but it will still haul away nearly four times that amount in increased CGT.

A million pounds, it argues, is also an arbitrary figures at which to set the limit and is well within the value range of many “small” businesses.

Immediate: 11th January, 2008

This is not just a Christmas Turkey...

...and this is not just a Marks & Spencer Christmas Turkey - this is a serious retail downturn, says BHF Group managing director Alan Hawkins.

"Once again the Bank has dithered when it should have acted to cut interest rates by at least half a percent." he continued. The retail trade association argues that when even Blue Chip retail businesses are plunging in value becuase of poor trading conditions there is something badly wrong with the economy. Retail is taking a 'stuffing' while retail inflation is already non-existent. If the MPC is more concerned about inflation than recession, it argues, they should recognise that high and rising fuel prices will provide their own disincentive to consumption, without the need to use the blunt instrument of high interest rates to bludgeon the remaining life out of the economy.

Alan Hawkins went on: "What we need now are incentives to stave off some of the gloomier prospects in store for 2008, in the right place and at the right time. Retail is the right place and now is the right time."

Immediate: 4th January, 2008

BHF returns to its strongest brand in push for growth

BHF Group has renamed its Hardware & Garden Retail Association (HGRA), giving it once again the name British Hardware Federation. It has a completely new logo, which is attached). The change is a recognition that after five years of promoting the HGRA there is far greater recognition of BHF than HGRA. As Group managing director Alan Hawkins has set membership growth as the keystone of his growth strategy he argues that the group needs to lead in every area with its strongest brand, concluding that "British Hardware Federation was too big an asset and too valuable a brand to be discarded."

Commenting on the change of both name and logo, British Hardware Federation chairman Russell Johnson said: "British Hardware Federation will actively service all facets of our division, be it in hardware, garden or ironmongery." This reflects the fact that many independents could list not just these three headings but also housewares, tools, decoration, plumbing and electrical among their specialisations. Russell added: "All-inclusive names are not easy to come by, but strong brands are even harder to find."

The parent Group encompasses six major trade areas, with a special division for each. This strategy enables it to develop networks and products within specialised areas while providing independent businesses of all hues with the basic services which they all share, such as finance, purchasing and insurance. Many members, operating across a range of product groups are members of several divisions at once. To help them promote this range to the customer, all BHF Group members will be provided with window logos for all six divisions at the start of the year, so that they can use these in their shop windows as they see fit. The new logos incorporate a “where service counts” strapline so that there is a value to the member as they start using the trade association as a means of justifying consumer confidence.

The group structure is:

* BHF Group - National President Robert Chapman, Managing Director Alan Hawkins
* British Hardware Federation (BHF) - Chairman Russell Johnson
* British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA) - President Mike Hughes
* Cookshop & Housewares Association (CHA) - Chairman Caroline Gordon
* Home Decoration Retailers Association (HDRA) - Chairman Henry Grantham
* Independent Builders Merchant Services (IBMS) - Chairman tba
* Pet Product Retailers Assocation (PPRA) - Chairman Simon Carr