Appliance Retailer April-May 2022

APPLIANCE

SERVICING THE INDUSTRY FOR 26 YEARS

RETAILER

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

/// APRIL / MAY 2022

BENCHTOP COOKING

PERSONAL TECH RELIANCE ON SCREENS REACHES A NEW LEVEL

HEALTHY EATING A HIGH PRIORITY

FOOD PREPARATION

PRODUCTS MUST BE VERSATILE AND DURABLE

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DISHWASHERS

CONVENIENCE DRIVES INCREASED PENETRATION DAILY INSPIRATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

LAUNDRY

HYGIENIC PROGRAMS COME TO THE FORE

GO

BIGGER

75”-85” Big TVs

100” & Bigger Lasers

www.hisense.com.au/gobigger

EDITORʼS NOTE AR

Appliance Retailer is published by Charted Media Group Pty Ltd (a division of The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd) ABN 47 628 473 334 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Australia P 02 9660 2113 | F 02 9660 4419 E appliance@intermedia.com.au W www.intermedia.com.au ISSN: 1328-1852 Managing Director Simon Grover Publisher James Wells james@intermedia.com.au Editor Emily Bencic ebencic@intermedia.com.au Features Editor Kymberly Martin Contributors Michelle Hespe Simon King National Sales Manager Ben Curtis bcurtis@intermedia.com.au Art Director Alyssa Coundouris Prepress Tony Willson Production Manager Jacqui Cooper Subscriptions 1800 651 422 subscriptions@intermedia.com.au The Intermedia Group takes its corporate and social responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities.

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PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests.

The wrapping used in the delivery process of this magazine is 100 per cent biodegradable.

Embracing the new norm

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lthough the impacts of Covid continue to be felt, particularly when it comes to the supply chain and staff shortages, it appears that 2022 is shaping up to be a big year for the appliance industry.

Interstate travel is back on and is expected to extend overseas as leading kitchen showcase, EuroCucina prepares for its return in June and major technology event, IFA arranges its live event for September.

One brand that has flagged major announcements at these trade shows is BSH, including a new cooking platform and two new cooking ranges within its portfolio. Appliance Retailer sat down with BSH Australia managing director, Andrew Jones about leveraging the multi-brand proposition with the support of retailers, as well as the recent sales restructure to better meet the needs of retail and commercial markets. Read more on page 10.

Recognising consumer demand for greater convenience when it comes to shopping for the home, Winning Group has unveiled the new Winnings umbrella brand, incorporating kitchen, laundry and alfresco products from Winning Appliances, bathroomware from Rogerseller and furniture, lighting and textiles from Spence & Lyda, in addition to a bespoke cinema room and carefully curated fitness offering, all under one roof.

Winning Group general manager for retail and commercial, Harry Boileau discusses the concept which will come to life at the Winning Appliances flagship Redfern showroom following a complete refurbishment. Read more on page 14.

Miele co-proprietor and executive director, Dr Reinhard Zinkann and executive director for marketing and sales, Dr Axel Kniehl travelled from Germany to Australia to officially open the new Miele headquarters in Hawthorn East, Victoria, developed with feedback from Miele’s people and sustainability at the forefront. Dr Zinkann and Dr Kniehl spoke to Appliance Retailer about the new premises, managing Covid including supply chain challenges and broader economic headwinds. Read more on page 16.

In this issue, you’ll also find coverage of North America’s largest housewares trade show, The Inspired Home Show in Chicago and Europe’s leading kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom event, KBB Birmingham in the UK straight from the show floor. Read more from page 18.

Editor Emily Bencic

MEET THE APPLIANCE RETAILER TEAM

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CHECK OUT WWW.APPLIANCERETAILER.COM.AU www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR CONTENTS

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DAILY INSPIRATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Unlike any other multicooker on the market, the Tefal Cook4me touch revolutionises the way you cook at home, guiding and inspiring you to unleash your inner chef. With the cooler months ahead, it’s the ideal time to indulge on hearty, homemade dishes and the Tefal Cook4me touch makes it faster and easier. Featuring a large interactive colour touch screen, along with an Express Cooking Mode that delivers ultra-high pressure cooking at 100KPA, you’ll have the ability to cook over 100 recipes in under 10 minutes. It is the only multicooker with over 250 built-in recipes and with its Wi-Fi connectivity, you have access to an ever-growing collection of recipes that can be downloaded directly to the appliance. With images and video tips now included in the guided instructions, you can even learn new cooking techniques with the Tefal Cook4me touch.

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

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CONTENTS AR

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VOLUME 28 / ISSUE #2

IN THIS ISSUE EDITOR’S NOTE

03

Embracing the new norm

How the industry is responding to market conditions.

NEWS

10

The dawn of a new era for BSH Australia

BSH Australia managing director, Andrew Jones discusses his strategy, including plans to leverage the brand portfolio.

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14

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FEATURES

Winning Group to open new Brisbane distribution centre

New facility is targeting a 5 Star Green Star Design and As Built rating.

Big W to open small format Sydney CBD store

Offering a range of general merchandise, alongside fresh food and grocery essentials from Woolworths.

Winnings, the new lifestyle and luxury destination

Winning Group is bringing products from Winning Appliances, Rogerseller and Spence & Lyda under one roof.

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FOOD PREPARATION

Industry data suggests a slowdown in the market compared to 2020, but it remains well above prepandemic levels with blenders and juicers leading the pack.

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DISHWASHERS

Consumers are continuing to cook and eat more frequently at home, while juggling remote working and household chores, so they are looking for greater convenience.

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BENCHTOP COOKING

Healthy cooking trends support the category, although greater innovation and promotional activity is needed to support value sales longer term.

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LAUNDRY

There’s been a strong shift toward larger capacity washers and dryers, more interest in energy efficiency and an increased awareness of sanitising features.

Traditional irons and steam stations are starting to claw back sales.

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PERSONAL TECH

Covid forced an even greater level of reliance on technology from smartphones and laptops to tablets and wearables.

WHAT’S HOT

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Pick of the crop

Smeg Galileo, multicooking technology, TCL P-Series washing machines, and Cricut Maker 3 cutting machine. www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR NEWS

WINNING GROUP TO OPEN NEW BRISBANE DISTRIBUTION CENTRE Winning Group will move into a new 45,750 square metre purpose-built distribution centre at Wacol, Brisbane in September 2022.

The new Wacol distribution centre is an increase from the current Brisbane DC of 18,000 square metres and has 54 loading docks, an increase from 20, ensuring enough room for growth and expansion.

The DC, which will target a 5 Star Green Star Design and As Built rating, will be the base of Winning Services which will service Appliances Online, Home Clearance, Winning Appliances and Rogerseller, as well as third-party logistics partners including, King Living, ifit and Sub-Zero and Wolf.

“We are excited to announce that we will be moving into a new purposebuilt and world-class distribution centre at Wacol in Brisbane. With the capacity of our new DC more than doubling our current location, it will service future growth for the Winning Group and our third-party logistics,” Winning Services general manager, Mick Bunt said.

L to R: Mick Bunt (General Manager), Corey Butty (QLD Warehouse Manager), Nathan Rostant (State Operations Manager) and Brad Clifford (QLD Install & Transport Manager).

“Located just over 20km from Brisbane’s CBD, our new Wacol distribution centre is ideally placed to ensure that our growing Queensland customer base will continue to receive our industry-leading, free next-day delivery through our own fleet of trucks.

“The DC will also have a 5 Green Star rating, which helps us to achieve our mission to create the best experiences in the world. We are delighted to be partnering with LOGOS and we look forward to moving into our new worldclass facility in September.”

Leading Edge Retail launches nationwide marketing campaign Leading Edge Retail has rolled out a nationwide initiative to help participating independent small businesses attract and retain more customers. The focus of the program is aimed at encouraging and incentivising customers to shop in its member network.

The #LocalLikeUs initiative is designed to help Leading Edge Retail members capitalise on the consumer trend to shop locally. Members who choose to participate are supported with marketing tools and programs aimed at showcasing their business to new audiences both locally and nationally. One of the major benefits of participating is inclusion in national advertising campaigns and access to third party platforms.

“Across Australia during the pandemic, shoppers are conscious of the role small businesses played in keeping their local communities afloat.

In their millions, from Alice Springs to Hobart, they showed their gratitude by

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

The #LocalLikeUs initiative is designed to help Leading Edge Retail members capitalise on the consumer trend to shop locally.

changing where they spent their money.

Instead of buying from retail giants and overseas businesses, more Australians looked to support their local stores and communities,” Leading Edge Retail general manager for marketing, Olivia Anderson said.

“Shopping local is very much on trend. 85% of Australians intend to buy from local brands and businesses to help

them on the road to recovery, according to recent CommBank statistics. Our role is to help leverage our connected community and support our members in raising their visibility and promote their businesses to a wider audience, so they can tap into the wonderful opportunities presented by shopping local.”

Shoppers are incentivised with loyalty discounts when they register at any participating store and the response to the #LocalLikeUsprogram from members has been overwhelmingly positive.

As part of the campaign, members receive a Leading Edge Retail member decal for their windows to make the shop clearly identifiable. They will be able to sell Leading Edge gift cards and offer loyalty cards to customers, redeemable across the participating retail network from local bookstores to appliance stores, and more. They will be listed on Leading Edge Retail’s central website of participating members so shoppers can easily find them.

NEWS AR

Alongside traditional oven settings, the new Smeg Galileo multi-cooking technology allows users to barbecue, air fry, steam, microwave and cook on stone in a full-size oven.

SMEG GALILEO REDEFINES THE COOKING EXPERIENCE The Galileo multi-cooking technology represents a new generation of Smeg ovens, incorporating the latest innovations set to revolutionise cooking and save cooking time by up to 70%. Alongside traditional oven settings, this new technology from Smeg allows users to barbecue, air fry, steam, microwave and cook on stone in a full-size oven.

Smeg Galileo also introduces two game-changing cooking features, Multistep and Sametime. Multistep allows users to set their oven once to effortlessly master even the most complicated recipes by sequentially setting traditional, steam and microwave technology. For home entertainers, Sametime allows for two dishes to be planned, synchronised and cooked at the same time, with no transfer of taste or smell.

Smeg Australia managing director, Wayne Campbell said, “We are excited to introduce a new experience to revolutionise cooking in Australian homes. Our Smeg Galileo multi-cooking technology will not only help home-cooks save time, it will also provide them with the confidence to explore and expand their culinary repertoire.

“The future of cooking has arrived with the global introduction of Smeg Galileo, representing our Italian heritage through excellence in design and innovation. Smeg’s greatest technological feat to date employs professional algorithms to redefine the culinary experience with the power of seven cooking combinations offering maximum performance with outstanding results for all levels of cooking expertise.”

To coincide with the launch, Smeg has undertaken research which has revealed that Australian home cooks aren’t making the most of their ovens, with nearly half of respondents who use an oven (49%) admitting to not fully understanding how to use most of their oven settings. Two-thirds (64%) of Australians who use an oven will set it to 180 degrees fan-forced, regardless of what they’re cooking.

However, there is a hunger to learn more about the different settings, with 44% of respondents who use an oven indicating so. To encourage Australians to go beyond their culinary comfort zone, Smeg has released a six-part mini-series hosted

by Italian chef and actress, Silvia Colloca.

Myer appoints former The Good Guys executive Wayne Jennings Myer has welcomed former The Good Guys senior executive, Wayne Jennings as category buyer for appliances.

Jennings spent 19 years with The Good Guys in several roles including national marketing manager, general manager for business development and retail operations, and then as group general manager for merchandising before his departure in 2017.

Jennings joined the retailer when it was rebranded The Good Guys in 1998 and played a pivotal role in growing the

family business into a successful large organisation and iconic brand in the Australian market. He successfully recruited 43 JVPs/franchisees, as well as sourced and negotiated 43 commercial leases.

Most recently – for the last four years – he was director of boutique consultancy, ReJennerate, helping clients improve their performance in strategic business planning, transformation and change management, marketing and communications, retail operations, buying/merchandise, and inventory management.

Former The Good Guys senior executive, Wayne Jennings has joined Myer as category buyer for appliances.

www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR NEWS

Fujitsu General Australia has extended Mark Taylor’s contract as brand ambassador to 2025.

FUJITSU GENERAL EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH MARK TAYLOR Fujitsu General Australia has extended Mark Taylor’s contract as brand ambassador to 2025, taking the partnership to 27 years.

The renewed agreement was originally established in 1998 and is already one of the longest personal endorsement agreements in Australia.

Fujitsu General Australia and New Zealand managing director, Philip Perham said Fujitsu General was proud to continue working with Taylor, who has been a highly valued member of the company’s family and respected by the Australian community.

“Mark has done a terrific job as brand ambassador for Fujitsu General Australia by being himself, a magical quality we wish to continue to utilise,” he said.

“Mark is a highly respected individual in both the sporting community and the public eye and is well known for his bright personality and values that include being caring and respectful, collaborative and inclusive. These values are identical to those we instill throughout the Fujitsu General family, which made it an easy decision to continue such a great partnership,” Perham said.

Taylor said he was delighted to be associated with Fujitsu.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my 24-year association and look forward to its continuation over the next three years. As the chairman of the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation, I would also like to thank Fujitsu for its extremely generous donations over that past decade which have assisted many kids and their families throughout Australia. I am looking forward to another few years with Fujitsu.”

Big W to open small format Sydney CBD store alongside Woolworths Woolworths Group is investing more than $10 million to open a new Big W store alongside a renewed Woolworths supermarket offering in Sydney’s Town Hall by mid-2022.

The new Big W store will be the only discount department store in Sydney’s CBD and is expected to create dozens of new retail jobs in the precinct.

The development will mean city commuters and locals can pick up a range of general merchandise products, as well as fresh food and grocery essentials in one place.

Located on level one of the Town Hall building, the smaller format Big W store will incorporate more than 1,100 square metres of retail space to offer gifts, books, general merchandise and more.

Big W managing director, Pejman Okhovat said, “We are excited to be part of the renewal of the group’s Town Hall location that will deliver great value for city dwellers and commuters. A carefully curated range for customers

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

A render of the smaller format Big W store which will incorporate more than 1,100 square metres of retail space.

means that the new store will be the ultimate one stop shop.”

Woolworths managing director, Natalie Davis said, “We’re pleased to be backing the recovery of the CBD through further investment in retail in

the Town Hall building. By bringing together Woolworths and Big W in the one location we can improve the local shopping experience for our customers while driving more activity in Sydney's Town Hall precinct.”

NEWS AR The new Harris Scarfe store is part of the $45 million retail development in the heart of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, alongside Spotlight and Anaconda as anchor tenants.

Harris Scarfe opens latest store on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Harris Scarfe has opened its latest store at the Maroochydore City Centre retail development.

Harris Scarfe designer and Australian Olympic champion, Giaan Rooney opened the new store with Harris Scarfe CEO, Graham Dean.

The store opening has seen Harris Scarfe create 28 new jobs for the local economy and provides customers with access to quality brands across manchester, electrical and apparel spanning 2,500 square metres.

“We are so excited to be starting off the year and welcoming the biggest store we have opened with The Spotlight Group,” Dean said.

“Our Maroochydore store is a testament to the improvements we have made over the last 12 months. Our loyal customers and new Harris Scarfe shoppers can enjoy our

enhanced in-store experience as they browse the brands they know as well as a selection of exclusive designers.

“Our team in Maroochydore and across Australia continue to drive Harris Scarfe’s success by delivering an enjoyable shopping experience. Our latest store allows us to show our customers the business’s growth and development with more stores planned.”

Harris Scarfe is part of the $45 million retail development in the heart of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, alongside Spotlight and Anaconda as anchor tenants.

The Maroochydore City Centre development is a joint project between Sunshine Coast Council, Walker Corporation and SunCentral Maroochydore. Future stages of Spotlight Group’s investment in the area will include additional retail, office, tourism and hospitality venues.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Conditioners partners with Mass Electronics Mitsubishi Heavy Industries AirConditioners Australia, Pty. Ltd (MHIAA) has partnered with turnkey HVAC solution providers, Mass Electronics to deliver the local relay model for its latest zoning solution, FlexiZone.

Thanks to the MH-4ZRM relay modules (version 1 and 2) provided by Mass Electronics, FlexiZone can now be easily integrated into MHI’s ducted air conditioning systems and offers the enhanced flexibility of turning individual zones on or off as needed.

Speaking of the partnership first formed in 2019, MHIAA general manager for service and technical, John Bolger said, “Our company was in search of a local hardware manufacturer for our four-zone relay model. We required a plug-and-play solution and looked for an innovative, costeffective, quality solution. This solution was specifically developed with the Australian market in mind.”

MHIAA has partnered with turnkey HVAC solution providers, Mass Electronics to deliver the local relay model for its latest zoning solution, FlexiZone.

Bolger adds that majority of the partnership implementation took place during the pandemic, but the team still managed to roll it out effectively. “Throughout the pandemic we have prioritised stock availability, service and communication for customer peace of mind.”

With more than three decades of experience in HVAC, Bolger put Mass

Electronics forward as his service provider of choice. “I had worked with Mass Electronics in the past and was impressed by their solutions and customer service.”

Mass Electronics is a privately owned, Australian-based electronics design and manufacture group, providing consultancy and new product development services from its facility at the Brisbane Technology Park.

Mass Electronics managing director, Mike Miranda added, “We were first contacted by MHIAA in 2019. MHIAA were seeking a partner to develop an innovative cost-effective and quality product that would facilitate the simple and efficient connection of their multizone air conditioning units and locally procured 24VAC dampers.”

www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR BRAND PROFILE

The Bosch showroom at the BSH headquarters in Clayton, Victoria.

The dawn of a new era for

BSH Australia

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SH Australia managing director, Andrew Jones has been at the helm of the local subsidiary for six months, after spending 10 years at BSH UK in various marketing roles.

Appliance Retailer sat down with Jones to discuss his strategy, including how he plans to leverage the brand portfolio.

The opportunity for Jones to lead the BSH Australia business arose in April 2021 and despite not ever visiting Australia, he was eager to take the plunge.

“I was ready to step up and take the next available opportunity,” he said.

“Many years ago, I realised the potential of BSH so I was keen to stay within the organisation. If I wanted to move into a more senior marketing role, my option was headquarters, but if I wanted to go into a different function, 10

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

BY EMILY BENCIC like leading a sales subsidiary, it had to be in another country.

“I was presented with a few options, but I was lucky from a timing point of view that Philipp Walter was moving back to a role in Munich. And as a family, we were ready for the next move, and I think the idea of not taking the opportunity was scarier than the idea of taking it.”

LEVERAGING THE BSH PORTFOLIO

Jones said BSH has experienced phenomenal success over the last few years with growth in turnover and market share, but he believes there’s still huge potential for the company, both globally and locally.

“The BSH brand portfolio is impressive and there’s even more potential that we could leverage. For

example, last year alone, Neff was our fastest growing brand and we’ve not even begun,” he said.

“Sharpening the role of all four brands is important as Australian consumers show a real affinity to European heritage brands, not only in the appliance industry, but also in the automotive and fashion industries.

“I want the trade to understand that our brands are not tripping over each other; there’s a space for four brands and there’s distinct consumers for each, so retailers can expect to see more from us on that in the coming months.

“Brands can only stretch so far; either you’re trying to stretch them down for more volume or up to achieve a more premium place in the market, but I believe we’re well positioned from a brand point of view.

“

I want the trade to understand that our brands are not tripping over each other; there’s a space for four brands and there’s distinct consumers for each.

”

BSH Australia managing director, Andrew Jones.

BSH general manager for commercial sales, Jacqui Howard.

BSH head of retail operations, Lee Hardingham.

BRAND PROFILE AR “Bosch is our wholesale mass market premium pull brand; the one that people know and recognise. I’ve gained experience positioning Neff in the UK, which became the number one cooking brand in the region, and it sat alongside our other brands comfortably.

“When it comes to product differentiation, Neff offers unique features such as the Slide & Hide function, and looking at the consumer profile, they may be a kitchen renovator but also a passionate cook that loves to entertain and cook simultaneously.

“Siemens goes one step further from a premium point of view. We demonstrated this in the UK, and I believe there’s potential here. There’s a lot of distinct technology in the current and future Siemens cooking products. Siemens, and in a very different way, Gaggenau, will always be discoverable brands for a consumer who is in the market and is on a journey.

“It’s clear Gaggenau sits at the top as a luxury brand – not premium but luxury – and there’s a clear distinction. There’s a lot of subtlety around the Gaggenau brand that we are mindful of in terms of how it’s presented. You need to understand the Gaggenau customer, as they are quite distinct from any other customer.

“That’s why our retail partners are crucial. Part of the credibility you get as a consumer is the retailer’s ability to explain the brand and the technology it offers.

“Consumers often only do an entire kitchen renovation once or twice in their lifetime so they’re not coming in with a host of experience, perhaps only what they’ve heard from their family or friends who’ve done a renovation, so the retailer plays an important part in that process and we need to talk about that education piece,” he said.

“But it’s not just why this model over this model; there’s more we can do to support floor staff to help the consumer understand our product innovations that we invest in, but that often stay hidden. We are sometimes far too modest, but consumers need to know about it.”

SALES RESTRUCTURE SUPPORTS ORGANISATIONAL CLARITY

BSH general manager for retail sales, Robert Warner.

Another area of potential for BSH is the people, according to Jones, which has led to the reorganisation of the sales structure from within.

“As a managing director, you need to think about the value you’re adding. I didn’t see myself adding value in being the

market or sales expert, because we have a team for that, so that was one of the reasons why I could see there was a need for some organisational clarity,” he said.

“We’ve got two big sales areas – retail and commercial – and it was important to me that we had dedicated leadership for both. Robert Warner has been appointed general manager for retail, supported

by Leigh Hardingham as head of retail operations. I’m also delighted to have Jacqui Howard move across from marketing into the commercial function and deliver a dedicated focus in that area as there’s big potential there.

“Now that there’s organisational clarity, the next stage is finding our potential, documenting it and getting the team bought into that. There’s a lot of hunger and passion among our people, and in a way, it’s nice that I’m coming in post-Covid when the world is opening back up. It’s the dawn of a new era.”

PRODUCT PIPELINE LOOKS BRIGHT

Jones has confirmed that one of the BSH brands will present an entirely new cooking platform at EuroCucina in Milan, and two brands will present new cooking products at IFA in Berlin.

“But let’s address the obvious elephant in the room – stock is difficult for the entire industry,” he said.

“I’ve told our team we can only offer retailers as much transparency as possible.

When we know, we’ll be as clear as we can about what’s coming. Different categories are affected in different ways but I’m optimistic that we’ll start to see some improvements in the second half of this year.

“The biggest problem is that there isn’t just one thing driving the supply chain challenges. It’s components, capacity, material, freight, ongoing impacts of Covid, and the war in Ukraine, which is unsettling everything.”

Since arriving in Australia, Jones has also been vocal on the relevance of BSH’s purpose around improving quality of life at home.

“Pre-pandemic that may have sounded like a nice thing, but post-pandemic, it’s a crucial thing,” he said.

“Where possible, I’m trying to instill that into every team member, as it translates into how successful we are as an organisation.

Another part of what I’ve been trying to do over the last six months is get out there and listen to the retailers – not just the people in the boardrooms but those running the stores and selling on the floor.” AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR NEWS

Graeme Cunningham steps down from CEO role

Big W commercial director, Amanda Lunn.

Big W general manager for commercial enablement, Doug Frank.

BIG W CONFIRMS MANAGEMENT CHANGES Big W has confirmed key changes to its management team with the creation of two new roles, following the resignation of general manager of commercial, Teresa Rendo in 2021, after four years in the role.

“Doug Frank who has been part of the Woolworths Group for over 20 years, will be joining Big W in the role of general manager for commercial enablement. Frank will lead the pricing, space and range and data and analytics teams,” Big W said in a statement shared with Appliance Retailer.

“Additionally, Amanda Lunn who has been with the Woolworths Group since 2003, has accepted the role of Big W commercial director. Lunn will be responsible for the commercial, buying, brandco, design, ecommerce trading, QA and sourcing teams.”

Frank most recently held the position of Woolworths general manager of data and retail analytics, and Lunn was previously the head of e-commerce trading for Big W.

BSR Group CEO and managing director, Graeme Cunningham has made the decision, in conjunction with the board, to step down from the CEO position.

Last year, Cunningham took up the role as managing director as well as CEO, with the view to step down from the CEO role to focus on growth plans as managing director.

“My stepping down from the day to day of the CEO role will enable me to focus on key growth strategies for the group, and I am excited for what this holds for the future,” Cunningham told Appliance Retailer.

“We are well positioned in every way to deliver this plan and having the right people in our business is critical. We will begin the recruitment process immediately and will announce the successful applicant in the coming months.

“The industry has been very good to me and I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with, and learnt from so many great people, in my years as a supplier and a retailer. There are too many to name, but I would like to say thank you for the support and friendship over many years.”

Bing Lee promotes Anita Savoldi Bing Lee has promoted brand and marketing manager – premium appliances, Anita Savoldi to head of brand and marketing manager.

Savoldi joined Bing Lee in 2020 after seven years with the Winning Group in various marketing roles.

“I am delighted to announce Anita Savoldi has been promoted to the position of head of brand and marketing. Anita will report into our merchandise and marketing director, Bing Lee has promoted Anita Savoldi to Sam Zalin,” Bing Lee general manager, head of brand and marketing manager.

Peter Harris told Appliance Retailer.

“Anita joined Bing Lee in September 2020 as brand and marketing manager – premium appliances. Anita has proven to be a great leader of the marketing team and her experience and expertise will be utilised to continue to develop and grow the Bing Lee brand and marketing strategy.”

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

BSR Group CEO and managing director, Graeme Cunningham has stepped down from the CEO position to focus on his responsibilities as managing director.

Mitsubishi Electric has been awarded the CHOICE® Best Brand for Fridges 2021. CHOICE® judges its Best Brand awards based on performance, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

More than 50 popular fridges are rated by the CHOICE® experts on food freshness, temperature stability, 10-year running costs and reliability and Mitsubishi Electric were rated as the best performer for 2021.

AR RETAIL PROFILE

Winnings

a new lifestyle and luxury destination

BY EMILY BENCIC

W TOP: Winning Group acquired bathroom retailer, Rogerseller in September 2020.

ABOVE: Winning Appliances general manager of sales, Harry Boileau.

WINNINGS LOGO: A new umbrella brand, Winnings, brings products from Winning Appliances, Rogerseller and Spence & Lyda under one roof.

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inning Group is establishing a lifestyle and luxury destination for the home under a new umbrella brand, Winnings, bringing products from Winning Appliances, Rogerseller and Spence & Lyda under one roof at the Winning Appliances showroom in Redfern.

Appliance Retailer sat down with Winning Appliances general manager of retail and commercial, Harry Boileau to discuss the Winnings concept and the strategy behind it, following the acquisition of bathroom retailer, Rogerseller in September 2020 and then leading furniture, textiles and lighting retailer, Spence & Lyda in March 2022.

“For us, Rogerseller is a business with a unique product and its own manufacturing capabilities through Ram in Queensland, as well as an experienced team and a good reputation from a design point of view,” Boileau said.

“They have exclusive relationships with global brands including Fantini and Catalano, which we believe should be in the

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

Australian market because they offer a point of difference. Rogerseller is a powerhouse in the bathroom space, and we are leveraging our national infrastructure across both logistics and capabilities to allow further growth. Our CEO, John Winning recognised that and wanted to give it a new life.”

For the last 15 months, Winning Group has been integrating Rogerseller into the Winning Appliances business, which has now been identified through a holistic umbrella brand, Winnings.

“It’s exciting to move from a 115-yearold family business selling appliances and selling appliances well, while providing a world-class experience and now realising that our customers are asking for bathroom products, furniture, lighting and design ideas,” Boileau said.

“We wanted to try and find a way to create an all-encompassing customer experience. Hence, the Spence & Lyda acquisition, which was a natural progression and fit for us with another business who shares a good reputation in the industry and offers exclusive brands with ethical sourcing and ties back to the environment.

RETAIL PROFILE AR “We’re not trying to mass produce or buy products that are mass produced as there is huge amounts of waste associated and they are often just another me too product. We’re looking for unique points of difference.”

Since Spence & Lyda moved into Danks Street around 12 months ago – next door to the Winning Appliances Redfern showroom – Winning Group has had its eye on the business as a place that added to the design hub of the area.

“Spence & Lyda play in an ultra-luxury high end scope, and we know there’s customers who walk into our Redfern showroom and then go next door to the Spence & Lyda showroom. The owner, Fiona is extremely talented and well connected in the space and will stay on as a creative director for us, guiding and mentoring our team through the technical world of furniture and design,” Boileau explained.

“We’re a high-end specialist appliance retailer with specialist brands sourced from around the world that are the best in their respective categories, such as Qasair, Sub-Zero & Wolf, Gaggenau and V-ZUG, as well as completely unique products like The Galley workstation and Kalamazoo.

“It’s about how we expand beyond the appliance category into the luxury lifestyle home offering.

Winnings will incorporate the best appliances, as well as the best alfresco solutions, furniture, lighting, designware such as crockery, homewares such as towels and bedding, and home automation.”

The Redfern showroom presented the right infrastructure for the Winnings concept. Some of the key highlights will include a bespoke cinema room, a designer living room showcasing Spence & Lyda furniture, and a bespoke health and fitness offering.

“It will provide customers with everything they need for the home,” Boileau said.

“A lot of the products will be exclusive to Winnings, especially from the Spence & Lyda business; you won’t find those items anywhere else for sale. We’ve taken a lot of inspiration from stores in the US such as Restoration Hardware, which does an amazing execution and blurs the lines between retail, home and hospitality. That’s something we aim to do with Winnings.

“The current showroom will be gutted, refurbished and expanded from 1,400 square metres to 2,400 square metres, taking over the space next door, which will be home to Rogerseller and Spence & Lyda products, so there’ll be two footprints side by side.

“We’re being careful to make sure that if customers just want to come in and see one particular offering, such as furniture, they will go to a specific area with the display execution that we’re renowned for – not just products stacked on top of one another, or hundreds of beds lined up next to each other. It will be a curated selection of show pieces, incorporated into lifestyle settings.”

There will also be carefully considered themes when matching designer furniture with complementary homewares and lighting, to deliver a story for the customer. “Winnings is a place that customers can

Winning Group acquired leading furniture, textiles and lighting retailer, Spence & Lyda in March 2022.

come with any budget and feel comfortable speaking with our team who aren’t on commission and will provide unbiased feedback.”

Culinary education will continue to be a critical part of the business centred around the kitchen being the heart of the home with full-time chefs, a full-time barista and an experiential alfresco area.

“John (Winning) has opened a new Japanese restaurant next to the Redfern showroom called Ora, and we hope to also leverage that for customers spending a few hours in our showroom who may want to enjoy a fine dining lunch or dinner in between their visit.”

According to Boileau, the Winnings concept is designed to drive more engagement in the specialist market with product that lasts longer and is better for the environment.

“We’re already seeing it in the appliance space.

The average customer is more educated and has a better understanding of the products they see in other people’s homes. At the same time, developers are specifying products they can market to the consumer, while leveraging the innovation and new technology that’s out there in the market,” Boileau said. AR‑ www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR BRAND PROFILE Quality Ahead of Its Time campaign.

Creators of Quality

I

BY JAMES WELLS

n a wide-ranging interview coinciding with the opening of the new Miele offices at Hawthorn East in Melbourne, Miele executive director and co-proprietor Dr Reinhard Zinkann and executive director marketing and sales, Dr Axel Kniehl, provided a rare insight into a number of areas of the local and global business contributing to a target of over five billion Euros in sales for the 2022 calendar year.

Last in Australia in 2015, Zinkann was due to visit in early 2020 for the retirement of Sjaak Brouwer but this visit had to be cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions.

THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET

Zinkann remains very fond of the Australian market, not only from the strong personal relationships that he has formed with the major retailers, but also the growth that he has observed since the introduction of the Charted Agency System by then managing director, Peter Murphy.

“My personal perception is that the Australian market is very dear to my heart – due to the memories that I have with our trade partners. Although it is quite a journey to Down Under, I always love coming here as I enjoy the Australian way of living and as a sailor, the beautiful coast as well. It is also because I saw it emerging to become one of our most important sales subsidiaries and witnessing the success of the agency system here has really impressed me over the years as a unique system in our industry. Nevertheless, looking at the Australian market, I believe it's still a strong market where we have a very good position which we can hopefully even today improve further,” he told Appliance Retailer.

Adding his thoughts, Kniehl said his perception of the local subsidiary was “a Miele organisation that has always been at the forefront of our global way of doing business, especially when it comes to customer delight and finding the best way to really mesmerise our customers”.

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES

Zinkann shared his frustration with the global impact on the delivery of products to market.

“Miele has endured, alongside our Australia colleagues, over the last 18 months with Covid leadtimes and a lack of products due to the semiconductor crisis. Pictures of empty warehouses have been a result of strong orders, but on the other hand it means that you have to disappoint your customers if you can’t deliver one part of the kitchen,” he said.

“They hate it and we hate it as well. The issue is not only the semiconductor or the Covid crisis with its consequences where we had the shutdown of factories in Germany, but it is also the sea travel for all containers that takes 12 to 16 weeks. The time lag due to the long journey makes it even more difficult or serious and in the end frustrating for everybody. And on top of that there are not enough containers. These are issues which of course the whole industry shares, which made business for everybody not an easy task and unfortunately the problems are still not completely solved – but have become much better.”

TOUCHING THE PEOPLE

Despite visiting for just 48 hours, Zinkann says the value of attending the opening of the new offices face-to-face at Hawthorn is important. “This is my first overseas trip after Covid came up and I was really longing for it.

“It is very much worthwhile as it is the touch with the subsidiary here, the touch with the trade partners and the touch with our colleagues. It is important for us to understand the different needs of the market here in Australia. And I can't tell you how happy we are with the new offices because they show the next step forward for the local organisation.”

Kniehl adds: “If I look at the last two years since Yves Dalcourt joined Miele Australia as managing director, so much has happened here, and I am seeing a great

BRAND PROFILE AR organisation as well as what we're doing on the marketing side and branding side.

We visited our latest Experience Centre at Doncaster which is just outstanding. When you look at the staff and how people work together and take care of each other – it is truly a family business.”

SINGLE-BRAND STRATEGY

Zinkann remains tight-lipped on short term financial targets for the business that is edging closer to five billion Euros in annual revenue. Rumours of a target whereby the business would double its revenue over a 10-year period seem ambitious without bolt-on acquisitions such as Smeg’s recent acquisition of La Pavoni – or even something significantly larger. But Zinkann remains defiant that any goal will be achieved with a singlebrand strategy.

“We have made the decision that we can only be good with one brand, that brand we love, that brand we know and that brand we can run. If we would have a second brand, where would you position it – above Miele there is no room.

And besides even if we made a small acquisition of a top brand, we would still have to cover the engineering tooling and the marketing cost to bring it to market.

Do we need another brand to push or pull the Miele brand? No,” he said.

“Would we want to have a brand below Miele’s positioning? Let's say an entry level brand. Would that make sense?

No because everyone would say it is made

by Miele anyway – it is the same quality so we can just purchase the cheap one. As a family business, we can only grow as fast as our equity grows. And we have to bear in mind that we want to stay self-financed.

That means acquiring other businesses has to be thought about in great detail.”

“We want to grow our core business by our own efforts and open up new business areas. For growth outside our core business, we have designed the New Growth Factory as an additional business unit. This refers to activities outside our traditional areas such as laundry care or cooking appliances.

“We already have Miele subsidiaries such as the gourmet delivery service MChef, the vertical farming specialist Agrilution based here or the outdoor barbecue specialist Otto Wilde grillers.

MChef is all about getting high-quality gourmet dishes delivered to the office or home and finishing them yourself

Miele executive director and co-proprietor Dr Reinhard Zinkann, Miele Australia and New Zealand managing director, Yves Dalcourt and executive director marketing and sales, Dr Axel Kniehl, cutting the ribbon on the new Miele Hawthorn HQ.

using Miele appliances. Agrilution's fully automated Plantcubes can also be used to grow salads and herbs at home and bring them freshly harvested to the table. Such new topics will be centrally managed by our New Growth Factory in the future.

Although these brands and products are not yet available in Australia, they play a significant role for our growth strategy.

“In our core business household appliances, we are still far away from having the market share we have in Germany or Austria, or even here in Australia in other countries. So there's a lot of room for improvement and we have lots of ideas in terms of products and service in these markets where we can grow.

“Despite supply chain issues like the semi-conductor shortages as well as the difficulties from Covid, the latter also led to the fact that we had to temporarily stop production at some of our plants, Miele still managed to grow last year.

We have still grown by 7.5% – so we have had a very good year – but it could have been much more – it could have been close to double digits and close to the five billion,” Zinkann said.

THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

Zinkann has growth aspirations for the business regardless of the economic headwinds that are facing the business.

“We are in a good growth path and I am not afraid that we will continue growing. I am also not afraid of the consequences due to the world economic situation, Covid, the war, or low interest policy. But yet we have to acknowledge that because of all of that, we now have an inflation rate in Germany around six

per cent and it is rising with higher steel prices, energy prices and fuel prices now above two Euros per litre. So just imagine what that means for households and the consumer,” he said.

“On top of that nobody can foresee now how this horrible war in the Ukraine - just in front of our door – will end and what economic impact it will have – not to speak about all other consequences.

“At Miele in Germany we also have negotiations with workers unions, continuously to come up in September.

Salaries will probably also be rising by four to six per cent. If I learned anything in economics at some point it is that due to all of that we will probably see stagflation and at some point, this will lead into a recession. That's the only way that the inflation comes down again. We had this last in Europe in the 80s. That topic can create huge problems for countries that have high debts like Italy, or Greece or France. It will be a long process for the next one to five years. But I'm not an economist, I'm not a banker, and as such I'm very happy I'm only selling domestic appliances. I'm not a fortune teller, but I predict that a recession will come and that times will get difficult.

“But nevertheless, we stand to our growth target and we will achieve it – I'm not afraid at all. As we have the real and major advantage of being completely self-financed, we are masters of our own decisions. And we are aware that some decisions and investments may take time. But we can also act anti-cyclical if we wish to do so. And we have a large investment program ahead of us – probably our largest in a single year. So we have set the path for this growth.” AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

17

AR THE INSPIRED HOME SHOW

The Inspired Home Show looked very different in 2022 with quality over quantity.

The Olimpia Splendid stand had a range of comfort products on display.

‘Quality over quantity’ at The Inspired Home Show 2022 The Inspired Home Show in Chicago was held over three days in March with buyers from 84 countries gathering to meet with over 1,000 exhibitors. Michelle Hespe attended the Show in Chicago and shared the major highlights from the exhibition.

W

hile the Show was smaller than previous years, the benefits for those attending were tremendous, according to the International Housewares Association (IHA) president and CEO, Derek Miller.

“On behalf of the IHA Board of Directors and Staff, thank you to everyone who participated in The Inspired Home Show 2022. When you hear people saying ‘Best Show Ever’ once, and then twice and then again, it begins to turn into a trendline, and while that may not have been everyone’s experience, it certainly was for many Show participants,” Miller said.

“Many exhibitors expressed they connected with key retailers like never before – they received meetings, and those meetings lasted longer than anticipated. Retailers expressed that they found new companies, brands and products not seen in the past. Yes, 2022 was different, but different can be good – quality over quantity as they say.

“We needed critical mass to get back on track, and with the support we received from both our members and retailers, we were able to create a valuable experience for all who participated. An impactful chapter for IHA and the Show has now closed, and thankfully the page has been turned – the future for the home and housewares industry continues to look bright, and I look forward to moving ahead with the industry through the rest of 2022 and beyond,” he added.

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

OUR PICK OF THE CROP FROM THE SHOW FLOOR Aeris by iRobot

The aair Lite was a hit, as it is compact, stylish and in colours that are on trend: “People are loving the colours – Nimbus Cloud (pale grey), Quartz Pink (pastel pink), Sailor Blue (a deep, rich blue). “It’s also great for bedrooms and small offices, and now with so many people working from home, it adds a nice décor element because it does not look industrial/office like,” a brand representative said.

The aair Medical Pro and the aair Gas Pro are also stylish and streamlined, so they blend in nicely with a tidy, smart environment. “They are the best-looking air purifiers on the market, but of course also work incredibly well. In times of Covid, it’s more important than ever to keep offices and homes free of pollutants.”

Jura Jura was showing off the concept of automatic speciality coffee machines – showcasing the new looks and style with the GIGA 6 and the popular Z10 for the home, and the professional models for cafes and restaurants. One of the big differences is that the Z10 machines are ‘product recognising’.

“It opens up so many options with cold brew specialties a big new trend. This is made possible thanks to the Product Recognising Grinder (P.R.G.), which recognises the chosen speciality and instantly and precisely adjusts the fineness of grind accordingly,” a brand representative said.

THE INSPIRED HOME SHOW AR

The Jura stand showed off the GIGA 6 and Z10 coffee machines among other key models in the range.

The Aeris by iRobot stand embraced the trend towards colour among its air purifiers.

Groupe SEB In 2011, Imusa joined the Groupe SEB family of brands.

At the Show, Imusa jumped on the coffee trend by showing off their coffee makers and coffee machines in bright colours such as red, orange and turquoise blue. On the stand, there was also a range of woks and frypans, some in retro colours including mustard, purple, blue and green.

Newell Brands

The Imusa stand had coffee machines, woks, frypans and more on display.

Mr Coffee was a key highlight on the Newell Brands stand.

The rep said everyone now wants good coffee machines in their home and it’s about them working well, but also looking good, as it is such a big pastime for many.

Rubbermaid was also popular as it’s all about clean, great storage solutions and with Covid, this segment was bigger than ever.

Newell Brands was also named in Fortune’s 2022 World’s Most Admired Companies list placing among the top six companies in the home equipment, furnishing industry category and 224 overall on the list. The list is the most respected ranking on corporate reputation.

“Newell Brands is proud to be named by Fortune as a most admired company and recognised for the strength of our brands and commitment to operational excellence.

Congratulations to our 32,000 employees whose dedication to creating stakeholder value and living our values every day made this achievement possible,” Newell Brands president and CEO, Ravi Saligram said.

Olimpia Splendid

The Newell Brands stand showcased products across its portfolio of brands including Mr Coffee and Rubbermaid.

This stand was one of the ‘coolest' areas of the show with the Dolceclima portable air conditioner one of the highlights. Olimpia Splendid focuses on innovation and a commitment to creating environmentally friendly products with touchscreen capabilities. They are proud of being Italian made and are all about making the office and home comfortable, whether it’s heating or cooling. “We’ve been operating for 60 years, and our products are available in Australia and New Zealand, where they are popular due the climate conditions.” AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

19

AR KBB BIRMINGHAM

KBB Birmingham was a success with the four-day event filled with networking, product launches and award wins.

Retailers flock to KBB Birmingham after the pandemic KBB Birmingham 2022 saw more than 12,400 visitors pass through its doors over the four days of the show in March. Simon King reports from the event, which featured the UK’s largest collection of KBB brands under one roof.

I

t’s official, the KBB industry is back together after a successful four days of industry networking, product launches and award wins.

On the show floor, there was a positive buzz and for independent retailers there were lots of new products and innovations to see, providing visitors with plenty of inspiration. It’s fair to say that the domestic appliance area at the show was not the biggest, but it was great to see a plethora of well-known brands exhibiting their latest innovations.

BSH Home Appliances had a large area of the show, with dedicated stands for its three brands – Bosch, Neff and Siemens.

Among the products on display was a new glass downdraft hood from Neff.

The company says the hood seamlessly integrates into the kitchen, with the ability to install behind the hob for a single surface look and clear glass panel when in use. It is powered by new Guided Air technology for effective extraction, and Climate Control Sensor to optimise the power and noise levels as consumers cook.

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

The new Siemens iQ700 built-in oven with steam function enables users to open the oven door with voice commands and shortens cooking times thank to fast preheat and coolStart.

On the Bosch stand, the Series 8 induction hob with integrated ventilation was popular with retailers. The hob features DirectSelect Premium, a 30cm wide touch panel that keeps users in perfect control. Select cooking zones, power levels and other options with a simple touch – and the entire interface disappears when the hob’s turned off.

Chinese brand Haier showcased its latest innovations in refrigeration, connected wine cellars and washing machines at KBB, but the biggest launch on its stand was the debut of Haier cooking, Series 6, a complete range of premium kitchen appliances guided by Artificial Intelligence.

Haier Europe chief commercial officer UK & Ireland, Jim McEwan said, “The launch sees the first-ever collection of Haier built-in appliances onto the UK market, and further enhances Haier’s excellent reputation for premium design, quality and reliability alongside connectivity and cutting-edge innovation.”

KBB BIRMINGHAM AR

“

On the show floor, there was a positive buzz and for independent retailers there were lots of new products and innovations to see.

”

McEwan said Series 6 incapsulates premium technology that comes together in a range of ovens, hobs, hoods, refrigerators, and dishwashers that use connectivity, the hOn App and AI to offer tailor-made solutions for the modern home, thanks also to their elegant and minimalist design.

The Haier stand featured the hub of the kitchen of the future, including the Chef@Home oven, which, thanks to a presence sensor, turns on automatically, giving the user access to the 19-inch full touch control screen.

McEwan said: “‘Cook with me’ technology is designed to bring Artificial Intelligence into everyday life: plus, the PreciTaste technology recognises the types of food placed inside the oven, so it automatically sets the cooking parameters, sending the user a notification when the food is ready.”

The AEG stand offered an immersive experience, allowing visitors to see first-hand its range of intelligent technologies and responsive design available across the portfolio.

Electrolux UK & Ireland head of kitchen retail & contracts channel, Gordon Dawson said, “KBB was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with our retail partners after a long time of not being able to meet face to face.”

AEG’s ‘Challenge the Expected’ products include the new extractor hob models and Matte Black Collection. Its hero technologies were also on display, including the Command Wheel Oven, ComfortLift Dishwasher, TotalFlex Hob and ProSteam technology found in 9000 Series Washing Machines. Adding a further interactive element to its offering, AEG used augmented reality to introduce its new hob with extractor model and show the flexibility of installation across the range.

“The Full Colour Touch Controls user interface provides step by step guidance and live feedback, meaning you can cook with more confidence; the bridge function combines two cooking zones together to fit any large or long pan,” Dawson said. ➤

TOP LEFT: The Neff glass downdraft hood is powered by new Guided Air technology for effective extraction.

TOP RIGHT: The Siemens iQ700 built-in oven with steam function enables users to open the oven door with voice commands.

ABOVE: The Haier stand featured the hub of the kitchen of the future, including the Chef@Home oven.

www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR KBB BIRMINGHAM

Samsung focuses on built-in and looks to grow appliance business

ABOVE: Samsung UK channel manager for kitchen retail, Jonathan Hartley.

BELOW: Samsung exhibited at KBB Birmingham to reconnect with the industry and engage on new product launches.

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Speaking at KBB in Birmingham, Samsung UK channel manager for kitchen retail, Jonathan Hartley, told Simon King that the Korean manufacturer is making great strides in both the kitchen showroom and electrical retail sectors.

“We’ve obviously started to come out of Covid, but we’ve had this dead spot of networking for the last two years and I think everybody’s in the same boat, we want to reconnect. That’s why we’re at the KBB show to ensure that we reconnect and start to engage on new products, which we’ve just launched. We realise what the market requires and what it needs, and we want to make sure that we drive the market harder to get ahead of where we are at the moment,” Hartley said.

At KBB, Samsung unveiled several new ideas and Hartley said that Samsung took a significant decision when it came to this range of products.

“The whole product team at Samsung took a step back to look at what the market required, we listened and had feedback, and we’ve now come out with a platform of series models. There aren’t many companies that could do that, but Samsung is able to do that because we have the economy of scale, we know how to hit the market hard, we know what products the market wants and subsequently, we’ve got the manufacturing capability to do it because we own our factories.”

At the Birmingham show, Samsung launched two new series – series four and five.

“Initially, we’re going to be launching series four and five, which will hit the market in June,” Hartley said. “Then, in October, phase two – series six and seven – will launch.

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

“The biggest statement that we’ve got is that Wi-Fi connectivity is not just on the top premium appliances, it’s now being wound right back to series four; so you buy any Samsung appliance now from series four to series seven, and you will have Wi-Fi connectivity.

“While we highlight new functions like air fry and sous vide, the bits that we don’t talk about are all things that come as standard – Dual Cook Flex, where you have that ability to cook with two fans at two different temperatures and the LED touchscreen.”

A slight criticism of Samsung, historically, has been the fact that it has numerous models in a range, but those days are numbered.

“We’ve actually consolidated the SKU count,” Hartley said. “A lot of the products that we built in the past had various handles, knobs and clocks; now everything you’ll see is seamless in the way that we actually move from series four to series seven.

“It makes it easy from a manufacturing point of view, but it also makes it easier from an actual stock, SKU and distribution point of view.”

Hartley said that during the pandemic, Samsung experienced a big shift from in-store to online.

He said: “Since restrictions have eased, we’ve seen increased footfall and customers wanting to see, touch and feel products and have product demonstrations; we believe independents will benefit from this change as staff will be able to explain premium features and benefits that can be more challenging to explain online.

“In the coming years we see retail becoming more experiential as we know the customer also wants something additional to what an online experience can provide.”

Looking at challenges, Hartley said that one of the biggest issues for independent electrical retailers is footfall. “We’ve seen over the last two years that a lot of people have researched online, they now understand product features and technology,” he said.

“We were very quick to notice that trend and moved quickly to inform a lot of our retailers the ability to get assets and rich media content so that they could actually stream and make sure that their customers were engaged.”

“People are moving from distress to desire and, equally, people are looking for standout and callout products, and I think that’s where Samsung sits at the moment. We’ve also made sure that we keep the training going with the retailers.” AR

FEATURE

Food Preparation STAND MIXERS | FOOD PROCESSORS | BLENDERS

AR FOOD PREPARATION

OUTLOOK

FOOD PREP PURCHASES normalise in post-lockdown environment

BY EMILY BENCIC The food preparation market – incorporating juicers, choppers, food processors, stand mixers, hand mixers, blenders and hand blenders – experienced declines in value and volume of 7% and 8% respectively for the 12 months to January 2022, according to the latest GfK data.

The market has declined over the past 12 months, cycling over an exceptionally strong 2020 period, although it remains well above a pre-pandemic benchmark in 2019. Blenders and juicers, which experienced 3% growth, lead the way in food preparation and now account for half of total market revenue, while baking sub-categories take a bit of a step back with a 24% drop in hand mixers.

Market research provider, Euromonitor International echoed the sentiment that food preparation appliances experienced a surge in demand in 2020 as a direct result of the pandemic which saw many consumers take to cooking and baking more frequently.

In 2021, food processors recorded the highest retail volume growth of 3% to reach 407,000 units, according to Euromonitor data. Blenders also experienced strong demand with several manufacturers releasing portable blenders and juice extractors for on-the-go use. Multifunctional food processors and mixers are supporting the premiumisation trend with higher-than-average unit prices.

www.kenwoodpromo.com.au

FOOD PREPARATION AR

“

We want consumers to be able to easily experiment with different flavours, ingredients and textures, which is exactly what we have done with our new Braun PowerBlend 9.

DE’LONGHI

”

Allison Cupillari Senior Category Manager – Kenwood & Braun De’Longhi has observed a growing need for kitchen appliances that serve more than one purpose as not everyone has the bench or storage space to house many different appliances.

“The versatility and flexibility of our products encourages consumers to get creative in the kitchen,” Allison Cupillari said.

According to Cupillari, the design and innovation that Kenwood food preparation appliances bring to market successfully engages with consumers as they deliver on the features that consumers want from their appliances. This year, it’s about delivering personalisation and flexibility.

“We want consumers to be able to easily experiment with different flavours, ingredients and textures, which is exactly what we have done with our new Braun PowerBlend 9. With a powerful 1600-watt motor and TriAction technology, consumers can now enjoy faster and more precise blending results. Our iTexture Control also allows consumers to select their preferred consistency, from chunky to smooth.”

As times continue to change, so does the consumer path-to-purchase journey. “As the traditional bricks-and-mortar retail landscape returns, consumer confidence and desire to go back into stores and engage in physical product experiences increases, we have re-engaged our best-in-class in-store strategy,” Cupillari said.

Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL Silver Bench Mixer KVL85004SI

`EasyWeigh scales and timer weigh directly into the bowl `Nesting DuoBowl includes 7L and 5L stainless steel bowls `1200W ChefMotor with dedicated fold function `LightLift Head makes light work when adding ingredients RRP: $1,299

“This includes the rollout of engaging product displays and consumer focused point-of-sale assets that clearly educate consumers on product benefits and performance outcomes by communicating how our products enhance consumer experiences when in the kitchen preparing food.

“In 2022, Kenwood and Braun brands will participate in popular events and exhibitions, ensuring consumers can see our innovative product ranges in action.” AR

AR FOOD PREPARATION

MAGIMIX

Wivina Chaneliere Managing Director Magimix saw an increase in interest in the food preparation category due to Covid as consumers started cooking from home more and wanted items and appliances that would make their experience better, according to Wivina Chaneliere.

“It is a category that has been fortunate enough to do well under these circumstances. Our products are designed with durability and the ability to be multifunctional. We recognise that at a premium price point, consumers need to be able to rely on their Magimix for multiple tasks,” she said.

“

The new software will be provided for free to existing Cook Expert users, so they can update their machines and enjoy new features and automatic programs that will enhance their experience.

”

Magimix has a strong belief in creating products that stand the test of time, designed to be simple and effective, to create a better experience for what consumers already have, rather than trying to get them to purchase a new product every time. An example of this was the release of Cook Expert software that contains new programs including melting chocolate, making waffles and pizza dough, where the program mixes and kneads, and goes straight into proving.

The new software will be provided for free to existing Cook Expert users, so they can update their machines and enjoy new features and automatic programs that will enhance their experience. “It is in line with our commitment to sustainability and quality customer care,” Chaneliere said.

The company has maintained its omni-channel approach to marketing, placing importance on both online and in-store. “We are thrilled that physical stores are open again as they are an integral part of the customer journey, especially for premium appliances that consumers want to touch and feel, so we will be taking this opportunity to enhance our in-store presence as well as train retail staff.”

Magimix is also updating point-of-sale material to better communicate the unique features and benefits of its products, as well as give them an updated look. “We have a full sales team across Australia ready to take care of our retailers and ensure that the brand is well represented and use the opportunity to do product demonstrations as soon as it is safe,” she said. AR 26

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

Magimix Premium Food Processor 5200XL

`Slices, grates, chops, cuts, whisks, blends, juices, kneads and presses `Sabatier stainless steel blades `Choice recommended, Quiet Mark approved and Product Review winner 2022 `30-year motor warranty RRP: $1,399

www.kenwoodworld.com

AR FOOD PREPARATION

Tefal i-Companion XL

`An all-in-one cooking food processor that can chop, bake, sear, mix, knead, cut, slow cook, crush, steam and more `10 automatic programs and six attachments included `XL gourmet stainless steel bowl for up to 10 serves `Made in France RRP: $2,099

“Replacing more than 10 appliances, the i-Companion XL features 10 automatic programs and a manual mode. It can chop, bake, sear, mix, knead, cut, slow cook, crush, steam and more,” Sara explained.

“

In 2022, Tefal is introducing a new service with online demonstrations for pre- and post-purchase consumers to help them make the most of their machine, free of charge.

GROUPE SEB

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Julien Sara Product Manager – Small Appliances Groupe SEB has seen a large shift in purchase behavior in the food preparation category, with heightened interest as people continue to cook more from home.

In 2022, Tefal is introducing a new service with online demonstrations for pre- and post-purchase consumers to help them make the most of their machine, free of charge.

“When consumers purchase a Tefal i-Companion XL, they can register online or in-store to join an exclusive, live digital session to meet a Tefal Expert and participate in a full discovery of what is possible with the machine,” Sara said.

“It encourages consumers to explore their creativity in the kitchen with confidence and reconnect with the joys that food and cooking can bring, while also joining the new i-Companion Club.”

From a marketing point of view, Groupe SEB sales director, Jason Borg said field representatives continue to implement point-of-sale (POS) material across the core Tefal product line-up.

“Our POS is designed to easily translate our product benefits while creating in-store theatre. At a national level, we also provide our retail partners with a comprehensive assortment of digital content which can be used for online use,” he said.

“Even as restrictions eased, many consumers discovered a newfound joy in cooking their food from scratch and being able to prepare delicious and nutritious meals from the comfort of their home,” Julien Sara said. “They’ve had the ability to experiment with their creativity in the kitchen and have been investing in appliances which allow them to delegate the manual tasks to enjoy the experience of creating new dishes.”

Groupe SEB marketing director, Marine Pestel added, “We are committed to delivering a 360-degree shopping experience with rich digital content, while also partnering with retailers to create in-store experiences and education with premium displays; demonstration and category management initiatives; and live cooking demonstration in some stores simultaneously with online streaming.”

Tefal understands that multifunctionality is vital.

Its heating food processor, the i-Companion XL, is an all-in-one appliance that comes with six dedicated attachments and more compatible accessories that can be purchased separately.

There is a Tefal brand campaign underway with digital, social media and in-store activation designed to drive awareness and sell through. Instore demonstrations will be supported with POS material and consumer leaflets. AR

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

M

ad

ce

built better to last longer

e in F r a n

2022 AWARDS

For all things food preparation, look no further than Magimix.

Born out of the Burgundy region in France, Magimix has been designing and making high-quality premium kitchen appliances for 50 years. Still made in the same original location in France and backed by a 30-year motor warranty, Magimix’s range of food processors, juicers, choppers and blenders are truly a cut above the rest.

For more information: info@magimix.com.au or 1300 624 469

www.magimix.com.au

AR FOOD PREPARATION

Smeg SMF03 Stand Mixer `800W power with optimum torque `Variable 10-speed control `Quiet operation and smooth start `Front accessory port RRP: $799

SMEG

Luca Duarte Product Manager – SDA Consumers are continuing to experiment at home with more complicated recipes, especially baking, Smeg’s Luca Duarte said.

“The popularity of hands-on recipes such as bread and homemade pasta have led to an increase in sales of stand mixers, stand mixer accessories and hand blenders, with consumers eager to explore new techniques and cuisines.”

Meeting demands for multifunctionality, Smeg’s stand mixer is available with multiple accessories including ice-cream, pasta and multi-food grinder attachments. “Consumers are also prioritising healthy cooking for their family, creating meals at home from raw ingredients, rather than purchasing pre-prepared and frozen meals from the supermarket,” he said.

For consumers with a smaller kitchen, a hand mixer is the perfect addition for beating, whisking and kneading dough such as bread and pasta.

“The hand blender food processor accessory with 1.5L capacity also provides a helping hand in food preparation such as chopping, slicing and shredding, as well as emulsifying and processing.”

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

“

Putting sustainability front of mind, this year Smeg has introduced Tritan Renew, a 50% certified recycled content material, in its blender, hand blender, food processor and citrus juicer.

”

Putting sustainability front of mind, this year Smeg has introduced Tritan Renew, a 50% certified recycled content material, in its blender, hand blender, food processor and citrus juicer with no impact on product durability or performance. “We have removed EPS foam packaging from small appliances, and plastic has been eliminated where possible, in favour of recycled paper and cardboard.”

Smeg’s demonstration team has returned to stores, but the company will continue to roll out its web-based e-learning training platform to include small appliance training modules for sales staff. “Our platform can be updated quickly and easily and provides training on-the-go for time-poor salespeople.”

In-store communication, including displays and point-of-sale material, is constantly evolving to continue to educate consumers on product features and benefits, highlighting Smeg’s signature Italian design, functionality, flexibility and performance, according to Duarte. AR

FOOD PREPARATION AR

GLEN DIMPLEX

Richard Banks Product & Marketing Coordinator With consumers spending more time cooking meals at home, the purchase of food preparation appliances has reduced time spent in food and meal preparation, according to Richard Banks.

“The Morphy Richards range is designed to save consumers time and not clutter the cupboards with multiple different appliances,” he said.

Multifunctional products are a focus at Morphy Richards, as products need to meet consumer needs by being built to last, simple to use and designed with modern living in mind. “Morphy Richards is focused on launching products in market that will make life easier in the kitchen for all consumers.

Combining multifunction and colour trends to achieve functional and easy to use appliances.”

The return to in-store shopping has increased the brand’s ability to be directly in front of the consumer. “Training, in-store activations, and demonstrations are incorporated in our marketing strategy to help drive our brand message and showcase the appliance range.”

Re-engaging with retailers has been important for the team. “Offering additional training highlighting the benefits and features through video content, product demonstrations and new point of sale has been key,” Banks said. AR

MixStar Compact Stand Mixer 400520

`Six variable speeds `5L bowl with 4L working capacity `Splash guard and storage caddy for accessories `Includes beaters, whisks, bowl scraper and dough hook RRP: $299.95

Vitamix Ascent Series A3500i

`In-built wireless connectivity `Touchscreen interface for ease-of-use and easy cleaning `Self-Dectect technology prevents blender from operating if the lid or container is not secure `Five program settings for smoothies, hot soups, dips & spreads, frozen desserts and self-cleaning RRP: $1,599

FACKELMANN HOUSEWARES Ali van Woerden Chief Marketing Officer

With fewer people dining out, many rediscovered their passion for cooking at home, according to Fackelmann Housewares’ Ali van Woerden.

“Given restrictions resulted in reduced spending on dining and travel, we feel that many consumers used this additional disposable income to invest in their kitchen and appliances. Many searched for products of quality that they will own for years to come and serve multiple purposes,” she said.

Vitamix blenders are designed and built to last through years of use, and each machine comes with a five or 10 year warranty.

“Our powerful motor and performance truly sets Vitamix apart from others in the blender category.

For example, our range can achieve different textures and consistencies for any blend, including a smoothie, salsa, soup, frozen dessert, nut butter or even nut milk. The friction of our blades can make a steaming hot soup in under 10 minutes within the container.”

Where possible, Vitamix is hosting media, influencer, and retailer events, as well as in-store demonstrations. “We also have a comprehensive staff training plan with YouTube clips to educate and support staff when selling to the customer,” van Woerden said. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR FOOD PREPARATION

Innova Stick Mixer CSM001SS `Turbo button `Variable speed dial `Soft grip handle `235mm stainless blending shaft RRP: $167.65

FROM THE FLOOR

Leading Edge Group – Margaret Terry

F INNOVA PRODUCTS Craig Dais CEO

“The last four years has seen a significant transformation of the Innova Products in New Zealand with the company having an international presence in homewares for more than 35 years,” Dais said. This includes the ClickClack range of airtight storage containers, glass bakeware and kitchen gadgets, with the kitchen gadgets winning an Australian Good Design Award in 2018.

The brand is now entering the small appliance industry with a stick mixer, intended to meet growing demand as home cooks test culinary skills in their kitchens. AR 32

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

ood preparation is a category that has seen growth across most subcategories over the last two years within the Leading Edge Group (LEG), but it is starting to slow as retail and hospitality venues open up.

“It is predicted that these categories may struggle over the next 12 to 18 months as businesses cry out for support and there is a reduced need to prepare food at home, with a pickup predicted for late 2022 into 2023,” LEG head of appliances, Margaret Terry said.

“Most homes have now updated and secured their appliances for the years to come so new products will need to be different and unique to entice additional sales.”

Stock shortages have affected sales that were based on what was available and long gaps in out-of-stocks impacted capitalising on overall sales growth for the category. “These issues were not isolated to our group but were felt across the appliance industry. Suppliers and retailers alike could not capitalise in all areas,” she said.

Quality, inclusions, ease of use and aesthetics are the most important factors in the purchase decision. “If a customer is going to purchase in this category, they want to achieve the same cooking results as their local café or restaurant.”

But Terry admitted there isn’t much new technology at present. “A stand-out product is the new GAF Laura Ashley breakfast range which offer a unique look and feel.”

Most purchases continue to be made in store among LEG members, which is attributed to their location in rural and remote areas. “Websites have played more into the equation but in-store purchasing is still the preferred option for our customers,” Terry said. AR

FEATURE

DISHWASHERS BUILT-IN & FREESTANDING MODELS

NEW GENERATION OF

WASHABILITY FLEXABILITY STACKABILITY

D IA M ON D S ER IE S D ISH WASH E R S BY SME G .

AR DISHWASHERS

OUTLOOK

DISHWASHER SALES accelerate during Covid… and predicted to continue

BY KYMBERLY MARTIN Data from market research provider Euromonitor International found prolonged periods of time spent at home during 2021 due to further waves of the pandemic in Australia, meant consumers are continuing to cook and eat more frequently while juggling remote working and household chores.

Appliances which help to reduce the strain and offer greater convenience including dishwashers, continue to appeal, supporting further demand during the year and increasing household penetration.

DIAMOND SERIES DISHWASHERS FROM SMEG.

DISHWASHERS AR

SMEG

Leon Wolf Head of Product With many consumers now working permanently in a hybrid model, the family dishwasher is still being used more than once a day, according to Leon Wolf. With the additional usage, efficiency credentials, ease of use and flexibility are key drivers for the dishwasher replacement market as well as for renovations and new builds, he said.

As well as 6-star WELS water efficiency and 4-star MEPS energy ratings, Smeg dishwashers offer multiple interior configurations to satisfy all stackability and flexibility load requirements, from crystal glassware to heavy duty oversized cookware. The Diamond Series dishwasher collection also offers Sterilise, a hygienic program to remove 99.9% of germs, making it ideal for baby bottles and cutting boards.

“Consumers are seeking a dishwasher that offers multiple programs, designed to suit their lifestyle.

As well as the ultra-hygienic Sterilise program, Smeg offers the convenient Full Express 60 to wash and dry a full load in one hour. Interior configuration options are also important for consumers wanting to maximise their load. Smeg’s adjustable basket design and flexi-duo cutlery tray, folding and sliding ingeniously to free space for tall glassware and house cutlery and utensils, adds another dimension of convenience,” Wolf said.

To assist consumers post-purchase, Smeg has created several videos for social media including how to select the correct dishwasher function and the top five things to check if the dishwasher isn’t cleaning properly: spray arms, stacking, detergent, filters and program selection.

Smeg Fully Integrated Dishwasher DWAF16D15T3

`Planetary wash system `Sterilise wash program `Active aqua stop `Five-stage filtration `DryAssist RRP: $1,990

“

Interior configuration options are also important for consumers wanting to maximise their load. Smeg’s adjustable basket design and flexi-duo cutlery tray… adds another dimension of convenience.

”

According to Wolf, the increasing availability of lesser quality dishwashers in the market, has created a need to educate consumers on the benefits of premium dishwashers, such as energy and water efficiency, quality of wash and ease of use.

“The renovation market will remain strong in 2022. With consumers spending time planning their dream kitchen as a functional yet visually seamless extension of their living and dining space, we are seeing an uplift in semi and fully integrated dishwasher sales,” he said. “Another consideration for category growth is the continuing evolution of wash system engineering and energy efficiency credentials, both of which remain a focus for Smeg in the dedicated dishwashing factory in Northern Italy.” AR

A NEW GENERATION OF WASHABILITY, FLEXABILITY & STACKABILITY

AR DISHWASHERS

ARISIT

Andrea Gunn National Retail Sales & Marketing Manager Until recently because of Covid, consumers have forgone holiday and travel spending to invest in home improvements, especially when it comes to the kitchen, Andrea Gunn said.

“With more time at home households have been giving their dishwashers a real workout, which has resulted in a greater focus on the importance of performance, energy and water efficiency and not just driven by a purchase based on a price point,” she said.

Bosch Freestanding Dishwasher SMS6HAI01A

“Probably the biggest challenge for the category is lack of innovation. Over the years this is the one category that hasn’t benefited from the addition of new technologies and features, unlike most other MDA categories.

`Extra Clean zone/Extra Dry function `Home Connect smart connectivity `Max Flex baskets with superior sliding performance `Silence Plus - 44dB `Made in Germany

“With the housing market so unpredictable, there will be a lot of people who will choose to stay put and improve on what they’ve already got. I believe that the renovation market will show growth this year, providing the current supply and trades shortages improve,” she said. AR

BOSCH

Whirlpool Freestanding Dishwasher WFO3033PLAUS

RRP: $1,499

Jessica Deuscher Marketing Manager “Hygiene features have become more important for consumers and are having a stronger influence on the purchase decision,” Jessica Deuscher said. “Consumers are willing to purchase a more premium appliance which features hygiene programs such as Bosch HygienePlus.”

This program increases the final rinse temperature to 70 degrees Celsius and retains this temperature for an extended time to achieve a hygienic finish.

The frequency of dishwasher use has increased as well with people spending more time at home.

“Shorter wash cycles, such as the Bosch one hour wash and dry program, have become very popular too,” she said.

With growing demand for smart appliances, Bosch has launched Home Connect functionality, which is changing the way home appliances can work.

“One of the features of Bosch smart dishwashers is the energy and water consumption usage guide.

The Home Connect app shows the estimated water and energy consumption of wash cycles, to get the most out of the wash, while looking out for the environment and utility bills at the same time.” AR 36

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

`Power Clean `6th Sense technology `Natural Dry `Turbo cycle `Sanitising cycle RRP: $1,599

DIAMOND SERIES DISHWASHERS FROM SMEG. A NEW GENERATION OF WASHABILITY, FLEXABILITY & STACKABILITY

www.smeg.com.au

AR DISHWASHERS

MIELE

Alison McGorlick Category Marketing Manager – Dishwasher, Accessories and Care Miele has noted a shift in consumer purchase behavior since Covid, with travel restrictions resulting in more spending on home purchase, renovations and appliance upgrades.

“Specifically with dishwashers, consumers are buying products that are going to deliver long-lasting, quality performance, as well as sustainability features and innovative technology, such as the Miele AutoOpen drying function, allowing the dishwasher door to open automatically at the end of the program for steam to escape,” Alison McGorlick said.

“Quality is important for consumers as people want to invest in products that are long-lasting and perform to the highest standard. With sustainability a key purchasing driver, Miele dishwashers use as little as six litres of water in the automatic program which is much less than the contents of a sink. We have also reduced water consumption by 85% over the last 30 years.”

A challenge for the dishwasher category that Miele has taken into consideration is an evolving society towards an eco-friendlier and more sustainable environment. AR

Miele Fully Integrated Dishwasher G7599 SCViXXL `Fully integrated fascia `Miele@home MobileControl `AutoClose `4.5-star energy rated `AutoOpen drying RRP: $4,399

ELECTROLUX Electrolux 60cm Built-Under Dishwasher ESF8735RKX `ComfortLift `Mark resistant dark stainless finish `AirDry `Cutlery drawer `Light beam on floor RRP: $2,149

John Henley Director Product Line – Care and Wellbeing According to Electrolux, there has been an increase in market demand for dishwashers with the rise in discretionary spending since Covid as consumers invested in upgrading their homes and appliances. “This is spending that may otherwise have been used for travel and hospitality,” John Henley said.

“Along with energy efficiency and flexible design trends, other key attributes that consumers look for are aesthetics and alignment to other kitchen appliances. AEG, Electrolux and Westinghouse all have design alignment across their entire kitchen range. Consumers are also very focused on water consumption and noise levels,” he said.

Electrolux has a national customer care centre in Sydney with 90 customer care agents operating seven days a week handling over one million consumer enquiries a year. This is in addition to a national service team of 100 metropolitan service technicians plus a regional network of 700 service agents.

“These teams deliver outstanding consumer service which we believe is unmatched in Australia,” Henley said. “We also have a unique ‘Better Living’ offer which is made by the service technician in a consumer’s home when it may not prove viable for a product to be repaired. This provides a cashback to cover the cost of the service fee redeemable after the consumer has purchased a new product from one of our retail partners.”

He said aside from supply chain concerns, there is nothing specific facing the category. “We expect continued strength in the building and renovation market and as a result the dishwasher market will remain strong in 2022.” AR

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

W Collection by

30% extra space with the new PowerClean ProTM PowerCleanTM Unique PowerJets provide a more intensive wash, creating 30% extra space.

6TH SENSE Technology Smart sensor detect dishes’ soil level, adapting water and energy for perfect results.

Natural Dry Auto door opening - up to 70% better drying results.

5 YEAR WARRANTY

www.whirlpool.com.au

AR DISHWASHERS

GLEM GAS

David Gilmore Managing Director For Glem Gas, there was some normalisation in dishwasher sales as the community adjusted to living with Covid, with growth in demand as wash frequencies increased during lockdown periods.

For the consumer purchasing a new dishwasher, design and ease of operation are important, along with flexibility in loading options and functions.

According to David Gilmore, the company does not treat dishwashers differently to other appliances and its after sales service record is a strong one which, he said, is treated with a great deal of respect and attention. “I am not sure what sets us apart other than we know we are pretty good at it.”

He said the commoditisation of the category, which has been progressing for several years, continues to keep prices at unrealistic levels considering the cost of after sales service.

“Factory prices remain high and supply chain concerns are there for everyone to see.

“There is no reason that we have noticed for the category to boom or bust in 2022, but it will most likely remain steady. Our Emilia dishwasher program has been selling strongly into renovation and we expect this to continue.” AR

LG LG QuadWash Dishwasher with TrueSteam

`QuadWash sprays water onto dishes from multiple angles `Dual Zone cleans delicate dishes while power-washing dirty pots and pans `Inverter Direct Drive motor for a quiet performance `ThinQ technology downloads new wash cycles and diagnoses problems `TrueSteam cleans and reduces bacteria RRP: $1,749

Shannon Tweedie Marketing Manager – Home Appliances There has been a major shift in the role of the kitchen as consumers become accustomed to cooking, dining and entertaining at home, resulting in a newfound appreciation for home cooked meals rather than dining out. “This has led to a popularity for kitchen upgrades, that enhance the user experience and fit seamlessly with any kitchen décor,” Shannon Tweedie said. “The dishwasher has become an important companion for the Aussie kitchen, bringing convenience to this new lifestyle.”

Another key trend to emerge during Covid are features that save time and offer convenience along with reliable and quality products. “Consumers are also enhancing their living spaces with all-black kitchen designs becoming increasingly popular.”

Demand for home appliances which initially spiked at the onset of the pandemic, has remained high and resulted in a knock-on effect and disruption of availability to various home appliance products, including dishwashers.

However, LG Australia has continued to work with its overseas factories and retailers to meet demand.

Glem Dishwasher GDW25SB `Black stainless steel `12-place settings `4.5-star rating `Half load option `Delay start RRP: $909 40

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

Looking ahead, Tweedie expects home appliance sales will continue and the sector will grow as long as interest in upgrading the home environment remains.

“Ongoing models of hybrid working and homeschooling also means greater flexibility in lifestyles and we predict that many Australians will continue to seek out kitchen arrangements and appliances that offer versatility and convenience,” she said. AR

FEATURE

Benchtop Cooking MULTI-COOKERS | MICROWAVES | BREAD MAKERS | SOUP MAKERS

AR BENCHTOP COOKING

OUTLOOK

From the bench with multifunctional ease

BY KYMBERLY MARTIN In line with healthier cooking trends, rice cookers continued to record a strong performance, while demand for electric steamers remains stable. However, greater innovation and promotional activity is needed to support value sales, according to market research provider, Euromonitor International.

Private label continued to hold significant retail volume share within small cooking appliances at the end of the review period, with consumers satisfied with the price/quality ratio. Its presence is particularly notable in kettles, electric steamers, slow cookers and deep fryers, with private label particularly adept at capturing the latest trends and releasing products which cost a fraction of branded options.

The benchtop cooking group of categories enjoyed a huge uplift at the beginning of the pandemic with households frequently preparing more unique meals at home, the latest GfK data showed. However, growth could not be sustained, and market volume has returned to pre-pandemic levels resulting in high rates of annual decline in the latest 12 months. Bread makers were the notable exception, with units growing 19%.

New

Perfect under pressure

BENCHTOP COOKING AR

“

Kitchen benchtop space is a constant battle for those single-application appliances that often end up deep in cupboards and fail to inspire consumer engagement…

NEWELL BRANDS

”

Marie Liganaris Brand Marketing – Home Appliances “The benchtop cooking category thrived during the first year of lockdown restrictions, because people found themselves absorbing so much information digitally and socially which led them to become more open to experiment with new recipes and cooking appliances,” Marie Liganaris said. “There is an ongoing demand for more versatile appliances than ever before.”

All-in-one multicooker appliances are always a win with consumers as there is a constant need for faster, convenient and versatile cooking.

“Consumers desire to eat more healthily at home, meal-prep for the week and want an all-in-one appliance that saves kitchen space and reduces cooking time, without compromising flavour and offers less clean-up.

“Kitchen benchtop space is a constant battle for those single-application appliances that often end up deep in cupboards and fail to inspire consumer engagement because being out of sight often means being out of mind. Hence, the ongoing growth in all-in-one/multicooker appliances in homes.”

The company has adopted fully digitised approaches to re-create in-person training through live video, demonstrations and social sharing.

This transformation has made it possible to scale

Crockpot Express Easy Release XL Pressure Multicooker

`Scratch resistant stainless steel cooking pot with fast heat-up `15 one-touch cook settings `Cook meals up to 70% faster from pressure cook setting `7.6L for 12 or more people `Easy release steam dial and air-tight lid RRP: $249

training efforts in a more cost-effective way and permit greater personalisation for the retail staff, and in turn greater effectiveness, Lignaris said.

“We will continue to do this training method and work with the retailers to make this best in class.”

She said in a post-lockdown world, life will get busy again and multi-tasking and the necessity for convenience will be heightened. “However, demand for depth of flavour and deliciousness will not be readily traded off. Consumers still want to provide healthy home cooked meals for their families but do not want to put their life on pause to make it.” AR

Delicious, full-flavoured meals, in next to no time. *Cooks brisket up to 70% faster than conventional cooking methods

crockpot.com.au

AR BENCHTOP COOKING

“

Being able to delegate a lot of the cooking involvement through innovative benchtop appliances makes it easier to creatively explore new cuisines.

”

There are many key factors that play an important role in benchtop appliance purchase decisions Hsu said, and Tefal aims to exceed consumer expectations across the board. “Recipes can be a big motivator through either a recipe book, built-in recipes in the appliance or a recipe app,” he said.

GROUPE SEB

Noel Hsu Senior Product Manager “Covid has changed how we go about our daily lives, and we’ve found that purchase behaviour in the benchtop cooking category has shifted to more consumers showing an interest in cooking and creating homemade meals,” Noel Hsu said.

“With so much more time spent at home cooking, there has been an unprecedented surge in demand for new kitchen equipment. Consumers are reassessing everything in their kitchens from cookware to appliances and looking for new solutions that will help them reinvent the weeknight dinner, while spending the weekends cooking for enjoyment. There is a great need for inspiration in combination with DIY recipes too,” he said.

According to product manager for small appliances, Julien Sara, this shift in purchase behaviour began with the necessity of cooking at home during lockdowns and preparing food from scratch. “However, it has since expanded into people finding new enjoyment for cooking and choosing to spend more time discovering and experimenting with sophisticated dishes. Being able to delegate a lot of the cooking involvement through innovative benchtop appliances makes it easier to creatively explore new cuisines,” he said.

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

Tefal Cook4me touch

`500+ built-in recipes `Easy-to-use large touchscreen with recipe search bar `Fast pressure multicooker with express mode `Set and forget with automatic pressure release and keep warm function `Ceramic non-stick bowl with cool touch handles RRP: $699.95

“A user-friendly interface is something that should be a determining factor when buying a benchtop appliance, as this is what makes an appliance easy to use. The easier to use, the more likely it is to become the go-to appliance in any kitchen,” Sara said. “True versatility and multifunctionality is something that is also essential. If a single appliance can do the job of many, it means consumers can streamline what they keep in the kitchen, freeing up valuable storage space.”

He believes that connectivity to access additional services is something that many consumers are now looking for. “It provides ongoing support as well as inspiration and the ability to become part of a supportive cooking enthusiast community.”

According to Sara, there are challenges facing the category, including cost increases for raw materials and shipping. “There is some uncertainty as to whether the drastic increase in demand that we have seen recently will continue throughout 2022. It’s become more difficult to estimate market saturation as there has been big changes in shopping behaviour and the method of obtaining information. This has implications on how we can best allocate communication resources.”

As for training, sales director Jason Borg said that the company has adopted a hybrid approach to training and in-store demonstrations. “Whilst we might not have the opportunity to conduct as many training sessions in person, we are constantly creating digital training content that is easily transferrable and viewed by retail floor staff.

Our aim is to ensure the safety of our staff and to adhere to the retail requirements around in-store visitation,” he said. AR

PE

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STAIN LE

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L STEE COOK SS

SCR

ATC H R E

SI S

T

CPE310 Crockpot Express Easy Release XL Pressure Multicooker *Cooks brisket up to 70% faster than conventional cooking methods

Perfect under pressure Delicious, full-flavoured meals, in next to no time.

www.ccrockpot.com.au rockpot.com.au

AR BENCHTOP COOKING

Breville 3-in-1 Combi Wave BMO870

`Selects the right power level and time to suit food being cooked `Combination cooking with air fry, convection and microwave `Fast Combi uses techniques including microwave, oven and grill `Frozen function cooks different types of frozen meat `One-touch selections assist with frequent tasks RRP: $799

“

Because many people engaged and re-engaged with cooking during 2020 and 2021, Breville expects this increased interest in cooking will continue through 2022.

BREVILLE

”

Julio Enriquez Category & Commercial Manager Due to Covid the cooking and food prep categories has benefited from all the additional meals that people have been preparing and eating at home with many households investing in new kitchen appliances to elevate their home cooking capability.

More cooking often means that appliances are wearing out, are not sufficient in size or performance, or different appliances are needed, 46

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

driven by experimentation, according to Julio Enriquez, “and as a result we've observed increased demand across many categories within cooking and food prep”.

Researching products online continues to be important, regardless of whether purchases are made online or in-store. As for trends he listed versatility of multi-function appliances, especially if there is no trade-off in the final food results, colour coordination for benchtop appliances and product quality and reliability.

As for staff training, even before the pandemic, Breville had been investing in tools like the Breville training hub that make training videos and content available to retail sales staff, both live-streaming and on-demand. The field team continues to work with store staff to deliver training.

Because many people engaged and re-engaged with cooking during 2020 and 2021, Breville expects this increased interest in cooking will continue through 2022. “It’s worth mentioning the continued growth in air fryers and benchtop ovens,” he said. AR

BENCHTOP COOKING AR

PANASONIC

Ginger Yu Product Marketing Manager – Appliances “Cooking skills and habits that many Australians picked up during lockdown have remained as beloved hobbies as we get closer to normality in 2022,” Ginger Yu said. Adding that reliable and multi-functional kitchen appliances are now mainstays in the kitchen due to their versatility that appealed to a wide audience throughout the pandemic.

And as the inner-city population grows the need for compact multifaceted devices also increases.

“Consistency and longevity have also become important factors when purchasing benchtop appliances, with research showing 74% of Australians preparing five or more of their seven weekly dinners at home,” she said.

Panasonic Bread Maker SD-R2530WST

`30 automatic programs with set-and-forget simplicity `Butter cake made at the touch of a button `Cooking functions can be programmed manually `Dual temperature sensors `Unique kneading blade RRP: $359

“

Consistency and longevity have also become important factors when purchasing benchtop appliances, with research showing 74% of Australians preparing five or more of their seven weekly dinners at home.

”

Panasonic’s digital competencies have positioned the company well to address many of the challenges posed by Covid social distancing restrictions, while also evolving in-person sales activities that adhere to official government Covid-safe guidelines.

“Training of retail staff is still key to assist the consumer buying process, be it socially distanced in-person or via digital means with instructional videos or online training.”

Yu predicts cooking appliances will continue to evolve in convenience, combining ease-of-use and functionality. “Bread makers are becoming smarter and more intuitive, with automatic programs to create a broad range of baked items, doughs and spreads with set-and-forget simplicity.

The unit automatically modifies temperature and timing so consumers can enjoy a perfectly baked loaf consistently,” she said. AR

www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR BENCHTOP COOKING

Morphy Richards Clarity Soup Maker 501050 GLEN DIMPLEX

Richard Banks Product and Marketing Coordinator – SDA With restaurants forced to close, or offer takeaway service only during lockdowns, consumers spent more time in the kitchen with home cooking becoming a focus for most families, according to Richard Banks. “And sales trends continue to show that this purchase behaviour has continued into 2022,” he said.

“Consumers are seeking sustainable and responsible options for their home living.

It is important for appliances to be reliable and built to last while continuing to drive the design aesthetic that resonates with consumers’ creativity and personality in the home. Value for money is a high consideration in the purchase journey and Morphy Richards’ key focus is delivering appliances that make life easier.”

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

`Tritan body is lighter than glass and more durable than regular plastic `1.6L capacity `Soup ready in 21 minutes `Four functions – smooth, chunky, blend and clean `30-minute keep warm option RRP: $199.95

But consumer confidence to return to shop in person and see products physically, rather than online has been a recent challenge. “During lockdown we developed new processes for training staff and retailers, providing a level of efficiency in an unknown time. With the return of face-to-face training opportunities, the successful learnings during lockdown have been adopted to create effective training options for our staff and retailers.

“Launching exciting new products combined with the continuing sales trends, we expect to see growth within the benchtop cooking category in 2022.” AR

LAUNDRY

FEATURE

WASHING MACHINES | ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTIONS | STEAM IRONS & GENERATORS

CHALLENGE THE EXPECTED

AR LAUNDRY

OUTLOOK

LARGE CAPACITIES AND HYGIENE CYCLES drive the category forward

BY EMILY BENCIC As Australians adjusted their way of living, they reconsidered their laundry appliances to cater to specific needs, which supported home renovations and product upgrades.

Market research provider, Euromonitor International expects laundry appliances to experience steady demand in 2022, with a shift toward larger capacities of 9kg and above.

Price sensitivity remains a concern among consumers, driving increased interest in energy efficient models, while heightened awareness of, and a greater focus on sanitising features is encouraging brands to incorporate hygiene cycles.

The garment care category, comprising traditional steam irons and steam stations, recorded a 3% drop in units and 4% drop in value for the year to January 2022, according to the latest GfK data. Steam irons were among the most adversely impacted appliance categories during the initial wave of the pandemic. Yet the market experienced little improvement in 2021 due to lockdowns and an ongoing shift to working from home. However, steam stations bounced back with units lifting 12% year-on-year.

LAUNDRY APPLIANCES DESIGNED TO WASH AND DRY YOUR MOST DELICATE OUTFITS WITH CONFIDENCE CHALLENGE THE EXPECTED

AEG.COM/AU

LAUNDRY AR

“

Where it will make a difference to our consumer delivery, we are making additional spot buys of components and using air freight where normally we would use sea freight.

ELECTROLUX

”

John Henley Director Product Line – Care and Wellbeing With a significant number of people working from home, casual attire has replaced business clothing as standard, which means they are using the same machines but in different ways, Electrolux’s John Henley said.

“For example, with no business shirts to iron, maximum spin speeds can be used to minimise drying time and energy without creases.”

Consumers with hygiene concerns can use the highest temperature setting for the fabric being washed and select a longer cycle. “The combination of high temperature and extended duration is reported to kill the virus that causes Covid-19,” Henley said.

Like many other businesses, Electrolux is also experiencing the widely reported supply chain issues. “There are challenges in getting components from suppliers and there are capacity limitations on the amount of international shipping available.

“We are working closely with our retail partners in the forecasting process and with our supplying factories to ensure we maximise the available inventory. Where it will make a difference to our consumer delivery, we are making additional spot buys of components and using air freight where normally we would use sea freight.”

Electrolux 10kg Auto Dose Front Load Washing Machine EWF1041R9WB

`10kg capacity with up to 1600RPM spin speed `14 programs and Wi-Fi connectivity to add additional programs and functions `Auto dose and weight sensor `Drum light RRP: $1,999

From a marketing point of view, Electrolux is committed to ensuring that consumers have relevant and consistent information at each touchpoint to enable them to make the best decision when buying appliances.

“We do this via our website and social channels, and utilising QR codes on point-of-sale in-store so that consumers can get up-to-date information easily. We know that Covid has changed the way that consumers shop, with more people being more comfortable making larger purchases online.

Regardless, our strategy is aimed at ensuring the consumer has the information they need to shop in the way that suits them best,” Henley said. AR

AR LAUNDRY

Bosch 10kg Series 8 Front Load Washing Machine WAX32K41AU

HISENSE

Nicholas Peters National Marketing Manager

`i-Dos automatically measures the precise amount of liquid detergent and water `Home Connect enables smart connectivity `4D Wash System delivers highly efficient water and detergent penetration for spotless results `AllergyPlus program ensures 99.99% of bacteria will be removed

Australians continue to seek ways to prevent viruses and germs from the use of sanitiser through to hygienic wash programs to ensure the permanent removal of unwanted bacteria, according to Hisense’s Nicholas Peters.

RRP: $2,549

“Consumers have always been conscious of their health and hygiene, and when it comes to laundry appliances, energy efficiency is also extremely important. A spotlight on key features that ensure a hygienic and efficient clean has been accelerated by the pandemic, and are now well and truly front of mind,” he said.

Hisense 9kg Front Load Washing Machine HWGEB014

BOSCH

Jessica Deuscher Marketing Manager Hygiene features have become more important for consumers and have a stronger influence on the purchase decision, according to Bosch’s Jessica Deuscher.

“Consumers are willing to purchase a more premium appliance which features hygiene programs such as the Bosch AllergyPlus program.

Bosch Series 8 and HomeProfessional washing machines with Bosch AllergyPlus come with a 60°C wash program that ensures 99.99% of bacteria will be removed, particularly suited for items such as towels, bed sheets or pillowcases,” she said.

Smart appliances are becoming increasingly popular. Bosch has launched a range featuring Home Connect for access to smart features that take the guess work out of doing the laundry.

“Innovative functions let you start, stop, and monitor the status of your laundry appliances.

Home Connect is available on the Bosch Series 8, 10kg German made washing machine WAX32K41AU and the Series 8, 9kg heat pump dryer WTX88MH0AU.” AR 52

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

`Drum Clean is an odour reducing mechanism that cleans the inside of the washing machine `Durable Inverter helps save energy and reduce noise `Hisense Allergy Steam gives garments a deeper and more complete clean `Quick Wash designed for smaller laundry loads and thorough clean in just 15 minutes RRP: $799

Hisense washing machines feature Allergy Steam that eliminates 99.9% of allergens and other microbial contaminants and Drum Clean which cleans the inside of the washing machine with a high-temperature wash and powerful rotation.

Though most of Australia has adapted to a hybrid working environment, consumers continue to invest in quality home appliances that are reliable, efficient, and easy to use. “Spending more time living, learning, and working from home has not compromised the demand for feature rich products that give consumers everything they need when it comes to laundry and garment care.”

As for inventory management, Hisense is working closely with suppliers to deliver a steady supply of product to meet customer demand. “While supply chain issues bought about by the pandemic have been a challenge, we are supported by a global network of warehouses and retail partners that ensure customer needs are met,” Peters said. AR

CHALLENGE THE EXPECTED AEG’s innovative blend of consumer insight and science is transforming laundry to an experience beyond cleaning.

At last, you can have confidence to care for even your most delicate garments, with technology that truly protects fibres, colours’ and textures.

Visit aeg.com/au to learn more today.

AR LAUNDRY

“

Our stainless-steel drum flange is one of the elements we have integrated into our laundry appliances to ensure not only durability but high hygiene standards.

MIELE

”

Melissa Taylor Category Marketing Manager - Laundry & Cooling Miele has noticed a shift in purchase behaviour within the laundry and garment care category, with more consumers wanting to purchase convenient and high-quality appliances.

“With more people spending time at home and doing their own washing, they realise the importance of investing in quality laundry appliances that are going to perform, last, and make the task of doing laundry easier, while also caring and prolonging the life of their clothing and items,” Rachel Lewis said.

Covid has highlighted the importance of health and hygiene among consumers, with the need to maintain clean and safe spaces becoming more important. “Consumers want to invest in appliances that will meet their hygiene standards to ensure they are staying safe. Our stainlesssteel drum flange is one of the elements we have integrated into our laundry appliances to ensure not only durability but high hygiene standards.”

Sustainability has also become increasingly important to consumers as they opt for more eco-friendly appliances and carefully consider the impacts of the products they are purchasing on the environment.

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

Miele Washer-Dryer WTZH 730 WPM `8kg washing and 5kg drying capacity `TwinDos detergent dispensing `20 washing and drying programs `Miele honeycomb drum for gentle laundry care RRP: $3,999

“At Miele, sustainability is embedded in our values, and we ensure our products are of the highest quality and built to last with energy saving solutions. Features such as the EcoDry technology in our dryers allows consumers to keep their energy consumption low and drying times short, throughout the entire service of their appliance,” Lewis said.

With more people working from home, Miele has seen a shift in the types of laundry appliances consumers are looking for, with convenience and performance becoming major factors.

“Miele’s washer-dryer combos have grown in popularity with their two-in-one technology, removing the need for separate appliances and delivering a more seamless washing and drying experience. Consumers are more mindful when looking after their clothing, seeking appliances with technology such as TwinDos to help better care and prolong the life of their garments.” AR

LAUNDRY AR

HITACHI

Mark Beard Marketing Manager Hitachi’s Mark Beard said many consumers have re-focused their disposable income on home improvements in their kitchen and laundry areas.

“Spending more time working from home seems to have been a catalyst for make-overs and home renovations. Increases in property values has also been a driver of this home improvement trend.”

Whirlpool 9kg Front Load Washing Machine FWEB9002IG

`Allergy Care function `15-minute Quick Wash `6th Sense technology `Sanitise wash and drum sterisilation cycle RRP: $1,099

Health and hygiene are also a growing concern among consumers. Hitachi washing machines feature an Auto Self Clean function and once engaged, the washing machine automatically cleans itself after each load. “Hitachi washing machines also have the Allergy UK Approved 99% Mould and Bacteria Reduction.”

ARISIT

When it comes to marketing activity, Hitachi works with its retail partners to maximise both instore and online purchase experiences. “Consumer purchasing habits have been heavily influenced by Covid lockdowns, but once lockdowns lifted, we saw a return to in-store shopping.”

Andrea Gunn National Retail Sales & Marketing Manager Arisit’s Andrea Gunn believes consumers have had more time to do their research, which has translated into a more considered purchase.

Beard acknowledged that the industry is experiencing record sea freight charges as well as reduced sailings to Australian ports. “Supply chain management has been challenging for some time; however, our team is working closely with our factories and freight forwarders in an attempt to limit disruptions as much as we can.” AR

“Although pricing is still a key decider, there is a stronger focus on technologies, particularly based around hygiene, and also energy and water efficiency, as consumers become educated on environmental impact,” she said.

The Whirlpool Essential range of front loaders feature Sanitising and Allergy Care functions, a Drum Sterilisation cycle and anti-bacterial door seal, ensuring that the machine itself is clean.

Hitachi 10kg Top Load Washing Machine SF-P100XAV

`Auto-self clean function `Simple four button control panel `Delay start timer, auto restart and auto power off functions `3.5-star water rating and 4-star energy rating RRP: $1,249

“In the laundry category, Covid highlighted the benefit of functions that potentially protect against germs and allergens. Cycle time, energy and water efficiency are still deciding factors for consumers.

Whirlpool’s patented 6th Sense technology takes out the guess work and automatically initiates the perfect balance of all three to provide the best result,” Gunn said.

When it comes to home appliances, consumers prefer to touch and feel, and in many cases, rely on the salesperson’s confidence and product knowledge before they commit to the purchase.

“In saying that, as consumers have almost been forced to shop online over the past two years, many have become more comfortable and continued to shop this way. Content creation and management is key to products standing out against the competition online. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR LAUNDRY

LG

Shannon Tweedie Marketing Manager – Home Appliances There has been increasing demand for home appliances as consumers undertake home renovations and upgrades, and subsequently, discover products that will add an extra layer of convenience, LG’s Shannon Tweedie said.

“For example, consumers are recognising the benefits of new product categories such as the LG Styler which combines garment care technologies like heat pump technology and an aesthetic design that mimics a traditional cupboard.

“In addition, our latest LG WashTower delivers on both functionality and design. The large capacity washer and dryer combo echoes the design of a stackable washer/dryer, delivering great cleaning service in a premium design with intelligent features.”

People are increasingly aware and conscious of sanitisation and hygiene, and the LG Styler can help add a further layer of sanitisation. “Not only refreshing clothing and garments, but also sanitising children’s plush toys and bedding.

Thanks to the Sanitary Cycle feature, the steampowered cycle helps reduce common allergens from clothing and fabrics, ideal for items that cannot be easily washed or dried in traditional high-temperature dryers.”

This year, LG has a comprehensive marketing campaign for laundry and garment care which will cater to online and in-person customers.

“Overwhelmingly, consumers prefer to purchase home appliances in an in-store environment with a keen interest in understanding and visualising features such as colour, finish and feel inperson,” Tweedie said. AR

LG WashTower All-in-One Laundry Solution

`Measures 87mm lower than the average combined height of stackable units `Intuitive control panel interface located in-between the washer and dryer for easy access and maximum convenience `LG AI Direct Drive detects the weight and fabric type of the load to set the right wash cycle `LG ThinQ connectivity enables users to access the machine via the LG ThinQ mobile app RRP: $5,999 56

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

Hoover 8kg Heat Pump Dryer `7-star MEPS rating `Moisture sensing and double filters `Stainless steel honeycomb drum `Five-year warranty RRP: $1,699

TEMPO

Craig Handley Sales & Marketing Manager – Appliance Division There has been a greater focus on energy efficiency with higher rated washing machines seeing increased share of the Tempo business.

“Heat pump dryers have also seen strong growth.

Moving forward we expect old platform 2.5star MEPS and vented dryers to ultimately be phased out, in line with European regulations and consumer demands,” Craig Handley said.

“While there is still a minority – and typically older – consumer who wants traditional top load washing machines, the poor water and energy efficiency of these products means this category is also declining.”

Health and hygiene are growing considerations among consumers, and an anti-allergy wash has become an essential feature of washing machines.

“Steam wash is an increasingly important program, as it not only effectively cleans where other programs cannot, but steam temperature truly eliminates bacteria, virus and mould. Steam wash programs are creeping into more affordable machines, enabling more consumers to access the benefits,” he said.

“Demand for laundry appliances that are kind to clothes with anti-wrinkle, gentle drying and other similar functions also remains strong.”

Despite the shift to online purchases, Tempo remains committed to the in-store experience, particularly for more premium products such as the Hoover laundry range. AR

LAUNDRY AR

Samsung AirDresser

`Uses a combination of Samsung’s Jet Air technology and Air Hangers `Helps eliminate up to 99.9% of allergy-causing bacteria, house mites and dust `De-humidification cycle draws in and extracts moisture from the air to prevent mould `Compatible with SmartThings for bespoke recommendations and access to specialist cycles RRP: $3,999

“

Through the appliances’ AI capabilities and simple to use control panel, Samsung’s AI range is designed to learn, remember and recommend the most effective wash cycle for each user.

SAMSUNG

”

Andrew Wand Director – Home Appliances Australians are taking more pride in their homes and placing a higher value on style when looking to renovate, as they seek appliances that make the laundry just as stylish as the kitchen or bathroom, Samsung’s Andrew Wand said.

“Samsung research indicates that 60% of Australians wish they had a nicer laundry.

We recently extended our Smart AI washing machine and dryer range by introducing a new black colourway to provide more choice when it comes to sprucing up the laundry and creating a flow-on with the overall aesthetic of the home.”

On average, people only use 3.7 of 14 wash cycle options and are actively seeking intelligent and intuitive laundry solutions that make doing the laundry quick and simple. “Through the appliances’ AI capabilities and simple to use control panel, Samsung’s AI range is designed to learn, remember and recommend the most effective wash cycle for each user,” Wand said.

Featuring AI Wash, the washing machines use built-in sensors to determine the level of soiling and laundry weight to optimise the amount of water, detergent and rinse time. When connected to a Smart heat pump dryer, users can also take advantage of Auto Cycle Link which picks up the correct cycle from the washing machine and adjusts the drying settings accordingly.

“The range also includes Samsung’s Hygiene Steam feature to sanitise and clean clothes by attacking germs to help reduce up to 99.9% of certain bacteria. Samsung’s BubbleWash generates foam by pre-mixing detergent with air and water from the beginning of the cycle, and BubbleSoak is an optional pre-wash treatment that thoroughly soaks clothes in the bubbles before the wash starts, ensuring a thorough clean.”

For those concerned about hygiene and poor air quality issues, the Samsung AirDresser quickly and easily refreshes and cares for clothes, while eliminating dust and odours. The AirDresser is approved by the National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice program, which helps people identify products that are asthma and allergy aware. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR LAUNDRY

GROUPE SEB

PANASONIC

Groupe SEB saw the garment care category take a hit with each lockdown as people worked and stayed at home more often.

Demand for garment care products is increasing as restrictions ease and people head back to the workplace, Panasonic’s Ginger Yu said.

Noel Hsu Senior Product Manager

Ginger Yu Product Marketing Manager – Appliances

“Sustainability and water efficiency are a major driving force in consumer behaviour. Panasonic has always placed high importance on creating the most effective systems that consume the least amount of water and energy to operate.

For example, Panasonic’s Steam Generator NIGT500NSJ has a built-in anti-calc device which keeps the unit and tank clean, minimising water waste,” she explained.

“Now that restrictions have eased, we’ve seen the need for garment care appliances bounce back to, and even above, pre-Covid levels.

With the lockdown restrictions lifted and workers returning to the office, the demand for these products is increasing across all categories,” Noel Hsu said.

In any environment, preserving new high-quality purchases is important to consumers and they are turning to laundry products to do this. “Panasonic’s steam generators offer an Optimal Care mode that eliminates the risk of damage to clothing.”

“We are seeing that consumers are focusing on quality, and they are willing to spend more to gain the desired efficiency.”

Consumers also want precise control over the correct temperature and steam output for various fabrics when it comes to steam irons and steam generators.

“Great glide ability and easy maneuverability are also important considerations and our products with Durilium AirGlide Technology on the soleplates, which are made in France, allow users to experience optimal glide,” he said.

“Our Pure Tex handheld steamer features new types of accessories to address sanitisation needs.

We also offer full integration and all-in-one solutions to satisfy the needs from casual garment care to demanding ironing.”

Unlike many players in the market, Groupe SEB has its own manufacturing facilities in linen care in both Asia and Europe that help resolve production or logistic constraints by combining its purchasing power.

“The current challenge is to forecast the increased demand post-Covid, as government restrictions are changing rapidly, and the market demand spike can be harder to predict,” Hsu said.

Groupe SEB sales director, Jason Borg added, “We have been working even closer with our retailer partners to forward plan to ensure that we don’t miss any key selling periods throughout the year. Adopting an agile approach when issues do occur is important to us, along with the ability to shift focus to other products or other categories.” AR 58

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

Tefal IXEO Power All-In-One Solution QT2020

`Boiler steam pressure up to 5.8 bars, continuous steam output up to 90g/min and steam boost up to 200g/min `Unique built-in threeposition Smart Board `Kills up to 99.99% of viruses, bacteria and germs including SARSCoV-2 virus `Designed, engineered and made in France RRP: $749.95

Naturally, there was a shift towards e-commerce sales during lockdown and with the changing environment, Panasonic understands that consumers may still wish to purchase online rather than go in-store. “We have been focused on establishing a balance in marketing both in-store and online, to accommodate our customers and their needs.” AR

Panasonic Steam Generator NI-GT500NSJ `Calc Care thanks to anti-calc technology `Steam boost of 600g/min for a continuous burst of extra powerful steam `Steam simply applied to clothes removes up to 99.99% of bacteria `Operating panel with maintenance reminders RRP: $629

LAUNDRY AR

FROM THE FLOOR

Braun TexStyle 9 Steam Iron SI9148EBK `World-first FreeGlide 3D technology `EloxalPlus coated soleplate `Powerful steam output and self-cleaning functionality `iCare mode protects clothes with a safer temperature RRP: $159

DE’LONGHI

Kayla Holland Category Manager The pandemic has seen many Australians spend more time at home, which has reduced the need to dress corporately for an office environment or formally for social occasions and celebrations, according to De’Longhi’s Kayla Holland.

“This has ultimately had a negative effect on the total garment care category as the need to wear and iron or steam clothes has become less pertinent,” she said.

“With less people in business attire and formalwear, there just isn’t a need to invest in or upgrade an iron or steam station. However, we do foresee this changing throughout 2023 as people are eager to return to the workplace and socialise.”

Responding to growing health and hygiene concerns, Braun steam generators feature an Easy CalcClean system to help prolong the product’s lifespan and ensure long-lasting performance.

“Our self-clean function on our steam irons makes cleaning fast and convenient, while also delivering long-lasting performance.”

When asked about stock management, Holland said increased consumer demand and transportation delays put some strain on stock availability in 2021. “This year, we’re taking those learnings and preemptively increasing our supply to ensure that we can fulfil our commitments to retailers and end users.” AR

Status Plus – Ashley Balderson

O

n the back of being at home more often, consumers have moved away from cheaper appliances towards quality products that last, according to Status Plus director, Ashley Balderson.

“People continue to spend more time at home renovating and picking up new trends such as graphite from Fisher & Paykel and investing in higher spec’d products. If stock can hold, my gut is that 2022 will be robust sales wise,” he said.

When asked about stock shortages, Balderson said clients were volatile with delays at first but as Covid progressed, customers have become more understanding. “In relation to the actual supply of product, it was not too noticeable but sadly, it is now looking more like Swiss cheese across the board for most brands.”

Household size and energy efficiency are key considerations when it comes to the purchase decision, with heat pump dryers increasing in popularity. “The ability to refresh clothes in the dryer and create your own wash cycles on the washing machine are also gaining momentum.”

The laundry is no longer the forgotten or hidden room in the home; instead, it is high on the list in any renovation alongside the kitchen and bathroom. “The new generation of washers and dryers featuring stainless steel inlay and brushed metal, as well as platinum and coloured finishes are front of mind to complement fireclay laundry sinks, gold tapware and herringbone tiled splashbacks,” Balderson said.

Despite the shift to online shopping, customers prefer to come and visit the Status Plus showroom to make their purchase. “We are a destination showroom that is second to none in Queensland for our range and product diversity.” AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY

OUTLOOK

Reliance on tech taken to

a new level

BY EMILY BENCIC & SEAMUS BYRNE

60

Within the personal tech category, smartphones recorded a slight decline of 2% in both volume and value for the 12 months to January 2022, according to the latest GfK data. 5G has become a leading feature, accounting for 57% of total volume, up from 26% in the prior year. Bigger screens are also more prevalent, with the 6.5-inch and above segment reaching 27% of volume, up from 18% in the prior year.

In the wearables category, smartwatches remain the largest sub-category, accounting for 83% of total value. Smartwatches with sim are taking a larger value share, reaching 39% in 2021, up from 32% in the prior year. Health and fitness trackers are the second biggest category overall accounting for nearly one-quarter of volume, which could be attributed to a lower average selling price.

The tablets market saw a double-digit volume decline in 2021 compared to the previous 12 months, impacted by a large increase in sales during the Covid lockdown period in 2020. This decline is starting to lessen, with the January 2022 period recording value growth compared to the prior corresponding period. Wi-Fi tablets have accounted for the majority of sales, making up 82% of total units sold.

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

As smartphone manufacturers are increasingly incorporating 5G into their latest phone models, consumers will increasingly expect faster speed and service from their wearable electronics too, according to market research provider, Euromonitor International.

5G will also provide a solution to current bandwidth issues. As such, wearables will become smaller and lighter as there will be less need for them to contain powerful data-processing – most of this will be done through the cloud instead.

With an increased awareness around health and wellbeing, coupled with the ability to track steps, heart rate, and overall physical activity, the penetration rate of wearable devices has increased over recent years and only slowed in 2021 compared with 2019.

When it comes to the laptop category, Australians are seeking improved webcam quality with meetings shifting online and an increased proportion of people working from home. Midrange laptops are steadily improving in terms of features and capabilities with manufacturers adopting elegant designs, improved displays and using premium materials to boost the quality of such models.

PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY AR

TCL COMMUNICATION Motorola edge 20 pro

`6.7-inch display with 144Hz refresh rate `108MP sensor and 50x Super Zoom `Ability to record in 8K resolution `Available in Midnight Sky and Royal Indigo colours

MOTOROLA

RRP: $899

Kurt Bonnici Head of Australia & New Zealand

“Consumer attitudes, behaviours and purchasing habits have shifted enormously, embracing digital commerce, so it’s no surprise that we’ve seen a big shift from in-store to online purchases,” he said.

“We’ve responded to increasing consumer demands at all levels, from improving performance speed and battery life through to upscaling camera and sounds specs. These last two have been particularly key as the pandemic has forced so much reliance on video calls for both work and social use, making front and rear-facing camera quality a vital component. Likewise, demand for NFC contactless payment rose sharply, so even select Motorola budget handsets now include this as standard.”

As an organisation focused on technology, Motorola has been able to leverage many of its own products to enable better internal communication and collaboration including digital content and video training for retail staff.

Over the last two years, consumers have spent more time on screens than ever before. As such, display technology has become a key selling point, TCL Communication’s Joseph Corrente said.

“With the return of NFC and QR codes, smartphone adoption has increased and become necessary. We wanted to make these features more accessible, which is why we launched the TCL 20R 5G, the only 5G handset with NFC built-in for under $350.”

Beyond the standard specs, TCL is increasingly taking on responsibility and acknowledging the impact of technology on safety and wellbeing. “As reflected in the NXTPAPER 10s among other new launches, blue light reduction is front and centre in our new products, with our paper-like display design setting a new industry standard with the lowest blue light emission in a tablet.”

There has been rapid growth in digital adoption and more than ever, the ability to connect and communicate is of utmost importance, according to Motorola’s Kurt Bonnici.

Phones have become more than a ‘talk and text’ tool for communication; they are now the hub for information, entertainment, productivity and content creation.

Joseph Corrente Channel Manager – Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands

As we move into a post-Covid retail environment, TCL believes having a greater mix of interactions from in-person training and sales conversations to digital learning helps enhance its brand message.

TCL NXTPAPER 10s `Anti-glare finish for clear viewing from any angle `Designed with a focus on eye protection `TÜV certified display reduces blue light through the screen by over 50% `Paper-like display design utilises 10 layers of protection to retain natural colours RRP: $499

“The introduction of virtual training only excited us to explore more content engagement through other digital means. This digital direction increased our capacity to reach our retailers with interactive and creative content they could access 24/7, providing them with the flexibility to learn at their own pace,” Corrente said.

A key component of success has been the ability to maintain strong shipments for product offerings.

“As just one example, with the launch of the NXTWEAR G Wearable Display, we were able to fill a void by meeting the demands of personal home theatre at the height of lockdown.” AR

“We are also looking at ways we can capitalise and leverage technologies such as augmented reality (AR) in the metaverse, to create new ways of communicating and engaging with staff,” Bonnici said.

Amid logistic challenges, Motorola is working closely with its distributors and retail partners to avoid supply chain holds ups. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY

LOGITECH

Damian Lepore Managing Director & Cluster Head Purchase behaviour has not only increased at an exuberant pace over the last two years, but consumers are broadening their knowledge of the category, Logitech’s Damian Lepore said.

“Products such as mice, keyboards and webcams are all basic items that are supplied and waiting for you when you start a job. When Covid launched every office worker to work from home quite literally overnight, it left people missing their computer peripherals. This shift formed a new understanding of how these products genuinely improve workflow, provide comfort and are a necessity to staying motivated throughout the day.”

A newfound appreciation for desk technology meant that consumers were invested in getting the right products according to their job role and the size of their space.

“Ergonomics became increasingly important, particularly for those without a dedicated office space in the home. With video meetings the new norm, professional quality audio and visuals were imperative, and aesthetics were a true motivator, which is why Logitech provides a range of colours, patterns and designs for all age brackets Consumers can take pride in their work zone and add their own personality.”

In a post-lockdown environment, consumers have been purchasing in stores, but online transactions are continuing to trend. “As a business we have continued to drive category leadership through our partners and their entire omnichannel strategies.

Omnichannel execution with our partners also helps improve the overall consumer experience.”

When asked about stock management, Lepore said the business is constantly reviewing market and category trends, as well as overall forecasts. “We are seeing global challenges that affect everyone, but we work closely with our internal teams to minimise the impacts wherever possible.” AR

AnkerWork B600 Video Bar

`First all-in-one video conferencing bar combining a speaker, microphone, camera and lighting `2K video camera with auto-focus, field-of-view adjustment, and image enhancement `VoiceRadar technology leverages four highly sensitive microphones to detect, isolate and enhance audio `MagicSight intelligent lighting technology to accurately adjust the setting for dark or bright conditions RRP: TBC

ANKER INNOVATIONS

Harold Xu Regional Marketing Manager Consumers are spending more time researching products online and seeking out reviews to ensure that the product suits their needs and is right for them, according to Anker Innovations’ Harold Xu. “Consumers’ needs for product satisfaction have never been higher, and for those who are timepoor, they cannot afford to purchase products that do not deliver against their key promises and expectations,” he said.

Logitech MX Keys Mini

`Minimalist form factor `Increased key stability for reduced noise and optimised responsiveness `Perfect Stroke, Logitech’s nonmechanical typing technology `Offering USB-C quickcharging, it easily connects up to three wireless devices with Bluetooth Low Energy RRP: $169.95

“With the shift to working from home, consumers want to transform their home space into a professional workspace, work efficiently, and effortlessly collaborate with their co-workers with minimal interference and increased productivity.”

The new AnkerWork product line-up responds to these needs with a range of devices. “The B600 Video Bar is an all-in-one video conferencing plug-and-play solution offering a four-mic array plus VoiceRadar technology, dual speakers, 2K resolution camera and built-in light. For crystal clear audio and soundproofing, the PowerConf H700 Headset features VoiceShield technology to help eliminate background and ambient noise.

“The PowerConf C302 Webcam boats AI powered Auto Frame and Facial Recognition technology that identifies if you are presenting alone or within a group and automatically tracks and adjusts the composition.”

Anker is experiencing material and key component shortages, combined with ongoing shipping delays.

“We have increased our forecasts and forward purchasing to mitigate potential risk to ongoing supply, but to also provide us with supporting inventory to meet growing consumer demand.” AR

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY AR

LENOVO

Chris Osborne Segment Lead for Consumer There has been a drastic change in purchasing behaviour industry-wide in response to the pandemic that’s here to stay, Lenovo’s Chris Osborne said.

“Before Covid, consumers sought thinner and lighter machines with good battery life to fit their active lifestyles. With the shift to working from home and now a hybrid model, demand for high performance machines that are more capable and suit a home office environment, plus monitors and accessories, increased exponentially,” he said.

As office spaces become more fluid, consumers are looking for features that support collaboration and connectivity, to make working from one space to another an easy transition.

Acer Swift 5

`Full-featured antimicrobial solution using a silver-ion agent through the surface of the chassis, keyboard, hinge and fingerprint reader `A 90% screen-to-body ratio helps achieve a 14.95mm thin body in a 1kg weight `14-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen is covered in durable and antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass `Intel Evo platform verified for best possible performance and connectivity RRP: From $1,799

“Consumers are also searching for enhanced video conferencing tools, which is why we’ve prioritised shipping models with better quality cameras, higher resolution and better quality screens, plus multiple speakers for strong audio, and noise cancellation solutions.”

Lenovo works with one distribution partner, Synnex, which supports its entire retail network.

This means the company is able to bypass roadblocks faced by vendors with multiple distribution partners. “Reflecting on the pressures on our logistics network during the Melbourne lockdowns in particular, our partners at Synnex and our team rose to the occasion, reviewing inventory weekly and opening weekends – we even pivoted to delivering directly at one time,” Osborne said.

“As retailers faced extended store closures, we brought our field sales representatives in-house to support other team members, and now these employees are bringing new learnings to their current roles.” AR

ACER

Rod Bassi Sales Director – Oceanic An increase in working and learning from home has resulted in several consumer trends in the personal technology market, largely revolving around home offices and connectivity.

“Consumers have gravitated towards devices that meet their work and entertainment needs due to increased hybrid working and remote learning practices,” Bassi said. “This upward trend has led to high growth in monitor sales, as individuals strive for productive workspaces that can also enhance the home entertainment experience.”

Of the highly sought-after products in recent times, portable devices such as Acer's Swift range of laptops have proven popular.

Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5i

`12th Gen Intel Core i7 U-series processor `2.8K 16:10 display with an OLED option `Up to 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 400 nits brightness `360-degree hinge for laptop, tablet, stand and tent modes RRP: TBC

“The pandemic has increased the need for individuals to stay connected with their everyday life: work, study, friends and family. Consumers value portable devices that have a long-lasting battery and a secure Wi-Fi connection,” Bassi said.

Supply chain complications is something Acer continues to closely monitor, ensuring consumers get the supply of devices they need.

Acer has also taken the step of investing in localised training content to help educate staff, retail sales and commercial partners in a safe working environment. This is in addition to supplying staff with the technology required to adapt to hybrid working models.

One of the big areas of growth observed by Acer during the pandemic was gaming, which had multiple benefits during a time of great disruption.

“The rise of gaming can be attributed to many seeking the mental health benefits and lighthearted fun during the Covid pandemic. In a time when many feel isolated, gaming offers a way for individuals to remain entertained and connected with friends,” Bassi said. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

63

AR PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY

ASUS

Bradley Howe Head of Consumer Whether it be in-person or online, meeting consumer needs is integral to any business. Not only does this mean delivering a suite of products to suit a diverse audience, but it also means making an easy shopping experience for users.

“Our focus went from in-store presentation to offering a first-class online presence – with the goal of our products being presented in the best light to ensure consumers could make an educated purchasing decision.”

An understanding of how people’s needs changed over the past two years was vital to how ASUS approached its product range; working from home became the norm, while essential workers needed versatile and reliable technology.

“What might be important to a student is normally very different to someone who has set up a small business at home. We focus our product range around these needs. On the flip side of this, we had many people still doing essential work and spending most of their time away from an office or home office, so battery life and portability became the number one requirement.”

Like many technology companies, ASUS' local arm has felt the challenges of global supply chain issues.

“We are seeing improvements across most parts of the supply chain process and are optimistic that things will get back to normal soon.” AR

Dell XPS 13

`A 16:10 screen design with excellent screento-body ratio fits a 13.3-inch screen into a chassis traditionally suited to an 11-inch form factor `Four-element lens webcam is only 2.25mm in size `Webcam offers advanced noise reduction for high quality performance even in dim lighting `Includes Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports for maximum versatility RRP: From $1,359

ASUS ZenBook Flip 13

`Compact 13.9mm chasis `360-degree ErgoLift hinge offers tabletmode versatility `Rated for 14 hours of battery life and capable of a 60% charge in 49 minutes `The OLED NanoEdge display includes Pantone validated performance and 4096 pressure level support with the ASUS Pen RRP: From $1,559

DELL TECHNOLOGIES

Adam Lee Consumer E-commerce Sales Director & General Manager Challenges throughout the pandemic such as supply chain issues and limitations on physical stores won’t go away overnight, but it has created opportunities to revisit how retailers approach online and physical shopping experiences.

“Both Dell and its channel partners have seen significant increases in online traffic, interactions, and sales,” Adam Lee said. “This is a trend that is largely expected to continue; however, retail still plays an essential role for Dell as the consumers’ focus moves to the experiential within physical stores.”

With the ongoing global semiconductor shortage, there is still a level of confidence that retailers will have their inventory needs met by reputable brands like Dell.

“Along with the rest of the industry, we’re experiencing shortages of some components, but by working closely with our customers and retail partners, Dell can accurately forecast market requirements, minimising delays. This also provides strong supply visibility, which allow our retailers to accurately plan for their businesses,” Lee said.

Known for its strong range of laptops and PC gear, Dell recognises the need for reliable and sustainable technology that's easy to obtain.

“Consumers want easily accessible products that provide sublime computing power. They also want devices with long-lasting batteries and highquality displays made from ethically sourced, premium materials,” he said.

This sustainability extends to Dell’s commitment to its people, with employees’ health and wellbeing prioritised. Virtual training events are provided, with a view of holding off on face-to-face training until it’s safe to conduct in-person events. AR

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Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY AR

LASER

Chris Lau Managing Director Laser has noticed an increase in customers’ willingness to invest in the category, particularly smartwatches that allow them to keep up their steps while spending more time at home.

“Consumers have been more curious, looking online for smart/fitness watches and been pleasantly surprised by affordable options, enabling them to engage in this category more easily. It has encouraged their openness to purchasing and investigating the category over this time,” Chris Lau said.

“Premium features like GPS tracking are no longer only at premium prices. Consumers can purchase affordable options today, that would have been considered top of the line just one year ago.”

Consumers are also more comfortable with the basics of personal technology now. For example, any level of fitness tracker will offer a minimum of step tracking, multiple sports mode detection, such as walking, running, cycling, gym workout and other features.

“Alongside the leading brands, our V-Fitness watches integrate with Google Fit and Apple Health. These programs are crucial in developing an overall idea of your health to collect data and ‘gamify’ your health. Combine this with smart scales, and other manual or automatic inputs, and users can gain an ongoing, overall data history of their health.”

When it comes to managing stock and inventory levels, it is all about communication, according to Lau. “We are speaking with our retailers, suppliers and factories regularly to develop forecasts in advance and secure stock so that we can manage shortages ahead of time. We work with retailers to build a plan around promotions, times and levels.” AR

V-Fitness GPS Smart Watch Activity Tracker

`GPS to track route and speed `Sleep tracking, heart rate monitor, steps and distance tracking `Water resistant with multiple sports mode `Compatible with Google Fit and Apple Health RRP: $99

SUUNTO Suunto 5 Peak

`Made with 100% renewable energy `Navigation features with heatmaps and easy route planning in Suunto app `Versatile wellbeing features with sleep and stress tracking `High-end fitness tracking capabilities in a sleeker and more stylish design than its predecessor RRP: $499.99

Damian Commane Head of Australia & New Zealand Beyond the desire for general specs consumers want out of personal technology, Suunto has continued to see momentum in the health and wellness category as Australians look at ways to keep their fitness and everyday activity going.

“To keep them accountable and on track, consumers are increasingly investing in good quality, reliable wearable technology built for everything from a walk in the park or mountain hike. We believe we have provided compelling alternatives for Australians from the avid adventurer to the weekend warrior reaping the benefits of our offerings,” Damian Commane said.

An increasingly important focus for the brand is sustainability. Suunto sports watches are manufactured with 100% renewable energy with the Suunto 5 Peak crafted using wind power.

“We never want our users to buy a watch then immediately upgrade to the next one, but rather be brought along for the journey as we consistently innovate and bring new software updates and features into our existing range of sports watches.”

Aside from product, brand awareness, product knowledge and retail training for floor staff are another key focus for Suunto. To combat any limitations, the company has delivered virtual briefings with sales staff across a range of products for them to understand and demonstrate key features.

“With something as personal as a sports watch, it was important for staff to trial the products themselves to get a full understanding of how the technology works,” Commane said. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

65

AR WHAT'S HOT

TCL washing machine keeps clothes cleaner and fresher

TCL’s P-Series washing machines make washing easy and stress-free with a whisper-quiet brushless DC motor and innovative drum design. Choose from 16 washing programs including the 18-minute quick wash cycle and a germ-killing high temperature wash. Soften stubborn dirt and kill harmful odour-causing bacteria, with a water temperature of up to 95°C that leaves clothes smelling clean and fresh. Awarded a 4-star energy rating and 4.5-star water rating, the P-Series washing machines are kind on the wallet and the environment, while ensuring a great wash every time.

RRP: $699

Smeg Galileo, multi-cooking technology

The future of cooking has arrived with the introduction of Smeg Galileo. The new technology represents the pinnacle of Italian design, innovation and culinary excellence. The completely redesigned oven cavity offers traditional, steam and microwave technology used singly, sequentially or simultaneously with the added option of in-oven barbecue, air fry and stone cooking.

Employing professional algorithms, the in-home cooking experience provides consumers with the confidence to explore and expand their culinary repertoire. Galileo offers the power of up to seven cooking technologies in one appliance, allowing consumers to stretch their culinary boundaries while saving up to 70% of time. Also on offer is Multistep, is a culinary multitasker, especially designed for notoriously complicated recipes with set and forget capability for temperature, duration and cooking technology. Another clever feature is Sametime, the ultimate cooking coordinator, for a feast timed to perfection.

Smeg Galileo multi-cooking technology is available from June across the Dolce Stil Novo and Linea collections.

Cricut Maker 3 calls on passionate creatives

Cricut Maker 3 is the most powerful and versatile smart cutting machine Cricut has ever made. A tool used and loved by creatives, this smart cutting machine can cut over 300 materials including fabric, leather, balsa wood, vinyl and iron on. Users can create their own custom t-shirts, accessories, other apparel, wall decals, party décor, personalised water bottles, and more. Maker 3 connects via Bluetooth or USB to the Cricut Design Space app with thousands of ready to make projects, fonts and images, or design your own project from scratch. Thanks to its Adaptive Tool System, it works with 13 different tools to either cut, draw or embellish with a decorative effect, such as foiling, engraving or debossing. It is also compatible with Cricut Smart Materials.

RRP: $699 66

Appliance Retailer April / May 2022

COMPANY INDEX AR COMPANY

PAGE #

READERSHIP GROUPS

Acer.....................................................................................................................63 Anker Innovations..............................................................................................62 Arisit....................................................................................................... 36, 39, 55 ASUS....................................................................................................................64

Big W...............................................................................................................8, 12 Bing Lee..............................................................................................................12 BSH...................................................................................OBC, 10, 11, 20, 36, 52 BSR Group...........................................................................................................12 Breville................................................................................................................46 Cricut...................................................................................................................66 De’Longhi..................................................................................23, 24, 25, 27, 59 Dell......................................................................................................................64 Electrolux............................................................................ 21, 38, 49, 50, 51, 53 Euromonitor...............................................................................24, 34, 42, 50, 60 Fackelmann Housewares...................................................................................31 Fujitsu General.....................................................................................................8 GfK....................................................................................................24, 42, 50, 60

Glem Gas.............................................................................................................40

Glen Dimplex............................................................................................... 31, 48 Groupe SEB......................................................................................19, 28, 44, 58 Harris Scarfe..........................................................................................................9 Haier...................................................................................................................20 Hisense....................................................................................................... IFC, 52 Hitachi.................................................................................................................55 Innova Products..................................................................................................31 iRobot..................................................................................................................18 Jura.....................................................................................................................18 Laser....................................................................................................................65

Leading Edge Group.......................................................................................6, 31 Lenovo.................................................................................................................63

LG................................................................................................................. 40, 56 Logitech..............................................................................................................62

Tempo.................................................................................................................56

DISCLAIMER This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”).

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Winning Group........................................................................................ 6, 14, 15

Copyright © 2022 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.

Magimix....................................................................................................... 26, 29 Miele................................................................................................16, 17, 38, 54

Mitsubishi Electric..............................................................................................13 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries................................................................................9 Motorola.............................................................................................................61 Myer......................................................................................................................7 Newell Brands...........................................................................19, 41, 42, 43, 45 Olimpia Splendid...............................................................................................19 Panasonic..................................................................................................... 47, 58 Samsung...................................................................................................... 22, 57

Smeg............................................................................... 7, 30, 33, 34, 35, 37, 66 Status Plus..........................................................................................................59 Suunto................................................................................................................65 TCL.......................................................................................................................66 TCL Electronics....................................................................................................61

www.applianceretailer.com.au

67

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The future of cooking has arrived.

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THE

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