Appliance Retailer September 2018

APPLIANCE

NOW IN ITS 22ND YEAR

AIR CONDITIONING POSITIVE PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING SEASON

BARBECUES & ALFRESCO DINING INVESTMENT IS BIGGER THAN EVER BEFORE

RETAILER

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

/// SEPTEMBER 2018

Fans & Portable Cooling

NOISE REDUCTION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY DRIVE HEALTHY GROWTH

Christmas

+

CONSUMERS SPOILT FOR CHOICE

EDITORʼS NOTE AR Appliance Retailer is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd ABN 940 025 836 82 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Australia P 02 9660 2113 | F 02 9660 4419 E appliance@intermedia.com.au W www.intermedia.com.au ISSN: 1328-1852 Managing Director Simon Grover Editorial Director James Wells james@intermedia.com.au Deputy Editor Emily Bencic ebencic@intermedia.com.au Features Editor Kymberly Martin kymberly@intermedia.com.au General Manager – Sales Rod Riley rod@intermedia.com.au Art Director Alyssa Coundouris Prepress Tony Willson Production Manager Jacqui Cooper jacqui@intermedia.com.au Head of Circulation Chris Blacklock Subscriptions Ph 1800 651 422

Average Net Distribution Per Issue: 5,435 AMAA/CAB Yearly Audit Period ending 31st March 2018.

JB be nimble, JB be quick

“A

gility is at the core of our brand”, JB Hi-Fi Group CEO, Richard Murray told investors as he announced a record FY18 result and explained the Group’s strategy moving into FY19.

With annual sales of $6.85 billion, JB Hi-Fi now ranks as the seventh largest consumer electronics and home appliance retailer against global competitors including Best Buy in the US and Dixons Carphone in the UK, so it is worth sitting up and listening to what the CEO has to say.

As the number one player in the Australian market, JB Hi-Fi maintains its focus on market share and is able to absorb margin pressure during periods of heightened market price activity and consolidation. “We have engaged with our global peers and our learnings from other markets are clear – market share drives relevance with suppliers,” Murray said.

Its low cost operating model means the retailer can compete effectively with traditional competitors as well as new market entrants. But low cost does not outweigh the service proposition of both JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys. When it comes to in-store service, he believes the real opportunity for the business over the next 12 months, and a critical element for any retailer, is getting visual merchandising right.

The top 30 Good Guys stores will be re-merchandised to give space back to heritage categories – laundry, cleaning, small appliances and cooking to focus on the business’ strengths and maximise what the business is best known for.

Murray also acknowledged the reality of smart appliances reducing product upgrade cycles, but education is key.

“We have to educate consumers on product benefits and how it will improve their lives. With new engagement zones around our stores, we have positioned ourselves as a retailer who understands technology and its relevance to home appliances.”

However, the home appliance category has faced challenges of late with a downturn in units and value.

Looking forward to 2019, JB Hi-Fi is focused on increasing sales and average sell prices (ASPs) and there have already been some good signs, according to Murray.

And it would be remiss of me not to mention the Group’s strength online and continued website improvements.

In November 2017, JB Hi-Fi launched enhanced delivery services, including three hour same day, next day and standard options.

“This year, JB Hi-Fi will deliver more than two million products,” Murray said. “In August, 98% of our orders were ready in two hours and 95% were ready in 30 minutes. In comparison to one year ago, only 40% of products would meet these metrics.”

As we approach the last quarter of 2018 and Christmas – the largest sales period for retail – “have you made your strategy list and checked it twice”?

Deputy Editor Emily Bencic

MEET THE APPLIANCE RETAILER TEAM

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Emily Bencic

www.facebook.com/applianceretailer

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www.linkedin.com/company/appliance-retailer

Alyssa Coundouris twitter.com/Applianceretail

www.applianceretailer.com.au

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[ON THE COVER] Front Cover Appliance Retailer Sep 2017_A4_A17 FA.indd 1

BREVILLE TAKES ESPRESSO MACHINE DESIGN TO THE NEXT LEVEL Making café quality coffee is more simple than ever with the Oracle Touch fully automatic coffee machine. With a ‘swipe and select’ touch screen interface, choose from five café favourites including espresso, long black, latte, flat white, cappuccino, or textured milk for hot chocolate. Recipient of a Red Dot design award and Australian Good Design Award, the Oracle Touch takes out the guesswork with auto grind, dose and tamp pressure, and temperature control. Automatic steam texturing technology creates micro-foam milk, which is critical for well-balanced flavour. Users can personalise coffee strength, milk texture or temperature.

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VOLUME 24 / ISSUE #7

IN THIS ISSUE

28 EDITOR'S NOTE

03

Be nimble, be quick

The importance of agility

NEWS

06

JB Hi-Fi appoints MD Group Merchandise; Winning Appliances to open Victorian showroom Newly created position filled internally; Follows acquisition of Michael’s Appliance Centre

08

Fujitsu General promotes state manager; GfK launches HomeView solution After 14 years in sales team; To share information and strategic insights

11

An interview with KitchenAid Australia and Asia Pacific GM

Explains key organisational changes

26

A closer look at features benefits

Fujitsu General Multi System, Mitsubishi Electric Inverter Split, among others

27

From a retail perspective

Air conditioning provides steady and consistent sales

FANS & PORTABLE COOLING FEATURE

28

An outlook on the category

Fan units see the most significant growth

29

Key trends in the market

Warm weather drives prolonged selling season

33

Latest fans and portable cooling products on the shop floor Finding a point of difference

35

A closer look at features and benefits

De’Longhi Pinguino Portable Air Conditioner, Dyson Pure Cool Tower Purifying Fan, among others

CHRISTMAS FEATURE

BARBECUES & ALFRESCO DINING FEATURE

50

An outlook on the category

Why charcoal barbecues are taking centre stage

51

Key trends in the market

Alfresco appliances no longer an after-thought

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AIR CONDITIONING FEATURE

39

Outdoor ovens, rangehoods, refrigerators and more

New Narta store structure adds strength to Betta Stores

Adds value in a changing retail environment

18 19

An outlook on the category Cool and confident

Key trends in the market

Smaller households call for lower capacity units

22

Latest air conditioning on the shop floor

Efficiency rules for the cost conscious

An outlook on the category

All categories experience boost during festive season

Key trends in the market

Consumers want fuss-free cooking with quality results

44

Latest Christmas gifts on the shop floor

No shortage of choice or variety

48

A closer look at features and benefits

Kenwood Chef XL Stand Mixer, Smeg Sicily is my Love, among others

Latest barbecues and alfresco appliances on the shop floor

57

A closer look at features and benefits

Everdure by Heston Blumenthal 4K, ExcelAir Wall Mounted Heater, among others

WHAT’S HOT

58

Pick of the crop

Crossray BBQ, Breville the Super Q and more www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR NEWS

JB HI-FI APPOINTS MD GROUP MERCHANDISE

BY EMILY BENCIC

JB Hi-Fi has appointed Cameron Trainor to the newly created position of Managing Director – Group Merchandise. Trainor was formerly Managing Director of the JB Hi-Fi business.

In his new role, he will have overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the merchandise function across the Group, comprising JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and JB Hi-Fi Solutions, including identifying group buying opportunities and maintaining supplier relationships.

Commenting on the appointment, JB Hi-Fi Group CEO, Richard Murray said, “Cameron has done an outstanding job as Managing Director over the past 20 months. His appointment to the newly created role is an important evolution in the Group’s approach to product purchasing and supplier

JB Hi Fi Managing Director – Group Merchandise, Cameron Trainor

relationships. Cameron has a strong track record and proven skills in this area and we look forward to utilising these across the Group as a whole.”

Trainor has been with the company since 2009, initially as Merchandise Director of the JB Hi-Fi business

and, since the Group’s acquisition of The Good Guys in November 2016, as Managing Director of JB Hi-Fi. CEO Richard Murray will act as interim Managing Director of the JB Hi-Fi business pending the appointment of a replacement.

Winning Appliances to open flagship Victorian showroom Winning Appliances will open a new showroom in Richmond as it enters the Victorian market following the recent acquisition of Michael’s Appliance Centre in Brighton.

Making the announcement at the recent Winning Group Annual Supplier Conference in Hamilton Island, Winning Group CEO, John Winning said, “We are delighted to

announce that we will be opening our flagship Victorian showroom in Richmond early next year.

“Located at 540-546 Swan Street and amongst other prestigious brands, our Richmond showroom will provide Victorians with a unique and world-class shopping experience when purchasing their kitchen and laundry appliances.

Winning Appliances Richmond will open in early 2019

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

BY EMILY BENCIC

“Following our recent acquisition of Michael’s Appliance Centre, the new flagship Richmond showroom demonstrates our commitment to Victorians to provide them with our unmatched and unbiased service and unique multisensory shopping experience.

“The showroom measures over 1,500 square metres and will be designed to reflect the area of Richmond, including its industrial roots.

“Victoria has some of Australia’s leading architects and the community has an appreciation for great design and innovation, so we are sure that customers will be engaged from the moment they walk into the showroom and will benefit from our unrivalled experience, local knowledge and our offering of the world’s best appliance brands.”

The new Richmond showroom will become Winning Appliances 15th showroom and fifth flagship showroom, alongside Fortitude Valley (QLD), Kingston (ACT), Redfern (NSW) and Osborne Park (WA) showrooms.

Bi-Rite Home Appliances welcomes three new members Bi-Rite Home Appliances has three new additions to its store portfolio with Peter and Donna Bolte from Taree, NSW, Stephen and Kylie Lestone from Charters Towers, QLD and Rick Macera from Mount Gambier, SA, recently joining the group.

Hamza Hussein from Bi-Rite head office said Bi-Rite has seen growth over the last few years, not only via member acquisition but organically as well.

“We aim to reduce the workload of our members by introducing operational efficiencies at both the head office and store. We are conscious of market trends and the need to stay relevant and it is our job to aid our members with the right tools so that their business can succeed.

“It is with great pleasure we welcome Stephen, Peter and Rick to the Bi-Rite family. Each store in their own right is an asset and we look forward to working with them to grow together.”

Commenting on the transition to Bi-Rite, Peter Bolte said the retailer’s central billing model has given him access to a wider scope of marquee suppliers and visibility of inventory costs.

Bi-Rite Charters Towers QLD

BY EMILY BENCIC

Bi-Rite Mt Gambier SA

“The biggest challenge as an independent appliance retailer is to remain relevant, not only to the industry and supplier partners, but most importantly to the local market conditions. Therefore, it is critical to be able to offer the same breadth of product categories and brands as our major competitors,” he said.

“The day-to-day operational requirements of selling a product competitively and confidently is a watershed to our business and to our relevance in our highly competitive local environment.”

For Stephen Lestone, central accounting was also a key factor in his decision to join Bi-Rite. “With the backend taken care of, it’s a huge plus in the electrical retail game at present.

Bi-Rite negotiates the pricing, the deals and any rebates for us. It’s all automatic when we get to the point of sale,” he said.

Bi-Rite Taree NSW

“We couldn’t be happier with the group and we now have more time to concentrate on customer service and sales and that’s where you have to be focussed these days.”

Rick Macera also echoed these comments. “The Bi-Rite group certainly fits our business model, and to have access to hundreds of brands and thousands of models under the central account is exactly what we needed. We are excited to join the group and grow our business along with Bi-Rite.”

MIELE FAREWELLS MARKETING DIRECTOR BY EMILY BENCIC Miele Australia and New Zealand managing director, Sjaak Brouwer has confirmed the departure of marketing director, Gabriella Franklin after eight years with the company.

In a statement supplied to Appliance Retailer, Brouwer said, “It is indeed with much regret I have to confirm that after eight years Gabby has decided to leave the Miele company in order to pursue new career opportunities.

“Gabby joined Miele in 2010 as Marketing Director and during her

Miele ANZ managing director, Sjaak Brouwer with former marketing director, Gabriella Franklin

years in this responsibility she has been instrumental in building and driving the Miele brand strategy. She has played an integral part in the substantial growth at Miele, in both the Australian and New Zealand markets over the years.

“We want to take the opportunity to thank Gabby for her contribution to our success and wish her much success in her future endeavours.

“Further news regarding replacement will be shared at a later stage.” www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR NEWS

Fujitsu General promotes State Manager

BY EMILY BENCIC LEFT: Fujitsu General QLD State Manager, Matt Bailey

Fujitsu General Australia has promoted Queensland State Manager, Ronnie Hinch to the newly created role of Commercial Development Manager.

Former Queensland retail sales team member, Matt Bailey, has been promoted to fill the State Manager position.

After 14 years with the QLD Fujitsu General branch, Hinch has relocated to Sydney to take up his new role. Based at Eastern Creek, he will be responsible for driving ongoing growth of the commercial business. An expansive role, Hinch will work across the commercial channel supporting State Managers, expanding the Inner Circle Program, and looking at growth potential on a national scale.

BELOW: Fujitsu General Commercial Development Manager, Ronnie Hinch

Bailey joined Fujitsu General in 2008 and has played an integral role in the QLD retail sales team. He will build on Hinch’s legacy of performance and accountability and continue to foster the strong culture of the QLD branch to further drive the business forward.

Fujitsu General Sales and Marketing General Manager, Dave Smith commented, “We are proud to have the talent within the business to provide career growth for our staff and growth for the organisation. Ronnie and Matt have extensive experience within the industry and the business, which will make it easier to embrace their new roles, as well as having a strong understanding of where Fujitsu General’s focus lies for the future.”

GFK LAUNCHES HOMEVIEW SOLUTION BY EMILY BENCIC GfK has recently launched a new service in Australia, HomeView, to provide tactical share information and strategic insights for the technology and consumer durables industries. Subscribers of HomeView will benefit from the key metrics on their market position and performance, as well as a deeper understanding of consumer behaviour.

In a statement supplied to Appliance Retailer, GfK said, “Buying a computer, television or refrigerator these days is a longer and more involved process, as consumers are presented with a wider range of options, and many influencing factors along the purchase journey. This 8

Appliance Retailer September 2018

GfK Australia Commercial Director, Neville Ray

complexity has significant implications for multiple business functions, including consumer segmentation and targeting, product management, retailer strategy.”

GfK Australia Commercial Director, Neville Ray said, “Making timely decisions depend largely on the availability of valuable data. HomeView collects information from consumers who have been through the entire buying process and this is a source of excellent insights into today’s market trends.”

HomeView is available for TV, refrigerator, washing machines, and PCs. For more information, please contact apac@gfk.com.

Jura rolls out Premium POS concept nationally Jura has rolled out four of its Premium POS concepts, three in Victoria and one in Western Australia, with plans to install another eight units across VIC, NSW, QLD and TAS by the end of the year. The new POS allows direct access to Jura Live in-store.

It is a platform for product demonstrations with custom laminate flooring, structured drawers for crockery and consumables, a movable maintenance trolley for organised wet/dry waste and custom LED lighting strips.

The Premium POS also allows for troubleshooting if the customer decides to bring their own machine back into the store with additional space obtained by pulling out the maintenance trolley, with a power point located conveniently beside it.

Jura Marketing Coordinator, Melinda Nuzzaco said, “With the Premium POS, we are confident that our presence at the point of purchase completely reinforces the fundamental nature of our products, being premium automatic coffee machines engineered and designed in Switzerland.

BY EMILY BENCIC

Jura Premium POS and wall fit out at Camberwell Electrics

“Now, when the customer interacts with the brand in-store perhaps for the first time, the experience is totally in line with our brand identity.”

Adding to the customer experience is Jura Live; a personalised, one-on-one video learning experience for consumers to access product demonstrations and advice from a Jura expert streamed live from the studio in Melbourne.

“Jura Live gives customers and sales staff alike that extra bit of confidence to sell our premium products. Imagine being able to call in anytime during business hours and ask a Jura expert a specific question. Or perhaps watch a live demonstration of a particular model which is not out on the sales floor giving the customer the confidence they need to purchase in store,” Nuzzaco added.

Prime tipped to accelerate growth for Amazon Australia Despite Amazon marking its Australian debut as its ‘most successful international launch ever’, many Australian consumers were left feeling disappointed and its impact on the retail industry fell below expectations.

However, Amazon has narrowed the expectation gap for consumers in product pricing, product range and delivery costs in the six months to date, according to recent Starcom research.

There are now 60 million products available, compared to 22 million products at launch, First Party Stock

Amazon’s free and fast delivery proposition is core and essential for long term Prime membership

is 17% cheaper on average relative to retailers and with Prime and two business day delivery is now available to nearly 90% of Australians.

Starcom believes Amazon Prime will be the true accelerant to growth for Amazon in Australia because members spend 4.6 times more than non-Prime members, buy three times more frequently and feel that Amazon treats them like a valued customer.

Further, 52% of Amazon Australia site visitors say they are likely to join Prime and online searches for Amazon

BY EMILY BENCIC

Prime were three times higher than for eBay Plus, despite eBay site visits being 1.5 times higher in May 2018.

Following the launch of Prime, Amazon’s app went from being the 9th to the 6th most downloaded shopping app in Australia.

Starcom Director of Audience and Measurement Solutions, Nicole Conroy said Amazon’s free and fast delivery proposition is core and essential for long term Prime membership. “It is also the bursts of excitement, whether from access to deals or favourite photos and music, that inspire people to take action and sign up.

“Based on our initial analysis and knowing that in the US more new customers joined Prime on Prime Day 2017 than on any single day in Amazon history, we believe Amazon Prime Day will be a critical factor in boosting membership numbers in Australia.”

Starcom also revealed that 73% of free trial sign-ups continue their Prime membership after the trial period. www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR NEWS

KOGAN WHITEGOODS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SUB-$600

BY EMILY BENCIC

Kogan 7kg vented dryer retails for $219

Kogan.com has officially launched its whitegoods and built-in home appliance range including refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, ovens, cooktops and rangehoods. With more than 20 new products in the range, pricing starts from just $59 for a 60cm fixed rangehood with the most expensive product – a top mount refrigerator – retailing for $599. All appliances come with a two-year warranty.

Despite the already crowded appliance market offering an array of brands and products from entry level to super premium to meet all budget requirements, Kogan.com Director of Exclusive Brands, Sergiy Bobrovnychyy believes Australian consumers have been faced with “limited options” resulting in a “lack of competitive tension and pricing”.

He said Kogan is changing the landscape of the Australian whitegoods and home appliance market by making the most-in demand products more affordable.

“Our customers have been calling out for someone to disrupt this market and that’s exactly what we are here to do. Australians are more comfortable than ever shopping online. We have launched our initial range today and expect to be building our offering in the years to come,” he said.

Kogan 60cm electric built-in oven with five functions retails for $199

ACCC cracks down on compliance

ACCC Chairman, Rod Sims

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

Kogan 60cm freestanding dishwasher retails for $299

Kogan 323L bottom mount refrigerator retails for $459

BY EMILY BENCIC

The ACCC will further increase its enforcement action over the next year, ACCC Chairman Rod Sims told attendees of Australia’s Business Law Section annual general meeting.

Recently, the ACCC won three significant consumer protection penalties: $10 million for Telstra, $10 million for Ford and $9 million for Apple. Competition penalties have also increased, with a maximum penalty of $46 million for Yazaki, although this is currently under appeal.

“The ACCC is increasing its enforcement activities, and taking a firmer stance on sanctions and penalties to make an even greater impact on compliance,” Sims said.

“We have been vocal in our advocacy for imposition of meaningful penalties that look not only at the conduct in question but also, crucially, the relative size of the company.

“We must alter incentives; it must matter a lot more to companies and their senior executives that they avoid breaching the Competition and Consumer Act. “In consumer protection, we hope Federal Parliament will pass legislation that will see penalties increased nine-fold from $1.1 million to $10 million, with the further framework of options for three times the gain or 10% of turnover, to get this key deterrence.”

KitchenAid GM explains new local structure

BY EMILY BENCIC

Oswald said. “We will be focusing on empowering our newly installed field sales managers to find the right solutions and propositions for our trade partners based on their needs.”

Further to personnel changes, KitchenAid has rolled out a new online platform, The Kitchen, for retail partners to place orders, participate in special promotions, check on open POs, and manage credits and returns at any time.

“With the now expanded capabilities on our online portal, we will provide retailers an even bigger level of flexibility and speed when it comes to accessing information 24/7,” he said.

DELIVERING ON BRAND PROMISE

KitchenAid Australia and Asia Pacific General Manager, Kay Oswald

T

he KitchenAid Australia commercial team has increased by 50% following the re-alignment of national account managers, introduction of field sales representatives and new marketing team dedicated to consumer engagement, retailer websites and product review platforms.

In an exclusive interview with Appliance Retailer, KitchenAid Australia and Asia Pacific General Manager, Kay Oswald said this follows the establishment of a direct sales force that has been further strengthened.

“These organisational changes bring us closer to our retail partners and create better alignment and synergies at a store level,” he said.

As part of these changes, Richard Thom has been promoted from Sales

Director to Commercial Director to oversee sales, operations and finance.

Ganesh Krishnan will now lead the sales team and Rob Austin-Williams has transferred from the KitchenAid US team to lead the field sales team.

Furthermore, Andrew Waller has been promoted to Country Leader New Zealand, allowing for more autonomy in addressing local market needs.

“Our aspiration is to have ANZ's strongest marketing, sales and operations team in the appliance industry which means we need to create the organisational capabilities and bandwidth to have the right talent in the right roles at the right time,” he said.

The new structure aims to deliver a more individualised sales experience to trade partners. “It is not going to be a one-size-fits-all approach,”

Changes to the KitchenAid Australia organisation have been inspired by learnings in other markets in response to changing needs of retail partners and changing consumer behavior, in particular product research and purchase drivers, according to Oswald.

“For example, we know that over 50% of our customers research product online and seek out A-class marketing collateral and qualified product reviews.

However, we also know that as a premium brand, our customers continue to demand physical interaction with our product and tend to make their final decision at the point of purchase.

“In-store merchandising is a key purchase driver and has been an integral factor in the company’s market leadership position in food preparation.

Therefore, we need to be able to showcase the KitchenAid brand and create theatre that takes the consumer on a culinary journey.

“By enhancing our overall merchandising standards and adding 'boots on the ground' to bring them to life we are delivering on our brand promise to be the most aspired premium appliance brand in the world while simultaneously partnering with our retailers.

“Continuous change and improvements will become the new normal and we will continue to focus on enhancing all consumer touchpoints. Given our strong global footprint we are always on the front foot when it comes to innovation and adapting global best practices to the ANZ market,” he said. AR www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR RETAIL PROFILE Betta Stores Retail CEO, Graeme Cunningham

NEW

Narta store structure adds strength to Betta Stores

T

he recent migration of six Narta members to join another member – the Betta Stores Retail (BSR) buying group – is adding value to all parties in a changing retail environment.

The changes, which took effect on 1 April 2018, saw six Narta members transition to become members of the BSR group of retailers: Camberwell Electrics (Camberwell, Melbourne), Coogans (Hobart & Moonah, Tasmania), Elite Appliances (Hobart, Tasmania), Status Plus (Cairns, Far North Queensland), Whitfords (Five Dock, Sydney) and AIMIA (previously Carlson Marketing).

According to Narta chief executive officer, Michael Jackson, the changes are designed to provide the best possible long term benefit for Narta, Betta as well as the retailers themselves.

“Looking at the current business environment, we believed the best solution was to make these changes to secure the longevity of the members and the group. The Narta Board, along with myself as chief executive, created this strategy and worked for a considerable amount of time to ensure the best possible structure to deliver the outcome for the members into the future," he said.

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

“There were two key objectives with this strategy – to ensure that the members were not impacted in their ability to access the combined scale of Narta's financial and operation benefits which provides efficiencies through buying, goods not for resale, marketing and other services. This strategy also delivers new opportunities and efficiencies to support these retailers over and above what Narta currently provides through its membership of the BSR group. Essentially this is the best of both worlds as these retailers can exist under the Narta buying and services umbrella while also receiving retail service support from BSR that Narta does not provide.

“BSR saw this themselves many years ago which was the main driver in joining Narta,” Jackson said.

“BSR saw the opportunity to maximise scale through Narta gaining buying and service efficiencies, thus allowing BSR to move their focus from being a buying group to a retail brand and operation. The success BSR has achieved on executing this strategy is what gave Narta Management and the Board the comfort to propose this strategy to the members that transitioned.”

Betta Stores chief executive Graeme Cunningham said the key benefits that retailers will receive from being part of his group include systems support, marketing support, administration support, training and development as well as in store representation.

“The key areas of value delivery are the same as those we offer the other retailers within the BSR Group,” Cunningham said.

“In the current retailing climate, one-off independent standalone members can find it more difficult to compete on their own, particularly around marketing and retail services. On this basis, we believed that it was a good opportunity for these members to join BSR and extract better value for their business. Everyone acknowledges that Narta offers a lot of value, but for these individual stores, we can definitely assist with their specific requirements and take this value offering to another level.

“We were once purely a buying group, and now we are a service and support company. We have people on the ground to visit stores and help them with what they need to be better retailers including merchandising, statistical reporting and honest analysis of their business to provide benchmarking against other stores as well as providing solutions and recommendations for future implementation “This new structure provides an opportunity for these independent retailers to become part of the Betta group and leverage services that they would ordinarily be paying for themselves, however with the assistance of our group infrastructure we can deliver more value for their business by offering those services.

“It is important to remember that these stores are still members of the Narta family, but this change has provided them with access to extra services which will help them become more competitive and profitable.

These stores are all well-established independent family owned businesses that date back in some cases to 1876.

They are well known in their respective markets and we are very happy to have them as strong contributors to our group.”

With 210 stores currently within the group, Cunningham estimates that this will grow to 225 before the end of the 2018 calendar year. AR

Retailers react to

transition Camberwell Electrics owner, Hans Vanderstadt (right) with ambassador, Gabriel Gaté (left)

Business Name: Camberwell Electrics Owner: Hans Vanderstadt Location: Camberwell, Victoria Trading since 1952 Status Plus owner, Ashley Balderson

Coogans CEO, David Fletcher

Business Name: Status Plus Owner: Ashley Balderson Location: Cairns, Queensland Trading since 1993

Business Name: Coogans Owner: David Fletcher Location: Hobart and Moonah, Tasmania Trading since 1876

“When the idea of the transition was first floated I was apprehensive, as we often are with change. However, the BSR model is indeed a better fit for my company. The BSR team are helpful and just like Narta, always go the extra mile and beyond. The added advantage is that BSR is more geared to smaller business platforms with more opportunity and experience to fine tune what we do best. Following a virtually seamless transition, Narta and BSR continue to impress with their likeminded determination to be ‘Betta’ at what they do for their members.”

“Joining the BSR Group has been the latest in a series of positive changes to modernise Coogans in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Joining the BSR Group was a natural choice with their Australian owned history and expertise. BSR’s access to leading brands like Samsung, Beko and Smeg has allowed us to bring these brands in store, or build on our existing presence. BSR’s assistance in marketing, especially online, has helped us catch up in an area which becomes more important every day.

Values of integrity, efficiency and community also confirmed a good fit.”

Business Name: Elite Appliances Owner: Mark Banovich Location: Hobart, Tasmania Trading since 1999 “While initially met with uncertainty, I feel that the move has given us a forum in which to voice our wants and needs with businesses functioning on a similar wavelength in terms of size and structure. Our decision to move across to become a Betta Buying Associate has provided benefits to our resources including a new POS system and backup of marketing initiatives previously only dreamt of. Our branding and corporate identity has not changed and for the most part it is business as it has been for the last 19 years.”

“We are extremely excited to join the BSR buying group. The transition has added real value to our business and assisted in day-to-day operations by enabling greater efficiency when it comes to pricing, point of sale, data and website management. It has also strengthened our product offering at a commodity level and supports our direction in the premium cooking space. We will continue to trade as Camberwell Electrics but we are now an unidentified Betta store, which means we can be found on the Betta website and our signage now includes ‘powered by Betta’.”

Whitfords managing director, Andrew Whitford

Business Name: Whitfords Owner: Andrew Whitford Location: Sydney, New South Wales Trading since 1922

Elite Appliances managing director, Mark Banovich

“The transition has been an extremely positive experience. Whitfords has become more profitable as we have received additional business with the support of Betta. The whole team at BSR have been fantastic and very professional. We look forward to our future together.”

www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR SOCIAL

APPLIANCE RETAILER

Gets Social

BY JAMES WELLS

KITCHENAID LAUNCHES MAJOR APPLIANCES IN AUSTRALIA

KitchenAid has launched major appliances for the first time in Australia with a dedicated Experience Centre at the front of the recently-renovated Camberwell Electrics store in Melbourne.

The Whirlpool-owned brand that turns 100 next year represents the top tier of the Whirlpool brand strategy in Australia that also includes Ariston, Indesit and the Whirlpool brands. Despite having only one location in Australia where it can sell its products for the remainder of 2018, KitchenAid will position itself as the only brand in the Australian market that can deliver all products for the kitchen from utensils and non-electrical cookware to small appliances and major appliances including a full range of built-in cooking, cooktops, rangehoods, refrigeration and dishwashers.

Andrea Mack (BSH) demonstrating the Siemens TFT and ventilated downdraft induction cooktops

SIEMENS UNVEILS NEW IQ700 STUDIOLINE OVEN RANGE

BSH was host to media and retail partners across two events in Sydney to launch its new Siemens IQ700 StudioLine range and to showcase the SensoFresh laundry range and TFT and ventilated downdraft induction cooktops. BSH Home Appliances general manager, Robert Warner welcomed guests. “As you are aware, BSH Australia is the proud custodians of four wonderful brands; including Bosch, Neff and Gaggenau, but tonight is a special night for the Siemens brand as we introduce you to our new range of ovens and compact appliances designed for those consumers who value the ultimate in design, innovation and intelligence.�

Nick Ruffell (BSH) demonstrating the Siemens SensoFresh laundry range

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

L-R: Neil Fonseca (Whirlpool Corp), Hans Vanderstadt (Camberwell Electrics) Samuel Wu & Liam Bryers (Whirlpool Corp)

L-R: Jess Liemantara (MasterChef 2018) & Tamara Graffen (MasterChef 2017)

Sjaak Brouwer (Miele), Greg Maddison (David Jones), Biag Capasso (The Good Guys), Chris Kotis (Miele) and Terry Smart (The Good Guys) Alan Stevenson (Harvey Norman Commercial), John Winning Snr (Winning Appliances) and Steve Cavalier (Harvey Norman Bundall)

MARKUS MIELE OPENS BRISBANE EXPERIENCE CENTRE

The co-owner of Miele, Markus Miele joined retailers from Queensland and across the country to open the Miele Experience Centre in Brisbane. “This new centre is a clear commitment to Australia,” Markus Miele told guests. “At the same time a visible promise as we look to the future that Miele means business in this country with high quality products and as a dependable partner. The standards we expect of our Experience Centres are high – it is the many facets of elegance, convenience, quality and emotional appeal and in each case set in the context and flair of the country – combining the technical progress with charm and personality as well as being a brand ambassador.”

Peter Hammerman (2nds World), Mike Nepia (F&P), Darren Spencer (Narta), David Dorsett-Lynn (Retravision)

FISHER & PAYKEL CELEBRATES 30 YEARS IN AUSTRALIA

Fisher & Paykel celebrated its 30th birthday in Australia at its Experience Centre in Sydney’s Alexandria. Among the retailers attending the event were Narta executive chairman Kay Spencer and CEO Michael Jackson, JB Hi-Fi Merchandise Director Craig Mackie, Good Guys CEO Terry Smart, Graeme Cunningham from Betta Stores, Lionel Lee from Bing Lee, John Winning Snr and John Winning Jnr from Winning Appliances, David Dorsett-Lynn from Retravision and Peter Hammerman from 2nds World. A strong contingent from Harvey Norman headed up by Lachlan Roach included Alan Stevenson, Steve Cavalier and Nik Papa.

Ben Normoyle & Belinda Toner (F&P) with Nik Papa (Harvey Norman Chadstone)

Miele ambassador Shannon Bennett, Markus Miele and Sjaak Brouwer

Richard Murray (JB Hi-Fi) and Graeme Cunningham (Betta Stores)

www.applianceretailer.com.au

15

AR OPINION Hisense 2018 ULED TV

Selling down T Hisense National Retail Training Manager, Chris Mayer

here’s no denying we’re in the midst of an OLED and ULED boom. As a result, we’re seeing more and more television models land on shelves, offering consumers greater choice than ever before. Equally, we as salespeople are faced with the task of wrapping our heads around the sheer variety of product available to best recommend and advise our customers.

This is particularly important when mastering the ‘selling down’ approach; an effective sales technique that’s relevant to all consumer electronics, especially big ticket items like TVs.

ESTABLISH TRUST

As always, the first step in guiding your customer towards a purchase is to take the time to listen to their needs and ask the right questions. Build rapport with them by demonstrating that you understand what they’re looking for.

It’s during this initial conversation that you can start to pinpoint potential product options that will be suitable for your customer. These options should be based on information they’ve shared 16

Appliance Retailer September 2018

such as budget, family dynamics, home set up and feature preferences. It’s best to have two or three products in mind across a range of brands and prices.

SHOWCASE FROM THE TOP DOWN

A common mistake and one that’s made with the goal of a quick sale in mind, is showcasing a low-end product as the first available option. This reduces your chances of selling a top tier product and presents you with the difficult challenge of having to sell upwards.

Instead, start your product presentations with a model from the premium tier that fully suits your customer’s communicated needs. Give them a demonstration of the useful features on offer from smart interfaces like VIDAA U 2.5 and streaming services, to image-enhancing functions like game and sport modes. Listen to their feedback, what they like and don’t like, and have a second option that’s slightly more affordable at the ready, should the first model fall outside their budget. Each of these demonstrations should link back to something the customer identified as a need or want in your initial conversation.

Hisense National Retail Training Manager, Chris Mayer

Be mindful not to overwhelm your customers with too many product choices and to only suggest options that are truly reflective of their needs.

Putting forward too many options can result in a customer feeling unsure, lacking the confidence they require to make a purchase decision. This is what scientists refer to as the paradox of choice. Remember, a television unit is a significant investment for a customer so choose wisely to avoid losing the sale.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The shorter the perceived distance to a goal, the more motivated people are to reach it. To guide customers towards a purchase you should feel comfortable in presenting both premium and lower tiered products. Limiting these to two or three options will increase your chances of closing the sale. AR

Image supplied by Metricon. Balmaine 51 on display at The Surrounds in Helensvale QLD

Image supplied by Metricon. Balmaine 51 on display at The Surrounds in Helensvale QLD

FEATURE

OUTLOOK | TRENDS | RANGES | PRODUCT GALLERY | FROM THE FLOOR | PROMOTIONS

AIR CONDITIONING

AR AIR CONDITIONING

Cool & confident

BY KYMBERLY MARTIN

OUTLOOK

F

rom an industry and retail perspective, prospects for the air conditioning category appear to be largely positive for the coming season. A retailer in the Top End is also sending out encouraging signs for the category. (See From the Floor on page 27).

The market overview from Euromonitor showed room air

conditioners experienced year-on-year growth in volume terms. Last summer was beneficial for the category as it was one of the warmest in recent years with retailers reporting stock run-outs, further suggesting increased consumer spending. “Window air conditioners continued to experience a decline in units as alternative air conditioner formats such as split air conditioners and room air

conditioners gained in popularity,” research analyst, Jorge Rosas said.

According to GfK data, fixed air conditioner units, which account for 84% of market volume, remained relatively stable.

And leaving an air conditioner running while the household is unoccupied is probably more common than you think and comes at a price, costing over $1 billion a year.

A survey of 2,017 respondents conducted by comparison website, finder.com.au revealed that 23% of Australians, equivalent to 2.3 million households, admit to leaving their air conditioning running when they are not home. And those households partial to air con indulgence waste on average 4.1 hours in energy per day. This costs up to $1.3 billion in wasted energy expenditure over summer while these homes are sitting empty, adding $578 to the quarterly household electricity bill.

Generation Z (18 to 22 year olds) are the least savvy, and keep the cooling running for 5.6 hours a day on average while not home, while Millennials waste four hours, GenX 3.6 hours, and Baby Boomers 4.2 hours. Residents in South Australia are the most wasteful with 4.9 hours, followed by Western Australia on 4.6 hours then Queensland and Victoria with 4.3 hours each. New South Wales is the least wasteful with 3.8 hours.

During the hotter months with temperatures of 40 degrees plus it can be easy to turn a blind eye to electricity usage, according to finder.com.au editor-in-chief, Angus Kidman. “A good air conditioner can cool down a room within an hour of switching on, so there’s no need to leave it running all day. It is a good idea to invest in a timer so that the air conditioner turns on just before getting home to get the benefits without wasting all that power,” he told Appliance Retailer. AR

Voted Australia’s Most Trusted Air Conditioning Brand* Stock up today to give your customers the most trusted brand all year round.

Contact your Fujitsu General Business Development Manager today. Call 1300 882 201 or visit fujitsugeneral.com.au

TRENDS

A

Smaller households equal lower capacity units

lthough summer is still to arrive, Fujitsu General brought an optimistic view of the air conditioning market for the remainder of the year.

“We have seen softening in some market segments in the second quarter of 2018 but we need to keep in mind that the air conditioning industry is coming off the back of a strong year of growth, particularly in the same quarter of 2017,” general manager, sales and marketing, Dave Smith said.

“Looking forward we are expecting the market to perform strongly through the summer season and into 2019.”

markets, has seen continued growth for MHIAA in the air conditioning market across Australia and New Zealand,” senior sales advisor, Graham Hamilton said. “Climatic conditions have worked in the industry's favour as we are seeing more households installing air conditioners over other heating and cooling appliances. Consumers are increasingly on the lookout for energy efficient products and there is growing demand for alternatives to the traditional gas usage appliances.”

“LOOKING FORWARD WE ARE EXPECTING THE MARKET TO PERFORM STRONGLY THROUGH THE SUMMER SEASON AND INTO 2019.”

– Fujitsu General, Dave Smith

Dave Smith – Fujitsu General.

Fujitsu General, which holds a strong position in the retail market, was a recipient of the first ‘Most Trusted’ air conditioning brand in the 2018 Reader’s Digest Most Trusted awards.

For Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia (MHIAA), room cooling and air conditioning is one of its strongest categories for 2018. “Continued good economic conditions and the rise of the refurbishment and building

*Reader’s Digest Catalyst Trusted Brands Survey – Air Conditioning Category.

Thanks to a more energy conscious consumer, one of the strongest trends is coming from growing demand for small capacity products. “Consumers want products that have a lower global warming potential and increased emphasis is being placed on researching the R32 refrigerant and the positive impacts this refrigerant has not only for consumers but also on the industry as a whole,” Hamilton said.

Also reporting solid sales in the air conditioning category is Mitsubishi Electric which embarked on the ‘Update Your Air’ campaign to educate consumers that newer

Garth Hickey – Mitsubishi Electric.

technology is as much as 40% more efficient than older models.

“Consumers responded well to the campaign,” national retail sales manager, Garth Hickey said.

Most Australians (95%) are concerned about energy costs, with 45% expressing extreme concern while 70% think air conditioners are the biggest contributor to high energy usage in the home, according to a Mitsubishi Home Trends Report, which the company addressed in the recent campaign.

Mitsubishi Electric also interviewed installers to understand the replacement market and looked at what products were being replaced, average age, brands and consumers’ new requirements. It found that the purchasing criteria for second-time air conditioner buyers are dramatically different from the purchasing criteria for first-time buyers. Consumers in the replacement market are better educated about air conditioning systems and are determined to replace it with a superior system with reduced noise, higher efficiency and the latest technology rating higher than price.

AR AIR CONDITIONING

Joe De Bella – Panasonic.

De Bella said. Indoor air cleanliness is also becoming more important. “We spend 90% of our time indoors and poor air quality can have a negative impact on our health and wellbeing.

“The nation’s properties are now the smallest in two decades and this shift towards apartment living and smaller homes, especially among younger Australians and smaller families, with a preference for small capacity over large capacity products now appearing,” he said.

MOST AUSTRALIANS (95%) ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ENERGY

COSTS, WITH 45% EXPRESSING

EXTREME CONCERN WHILE 70% LG continues to enjoy strong growth across both its retail and commercial divisions as technology becomes more adaptable, connected, and accessible for the modern market, according to category marketing manager, Bruce Leigh.

“One factor that made a considerable impact on the success of our air conditioners this year was the strong advertising behind our ‘Come Home to Comfort’ campaign and maintaining a competitive price point,” he said.

Energy efficiency remains one of the strongest trends and with this

Bruce Leigh – LG.

20

Appliance Retailer September 2018

comes increasing popularity for reverse cycle systems, with consumers beginning to use their units all year round. “LG realises that for this reason, it is essential to look for ways to improve the energy efficiency of our products,” Leigh said. Another trend is towards Wi-Fi technology that allows consumers to turn on their LG air conditioner with a compatible smartphone when they are not at home.

Panasonic is another company with an encouraging perspective of the next 12 months as more households install air conditioning. “Approximately three in four Australian households have air conditioning for cooling in their home,” air conditioning product manager, Joe De Bella said.

And energy efficiency is top of mind with consumers as they lean towards products which use less energy in their home to help combat increases in electricity prices. “This is also supported by State Government incentives for consumers to buy the most energy-efficient products,”

THINK AIR CONDITIONERS ARE THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO HIGH ENERGY USAGE IN THE HOME.

Teco is expanding its multi-head range intended to make the company a greater player in this sector of the market. A new ducted and cassette range for 2018-2019 is being finalised, national business and development manager, Trevor Francis said.

Teco recently appointed Troy Evans as general manager for air conditioning and home appliances.

He will be responsible for lifting the Teco brand profile in-store and online. “Our story needs to be told, from its humble beginnings to a strongly diversified global entity,” Francis said. “Teco leads the electric motors market here in Australia and Troy will be engaged in preparing some key refreshes of our visual communications which reflect this, that will be showcased on our new Teco Australia website due in Q4.” AR

Australia’s Favourite Air® voted the Most Trusted Brand. *

Australia’s Favourite Air®, Fujitsu General, has been voted the 2018 Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand in the air conditioner category.

Fujitsu understands that consumers invest in its brand, trusting that it will provide their family with a comfortable living environment.

Therefore, it’s not just the products that need to be of a high standard. Fujitsu is committed to having an unprecedented focus on customer service and satisfaction throughout the entire customer journey.

Fujitsu’s extensive after sales support network, along with its strong Japanese heritage of innovative research, manufacturing and product development, allows the brand to continuously deliver product excellence, exceptional customer service and reliable home comfort all year round.

Stock up today to give your customers the most trusted air conditioning brand.

Contact your Fujitsu General Business Development Manager today.

Call 1300 882 201 or visit fujitsugeneral.com.au

*Reader’s Digest Catalyst Trusted Brands Survey – Air Conditioning Category.

AR AIR CONDITIONING

RANGES

C

Efficiency rules for the cost-conscious consumer

onsumers are faced with an overwhelming choice of air conditioning systems when in store.

They look to the retailer as the expert to help guide their purchase decision and seek recommendation on a system and brand that will suit their specific needs, while keeping within their budget, was the view put forward by Fujitsu General.

To enable retailers to help consumers quickly, the company will be launching a new multi-system web app, a simple tool to help retailers guide and advise customers on the most suitable Fujitsu General multi-air conditioning solution to meet their needs. In addition to the app, Fujitsu General is developing technology and product to ensure customers are purchasing efficient, reliable air conditioning systems, as well as receiving exceptional customer service. To ensure this is ongoing, company headquarters in Kawasaki, Japan is expanding its new research and development building to support innovative technologies that will further enhance its capabilities to bring new air conditioning solutions to market.

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

The Fujitsu General Multi System is an ideal air conditioning solution for heating or cooling multiple rooms. With the capability for up to six indoor units to be connected to one compact outdoor unit, the multi system offers more flexibility for modern home interiors, as well as saving space outdoors. There is a solution to match the requirements of most homes, including wall mounted, floor / ceiling consoles and cassettes.

Each air conditioning unit can be independently controlled using individual unit remotes to provide indoor comfort when and where it is required. The five and six head multi systems can be operated seamlessly via an optional large backlit LCD central controller to manage indoor units individually or simultaneously.

The latest MHIAA products utilise Jet Air, the same blade technology found in jet engines. This has been applied to the fan blades of MHIAA units to develop an ideal air channel system that can deliver a large, consistent volume of air without consuming too much power. MHIAA have developed Clean Air technology

with the Allergen Clear system that removes airborne allergens such as pollen and dust by capturing them in a specially formulated enzyme filter and eliminating them via a multi-stage operation. A photo-catalytic filter captures any remaining particles and neutralises odour causing bacteria before the Self Cleaning Mode dries the internal anti-microbial fan and components, ensuring fresh air on every start-up.

This year the company is launching the high performance Avanti Plus Platinum Series with a selection of intuitive functions. Designed in Italy, it carries elegant smooth lines and was recently awarded a 2017 Silver Design Award in the ‘Engineering and Technical Design Category'.

The hero product, the 2.0kW Avanti Plus, features a built-in, energy saving motion sensor and eco operation which automatically adjusts the set temperature in the room based on human activity detected by the motion sensor. When no activity is detected the unit will switch off.

Designed to deliver ultimate comfort to the home, this series

The all new LN Series coming soon

The premium LN Series is a wall mounted split system with a unique and sophisticated streamlined design to complement modern interior decor.

Why choose the LN Series? » Built-In Wi-Fi capabilities for your customers to enjoy smarter heating and cooling. » New Plasma Quad Plus Filtration can filter out particles less than 2.5µm. » 3D i-See Sensor which monitors a whole room and directs the airflow accordingly. » Innovative Double Vane Structure which operates independently to distribute horizontal and vertical airflow simultaneously throughout the room.

Available in three colours

Onyx Black Crystal Red Pearl White

For more information on our products please visit www.mitsubishielectric.com.au

Phone:1300 280 625

AR AIR CONDITIONING

also features an LED brightness adjustment which assists in minimising the disturbance of indoor units located in bedrooms.

The Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-EF Series sports a new shape available in silver, black and white and has been well accepted by customers, architects and designers who have specific interior design requirements. With internal research indicating consumers consider efficiency, functionality and warranty highly when buying a new air conditioner these purchasing considerations have contributed to the strong performance of the Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-GL Series split systems.

This Series combines high energy efficiency, quiet operation and the performance consumers demand when it is needed most. Wi-Fi Control, via an optional adaptor, provides a high level of control and convenience.

For retailers, the company is offering the latest in Japanese innovation that embraces inverter technology, new refrigerants, improved star energy ratings and reduced noise, all of the key attributes consumers are said to be considering for their replacement system purchase.

Retailers can sell Mitsubishi Electric products with the backing of an after sales support team, should it be needed, from holding spare parts for products up to 15 years old to sameday technical support and locally managed service requests.

Many systems in the LG range feature Active Energy Control, which allows users to cap their energy consumption to help improve energy efficiency and reduce power consumption at a reduced cooling or heating output. Standby mode is standard on all LG residential air conditioner models which minimise standby electricity consumption when the air conditioner is not in use.

24

Appliance Retailer September 2018

Dimplex Elite Series Reverse Cycle Air Conditione

INTELLIGENT AIR CONDITIONING TECHNOLOGIES FROM

PANASONIC ENSURE MAXIMUM ENERGY EFFICIENCY, PURE AIR QUALITY AND PRECISE

TEMPERATURE CONTROL, AND

ARE DESIGNED TO WORK WITH

THE HOME’S NATURAL AIR FLOW AND TEMPERATURE RANGE.

Fujitsu General ASTG09LUCB Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner

A major technology advance the company is taking to retailers is embedded Wi-Fi across all its retail products from split systems to ducted models. The new split system range also has improved energy efficiency thanks to the R32 refrigerant, plus air filtration features to help improve air quality.

Panasonic air conditioning units include cooling only and reverse cycle systems. Intelligent air conditioning technologies ensure maximum energy efficiency, pure air quality and precise temperature control, and are designed to work with the home’s natural air flow and temperature range to create the perfect climate. Brand focus is on delivering a product that offers quality and durability, and keeps consumers comfortable and healthy in the home.

With over 30 years in the Australian market, Teco offers consumers affordable air conditioning backed by a comprehensive support network. The hero product is the Platinum 3D R32 range of inverter splits from 2.6kW to 8.2kW capacity with optional Wi-Fi connection, Gold-Fin protection on both indoor and outdoor coils, outdoor auto-clean function and 12 indoor fan speeds automatically selected in auto mode to ensure the indoor airflow is delivered to quickly reach the set temperature. Entry level splits are available for those with tight budgets and for the rental housing market.

For Dimplex, the new Elite series of reverse cycle split systems delivers low noise at 19dB(A) minimum, Wi-Fi functionality, DC inverter motor, an operating temperature range from -15°C to 52°C and easy installation. There are five sizes available in 2.5kW, 3.5kW, 5.kW, 7kW 7.8kW with five fan speeds, three-way air flow, child lock and display shutdown. Outdoor unit wall brackets are included with the DCES09, DCES12 and DCES18 models. AR

*2.0kW model

+ AWARD WINNING DESIGN + INDUSTRY LEADING ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATINGS + ENERGY SAVING MOTION SENSOR + POWERFUL 17M AIR-FLOW + ALLERGEN CLEAR SYSTEM FOR CLEAN AND ODOUR FREE AIR + COMPATIBLE WITH NEW MHIAA WI-FI SOLUTION + WHISPER QUIET (6.0kW Model)

With an award winning design, industry leading energy ratings as well as a range of new intuitive features and functions the Avanti PLUSâ„¢ Platinum Series of reverse cycle split system air conditioners is the perfect heating and cooling solution for your home.

mhiaa.com.au | 1300 138 007

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia Pty Ltd

AR AIR CONDITIONING

MHIAA Avanti Plus Reverse Cycle SRK20ZSXA-W Fujitsu General Multi System `` Up to six indoor units to one compact outdoor unit `` Individual room temperature control `` Energy management settings to reduce consumption `` Flexible installation

`` 7-star heating and cooling energy rating `` Built-in motor sensor `` Operation range from -15°C to 46°C `` Jet and Clear Air technology

With its award-winning Italian design this super-efficient reverse cycle air conditioner delivers on all elements from design to intuitive features with optional Wi-Fi.

RRP: N/A

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: 1300 138 007

PRODUCT GALLERY

RRP: Varies across the range Fujitsu General: 1300 882 201

This multi system offers more flexibility for the home interior as well as saving space outdoors. There are 14 indoor models from 2kW to 7kW with an optional central controller available on five and six multi systems.

Mitsubishi Electric Inverter Split MSZ-GL25VGD `` 5.5 Star energy rating on cooling `` 19 dB(A) noise level for ultra-quiet operation `` Quick clean design `` Optional Wi-Fi control from any device

RRP:

$1,199

Mitsubishi Electric: 1800 811 212

26

Appliance Retailer September 2018

For those with specific design requirements, this system is available in silver, black or white making it popular among architects and designers.

PROMOTIONS

Whitehouse Furnishers store manager, John Dobell

FUJITSU GENERAL

Fujitsu General reverse cycle inverter split systems, inverter multi split systems and ducted systems are eligible for a pre-paid Visa card or eGift card worth up to $400.

FROM THE FLOOR

John Dobell

Whitehouse Furnishers – Katherine, Northern Territory

I

t might be remote, but air conditioning sales at this new store in Katherine are steady and comparable to the previous season, and predicted to remain consistent for the season ahead.

The big sellers are cooling-only room air conditioners for a couple of reasons, store manager, John Dobell said. “Firstly, a high percentage of air conditioning units are for remote areas and the logistics and cost involved for split system installations is a huge factor. At present, we do not offer installations so the numerous installation companies in the Katherine region tend to achieve good market share due to being able to supply and install packages.”

Smart technology does not get much traction in Katherine either as cost is always the driving influencer for the sale. Inverter technology, energy efficiency and cooling-only system are also purchase considerations, Dobell said, and cash back promotions also tend to work well.

Kelvinator is the major brand which the store has been selling

for several years. “Electrolux has a warehouse in Darwin so we are able to order stock quickly.” The store is currently in the final stages of installing a new Kelvinator air conditioning display area.

Dobell said the challenge the store faces is maintaining gross profit.

“We compete with Darwin which is 300-kilometres away where there are many operators battling it out for market share in a very competitive environment, driving pricing and gross profit downwards.”

Sales for the cooling fan category are steady with the majority of small models sold to tourists, usually for caravans, especially during the dry season. “Because the weather has been cooler than average, this segment has not been strong this year. Heller and Convair are our biggest selling brands,” he said.

A member of the Leading Edge Group, Whitehouse Furnishers has been established in Katherine for 37 years. The new 3,600 square metre store moved to its Bicentennial Road location last September. AR

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC

Mitsubishi Electric will continue its ‘Update your Air’ campaign via TV, radio, outdoor, social and point of sale. The company says a new system can be up to 40% more efficient.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said consumers responded well to its recent ‘Cruise through Winter’ promotion that came with a cash bonus and chance to win one of four cruises.

PANASONIC

The Panasonic Wizard App provides guidance to customers on the most suitable air conditioning solution for their room size.

www.applianceretailer.com.au

27

AR FANS & PORTABLE COOLING

OUTLOOK

Sales on a solid footing

I

n the last 12 months, the electric fan category had the dual benefit of a particularly warm start to summer, and prolonged warm weather into March/April 2018, which extended the key sales season. Unit growth exceeded value growth suggesting many of these were ‘distress’ purchases, according to the latest GfK data. Customer fan type preferences included table/desk models which rose a healthy 29% in units while stand formats were up 6%.

However the popularity of portable

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

BY KYMBERLY MARTIN air conditioners did not replicate their strong growth from the previous year, declining 10.5% last season.

Additional market analysis from Euromonitor showed cooling fans also tracking well with strong growth in unit sales as well as value benefiting from the warm conditions, with industry sources advising that the trend continued even into the cooler months. Cooling fans continued to gain popularity due to improvements in noise reduction, energy efficiency and remote control and this category is expected to

continue to experience healthy growth in both units and value terms, research analyst, Jorge Rosas said.

A consumer survey from finder.com.au found that 59% of Australians crank both the air conditioner and fan during summer, for an average of four and seven hours per day respectively.

The fan market is highly competitive and demand is clearly driven by weather according to Mitsubishi Electric, particularly with growth from the pedestal market, with up to 650,000 units now sold annually. AR

TRENDS

Fanning into the future

D

e’Longhi is releasing new portable air conditioners, tower fans and evaporative coolers to the category this season. Sporting powerful features that the company said will be communicated well for staff training in-store, online and at point-of-sale.

“The objective is to keep the message clear to educate, not confuse, the consumer with overly technical content,” junior category manager, Dunya Abdurahmanovic said. “At De’Longhi we always promote and stand by the quality and performance of our range.”

Garth Hickey – Mitsubishi Electric.

DE’LONGHI HAS CONSOLIDATED

The weather was top of mind at Dimplex as it influenced sales around the country. “Sales for our cooling products, specifically portable air conditioners, rely on consistent hot temperatures, like heat waves in excess of 35°C+ and over a four day duration,” product manager seasonal, Stacey Pogorecki said. “The weather always plays a major role when it comes to cooling and fortunately last season the weather was consistently hot.”

ITS PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONING RANGE DOWN TO FIVE MODELS

ALL SUPPORTING THE PLANNED MEPS INTRODUCTION ON

SINGLE DUCT PORTABLE AIR

CONDITIONERS IN APRIL 2019.

Stacey Pogorecki – Dimplex.

Dunya Abdurahmanovic – De’Longhi.

De’Longhi has consolidated its portable air conditioning range down to five models all supporting the planned MEPS introduction on single duct portable air conditioners in April 2019.

No other category can be impacted by the weather to the same extent as cooling and heating. “As we move into the 2018 cooling season it is difficult to predict how the weather will unfold. The winter has certainly been unexpectedly late and mild across most of the country,” Abdurahmanovic said.

Consumers living in hotter regions have a need for immediate cooling, and for longer periods of time, particularly when overnight temperatures are warm for days in a row. “This had led to a demand for pedestal fans that can operate for longer periods and stay quiet so as not to disrupt sleep,” Mitsubishi Electric, national retail sales manager, Garth Hickey said. www.applianceretailer.com.au

29

De’Longhi.

The Cool Alternative.

De’Longhi’s range of cooling appliances provide tailored solutions to household cooling needs.

Enjoy the versatility of portable air conditioners that provide all the convenience of ducted air conditioning with the ability to move from room to room.

Experience the cooling effects of evaporative coolers that cool the air by passing dry air over chilled water. Or enjoy the immediate localised cooling effect of a fan.

No matter what your household need, De’Longhi has a portable solution that will keep you cool this summer.

To discover more contact your local De’Longhi representative on 1800 126 659 or visit delonghi.com.au Featured: De’Longhi Pinguino Portable Air Conditioner PACEX120.

Dual Oscillation Tower Fan DETF122 WH/BK

Slim Line Tower Fan DETF115

360˚ Pedestal Fan DEAPF40WH

Evaporative Cooler EV250 WH/BK

Pinguino PACEX120 WH/BK SILENT

Pinguino PACCN86

Pinguino PACN76 WH/DG

Better Everyday

AR FANS & PORTABLE COOLING

NSW and Victoria generally outsell all other states, simply due to population, the climate and duration of extreme weather dictates which states performs better each year, she said.

“Last season found NSW performing stronger than Victoria with its longer lasting heat waves resulting in portable cooling sales to soar.”

Honeywell evaporative coolers were introduced here in 2012 with four models picking up increased sales year-on-year, GBI Sales director, Wayne Marshall said. “This year it was a modest 6% increase over the previous year, however the summers in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria were almost non-existent and these are the states where evaporative coolers work best because these appliances are not as effective in coastal areas like Sydney and Brisbane.” The company also reduced the price of outdoor coolers with sales well up on the previous year. “Outdoor cooling has become more popular over the past six

Wayne Marshall – GBI Sales.

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

years and we will continue to promote the outdoor use of evaporative coolers.”

Sales for Honeywell portable air conditioners have continued to grow and the 2017/18 season was no exception with one of the biggest growth periods in its brief history, Marshall said, with sales of the four models growing 56%.

“This is confirmation that consumers are prepared to pay a premium for quality appliances. With new MEPS just around the corner this will attest to the performance of Honeywell PACs adhering to the industry specification.

“In-store POS has proven very popular with customers as it acts as the silent salesman and points out in particular the advantages of the outdoor models. We at GBI are always looking at products that are either new or where there is nothing like it on the market or different to what is already on the market,” he said.

Tackling the issue of indoor air pollution is behind the latest range of Dyson Pure Cool purifying fans that bring together Dyson expertise in airflow, filtration and electronics.

“At Dyson we develop machines for real people and real homes, creating technology that works well in the test lab but more importantly doing what they’re expected to do in a real-world setting,” Dyson health and beauty vice president, Paul Dawson said.

To clean the air at home, a purifier needs more than a filter. It needs to automatically sense pollution, capture gases and ultrafine particles, and project clean air to every corner of the room. Dyson purifying fans have been designed to go beyond test chamber conditions and focus on real home conditions which the company said is more than just having an efficient filter.

Through its flagship Heller brand, GAF Control has enjoyed strong support for its cooling range over the last couple of years. In particular, high velocity, pedestal and personal USB fans and evaporative coolers have delivered significant growth, national sales manager, Tim Kendall said. This season GAF is introducing the retro designed Swan range of cooling fans, one of the UK’s heritage appliance brands in three models, including a retro-design metal desk fan and pedestal fan and vintage look metal desk fan.

Tim Kendall – GAF Control.

Thanks to warm weather last season, Milners also reported increased sales with Vornado air circulators up 35% year-on-year, brand manager, Kirsten Pride said.

“With the cost of electricity set to rise by 17% by December 2019, consumers are making more educated purchasing decisions when it comes to the energy efficiency of small appliances,” she said. “With a need to conserve energy and keep costs down, consumers were searching for appliances with maximum cooling efficiency, but minimal energy consumption.”

Being environmentally aware is actively trending globally. “Vornado has been concentrating on who our consumer is and understanding their needs when it comes to technology, advanced features, home health, energy efficiency in addition to simplifying the marketing message so it resonates with our consumer base.” AR

RANGES

LINING UP TO

T

look cool

his coming summer De’Longhi will introduce the extra silent Pinguino portable, the PACEX120, which comes in glossy white or matte black. It is a 3kW, MEPS compliant, sleek unit with an abundance of features including the non-toxic and eco-friendly R290Eco gas. The PACEX120 also has what the company described as a ‘real feel’, innovative technology developed to deliver the best comfort level thanks to a combination of temperature reduction and humidity control, that adds another element to controlling the environment. The new LED display, equipped with a 24-hour programmable timer, is inserted directly into the front strip design for maximum visibility. All De’Longhi portable air conditioners feature a separate dehumidifying function that removes humidity from the air, providing a comfortable environment free from mould and mildew.

The new range of De’Longhi tower fans and evaporative coolers include the EV250 evaporative cooler in glossy black or matte white in a unique, compact design similar to the EV290 evaporative model. It allows for easy removal of the 4.5 litre water tank and the LED display enables quick recognition of settings. It comes with a remote control, 7.5 hour countdown timer, water level indicator, three speed fan, vertical swing louvers and two ice blocks to help consumers get through hot conditions. A dual oscillation tower fan, DETF122, also in a black or white finish, delivers

360-degree horizontal oscillation and the upper and lower wind outlets can be set to different directions, covering more space at once. The consumer has an option to use the touch control LED display or remote. An auto dimming function means the LED display will turn off after one minute to suit bedrooms at night.

As a point of difference on the retail floor, the Mitsubishi Electric LV16 fans come in classy grey and red for adding a touch of colour to the home.

These models are designed for the discerning consumer, solidly built and made to last. The smart compact motor and blade design combine to provide consumers with a quiet alternative when it comes to personal cooling.

A rhythm mode replicates a natural breeze which improves the cooling effect, particularly useful for running over longer periods of time.

De’Longhi EV250 Evaporative Cooler

Heller HDF60 60cm Workshop Drum Fan The new Dyson Pure Cool purifying fans have arrived in a large tower format for floor placement, and a small desk format for worktops and floors, that automatically purify the whole room, capturing gases and 99.95% of ultrafine particles as small as 0.1 microns.

A new LCD display shows particles and gases the fan is automatically sensing in real time while the unique algorithm processes input from three sensors, displaying air quality readings. Lasers measure and detect ultrafine particles and a separate sensor detects the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds, such as benzene and formaldehyde, www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR FANS & PORTABLE COOLING emitted from paint, burning candles and materials in furniture and NO2 present. A third sensor measures relative humidity and temperature.

The fans will be available in white/ silver and black/nickel with a recommended retail price of $649 for the desk format and $799 for the tower model.

Honeywell will continue to promote the outdoor use of evaporative coolers with two models, the CL60PM and CL40PM, that can also be used indoors.

Both are marketed as high volume air movement coolers with a continuous water supply and can be connected to the garden hose without constant filling of the water tank. Two other models, the CS10XE and CL30XC are fully electronic with remote control, timers and quiet operation, an important feature to consider for nighttime use.

NSW and Victoria have been the best performing states for Honeywell, boosted by the warmer weather and an abundance of rental apartments where tenants are unable to install wall mounted splits or window air conditioners, so PACs offer a convenient cooling solution. The biggest selling PAC is the MM14CCS a 4.1 kW cooling only model that suits larger areas.

Last season Dimplex more than doubled the amount of portable cooling SKUs in its range, focusing on fans and products that had ‘multi-directional’ airflow, specifically WhirlTech air circulators and high velocity, oscillating floor fans. New SKUs will be added this season continuing the multi-directional story, incorporating features such as 360-degree horizontal oscillation and vertical tilt functions that allow consumers to feel airflow in a range of directions. The new DCPFAC40 pedestal fan has three speed settings, three wind modes, four horizontal oscillating settings and an eight hour timer. The DCEVP20W evaporative cooler carries a generous 20 litre capacity detachable water tank, which can be filled easily from the top without removing the tank. Auto shut off kicks in after 15 hours of continuous operation.

GAF is introducing new Heller branded models including a 60cm workshop drum fan. Complete with its own trolley for ease of movement, this product is designed for a workshop or 34

Appliance Retailer September 2018

Swan SFA1010RN Desk Fan

AS A POINT OF DIFFERENCE ON THE RETAIL FLOOR, THE

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC LV-16

FANS COME IN CLASSY GREY

AND RED FOR ADDING A TOUCH OF COLOUR TO THE HOME.

Vornado 533DC Air Circulator

large outdoor areas as well as having commercial applications. The new Swan cooling fans bring some retro chic to the market in a 30cm metal desk fan and a 40cm pedestal fan in addition to a 30cm vintage look metal desk fan, available in red or black, backed by a two year warranty.

Last season Heller introduced the HVF50, a high velocity 50cm floor fan, which was popular with customers and this model will be the focus for the coming season. Another popular model making a return this season is the TTF75R, 75cm, 100 watt, oscillating turbo tower fan with remote control.

Milners marketing direction to consumers this summer will be on promoting Vornado as air circulators, not fans. It will highlight vortex technology for the efficient circulation and movement of air that claims to evenly disburse cool air around the room in less time than a traditional portable cooling appliance or air conditioner, without the need for oscillation. Placing the Vornado air circulator directly in front of the air conditioning unit, is said to help circulate cool air quickly and efficiently.

This summer Vornado will focus on the 533DC from the Vornado Energy Smart line, with the compact DC motor that uses 80% less energy than other Vornado units. With simple variable speed control, the unit can circulate air up to 23m. AR

Mitsubishi Electric Fan LV16S-RU

De’Longhi Portable Air Conditioner PACEX120

`` Rhythm mode replicates natural breeze `` Smart compact motor `` Crystal blade `` Low power consumption

`` 3kW and MEPS compliant `` Real Feel comfort status technology `` 24 hour programmable timer `` LED display

RRP: $179

RRP: $849

Mitsubishi Electric: 1800 811 212

De’Longhi: 1800 126 659 A premium portable that combines smart design with the latest cooling technologies that adds to its eco-friendly status.

For a point of difference on the retail floor this pedestal also adds a touch of colour to the home.

PRODUCT GALLERY

Dyson Pure Cool Tower Purifying Fan TPO4 BLKNK `` LCD display shows indoor pollutants `` Glass HEPA filter capture 99.95% of fine particles `` Air Multiplier technology `` 350-degree oscillation

RRP: $799

Dyson: 1800 239 766

This new purifying fan tackles the issue of indoor air pollution by projecting clean air to every corner of the room.

www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR FANS & PORTABLE COOLING

Dimplex Pedestal Fan DCPFAC40

Honeywell Portable Air Conditioner MM14CCS

`` Three speed settings `` Five piece blade `` Eight hour timer `` Noise level 55dB(A)

`` 4.1kW suits larger areas `` Feather-touch LED controls `` 24-hour programmable timer `` Two year replacement warranty

RRP: $199.95

RRP: $999

Glen Dimplex: 1300 556 816

GBI Sales: 08 9478 0400

Multidirectional airflow is the operative word for this new high velocity floor fan along with vertical tilt functions.

A portable air conditioner that cools, fans and dehumidifies with the latest no-drip technology using an auto-evaporation system.

PRODUCT GALLERY Swan Retro Pedestal Fan SRPF40R `` Three speed settings `` Oscillation function `` Adjustable tilts `` Two year warranty

RRP: $179.95

GAF Control: 1300 659 489 Add a touch of retro-design to the home with these pedestal fans available in red and black.

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

FEATURE

Christmas OUTLOOK | TRENDS | RANGES | PRODUCT GALLERY

AR CHRISTMAS

OUTLOOK

CHRISTMAS A BOON ACROSS THE BOARD

BY EMILY BENCIC

I

n 2017, Australian consumers spent close to $50 billion in retail stores across the country in the lead up to Christmas from November 15 to December 24. The biggest retail category growth was electrical goods, which experienced a 9.5% year-onyear increase, with the introduction of new gadgets including Google Home, iPhone X and Xbox One X. But consumer electronics are not the only category to experience a boost during the festive season.

Groupe SEB claims that sales increase over 80% across all categories

and 50% on small domestic appliances during November and December.

“Many consumers put more consideration into gifts and endeavour to be more organised in the hopes of avoiding the Christmas rush in December,” marketing director, Marine Pestel said. “It is a strong selling period for Tefal as we have a wide range of product offerings from cookware, linen care and small domestic appliances.”

Over at Sunbeam, the FoodSaver brand continues to be the market leader in innovation and design in vacuum sealers with 90% market share YTD (GfK June 2018).

“FoodSaver vacuum sealers have

traditionally been a great go-to gift with 25% of all sales in November and December,” category manager, Nicole Norton said.

As the biggest and most festive holiday period of the year, Christmas is a time for friends and family to get together, enjoy a meal and celebrate, Whirlpool general manager for marketing, Liam Bryers said. “With more people at home preparing to entertain friends and relatives, consumers will often consider upgrading their appliances, whether it be a new oven to simplify and speed up the cooking process, or a new refrigerator with more capacity and flexible storage.” AR

TRENDS

Fuss-free cooking with quality results

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mall appliances that add a pop of colour to the kitchen remain on the wish list but De’Longhi has seen a clear trend away from the once popular pastel colour palette, according to junior category manager for mixing, Nicole Warwick.

“With this in mind, we have refreshed our Kenwood Chef XL stand mixers, introducing three new metallic gloss colours – the 2018 Pantone Colour of the Year, Ultra Violet, as well as Ivory and Sink. The stand mixer will be accompanied by a new kettle, two-slice and four-slice toaster,” she said.

Marcus Lo Russo – Kenwood.

Kenwood also recently launched the Kenwood Multi Smart thermocooker with an app designed to control the machine from a smartphone. “It is an unrivalled kitchen enabler, empowering and inspiring people to enjoy fresh, healthy meals made from scratch. With bestin-class features, the KMS sets a new benchmark in the market,” ecosystems development manager for food preparation, Marcus Lo Russo said.

De’Longhi claims market leadership in the hand blender category with 38% market share – 28% for Braun and 10% for Kenwood. “Our Braun MultiQuick 9 leads the growth and Kenwood is the third largest hand blender brand, despite only having two models in the market,” Lo Russo said.

“As market leaders, there is a requirement for us to develop new ways to not only grow the category but develop new angles that make sense for the type of product and type of consumer. For 52% of consumers, when they enter the food preparation category, the first product they will purchase is a hand blender.”

In response to consumer research and a growing demand for café quality at home, De’Longhi has rolled out a national coffee program ahead of Christmas.

“We have developed a new inhome barista service for consumers who purchase the PrimaDonna Class, PrimaDonna Elite or PrimaDonna Elite Experience fully automatic coffee machine,” senior category manager for coffee, Allison Cupillari said. “For the past 18 months, we have provided this service ad-hoc but it was only available on the Elite Experience machine. The feedback from retail staff was very positive so we wanted to make it a national experience.”

The Elite Experience includes a two hour in-home visit from a trained coffee expert and gift hamper valued at RRP $119 that includes cappuccino glasses, espresso glasses, milk jug and

Jessica Hull – De’Longhi.

2kg coffee beans. Participants will learn barista tricks, coffee recipes, how to select the right beans and how to get the most out of their coffee machine.

In the benchtop space, De’Longhi wants to make cooking restaurant quality meals as quick and easy as possible. “The way consumers cook has changed,” senior category manager for benchtop and breakfast, Jessica Hull said. “They are more eager to try new dishes and keep meal-time interesting. Our benchtop appliances across cooking, frying and multipurpose segments allow users to easily make pizza, crispy chips, one-pot wonders and more.”

Outside of the kitchen, consumers are demanding products that offer year-round comfort.

“There is a strong trend toward multifunctional products as living spaces become smaller. Our multifunctional air purifier, heater and cooler is ideal for consumers, particularly those who suffer allergies or respiratory problems,” De’Longhi junior category manager for comfort, Dunya Abdurahmanovic said.

AR CHRISTMAS

Arthur Banbas – Smeg.

”THE INFLUENCE OF FASHION AND DESIGN ON CONSUMERS' LIFESTYLES IS DRIVING THE SMALL APPLIANCE CATEGORY AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE.” – Arthur Banbas, Smeg.

The influence of fashion and design on consumers’ lifestyles is driving the small appliance category at a level never seen before, according to Smeg national manager for small appliances, Arthur Banbas.

“Consumers are demanding a much higher level of sophistication where colour and design are key – and Smeg’s launch of its Dolce & Gabbana small appliances collection is a perfect example of this,” he said.

While anticipation for the Dolce & Gabbana collection is unprecedented, Banbas said the existing Smeg retro small appliance collection continues to gather pace. “Demand for the original range has continued with new colours constantly being introduced. The latest to hit Australian shelves, in time for Christmas, are additional colours for the Smeg coffee machine – white, pastel green and pastel pink,” he added.

Multifunctional appliances will take the spotlight at Christmas, according to Breville marketing director, Roni Robertson, as benchtop space becomes premium real estate.

“For example, slow cookers that can also be used as a pressure cooker, or a food processor that can mince, chop, julienne and clean root vegetables are seen as more valuable due to the time and space savings they provide.”

Breville category manager for food preparation and cooking, Karolina Smith has confirmed a new line-up of blenders ahead of the Christmas 40

Appliance Retailer September 2018

season, with sales figures highlighting that consumers are willing to trade up for versatility, superior performance and taste produced by super blenders.

“Equipped with all of the functions now standard of a super blender, such as milling grain to flour, making butters and milks, our new models also bring new technology to the blender category.”

The Breville Luxe range continues to support high end kitchen trends, category manager for beverage and breakfast, Patrick Hemming said. “In terms of aesthetics, black and white colours, textural finishes, marble and monochrome looks are all popular.

Smoked Hickory has been one of our best performing colours and of course, stainless steel does well as a core colour. We are now introducing Sea Salt – classic and timeless, designed for consumers who want longevity when choosing their benchtop appliances.”

Athena Kalos – Breville.

In the coffee category, Breville wants to make it easy for the consumer to shop and navigate the right machine for their needs. “There are two types of coffee consumers,” business manager for toast and beverage, Athena Kalos said. “The at-home barista who wants to get involved with their coffee making and is looking for greater control via a manual machine and the consumer looking for ease of use and a machine with increased automation.”

KitchenAid is celebrating its 100 year anniversary since the first stand mixer was released in the US. Although the company is well-known for its stand mixers, marketing director, Filiz Bensan said KitchenAid has evolved from being a stand mixer company.

“We have been leading with innovation across other small appliance categories, as well as major domestic appliances, so there is a lot for us to celebrate beyond just our stand mixer. It is about getting

the consumer involved and engaging with them through their experiences.”

Over the past year, KitchenAid has placed a strong emphasis on its culinary centre and attachment story. “We know that about 90% of consumers purchase an attachment to assist them with baking but there is now a greater focus on fresher and healthier cooking. Baking is no longer just about the ultimate sponge cake, meringue or pavlova, there is a skew toward making healthy snacks – for example using spiralized or shredded vegetables in a muffin recipe,” she said.

Internal research shows that there is very low customer awareness for attachments with two-thirds of consumers not aware of KitchenAid attachments, but once an attachment is purchased, ease of use and increase in the stand mixer’s versatility is highly valued.

“We are focused on creating awareness and educating consumers on the culinary centre. It is important for us to demonstrate the versatility of our stand mixers to inspire and excite,” Bensan said.

There is a real opportunity in the food processor category as the blending category tapers off, with a trend away from ‘healthy’ drinks to more wholesome and fibrous foods.

“Blending is still important from a lifestyle perspective but in terms of market trends, processing is in growth,” she said.

With food aplenty during the festive season, there is sure to be leftovers so Sunbeam FoodSaver category manager, Nicole Norton is urging consumers to be aware of the war on waste. “There is constant messaging from the media motivating people to reduce food waste by looking at ways to extend their food’s freshness which in turn has the added benefits of optimising nutrition, flavour and wellbeing,” she said.

Nicole Norton – Sunbeam.

AR CHRISTMAS

KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor

Liam Bryers – Whirlpool.

Whirlpool echoed this view, citing a keen interest in appliances that create quick, fuss-free and healthy meals at home. “We are tapping into this trend by providing products that are intuitive, simple-to-use and provide assisted cooking so consumers can make their favourite meals with minimal fuss,” Liam Bryers said.

Tefal continues to see health conscious consumers invest in time saving appliances. “Rather than consumers having to adapt recipes to work with ordinary appliances, they are now looking for appliances that are specifically for healthy cooking, and make the process easier and more enjoyable,” Groupe SEB marketing director, Marine Pestel said.

“Consumers are time-poor so appliances with technology that either speeds up the process, or looks after the tasks without constant monitoring, allow the consumer to focus on other tasks.”

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

There will be over 20 new products launched in the GAF Control portfolio from Maxim KitchenPro, Tiffany and Heller brands collectively. “Appliances historically feature high on the Christmas wish list and this year will be no exception,” national sales manager, Tim Kendall said.

Food processors and slow juicers are showing renewed growth as are hybrid devices with multi-functionality for Mann & Noble. “Consumers are looking for performance and are willing to pay for it with a preference for the multi-benefit extractor and processing machines priced at over $150,” marketing director, Arneka Grosvenor said.

There is no slowdown in an appetite for technology teamed with a strong desire to live a healthier life, was the view of Vitamix country manager and sales director, Euan Mitchell. “Blending is certainly entrenched within the Australian culture and consumers are

Euan Mitchell – Vitamix.

looking to do more with their household blenders and need a more reliable and durable blender that will deliver the results they expect,” he said.

Christmas is traditionally the busiest time of year for Magimix and national sales and marketing manager, Neeraj Sharma isn’t expecting 2018 to be any different. “In small appliances, there is always someone looking to buy a gift and Christmas is the ideal time.

Consumers expect premium products to last for many years, especially when it is a gift, that is why Magimix products are a clear winner with a 30 year motor warranty.”

Uniden home security and incar products historically perform well during Christmas, according to marketing communications manager, Brad Hales. “Our newly launched and upgraded wire-free home security camera, the App Cam Solo+, will be a popular gift for consumers who are already adopting a ‘smart home’ set-up around the home and looking to integrate app accessible security products,” he said.

Brad Hales – Uniden.

“For car enthusiasts, the Uniden smart dash cam has all the latest tech features that drivers are looking for, providing extra vehicle security and assistance on the road. Vehicle owners can also benefit from an additional rear camera on the Uniden 50R and 70R iGO models, providing a complete viewing angle for incidents that occur behind the vehicle,” he added.

Panasonic expects an uplift in audio visual sales in the lead up to Christmas, and this year in particular, will see greater demand for smart functionality.

“There has been an explosion of voiceassisted products and this is reflected in our latest range with the launch of our SC-GA10 Google Assistant speakers,” category manager for AV and imaging, Doug Campbell said. AR

Arriving Spring 2018 SMAS18903

sicilyismylove.com.au

AR CHRISTMAS Braun Baby MQ523

RANGES

No shortage of choice or variety

T

here are a number of new products coming out of the De’Longhi portfolio in time for Christmas.

For Kenwood, the Chef XL stand mixers in new colours and Multi Smart thermocooker will take centre stage.

Rather than create additional SKUs in the range, Braun has developed Braun Baby to engage with consumers entering a new life stage and grow the hand blender category.

The Braun Baby MQ5 (RRP $199) due to launch in November will come with a 600mL beaker, 300mL chopper and specially designed baby spatula and bonus baby food freezer container.

The latest addition to the De’Longhi benchtop range is the MultiGrill Easy (RRP $99) jaffle maker that fits two seal sandwiches, has removable die cast grill plates, vertical storage lock system and cord storage. It comes with the option of additional grill and waffle plates.

Breville Bambino Plus Coffee Machine BES500BSS

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

De’Longhi will also launch the 1kg Manual Idealfry Air Fryer (RRP $229) in October with a 1400 watt upper element and 300 watt lower element, four power levels, countdown timer with alarm, and lid with viewing window.

No meal is complete without coffee and the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus fully automatic coffee machine (RRP $1,499) will deliver café quality coffee when launched in October.

Features include a 3.5 inch TFT full touch colour display, 15 bar pump, Thermoblock heating system, patented brewing unit, conical burr grinder and 13 grind settings. The smart one touch system remembers the most frequently selected recipes and lists them first on the display. The machine is supported by the De’Longhi Coffee Link app.

In the comfort category, De’Longhi will introduce a multifunctional air purifier, heater and cooler (RRP $699) with 3D Comfort Air technology, 10 cooling settings and six heating settings.

It incorporates the Coanda affect for optimal non-directional airflow. It also boasts a HEPA 10 filter to purify 99.9% of particles and a 2000 watt ceramic heating element.

The much-anticipated Smeg Sicily is my Love collection, in partnership with Dolce & Gabbana, comprises a kettle, two-slice toaster, bench blender and citrus juicer. The kettle (RRP $799) features a 1.7 litre capacity, soft opening lid, limescale filter, automatic shut

Magimix Cook Expert

Ninja CT682SP Intellisense Kitchen System

Arriving Spring 2018

SMAS18904

sicilyismylove.com.au

AR CHRISTMAS

KitchenAid Limited Edition Misty Blue Stand Mixer Tefal Multicook & Grains

off and 360 degree swivel base. The two-slice toaster (RRP $799) features six browning levels, reheat, defrost and bagel functions, automatic centring racks and backlit buttons.

The blender (RRP $1,099) has four speeds, three pre-set programs, smooth start function, detachable stainless steel dual blades and transparent lid with measuring cup. It also sports an 800 watt motor, 1.5 litre Tritan BPAfree jug and overload motor protection.

The citrus juicer (RRP $799) has a 70 watt motor, Tritan lid and juicing bowl, anti-slip feet, automatic activation, stainless steel reamer, strainer and anti-drip spout.

In comparison to The Boss blender, the new super blenders from Breville are 25% faster, up to 40% quieter, green smoothies have 10% less pulp and cold to hot soup is 30% faster to make.

The Q and the Super Q both come with a two litre durable Tritan jug and a 700ml Tritan Cup with the Super Q blender, eliminating the need for a separate personal blender, thanks to its Sensor Pitcher Recognition feature which senses the jug capacity and adjusts the programs to suit the capacity of the jug installed.

The Q super blender has 2400 watts, five programs, five speeds, seven year motor warranty and will be available in Smoked Hickory. The flagship Super Q super blender (RRP $999.95) comes with the Vac Q, has 12 speed texture control, six one touch 46

Appliance Retailer September 2018

programs, an LCD display, 10 year motor warranty and will be available in Stainless Steel.

Breville will also expand its coffee machine range to attract a younger customer demographic with an affordable coffee machine that does not compromise on quality. The Bambino Plus coffee machine (RRP $599.95) is ideal for smaller kitchen spaces with its compact footprint.

Features include automatic milk texturing, fast three second heat up, digital temperature control and automatic cleaning.

The Bambino Plus will be available in Stainless Steel, Black Truffle and new Sea Salt colour variants to complement the Luxe collection.

Breville has traditionally owned the snack category since the launch of the first jaffle maker in 1974 and continues to innovate to maintain growth. The new Breville Power Toastie (RRP $69.95) features safety auto shut off, A Bit More setting and countdown timer.

The Breville Omelette Maker range has also been refreshed with the new Omelette Maker - Light + Fluffy (RRP $69.95) that can make two large omelettes. For the first time, Breville has launched a Breville-branded pancake maker, the Quick Stack (RRP $69.95) that can make four large 130mm pancakes.

KitchenAid will start its 100 year anniversary celebrations in October with the release of a limited edition

Misty Blue stand mixer (RRP $1,299).

There will be just 1,000 units available across Australia and New Zealand with a custom retro designed 100 year trim band and hub cover.

Consumers will receive a commemorative 4.7 litre ceramic bowl with unique 100 year engraving, in addition to a 4.8 litre stainless steel bowl for more heavy duty, day to day use. A commemorative 100 year anniversary leaflet will also be included.

KitchenAid will also introduce an automatic sifter with scale stand mixer attachment (RRP $249) for the passionate baker. It features a four cup hopper capacity, digital scale, flow control lever and swivel chute.

“Precision is key in the baking process as there can be up to 28% variation when consumers measure ingredients by cup versus using a scale,” Filiz Bensan said.

KitchenAid will also be launching a metal food grinder (RRP $219) to add to the existing plastic food grinder.

Users can choose between large, medium and fine grinding. Specialty stainless steel bowl tools will also be available separately.

KitchenAid’s new mini food processor/chopper is available in a 3.5 cup capacity (RRP $169) with two speeds plus pulse, locking clasp system with hinged lid, in-bowl storage and wrap around cord. The mini food processor/chopper also comes in 7 and 9 cup capacity with dough blade, stainless steel multipurpose blade, slicing and reversible shredding discs.

An ideal gift for families who want to waste less food is the new Sunbeam

FoodSaver VS7850 Controlled Seal Vacuum Sealer (RRP $299). Keeping food fresh up to five times longer, the compact design has one touch operation, on-board roll storage and in-lid design cutter. It also features a speedy marinate program, moist foods setting and in-built accessory hose for FoodSaver containers and zipper bags.

Sunbeam is also introducing the Barista Max coffee machine EM5300 (RRP $699) in time for Christmas with Tap & Go integrated grinder, powerful steam wand for micro-foam milk, Temp IQ Shot Control and café size 58mm group head and handle.

Delivering benefits traditionally only seen in a conventional oven, the Whirlpool Crisp N Grill convection microwave allows consumers to quickly roast meat, bake cakes, crisp potatoes, steam rice and vegetables, fry eggs, make a pizza and toast a sandwich. The ChefMenu function features a series of built-in recipes for consumers to achieve exceptional results at the touch of a button.

At GAF Control, the hero Maxim products include the new MU08 Stainless Steel Urn for coffee and tea and MTG200 Teppanyaki Grill for burgers, sausages, steak, fish and more.

The flagship Tiffany product is the vacuum food saver with cordless and portable vacuum handle. Two storage containers, three small bags and three large bags are included. The Heller ACC80 Cooler Cart is perfect for alfresco areas when entertaining.

It features an 80 litre capacity, double opening lid, integrated bottle opener and cap collector.

The new Tefal Power Grill features fast heat up, a large 2-in-1 surface that is one half grill plate and other half flat plate. With Tefal’s Thermospot technology, the indicator turns to a

Uniden App Cam Solo+ solid red when the grilling surface is preheated and ready to cook. An adjustable thermostat ensures the cooking temperature can be changed accordingly for all types of food. Grill plate and drip tray are fully detachable and dishwasher safe.

THERMO SENSE TECHNOLOGY ON THE UNIDEN APP CAM SOLO+ PROVIDES USERS

WITH MORE RELIABLE MOTION DETECTION NOTIFICATIONS

WHEN USING THE UNIDEN APP. The new Ninja Intellisense Kitchen System, launching in October, hopes to set a new benchmark in the food preparation category. With four vessels, it can blend, spiralise, process and crush with pre-set smart programs.

Vitamix has introduced the first high-performance blenders with wireless, Self-Detect technology, with the Ascent Series A2300i, the latest addition and entry level Vitamix with a new built in timer.

The Cook Expert marked Magimix’s entry into the all-inone cooking machine category. As consumers look to consolidate their appliances to allow for maximum bench space, recent advancements with the new food processor include dicing, spiralising, juicing among others.

And small appliances won't be the only gifts filling Christmas stockings this year.

The App Cam Solo+ is the new hero product for Uniden as it replaces the App Cam Solo. Thermo Sense technology provides users with more reliable motion detection notifications when using the Uniden app. A completely wire-free solution, the App Cam Solo+ includes a rechargeable battery and can be charged directly via power outlet or with the optional Uniden Solar Panel accessory.

The Uniden Smart Dash Cam range with quick and easy plug-andplay setup is also expected to be a popular gift.

When it comes to home entertainment, the Panasonic SCGA10 smart speaker is compatible with Google Assistant to control compatible smart devices and supports all major music streaming apps. New voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant smart speakers will be available on Panasonic’s FZ950 OLED TV before Christmas. AR Panasonic SC-GA10 Smart Speaker

Tefal Power Grill CB658B www.applianceretailer.com.au

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AR CHRISTMAS

De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Coffee Machine `` 3.5 inch TFT full touch colour display `` LatteCrema system `` Perfect Milk Foam technology `` Thermoblock heating system

RRP:

$1,499

De’Longhi: 1800 126 659 Accompanied by the De’Longhi Coffee Link app, users can remotely program settings, create user profiles, personalise beverages and read advice and tips.

Smeg Sicily Is My Love Collection `` 1.7 litre capacity kettle with 360 degree swivel base `` Two slice toaster with six browning levels `` Four speed blender with three pre-set programs `` 70 watt citrus juicer with stainless steel reamer, strainer and anti-drip spout

RRP: Kettle: $799 / Toaster: $799

Blender: $1,099 / Citrus Juicer: $799 Smeg: 02 8867 4888

PRODUCT GALLERY

Kenwood Chef XL Sense Stand Mixer Ultra Violet (KQL6200V) `` 1400 watt motor `` 6.7 litre bowl capacity `` Dedicated bowl tools `` Over 20 accompanying attachments available separately

RRP: $749

De’Longhi: 1800 126 659 The next generation Chef XL Sense is available in new metallic colours with the same premium functionality Kenwood stand mixers are known for.

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Appliance Retailer September 2018

The Dolce & Gabbana collection comprises a kettle, two slice toaster, bench blender and citrus juicer, which have already won numerous international design awards.

FEATURE

Barbecues & Alfresco Dining OUTLOOK | TRENDS | RANGES | PRODUCT GALLERY

Merging the rich history of charcoal cooking with precise technology and a modern design aesthetic, the latest revolution in outdoor cooking has arrived.

AR BARBECUES & ALFRESCO DINING

OUTLOOK

Charcoal cooking takes centre stage

T

he Australian barbecue market experienced 2% growth in value year-onyear with charcoal formats continuing to cannibalise sales from gas formats, Euromonitor data has confirmed.

“Australians are increasingly learning more ways to cook on their barbecues, seeking a slow cooking experience for meats as well as a smoky flavour,” research analyst, Jorge Rosas said.

“Charcoal barbecues are expected to keep growing over the next year,

BY EMILY BENCIC benefiting from an increased interest in an outdoor cooking experience as consumers continue to be influenced

by TV cooking shows, social media and new product launches,” he said.

Since the launch of the Everdure

by Heston Blumenthal barbecue range, Shriro has seen considerable growth in charcoal cooking, despite the Australian market being historically skewed to gas. “We see more and more people looking to explore cooking with charcoal to achieve that unique flavour,” general manager for housewares, Anthony Hill said.

“It is a different cooking experience when using charcoal. The open flames allow users to add a variety of flavours to food by adding wood smoking chips, fresh herbs, citrus leaves or different types of charcoal that inspire consumers to get more creative in the backyard.”

In addition to barbecues, this feature will cover outdoor refrigeration, rangehoods and multifunctional products as alfresco areas become an important part of new home builds and renovations with a dedicated budget and are no longer considered an after-thought. AR

www.everdurebyheston.com.au/product/4k

TRENDS

Outdoor appliances deliver consistent sales

S

hriro continues to see good growth for its Everdure

by Heston Blumenthal barbecue range, as it enters its third season in the Australian market. The range is currently being launched and expanded in the US and Europe.

“We see people wanting to expand their options with outdoor cooking and flavour profiles,” Anthony Hill said.

“We are also seeing more joint decision making in the purchase process, where the barbecue now has to offer

Anthony Hill – Shriro.

functionality as well as design appeal to the whole family. Outdoor cooking is no longer designated to one family member, so the units need to offer ease of use and easy cleaning.”

GBI Sales has experienced considerable growth in the alfresco market with barbecue rangehoods in high demand. However, director, Wayne Marshall warned if not installed correctly, the rangehoods will not perform to their optimum. “We recommend a number of qualified installers across the country and

service agents who can repair the rangehoods in the event of a service requirement,” he said.

Barbecues and alfresco appliances are stand out performers in the Eurolinx portfolio with a comprehensive product offering from Artusi including a built-in barbecue, barbecue rangehood, bar and retro refrigerators, outdoor sinks and an outdoor wok to be released later in 2018 to complete the range.

But marketing manager, Daniel Bertuccio said built-in barbecues are the talk of the town as kitchen space becomes more integrated. “Consumers are demanding a stylish product that seamlessly fits into a modern indoor or outdoor design instead of the typical big block stainless steel freestanding barbecue we are accustomed to.”

Thermofilm has made its debut in the barbecue category with the new range of Crossray barbecues, designed for consumers who want to produce professional quality food with a timesaving solution.

“Consumer feedback and research suggests that there is significant demand

Wayne Marshall – GBI Sales.

Daniel Bertuccio – Eurolinx.

for something new in the market,” national sales manager, Greg Trezise said. “Barbecues is a very competitive category but most major players only introduce minor enhancements to design, control or burner sizes, rather than new and patented technology.”

Alfresco areas are becoming a standard inclusion in any home renovation, according to Arisit marketing coordinator, Anthony Freeland. “We are seeing an influx of specialty cooking products designed for outdoors. Sales are constant with outdoor entertaining embedded in the Australian lifestyle, not only in summer, but also autumn and winter with the use of fireplaces and other heating products.” He said the category is also enjoying increases in average sell prices (ASPs) as the outdoor kitchen becomes just as important as the indoor kitchen.

BeefEater category manager, Dominic Wong has seen a growing trend toward mobile barbecues for outdoor cooking. “This is in response to consumers wanting to barbecue all year round,” he said. AR

AR BARBECUES & ALFRESCO DINING

Barbecues, rangehoods, refrigerators and more

T

hree new products have been introduced to the Everdure by Heston Blumenthal barbecue range from Shriro. The flagship 4K – the world’s first charcoal electric outdoor oven – offers a variety of cooking options, including low ‘n’ slow smoking, roasting, baking, open grilling and high temperature cooking up to 400 degrees Celsius.

Features include a cool-touch exterior, touch glass control panel and fuel efficiency with 300 grams of charcoal offering up to three hours cooking time. A Bluetooth app, integrated temperature probes and four meat probes provide knowledge of what is inside without the need to open the hood.

The app alerts users when meat has reached the ideal internal temperature.

The 4K is available in a choice of five colours (Graphite, Mint, Orange, Stone and Red) for an RRP of $2,699.

It comes with a 10 year warranty and additional accessories are available.

Another new product in the range is Hub II (RRP $2,299). An addition to the charcoal range, this new model

Crossray Four Burner Trolley Barbecue 52

Appliance Retailer September 2018

RANGES

Excelsior Wall Mounted Barbecue Rangehood CXWB14802

4K – THE WORLD’S FIRST

CHARCOAL ELECTRIC OUTDOOR OVEN –OFFERS A VARIETY OF COOKING OPTIONS,

INCLUDING LOW ‘N’ SLOW

SMOKING, ROASTING, BAKING, OPEN GRILLING AND HIGH

TEMPERATURE COOKING UP TO 400 DEGREES CELSIUS.

features a world-first electronic height adjustable rotisserie system, operated by the press of a button. Other features include a slide out storage shelf, black firebox and titanium coating to some components.

The new Outdoor Prep Kitchen (RRP $999) in the Everdure by Heston Blumenthal range is a completely mobile preparation kitchen module that incorporates chopping boards, condiment containers, segmented organic and trash bins, slide out shelf, as well as storage and hanging areas for tools and other kitchen accessories.

GBI Sales recently released new infrared outdoor heaters with a unique offering of ceramic glass models.

Made with German engineered Schott Nextrema glass, the flagship ceramic glass series is available in wall and ceiling mounted options.

The range features three heat settings, standby mode, an adjustable timer, aluminium alloy casing and all models are suitable for indoor and outdoor environments with easy DIY installation and an IP65 waterproof rating. The RRPs for the wall mounted model and ceiling mounted model are $399 and $499, respectively.

Everdure by Heston Blumenthal launches the 4K The complete outdoor cooking solution with world-first innovations Following the successful launch of his award-winning line of grills with Everdure, Heston Blumenthal has released a new outdoor oven within the range, the 4K. Merging the rich history of charcoal cooking with precise technology and a modern design aesthetic, the latest revolution in outdoor cooking has arrived, with a cool-to-touch exterior body and adjustable air flow. The integrated oven temperature probes are accompanied by four meat probes that give users exact temperature graphs and knowledge of what’s happening inside the unit via the accompanying Bluetooth app so users can monitor their meal. The app also provides alerts to let you know when your meat has reached the ideal internal temperature.

Taking versatility to the next level, closed-hood cooking allows consumers to smoke foods or use the low ‘n’ slow method to cook meats to perfection, while open-hood cooking is ideal for quick and direct grilling. The 4K can also be used to cook pizzas.

Everdure by Heston Blumenthal developed the world’s most convenient charcoal ignition system (Fast Flame Ignition

www.everdurebyheston.com.au/product/4k

SystemTM) and have enhanced that technology with a simple touch glass control. The side reloading hatch allows users to reload charcoal during the cooking process with minimal disruption or loss of heat.

With safety in mind, the 4K has been built to remain cool-to-touch at roasting temperatures (180200°C) thanks to double-walled construction and insulation. A cast aluminium outer body prevents rust and corrosion whilst the inner black enamelled steel makes for easy cleaning. When closed, the hood automatically locks and is reopened by the release button.

Riser grill accessories can be purchased separately to increase the cooking area and cook different ingredients on different levels at the same time.

“The 4K is the ultimate cooking solution for the outdoors, combining yesterday’s wisdom with tomorrow’s innovation,” Heston Blumenthal said.

The 4K is available in a choice of five colours – Graphite, Mint, Orange, Stone and Red – to complement any alfresco area and comes with a 10 year warranty.

AR BARBECUES & ALFRESCO DINING GBI will continue to hero its Excelsior barbecue rangehoods, also available in wall and ceiling mounted styles. They are made from quality 316 marine grade stainless steel with double chamber internal motors that deliver powerful yet quiet extraction.

The rangehoods also feature a digital display, three speed settings, light control, 24 hour clock, delay shut off timer and remote control. The cooking surface is illuminated by super bright LED lighting.

Artusi has launched a slimline gloss black built-in barbecue (ABBQ1B) with four stainless steel burners, two ribbed griddle plates, side knob controls and cast-iron plate.

Users have the choice of two hoods – a dome hood or flat barbecue lid to suit all outdoor spaces. All Artusi products now offer a five year warranty.

Additional colours and finishes will be introduced to the range at a later date.

An alfresco area is not complete without a refrigerator and Artusi is capitalising on the resurgence of the retro trend with its latest range of refrigerators in black, white and red for an RRP of $1,699. A first for the brand, the range offers a retro design on the exterior with modern features on the interior including a wine drawer, LED lighting, static cooling and added freezer section.

Dimplex Space Grill Barbecue BBQ0502

THE ARTUSI SLIMLINE GLOSS BLACK BUILT-IN BARBECUE

(ABBQ1B) HAS FOUR STAINLESS STEEL BURNERS, TWO RIBBED GRIDDLE PLATES, SIDE KNOB

CONTROLS AND CAST-IRON PLATE. BeefEater Signature Mobile Barbecue SL4000

54

Appliance Retailer September 2018

Eurolinx’s Daniel Bertuccio said consumers are embracing what would be considered a mixed style that combines modern with a touch of retro. “The retro style is accented through a pop of colour or a statement appliance or furniture piece. Today every kitchen needs a stand out colourful product; this was commonly a small appliance, such as a toaster and kettle, but now larger appliances are taking the lead.”

Thermofilm will launch the awardwinning Crossray infrared barbecues in Harvey Norman and independent barbecue specialist stores nationally.

Thanks to its patented burner technology, the burners are mounted at an angle and as a result, it is the only barbecue that can provide controllable, even heat from 110 degrees to nearly 400 degrees Celsius, while using 50% less gas when compared to a conventional unit.

The two-piece upper level provides an extra 60% of cooking surface, ideal for roasting large meats including chicken, beef and ribs. Cleaning is made easy as users simply need to run the barbecue on high for 10 minutes to reduce clean-up with most food residue being burnt off. There are four barbecues in the range – two trolley and two in-built models with the choice of two burners or four burners.

Glen Dimplex is a recent entrant to the barbecue market after taking on the distribution of Space Grill.

Australia’s Best

Barbeque Rangehoods

• Sleek & Modern Design

Made from quality 316 Marine grade stainless steel for a lustrous finish and to provide protection against the Australian outdoor elements.

• Ultra Quiet Powerful Motors

The double chamber internal motors deliver a powerful yet quiet 1300m³ hr extraction of cooking smoke and odours. Available with 2 and 3 motor models.

• Touch Screen Control Panel

Featuring digital display, 3 speed settings, light control, 24hr clock, delay shut-off timer & remote control.

• Super Bright LED Lighting

Energy efficient illumination of your cooking surface.

Distributed in Australia by GBI Sales Pty Ltd 78 Mallard Way CANNINGTON WA 6107 Phone: (08) 9478 0466 Fax: (08) 9478 0470 Email: info@gbi.com.au Website: www.gbi.com.au

AR BARBECUES & ALFRESCO DINING

THE FLAGSHIP CAPITAL BARBECUE SPORTS A SPRING ASSISTED LID FOR EASY LIFTING AND FLUSH

MOUNTED INFRARED ROTISSERIE MOTOR FOR A CLEAN AESTHETIC.

Capital Built-In Barbecue ACG52RBI

56

Appliance Retailer September 2018

A full-sized three-burner grill, the Space Grill has a patented hinging system and fully opens or folds away in just 10 seconds. Made from high grade stainless steel, the storage cover of the barbecue doubles as a splashback and heat shield, while the patented internal drip system seals the unit.

The hot plate has an anti-stick ceramic nano-coating and the sides are double skinned to reduce heat transfer.

Over at Arisit, the focus is on responding to cooking trends. In particular, there has been increasing popularity in American smoked meats and slow roasting. To meet this demand, a smoker box is available as an accessory on Capital barbecues.

Features of the flagship Capital barbecue (ACG52RBI) include three stainless steel W-shaped precision burners, high power ceramic infrared zone burner and stainless steel teppanyaki grill plate. It also sports a spring assisted lid for easy lifting and flush mounted infrared rotisserie motor for a clean aesthetic.

BeefEater barbecues boast functional and stylish design, excellent durability and features to suit all cooking styles. The Signature SL4000 five burner mobile barbecue (BS30060) has an integrated stainlesssteel convection roasting hood with on-board temperature gauge and warming rack. For added peace of mind, each burner has a blue safety LED light which remains lit while the knob is turned on. RRP is $6,399.

The Signature ProLine built-in with hood (BSH158SA) includes hood and flame failure device. Six burners ensure precise heat distribution, while the cast hotplate is designed to fit over the four centre burners. Cleaning is quick and easy with the intensive cleaning cycle.

Users open the barbecue hood or lid, remove stainless steel attachments and turn on burners to boost level. In 30 minutes, cooking residue will turn to ash. RRP is $3,199. AR

Everdure by Heston Blumenthal 4K `` Touch glass control panel `` Supported by Bluetooth app `` Integrated temperature probes `` Cool-touch exterior

RRP: $2,699

ExcelAir Ceramic Glass Series Wall Mounted Heater EOHA22GR `` Remote control included `` Three heat settings `` Automatic turn off between one and three hours `` IP65 waterproof rating

Made with German engineered Schott Nextrema glass, this heater has a 304 stainless steel wall bracket that can be mounted outdoors or indoors for year round comfort.

RRP: $399

GBI Sales: 1300 710 860

Shriro: 02 9415 5000 Consumers have endless cooking options with the world’s first charcoal electric outdoor oven from low ‘n’ slow smoking, roasting and baking to open grilling and high temperature cooking.

PRODUCT GALLERY

Artusi Built-In Barbecue ABBQ1B `` Side control knobs `` Interchangeable grill positions `` Removable oil/fat reservoir `` Flame failure device fitted to each burner

Finished in matte black enamel, this barbecue features four burners, automatic Piezo ignition, one cast-iron flat plate and two cast-iron griddle plates. It comes with a five year warranty.

RRP: $2,199

Eurolinx: 1300 694 583

www.applianceretailer.com.au

57

AR WHAT'S HOT

Crossray BBQ

Crossray BBQs are a result of 10 years of technological innovation and development. The design challenge was to create something truly new in the market, to make barbecuing easier, smarter and better. The range redefines the outdoor gas BBQ by creating even heat over the entire cooking area for full control and to avoid flare ups. Crossray BBQs can also function as an infrared oven in the way of a traditional wood fired stove, act as a pizza oven, outdoor oven, long slow smoker and BBQ grill. It is the only BBQ that can provide controllable, even heat from 100°C to nearly 400°C, while using 50% less gas than a similar sized conventional unit.

RRP: From $1,199

Crossray: 03 9562 3455

Breville the Super Q and Blender Vac

An evolution of the Boss super blender, the Super Q defines Breville’s entry into vacuum blending and is a first for the Australian domestic blending market. Vacuum blending extracts oxygen from the blender jug to ensure the integrity of ingredients isn’t compromised, resulting in more intense flavour and colour and extended longevity. It comes with two jugs – a traditional blender jug for home use and a travel jug for personal blending. Pitcher Recognition technology means the blender swaps between each jug with ease. Other features include six one touch programs (Green Smoothie, Milk Smoothie, Hot Soup, Ice Crush, Frozen Dessert and Auto Clean), 2400 watt motor and LCD display with timer control.

RRP: $999.95

Breville: 1300 139 798

Miele WT1 Series Washer-Dryer

The first washer-dryer with Miele’s exclusive integrated TwinDos automatic detergent dispensing system. TwinDos ensures effective removal of stains and achieves detergent savings of up to 30%. The WT1 washer-dryer series can wash and dry 4kg of laundry in less than three hours without any manual intervention. This is made possible by the Miele PowerWash 2.0 process that wets laundry faster through spray action, short interim spin cycles and precision-load dependent controls. The washer-dryer also features a delay start function, program manager for customisation and SteamCare which reduces the need for ironing by up to 50% or can freshen up garments.

RRP: From $3,499

Miele: 1300 644 122 58

Appliance Retailer September 2018

COMPANY INDEX AR COMPANY

PAGE #

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.....................................10 Amazon............................................................................................................... 9 Arisit............................................................................................................51, 56 Betta Stores Retail......................................................................................12, 13 BSH...................................................................................................................14 Bi-Rite................................................................................................................. 7 Breville................................................................................................. 40, 46, 58 De’Longhi..................................29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 44, 48, OBC Dyson................................................................................................... 32, 33, 35 Electrolux....................................................................................................51, 56 Eurolinx................................................................................................ 51, 54, 57 Euromonitor......................................................................................... 18, 28, 50 Fisher & Paykel..................................................................................................15 Fujitsu General....................................................... 8, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 26, 27 GAF Control..............................................................................32, 34, 36, 42, 47 GBI Sales..................................................................... 32, 34, 36, 51, 52, 55, 57 GfK...........................................................................................................8, 18, 28 Glen Dimplex...........................................................................24, 29, 34, 36, 54 Groupe SEB.......................................................................................... 38, 42, 47 Hisense......................................................................................................IFC, 16 JB Hi-Fi................................................................................................................ 6 Jura..................................................................................................................... 9 KitchenAid........................................................................................... 11, 40, 46 Kogan................................................................................................................10 Leading Edge Group.........................................................................................27 LG................................................................................................................20, 24 Magimix......................................................................................................42, 47 Mann & Noble.............................................................................................42, 47 Miele.......................................................................................................7, 15, 58 Milners........................................................................................................32, 34 Mitsubishi Electric.......................................... 19, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 35 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries...................................................19, 22, 25, 26, 27 Narta............................................................................................................12, 13 Panasonic.................................................................................20, 24, 27, 42, 47 Shriro.................................................................................49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 57 Smeg........................................................................................40, 43, 44, 45, 48 Sunbeam.............................................................................................. 38, 42, 46 Teco.............................................................................................................20, 24 Thermofilm.......................................................................................... 51, 54, 58 Uniden..............................................................................................................42 Vitamix........................................................................................................42, 47 Winning Group................................................................................................... 6 Whirlpool....................................................................................... 14, 38, 42, 47

Christmas Feature, see page 37

READERSHIP GROUPS

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