CatsCats extends free ad service for job seekers

To help those who have been made redundant or are otherwise looking for a new post, CataloguesCatalogues is now offering two week, “position wanted” advertisements at zero cost in the enewsletter’s Talent Shop section. In addition those from a supplier-side background can now have their ads included in the fortnightly Supplier Update enewsletter. The adverts will also be posted on CataloguesCatalogues.com and in the Careerzone section of ECMOD360.co.uk. To take up the opportunity, those seeking work are asked to submit a 30-word profile summarising their experience. For more information or to submit an ad, contact Jenny Squire on 01271 866112 or email jenny@ecmod.com.

Disappointing Numbers for Premier Farnell

Components distributor Premier Farnell posted a 1-per cent increase in annual revenue, to £808.4 million for the year ended 1st February, and a 2-per cent increase in profit before taxes, to £72.8 million. But fourth-quarter profits tumbled by 36 per cent, to £13 million pre tax, and the company now plans to cut costs another 2 per cent. Premier Farnell already reduced its workforce by 4 per cent in the past year.

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Other news

BookRabbit Parent Enters Administration

ArgentVive, the parent company of online booksellers BookRabbit.com and SamedayBooks.com, is in administration. Administrators David Rubin & Partners hope to sell the business, which includes two stores, as a whole or as separate entities. BookRabbit, a social networking site as well as an etailer, only just launched, with much fanfare, last May.

Another Spin-off for Screwfix

Tools cataloguer/retailer Screwfix is launching another spin-off title, Electricfix, catering to electricians. The book is expected to mail next week. Screwfix launched Plumbfix, a speciality title targeting plumbers, last year. In related news, Peter Jackson, chairman of Screwfix parent company Kingfisher, will retire after the group’s annual general meeting on 3rd June. His successor is Daniel Bernard, currently deputy chairman.

Niman Acquires Competitor Rocom

Telecoms distributor Niman has purchased rival firm Rocom for £12.45 million. Both companies sell online; Rocom also produces a print catalogue. The combined business will have a turnover approaching £100 million and 400 staff.

WrapIt Director Readies New Venture

Peter Gelardi, managing director of failed online gifts registry WrapIt, is preparing to launch a new ecommerce site next week. Please&ThankYou will sell discounted designer home and garden products. But although the new venture was formed under the auspices of Amroth, of which Gelardi is a director, he says he does not have a formal position with Please&ThankYou. After WrapIt went into administration last summer, many customers complained that gifts they had paid for were never despatched to the intended recipients.

New Arcandor CEO Warns of Potential Divestitures

Karl-Gerhard Eick, who replaced Thomas Middelhoff as CEO of Arcandor on 1st March, warned that he would divest of brands that fall short of expectations. Germany-based Arcandor’s properties include travel company Thomas Cook and the Primondo stable of catalogues, among them Elegance, Peter Hahn, and Quelle.

Bravissimo Founder Awarded MBE

Brava to Bravissimo founder Sarah Tremellen, who last week collected an MBE for services to entrepreneurship. Tremellen launched the lingerie catalogue business 11 years ago.

ECMOD Awards shortlist released

The names of the companies that have been successful in reaching the shortlist for the ECMOD Awards for their 2008 performance have just been released. The final winners will be announced on 2nd April when trophies are presented by TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan at the ECMOD Gala Dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Only rarely extended, the evening will also see the presentation of an ECMOD Lifetime Achievement Award. The short list and further information about the ECMOD Awards can be found at ecmod360.co.uk/awards

Coming in the April issue of Catalogue e-business

• Special focus on the distribution centre: a 12-step cost-cutting plan, picking practices, warehouse automation, and our annual operations software roundup.
• Step by step: How Foot Shop has grown from a niche cataloguer to a multititle, multichannel merchant – and an ecommerce and fulfilment provider to boot.
• How to remove the dross from your house file.
• Q&A with The Hut Group’s CEO, a review of the Seraphine catalogue, the latest news, and much more.