ECMOD Lifetime Achievement Award for Swabey

A packed ballroom at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on 2nd April saw Scotts & Co CEO and Catalogue Exchange founder Nigel Swabey presented with the ECMOD Lifetime Achievement Award. Sterling Marketing’s Rosemary Stockdale handed over the trophy following a tribute to Swabey delivered by TV broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan. Murnaghan revealed the highlights of a 40 year career which, in addition to the development of multi-brand business Scotts & Co via new launches and acquisitions, included past achievements like the development and launch of Kaleidoscope and the iconic Innovations brand. Focus was also placed on Swabey’s contribution to the burgeoning not for profit trade body Catalogue Exchange for which he has been the driving force since its conception. The ECMOD Lifetime Achievement Award is only rarely presented with previous recipients including Jim Martin on his retirement from N Brown Group, the late Michele Kershaw who had held the post of customer director at Lakeland Limited, Sir David Jones for his decades of work at Next, and Direct Wines/Laithwaites founder & chairman Tony Laithwaite.

Amy Africa & Stephan Spencer wow Catalogue Exchange members

More than 200 delegates from Catalogue Exchange member and guest companies flocked to the Cat X Factor conference staged by the not for profit trade body on 2nd April. Africa launched into a no holds barred critique of a number of websites pre-submitted by the audience pointing out what needed to be rectified to bring them up to scratch. Spencer, a world leading SEO expert, focused on demystifying SEO and suggesting ways in which website owners could dramatically improve performance. The next Catalogue Exchange event is its Annual Summit which takes place on June 3rd at Kensington Town Hall. For more information please click here.

In addition Amy Africa has pledged a website critique valued at $15,000 for auction in support of the ECMOD Awards nominated charity Macmillan Cancer Support. So enter your bid now - it has to be in by 3.00pm on Friday 17th April. Simply download the form, fill it out and fax back to the ECMOD Awards team on 01271 866040.

Robert Dyas rescued by MBO

After protracted negotiations, a buyout team led by Steven Round and Ian Gray has acquired the Robert Dyas home hardware business in a move which will safeguard 1200 jobs. The business trades from more than 100 stores and sells online.

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Other news

Findel closes Cotswold Company & Letterbox

After a strategic review Findel has taken the decision to cease operations for its Cotswold Company and Letterbox brands in a bid to stem rising losses. The brands which had been acquired in recent years had been operated by Findel Direct. Some 60 jobs are expected to go as the business merges the administrative functions for remaining Findel Direct brands with those of its main home shopping business.

Mothercare reports growth in UK sales

Mothercare has reported its 15th consecutive quarter of like for like UK sales growth. The 11 weeks to March 28 saw its sales grow by 3.7 per cent but the business admitted that margins had tightened. CEO Ben Gordon pointed out that people continue to spend on their children even when they have stopped spending on themselves and that people are a little better off than they were last year.

From gloom to bloom

Spring has sprung for direct sellers of garden plants as well as for their garden centre counterparts. Demand has been so great this March, due to bright, dry weather conditions, that stocks of plant plugs and bedding plants are running out in many quarters. Some sellers are reporting that sales are up by 50 per cent over March 2008 and showing no sign of abating. This was confirmed by Martin Harvey of Marshalls Garden Catalogues who received the ECMOD Award for the garden supplies category last week and who said that both Marshalls and other direct businesses have been rushed off their feet. Demand for vegetable seeds, fruit bushes and plants was particularly strong as more consumers opt to grow their own.

Royal Mail attracts Deutsche Post

Deutsche Post is now believed to have held talks with Royal Mail with a view to acquiring a stake in the business. The proposed sale by the Government has been mired in controversy with former front runner TNT having admitted to tax irregularities – and members of parliament as well as union officials decrying the move as ill thought through.

Former GUS CEO flagged for Guardian Media Group role

John Peace is expected to be confirmed as chairman of Guardian Media Group. In his former role as chief executive of GUS, Peace had chaired Experian and Burberry.

Waterford Wedgwood asset sale

KPS Capital Partners has acquired Waterford Wedgwood’s long established catalogue business Cashs of Ireland via WWRD Holdings.

Darling admits he got it wrong