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Lombok acquired via prepack administration
Home furnishings cataloguer/retailer Lombok has been acquired as part of a prepack administration. Turnaround specialists Privet Capital and Paradigm are heading the consortium that bought the company’s name and assets. Fourteen of the company’s 19 stores will remain in business, saving 124 of Lombok’s 161 jobs.
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Promising fiscal news from Flying Brands
Flying Brands posted a 77.6-percent jump in profit before tax from ongoing business for the first half of the year. For the six months ended 3rd July, the parent company of Flying Flowers, Gardening Direct, and Listen2 posted pretax profit from ongoing business of £1.9 million, compared with £1.07 million a year ago. Sales from ongoing business fell 4 percent, to £18.2 million. The gardening division saw sales increase 1 percent, with spring sales up 8 percent. But sales fell 7 percent within the gifts division and 15 percent within the entertainment group. In its statement, Flying Brands said that in regards to Flying Flowers, “It is apparent that the rebranding exercise last year will not of itself be enough to return this brand to profitable customer growth and we are currently undertaking a more thorough review of our product range, pricing and marketing.”
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Other news...
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Double-digit gains at Ironmongery Direct
For the first half of 2009, Ironmongery Direct reported a 62-percent jump in operating profit and a 36-percent rise in turnover compared with last year. The cataloguer, which caters to the building trade, expects sales to exceed £10 million this year.
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Oli exits print
Oli, the Freemans Grattan Holdings womenswear merchant, will no longer produce a print catalogue or a customer magazine but instead will become an online-only brand, according to reports. Oli, which launched two years ago as a multichannel seller of apparel for women, men, and children and of home accessories, dropped its menswear and childrenswear ranges earlier this year.
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Systemax to buy WStore
US computer manufacturer/marketer Systemax is acquiring WStore Europe, a supplier of business IT products that operates in the UK and France. Systemax already trades under the Misco name in Europe.
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Waitrose starts selling John Lewis goods online
Supermarket Waitrose this week began selling homewares from sister company John Lewis on its website. The products, featured in the Homeshop section of WaitroseDeliver.com, can be delivered or collected from the customer’s local Waitrose store.
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Catalogue Exchange hires communications head
Naomi Dymond has joined industry organisation Catalogue Exchange as head of communications. A former journalist, Dymond is charged with raising the profile of the five-year-old not-for-profit group, which represents catalogue and online marketers.
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ECMOD2009 conference – Early bird offer ends 15th August!
This year's world-class multi-track conference has adopted the theme “Driving Profitability” and features over 60 top speakers from the US and UK. The conference covers all the burning issues, latest developments, new strategies and techniques for driving profitability in b2b and b2c enterprises. A full programme along with speakers and early bird rates are available to download here. Don’t miss out!
The latest companies confirmed to exhibit are APC Overnight, DHL Global Mail, Prima Solutions, Prospect Mailing Services, Stralfors & TNT Post UK. These join a raft of specialist suppliers getting ready to wow ECMOD visitors and delegates. Exciting new features for 2009 include the International Boulevard, Catalogue Exchange Village, and a custom built Deluxe Theatre which will accommodate free seminars. Companies interested in exhibiting should call Jill or Karen on 01271 866112 without delay to avoid disappointment.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest updates: twitter.com/ecmodshow. Visiting the exhibition is entirely free of charge and you can register to do so now and be kept abreast of all the special deals exhibitors are offering during the show.
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Supplier Awards entry form is now available for new categories
The entry form for the FOUR new categories for Suppliers to enter in this year's Catalogue Exchange/ECMOD Supplier Awards is now available to download here. The closing date for entries is Monday 7th September. These all-new specialist supplier awards are designed to highlight the incredible contribution that our valued supplier organisations bring to the catalogue & online trading sector.
We hope that client side executives throughout the sector will want to support this celebration by nominating those suppliers who have assisted their businesses throughout the year. Download the client nomination form here. All details must be personally completed by the nominating executive, be dated and signed and be able to be verified.
These sought after Awards will be presented at the official ECMOD HQ Hotel - The Copthorne Tara, Kensington, on 7th October. Tickets for the evening which, whilst not being fully black tie, does ask for smart evening dress are priced at £95 + vat per person or £950 + vat per table of ten for the full evening including dinner. These tickets are on sale now. There will also be tickets available for the evening’s cocktail reception & Awards presentation without dinner at £45 + vat per person. Please contact Sam or Leanne for further information on 0871 855 5545.
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The July Catalogue Log
Last month Catalogue e-business received 149 print catalogues. Of those, 56 percent promoted some sort of sale, discount, BOGOF, or other special offer on their front cover. What offers were most popular? Which catalogues had the most distinctive cover lines? Find out at the Catalogue e-business blog, CataBLOGue e-business.
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Nine tips to becoming social-media savvy
It’s safe to say that many of the people who disdain Twitter, Facebook, and other social media do so largely because they don’t understand how to make the most of the channels. To ensure that you’re not one of them, read how to avoid some common errors and reap the full potential of the media at catalog-biz.com.
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Coming Up in Catalogue e-business
- September issue: special focus on technology, plus ECMOD Preview supplement, with articles from speakers Amy Africa, Katy Howell, Ernie Schell, and others
- October issue: special focus on marketing 2.0 - mobile, social media, video, and more
For information about advertising, contact a Catalogue e-business sales executive on 01271 866112 or at sales@catalog-biz.com. To subscribe, contact Jill Sweet on 01271 866112 or at subs@catalog-biz.com. |
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| Books of the Week |
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The UK Catalogue & Home Shopping Market 2009
From the Organisers of ECMOD
Special Offer: now £275! (RRP £375)
Order >
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Accountable Marketing
Author: Peter J Rosenwald
£40.00 + P&P
Order >
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Advertise your latest vacancies in CataloguesCatalogues. Use this one stop medium to recruit best sector candidates. Click here for the latest rates or call us on 01271 866112.
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Head of Marketing and Online
Excellent salary plus car and bonus
Cambridgeshire
Marshalls Seeds is an award winning, market leading mail order company operating in the booming horticulture and gardening sector. As part of a major group, Marshalls is the undisputed leader in its market sector and renowned for its product innovation, customer service and catalogue marketing. It continues to enjoy substantial year on year growth in both sales and profits. As a result we now seek an individual to take charge of a seven figure marketing budget, play a critical role in helping the development of the company and make a significant contribution in doubling the turnover over the next three years.
Reporting to the Managing Director, you will manage a full-time team of 5 individuals and plan and oversee all marketing activity across the web, catalogue and other channels. Specifically you will plan and develop all campaigns, developing and implementing marketing programmes for catalogues and promotions, both online and offline. You will oversee e-commerce, mail order, web marketing activity and manage the customer contact centre, with direct responsibility for all customer recruitment and retention. Above all else you will be accountable for all marketing spend and its return on investment.
We are seeking a direct marketer who has experience of managing catalogue and e-commerce marketing programmes coupled with strong database marketing skills. You will already possess experience of managing teams; have strong numeracy skills and proven commercial acumen. It will be vital that you have the personal style and social guile to create working relationships with a wide and diverse range of colleagues and suppliers. A keen gardener or someone who can become passionate about the company’s products will also be a factor in identifying the appropriate candidate. In addition to a very competitive salary, benefits will include car scheme, bonus, pension and health insurance. A relocation package is available if necessary.
To apply, please forward your details to our advising consultant Russell White at russell@premcons.com quoting reference M6484. Details forwarded to the client directly or through third parties will be passed to Premier Consultants.
THE BARLEY MOW CENTRE, 10 BARLEY MOW PASSAGE, LONDON W4 4PH.
TELEPHONE: 020 8996 9940. FACSIMILE: 020 8987 0212.
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Are you looking for a new challenge?Advertise in CataloguesCatalogues Talent Shop and you will reach the desktops of thousands of potential employers in the catalogue and home shopping sector. The service is completely free of charge and includes a free confidential reply email address if required.
To place your advert in Talent Shop email your 30 word profile to jenny@ecmod.com and it will appear in the next available issue.
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