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28th January 2021
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Euronics postpones Showcase 2017 but will invest £multi-million to support growth
Those gathered at this week's Combined Independents (Holdings) annual lunch in London, not only enjoyed a great day out but they were also party to some breaking news...
While the electrical buying group, which is part of Europe's largest electrical buying group - Euronics, is to postpone its Showcase 2017 exhibition for one year, it is making £multi-million investments in 2017 which will include expansion of the distribution network and the addition of a Northern distribution hub, to support future growth for members.
Thanking those who have supported Showcase every year, Robin Millwood, chairman of CIH, said of the decision to postpone next year's event: "With the uncertainty in the market, along with the recent raft of price rises (with more to come) and the obvious increase in costs for everyone, the Board of Directors realised that all suppliers would be looking at budgets and where some trimming could be had, so we have taken this decision to help you all for one year... But we will be back in 2018 with a bigger and better show.
"We will obviously still expect all the normal offers, display plans and maybe a bit more!"
Speaking of the organisation's growth plans, Robin said: "Many important decisions have been taken lately by the Board and we now have the authority for a £multi-million investment in 2017.
"Firstly, we are expanding our distribution network with the addition of a Northern distribution hub where our additional partner Panther will take on the job along with Ken White.
"We will be able to offer three deliveries per week to all members which will also speed up our online order systems and offering.
"Secondly we are upgrading our SAP [software] system along with the B2B and our B2C capabilities which will not only enable us to streamline many parts of the system but will give us the right platform to be one of the best online offerings in the UK.
"We have often been challenged by our own members where they have been put off trading online by suppliers who have threatened to reduce their terms but then quite openly supply many other retailers of whom many are online only - so now is the time for us to fight back.
"We can and will offer the best in class."
There was also some positive news about the current year, with Robin saying that the Groups is currently tracking at 6% above last year's turnover, despite having fewer members.
"This is some achievement, but even more pleasing is that within this figure, agency sales are ahead by over 7%, which now accounts for over 50% of our total business," he said. "This goes to show - given the correct models, brands and availability - what we can do and what we could do even better, if the marketplace had price stability and not all of the major retailers were trying to be the cheapest.
"We still have suppliers managing to increase turnover with us in double digit figures but, as
last year, we also have some decreasing by the same... but I am glad to see many more
positives than negatives."
Robin then went on to announce the winners of the Awards: The Supporter of the Independent Award was presented to Hoover and the Euronics Supplier of the Year was presented to Blomberg.
9th December 2016