HOUSING UNITS ADDS ANOTHER TROPHY TO ITS RANGE OF CABINETS

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

October 20, 2011.

HOUSING UNITS ADDS ANOTHER TROPHY TO ITS RANGE OF CABINETS.

Photo available.

When the going gets tough, the tough win awards - and north Manchester-based home furnishings store Housing Units has added another trophy to its wide range of cabinets.

Housing Units has won the "Best department store" title in the Progressive Housewares magazine "Excellence in housewares" category after beating off competition almost entirely from affluent south-east England department stores.

"It costs nothing to go that extra inch in driving customer service standards, listening hard to what our customers want, moving heaven and earth to deliver the right sorts of promotions and events, and simply looking and feeling like a place where shoppers feel at home. But it costs a lot if you don't," said Nick Fox, director of Housing Units.

"The competition was tough - and the other nominees were very, very good - but we give our all day-in, day-out, and it pays off not just for us, but for our customers too.

"But it's a spiral: put in the effort, get the custom; get the custom, win the award, feel good, make the customer feel good - get the custom. And this is all massively down to the Housing Units staff -  we're certainly a family business, and when things get tough, we all feel the pain but we all then pull together; and the result is that we all win together".

The criteria for the award was: "Should be an individual department store or a specific branch of a department store chain. With excellence in areas across the retail spectrum including product range, staff training, customer care, marketing and promotion, window and product display and also have improvement achievement in improving sales, profitability and/or footfall over the last year."

"And with somebody else influential and expert saying something about us - it's a great accolade to hear," said Nick Fox.

Housing Units - known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947.

It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and a crescent of specialist shops, and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk

TV HOME DESIGN AND LIFESTYLE SHOWS? MORE PLEASE – THEY’RE BOOSTING OUR ECONOMY, SAY HOUSING UNITS

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

October 11, 2011.

TV HOME DESIGN AND LIFESTYLE SHOWS? MORE PLEASE – THEY’RE BOOSTING OUR ECONOMY, SAY HOUSING UNITS.

They may seem to be wall-to-wall on TV, but the overwhelming current crop of home design and lifestyle shows are doing massive favours for the UK furnishings and interiors industry.

Nick Fox, director of north Manchester-based furnishings store Housing Units, says that regardless of how tacky, tear-jerking or turgid the home design programmes are, they are inspiring homeowners into spending on changes or improvements.

“Customers will come in to the store sometimes completely undecided about what they want, but will simply refer to a TV home design or lifestyle show and say they want something the same or just like what they saw,” said Nick.

“This is where we have an advantage in that we have in-house designers who overdose on these programmes so know exactly what most customers are talking about.

“The trend is to buy complete makeovers for entire rooms – and customers are specifying not just UK-style design, but design and furnishings they have seen on travel programmes, or home-search shows abroad.

“It is genuinely creating a new niche of demand, and there is a very definite drive towards Italian-inspired interior design.”

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and a crescent of specialist shops, and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk

HOUSING UNITS’ EMPLOYEE OF A LIFETIME

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

July 27, 2011.

HOUSING UNITS’ EMPLOYEE OF A LIFETIME.

Marcus Huntington may have been awarded Employee of the Month for sales support at home furnishings store Housing Units, but for one man he was the employee of a lifetime – literally.

For Marcus is a qualified First Aider at Housing Units, but it was those skills – gained under training with the north Manchester-based store – that helped save the life of a man who collapsed in a shopping centre near his home in Middleton.

“I was out shopping, saw and heard a commotion, saw a little old lady trying to carry out CPR, so just stepped in and, assisted by a security guard, did what I’ve been trained to do,” said Marcus, who is a member of St John’s Ambulance.

“The shopping centre had a defibrillator – which I’m trained to use – and I managed to keep the man going until the paramedics arrived. It was a surreal experience, but it just demonstrates that not only have you only a few minutes to save somebody’s life, but the benefit of First Aid training can make a massive difference.”

Nick Fox, director of Housing Units, said: “While his support for colleagues and customers alike meant he received a lot of nominations from colleagues for the Employee of the Month award, it’s his quiet calm and life-saving skills that make Marcus truly exceptional as a person, not just an employee.”

Marcus has been with Housing Units for seven years. His St John Ambulance duties include everything from tending to injuries amongst the crowd at Premier League football matches, through to being on watch at local events such as fetes and parades.

Marcus was awarded store vouchers as part of his Employee of the Month recognition, but he has passed them on to his wife, Carol, who he considers much better able to make the best of them.

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and a crescent of specialist shops, and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk

HOUSING UNITS £30,000 FOR THE CHRISTIE.

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

April 11, 2011.

HOUSING UNITS £30,000 FOR THE CHRISTIE.

Video The Christie’s Roger Smith

Video Nick Fox of Housing Units

Photo

The world-renowned Christie cancer care hospital has said thirty thousand thank-yous to 280 store staff in Failsworth, north Manchester.

Staff at Housing Units concluded their three year support of The Christie with a £10,750 flourish – the final fund-raising cheque has been handed over by staff and management, making a total of £30,000 raised.

“There’s plenty of places, furniture and beds in Housing Units to laze around on, but the team here has been getting very active with a vast array of fund raising efforts, largely involving exercise or muscle flexing,” said Nick Fox of Housing Units. (video)

“But there’s great satisfaction amongst the team – spurred along by ‘head fundraiser’ Bob Lamble at Housing Units – because they know that every penny makes a difference.”

Roger Smith, a governor of The Christie, (video) thanked the team for its efforts over the past three years:

“The sums of money raised and contributed by the Housing Units team make a significant difference both to the level of treatment we can provide for patients, and to pay for value added equipment.

“I can only say a huge thank-you to the team for their efforts, and they can live in the knowledge that they are making a huge difference to the lives of people in the region with cancer.”

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and a crescent of specialist shops, and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk

HOUSING UNITS PUTS KIDS WORLD ON THE MAP.

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

November 25, 2010.

HOUSING UNITS PUTS KIDS WORLD ON THE MAP.

Housing Units is to launch a new store in its north Manchester retail park on December 1, 2010.

Housing Units Kids World will stock clothes, footwear, toys and bedroom furniture for under-10s, slotting into the age bracket above its current Coo Chi Coo baby store on The Crescent.

“The time is right for investment, the niche is there, our customers want it, and we have the space to be able to develop something of this nature – and a likely demand to ensure solid footfall,” said Nick Fox of Housing Units.

“We’ve researched this market intensely, and have decided from the start that we’ll be stocking designer and premium brands and products - but a big influence is also the growing number of children who now have a say in the design and décor of their own rooms.

“The timing is obviously important; we’re gathering such a momentum and level of customer visits as Christmas approaches that we feel in a strong position to give Kids World a real kick start, and to be placed firmly on the map pretty quickly.”

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and a crescent of specialist shops, and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY TO HOUSING UNITS: SEPTEMBER 9, 2010.

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

September 6, 2010.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY TO HOUSING UNITS: SEPTEMBER 9, 2010.

Photo and interview opportunities from 9am, Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

Housing Units will launch its 2010 Christmas department on Thursday, September 9 – 106 days before Christmas - and in the process do its bit to help both the consumer and the economy.

The department will be 3,500 square feet of floor-space dedicated to Christmas trees, decorations and accessories, and seven ready-made decoration themes.

The front of the store will be designed as a fairytale castle, with a layer of snow over outdoor displays and the entrance area – a special effect produced by designers more used to creating snow scenes in Disney movies.

“Christmas is getting bigger and bigger as a celebration in the UK, with many families turning the decoration of the house into an event in its own right – by starting Christmas so early we feel we’re helping both the consumer and the economy,” said Nick Fox, director of north-Manchester based Housing Units.

“Customers like the idea of being able to spread the cost of purchase of decorations - and UK families are very much following the North American trend of making Christmas a much bigger and more decorative event in any case – so they’re actually spending more on what they really want, and spreading the cost.

“The Christmas department saw 2009 turnover up on 2008, and this clearly impacts down the line – not just in terms of our sales, but also suppliers.

“A good part of the reason is that we have created seven self-contained design and colour themes – this enhances the decorative abilities of those with a good eye, but also proves to be a solution for the less well naturally co-ordinated.”

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and a crescent of specialist shops, and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk

GOLF DRIVE HITS 86 BIG ONES FOR CHARITY

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

August 31, 2010.

GOLF DRIVE HITS 86 BIG ONES FOR CHARITY.

Photo available

Most golfers would consider a score of 3,500 to be a little off par – but for 63 staff and suppliers of Housing Units it means a big improvement.

Around £3,500 was the total raised for The Christie Hospital on the day of the Housing Units Charity Golf Day at Saddleworth Golf Club on August 27, but the company’s charity events over the past eight years have now raised more than £86,000, improving lives across the region.

“The charity we support is the choice of Housing Units’ staff, and we have a superb relationship with Christies – so handing over the cheque will be a great pleasure as always,” said Nick Fox of Housing Units.

One winner was of course Christies, but the man with the trophy on the day was guest Danny Rice from Ashton-under-Lyne.

Danny Rice’s trophy was accompanied by a winner’s prize of a £200 Housing Units Gift Voucher and golf equipment.

“It was our eighth annual golf tournament, and the great thing about golfers is that they know how to have a great day whether they’re planning for fun – or to make a genuine contribution to changing somebody’s life for the better,” said Nick Fox.  

“While everybody had a fantastic day, we did not lose sight of the fact that we were raising money for people less fortunate than ourselves. It is vitally important for local business to support local causes, and the best way to do it is to provide an enjoyable day that people want to return to again and again.”

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and a crescent of specialist shops, and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk

WEEKS OF TALK ABOUT CHANGE – BUT NOT AT HOUSING UNITS

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

May 13, 2010.

WEEKS OF TALK ABOUT CHANGE – BUT NOT AT HOUSING UNITS.

Photo available.

The talk has been all about “change” for the past few weeks - but not at Housing Units (www.housingunits.co.uk), as the store decided to continue its support of The Christie cancer hospital.

And the latest donation to The Christie from Housing Units was for £8,932.

“Our staff don’t sit around – despite the numbers of chairs and sofas we have in store – they get up and devise, organise and run all sorts of charity activities,” said Nick Fox of Housing Units.

“In the past 12 months the Housing Units team has held in-store collections, organised a golf day, been involved in charity runs, raffles arranged Santa visits and a real shopping list of other ideas and activities – and that means our running total for The Christie, including the latest donation, is £19,282.

“The staff have been brilliant – and, what’s more, they’ve had great fun doing it.

“It’s no secret that The Christie is currently facing some challenges, so we are particularly delighted to be able to help in such a timely fashion.  The ongoing challenge for The Christie, however, is the simple matter that few people who have not been touched by cancer – whether personally or through a friend or relative – truly appreciate the importance of fund raising and support, and the impact that even a small amount can have upon the recovery or wellbeing of a cancer sufferer and their family.”

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk