OUTDOOR FURNITURE: HOUSING UNITS STARTS SUMMER EARLY

http://www.cabinet-maker.co.uk/news/view/id/1353

“SIX-SEASON YEAR” DRIVES EARLY AND DOUBLED-SIZED OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS LAUNCH.

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

March 23, 2010.

“SIX-SEASON YEAR” DRIVES EARLY AND DOUBLED-SIZED OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS LAUNCH.

Home furnishings retailer Housing Units has brought forward the launch of its 2010 outdoor range, and doubled the floor space of the department as it plans for what it expects to be yet another “six season” year.

Failsworth, Manchester, -based Housing Units sold out of outdoor and gardening furnishings ahead of forecast in 2009 – with sales in the department up 15% on 2008. The UK outdoor furniture retail sector is expected to grow by 2% in 2010.

“The past few years we seem to have seen six seasons in 12 months – Winter, Spring, Summer 1, Autumn-in-August, Summer 2 and then Autumn. Customers want their outdoor furniture earlier because of this seemingly now consistent weather trend, and they want to spread the cost when they buy extended sets,” said Nick Fox, director of Housing Units.

“Trading can still sometimes be challenging – although we’re actually in pretty good shape - so we’ll listen to anything and everything our customers say, and they’ve been saying they want outdoor furnishings sooner rather than later.

“It’s been a little like our Christmas approach: we opened the Christmas department in September 2009, and overall sales figures were higher over a longer period because people spread their spending.

“That’s what we expect to happen in our outdoor department, which has been doubled in size to 3,500 square feet. People are fed up with the weather, are cautious about planning a holiday or house move, and so are investing in the new generation of outdoor furniture which is both extremely hardy, and stylish enough to be used indoors as well – although not always with the parasol, of course.”

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

STL LAUNCHES GREEN CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS.

SHIRLEY TECHNOLOGIES

TEXTILE TESTING

PRESS RELEASE

March 8, 2010.

STL LAUNCHES GREEN CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS.

Shirley Technologies (STL), one of the world’s leading textile testing laboratories, has launched a specialist green (ecological) manufacturing consultancy service.

STL says that significant numbers of manufacturers and retailers are still embracing false economies by buying and trading in cheaper-to-make non-green products to sell on to consumers and businesses alike.

But it also says that local authorities are, in the main, recognising that ecologically sound products and services can be as economical to buy and use as the cheapest non-green.

“Many companies and organisations, as well as some local authorities, still don’t fully understand green issues and influences, because their suppliers will skew the message according to the ecological and environmental soundness of their products,” said Asif Shah of STL.

“We are a completely independent organisation, and as well as carrying out general textile testing we have a growing team of specialists who deal with ecological issues. We also conduct and compile research giving indications of how consumers react and respond to companies who pretend to be ecologically sound, or who use their green credentials to charge higher prices.

“Our scientists and specialists won’t just tell businesses whether they are producing or supplying sound green products or services, they can look at the full extent of green issues: tax liabilities, environmental penalties, cheaper green production processes, and compliance with international standards for ethically sound manufacture.

“Most companies or organisations who address the whole range of green issues can expect to save money.”

STL is the UK associate of www.madeingreen.com, a not-for-profit organisation which certifies that products, throughout the supply chain, are traceable and have been manufactured in factories that respect the environment and the universal rights of workers.

Businesses and organisations unsure of the ethical potential of their sourcing or manufacturing processes should be consulting Shirley Technologies www.shirleytech.co.uk.

“Green manufacturing processes are developing and progressing so quickly that retailers and manufacturers have a duty to stay on top of progress, and, in some cases, may find they are close or at the point at which green makes more business sense than cheap,” said Asif Shah.

“Ethical and organic food production and processing has moved from being viewed as somewhat oddball to now being accepted mainstream – textiles are a few years behind, but moving in the same direction.”

For more information:

Press Relations

Iain Macauley / Megan Codling

im@pressrelations.co.uk / mc@pressrelations.co.uk

mb: 07788 978800 / 07795 848586

About Shirley Technologies

Shirley Technologies Ltd (STL) is a UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited laboratory providing competitive, independent, expert textile testing, certification, advisory and investigation services across the traditional and specialist textile industries.

STL is an independent subsidiary of BTTG Ltd, formerly the British Textile Technology Group. With more than 80 years experience, Shirley Technologies Ltd provides unrivalled and expert reassurance through its technical services to a global network of clients which include manufacturers, retailers, the legal profession, police, consumers and related interest groups including Trading Standards. Highly qualified and experienced technical staff work directly with clients to ensure that they receive the best advice and service in a wide range of technical areas.