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American TV’s Cain Joins Haier

Doug Olenick — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:17:11 +0000

New York – Haier America has tapped industry veteran Rian Cain to run its major appliance business.

Rian Cain

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New York – Haier America has tapped industry veteran Rian Cain to run its major appliance business.

Cain joins Haier from American TV & Appliances, where he was sales and marketing VP. Prior to that he held the same title at Sharp Electronics, where he headed the manufacturer’s home appliance division. He began his career at Maytag, where he rose through the sales and marketing ranks over the course of his 22 years with the vendor.

In his new role at Haier, Cain leads all product marketing, sales and branding initiatives for the company’s major appliance and home comfort products.

He reports to Haier America COO Ma Chunyu.

“Rian Cain brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his 30 years in the industry and we are excited for him to continue our commitment to provide innovative home solutions to consumers,” Chunyu said. “We are confident that his exceptional ability to build context and meaning behind our brand combined with his deep understanding of the retail industry uniquely qualify him to lead our sales and marketing teams through this next phase of our growth.”

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May 17 2013 - 4:15pm

March Majap Shipments Up 11%: AHAM

Doug Olenick — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:57:13 +0000

Washington — Factory shipments of major appliances surged 11 percent in March, to 7.3 million units.

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Washington — Factory shipments of major appliances surged 11 percent in March, to 7.3 million units.

According to data from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), every major product sector contributed to the U.S. increase, with laundry pairs up 5.1 percent; refrigerators up 5.4 percent; ranges, ovens, cooktops and microwave ovens up 8.9 percent; dishwashers up 14.1 percent; and ACs up 23.9 percent.

Shipments were also ahead 5.4 percent year to date.

In their recent first-quarter earnings reports, the CEOs of Whirlpool and Electrolux noted the resurgence in U.S. majap demand as the housing market stabilizes.

“We are seeing evidence that the recovery in the housing market is finally generating increased consumption of appliances,” observed Electrolux’s Keith McLoughlin, while Whirlpool’s Jeff Fettig said he anticipates “moderately higher revenue growth due to continued strength in U.S. housing and improving demand trends internationally.”

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May 1 2013 - 11:55am

Electrolux Q1 Earnings Fall 28%

Doug Olenick — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:11:38 +0000

Stockholm, Sweden — Electrolux said sizzling first-quarter results in North America were offset by unfavorable exchange rates and weakness in Europe.

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Stockholm, Sweden — Electrolux said sizzling first-quarter results in North America were offset by unfavorable exchange rates and weakness in Europe.

Net profits fell 28 percent to 361 million Swedish kronor (SEK) for the three months, ended March 31, while net sales slipped 2.1 percent to 25.3 billion SEK.

Operating income increased 15 percent excluding the 318 million SEK impact of currency fluctuations.

In a statement, president/CEO Keith McLoughlin said Europe will continue to be a drag on business this year due to the “negative macro environment resulting in falling demand of domestic and professional appliances.”

In contrast, sales in North America rose 8 percent to 7.7 billion SEK and operating income climbed 249 percent to 457 million SEK due to volume growth and a greater mix of pricier, high-margin products. The company said it continued to capitalize on the majap momentum by increasing its marketing spend to support the Electrolux and Frigidaire brands.

McLoughlin, who previously headed the North America unit, described the majap market here as “gradually improving … We are seeing evidence that the recovery in the housing market is finally generating increased consumption of appliances,” prompting a company forecast of 3 percent to 5 percent growth this year industrywide.

He added that following an extended period of trading down to less-expensive products, consumers are now purchasing more high-end models, yielding a higher-margin mix.

“Combined with a strong product offering in all price segments and access to all of the important distribution channels, we remain confident that we can improve our market position in North America in 2013,” McLoughlin said.

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Apr 25 2013 - 1:10pm

Whirlpool Posts Higher Q1 Profits, Flat Sales

Doug Olenick — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:20:00 +0000

Benton Harbor, Mich. — Whirlpool reported higher net earnings and flat sales in the first quarter, ended March 31.

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Benton Harbor, Mich. — Whirlpool reported higher net earnings and flat sales in the first quarter, ended March 31.

GAAP net earnings were $252 million, compared with net earnings of $92 million share reported during the same period last year, which were driven by continued favorable product price and mix and the benefit of cost- and capacity-reduction initiatives, the company said.

Sales in the quarter were $4.2 billion, compared with $4.3 billion reported during the same period last year. Excluding the impact of both foreign currency and Brazilian (BEFIEX) tax credits, sales were flat to the prior year.

“The first-quarter results were in line with our expectations and continue to reflect our actions to expand margins, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year operating margin improvement,” said Jeff M. Fettig, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool.

“We expect to see moderately higher revenue growth, due to continued strength in U.S. housing and improving demand trends internationally, and we are on track to deliver our operating profit margin, earnings and free cash flow guidance for the year,” Fettig commented in a statement.

First-quarter GAAP operating profit totaled $254 million, compared with $204 million in the prior year. Continued positive product price and mix and the benefit of cost and capacity-reduction initiatives positively impacted results during the quarter, Whirlpool said.

For Whirlpool North America first-quarter sales were $2.2 billion, essentially flat from the previous year. The North American region reported operating profit of $218 million, or 9.7 percent of sales, compared to $151 million in the prior year, or 6.7 percent of sales.

Continued favorable product price and mix and cost- and capacity-reduction actions positively impacted the quarter. The company continues to expect full-year 2013 U.S. industry unit shipments to increase in the range of 2 to 3 percent, Whirlpool said.

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Apr 24 2013 - 9:19am

GE Producing Its First U.S.-Made Front Loader

Doug Olenick — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:17:51 +0000

Louisville, Ky. — GE has begun producing its first U.S.-made front-load laundry pair.

The ergonomically correct RightHeight Design washer is GE’s first domestically produced front loader.

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Louisville, Ky. — GE has begun producing its first U.S.-made front-load laundry pair.

The new ergonomically designed models feature a built-in 7-inch riser and extra-wide door to help reduce strenuous bends and long reaches.

GE invested more than $100 million to upgrade two assembly lines in Building 1 of its massive Appliance Park manufacturing complex here, where traditional top-load washers have been built for 60 years.

The new washer startup completes a three-year, $1 billion investment in GE’s appliance division, initiated under former majap chief Jim Campbell, which was designed to transform its U.S. operations and products.

As part of the investment, the company added more dishwasher and top-load laundry capacity in Louisville and last year began producing hybrid water heaters and French door refrigerators here. GE also earmarked some of the funds for cooking products in Lafayette, Ga., top-freezer refrigerators in Decatur, Ala., and side-by-side refrigerators in Bloomington, Ind.

“The new front-load washer and dryer are examples of what we set out to accomplish with our investment in U.S. design and manufacturing capability … producing great products with features and performance that delight consumers,” said GE Appliances president/CEO Chip Blankenship. “Our team is committed to manufacture each unit here in Louisville with the highest quality levels and competitive costs.”

The new models, dubbed GE RightHeight Design, are 47 inches tall, which places the door at a comfortable height for loading and removing laundry, and creates a useable platform atop the majaps for folding clothes and other laundry tasks.

The integrated riser removes the need to purchase separate storage pedestals to raise the laundry pair’s height. Pedestals are a high-margin add-on that typically retail for about $200, although about 60 percent of front-load purchasers forgo the added expense, according to market research firm The Stevenson Company, creating discomfort for users.

“Minimizing extreme postures, such as kneeling in front of the washer drum, was a focus in the development of the integrated riser on our new GE front-load washers,” explained GE’s human factors manager Dr. Cathy Emery.

GE said other features include the industry’s largest door; a setting that can wash and also dry small loads overnight without transferring them to a dryer; steam assist to help loosen tough stains; and reverse rotation in the dryer to prevent clothes from tangling.

The new models will ship this June in white, ruby red and metallic carbon finishes at a suggested retail of $1,399 each.

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Apr 22 2013 - 12:16pm

Haier Re-Launches ‘Green’ Blog For Earth Day

Doug Olenick — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:05:14 +0000

New York – Haier America has re-launched its environmental awareness website, Smarter Life, Better Planet, in advance of Earth Day on April 22.

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New York – Haier America has re-launched its environmental awareness website, Smarter Life, Better Planet, in advance of Earth Day on April 22.

The site will celebrate Earth Day by profiling environmental heroes like Rachel Carson, considered the founder of the Green movement, and Mary Crowley, a sailor and educator who is working to clean up the Pacific Ocean.

Going forward, Haier will invite readers to visit the Smarter Life, Better Planet blog page to share their ideas and report on their efforts to make environmentally friendly choices.

“Smarter Life, Better Planet will share stories around ways to live a greener life, feature profiles of people and partners who inspire, and shed light on what we are building at Haier to make it easy for people to conserve resources in your home,” said company spokesman James Liess.

Haier America also advocates environmental awareness through its support of the National Parks Conservation Association and Change the World, Start With Energy Star, a campaign that encourages Americans to help halt climate change by choosing energy efficient products.

The CE and majap manufacturer is a division of China’s Haier Group, which was cited by Euromonitor International 2012 as the world’s largest major appliance brand by unit volume.

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Apr 17 2013 - 1:03pm

Frigidaire Shipping New Gallery French Door Fridge

Doug Olenick — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:43:00 +0000

Charlotte, N.C. — Electrolux has added a new French door fridge to its Frigidaire-brand Gallery collection.

Frigidaire’s new Gallery French door fridge features flip-up and slide-under shelves and moveable and stackable crisper drawers.

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Charlotte, N.C. — Electrolux has added a new French door fridge to its Frigidaire-brand Gallery collection.

The new unit, which is expected to hit retail floors this month, features Frigidaire’s unique organization system, which allows consumers to customize the arrangement of the refrigerator’s shelves and storage compartments to accommodate pots and pans, containers, and specialty food items of varying size.

The system was updated with flip-up and slide-under shelves, giving consumers more than 100 ways to organize their refrigerator’s contents, the company said.

Other features include full-width drawers and large-capacity bins; moveable and stackable crisper drawers; ultra–pure water filtration; three-tier, corner-to-corner LED lighting; and a deep plastic freezer basket with adjustable divider.

“Our innovations are designed-based on consumer-driven insights,” said Joon So, VP/general manager of refrigeration, freezers and home-comfort products, Electrolux North America. “Between work, school, family time and other activities, consumers’ lives are more complicated than ever. This refrigerator accommodates them and gives them an organized and easy-to-use appliance that delivers fresh food.”

The refrigerator, which is also Energy Star qualified, has been evaluated by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, which awarded it the Good Housekeeping Seal.

The model is available in stainless steel, black and white and retails for $1,999 to $2,899.

As part of the launch, h.h.gregg and Electrolux are holding a “100 Ways to Organize” sweepstakes today through April 27 that offers a daily $100 h.h.gregg gift card giveaway and the new fridge as a grand prize. Customers can register at www.hhgregg.com/frigidaire and www.facebook.com/hhgregg.

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Apr 12 2013 - 9:35am

Viking To Purchase So. Cal. Distributor

Doug Olenick — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:09:38 +0000

Greenwood, Miss. — Viking Range today announced plans to acquire its distribution partner Sues, Young & Brown.

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Greenwood, Miss. — Viking Range today announced plans to acquire its distribution partner Sues, Young & Brown.

The company has been the exclusive distributor for Viking in Southern California since 1987. No financial details on the deal were announced.

The Sues, Young & Brown management team will remain in place, and it will continue with its marketing, warehousing and service support for Viking going forward.

The distributor has been in business since 1944 and showcases Viking’s entire product line in vignettes to the public, Viking said.

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Apr 3 2013 - 4:08pm

Core Majap Categories Rebound In February: AHAM

Doug Olenick — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 19:02:19 +0000

Washington — Factory unit shipments of key major appliance categories rose 8 percent in February after falling 9 percent one year prior.

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Washington — Factory unit shipments of key major appliance categories rose 8 percent in February after falling 9 percent one year prior.

The Presidents Day-period pickup followed a nearly 2 percent uptick in total majap volume in January, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) reported.

However, a nearly 46 percent decline in dehumidifier shipments, and a 21 percent drop in room air volume, limited total February wholesale sales to a 0.7 percent gain, AHAM’s monthly shipment data show.

But the AHAM 6, a composite of the core washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, range and oven categories, rose 8 percent year over year for the Jan. 27 to Feb. 23 period on shipments of nearly 2.7 million units.

Leading the charge was laundry, up 12.9 percent on an 11 percent gain in washer volume and a 24 percent spike in shipments of gas dryers, AHAM said.

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Mar 22 2013 - 3:01pm

Samsung Wins Highest Energy Star Award

ljohnston — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:27:36 +0000

Ridgefield Park, N.J. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Tuesday it has recognized Samsung Electronics with its highest award: the 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence.

In a statement announcing the feat Tuesday, Bob Perciasepe, EPA acting administrator, said Samsung Electronics
“leads the field with their commitment to energy efficiency and demonstrates how all Americans can save energy, save money and create a healthier environment.”

Samsung will formally accept the award at a ceremony in Washington on March 26.

The federal agency cited Samsung for continued leadership in protecting the environment through various activities all focused on providing products with superior energy efficiency.

Samsung was selected from among a field of nearly 20,000 Energy Star participating organizations.

The EPA called out Samsung for the following achievements:

Offering 1,435 Energy Star-qualified models across multiple product categories, four of which received the Eco-Design and Sustainability Award from the CEA. In 2012, Samsung had more Energy Star-qualified televisions and clothes washers than any other consumer electronics brands.
Highlighting the importance of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction with various consumer programs that actively promoting the “Change the World, Start with Energy Star” campaign, including an electronic billboard in Times Square, an Eco-zone at International CES, and at Boys & Girls Club of America events throughout the year.
Working with employees, retailers and distributors to create training programs on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions.

“We are thrilled to be selected for the Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award,” stated Yangkyu (Y.K.) Kim, Samsung Electronics North America president and CEO. “This prestigious honor recognizes our corporate commitment to sustainability and encourages us to continue seeking smarter ways to manage our operations sustainably while developing the most innovative and energy efficient products.”

The EPA said its Energy Star programs have helped Americans save more than $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The 2013 Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches, the EPA said. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the Energy Star program, including energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors.

In addition to being named 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence, Samsung has earned the past Energy Star awards:

2012 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Product Manufacturer Award
2011 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Product Manufacturer Award
2010 Energy Star Excellence in Energy Star Promotion
2009 Energy Star Excellence in Energy Star Labeling.

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Mar 5 2013 - 1:25pm