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San Antonio — The Progressive Retailers Organization was at the Westin La Cantera Hill Coun
Electrolux has developed a new kitchen line exclusively for Lowe's that features a proprietary metallic finish and premium price points.
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PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. - Unit sales of vacuum cleaners and air purifiers fell 4.9 percent between Thanksgiving and Christmas, while dollar volume for the categories dropped 12.5 percent, according to NPD Intelect Market Tracking.
By contrast, category sales rose 13.4 percent in units and 7.3 percent in dollars during January through November 2000.
After a strong room air conditioner selling season that cleared warehouses at both the manufacturer and retail levels, suppliers are looking toward Summer 2000 with an array of new AC models that boast improved energy-efficiency ratios (EERs) and enhanced cosmetics.
With new, stricter energy requirements looming for the 2001 season, some room air manufacturers have chosen to make few changes in their lines for next summer.
Strong demand for room air conditioners and microwave ovens, driven by blistering summer climes, helped send unit shipments of major appliances soaring 19 percent in July.
But the summer scorchers failed to ignite any interest in refrigerators, whose sales traditionally peak in step with the temperature.
A pre-summer heat wave that baked much of the country in June helped jump-start the stalled room air conditioner market.
Prior to the June pick-up, dealers and manufacturers were sitting on excess inventory that was carried over from last year's unseasonably cool summer.
Manufacturers and dealers were hopeful that last week's first nationwide heat wave of the summer would kick-start sales of room air conditioners after weeks of relatively cool climes.
But consumers who sought relief from the heat by purchasing first-time or replacement models were faced with a perennial decision: visit a mass merchant to grab an inexpensive import and go, or make a longer-term investment in a premium appliance that's sold on an assisted sales floor.
NEW YORK Haier America is producing Braille-texted room air remote controllers for blind and visually impaired consumers.
The MagnaClik remotes, which Haier described as an industry first, also feature magnets that hold them to the sides of ACs or other metal surfaces for easy storage and retrieval. An audible click sounds when the remote has been attached securely.
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