As the timer runs down on another year in the appliance game, we look back on the biggest appliance stories of 2013.
The team here at Appliance Retailer greatly appreciates the continued readership and loyalty of our valued subscribers – thanks for reading the magazine and the website – and please enjoy this look back at the 10 stories that had the most impact over the past 12 months.
10. Partners & Battlers: Inside story on Nespresso, De'Longhi, Breville & Krups
The launch of Breville's first Nespresso capsule coffee machine generated a lot of interest, not just in the sleek new Umilk, but also in the story of how Breville came to be a machine partner.
9. Breville unveils world first Oracle manual automatic coffee machine
"This pour is fully adjustable – this is definitely not a one-touch machine – with espresso through to long black options, as well as a boiling water function, temperature control and pour timer," is how we reported the launch of the Oracle.
8. The Sleeping Giant: IKEA appliances and electrical retail competition
Appliance Retailer's in-depth look at how IKEA is moving into appliances and consumer electronics proved a big hit with out readers.
7. Cool Heads: The fight to save Electrolux's Orange refrigerator plant (and related stub)
We travelled to Orange, in central-west New South Wales, to visit the Electrolux refrigeration plant shortly before the company's head office in Sweden announced it would be moving production to Thailand.
6. Whirlpool restructure to affect 50 of the 62 staff members employed
"It's massive," said Whirlpool national sales manager Stephen Hunter. "Some are retained, we are working with Castel to take on some of our staff, and those talks are in progress, and others will be displaced."
5. Retravision reveals new network: 241 stores gone in less than a year
When the dust had settled and the new Retravision was revealed, more than 240 stores were missing. Some had joined other franchisors, others had organised themselves into Leading Appliances and, sadly, many had closed.
4. Costco opens new stores in Ringwood and Casula, awaits another 'very good reception'
Whether attracting club members or readers to a website, Costco knows how to draw a crowd. Always a popular topic on Appliance Retailer, Costco pulled in the eyeballs when it opened news stores in Sydney and Melbourne.
3. The Great Debate: Front Loaders vs Top Loaders
It was Samsung vs Fisher & Paykel to decide which is the better washing machine technology. It all comes down to what the consumers needs from their laundry appliances.
2. 13 Best Coffee Machine Brands of 2013
There is no doubt people love lists – I'm hoping this list entertains our readers (!) – and our mid-year assessment of the 13 best coffee machine brands, including a great representative model, proved a winner.
1. Why Harvey Norman failed to gain approval for new Ryde head office development
Five months after we exclusively revealed Harvey Norman wanted to relocate its head office to Ryde, we backed it up with the exclusive story on why the council had rejected its proposal. It was our biggest story of the year and the reader response was exceptional.
Thanks for a wonderful year and we'll be back with all the big stories on 6 January 2014.
