Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Early news reports in the USA are saying the London financial markets nosed dived today in the worse downturn ever.  This comes on the heels of a 4 percent drop in the Dow Jones Industrials last week alone.  Since today is a Federal Holiday in the US in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King the financial markets are closed.  Not sure what impact the London market fall will have on the US markets--have to wait to see.

What and how long will it take jaydee to realize that he needs to enter the low to middle price range vacuum market to stay competitive in the USA in the big box stores' venue?

Any news yet on the 2007 dyson sales? 

Carmine D.

DBI

Please don't think I am a Dyson "Basher". I am somewhat in the middle on my feelings about the Machine & the Company. I have addressed several of the issues why I am hesitant to sell them. As a Designer in a previous lifetime I support Inventors, individuals especially, and superior graphic design & marketing. I wish every company would embrace Design it would be a better world IMO. I do have major issue when bean counters & sales people take over a company. Dyson has no loyalty or commitment to the Vacuum business and the independent dealer. Why would they expect support from them. Like a wolverine who kills a large animal, eats what it can then ruins the carcass so no one else can use it. In the long run will this attitude help them and the vac business? The amount of referbs & Ebays are NOT a good thing for the business and Dyson will see it won't be good for them. So in essence I like the Idea and the creator I don't like what happens afterward.

Things I would correct are

Give indies access to and authority to repair snap on parts at least.

Give indies MUCH better prices. The sham that you are on the same playing field as BB& Beyond & the Internet etal is beyond insulting. Customers should be able to buy the vacuum at an indie for a minimum of $50 per machine less than they can get it anywhere else. More so if the dealer is willing to train to fix them.

Use some of those Advertising dollars to direct Buyers to the Local Vac Shop. If James were to look at the camera at the end of a commercial and say something to the effect of "Try our product at your local vac shop or support your local vac shop business, it would be both engaging to the public and be another vehicle for sales they are barely accessing. Doesn't have to be on every commercial but a few would be nice.

As far as design: Try to simplify, for repair or at least visually. Too many dangling, hanging parts.

If I was a paid consultant I would spend more time. Hope this helps

Lucky1,

Thank you for your response; you gave me a lot to think about.        DIB

DysonInventsBig wrote:

After you ponder, let us know what you think!

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Carmine, good stuff written.  Thanks.        DIB

DIB:

Thank you.

Carmine D. 

The CEO of GE, Jeff Immelt, is putting the GE Appliance Division on the auction block hoping to get $5-8 BILLION for its sale.  THe stock has languished for several years now and is at $32 due to poor operations and performance of the company.  

GE has been in the USA since 1907 and claims among its accomplishments the refrigerator, room air conditioner, and toaster oven.

Possible buyers: Bosch [Germany] and Haier Group of China. Private equity firms and even GE's Mexico partner Controladora Mabe SA could be interested.

Bad timing for GE due to the housing downturn and credit crunch.  THe lower dollar internationally is an advantage for foreign companies to buy the GE Division at a bargain basement price.

According to Euromonitor International 660 Million UNITS of large kitchen appliances were sold in the USA in 2007.  Whirlpool owned 26.1 %; GE 20 %; Private labels 17.6 %; Others 28.4 % and Electrolux AB 7.9 %.  Large kitchen appliances are refrigeration, home laundry, dishwashers, large cooking appliances and microwaves.

Last year GE sold its plastics division to the Saudi-s for $11 plus Billion. 

Carmine D.

According to the most recent and c-u-m-ulative year to date economic data, the UK is showing increased signs of a major recession.  Probably the worse since 1992.

Housing prices are down to the lowest in 17 years [the period for which the data is recorded], new housing sales are down and all retail sales are down.  Worse affected in retail:  Household appliances, furniture and carpets.  On a positive note, while unemployment is up, it is still within low ranges.

Britons are over spenders in large part due to the appreciation in the values of their houses.  And consumer spending in the UK accounts for 2/3 of the gross national product.  Very similar to the US.

Carmine D.

The FTSE index on the London Stock Exchange dipped below it's 6000 psychological barrier last week.  Financial news in the UK doesn't sound good.

Carmine D.

Seems like gas prices are not just rising in the USA.  Last week, the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia removed years' long fuel subsidies on gasoline.  Prices of gas rose as much as 41 percent overnight.  The stock markets in both countries roiled and declined precipitously. 

More bad financial news. What will the increase in gas do for the prices of goods and services in those countries?

Carmine D.

Lucky1 wrote:

Hello Lucky1:

I understand the state of NY has rolled back [in the process] and cut real estate property taxes.  Are you aware of this latest development?  Apparently several other states too.  My guess is that the tax paying citizenry are mad as H-E-double hockey sticks over the gas price increases and in concert with the inflated property taxes are ready to revolt.  State legislatures are attempting to stave off what they perceive as the likelihood for the angry citizenry uprisings in 2008/2009.

Also note the good Sheriff Green in the City of Brotherly Love refuses to enforce eviction and foreclosure notices on the residents.  His sense of social justice for God [street justice] overrides his man made oath to enforce legal justice.  God Love him.  He has been doing this 2004 when foreclosures in Philly started to rise.  And still is.  The courts and judges are sympathetic to his position and have been working with him and his department to fulfill his social mandate.

Carmine D.