Royal’s president and chief executive, has been elected president of the Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturers Association at the group’s annual meeting.
He succeeds Vic Polansky of Electrolux Corp. Merriman was replaced as VCMA’s vice president by Raymond Kirkpatrick, vice president of H-P Products, the central-vac supplier. John Arganbright, assistant general manager of Panasonic’s floor care division, took over for Kirkpatrick as treasurer.
Scott Bolbock, Eureka’s director of quality assurance, and Dave Gault, Hoover’s vice president of business planning, were re-elected to the governing executive committee. Michael Fuller, Electrolux Corp.’s vice president of manufacturing and engineering, replaced Panasonic’s Gerald Hayes on the committee.
Cliff Wood remains VCMA’s executive vice president.
All officers were elected to two-year terms.
The VCMA is in its 86th year. It was formed by 11 vac makers and is one of the oldest housewares associations.
Several years ago, the VCMA enhanced its statistics program. It produces vac shipment data for full-size vacs, which includes uprights, canisters and sticks.
Hoover Honors Sears
The Hoover Co. honored Sears after the national chain store retailer recently sold its 1-millionth SteamVac.
Keith Minton, president of Maytag’s floor care division, presented Chuck Bacon, buyer, floor care, Sears, with a plaque “that acknowledged the achievement and the strong relationship between the companies.”
The ceremony was held at Hoover’s Ohio plant, where the SteamVac is made.
Earlier this year, Sears honored Hoover with its “Partner in Progress” award, which was the third consecutive year Hoover won the award.
The Partner in Progress award is given to the top 1 percent of Sears’ 10,000 vendors. It’s based on sales, service, product quality and market performance.
The SteamVac was first introduced in 1994. Hoover expects to produce its 5-millionth full-size extractor sometime this month.
This summer, Hoover debuted the latest model in the SteamVac family: the SteamVac Widepath.
J&R Music World Highlights Vacs
New York-based J&R Music World has released its fall catalog, a 200-page color book with an expanded housewares section.
Aside from small electrics, water filtration and air cleaners, the retailer is showcasing about 13 floor-care SKUs from DeLonghi, Black & Decker, Sanyo, Sharp, Royal, Samsung, Eureka, Panasonic and Hoover.
See more: Vacuum Makers’ shipments increase 3% in first half
About half the mix are uprights. The assortment is rounded out with a canister from Eureka, the Europa, at a promotion price point of $289.99, and Hoover’s new WindTunnel canister at $299.99.
The retailer is promoting its Web site in the catalog and via its toll-free number.
Backstage diplomacy is under way to tone down the acrimony between the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and the Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturers Association. When AHAM said in January it created a Floor Care Division at the request of some suppliers, VCMA fired back it was better equipped to serve members’ needs.
Joe McGuire, AHAM’s president, spent two days at the Vacuum Dealers Trade Association Show in Las Vegas earlier this month to meet with manufacturers, explain his group’s program and get better acquainted with the floor-care industry. He declined specifics about his conversations with Bud Kirkpatrick, VCMA’s president, but indications were the two sought to enhance a personal relationship and seek areas for cooperation.
Kirkpatrick also spoke in conciliatory terms. And it was apparent they and other parties were opening lines of communication.
Earlier, VCMA amended its bylaws to broaden membership significantly. The changes were developed by a strategic planning committee created by Kirkpatrick late in 2001, shortly after he began his two-year term leading the association.
A full member now is one who markets in North America; no longer must it operate a factory on the continent. Suppliers to commercial channels are welcome; residential floor care is no longer a prerequisite. Like AHAM, VCMA created an associate membership for components suppliers.