Welcome to the October issue of Professional Electricians Wholesaler.
My column in September drew some amusing comments from colleagues, in particular the opening paragraph about my referencing seeing Fatboy Slim and Kaiser Chiefs at the Latitude Festival this summer. The inference from some was that I was only including this information to appear ‘cool’ to my readers. Nothing could be further from the truth of course, but to avoid such accusations I shall avoid any further mention of music festivals – a decision I reached while I sipped champagne at the Burghley Horse Trials.
The weather was warm enough to make us believe that summer was still going strong but a few days later I started seeing Christmas products in the shops and my heart sank just a little – we’ve not even had Hallowe’en yet! I do believe retailers are just trolling us now. We have Christmas adverts playing on the radio and television, so by 1st December you are already sick of the festive songs you used to love – and I’m not sure I can take any more hype about the new M&S, John Lewis or Boots seasonal commercials. It won’t be long before they’re being directed by Steven Spielberg and getting a Leicester Square premiere!
I would be curious to know how early electrical wholesalers decorate their stores, if at all. Sure, you’ll get the odd customer coming in looking for some new fairy lights, but I’m not convinced reindeer-themed workwear or tools wrapped in tinsel will be huge sellers…(famous last words). All this premature marketing must work though and, despite all my ranting above, the date and location for our office Christmas dinner have already been confirmed.
Moving on, October is also when we see the weather really begin to turn, and I start wondering how long I can survive before I give in and switch the heating on. From a personal and selfish point of view, yes I want to be warm and comfortable but I also want to keep my energy bills down. With my professional hat on, and as someone who has spent years writing about the built environment – I am also thinking about my environmental impact. Energy efficient heating systems are going to play a crucial role in the UK’s decarbonisation journey and we are likely to see the emergence of systems once considered niche, like electric radiant heating, into the mainstream. Schwank’s article on page 22 goes into more detail about the benefits radiant heating can bring to large premises like factories and warehouses.
Also this month, Knightsbridge highlights some current trends in wiring accessories on page 27, and we learn about Tridonic’s plans for sustainability and Net Zero in Soapbox on page 48.
Enjoy the issue!
– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here
