CIH Chairman Steve Scogings outlined a confident and ambitious vision for the independent electrical retail sector as he addressed partners, suppliers and industry leaders at the annual Euronics Suppliers’ Lunch, held once again at London’s Claridge’s.
Opening the event, Mr Scogings thanked suppliers for their continued support throughout the year and praised Claridge’s for its exemplary hospitality, which has made the festive gathering a long-standing industry tradition.
A key focus of the afternoon was the arrival of CIH/Euronics’ new CEO, Harry Kyriacou, who Mr Scogings said had already brought “dynamic energy” to the organisation. Mr Kyriacou’s leadership has begun to embed the group’s newly launched Six Strategic Pillars, introduced at the recent overseas conference, driving “positive and measurable change” across the business.
CIH Chairman Steve Scogings.
Mr Scogings highlighted stronger internal alignment, a renewed commercial focus and closer collaboration across the organisation, all of which he said would support CIH’s ambition to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive market.
A Growing Competitive Landscape
Reflecting on the sector’s challenges, Mr Scogings noted that independents are now competing not only with major retailers including Currys, AO, John Lewis, Argos and Amazon, but also with expanding players such as Costco and new entrants like Joy Buy.
Despite this, he emphasised that independents continue to hold a unique advantage through “local knowledge, trusted relationships, personal service and community presence”.
To safeguard and expand that strength, CIH is setting its sights firmly on growth. Mr Scogings reiterated the group’s ambition to make CIH the leading voice of the independent sector by:
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Growing membership
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Increasing turnover and commercial opportunity
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Strengthening its supplier and member proposition
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Leveraging scale for greater industry influence
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Operating as one unified buying group
“CIH has the foundation, the membership, the leadership, and the momentum to be that group,” Mr Scogings said.
Recognising Key People
The Chairman also paid tribute to outgoing Directors Fiona Lunt and Phil Mosey, thanking them for their many years of service. He extended his appreciation to the CIH management team, staff and logistics partners Ken White and DX for their continued delivery and support for members.
A special recognition was given to Jane Perrett for her year-round coordination and behind-the-scenes work supporting the board and wider organisation.
The lunch was attended by senior representatives from Euronics International, including Managing Director John Olsen and Francesco Secchi, whose contribution to strengthening independent retailers across Europe was warmly acknowledged.
Supplier Awards 2025
The event also featured CIH’s annual supplier awards, recognising outstanding performance and partnership over the past year. This year’s winners were:
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Brown Goods Supplier of the Year: TCL
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White Goods Supplier of the Year: Beko
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Supporter of the Independents: Samsung DA
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Members’ Choice Supplier of the Year: Bosch
Mr Scogings also acknowledged three respected supplier colleagues who have recently left their roles: Glenn Houston (Samsung Electronics), Gunjan Srivastava (BSH) and Kevin Wackett (Beko Group), thanking them for their longstanding support of CIH and the independent sector.
Closing the event, Mr Scogings thanked attendees for their partnership and reaffirmed CIH’s commitment to championing independent retailers.
“This past year has not been without its challenges, but it has also been a year of meaningful progress,” he said. “With your continued support, I am confident we can deliver even more for our members, our customers, and our industry.”
He wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, looking forward to continued collaboration in 2026.
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