It’s just past 10 a.m. and the Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center is teeming with activity. The new facility, anchored by a sprawling auditorium that features plenty of natural light, plywood floors and a large painted piece of blueberry pie emblazoned on a leaf-colored wall, opened earlier this year.
The adult center is the newest crown jewel of Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Park, long a destination for young t-ballers and older residents looking for a pastime. Today, however, operations at the adult center are in danger of slowing to a halt.
Unless they can raise $70,000 in contributions, leaders of the facility fear they may not be able to pay staff members who operate the center, which provides vital health check ups, a regular supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, tax preparation services and, of course, bingo three days a week.
Today, the auditorium is packed for Wednesday bingo. Some may consider the game a welcome diversion; Helene Gluck says it literally saved her life.
Blind and a breast cancer survivor, Helene celebrated her 76th birthday recently. Like many of the center’s regular guests, she relies heavily on the adult center for a number of services. The most important, she says, is her physical health. When Helene was 17, doctors diagnosed her with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye condition that slowly – in her case 47 years - leads to incurable blindness.
But Helene carried on, graduated from Berkeley at 20 and saw the world before marrying at 26. Years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Morbid and depressed, Helene found solace in food.
“I figured I was gonna die, so I might as well eat,” she said. But her weight ballooned north of 200 pounds and doctors warned that if she did not eat healthier, diabetes would consume her body – a fate her brother was not able to escape when he died at 62.
For the past five years, she’s been a regular at the center and says without the nutrition it provides and the volunteers and staff who dole out equal helpings of health and love, she does not know where she’d be.
While Helene, now diabetes free, and others derive tangible health benefits from the services the center provides, it’s the array of intangibles that keeps guests coming back.
“The currency of our enterprise is love,” said former Executive Director Sherry Revord, who helped run the center for more than three years, from its old North Hollywood campus to its current state-of-the-art location in Sherman Oaks.
For more than three decades the East Valley Multi-Purpose Senior Center was housed within the Faith Presbyterian Church as part of the Valley Interfaith Council, with which it’s still affiliated. While the aging building had its share of plumbing issues and heating problems it was the high rent that eventually led city officials to look for a new home.
Officials settled on the northwest corner of Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Park, where an aging building stood ripe for a replacement. An $11.3 million investment of federal, state and local funds was used to build a new 16,000 square foot facility, which includes the auditorium, green spaces outside and plenty of activities. Construction started in 2009 and the center was completed and opened in 2011.
“This has been a long journey, and you can see the end of that journey is this magnificent facility," said Councilmember Paul Krekorian at the grand opening.
Though the luster of the new building remains, the center’s bare bones staff and an economic downturn that has frozen once flourishing levels of funding have made continued operations difficult.
On Feb. 9, the adult center kicked off a $70,000 fundraising drive, more than twice the amount they’ve ever asked for during semi-regular pledge drives. The money collected will be used to increase the center’s ability to continue paying for a part-time nutrition coordinator and a dining coordinator who each ensure donated food is picked up, and doled out and that each guest is cared for. It’s not unusual for Krystyna, the dining coordinator, to work full time though she’s paid for just half that.
“These are my babies,” Krystyna said. “You definitely do get caught up in the emotion.”
While Revord, Krystyna and Irma Allen, the nutrition coordinator, make certain operations run smoothly, it is the center’s dozen volunteers who fill in the gaps, doing everything from tax preparation, handling the food and operational tasks.
With diminished staff time, though, Revord was pulled in too many directions to supervise all the volunteers, forcing staff members to concentrate on providing core services.
“It’s about preserving the standard of service we have now,” Revord said.
The cut in staffing is complicating an already difficult economic period for many of the seniors. Many have lost their financial stability, along with their ability to purchase even basic necessities.
2012年3月22日星期四
2012年3月8日星期四
Tile Makers Creating Orion Shield
Workers recently began cutting and coating the first thermal protection system tiles - part of the heat shield that will protect an Orion spacecraft during an upcoming flight test which will simulate the re-entry speed and heating of returning from deep space.
The tiles are made of the same material and coating as those used on the space shuttle's belly. On Orion, however, the tiles will be placed along the sides and top of the conical spacecraft. A separate heat shield akin to the ablative design used during Apollo is being developed to protect the bottom of the spacecraft, which will encounter the highest temperatures.
The manufacturing work at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., marks an important time in the progression of the spacecraft following the shuttle's retirement in 2011, said Thermal Protection System, or TPS, engineers Joy Huff and Sarah Cox.
"We're making something that's going to fly again, which is what we were doing for years," Huff said.
There are about 40 people involved in the tile work: 20 to make the tiles and 20 to install them.
"We're at the starting line," Cox said. "It's going to take some time to get all the parts fabricated."
The same shop that manufactured space shuttle tiles will make the 1,300 tiles needed for the Orion flight.
It is not fast work. In fact, workers will spend about 11 months shaping the insulating blocks and laying on a heat-resistant, ceramic coating. They use a 5-axis mill loaded with precise dimensions to cut blank tiles to their shapes. So far, the shop has finished 33 tiles.
Many of the tiles will have special cutouts for instruments to collect data during the flight test. Many fewer cutouts will be needed for future missions.
In an advancement from the shuttle days, each tile's dimensions are sent over digitally from Orion builder Lockheed Martin and the final tile is photographed with a 3-D camera so computers can fit the pieces together virtually before they are placed together physically, Huff said. The details are far more exact than in the past.
"They've had such good success that (technicians) are going to eliminate one pre-fit step," Huff said.
The comparisons with the tile work for the space shuttles are plentiful. For example, the smaller Orion uses tiles that average 8-inches by 8-inches compared to the shuttle's 6-inches by 6-inches. Also, Orion's design allows for many of the tiles to be the same dimensions with the same part number, but each shuttle tile was a unique configuration unto itself, with individual part numbers.
"That's a huge improvement over shuttle," Huff said. "Even having nine or 10 of the same part is a big improvement."
Perhaps the biggest comparison, though, is the sheer number of tiles involved. A space shuttle heat shield required more than 23,000 tiles to the Orion's 1,300.
"It's smaller, so there's less parts," Cox said.
However, Orion's tiles will be used only once because the spacecraft will splashdown in the ocean, drenching the absorbent tiles. That means that technicians will make and install all 1,300 tiles between Orion missions. Shuttles required 100 to 150 new tiles between flights, Cox said.
Technicians who applied the tiles for the shuttle will bond Orion's tiles, too. That work will start sometime in the summer. The tiles will be connected to nine panels that will be connected to the spacecraft to make the outer skin of the spacecraft.
Although it's a new spacecraft with a new mission, it still calls for many of the same skills the work force at Kennedy used for 30 years of shuttle preparation.
Orion is expected to see significantly hotter re-entry temperatures because it will be slowing down from about 25,000 mph when returning from the moon or some other deep space destination. Space shuttles used their heat shields to slow down from about 17,000 mph, the speed required to stay in orbit around Earth.
"The heat shield has been a very technological challenge and it will continue to be," said Huff, who has been working Orion's TPS development since 2005.
To get to this point, when tiles are being cut that will be used on a mission in space, has given the project more of a sense of being real, the engineers said. They know there is plenty of hard work ahead, but they are happy to see it start.
The tiles are made of the same material and coating as those used on the space shuttle's belly. On Orion, however, the tiles will be placed along the sides and top of the conical spacecraft. A separate heat shield akin to the ablative design used during Apollo is being developed to protect the bottom of the spacecraft, which will encounter the highest temperatures.
The manufacturing work at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., marks an important time in the progression of the spacecraft following the shuttle's retirement in 2011, said Thermal Protection System, or TPS, engineers Joy Huff and Sarah Cox.
"We're making something that's going to fly again, which is what we were doing for years," Huff said.
There are about 40 people involved in the tile work: 20 to make the tiles and 20 to install them.
"We're at the starting line," Cox said. "It's going to take some time to get all the parts fabricated."
The same shop that manufactured space shuttle tiles will make the 1,300 tiles needed for the Orion flight.
It is not fast work. In fact, workers will spend about 11 months shaping the insulating blocks and laying on a heat-resistant, ceramic coating. They use a 5-axis mill loaded with precise dimensions to cut blank tiles to their shapes. So far, the shop has finished 33 tiles.
Many of the tiles will have special cutouts for instruments to collect data during the flight test. Many fewer cutouts will be needed for future missions.
In an advancement from the shuttle days, each tile's dimensions are sent over digitally from Orion builder Lockheed Martin and the final tile is photographed with a 3-D camera so computers can fit the pieces together virtually before they are placed together physically, Huff said. The details are far more exact than in the past.
"They've had such good success that (technicians) are going to eliminate one pre-fit step," Huff said.
The comparisons with the tile work for the space shuttles are plentiful. For example, the smaller Orion uses tiles that average 8-inches by 8-inches compared to the shuttle's 6-inches by 6-inches. Also, Orion's design allows for many of the tiles to be the same dimensions with the same part number, but each shuttle tile was a unique configuration unto itself, with individual part numbers.
"That's a huge improvement over shuttle," Huff said. "Even having nine or 10 of the same part is a big improvement."
Perhaps the biggest comparison, though, is the sheer number of tiles involved. A space shuttle heat shield required more than 23,000 tiles to the Orion's 1,300.
"It's smaller, so there's less parts," Cox said.
However, Orion's tiles will be used only once because the spacecraft will splashdown in the ocean, drenching the absorbent tiles. That means that technicians will make and install all 1,300 tiles between Orion missions. Shuttles required 100 to 150 new tiles between flights, Cox said.
Technicians who applied the tiles for the shuttle will bond Orion's tiles, too. That work will start sometime in the summer. The tiles will be connected to nine panels that will be connected to the spacecraft to make the outer skin of the spacecraft.
Although it's a new spacecraft with a new mission, it still calls for many of the same skills the work force at Kennedy used for 30 years of shuttle preparation.
Orion is expected to see significantly hotter re-entry temperatures because it will be slowing down from about 25,000 mph when returning from the moon or some other deep space destination. Space shuttles used their heat shields to slow down from about 17,000 mph, the speed required to stay in orbit around Earth.
"The heat shield has been a very technological challenge and it will continue to be," said Huff, who has been working Orion's TPS development since 2005.
To get to this point, when tiles are being cut that will be used on a mission in space, has given the project more of a sense of being real, the engineers said. They know there is plenty of hard work ahead, but they are happy to see it start.
2012年2月2日星期四
Backsplashes - How to get started.
Backsplashes are one of the easiest ways to add pizzazz to your kitchen or bathroom, yes I said bathroom, most people don't do this but, if you can afford it do it. It would make a big impact with buyers, because you don't see it done much. Kitchens and bathrooms still sell homes, make yours as great as it can be with your budget. Beware though backsplashes are not that easy to install and can cost you time, frustration and most of all money. If you aren't very handy but want to try and put up a backsplash, their are new products on the market like Bondera that make the process easier and quicker. Again planning and research are the first items on your list to tackle. You first have to take measurements of the area you would like to tile, then choose your tile, decide how you are going to install your tile and choosing a grout colour.
When taking you measurements be sure to measure the entire surface of the wall that you would like to cover, right up to the bottom of the upper cabinets. Another area that people have a question about is how far do I install that tile behind the stove. I suggest that you end the tile between the top height of your countertops backsplash and the stove top surface, this will finish the area so that the untiled area isn't showing. If you don't have a backsplash attached to your countertop, then just tile from the countertop surface.
Choosing your tile for your backsplash is the next task, and will probably not be easy due to the selection and types of tile available. In Peterborough, I can think of at least 10 different places to purchase tile. So take a good look around, know your budget and stick to it, tile is the one part of the project that you can go overboard. Obviously you need to think about what type of tile would go well with you decor in your kitchen or bathroom. Try and bring all the colours in your room together, use those colours to choose your tile. Remember that the light in the stores will not be the same as at home, purchased some tiles, bring them home and look there. You don't have to purchased ceramic tiles, there are other options, such as: peel and stick tiles or tiles in a sheet. These options have their advantages and disadvantages, peel and stick tiles are small and put on individually. They can give you a different effect but you have to know where you are putting them, they are permanent. As for the sheet variety, they glue to the wall and you caulk the joints between panels. These panels don't come in many colours, so look at all the options available to you.
After you purchase your tiles, installing them is the next task. There are two different methods that are affordable. The first is the old traditional method of using mastic (adhesive), trowels, grout and a grout float. The other affordable method is a product system called Bondera. Its new to the market in Peterborough, its an adhesive backed roll of mastic, comes in different sizes and can be used for backsplahes, countertops or showers. I will go into more detail on both methods in my next blog.
Choosing your grout colour is of the utmost importance, the colour could make or break you tile project. I suggest to my customers that they choose a colour that complements the tile selection. Making the tiled area seem more continuous and streamlined, if it was a different colour your focus would be on the grout and not the tile. Don't forget to budget for grout and tile sealer if necessary, depending on the type of tile it could cost a small sum.
This is only a short guide to the steps of choosing and installing a backsplash, as always if you aren't comfortable with the labour aspect of this project, please seek the help of a professional contractor. Do your research in all aspects of your projects, not just this one and make sure the contractor knows what he/she is doing, a bad installation makes the project look bad.
When taking you measurements be sure to measure the entire surface of the wall that you would like to cover, right up to the bottom of the upper cabinets. Another area that people have a question about is how far do I install that tile behind the stove. I suggest that you end the tile between the top height of your countertops backsplash and the stove top surface, this will finish the area so that the untiled area isn't showing. If you don't have a backsplash attached to your countertop, then just tile from the countertop surface.
Choosing your tile for your backsplash is the next task, and will probably not be easy due to the selection and types of tile available. In Peterborough, I can think of at least 10 different places to purchase tile. So take a good look around, know your budget and stick to it, tile is the one part of the project that you can go overboard. Obviously you need to think about what type of tile would go well with you decor in your kitchen or bathroom. Try and bring all the colours in your room together, use those colours to choose your tile. Remember that the light in the stores will not be the same as at home, purchased some tiles, bring them home and look there. You don't have to purchased ceramic tiles, there are other options, such as: peel and stick tiles or tiles in a sheet. These options have their advantages and disadvantages, peel and stick tiles are small and put on individually. They can give you a different effect but you have to know where you are putting them, they are permanent. As for the sheet variety, they glue to the wall and you caulk the joints between panels. These panels don't come in many colours, so look at all the options available to you.
After you purchase your tiles, installing them is the next task. There are two different methods that are affordable. The first is the old traditional method of using mastic (adhesive), trowels, grout and a grout float. The other affordable method is a product system called Bondera. Its new to the market in Peterborough, its an adhesive backed roll of mastic, comes in different sizes and can be used for backsplahes, countertops or showers. I will go into more detail on both methods in my next blog.
Choosing your grout colour is of the utmost importance, the colour could make or break you tile project. I suggest to my customers that they choose a colour that complements the tile selection. Making the tiled area seem more continuous and streamlined, if it was a different colour your focus would be on the grout and not the tile. Don't forget to budget for grout and tile sealer if necessary, depending on the type of tile it could cost a small sum.
This is only a short guide to the steps of choosing and installing a backsplash, as always if you aren't comfortable with the labour aspect of this project, please seek the help of a professional contractor. Do your research in all aspects of your projects, not just this one and make sure the contractor knows what he/she is doing, a bad installation makes the project look bad.
2012年2月1日星期三
Mob-hit Regency Ceramics says revival uncertain
Regency Ceramics, floor tiles major, whose unit in Yanam, Puducherry, was turned into ashes by workers, is now facing uncertainty over the revival of the company.
While the loss is estimated to be at Rs150-200 crore, it is still not known if the Rs450-crore insurance cover the company has for the factory bails it out.
“I am not sure if we can revive the operations. We are still undecided. We are assessing the loss and the top management has still not visited the factory since the burning down of the unit,” GN Naidu, Regency’s chairman and managing director, said.
Though there was no formal union activity in Regency in its three decades of existence, the setting up of a union a year back is believed to have spoiled the bonhomie between the workers and the management.
The continued friction between the management and the union resulted in a non-agreement on several issues including reinstatement of some of the ousted workers and paying out of interim increments.
“We had agreed to pay a bonus of Rs5,000 to all the employees though the union demanded Rs6,000. However, the Rs5,000 proposal was approved by the union as well. Though we had paid an increment for 2011-12, the union was insisting on interim increment for the current year. That was not acceptable to us since the company is facing tough times in terms of profitability,” he said. The Yanam facility is Regency’s sole unit.
With the employee-management negotiations hitting a dead-end, the management was trying to ensure continuity in production by seeking police protection. Agitated by this, on January 27, the workers resorted to violence by torching the factory, warehouse and the vehicles owned by the company. In this free-for-all situation, a mob attacked the residence of K C Chandrasekhar, the company’s president (operations), and hit him with sticks and rods. Chandrasekhar, also Naidu’s niece’s husband, succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh after battling for life for about three hours.
“The mob looted everything from the factory including cows and buffalos from the Goshala (cowshed). We had invested about Rs1.5 crore on the cowshed and the cattle. Tile inventory worth Rs20 crore was either looted or burnt down,” he said.
Regency had revenues of Rs200 crore for the last fiscal and has been running in losses due to lower capacity utilisation.
“The gas supply from ONGC was inadequate and we were not able to operate at full capacity. Currently, we have an accumulated loss of about Rs35 crore and a debt of about Rs80 crore. We were pinning hopes on the fourth quarter to break even and start booking profits. Now, the situation is back to square one,” Satyendra Prasad Narala, Regency’s executive director, said.
According to him, with the availability of gas improving, the company was moving towards value-added products, including vitrified tiles, duro and large-format wall tiles. “Next financial year, we would have turned around,” he said.
Regency is a leading player in floor tiles market and is said to be one of the top three exporters of tiles from the country. Though a ceramic tiles major, the company currently gets about 60% of its revenue from vitrified tiles.
While the loss is estimated to be at Rs150-200 crore, it is still not known if the Rs450-crore insurance cover the company has for the factory bails it out.
“I am not sure if we can revive the operations. We are still undecided. We are assessing the loss and the top management has still not visited the factory since the burning down of the unit,” GN Naidu, Regency’s chairman and managing director, said.
Though there was no formal union activity in Regency in its three decades of existence, the setting up of a union a year back is believed to have spoiled the bonhomie between the workers and the management.
The continued friction between the management and the union resulted in a non-agreement on several issues including reinstatement of some of the ousted workers and paying out of interim increments.
“We had agreed to pay a bonus of Rs5,000 to all the employees though the union demanded Rs6,000. However, the Rs5,000 proposal was approved by the union as well. Though we had paid an increment for 2011-12, the union was insisting on interim increment for the current year. That was not acceptable to us since the company is facing tough times in terms of profitability,” he said. The Yanam facility is Regency’s sole unit.
With the employee-management negotiations hitting a dead-end, the management was trying to ensure continuity in production by seeking police protection. Agitated by this, on January 27, the workers resorted to violence by torching the factory, warehouse and the vehicles owned by the company. In this free-for-all situation, a mob attacked the residence of K C Chandrasekhar, the company’s president (operations), and hit him with sticks and rods. Chandrasekhar, also Naidu’s niece’s husband, succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh after battling for life for about three hours.
“The mob looted everything from the factory including cows and buffalos from the Goshala (cowshed). We had invested about Rs1.5 crore on the cowshed and the cattle. Tile inventory worth Rs20 crore was either looted or burnt down,” he said.
Regency had revenues of Rs200 crore for the last fiscal and has been running in losses due to lower capacity utilisation.
“The gas supply from ONGC was inadequate and we were not able to operate at full capacity. Currently, we have an accumulated loss of about Rs35 crore and a debt of about Rs80 crore. We were pinning hopes on the fourth quarter to break even and start booking profits. Now, the situation is back to square one,” Satyendra Prasad Narala, Regency’s executive director, said.
According to him, with the availability of gas improving, the company was moving towards value-added products, including vitrified tiles, duro and large-format wall tiles. “Next financial year, we would have turned around,” he said.
Regency is a leading player in floor tiles market and is said to be one of the top three exporters of tiles from the country. Though a ceramic tiles major, the company currently gets about 60% of its revenue from vitrified tiles.
2011年12月18日星期日
Wonderful Assistance For Each Type Of Do It Yourself Venture
Do it yourself is known as the well-liked notion now, especially with an undesirable economy. People can only afford to pay for to make improvements of these building every time they carry out some or each one of the function their very own. When the home owner has some knowledge in the basics, a do-it-on your project could be a smart selection. This short article helps direct you to produce your own advancement property a success.
Everyone loves a great toilet. Every little thing this by getting a whole new descend or lavatory and getting nice new cupboards. Modernizing your restroom is among the best ways to boost your own home and it’ll also boost the web value to the family selling it on the market today.
When painting your home, use neutral pigments. Neutral dyes will help you represent far more gap. To improve the volume of floor space that any place smells like they have used, you can include larger, much larger baseboards. Both of these alternatives can be achieved to acquire reduced price and will definitely boost the look of your own home.
Reuse if at all possible during your house progression to save money and help the ecosystem. If you possibly can paint your racks to offer them a new seem, using them? Replace the knobs or mug handles on them as well to update their search. Think about painting ceramic tile instead of replacing it to spruce up an area.
To provide an innovative look to a vintage brass fireplace revolve around, paint round the brass with ever increasing-the heat paint who is particularly made for painting timber-ranges and other supplies that see intense warmth. These paints are an affordable method to kitchen area updated an outdated surround and may alter the look the whole area.
Be safe in the home improvement task! Turn off the natural gas collection after you’re functioning in the vicinity of a fireplace, in almost any resist, in almost any basement or all around almost every other plumbing are generally a gasoline collection. Building construction in the existence of natural gas can be very dangerous! Make sure you know area shut off valve is! Also, ensure you know in which the natural gas outlines are so you don’t accidentally touch just one.
Are you searching for a relatively inexpensive remedy to add a bit of session to your house? One great way to add an acceptable spice of class to your dwelling designed is usually exchange your doorway bell with a brand new one. If you have this, any just one who sees will instantaneously purchase an unique sense of your own home.
As mentioned higher than, home improvement anticipates can be loads of fun, the actual they may be daunting numerous. If you possess the correct aid and trusted advice, you’re raise the danger of a venture running nicely. From the ideas you might have just analyze, when you plan and doing a do it yourself project.
Everyone loves a great toilet. Every little thing this by getting a whole new descend or lavatory and getting nice new cupboards. Modernizing your restroom is among the best ways to boost your own home and it’ll also boost the web value to the family selling it on the market today.
When painting your home, use neutral pigments. Neutral dyes will help you represent far more gap. To improve the volume of floor space that any place smells like they have used, you can include larger, much larger baseboards. Both of these alternatives can be achieved to acquire reduced price and will definitely boost the look of your own home.
Reuse if at all possible during your house progression to save money and help the ecosystem. If you possibly can paint your racks to offer them a new seem, using them? Replace the knobs or mug handles on them as well to update their search. Think about painting ceramic tile instead of replacing it to spruce up an area.
To provide an innovative look to a vintage brass fireplace revolve around, paint round the brass with ever increasing-the heat paint who is particularly made for painting timber-ranges and other supplies that see intense warmth. These paints are an affordable method to kitchen area updated an outdated surround and may alter the look the whole area.
Be safe in the home improvement task! Turn off the natural gas collection after you’re functioning in the vicinity of a fireplace, in almost any resist, in almost any basement or all around almost every other plumbing are generally a gasoline collection. Building construction in the existence of natural gas can be very dangerous! Make sure you know area shut off valve is! Also, ensure you know in which the natural gas outlines are so you don’t accidentally touch just one.
Are you searching for a relatively inexpensive remedy to add a bit of session to your house? One great way to add an acceptable spice of class to your dwelling designed is usually exchange your doorway bell with a brand new one. If you have this, any just one who sees will instantaneously purchase an unique sense of your own home.
As mentioned higher than, home improvement anticipates can be loads of fun, the actual they may be daunting numerous. If you possess the correct aid and trusted advice, you’re raise the danger of a venture running nicely. From the ideas you might have just analyze, when you plan and doing a do it yourself project.
2011年12月12日星期一
Closure, takeover force redundancies
A UNIQUE Brighouse business has shut its doors and another company has been taken over amid fears of job losses.
Sagar Marine Ltd built luxury barges for almost 40 years at its base in Wharf Street next to Brighouse Marina.
The company, established in 1975 by Stephen and Wendy Sagar, had a high reputation for the quality of its craftsmanship and unique Dutch barges.
But over the last 12 months the economic climate had meant a drop in business for the family firm which has now gone into voluntary liquidation.
Director Stephen Sagar said the reluctant decision had been taken due to a downturn in trade.
“Over the last 12 months the lack of business has just got worse due to the economic climate,” he said. “We decided to go into voluntary liquidation so all the suppliers and customers have been paid and no-one has been left out of pocket.
“I am more disappointed about the five redundancies we made as most of them had been with the company for at least 25 years.”
Working alongside their sons Jonathan and Andrew, the Sagars built up a reputation in the waterways world and were awarded the coveted John Beardsmore award for excellence for their type of craft.
When the Sagars started, they were virtually the only boat builders of their type in the area and one of only a handful in the country. They did everything themselves from building the original steel hull to carpentry and upholstery work.
Initially specialising in traditional and semi-traditional narrow boats, they built their first Dutch-style barge in 1991 and introduced their Mini-Luxe, designed specially for use on UK canals in 1993.
A second Brighouse business which started as a cottage industry and became one of the fastest growing companies in the north of England has been bought out.
Ceramic Prints Ltd, which has a factory at George Street, has been bought by British Ceramic Tile (BCT) of Devon for an undisclosed sum.
News of the take-over comes with a warning that jobs may have to go as part of efforts to streamline the two operations.
BCT has about 300 employees and Ceramic Prints has about 130. It is not yet known where the jobs will be lost but BCT chief executive Matthew Gazzard said the firm envisaged there would be fewer than 100 redundancies from among the 430 staff of the combined businesses.
A 30-day period of consultation with employee representatives is now underway.
Tony Taylor, who started Ceramic Prints in his garage in Birkby in 1983, will stay on as commercial director with British Ceramic Tiles which will become one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
Sagar Marine Ltd built luxury barges for almost 40 years at its base in Wharf Street next to Brighouse Marina.
The company, established in 1975 by Stephen and Wendy Sagar, had a high reputation for the quality of its craftsmanship and unique Dutch barges.
But over the last 12 months the economic climate had meant a drop in business for the family firm which has now gone into voluntary liquidation.
Director Stephen Sagar said the reluctant decision had been taken due to a downturn in trade.
“Over the last 12 months the lack of business has just got worse due to the economic climate,” he said. “We decided to go into voluntary liquidation so all the suppliers and customers have been paid and no-one has been left out of pocket.
“I am more disappointed about the five redundancies we made as most of them had been with the company for at least 25 years.”
Working alongside their sons Jonathan and Andrew, the Sagars built up a reputation in the waterways world and were awarded the coveted John Beardsmore award for excellence for their type of craft.
When the Sagars started, they were virtually the only boat builders of their type in the area and one of only a handful in the country. They did everything themselves from building the original steel hull to carpentry and upholstery work.
Initially specialising in traditional and semi-traditional narrow boats, they built their first Dutch-style barge in 1991 and introduced their Mini-Luxe, designed specially for use on UK canals in 1993.
A second Brighouse business which started as a cottage industry and became one of the fastest growing companies in the north of England has been bought out.
Ceramic Prints Ltd, which has a factory at George Street, has been bought by British Ceramic Tile (BCT) of Devon for an undisclosed sum.
News of the take-over comes with a warning that jobs may have to go as part of efforts to streamline the two operations.
BCT has about 300 employees and Ceramic Prints has about 130. It is not yet known where the jobs will be lost but BCT chief executive Matthew Gazzard said the firm envisaged there would be fewer than 100 redundancies from among the 430 staff of the combined businesses.
A 30-day period of consultation with employee representatives is now underway.
Tony Taylor, who started Ceramic Prints in his garage in Birkby in 1983, will stay on as commercial director with British Ceramic Tiles which will become one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
2011年12月7日星期三
Deadly Jefferson blaze a reminder of winter fire risks
Three house fires over the past four days, including two on Tuesday — one of them fatal — mark the annual arrival of Iowa’s dangerous winter fire season.
The blazes prompted state and federal fire and consumer safety officials to warn Iowans of the threat posed by space heaters, unattended stoves and other fire hazards as the colder weather and busy holiday season approach.
State Fire Marshal Ray Reynolds said Iowa has had about 40 fire-related deaths so far this year, already near the annual average of 46 such fatalities. Most house fires happen between October and May, especially in winter, he added.
“We see fatalities increase when it gets cold,” Reynolds said.
Investigators in Jefferson are trying to determine whether a space heater ignited a house fire early Tuesday that killed 18-year-old Cody Garreans-Walsh and sent his younger brother, Nicholas, 14, to an Iowa City hospital with burns on his hands and feet.
The boys’ mother, Sandy Garreans, said she heard a boom and smelled smoke before seeing flames down the hall.
Her fiance could save only Nicholas from the boys’ upstairs rooms. The home didn’t have a working smoke detector, firefighters said.
“I just can’t believe it’s real,” Garreans said. “I can't believe I lost my son.”
The second house fire on Tuesday broke out shortly after 7 a.m., in a four-unit apartment building in Waterloo.
Fire officials credited a smoke alarm in a second-floor apartment with awakening residents and alerting them to the fire, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported in its online edition.
Two people inside the ground-floor apartment where the fire started managed to escape to a porch roof where they were rescued by firefighters. Both were treated for smoke inhalation but were not hospitalized.
Steven Jordan, the city’s fire marshal said the fire appears to have been electrical in nature and started near a couch in the living room/kitchen area of the apartment.
On Saturday, witnesses reported hearing a small explosion before a fire engulfed a house in rural Fayette.
No one was home at the time and the cause remains under investigation.
The heightened risk of house fires over the winter months means now is the time for people to shore up their stockpiles of both batteries and common sense.
“We tell people the importance of changing the battery in smoke detectors when the time changes” between daylight saving time and standard time, Reynolds said.
In 86 percent of fatal fires over the past five years, Reynolds said smoke detectors were either faulty or had dead or missing batteries.
That’s prompted the fire marshal’s office to work with federal agencies and local businesses to install 21,000 donated smoke detectors free of charge in homes with young children.
Another 11,000 will be installed in homes in which parents requested the devices through grade school surveys statewide.
The 31,000 detectors would have cost about $736,000 had the parents purchased them in stores, he said.
Young children and elderly are at the most risk of fire-related deaths, Reynolds said.
This year alone, 158 Iowans were saved by smoke detectors. Most were sleeping when the fire broke out, Reynolds said.
“Relying on waking up on your own is not a good plan,” he said.
In Des Moines, fire department spokesman Capt. Steve Brown said home fires spike in the city many winters, but not all. “This year we haven’t seen that many,” Brown said.
Cooking accidents are blamed for most of the house fires, but candles, chimneys and furnaces are also in the mix.
Space heaters aren’t a huge problem as long as residents plug them directly into the wall, keep them three feet away from other items, and turn them off when the room is empty.
“Mainly, it’s carelessness that causes these fires,” Brown said.
Patty Davis, spokeswoman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said space heaters are a significant threat in winter, though untended stoves cause far more fires.
“It’s very real,” Davis said of the threat from space heaters, which can ignite drapes, upholstery or blankets. “They can kill.”
Based on 2006-08 data, the most recent available, portable heaters cause about 1,700 home fires a year in the United States, Davis said.
Those fires kill 70 and send another 180 to the hospital annually.
“We would urge consumers to never leave the room while a space heater is running,” Davis said. “Don’t go to sleep with that space heater on. Make sure it is at least three feet away from drapes, furniture and bedding.”
By comparison, stoves and other cooking equipment caused 149,500 fires a year, while heating and cooling systems are blamed for another 56,500.
The blazes prompted state and federal fire and consumer safety officials to warn Iowans of the threat posed by space heaters, unattended stoves and other fire hazards as the colder weather and busy holiday season approach.
State Fire Marshal Ray Reynolds said Iowa has had about 40 fire-related deaths so far this year, already near the annual average of 46 such fatalities. Most house fires happen between October and May, especially in winter, he added.
“We see fatalities increase when it gets cold,” Reynolds said.
Investigators in Jefferson are trying to determine whether a space heater ignited a house fire early Tuesday that killed 18-year-old Cody Garreans-Walsh and sent his younger brother, Nicholas, 14, to an Iowa City hospital with burns on his hands and feet.
The boys’ mother, Sandy Garreans, said she heard a boom and smelled smoke before seeing flames down the hall.
Her fiance could save only Nicholas from the boys’ upstairs rooms. The home didn’t have a working smoke detector, firefighters said.
“I just can’t believe it’s real,” Garreans said. “I can't believe I lost my son.”
The second house fire on Tuesday broke out shortly after 7 a.m., in a four-unit apartment building in Waterloo.
Fire officials credited a smoke alarm in a second-floor apartment with awakening residents and alerting them to the fire, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported in its online edition.
Two people inside the ground-floor apartment where the fire started managed to escape to a porch roof where they were rescued by firefighters. Both were treated for smoke inhalation but were not hospitalized.
Steven Jordan, the city’s fire marshal said the fire appears to have been electrical in nature and started near a couch in the living room/kitchen area of the apartment.
On Saturday, witnesses reported hearing a small explosion before a fire engulfed a house in rural Fayette.
No one was home at the time and the cause remains under investigation.
The heightened risk of house fires over the winter months means now is the time for people to shore up their stockpiles of both batteries and common sense.
“We tell people the importance of changing the battery in smoke detectors when the time changes” between daylight saving time and standard time, Reynolds said.
In 86 percent of fatal fires over the past five years, Reynolds said smoke detectors were either faulty or had dead or missing batteries.
That’s prompted the fire marshal’s office to work with federal agencies and local businesses to install 21,000 donated smoke detectors free of charge in homes with young children.
Another 11,000 will be installed in homes in which parents requested the devices through grade school surveys statewide.
The 31,000 detectors would have cost about $736,000 had the parents purchased them in stores, he said.
Young children and elderly are at the most risk of fire-related deaths, Reynolds said.
This year alone, 158 Iowans were saved by smoke detectors. Most were sleeping when the fire broke out, Reynolds said.
“Relying on waking up on your own is not a good plan,” he said.
In Des Moines, fire department spokesman Capt. Steve Brown said home fires spike in the city many winters, but not all. “This year we haven’t seen that many,” Brown said.
Cooking accidents are blamed for most of the house fires, but candles, chimneys and furnaces are also in the mix.
Space heaters aren’t a huge problem as long as residents plug them directly into the wall, keep them three feet away from other items, and turn them off when the room is empty.
“Mainly, it’s carelessness that causes these fires,” Brown said.
Patty Davis, spokeswoman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said space heaters are a significant threat in winter, though untended stoves cause far more fires.
“It’s very real,” Davis said of the threat from space heaters, which can ignite drapes, upholstery or blankets. “They can kill.”
Based on 2006-08 data, the most recent available, portable heaters cause about 1,700 home fires a year in the United States, Davis said.
Those fires kill 70 and send another 180 to the hospital annually.
“We would urge consumers to never leave the room while a space heater is running,” Davis said. “Don’t go to sleep with that space heater on. Make sure it is at least three feet away from drapes, furniture and bedding.”
By comparison, stoves and other cooking equipment caused 149,500 fires a year, while heating and cooling systems are blamed for another 56,500.
2011年12月6日星期二
Over 25 ceramics manufacturing units closed in Gujrat, Gujranwala
More than 25 Ceramics Manufacturing Units have been closed down in Gujarat and Gujranwala districts during the current year 2011 due to fuel and energy shortages, primitive methods of manufacturing, inability to assemble and deploy intellectual, human and financial resources effectively, lack of vision for growth, limited perception of business requirements and restricted funding sources.
In a survey report conducted by International Finance Corporation of World Bank Group with the cooperation of State Bank of Pakistan and Owners of the Ceramics Industry, it was pointed out that this sector does not experience seasonal fluctuations and is fairly dependent upon business conditions. The business suffers from lack of technology and good quality raw materials which affects the quality of the product to great extent.
Therefore, Ceramics Industry has a heavy reliance on their suppliers and most of the businesses rely on more than five suppliers according to our primary survey.
According to Pakistan Ceramics Manufacturing Associations, the businesses in Ceramics Industry approach their customers, which are retail shops, by paying personal visits and arrange agreements. Most of the businesses have pre-selected retailers to whom they sell their products. Only about 10 percent have their own retail shops.
Survey disclosed that around 56 percent businesses have no fixed asset requirements as majority of them face issues related to availability of power and supply of gas, which are considered major constraints for growth. However, these businesses show a high requirement for working capital/overdraft requirement. The remaining 44 percent require fixed asset from which majority require finance for machinery and equipment.
Ceramics Industry is generally underserved with respect to financing and banking products. The businesses operating in the segment are hesitant to obtain financing and to have a closer and long-term relationship with banks and financial institutions due to lack of awareness, survey pointed out.
According to IFC survey, working capital is dependent upon payment terms offered to customers and received from suppliers. Ceramics sub-segment operates on payment from retailers and wholesalers and in some instances they export directly to international market. As evidenced from primary research, 61 percent of businesses have payment terms offered to customers and received from suppliers are within one month, overall indicating a short working capital lifecycle. Half of the businesses in this segment do not prepare formal financial statements. However; Ceramics Industry owner do prepare single entry records and/or cash registers for bookkeeping purposes. About 44 percent of them claim to prepare financial statements from which only 5 percent get their accounts audited from chartered firms. Owners/managers keep track of accounts themselves, their lack of accounting knowledge and experience presents a constraint for preparation and keeping an organised track of cash movement.
As per research findings, none of the business owners in the segment had carried out a formal assessment of their financial positions with regards to capital invested, business assets employed, annual revenue, income and expenses. The information gathered was an estimate provided to us by the interviewees.
Business owner's reluctance and non availability of proper accounting records presents an issue for calculation of segment's benchmark financial ratios. Devising from the information attained in the course of primary research, the indicative ratios will be an estimate at best and cannot be utilised to assess an accurate position of the individual businesses operating in the segment.
Conclusively it can be said that there exists an ample demand for good quality ceramics and glass products and can compete well in international markets. The existing scenario provides ample opportunities for entry into this business.
According to survey, funds are mostly managed by the owners themselves, mainly required for business assets and working capital, which are mostly fulfilled by their own personal savings, or borrow from friends and family or cash flows from the business. Among the fixed assets, finance requirements mainly centered on machinery and equipment of the business.
Survey mentioned that ceramics industry requires good quality raw material for the manufacturing of its products. However this means purchasing the raw material for higher cost than the average which adds serious cash flow problems to the business. Working capital financing can provide the SMEs in the segment with further room for growth with by allowing them to purchase new merchandise when a new vehicle or motor cycle model arrives in the market.
Unavailability of international standard machines in the ceramics sub-segment poses a grim picture for its future growth at local and especially at international level.
Pakistan's ceramic sub-segment can be divided into two major categories; roof tiles and sanitary ware. Roof tiles is a fairly organised sub-segment and has gained popularity, especially with the lower income segment of the population due to their low cost, durability, easy installation and maintenance as compared to concrete roofs.
Demand for construction remains constant throughout the year. However, construction activities slow down in some parts of the country where weather is extremely cold in winters. Ceramics sanitary wares and tiles are essential consumer items in the urbanised areas of the country. With rapid urbanisation and new construction, the demand for tiles and sanitary wares has increased manifold over the last three years. It is however a relatively unorganised sub-segment and is dependable on the quality of raw material available to it.
According to Pakistan Ceramics Manufacturing Association, ceramics industry has been unable to meet foreign and local demands due to slow manufacturing process and shut down of many units. The industry consists of small, medium and large corporations involved in the manufacturing of the ceramics. The annual capacity of large enterprises vary largely to 2,000 Sqm and above, while in the SME enterprises, annual capacity ranges between 800 Sqm and below.
There are seven ceramic tile manufacturing industries with installed capacity of 22 million Sqm per year and production of 18.7 million Sqm per year. The production figure has risen from 10.6 million Sqm in 2003-04 to the 18.7 million in 2009-10, depicting significant potential for further growth.
In a survey report conducted by International Finance Corporation of World Bank Group with the cooperation of State Bank of Pakistan and Owners of the Ceramics Industry, it was pointed out that this sector does not experience seasonal fluctuations and is fairly dependent upon business conditions. The business suffers from lack of technology and good quality raw materials which affects the quality of the product to great extent.
Therefore, Ceramics Industry has a heavy reliance on their suppliers and most of the businesses rely on more than five suppliers according to our primary survey.
According to Pakistan Ceramics Manufacturing Associations, the businesses in Ceramics Industry approach their customers, which are retail shops, by paying personal visits and arrange agreements. Most of the businesses have pre-selected retailers to whom they sell their products. Only about 10 percent have their own retail shops.
Survey disclosed that around 56 percent businesses have no fixed asset requirements as majority of them face issues related to availability of power and supply of gas, which are considered major constraints for growth. However, these businesses show a high requirement for working capital/overdraft requirement. The remaining 44 percent require fixed asset from which majority require finance for machinery and equipment.
Ceramics Industry is generally underserved with respect to financing and banking products. The businesses operating in the segment are hesitant to obtain financing and to have a closer and long-term relationship with banks and financial institutions due to lack of awareness, survey pointed out.
According to IFC survey, working capital is dependent upon payment terms offered to customers and received from suppliers. Ceramics sub-segment operates on payment from retailers and wholesalers and in some instances they export directly to international market. As evidenced from primary research, 61 percent of businesses have payment terms offered to customers and received from suppliers are within one month, overall indicating a short working capital lifecycle. Half of the businesses in this segment do not prepare formal financial statements. However; Ceramics Industry owner do prepare single entry records and/or cash registers for bookkeeping purposes. About 44 percent of them claim to prepare financial statements from which only 5 percent get their accounts audited from chartered firms. Owners/managers keep track of accounts themselves, their lack of accounting knowledge and experience presents a constraint for preparation and keeping an organised track of cash movement.
As per research findings, none of the business owners in the segment had carried out a formal assessment of their financial positions with regards to capital invested, business assets employed, annual revenue, income and expenses. The information gathered was an estimate provided to us by the interviewees.
Business owner's reluctance and non availability of proper accounting records presents an issue for calculation of segment's benchmark financial ratios. Devising from the information attained in the course of primary research, the indicative ratios will be an estimate at best and cannot be utilised to assess an accurate position of the individual businesses operating in the segment.
Conclusively it can be said that there exists an ample demand for good quality ceramics and glass products and can compete well in international markets. The existing scenario provides ample opportunities for entry into this business.
According to survey, funds are mostly managed by the owners themselves, mainly required for business assets and working capital, which are mostly fulfilled by their own personal savings, or borrow from friends and family or cash flows from the business. Among the fixed assets, finance requirements mainly centered on machinery and equipment of the business.
Survey mentioned that ceramics industry requires good quality raw material for the manufacturing of its products. However this means purchasing the raw material for higher cost than the average which adds serious cash flow problems to the business. Working capital financing can provide the SMEs in the segment with further room for growth with by allowing them to purchase new merchandise when a new vehicle or motor cycle model arrives in the market.
Unavailability of international standard machines in the ceramics sub-segment poses a grim picture for its future growth at local and especially at international level.
Pakistan's ceramic sub-segment can be divided into two major categories; roof tiles and sanitary ware. Roof tiles is a fairly organised sub-segment and has gained popularity, especially with the lower income segment of the population due to their low cost, durability, easy installation and maintenance as compared to concrete roofs.
Demand for construction remains constant throughout the year. However, construction activities slow down in some parts of the country where weather is extremely cold in winters. Ceramics sanitary wares and tiles are essential consumer items in the urbanised areas of the country. With rapid urbanisation and new construction, the demand for tiles and sanitary wares has increased manifold over the last three years. It is however a relatively unorganised sub-segment and is dependable on the quality of raw material available to it.
According to Pakistan Ceramics Manufacturing Association, ceramics industry has been unable to meet foreign and local demands due to slow manufacturing process and shut down of many units. The industry consists of small, medium and large corporations involved in the manufacturing of the ceramics. The annual capacity of large enterprises vary largely to 2,000 Sqm and above, while in the SME enterprises, annual capacity ranges between 800 Sqm and below.
There are seven ceramic tile manufacturing industries with installed capacity of 22 million Sqm per year and production of 18.7 million Sqm per year. The production figure has risen from 10.6 million Sqm in 2003-04 to the 18.7 million in 2009-10, depicting significant potential for further growth.
2011年12月1日星期四
Resale of the week: Four-level NW charmer
Since 1924, the stately home at 4331 Cathedral Ave. NW in Wesley Heights has presided over this quiet street from within its private setting.
While the home has been meticulously renovated and enlarged over its 87-year history, the elegance of its architecture has never faded. Stone steps lead from the sidewalk to the covered front door, which is flanked by tall windows with shutters. The quadruple window at the top of the house offers an enticing suggestion of the delightful rooms to be found on the attic level.
The pale-gray-painted shingle exterior is complemented by a glass-enclosed porch on each side of the main level, and the home is encircled by lawns, mature trees and low-maintenance plantings. The terraced rear yard provides a deck, a flagstone patio with a corner fountain and pond, plus a level lawn perfect for a children’s play area. Stone steps lead from the deck to the top of the terraces, where a gate opens onto a two-car parking area with a row of enclosed storage sheds.
On the market for $1,995,000, this home has four finished levels with approximately 4,250 finished square feet. A fire damaged the upper levels in 2001 but also gave the owners an opportunity to replace the electrical systems in the home, add a new roof and remodel the two top floors of the house.
Architectural elements such as crown molding and deep trim around the baseboards, doorways and windows provide continuity in the older and new sections of the residence, along with hardwood flooring throughout the main and upper levels. Recessed lighting has been installed throughout the home, and the kitchen and all five bathrooms have been remodeled.
Perhaps the biggest change during the home remodeling was the addition of living space on either side of the home. While all the rooms in this home have oversized windows that let in plenty of natural light, the two enclosed porches are wrapped in windows on three sides, with transoms above for even more daylight.
One of the enclosed porches functions as the family room, with a wall of built-in bookcases and cabinets, floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass-paneled door leading to the deck. On the opposite side of the house, the other enclosed porch has floor-to-ceiling windows, French doors leading to the terrace, an exposed stone wall and a pocket door leading into the living room. This room currently functions as a home office but can be used a sunroom.
The wide center-hall entrance retains its traditional design and is filled with natural light that flows through a fanlight above the front door and sidelights.
To the right of the center hall is the generously proportioned formal living room, which stretches from the front of the house to the back. French doors open onto the front garden at one end, while a second set of French doors opens onto the deck. Built-in bookcases and cabinets flank the French doors, while a wood-burning fireplace with a carved Federal-style mantel adds warmth to the room. A side window frames a view of the patio, with a glimpse of the corner fountain and pond.
Across the foyer from the living room is the formal dining room, which has crown and chair-rail molding, French doors opening onto the front garden, a pocket door to the family room, and a swing door into the kitchen.
The kitchen and breakfast area have been renovated and include two walls of windows framing views of the deck and the terraced backyard. The focal point for the kitchen is the oversized center island, which has plenty of space for guests to gather and an abundance of open shelving and pull-out drawers and cabinets on all sides.
The kitchen includes granite counters; extensive wood and glass-paneled cabinets, including a pantry; undercabinet lighting; stainless steel appliances; ceramic tile flooring; and distinctive pendant lights. Nearby are a powder room and two double-door coat closets.
A hardwood staircase with a window seat on the landing leads to the first of two upper levels, which has a master suite with a spacious and charming sitting area with oversized windows on two sides. The suite includes a walk-in closet with custom-designed cabinets and a luxurious master bath with a whirlpool tub set under a window, a glass-enclosed shower, marble flooring and a double-sink vanity.
This level has two spacious secondary bedrooms, each with windows on two sides and a double-door closet. These two bedrooms share a renovated hall bath with beadboard walls, tile flooring and a pedestal sink.
On the attic level, a long window seat flanked by built-in bookcases and cabinets provides extra seating in a charming sky-level sitting room. The adjacent bedroom includes a gently sloping ceiling, a wall of built-in drawers, a closet and access to attic storage.
While the home has been meticulously renovated and enlarged over its 87-year history, the elegance of its architecture has never faded. Stone steps lead from the sidewalk to the covered front door, which is flanked by tall windows with shutters. The quadruple window at the top of the house offers an enticing suggestion of the delightful rooms to be found on the attic level.
The pale-gray-painted shingle exterior is complemented by a glass-enclosed porch on each side of the main level, and the home is encircled by lawns, mature trees and low-maintenance plantings. The terraced rear yard provides a deck, a flagstone patio with a corner fountain and pond, plus a level lawn perfect for a children’s play area. Stone steps lead from the deck to the top of the terraces, where a gate opens onto a two-car parking area with a row of enclosed storage sheds.
On the market for $1,995,000, this home has four finished levels with approximately 4,250 finished square feet. A fire damaged the upper levels in 2001 but also gave the owners an opportunity to replace the electrical systems in the home, add a new roof and remodel the two top floors of the house.
Architectural elements such as crown molding and deep trim around the baseboards, doorways and windows provide continuity in the older and new sections of the residence, along with hardwood flooring throughout the main and upper levels. Recessed lighting has been installed throughout the home, and the kitchen and all five bathrooms have been remodeled.
Perhaps the biggest change during the home remodeling was the addition of living space on either side of the home. While all the rooms in this home have oversized windows that let in plenty of natural light, the two enclosed porches are wrapped in windows on three sides, with transoms above for even more daylight.
One of the enclosed porches functions as the family room, with a wall of built-in bookcases and cabinets, floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass-paneled door leading to the deck. On the opposite side of the house, the other enclosed porch has floor-to-ceiling windows, French doors leading to the terrace, an exposed stone wall and a pocket door leading into the living room. This room currently functions as a home office but can be used a sunroom.
The wide center-hall entrance retains its traditional design and is filled with natural light that flows through a fanlight above the front door and sidelights.
To the right of the center hall is the generously proportioned formal living room, which stretches from the front of the house to the back. French doors open onto the front garden at one end, while a second set of French doors opens onto the deck. Built-in bookcases and cabinets flank the French doors, while a wood-burning fireplace with a carved Federal-style mantel adds warmth to the room. A side window frames a view of the patio, with a glimpse of the corner fountain and pond.
Across the foyer from the living room is the formal dining room, which has crown and chair-rail molding, French doors opening onto the front garden, a pocket door to the family room, and a swing door into the kitchen.
The kitchen and breakfast area have been renovated and include two walls of windows framing views of the deck and the terraced backyard. The focal point for the kitchen is the oversized center island, which has plenty of space for guests to gather and an abundance of open shelving and pull-out drawers and cabinets on all sides.
The kitchen includes granite counters; extensive wood and glass-paneled cabinets, including a pantry; undercabinet lighting; stainless steel appliances; ceramic tile flooring; and distinctive pendant lights. Nearby are a powder room and two double-door coat closets.
A hardwood staircase with a window seat on the landing leads to the first of two upper levels, which has a master suite with a spacious and charming sitting area with oversized windows on two sides. The suite includes a walk-in closet with custom-designed cabinets and a luxurious master bath with a whirlpool tub set under a window, a glass-enclosed shower, marble flooring and a double-sink vanity.
This level has two spacious secondary bedrooms, each with windows on two sides and a double-door closet. These two bedrooms share a renovated hall bath with beadboard walls, tile flooring and a pedestal sink.
On the attic level, a long window seat flanked by built-in bookcases and cabinets provides extra seating in a charming sky-level sitting room. The adjacent bedroom includes a gently sloping ceiling, a wall of built-in drawers, a closet and access to attic storage.
2011年11月13日星期日
Matisse, Cocteau made canvases of two chapels
Regardless of our religious inclinations, when we travel, we wander through grand cathedrals and mosques, sometimes as though they were museums, awestruck by the light, the smell of incense, or the sounds of an ancient organ.
But sometimes it’s the simpler sacred spaces that draw us, intimate places built not over hundreds of years, but maybe a decade, that reflect the dedication - or downright obsession - of their creators. The traveler can find two such tiny chapels not far from the center of Nice in the south of France. Henri Matisse’s Chapelle du Sainte Marie du Rosaire is set on a hillside in this pretty 15th-century hilltown, while Jean Cocteau’s Chapelle Saint-Pierre sits near the waterfront of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Both are masterworks created by artists late in their careers: Cocteau began work on his chapel when he was 68 and Matisse started in his 70s. And both reflect a singular vision of their creators: Matisse’s clean line and color and Cocteau’s fantasmagorical merging of myth and catechism.
You can get an introduction to the Matisse chapel at the Matisse Museum, set in a candy-colored 17th-century Italian villa in the Cimiez section of Nice, just up the hill from the Hotel Regina, where the artist lived and worked until his death in 1954. Here, in addition to a fine collection of his paintings and sculptures, you see models and drawings Matisse developed for the chapel.
Matisse (1869-1954) lived in Vence from 1943-49 and designed his chapel to honor Monique Bourgeois, who served as a model, and who later became a Dominican nun. (Today nuns provide the tours, in French.) The chapel, which sits on the outskirts of town, opened in 1951, and Matisse oversaw its every aspect, from the boldly-colored stained glass windows to the vestments worn by the priests who celebrate Mass at its plain stone altar. It was the first time an artist had done so.
Matisse wrote: “I want those entering my chapel to feel themselves purified and lightened of their burdens. . . . I regard it, despite all its imperfections, as my masterpiece . . . as an effort which is the culmination of a whole life dedicated to the search for truth.’’
This chapel is stark in its simplicity; visitors are sometimes underwhelmed by its modernity. Its exterior is plain, white-washed stucco with a blue ceramic tile roof, decorated with a thin, wrought iron cross, adorned only with gold crescent moons.
Inside, white ceramic tile walls reflect the colored light as it streams through three sets of stained glass windows designed in Matisse’s abstract shapes and three colors: yellow, green, and blue. On the walls are three plain, black line images: the 15-foot-tall St. Dominic, the Virgin Mary and Child, and the Stations of the Cross. The Madonna is a modern one (she is naked), and Jesus’ arms are spread in the shape of a cross.
As you sit on the plain, wooden chairs and watch the light change through the windows, you get a sense of what Matisse was trying to accomplish: a feeling of peace and inner quiet. Instead of being overwhelmed by grandeur, you are prompted to move deeper inside yourself.
Not far away, in the seaside village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, avant-garde poet, artist, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) took a totally different approach, imprinting his own wild vision on an ancient church that had been used to store fishing equipment.
“Cocteau turns muralist for fisherman’s chapel’’ was the headline in July 1957, when Life magazine covered the opening of the Chapelle Saint-Pierre. The photos show the tiny, candlelit chapel filled with visitors who had come to see what the artist had created. “Cocteau himself considers the chapel the ‘crown’ of his work,’’ noted the article’s author, who went on to quote Cocteau: “In doing it I did not use my mind but my heart.’’
We inadvertently got a sense of what its creation must have been like when we visited one late afternoon last spring. The place was closed for renovations, but when I noticed the heavy wooden door was slightly ajar, I pushed on it anyway.
Inside, two young women clad in paint-spattered shirts chatted quietly as they dabbed at the frescoes, oblivious to our presence. Jazz played on a boombox. We had traveled so far, we begged them in bad French. Could we look? Yes, if you are careful, they replied. It turned out to be one of those travel moments you never forget.
Scaffolding filled the 14th-century chapel’s interior, but even in the dusky light, we could see the sweeping images in odd juxtapositions that cross time and genre, some religious, some civil.
Cocteau painted scenes from the life of St. Peter: his walk on water, and his arrest by Roman soldiers. There’s an homage to the women of Villefranche, who carry their basket of fish and sea urchins under the watchful eyes of the angels. The Virgin Mary is serenaded by a 1950s-clad jazz guitarist. The rooster crows. Above it all, angels swoop in a cascade of movement.
Cocteau became enchanted with the rundown chapel while staying at the nearby Hotel Welcome in the 1920s. Back then, he would hardly have been called a religious man. In her book, “Artists and Their Museums on the Riviera,’’ author Barbara Freed points out that the hotel was the scene of, as Cocteau’s friend Ned Rorem put it, “outrageous public behavior.’’ And that’s probably putting it mildly.
When Cocteau returned to Villefranche in 1950, he was an older, established writer, and he began his excursions into painting murals and sketches - he called them “tattoos.’’ As with his film and writings, he drew heavily on Greek mythology, and he made the chapel his canvas.
It took the artist more than seven years to cut through French red tape to renovate the chapel. Once he had the keys, some fishermen stole his ladders to prevent the project from happening - they wanted to keep it for storing nets. Cocteau compromised by donating the entrance fees to a local fishermen’s fund.
Happily, he persisted, and today the church is used a few times each year. Mostly, though, it’s open for the traveler, a chapel-canvas that serves as a reminder that, when it comes to art and religion, good things sometimes come in small packages.
But sometimes it’s the simpler sacred spaces that draw us, intimate places built not over hundreds of years, but maybe a decade, that reflect the dedication - or downright obsession - of their creators. The traveler can find two such tiny chapels not far from the center of Nice in the south of France. Henri Matisse’s Chapelle du Sainte Marie du Rosaire is set on a hillside in this pretty 15th-century hilltown, while Jean Cocteau’s Chapelle Saint-Pierre sits near the waterfront of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Both are masterworks created by artists late in their careers: Cocteau began work on his chapel when he was 68 and Matisse started in his 70s. And both reflect a singular vision of their creators: Matisse’s clean line and color and Cocteau’s fantasmagorical merging of myth and catechism.
You can get an introduction to the Matisse chapel at the Matisse Museum, set in a candy-colored 17th-century Italian villa in the Cimiez section of Nice, just up the hill from the Hotel Regina, where the artist lived and worked until his death in 1954. Here, in addition to a fine collection of his paintings and sculptures, you see models and drawings Matisse developed for the chapel.
Matisse (1869-1954) lived in Vence from 1943-49 and designed his chapel to honor Monique Bourgeois, who served as a model, and who later became a Dominican nun. (Today nuns provide the tours, in French.) The chapel, which sits on the outskirts of town, opened in 1951, and Matisse oversaw its every aspect, from the boldly-colored stained glass windows to the vestments worn by the priests who celebrate Mass at its plain stone altar. It was the first time an artist had done so.
Matisse wrote: “I want those entering my chapel to feel themselves purified and lightened of their burdens. . . . I regard it, despite all its imperfections, as my masterpiece . . . as an effort which is the culmination of a whole life dedicated to the search for truth.’’
This chapel is stark in its simplicity; visitors are sometimes underwhelmed by its modernity. Its exterior is plain, white-washed stucco with a blue ceramic tile roof, decorated with a thin, wrought iron cross, adorned only with gold crescent moons.
Inside, white ceramic tile walls reflect the colored light as it streams through three sets of stained glass windows designed in Matisse’s abstract shapes and three colors: yellow, green, and blue. On the walls are three plain, black line images: the 15-foot-tall St. Dominic, the Virgin Mary and Child, and the Stations of the Cross. The Madonna is a modern one (she is naked), and Jesus’ arms are spread in the shape of a cross.
As you sit on the plain, wooden chairs and watch the light change through the windows, you get a sense of what Matisse was trying to accomplish: a feeling of peace and inner quiet. Instead of being overwhelmed by grandeur, you are prompted to move deeper inside yourself.
Not far away, in the seaside village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, avant-garde poet, artist, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) took a totally different approach, imprinting his own wild vision on an ancient church that had been used to store fishing equipment.
“Cocteau turns muralist for fisherman’s chapel’’ was the headline in July 1957, when Life magazine covered the opening of the Chapelle Saint-Pierre. The photos show the tiny, candlelit chapel filled with visitors who had come to see what the artist had created. “Cocteau himself considers the chapel the ‘crown’ of his work,’’ noted the article’s author, who went on to quote Cocteau: “In doing it I did not use my mind but my heart.’’
We inadvertently got a sense of what its creation must have been like when we visited one late afternoon last spring. The place was closed for renovations, but when I noticed the heavy wooden door was slightly ajar, I pushed on it anyway.
Inside, two young women clad in paint-spattered shirts chatted quietly as they dabbed at the frescoes, oblivious to our presence. Jazz played on a boombox. We had traveled so far, we begged them in bad French. Could we look? Yes, if you are careful, they replied. It turned out to be one of those travel moments you never forget.
Scaffolding filled the 14th-century chapel’s interior, but even in the dusky light, we could see the sweeping images in odd juxtapositions that cross time and genre, some religious, some civil.
Cocteau painted scenes from the life of St. Peter: his walk on water, and his arrest by Roman soldiers. There’s an homage to the women of Villefranche, who carry their basket of fish and sea urchins under the watchful eyes of the angels. The Virgin Mary is serenaded by a 1950s-clad jazz guitarist. The rooster crows. Above it all, angels swoop in a cascade of movement.
Cocteau became enchanted with the rundown chapel while staying at the nearby Hotel Welcome in the 1920s. Back then, he would hardly have been called a religious man. In her book, “Artists and Their Museums on the Riviera,’’ author Barbara Freed points out that the hotel was the scene of, as Cocteau’s friend Ned Rorem put it, “outrageous public behavior.’’ And that’s probably putting it mildly.
When Cocteau returned to Villefranche in 1950, he was an older, established writer, and he began his excursions into painting murals and sketches - he called them “tattoos.’’ As with his film and writings, he drew heavily on Greek mythology, and he made the chapel his canvas.
It took the artist more than seven years to cut through French red tape to renovate the chapel. Once he had the keys, some fishermen stole his ladders to prevent the project from happening - they wanted to keep it for storing nets. Cocteau compromised by donating the entrance fees to a local fishermen’s fund.
Happily, he persisted, and today the church is used a few times each year. Mostly, though, it’s open for the traveler, a chapel-canvas that serves as a reminder that, when it comes to art and religion, good things sometimes come in small packages.
2011年11月10日星期四
Get your flooring right
Ceramic is the season trend for floor cover. Scoring over materials like timber, marble and other cumbersome options, tiling has made floor overhauling a fairly quick job. With expenses overshooting budgets and with festivities to take care of, one mostly ponders over cash flow needed for home makeovers.
Reasonably priced with an assortment of options, easy laying and even easier maintenance have made ceramic tiles the most opted for flooring idea. Tiles today simulate the look and texture of other materials as well, like leather, carpeting, linen, marble, slate, bamboo and hardwood.
When compared to timber, flooring tiles offer great durability and trouble-free maintenance. Often considered as elegant as stone, tiled floors are easier to lay, look more fashionable and are longer lasting. Laminate flooring is very susceptible to moisture damage and are therefore not appropriate for tropical climates like ours. A bit of thought into the following aspects and you can never go wrong with tiled floors:
Purpose – The purpose and usage of the space is a vital criterion in opting for the right tiles. Interior, exterior, bathroom, kitchens, porticos.different tiles are available for different areas.
Of late, tiles have moved out of their conventional usage in kitchens and bath areas.
Homeowners are increasingly experimenting and using ceramic tiles in focal areas like living rooms and porticos and even for outdoor landscaping. Responding to demand, ceramic tiles offer special features which make them relevant to use in that particular space.
Usage & traffic – The use of the space and how much it is frequented has to be taken into consideration for hassle-free maintenance of your tiled floor. For the kitchen, anti-bacterial tiles are a practical and safe flooring solution.
From heavy usage areas such as living rooms, lobbies and porches, the use of VC Shield Tiles which have a high abrasion resistant glaze keeps the finish fresher for longer. Using anti-skid tiles, which is the non glossy variety in bathroom, is more desirable than smooth glossy ones.
Overall area to be covered – Area size is a vital factor in deciding the tile size one should opt for. For instance, small-sized tiles work best for shower areas as they provide efficient drainage for a bathroom floor. Large tiles are good to create the illusion of bigger spaces. For the kitchen, large floor tiles are preferred as they result in lesser number of joints.
Medium-sized tiles are easier to install and are apt to cover large areas like terraces.
Driveways require friction on the floor and therefore small tiles to ensure more joints, works best.
Design & trend - Subjective to the space in consideration, tiles are available in unlimited designs that one can consider. Tiles with the natural finish of marble and wood are most sought after.
Metallic finishes embossed in gold, silver, bronze, copper or steel are hot in high-end luxury homes that prefer an opulent look. Textured tiles are the next big thing taking over flat surface tiles. Digital tiles bring out unlimited designs possibilities with sharper finishes and high-resolution printing.
Created based on principles and procedures similar to those used in graphic art work, digitally printed tiles offer photo-like high resolution impressions on ceramic tiles.
Shapes beyond the regular squares such as hexagons and rectangles are gaining popularity. A word of caution, unusual shapes must be used with careful planning as they give a rather bold look.
Flooring renovation can breathe new life into spaces without spending a fortune this festival season. The only important factor is to understand the space which is to be tiled. Flooring of a space needs to serve the twin purpose of being functional and tasteful at the same time.
The right tile is the ultimate solution to all floor renovation questions as it offers strength, design versatility, easy maintenance and affordability.
Reasonably priced with an assortment of options, easy laying and even easier maintenance have made ceramic tiles the most opted for flooring idea. Tiles today simulate the look and texture of other materials as well, like leather, carpeting, linen, marble, slate, bamboo and hardwood.
When compared to timber, flooring tiles offer great durability and trouble-free maintenance. Often considered as elegant as stone, tiled floors are easier to lay, look more fashionable and are longer lasting. Laminate flooring is very susceptible to moisture damage and are therefore not appropriate for tropical climates like ours. A bit of thought into the following aspects and you can never go wrong with tiled floors:
Purpose – The purpose and usage of the space is a vital criterion in opting for the right tiles. Interior, exterior, bathroom, kitchens, porticos.different tiles are available for different areas.
Of late, tiles have moved out of their conventional usage in kitchens and bath areas.
Homeowners are increasingly experimenting and using ceramic tiles in focal areas like living rooms and porticos and even for outdoor landscaping. Responding to demand, ceramic tiles offer special features which make them relevant to use in that particular space.
Usage & traffic – The use of the space and how much it is frequented has to be taken into consideration for hassle-free maintenance of your tiled floor. For the kitchen, anti-bacterial tiles are a practical and safe flooring solution.
From heavy usage areas such as living rooms, lobbies and porches, the use of VC Shield Tiles which have a high abrasion resistant glaze keeps the finish fresher for longer. Using anti-skid tiles, which is the non glossy variety in bathroom, is more desirable than smooth glossy ones.
Overall area to be covered – Area size is a vital factor in deciding the tile size one should opt for. For instance, small-sized tiles work best for shower areas as they provide efficient drainage for a bathroom floor. Large tiles are good to create the illusion of bigger spaces. For the kitchen, large floor tiles are preferred as they result in lesser number of joints.
Medium-sized tiles are easier to install and are apt to cover large areas like terraces.
Driveways require friction on the floor and therefore small tiles to ensure more joints, works best.
Design & trend - Subjective to the space in consideration, tiles are available in unlimited designs that one can consider. Tiles with the natural finish of marble and wood are most sought after.
Metallic finishes embossed in gold, silver, bronze, copper or steel are hot in high-end luxury homes that prefer an opulent look. Textured tiles are the next big thing taking over flat surface tiles. Digital tiles bring out unlimited designs possibilities with sharper finishes and high-resolution printing.
Created based on principles and procedures similar to those used in graphic art work, digitally printed tiles offer photo-like high resolution impressions on ceramic tiles.
Shapes beyond the regular squares such as hexagons and rectangles are gaining popularity. A word of caution, unusual shapes must be used with careful planning as they give a rather bold look.
Flooring renovation can breathe new life into spaces without spending a fortune this festival season. The only important factor is to understand the space which is to be tiled. Flooring of a space needs to serve the twin purpose of being functional and tasteful at the same time.
The right tile is the ultimate solution to all floor renovation questions as it offers strength, design versatility, easy maintenance and affordability.
2011年8月15日星期一
Lowe's Companies' CEO Discusses Q2 2011 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Lowe's Companies Second Quarter 2011 Earnings Conference Call. This call is being recorded. [Operator Instructions]
Statements made during this call will include forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management's expectations and opinions reflected in those statements are subject to risks, and the company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Those risks are described in the company's earnings release and its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Also during this call, management will be using certain non-GAAP financial measures. You can find a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and other information about them posted on Lowe's Investor Relations website under Corporate Information and Investor Documents.
Hosting today's conference will be Mr. Robert Niblock, Chairman, President and CEO; Mr. Bob Gfeller, Executive Vice President of Merchandising; and Mr. Bob Hull, Executive Vice President and CFO.
I will now turn the program over to Mr. Niblock for opening remarks. Please go ahead, sir.
Robert Niblock
Good morning, and thanks for your interest in Lowe's. Following my remarks, Bob Gfeller will review our operational performance, and Bob Hull will review our financial results. But first, let me share a summary of our second quarter performance, as well as how we're thinking about our near-term and long-term opportunities.
Despite some recovery from the first quarter in our seasonal business, our performance for the quarter fell short of our expectations. Sales for the quarter increased 1.3%, while comparable store sales were essentially flat to last year. Comp traffic increased 0.6% in the second quarter and comp average ticket declined 0.9%. Bob Gfeller will provide more details regarding our comp performance in a few minutes.
Gross margin contracted 37 basis points in the quarter. Our 5% off everyday offer for Lowe's consumer credit card holders impacted gross margin by 11 basis points. However, the gross margin impact of this offer was more than offset by leverage in tender and other costs associated with our proprietary credit program, which are components of SG&A. Bob Hull will provide more detail regarding gross margin in a few minutes.
We had good operating expense control in the quarter. However, as detailed in today's release, we recognized a charge associated with impairment of long-lived assets, including 7 stores that closed on August 14, which reduced pretax earnings for the quarter by $83 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.04. We generated substantial operating cash flow during the quarter, which allowed us to repurchase 59.7 million shares or $1.4 billion, exhausting our share repurchase authorization. Including the impairment charge, we delivered earnings per share of $0.64 in the second quarter.
Our second quarter consumer survey indicates that high fuel prices remain at the top of consumers' minds as they consider future spending plans. However, recent headlines regarding slowing growth and the U.S. credit rating downgrade underscored the continued weakness in the U.S. economy. The volume of negative news and the unsettling impact on equity markets is having a significant effect on already fragile consumer mindset.
More specifically with regard to home improvement spending, consumers continue to focus on small ticket, less than $500 repair and maintenance items and projects. Even after taking into account the challenge of the macro environment, we're still not pleased with our performance this year. For both do-it-yourself and commercial business customers, we must drive more trips, close more sales and build bigger baskets. So what are we doing about it?
Earlier this year, I restructured the executive team and together, we are looking at our business with a fresh perspective. We have critically evaluated our performance over the past several quarters and have identified some gaps. The gaps are in addition to convenience of store location, which we discussed in our first quarter earnings call. We have plans in place to address the gaps we've identified, but we also know that there is no silver bullet, and it's going to take time to see the full benefit of these changes. Bob Gfeller will discuss several of our near-term plans to compete more effectively in the current environment. He will also outline ways in which we will go to market differently beginning in the second half of this year.
We also remain focused on cost-efficient and effective operations. The management team is reviewing how we operate on a cross-functional basis to ensure consistent and connected execution, while also evaluating our organizational structure to streamline decision-making and ensuring that we have the right people in the right roles throughout the organization. We're making tough decisions in order to improve profitability, and I'm confident that the team is focused on the right areas and making the necessary decisions within the parameters of our longer-term strategy.
In ceramic tile, we are resetting 25% of every ceramic floor tile set replacing over 100 SKUs. Additionally, with wall tile sales gaining strength, this month, we have added 50 new SKUs across many stores. Why? Customers want more variety in color, style and size of tile as they freshen the look of their homes by completing bath makeovers and small tile accent projects in kitchens.
Now turning to inventory. We ended the quarter with roughly 2% more inventory than last year. We are comfortable with our inventory levels of grills, patio furniture and room air conditioners as we do not expect significant third quarter markdown pressure in connection with second quarter inventory levels.
That completes my review of second quarter performance and some category specific efforts to drive sales in the back half of 2011. Now I would like to more broadly discuss new directions for Lowe's merchandising.
As merchandising looks to attract customers to drive sales and margin dollar growth, we believe that we must present value to the customer every day, and we must differentiate ourselves by providing simple, fresh and innovative ideas and solutions. To the customer, value is price plus something more. It is that simple. So I want to take a moment to discuss how we are reinvigorating our efforts to enhance our price image in the eye of the consumer and to provide the extra something that distinguishes us from our competitors.
Statements made during this call will include forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management's expectations and opinions reflected in those statements are subject to risks, and the company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Those risks are described in the company's earnings release and its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Also during this call, management will be using certain non-GAAP financial measures. You can find a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and other information about them posted on Lowe's Investor Relations website under Corporate Information and Investor Documents.
Hosting today's conference will be Mr. Robert Niblock, Chairman, President and CEO; Mr. Bob Gfeller, Executive Vice President of Merchandising; and Mr. Bob Hull, Executive Vice President and CFO.
I will now turn the program over to Mr. Niblock for opening remarks. Please go ahead, sir.
Robert Niblock
Good morning, and thanks for your interest in Lowe's. Following my remarks, Bob Gfeller will review our operational performance, and Bob Hull will review our financial results. But first, let me share a summary of our second quarter performance, as well as how we're thinking about our near-term and long-term opportunities.
Despite some recovery from the first quarter in our seasonal business, our performance for the quarter fell short of our expectations. Sales for the quarter increased 1.3%, while comparable store sales were essentially flat to last year. Comp traffic increased 0.6% in the second quarter and comp average ticket declined 0.9%. Bob Gfeller will provide more details regarding our comp performance in a few minutes.
Gross margin contracted 37 basis points in the quarter. Our 5% off everyday offer for Lowe's consumer credit card holders impacted gross margin by 11 basis points. However, the gross margin impact of this offer was more than offset by leverage in tender and other costs associated with our proprietary credit program, which are components of SG&A. Bob Hull will provide more detail regarding gross margin in a few minutes.
We had good operating expense control in the quarter. However, as detailed in today's release, we recognized a charge associated with impairment of long-lived assets, including 7 stores that closed on August 14, which reduced pretax earnings for the quarter by $83 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.04. We generated substantial operating cash flow during the quarter, which allowed us to repurchase 59.7 million shares or $1.4 billion, exhausting our share repurchase authorization. Including the impairment charge, we delivered earnings per share of $0.64 in the second quarter.
Our second quarter consumer survey indicates that high fuel prices remain at the top of consumers' minds as they consider future spending plans. However, recent headlines regarding slowing growth and the U.S. credit rating downgrade underscored the continued weakness in the U.S. economy. The volume of negative news and the unsettling impact on equity markets is having a significant effect on already fragile consumer mindset.
More specifically with regard to home improvement spending, consumers continue to focus on small ticket, less than $500 repair and maintenance items and projects. Even after taking into account the challenge of the macro environment, we're still not pleased with our performance this year. For both do-it-yourself and commercial business customers, we must drive more trips, close more sales and build bigger baskets. So what are we doing about it?
Earlier this year, I restructured the executive team and together, we are looking at our business with a fresh perspective. We have critically evaluated our performance over the past several quarters and have identified some gaps. The gaps are in addition to convenience of store location, which we discussed in our first quarter earnings call. We have plans in place to address the gaps we've identified, but we also know that there is no silver bullet, and it's going to take time to see the full benefit of these changes. Bob Gfeller will discuss several of our near-term plans to compete more effectively in the current environment. He will also outline ways in which we will go to market differently beginning in the second half of this year.
We also remain focused on cost-efficient and effective operations. The management team is reviewing how we operate on a cross-functional basis to ensure consistent and connected execution, while also evaluating our organizational structure to streamline decision-making and ensuring that we have the right people in the right roles throughout the organization. We're making tough decisions in order to improve profitability, and I'm confident that the team is focused on the right areas and making the necessary decisions within the parameters of our longer-term strategy.
In ceramic tile, we are resetting 25% of every ceramic floor tile set replacing over 100 SKUs. Additionally, with wall tile sales gaining strength, this month, we have added 50 new SKUs across many stores. Why? Customers want more variety in color, style and size of tile as they freshen the look of their homes by completing bath makeovers and small tile accent projects in kitchens.
Now turning to inventory. We ended the quarter with roughly 2% more inventory than last year. We are comfortable with our inventory levels of grills, patio furniture and room air conditioners as we do not expect significant third quarter markdown pressure in connection with second quarter inventory levels.
That completes my review of second quarter performance and some category specific efforts to drive sales in the back half of 2011. Now I would like to more broadly discuss new directions for Lowe's merchandising.
As merchandising looks to attract customers to drive sales and margin dollar growth, we believe that we must present value to the customer every day, and we must differentiate ourselves by providing simple, fresh and innovative ideas and solutions. To the customer, value is price plus something more. It is that simple. So I want to take a moment to discuss how we are reinvigorating our efforts to enhance our price image in the eye of the consumer and to provide the extra something that distinguishes us from our competitors.
订阅：
博文 (Atom)