Comet Group plc

Infobox Company
name = Comet Group plc

type = Electrical retailer
genre =
foundation = 1933
founder = George Hollingberry
location_city =
location_country =
location = flagicon|United Kingdom Hull, United Kingdom
locations = 250 stores
area_served = United Kingdom
key_people = Hugh Harvey (Group Managing Director), since March 2006,
Ian Edwards (Deputy Managing Director - Business Support),
Bob Darke (Deputy Managing Director - Commercial),

industry = Retail
products = White Goods, Telecommunications, Information technology
services =
revenue = profit 20.4%
operating_income =
net_income =
assets =
equity =
owner =
num_employees = 10,000
parent = KESA Electricals
divisions =
subsid =
slogan = We live Electricals
homepage = [http://www.comet.co.uk/ comet.co.uk]
footnotes =
intl =

Comet is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom, which is owned by KESA Electricals plc after the demerger of Kingfisher plc. The group was founded in 1933 by George Hollingberry in Hull as "Comet Battery Stores Limited". The retailer specialises in electrical retailing after Comet demerged from Kingfisher, which also owns electrical retailer Laskys and DIY store B&Q and formerly Woolworths and Superdrug, in 2003 to form a new group under the Kingfisher Electricals S.A. umbrella. In September 2005, Comet underwent a £20 million re branding campaign to differentiate itself from other players in the market, mainly Currys, as both company logos were in white print against a red background and the company names were 'similar'. It was often the case that customers would buy an item from Currys and attempt to return it to Comet, either believing the two companies were part of the same brand or simply mistaking the two.

Comet operate a policy called "Every Day Low Pricing". With this, they check competitors' prices and where they find lower prices they lower their own to match. Like many retailers they back this up with a 'price promise'. This states that if a customer finds the same product on sale at another retailer locally (within 10 miles) for less, then Comet will match this price. The product needs to be the exact same model, sealed new, immediately available from the other retailer and verifiable. They do not match Internet sites or warehouse outlets such as Makro. The price promise can be used at the time of purchase or at any time within the first 14 days after purchase.

Store types

The retailer has around 250 stores in the UK in three different layouts. The 'high street' style store contains large display cases stocking mainly small domestic appliances such as grey and brown goods with others in warehouses and few items available for self select. The 'core' store, larger than the previous, stocks a larger range of goods to include white goods. Some items are self select; other larger items are kept in a warehouse. The 'destination' store, stocks nearly the whole range that Comet sells, many items are self select except for very large and delivery only items. These stores will also stock many of what Comet calls the 'premier collection'. These are products by well-known brands such as, Pioneer, Apple, Sony, AEG and Miele. Through Kesa, Comet also sell their own brand products covering most categories of small electricals under the name ProLine.

Kesa Electricals have also unveiled plans for forty two-storey Comet outlets by putting mezzanine levels into some of its 250 Comet stores, starting with 10 in 2007. Kesa, who launched a combined television, phone and internet service at its French chain Darty, ruled out bringing a similar service to the UK. Hugh Harvey, Comet's managing director, said the UK chain would "stick to a traditional retail offer while we watch Mr Murdoch and Mr Branson fight it out." In France, 28,000 subscribers had signed up to DartyBox by the end of January 2007 with a further 140,000 more subscribers by the end of 2007.cite web
title = Kesa plans 40 two-storey Comet outlets
publisher = The Independent
date = 22 March, 2007
url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20070322/ai_n18740419
accessdate = 2007-12-30 ]

Slogan

Comet's slogan is "We live electricals". Its mascot is a small man wearing a helmet with a Comet on it and riding a scooter. The slogan can also be seen on the side of Comet's delivery vans. Edith Bowman is the voice of the television and radio adverts for Comet since 2005.

Criticism

Comet has come under fire in the past for poor customer service issues [ [http://www.ciao.co.uk/Comet_Shop__20205 Ciao Comet Reviews] ] and inadequately trained sales staff. [ [http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/online-shops/comet-co-uk/reviews/4 Dooyoo Comet review] Dooyoo] . Complaints about Comet's refusal to refund faulty products have led to investigation by Trading Standards [ [http://www.platinax.co.uk/blogs/brian/03-09-2005/dont-buy-from-comet/ Don't buy from Comet] Platinax] .

Comet now has a much stronger approach to customer service and say they are trying to ensure every customer is dealt with fairly and when things go wrong they will endeavor to rectify the situation [ [http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/content.do?breadcrumb=no&categoryId=13&includeUrl=/comet/ev2/content/services/html/services.htm&pageName=Services_delivery&knowledge=no Comet customer service] ] . Comet has been voted above its rivals in a recent customer service survey carried out by consumer magazine Which?. [ [http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/house_and_home/Reports/utilities_and_services/Home%20services/High%20street%20shops%20survey/High_street_shops_survey_657_107266_5.jsp Which? customer service report] ]

Financial results

"This data is sourced from the [http://corporate.comet.co.uk Comet Group website] "
"For financial data for the whole of KESA check the KESA Electricals page."

In 2007 Comet gave in their 11 week financial results which put their sales up 8%, this means that Comet is still second for electronics but closing in on their rival, Currys. Comet is the leading provider of White goods (Fridges, Cookers, Dishwashers etc.) in the United Kingdom. Mr Harvey said Comet was outperforming Currys because of the "quality of advice we give our customers". He said the chain also offered "greater choice and more options in terms of high-end brands".

Comet is rolling out a support service for baffled PC users called "Comet on Call" after a successful trial in 34 stores.

Competitors

*Dixons, Currys.digital, Currys and PC World (owned by DSG International plc)
*Argos (owned by Home Retail Group)
*Tesco Direct

See also

* Kesa Electricals
* Darty
* Wegert
* DartyBox

References

External links

* [http://www.comet.co.uk Comet]
* [http://www.comet-accessories.co.uk Comet-Accessories]
* [http://www.comet.co.uk/B2B/ Comet Business Services]
* [http://press.comet.co.uk/default.aspx?m=1&mi=41 Comet Corporate Site]
* [http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/m_268001_comet.html Review of store on "Kelkoo"]