Control Infection and Clean with Shackletons! (Mon 12th Jul 2010)

A new strategic business alliance has been formed that aims to improve infection control, general cleaning and care home safety within this rapidly growing sector. The alliance, between Shackletons Furniture, the leading supplier of high quality contract furniture to the private / public Healthcare Sector, and Proventec Healthcare, the provider of specialist steam cleaning decontamination equipment and a validated range of infection prevention consumables into the NHS, at last addresses the very real concerns about hygiene, infection control and general cleaning of equipment, furniture and furnishings. Coming so soon after the publication of the Department of Health’s Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. The new strategic alliance is one of the first to address the issue in terms of bringing together experiences from both sectors. One of the major concerns for care home proprietors is how to maintain hygienic conditions without also degrading furniture coverings or affecting the required fire retardancy. Cleansing any surface using powerful chemicals very often causes hastened fading and rapid wear. This is certainly true with upholstered furniture and soft furnishings, both cotton and synthetic fibres can be affected, the result usually being more frequent changeover of furniture. However tests carried out using Proventec’s steam decontamination technology developed through its subsidiary OspreyDeepclean, show that there is very little if any degradation; not only is everyday hygiene improved and the potential for infection cross-contamination reduced, but fabrics and furniture also last and look good for longer and the all-important fire retardency is unaffected. The two-year alliance will also see a continuous product development programme initiated to design and develop a range of easy care furniture specifically intended for steam cleaning and general maintenance. This has initially seen the launch of a DUO collection of chairs which combines the elegance of fabric and the durability of faux leather. Speaking of the strategic alliance, Thomas Stuecken, Chief Commercial Officer of Proventec, said: "We are delighted to be working with Shackletons Furniture, as despite our activities being on the face of it very different, there exist many synergies between us. We both operate at the high end of the market; we have both won prestigious awards; there are significant crossover opportunities, and we each have ambitious plans for future growth in the healthcare markets. “Proventec Healthcare sees this alliance as the critical next step for further growth and comes at a time when infection prevention and control is coming to the top of the care homes agenda, replicating the NHS where we are now one of the major players in developing new technologies.” Jason Bloom, National Sales Manager, said: “As we all know, maintaining the appearance of furniture and furnishings whilst preventing infections within care environments, is both difficult and very time consuming for staff. At Shackletons, and for some time, have been seeking a solution to offer and assist our customers whilst increasing both the longevity and long term appearance of our furniture. “We are delighted to have formed this alliance with Proventec Healthcare. During our initial discussions, it was apparent that they were a very progressive company and as passionate about infection prevention and control, as we are about furniture and furnishings. We are both looking forward to a very successful partnership and one that we are sure will be well received throughout the care sector.”

Chris Moyles Got This From Shackletons (Tue 28th Oct 2008)

Last week breakfast show DJ Chris Moyles played our 1980's advert that many listeners remembered from the ad breaks between the game show Bullseye! The most famous line from the advert was "My niece got this from Shackleton's you know!". The advert has since found its way onto U-Tube and has received over 500 hits, whilst the website nearly went into meltdown after receiving over 380,000 hits in the days following, normally 40,000 a week!. On Friday 17th October Finance Manager Paul Braithwaite and Jason Bloom Sales Manager drove through the night to surprise Chris at the studio with his very own chair. Both Paul and Jason were invited into the studio and Chris was over the moon with his Shackletons Chair! See the advert at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7bGzlth_6s

RBS Supports Expansion at Shackletons Limited (Fri 26th Sep 2008)

Dewsbury, 7 July – Dewsbury and Batley based Shackletons Limited, leading furniture manufacturer and upholsterer has bought new premises that will increase its manufacturing capacity, in a deal funded by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). The 8,500 sq.ft. new unit, which is situated next to the Shackleton’s factory in Dewsbury, will improve the efficiencies of its manufacturing enabling the complete process to be relocated on-site, therefore increasing production and reducing its prices to its customer and its carbon footprint. The expansion will also allow the company to grow its market and share and compete more aggressively in the expanding market place. The company employs 70 people and has a turnover of £7 million. Martyn Higgins, Managing Director at Shackletons, said: “The additional unit allows us to bring our manufacturing process under one roof in line with company expansion plans. The new unit allows us to increase capacity whilst staying onsite putting us in a position of strength to gain a bigger market share which is vital in today’s competitive environment. The past 12 months have been remarkable and we expect this will continue as we push forward through 2008. We are very grateful to David and the RBS team for their support and flexibility to deliver a financial solution that met our needs.” Funding was provided by the RBS Commercial Banking team in Huddersfield. David Hodgson, Relationship Manager, said: “Shackletons is a well established local business that has gone from strength – to – strength. Acquiring this unit is another positive step in the company’s progression and will undoubtedly benefit both the customer and the company’s future opportunity for growth. We wish Martyn and his team every success and look forward to supporting them as they move forward.”

Commission for Social Care Inspection (Fri 4th Jul 2008)

Does the CSCI rating do your home justice? The media are sometimes too quick to shoot something down before giving it a chance. Newspapers and the news broadcasts seem to thrive on reports of disasters and shocking behaviour. Every page printed or story told is just another tale of bad news. But there are always two sides to every story. The CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection) star rating system has fallen victim to the negative headlines that plague the care sector. The system, that has taken years to develop, is meant to denote the quality of a care home, not add fuel to the negative, publicity fire. It may be the case that press and consumers outside of the care industry have misunderstood how the CSCI system works. Perhaps the root cause of this is because ‘stars’ have been used for classification purposes and have consequently been compared with the hotel rating. The star rating, commonly found in hotels, awards higher star ratings to indicate more luxury. Generally, the number of facilities they offer determines how many stars they are granted. This is a stark comparison to the CSCI’s system, which groups common standards and offers a star grade on how well they meet the national minimum standards. It is not enough for prospect residents and their families to choose a care home based on its overall star rating, like they would a hotel. Because you cannot assume a care home awarded with 3 stars (the maximum under the CSCI system) will offer the premium care you are looking for. Each care home offers a unique and tailored service. I.e. a home which specialises in wheelchair accessibility, may not be able to offer the same, high quality service for dementia care. Even though it’s been awarded a ‘3 star’ rating. This means you shouldn’t rely on the ‘stars’ alone to determine whether the care home you are looking at is suitable for your needs. A much closer inspection is required, to make sure it can offer the correct care and support. One of the best ways to find out whether a home meets your requirements is to read what the residents have to say about it in the ‘service users guide’. This explains what kind of service the home offers using residents’ opinions. To ensure you make a fully informed decision, combine this with the care home’s full inspection report. Snap judgements have been made about the headline star rating given to care homes. This has intensified press activity, which has been sceptical about this system from the beginning. It is important to fully understand the intentions of the ratings and not compare them to those found in the hotel industry.

Shackleton's Delivery Sevice (Mon 15th Oct 2007)

At Shackletons we are committed to ensuring that your furniture is received in the finest condition and on time. As you will see on this recent delivery to a home in Plymouth, our driver did not let the fact there was little or no road from keeping our promise!!

The ‘great’ British summer (Mon 15th Oct 2007)

The summer of 2007 saw one of the biggest evacuations in the UK since the Second World War. Thousands of people had to leave their homes as heavy rain started to fall and rivers burst their banks. Villages were turned into lakes, with homes and businesses submerged under water. Power was cut off, roads impassable and lives lost. Unimaginable scenes of waist high flood water, reaching kitchen work surfaces were in the media. The army and RNLI helped fire crews and police with large scale rescues as some places felt a month’s rain fall in just 24 hours. The big clear up As soon as the waters died down, the clearing up and drying out began. It was a tough job to remove the tonnes of mud and even the odd fish that had been deposited. The latest figure from insurance companies estimates that the damage to 27,000 homes and 5,000 businesses is around £3.3 billion. Everyone who was affected knew that it would take a long time and a lot of patience for things to return back to normality and for some, the clean up is still going on. Pulling together Yorkshire based Shackletons did everything they could to help those affected by the flooding. They raided their warehouse in order to gather up essential furniture and donated it to those in need. They ended up with quite a collection, including mattresses, dining chairs and tables, coffee tables and other chairs. It was greatly received by Yorkshire Purchasing, who distributed it between Doncaster Council and Social Services. Shackletons normally provide care homes with ergonomically designed furniture that doesn’t compromise style. All of their products are designed with practical considerations, but they would not be out of place in a luxury five star hotel. Sales Manager, Jason Bloom said, ‘So many people had their homes and possessions ruined, right on our doorstep, we just did everything that we could to help.’ Shackletons also sent a message to any care home that had been affected by the flooding. They had limited stock available that they were willing to donate to those in distress. But, their help didn’t stop there. Once their remaining stock was given away, they offered a 15% discount on all ranges, to any care home that have suffered from the flooding.

Create a 5 star room in 6 simple steps (Mon 15th Oct 2007)

A government grant isn’t the only way to renovate your care home. With a few simple steps and a bit of inspiration, you can restore your room so it looks like a luxury, five star hotel. 1) A room can be dramatically transformed, with new wallpaper or a lick of paint. You don’t need to decorate the entire room, why not choose one wall, creating a feature within the room. Alternatively, mix it up and use a little of both to give it a modern, but warm feel. 2) Many luxury hotels display wonderful large paintings, which add a touch of class. But, they cost a small fortune. Why not add character to your room with reasonable priced prints, which create the same effect. Maybe one of your residents has a hidden talent that can be used to create a unique work of art, for the price of a canvas and paints. Or alternatively, why not create a reminiscence wall/area with old photographs, letters and postcards all framed as a token of days gone by. 3) Communal seating areas are a focal point of hotels and care homes. They are an ideal area for meeting people or relaxing and unwinding. A new piece of furniture can make all the difference to a room, without any hassle, mess or disruption. Create a lasting impression with Shackletons’ furniture that is both stylish and practical. You’ll be amazed what a difference this small change makes. 4) Bring some of your garden flowers inside, to add a hint of colour and the aroma of summer into your room. Why not create an afternoon activity of making flower displays. Add some creativity by arranging them in different forms of vases, such as watering cans, or pressing them and displaying in box frames, on the wall. If you have any lavender in the garden, dry it out and make lavender bags, ideal for your wardrobe or as birthday presents. 5) Turn your residence into a home with elegant curtains that are rich in colour. Make a statement with window dressing you can be proud of. Simply buy a few metres of material and drape it around the top of the curtain pole. You can change the colour of your curtains by dying them, either professionally or with a D.I.Y kit. 6) Create a calming atmosphere with luxury lighting. Well positioned uplighters fitted to the wall will create a soft glow, in a relaxing environment. Free standing uplighters allow you to move the light to where it is most needed. If you have harsh lighting, soften the room by changing your light bulbs or lamp shades and turn it into a tranquil haven. These simple steps offer a few ideas to help create the luxurious day room you really want. Those who don’t fancy getting their hands dirty can add a new lease of life to their homes by purchasing Shackletons’ furniture. We can create a unique package that will transform you room and impress anyone who sets foot in your home.

The depth, height and strength of a chair (Mon 15th Oct 2007)

Sit back, relax, and read on from the comfort of your own chair. A chair is much more than something to hang your coat on. They have evolved from simple wooden designs to highly mechanical, designer products. A chair is simply defined as, ‘a piece of furniture consisting of a seat, legs, back, and often arms, designed to accommodate one person. (answers.com) But, they are so much more than this. They can be a reflection of authority, means of mobility, a way to relax and a statement about the owner. Historically, chairs were reserved for kings, lords and bishops; ordinary folk sat on backless chests, benches or stools. They were articles of state and dignity, not for ordinary use. Authority still exists in some circumstances today, the Queen’s throne, the director’s chair and the head of the table. But it wasn’t until the 16th century that chairs became more common and today they come in every form possible. The unrecognised chair Chairs are remarkable pieces of design that don’t get the recognition they deserve. From the day we are born, we rely on chairs; high chairs to help us eat, car seats to ensure our safety, school chairs for comfort whilst learning. For some, a chair is much more than a seat, but a way of mobility. Wheelchairs have revolutionised people’s lives. Their designs are ground-breaking, incorporating great speed and agility. Technology has helped further chair innovation. The reclining function lets you lay back so you can put your feet up. It will even do all of the work for you as you receive a relaxing massage. Chairs have also had a damaging impact. The electric chair helped to inflict torture and death on criminals. It was the most popular means of execution in the early 19th Century and is still legal in some US states today. Chairs of the future Chairs have been around for centuries, but this doesn’t mean all ideas have been exhausted. Shackletons have been providing specialist furniture, with cutting edge designs, for almost 50 years. Their furniture is not only comfortable and durable, but it doesn’t compromise style. Their ergonomically designed chairs have high-backs for posture support and comfort. Although practically designed they are luxuriously styled and would not be out of place in a luxury five star hotel. Shackletons have taken chair design to the next level by inviting the new generation of designers into their workshop. They met with 3 students and gave them the opportunity to design their very own concept chair, which Shackletons will bring to life. The new concept chairs will prove the importance of chairs and show that any care home can rival luxury five star hotels. A chair is not just a chair; it’s a piece of history and a way of life.