Pockets of Palmers pansies and primula’s are peeping out from new flowerbeds in Auckland’s CBD – but the planting drive isn’t just about looking pretty.
Palmers donated more than 2500 punnets of purple and white bedding plants as part of the Beautify Your City campaign, which kicked off its third phase this week.
The flowers have been planted in six temporary flowerbeds in spots that had become targets for the illegal dumping of rubbish, fats and oils.
“The idea is that the plants will dissuade dumpers,” says Palmers General Manager Garry Stone. “It’s a similar concept to painting murals on spots that are targets for graffiti. It’s designed to gently encourage people to respect their city – even the seemingly forsaken nooks and crannies. And, of course, the flowers will also brighten up the CBD for everyone to enjoy.”
It’s the second time in the last year that Palmers has donated plants for the beautification initiative, which was developed by the Heart of the City business group and the Auckland City Council.
“We’re delighted to be involved,” says Garry. “We here at Palmers are great believers in the power of plants. This project channels that power into a good cause. It really is beauty with a purpose.”
To reinforce the campaign, the council provided every business in the CBD a rubbish bag printed with purple pansies, instead of the usual red bag.
Businesses have also received an information pack about rubbish and recycling.
The campaign began in November last year, when Palmers donated its first round of plants. Council statistics suggest that the initial planting project worked, in conjunction with the wider campaign. The number of rubbish bags dumped illegally in the city fell from 1273 in November 2009 to 381 bags in November 2010. The numbers continued to improve – in February this year only 121 bags were found dumped – though the council says the record has slipped since then.
“We hope this new project will reinforce the strong message that the plants conveyed in November. With an influx of visitors expected in the next few months, the timing couldn’t be better for a reminder to take pride in our city,” says Garry.
2011年7月6日 星期三
2011年6月8日 星期三
Bedding warehouse closing
Tempur-Pedic is shutting down its London warehouse, cutting 20 jobs as it moves its shipping and storage business to Toronto.
The bedding business will have only a regional sales and administration office remaining here after the warehouses operation is outsourced and moved Sept. 1, cutting about 40 per cent of its workforce.
"They say they want to improve service levels but it is not about that at all, it is about cutting costs and saving money," said one company official, who declined to be identified.
Lexington Ky.-based Tempur-Pedic International bought Tempur Canada in April 2010.
"It is a typical situation where an American company comes in and uses their business model," the official added.
The company has stated the move will better service, but Tempur-Pedic has scored high in customer service surveys prior to this move, the official added.
"It is not about that, we were No. 1, but now we will not be responsible for shipping."
Steve Miller, manager of the London office, did not return calls.
However, in a recent release Rick Anderson, president of Tempur-Pedic North America, said the changes are the result of "an exhaustive study" of the company's distribution strategy.
"As a result of the study, we have determined that opening distribution facilities closer to our customers will improve service levels both now and in the future," he said in a statement.
"This will place our products closer to retail demand, hence improving customer service."
In the statement Tempur-Pedic said employees whose positions were eliminated were provided with exit packages in excess of the requirements of the Employment Standards Act.
The Canadian operation had sales of approximately $9 million in 2009 but is now part of the parent company's North America operating division.
The website it also reported recently Tempur-Pedic, reported 2008 sales fell 16.2 per cent to US$927.8 million from 2007's US$1.1 billion.
Net profits plummeted 97.4 per cent to US$1.1 million.
It also reported mattress unit sales declined 31% globally in the fourth quarter, with U.S. sales falling 39% and international sales declining 21%. Pillow unit sales in the year's final quarter fell 37%.
The bedding business will have only a regional sales and administration office remaining here after the warehouses operation is outsourced and moved Sept. 1, cutting about 40 per cent of its workforce.
"They say they want to improve service levels but it is not about that at all, it is about cutting costs and saving money," said one company official, who declined to be identified.
Lexington Ky.-based Tempur-Pedic International bought Tempur Canada in April 2010.
"It is a typical situation where an American company comes in and uses their business model," the official added.
The company has stated the move will better service, but Tempur-Pedic has scored high in customer service surveys prior to this move, the official added.
"It is not about that, we were No. 1, but now we will not be responsible for shipping."
Steve Miller, manager of the London office, did not return calls.
However, in a recent release Rick Anderson, president of Tempur-Pedic North America, said the changes are the result of "an exhaustive study" of the company's distribution strategy.
"As a result of the study, we have determined that opening distribution facilities closer to our customers will improve service levels both now and in the future," he said in a statement.
"This will place our products closer to retail demand, hence improving customer service."
In the statement Tempur-Pedic said employees whose positions were eliminated were provided with exit packages in excess of the requirements of the Employment Standards Act.
The Canadian operation had sales of approximately $9 million in 2009 but is now part of the parent company's North America operating division.
The website it also reported recently Tempur-Pedic, reported 2008 sales fell 16.2 per cent to US$927.8 million from 2007's US$1.1 billion.
Net profits plummeted 97.4 per cent to US$1.1 million.
It also reported mattress unit sales declined 31% globally in the fourth quarter, with U.S. sales falling 39% and international sales declining 21%. Pillow unit sales in the year's final quarter fell 37%.
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