Latest news with #homeproducts
Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Times
6 essential home appliances to buy: from washing machines to air fryers
Whether you're on the hunt for a new vacuum cleaner or replacing the dishwasher, you're likely to end up poring over online reviews, thumbing through specialist magazines or quizzing your most in-the-know friends and family. And rightly so. Doing your research before making a larger electrical purchase makes total sense — who wants to waste money on things that don't last? Consulting the consumer guide Which? is another go-to. Every year Which? tests more than 3,500 products across 140 categories, stamping 650 of these as its crème de la crème recommendations with a Best Buy or Eco Buy accolade. Now a new category has entered the fray: Just Buy This. This is a single recommendation from the Which? testing team of products that tick all the most important boxes, ie, something that should suit most people most of the time. It's aimed at anyone who doesn't have time to research the products they need to buy (or, hard to believe, just doesn't take any pleasure in reading about different washing machine models) and would rather take an expert's word for it. And there's nothing to stop others from just using the recommendation as a starting point to compare their options. 'Unless you know exactly what you are looking for, researching the best fridge freezer, air fryer or coffee machine can seem like a lot of faff,' says Natalie Hitchins, the head of home products and services at Which?. 'Our Just Buy This recommendation takes the hassle out of finding what you want by putting you in the hands of our experts to narrow it down to one great pick that won't break the bank.' There's one catch: you can only see these recommendations if you are a Which? subscriber. However, Times readers have been given an exclusive sneak peek of six domestic appliances from the Just Buy This list. 1. The washing machine JOSEPH O'BRIEN Bosch Series 4 Which? rating: 79/100 This user-friendly Bosch model makes laundry day feel less like a chore, according to Rebecca Jakeman, Which? senior researcher. 'It may be on the slow side but the washing results — especially on the synthetics cycle — are more than worth waiting for. Unless anyone in your household is an exceptionally messy eater or just can't resist stomping through a muddy puddle, you should find all of the items are spotlessly clean at the end of the cycle. The powerful spin function is great at removing excess water to reduce drying time, too, which is a welcome bonus.' £579, • The best British-made homeware for 2025 2. The fridge freezer LG 60/40 Frost Free Fridge Freezer Which? rating: 76/100 'You might wonder why I wouldn't recommend our top-scoring fridge freezer, but this good all-rounder should suit many people,' says Jakeman, who rates how quietly the South Korean manufacturer's model runs, the accuracy of its thermostat ('it even stays stable in heat') as well as the speed at which food is chilled and frozen. 'It also uses less energy than expected for its size which is handy when we're all feeling the financial squeeze. It's not completely perfect as the veg drawer can dry food out and the fridge is a little hard to clean in places, but these are small gripes and it's still a great Best Buy and Eco Buy choice.' £449 (reduced from £599), 3. The kettle LOGIK L17PKB23 Jug Kettle Which? rating: 78/100 Fran Roberts-Thornton, a senior Which? researcher, picks a pocket-friendly Logik kettle as her Just Buy This option for your kitchen countertop. Though not the quietest of models, it has several positives, says Roberts-Thornton: 'It's quick to boil, has a low minimum fill and is cheaper than many. We tested the black version, but this isn't a Henry Ford situation — it comes in green or blue, too.' £14.99 (reduced from £24.99), • The 9 best kettles for speed, quiet — and good looks 4. The iron Philips 7000 Series Steam Iron Which? rating: 85/100 Ironing is one of Roberts-Thornton's favourite chores so naturally she recommends the highest-scoring steam iron on test, which earns the full five stars for ironing performance, resistance to limescale, cleaning efficiency, soleplate scratch resistance and time to start steaming. 'Three stars for handling, due to a slippery handle — it was the lowest it got in any of our tests. This iron breezes through creases and is durable enough to withstand accidental brushes with zips and buttons,' she adds. £54.99, 5. The air fryer Tower T17102 Vortx Vizion 11 litre Which? rating: 71/100 A dual-zone air fryer that is neither the best nor the cheapest model tested but hits the sweet spot of performance and price, according to Roberts-Thornton. 'As an oven-style model, it comes with two cooking racks, cooking baskets and drip trays. Chicken, chips and baguettes were golden in good time. If you're new to air-frying, ten preset programs make it a doddle to use. Like most dual air fryers, it's bulky and not the most energy efficient, plus it's a bit of a chore to clean.' £110, 6. The coffee pod machine Nescafé Dolce Gusto DeLonghi Piccolo XS Which? rating: 77/100 Pod machines are a smaller and usually cheaper alternative than bean-to-cup machines, which Roberts-Thornton considers best suited to occasional rather than dedicated coffee drinkers as the cost of pods can add up. 'This DeLonghi is a great little model as it's quick, energy efficient and simple to use. Most importantly, it makes tasty espressos and well-balanced cappuccinos.' There are negatives, however: 'You're tied to the Dolce Gusto-compatible range of pods — other brands won't work — but there's plenty of choice, including hot chocolate and tea.' £35 (reduced from £55),
Globe and Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
REPEAT: Dorel Industries Inc. Announces Virtual Annual Meeting of Shareholders
MONTREAL, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) Shareholders are invited to participate by live audio webcast at Shareholders will have the ability to interact with Dorel Industries Inc. Senior Management by submitting questions to ir@ To be sure your questions are addressed during the Q&A portion of the annual meeting, please submit them no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025. Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) is a global organization, operating two distinct businesses in juvenile products and home products. Dorel's strength lies in the diversity, innovation and quality of its products as well as the superiority of its brands. Dorel Juvenile's powerfully branded products include global brands Maxi-Cosi, Safety 1st and Tiny Love, complemented by regional brands such as BebeConfort, Cosco, Mother's Choice and Infanti. Dorel Home, with its comprehensive e-commerce platform, markets a wide assortment of domestically produced and imported furniture. Dorel has annual sales of US$1.4 billion and employs approximately 3,600 people in facilities located in twenty-two countries worldwide.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
8 Home Products To Stock Up on Now in Case of Tariff-Induced Product Shortages
Though it's hard to keep track of the new tariffs that are rolling out and rolling back recently, it's clear that some of them will stick, and prices on many of the goods you purchase for your home will be among the casualties. Find Out: Read Next: Worse, people might start hoarding some things in an attempt to get ahead of any tariff-induced shortages. Here are eight home products to stock up on now, just in case. Of course, stock up mindfully — don't go wild and overbuy; others are trying to get ahead, too. Whether you're a foodie at home or just want to stay ahead of your grocery costs, definitely stock up on pantry essentials that are likely to spike as the effects of tariffs settle in. It's probably no surprise that beloved meal components like rice, your favorite spices and even some cooking oils are produced overseas. Stocking up on the nonperishable elements of these items will keep your pantry, and everyone's bellies in your house, full and content. Learn More: If you're a stickler for the spic-n-span, you might be surprised to learn that a significant percentage of the chemicals that comprise your favorite cleaning supplies, from disinfectants to detergents, come from countries with hefty tariffs hanging over them, like China and Mexico. In addition, tariffs may impact overall supply chains for these and other products, so you should grab what you can comfortably store now (be sure to check labels for chemical shelf-life; no sense buying a pallet of something that will go bad in a couple years). If you love those little touches that brighten, accent and jazz up a room, run, don't walk, to your nearest home goods store or get online. Home decor could soon get a lot more expensive, from picture frames and lamp shades to small metal sculptures, doo-dads and other tchotchkes, or even bigger items like rugs and furniture covers. Is your showerhead dripping, does your kitchen faucet never turn off or is your garbage disposal making a worrisome rumble? Don't wait, replace them now. Try to anticipate the things that might break, are on their last legs or could go out in the next year or so. Buying them now can save you on big price hikes soon to come. Tariffs on metals and other materials have led to increased prices for tools and home improvement supplies. From hammers and screwdrivers to the little bits themselves, screws, washers, nails and so on, if you're planning repairs or renovations, get these items sooner than later. When you think appliances, you might go to the big items like dishwasher, fridge and stove, but you probably rely on many more smaller appliances than you realize at first thought. Get ready to see price hikes on things like humidifiers, curling irons, alarm clocks, toasters, microwave ovens, fans, LED bulbs and more, according to Vox, who said that over 90% of appliance imports come from China. While you might not 'stock up' on these insofar as you buy more than one, if you've been thinking about replacing any of them, now's the time. While you're busy replacing your electronics, make sure to stock up on batteries for the battery powered ones, as those are likely to increase in cost, too. Fortunately, batteries already tend to come in packs, and you can pick up bulk packages at places like Costco, Walmart and Sam's Club for deals. You might not necessarily think of basic medical supplies like Band-Aids, antiseptic, pain relievers and bandages as home goods, but you probably keep a regular supply of at least some of these items in a medicine cabinet or closet. Anyone with children, health issues or who is a caregiver likely relies on these items on a daily or weekly basis. These, too, are largely imported (though there are American-made versions of some products) and will be more expensive in the days to come. More From GOBankingRates 5 Luxury Cars That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Spring 2025 8 Items To Stock Up on Now in Case of Tariff-Induced Product Shortages 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle These Cars May Seem Expensive, but They Rarely Need Repairs This article originally appeared on 8 Home Products To Stock Up on Now in Case of Tariff-Induced Product Shortages
