Our story

The Group's main product development and distribution activities in the UK are focused on product categories associated with the digital media market, in particular 'free to air' STBs for high street and mass market retailers, and on offering both existing and new retail customers a comprehensive, one-stop-shop accessories portfolio for Apple's hugely popular iPad, iPhone and iPod products.

UK Digital Media Sector

There are a number of different digital TV platforms in the UK, the most important of which is the Free-to-air TV platform, Freeview. This allows consumers to receive digital TV broadcasts, including HD, via a set-top-box (STB) and roof aerial, without the expense of replacing the television or installing satellite or cable infrastructure.

A key business driver is the Digital Switchover (DSO) project, a nationwide switchover from analogue to a digital TV broadcasting (predominantly via Freeview), and the simultaneous roll-out of Freeview High Definition (HD) broadcasts that started in 2010. DSO requires the UK's 26.5 million households to invest in new electronic hardware (either STBs or integrated TVs) if they are to continue to receive Free-to-air TV. Further, if consumers want to receive HD programming via Freeview they need to purchase an 'HD Ready' STB even if they already own an HD Ready TV.

In addition, Harvard has taken steps to meet consumer requirements for high quality products and retailer requirements for added value, higher margin products through a drive on quality and innovation. Significant qualitative improvements have been made through the decision to develop its own user interfaces and to enter into a partnership agreement with a leading 'chipset' manufacturer, ensuring access to the latest technologies, better component availability and much improved product reliability.

One anticipated consequence of the digital switchover was that socially disadvantaged groups would need assistance. The Government has therefore made provision for the supply of free, but technically enhanced STBs under a Targeted Help Scheme to which Harvard is one of only two suppliers.

As an alternative to Freeview, a BBC/ITV joint venture launched the 'Freesat' service in May 2008, providing free access to digital transmissions in HD and Standard Definition (SD) formats through satellite receivers. The advantage to consumers is that the system provides a consistent high quality signal to all parts of the UK, something that the SD Freeview platform is unable to completely deliver. Harvard was one of only two Freesat partners at launch.

In the UK, Freesat, DSO and the launch of HD programming on Freeview have created demand for a number of different products in a market where Harvard is already established. Avoiding many of the competitive pressures of the world's global CE brands, Harvard's success in the market has been achieved through the decision to target this kind of local market opportunities, often regarded by others as being too small to be of interest.

In response to changing consumer behaviour and the desire to have access to TV programming on demand, further opportunities to grow the consumer electronics business are emerging. The success of the BBC's, Internet based, 'iPlayer' product, through which viewers can catch-up on the previous weeks' TV programming on a computer, has highlighted the opportunity for STBs to provide similar access to programming, directly through the television, as has already been deployed on the Freesat platform.

It is expected that broadband-based "video on demand" will become a key driver in the future as content service providers seek to capture dedicated market share. The ability to then offer connectivity via the internet to a broad range of other services will follow. To meet the needs of this new functionality the STB is already evolving into a multi-functional digital media box and becoming a core integral part of many home entertainment centres.

A further example of the way in which the Group seeks to diversify its mainstream activities into other areas is a 'Text to Speech' project, funded by the Royal National Institute for The Blind. The objectives of the project were to enhance the usability and enjoyment of TV for those with sight impairments by enabling the TV to 'read' the menus, programme guides and other essential information. The audience for such products extends far beyond the membership of the RNIB. The project has now reached commercial realisation and with the first units being delivered in June 2010.

Digital Audio Accessories Sector

The Group is well advanced in the process of developing a portfolio of niche market consumer products which have a clear market positioning and which can be added to the existing distribution structures, without the need for additional resource or overhead.

The burgeoning digital audio and Smartphone accessories sector presents many opportunities and is being targeted for expansion. The UK market size is £390m but there is a very fragmented supplier base with no clear market leader and many small independent operators.

In 2009 the UK distribution rights were secured for iLuv, an established brand leader in the United States, which produces high quality iPad, iPhone and iPod accessories such as speaker docks, Bluetooth accessories, earphones, portable media devices and protective cases. The company's success was acknowledged at the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Las Vegas CES Shows, where it was the winner of a number of awards for product innovation.

Uniquely, iLuv's product listing covers Apple's complete portfolio of iPad, iPhone and iPod branded products. Retailers are able to exploit this positioning and utilise the iLuv brand as a convenient 'one-stop-shop' to cover the extensive and growing breadth of the iPad, iPhone and iPod ranges.

International Activities

Australia is an important market and is responsible for approximately one quarter of Group turnover. Due to the markets' less competitive structure, when compared with that of the UK, the Group's operations are more diversified in nature. Bush Australia has a wide product portfolio of CE digital vision and digital radio under the brands Bush, Grundig and Revo whilst also covering the market for personal care under Joh Bailey and that for personal health with products from Kinetik.

The Group's two centres in Hong Kong and Shenzhen manage the supplier base and administer the Group's, procurement, shipping, manufacturing quality control, design and sales support functions. There is also a complete in-house and direct import logistical service. Product testing facilities, which provide engineering and quality control services, are located close to our manufacturers in Shenzhen.