Aga feels warm glow of sales in cold snap
15.01.10
The stony-hearted snap has given Aga Rangemaster a boost, with people scurrying rest-home to their cast-iron cookers and wood-burning stoves.
After a bad first half when orders for its upmarket cookers plunged 20%, Aga enjoyed a get-up-and-go in the second half of last year. "The weather has been running something of a marketing stump for us," chief executive William McGrath said today. "The benefits will possibly come through in 2010." The idea of having a second vigour source at home and being less reliant on the grid has become more appealing during the big chill and highlighted the benefits of the firm's all-in-one cookers and boilers. With temperatures in Britain dropping well below zero, sales of Aga wood-scorching stoves have soared.
The company is also benefiting from signs of life in the protection market, which should have underpinned a return to profitability in the full year, from a erosion in the first half. The shares jumped by nearly a fifth on the rumour.
Orders were down 12% over 2009, but Aga's order book finished the year higher than a year ago.
Source: The Guardian
Mix of flakes, cold air hit region
08.01.10
Few Athens-arrondissement schools closed in the face of predictions that enough snow would withdraw to leave a dusting.
Gainesville State University closed primeval, canceling evening classes and other activities scheduled after 4 p.m. at the Oconee County campus and its strength campus in Gainesville.
► Click here for a list of area educational institution closings
Extracurricular activities were canceled at several public schools, with set leaders making plans to monitor the snowfall through the ceaselessly.
Oglethorpe County schools Superintendent Raymond Akridge hoped to opt for by Thursday afternoon whether to call school off for today, but - like many other administrators - had to wait off as the threatened snow failed to materialize before dark.
Still, Akridge planned to reassess the prepare of county roads with the help of emergency management officials before making a call this morning.
"We're usual to try and call it as early as we can," he said.
Source: Online Athens