TracyMartin, Author at Snellings Snellings Gerald Giles

Washing your clothes is a chore, and it’s very difficult to get any pleasure out of doing the laundry when it’s a struggle to keep up with the weekly turnover. At Gerald Giles it’s important to us that our customers get the best washing results with the least amount of effort, which is why this Saturday 13th June we’re holding a ‘Love your Laundry’ open day at our Norwich showroom and we’ve teamed up with Miele to hold this special all day event.

From 9am, make the most of live demonstrations showing off the incredible range of Miele W1 washing machines. Learn how easy they are to use and the secret science and technology behind different programmes and features for perfect results every time. You can also grill our Miele experts throughout the day for their Top laundry Tips to lighten your load. Enjoy refreshments while you are guided through the Miele washing machine range and discover which model could make the perfect partner for your household. Also, as part of this special day if you purchase a new Miele washing machine on Saturday 13th June and trade-in your old appliance you could save up to £75* off a new model.

So with so much going on, why not pull into our car park on Ber Street and join in with all the fun in-store?

These days, choosing something as simple as a new washing machine can be a complete mine field. With loads of fabulous functions to consider like Minimum Iron, Water Control, Foam Sensing or AutoClean Detergent drawer it can often be a difficult task picking the right model for you. Hopefully on their way to making things a bit easier Which? have put two of Miele’s washing machines through their paces and each has been given the Which? Best Buy stamp for April 2015.

As the upcoming ‘better weather’ will bring more outdoor parties (red wine spillages), sporting events to participate in (grass stains) and extra BBQs to scoff (tomato ketchup drips) we thought that it would be a good idea to take a look and see what all the fuss is about with these two models – and see if they can cope with daily demands!

First things first, these machines could save you money on your energy bills (you’re listening now aren’t you)! The load capacity is pretty generous and both models offer enough space to fit in 7kg worth of washing in one go (the equivalent of 35 t-shirts), meaning that the quantity of loads you put on to keep up with the laundry in your household could potentially fall as you can fit a greater weight of washing in at once. This large capacity in the honeycomb drum also means that they are large enough inside to tackle plenty of bedding, blankets or other bulky and heavy items you want to launder. In addition, these washing machine’s have a 1400RPM (spin speed) and use this power to spin out as much moisture as possible from the garments at the end of a cycle, reducing the amount of time it take’s for laundry to dry so your whole laundry process will be quicker than ever before (and be less expensive if you use a tumble dryer).

Speaking of quick, the WDA 100 and WDA 110 are both hosts to all sorts of super programmes and functions designed to make your life easier, including Express 20 for if you want a few items washed really fast – still with the same outstanding results you would expect from a Miele. For the professionals out there with a high turnover of work shirts, make the most of the special shirts programme. Tailored specifically to washing shirts, this programme reduces the spin speed for less damage on delicate cuffs and collars and also reduces the creases too – so you’ll spend less time ironing afterwards! Hurrah! Amongst other programmes is a denim/darks option which will again be less harsh on your coloured clothes, so your garments stay in better condition for longer and keep their colour too.

Obviously, nobody wants a washing machine that is so complicated to understand you’d need a degree to use it. So Miele have cracked it with these two models as they are both unbelievably simplistic. With a control dial to select the programme type and temperature and only a few push buttons, you won’t be tearing your hair out when you use it.

Quality has always been a given with Miele washing machines, and these two models are no different. Each has been tested to the equivalent of 20 years use and the WDA 100 comes with a 2 year warranty and the WDA 110 currently has a free 5 year free warranty* until the end of May. This testing means that each washing machine has been rigorously tested including being put through 7,500 washing cycles at 75°C, 100,000 opening and shutting of doors and 50,000 switch tests on the control buttons, just to ensure Miele quality will work as well in 20 years time as they do when they’re first purchased.

So all in all, what do we think? Well, these freestanding washing machines are well worth the investment purchase. Miele have seriously considered what to include in the WDA 100 and WDA 110 machines, and came up with valuable solutions for modern day problems. Get yours from Gerald Giles today!

*Terms & Conditions apply

We love Bose products at Gerald Giles. So we know just how much you’d miss their supreme sound systems should they ever require a repair or diagnosis and need to be sent away.

To keep life full of your favourite beats at Gerald Giles if you’ve bought your Bose Lifestyle System from us and it needs to be looked at, we’ll loan you a replacement system while yours is in being fixed.

This applies to Bose premium products only (listed below) so if you have any questions or would like your Bose premium product looked at get in touch today.

Panasonic launched a brand spanking new product range at their 2015 Frankfurt convention and we were invited over for a sneak preview of the new models ahead of their release into stores across the country this spring.

2014 was a big year for innovation in new televisions. This included the introduction of new 4K Ultra HD screens which boasted a resolution four times better than full HD, bringing a definition and clarity never experienced from the comfort of

your own home. Panasonic have always been world renowned for their picture quality, and this year they have developed their 4K Studio Master Processor to deliver the best possible picture quality by ensuring colours, brightness and contrast are emitted at an optimum level for ultimate viewer experience. Last year also heralded the acceptance of curved sets from big brands including Samsung, Sony and Panasonic and these trends look likely to continue well into new TV models in 2015.

Panasonic have certainly kept up with the competition from our point of view this year and they have a fantastic range of 4K Ultra HD LED TVs hitting the stores in a variety of shapes and sizes for 2015. They’ve covered everything from a smaller screen you’ll want to mount onto a kitchen wall or massive cinema sized (ok, maybe not quite) TVs to take pride of place on a equally impressive stand in your living room. Panasonic have also embraced curved screens into this year’s range with five of their models available in 55 inch and 65 inch sizes all featuring the curvature designed to immerse you deeper into on screen action.

If you’re thinking about investing in a Panasonic TV this year, then there are two big updates to the new 2015 models which you should consider in your decision making. This year Panasonic partnered up with Firefox OS, (you may be familiar with if you’ve used the web browsing software on a Windows PC) and have created a graphically staggering, fast reacting interface which is quick and easy to use. Using my Home Screen 2.0 it breaks down content into three ‘decks’ (Live TV, Apps and Devices) so you can easily find what you’re looking for, and you can even customise your Home Screen by pinning your most favourite content apps to it.

The second big update for Panasonic is the introduction of Freeview Play – a brand new on-demand catch up service. Freeview Play is completely free and when launched in May, you will be able to access up to seven days of your favourite programmes by rolling back through a guide for all major channels which includes BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and 4OD with more channels forecasted for release later in the year. With Panasonic being the only manufacturer to build-in this service from launch, we’re predicting that this will prove an enticing feature for potential buyers this year. Models including the CX680, CX802 and the CX700 will all be able to access Freeview Play from May.

So what else can you expect from new Panasonic models this year? Well, other 21st century features include In-house TV streaming, Screen Mirroring and Swipe and Share which are all developed to enhance the user experience and make content sharing really simple. But you may be wondering how the new models will keep up with the amount of apps and data they’ll need to handle, well, Panasonic have thought of that as well and they have incorporated two processors. One for controlling picture quality while the other to smooth over built-in smart features, so no matter what you’re streaming whether it be a 4K film from Netflix, digital TV or streaming to a second room. the new range of Panasonic TVs are perfectly built to cope with modern day living.

When you purchase one of Bose’s amazing sound systems, you’ll want to get it working in your home as soon as you can. Gerald Giles have a team of experts trained in Bose installation who can visit your home and put in your new sound system, so you can bring those banging base notes and cinematic sounds to your home in no time at all.

Gerald Giles’ offer bespoke installation of Bose systems and depending on which Bose product is being installed, we can provide:

So if you’re buying or have bought a Bose product, live in Norfolk or North Suffolk and would like a professional installation service, contact us today to see how we could help.

Did you know that at Gerald Giles we display a wide range of Bose products? We also offer personalised demonstrations in-store so you can see for yourself exactly why Bose are so fantastic before purchase.

Stocking everything to bring epic sound to your life Gerald Giles has all bases of music covered with Bose. Whether it’s Noise Cancelling headphones so you can chill out on your holidays or because you want to bring cinematic surround sound to your living room, we can help guide you through. Products you’re able to get live demonstrations on include:

You don’t need to book an appointment before you arrive, but if you would like to guarantee time with our expert staff contact us today.

If you’re wondering where you can or should spend your Love2Shop vouchers from Christmas then you have come to the right place! Gerald Giles in Norwich, Norfolk accept Love2Shop vouchers in-store.

If you’ve got the post Christmas blues or the depressing New Year diet is in full swing, brighten your day, take a break and think about what you will spend those Love2Shop Christmas vouchers on instead!

Gerald Giles is a Euronics agent and you can spend all of your £5 or £10 Love2Shop vouchers in-store.

There are some great benefits to using Love2Shop vouchers. You will be able to choose exactly what you want in store, no more returning unwanted items to the shop or donating to a charity shop – perfect if you’re the difficult person in the family to buy for. Also, if you’re using the vouchers as a part payment for a new item it’ll lessen the damage on your purse or wallet which everyone is grateful for at this time of the year.

Gerald Giles stock and are able to order a wide range of electrical items. Whether you want to spend it on a little treat for yourself like a top of the range pair of headphones, wireless music system or a new soundbar or if you’re using them towards a more practical purpose for your house like a new washing machine, dishwasher or vacuum cleaner. The list goes on, and you now have the hard task of what to use your Love2Shop vouchers on…

Unfortunately at this moment, you will be unable to use your Love2Shop vouchers online at Gerald Giles, but you can rest assured that you can use them in-store at Gerald Giles on Ber Street, Norwich where you will get excellent customer service and advice face to face with our own expert team in-store.

With an average lifespan of around eight to fourteen years, and a price tag that ranges from just over a £100 up to £2000, buying a brand new tumble dryer is an investment that requires some careful consideration.

From the brand to the energy rating, functions to the temperature settings – buying a tumble dryer involves making more decisions than you might expect.

And by taking the time to research the different options available before you buy, you can ensure that you invest in the tumble dryer that most suits your needs and your budget and makes for a smart investment both now and in the future.

Before you even begin your search, it’s important to decide where in your home your new appliance is going to live.

If you’re replacing an old machine with a newer model, you’ll probably have a good idea of where you want your tumble dryer to be positioned. However, if you’re buying a tumble dryer for the first time, you’ll need to put a bit of thought into its location as this could affect the type of machine you buy.

For those planning to place the machine below a work surface, it’s clearly very important to measure the space first to ensure the appliance will fit in its allocated spot.

The first decision you’ll have to make when buying a tumble dryer is whether to choose a vented machine, a condenser or a heat pump dryer.

Vented machines remove the moist air produced during the drying process and discharge it outside the home via a length of pipe. When fitting these kinds of tumble dryers, you can either have a permanent vent installed or simply hang the pipe through a nearby window. Normally cheaper to run than condenser dryers, vented machines are a more affordable option, though the fact that they need to be placed close to an exterior wall or window can make them impractical for some homes.

Condenser dryers remove the water from the damp air and separate it into a container. This container is then either emptied at the end of the cycle or the water is pumped out via the washing machine plumbing system where possible. As condenser dryers don’t need to be placed near a window or exterior wall, they are more suited to homes with a flexible layout or where the positioning of appliances is more limited.

Heat pump dryers run on lower temperatures and therefore use less energy, making them cheaper to run and kinder on the environment. In general, heat pump tumble dryers are also gentler on your clothes and operate more quietly. Like condenser machines, heat pump dryers collect the water removed from your clothes in a separate container, allowing the machines to be placed anywhere in the home.

On average, the capacity of domestic tumble dryers ranges from a compact 3kg to a spacious 9kg, with most full size machines offering a capacity of 7-8kg.

When working out the size of machine that you require, bear in mind that each kilogram is roughly equivalent to a full outfit including underwear and socks. This should give you an idea of the capacity your household requires.

In general, larger machines are more energy efficient as the air can circulate more freely and the increased drum space allows clothes to move around more easily. Larger drums can also prevent clothes from becoming unnecessarily creased.

At the moment, heat pump tumble dryers are the most efficient on the market with energy ratings of up to A+++. By re-using the hot air from the dryer rather than letting it escape, heat pump dryers use up to 50% less energy, a significant improvement on older models and something that can reduce your household energy bills by up to £100 per year.

Vented dryers also come in energy efficient models, generally ranging up to an A rating. Condenser dryers are becoming more energy efficient to catch up with their vented or heat pump counterparts.

Though tumble dryers have far fewer settings than washing machines, most will still have different temperature options for different types of fabric. Most full size machines will offer at least two temperature options, one for cottons and one for synthetics.

Some machines will also offer settings for specific types of fabrics and delicates, as well as offering users the option to stop the drying process before all the water has been extracted. This can help you to keep costs down and allows clothes to dry more naturally. Programs that aim to keep clothes from creasing are also common among good quality tumble dryers, with some machines able to continue spinning your clothes until the machine is emptied.

Consider all of the various options when buying a tumble dryer and this should make the entire process easier, less confusing and mean you’re more likely to find the right machine for you and your household. And, if you do your homework, you’ll have the peace of mind that you’ve made a sensible decision that should make family life that little bit easier leaving you with more time to enjoy the things you love the most.

Take a look at our range of tumble dryers from great brands like Bosch, Siemens, Miele and Panasonic. Click here.

So Christmas is only round the corner and we have to admit, here at Gerald Giles we’re no where near prepared! Now that the Christmas jingles are playing over the radio on the journey into work and you can’t walk down a high street without the gentle aroma of cinnamon lattes wafting through the swarms of shoppers heavily laden with mounds of Christmas gifts, we need to get cracking! We know that we won’t be the only ones who haven’t given Christmas a thought up until this point, so to help those frantic shoppers in our shoes we thought that we would bring you our complete guide for Christmas presents in 2014!

New to the market this year, the Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones are incredible. With noise-cancelling technology, they are ideal for when you’re travelling or want to completely ‘zone out’ to the outside world. They tick all the boxes when it comes to style, sound and comfort which is something that we all want in a pair of headphones. Available in white or black at £269.95 each in store, they are definitely worth the money. Ideal for family or a friend, everybody would be appreciative of this gift. If these are for a teenager who just loves to play their ‘music’ on full volume, everyone else in the household will be thankful as well!

If you have a baker on your Christmas list this year, then the new Smeg mixers are definitely worth consideration. Available in Smeg’s iconic pastel shades of cream or blue and black or red too. Either way, this retro 50’s look food mixer comes with a dough hook, whisker and flat beater attachments and a generous 4.8 litre bowl – plenty of space for making a Victoria sponge, fairy cakes or a bakers dozen of rolls. At just £379.99, it’s a decision which is a piece of cake to make!

One for those ‘party animal’ friends who love to pump themselves up to music before a night out or to help wind down after work. The Bose SoundLink Colour is brand new this year. A portable Bluetooth speaker available in red, blue, white, black or mint, it’s compact, durable and easy to use too. Pair to any Bluetooth device like a tablet or smartphone and access favourite playlists on the go with unprecedented sound. It’s the perfect gift at just £119.95 from Gerald Giles, so add one to your gift list now!

Finally, for that special person on your list or perhaps as a treat to yourself after the long hours of buying and wrapping presents, the Sony Xperia Z 16GB tablet is incredible. Water resistant and with a 10.1 inch multi-touch screen, this tablet is a great choice for every family member and with a 8.1 megapixel camera you’ll be able to capture Christmas Day in richer detail than ever before. WiFi and Bluetooth enabled, you’ll also have games, books and music at your fingertips. A real family buy and at the moment it’s only £299.99 from Gerald Giles!

So there you have it, our top picks for Christmas 2014. We hope that you manage to find that special gift for everyone on your Christmas list, now let the wrapping commence! From everyone at Gerald Giles of Norwich, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

So for what feels like a very, very, very long time, we have been undergoing a ‘new look’ at Gerald Giles. Our Ber Street store, has endured a stylish refurbishment which included a brand new roof and shop front, modern signage and a overhaul of our interior displays. Now the building dust has had time to settle and the builders have moved out, we are delighted with the finished result.

To celebrate our re-opening and new facelift, we would like to invite you to our special opening event on Saturday 1st November. To give you a taste of what’s going on, between 10am and 2pm chat to a Home Economist from Miele who will be in store to give live cookery demonstrations and share top tips on how to get the most out of your Miele appliance while baking, roasting or steaming! Be blown away by our expert team who will be at hand throughout the day to give you helpful advice, or be guided through a 4K Ultra HD experience with the latest models from Sony, Panasonic and Samsung in store. There will also be a host of special offers across our store and we will give you a £10 discount voucher off any purchase over £75! Use this discount online by entering GGNS10 into the voucher code at the checkout.*

With a modern new look, 65 years experience, free 5 year warranty on new TVs, free local delivery and much more, we can’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t come in and see us on Saturday 1st November!

*Terms & Conditions apply. See www.geraldgiles.co.uk/terms-conditions for more information.

TV picture quality has got better and better in recent years, and since the release of the first 4K Ultra HD models over the last year they have become a popular choice for the likes of TV addicts, gamers and film lovers. But while screens are now four times more refined than standard HD TV sets, it’s important that your sound meets expectations as well, and seeing as Christmas is only just round the corner, it is time to consider how you’ll be watching those ‘seasonal classics’ including Home Alone, Elf and Love Actually. If you’re looking to invest in a new TV before Christmas, Sony have brought out some incredible promotions to make this the most beautiful Christmas ever (and the decision easier for you) … so to help we decided to collate all of our favourite deals from Sony in one place, just for you!

In our opinion, this is one of Sony’s best deals this season. If you buy a 42, 50 or 55 inch W829 HD TV at Gerald Giles between the 15th October until 24th December, you will receive a Free HTCT60BT soundbar worth £129.99. What a bargain!

Between the 1st September and 7th December 2014, if you treat yourself to a brand new Sony Curved 4K Ultra HD KD65S9005BBU or KD75S9005BBU TV from Gerald Giles, you will receive a FREE Sony SWFBR100 subwoofer.

If you buy a new 55 or 65 inch Sony KDX9005 4K Ultra HD TV, you can claim a free SWFBR100 Subwoofer from Sony in store.

Free Soundbar with Bluetooth and NFC when you buy a new KD49X8505BBU or KD55X8505BBU

From 15th October until 7th December, receive a free HTCT60BT soundbar from Sony when you buy either a KD49X8505BBU or a KD55X8505BBU from Gerald Giles.

During 2nd October until 7th December inclusive, if you buy a new KD65X8505BBU in store you can claim a new HTCT370 Soundbar for free in store.

So there you have it, the Gerald Giles top deals from Sony 2014, the only problem you’ll encounter now is… who has the remote?!

With the dark, frosty mornings creeping in it can become a chore to get out of the bed, pull on the work clothes and face the world with a smile – which is why here at Gerald Giles we think that it’s important to treat yourself every once in a while. Funnily enough, Samsung have been thinking exactly the same thing, which is why they have launched their ‘Reward Yourself’ campaign.

If you buy a new TV, (selected models listed below) Samsung will ‘Reward’ you with up to £300 spending money to splash out on a brand new Samsung TV/AV item. Whether you fancy a new Samsung soundbar to go with your new TV, or a Multiroom speaker for around your home, the choice is yours. You will have 28 days to purchase a second Samsung item after buying your new TV but the customer cannot redeem the Samsung Reward Yourself in another store, the second item must be bought from Gerald Giles. If you’re confused or would like to discuss ‘Reward Yourself’ promotion, call 01603 621772 and speak to one of our experienced team today!

Qualifying TVs and Reward Yourself Amounts

Terms & Conditions: The Samsung ‘Reward Yourself’ promotion, runs from 16th October until noon 24th December 2014 inclusive. Samsung TVs included in this promotion at Gerald Giles are UE40, 46 and 55H7000, Ue48H8000, UE48, 55 and 65 HU7500, UE55 and 65HU8500 models. Respective amounts for the Samsung TV ‘Reward Yourself’ promotion are listed above. Once a qualifying TV has been bought, the customer has 28 days to purchase an additional Samsung product from the same store. The customer will be required to buy and pay for the second product in store and then claim the reward amount back from the Samsung website. If the value of the second product is less than the total reward value applicable, the customer will only be able to claim the lower value of the second product purchased. Multiple Samsung qualifying products can be purchased to make up the reward value, as long as it is within the qualifying period. The Reward Yourself discount will be redeemed by Samsung at www.samsung.com. Closing date for the second purchase 21st January 2015 with a maximum of 28 days after purchase of TV. Closing date for claims 18th February – maximum of 28 days after secondary product purchase.