Tim Foley has a personal crisis to contend with but finds time to look at some makers' bids to block internet sales… 

The past few weeks have been pretty much life changing for me: my partner developed double pneumonia and but for the dedicated efforts of certain NHS staff, meeting my kbbreview deadline would have been the furthest thing from my mind. 

However she pulled through and I knew that all was well when she announced she couldn't possibly allow the consultant to visit until she had fixed her hair! So it looks like you will be enduring yet more of my ramblings in 2010.

As a result of this personal crisis, I couldn't attend the kbb Birmingham show but luckily for me it was well documented in kbbreview so I was able to catch up on the event that way instead.

Throughout this time, I must admit to looking over my shoulder for some undercover filming operation with me the subject of a new, dark version of Beadle's About or Candid Camera. First of all take his partner down with double pneumonia, which will render him emotionally drained. Then block his new business plan and the launch of all his new projects. Then take his other passion, Manchester United, and cruelly trample on their ambitions to achieve another triple... 

After reality bit and life got back to normality, I read with interest in last month's edition about the launch of a new exclusive brand of appliances to be sold only through specific independent

retailers across the UK. Part of the promotion, it appears, is not to permit sales through the internet. 

I set a task for our team. Pose as a potential customer who has heard through the grapevine about these new appliances and take it from there. The feedback was: "I have found a

website that highlights their products and invites you to telephone or email for stockist details".  

This I found most interesting as up to about five years ago, internet customers were to be broadly found in two camps: those that used the internet as a giant directory and those "time poor - resource rich" consumers that used it as a giant store. That gap seems to be narrowing and internet buyers have adopted an "I see it, I want it - which button do I press?" mindset. 

I imagine that the customers targeted by this company's "exclusive to a selection of bricks-and-mortar retailers" approach will be the "time poor - resource rich" people as they are included in our customer base too, so I would be very interested in following this strategy and its outcomes as a research project.  

As an internet retailer, it may appear that I have an ulterior motive, but as our website is primarily a free resource and information guide for the kitchen consumer, I do not.  

Tim Foley is the founder of www.kitchensfitted.co.uk