Kitchen and electrical appliance buying group Sirius has announced that its co-founder and director, Peter Gilks, will be retiring, in a move that the group says “marks the end of an era but the beginning of a whole new journey”.
Gilks was instrumental in the founding of Sirius back in 2005 and helped establish the buying group after gaining first-hand retail experience as the owner of NE Appliances (formerly Nailsea Electrics), which he founded in 1983.
Announcing his decision to retire, Gilks said: “For me, I feel it is time to stand aside and let the next generation of trailblazers take the lead to continue to ensure the independent electrical retailer remains a fundamental asset to the UK homeowner and property developer.
“It has been a huge privilege to help create such a supportive, loyal, and open-minded environment where Sirius members and suppliers can grow their businesses together, remain agile and respond to the changing needs of the marketplace.
“I am really looking forward to this year’s trade show and although it will be my last, I will have the opportunity to give thanks and properly say goodbye to so many of my dear friends and colleagues. It may be the end, but for me it’s only the beginning!”
Steve Jones, managing director of Sirius buying group, added: “We are all hugely inspired by Peter’s passion for the industry and his determination to keep it moving forwards with confidence and a clear vision to ensure the retailer remains independent in the marketplace.
“His determination to keep pushing the boundaries of what our members can achieve has empowered hundreds of brands and businesses up and down the country to ultimately ‘stay in business’ and like us, are grateful for the time and expertise he has provided over the years.”
After Gilks’s retirement, he will be succeeded by Phil Cox, current managing director of Empire Kitchens, who took on a non-executive director role for Sirius back in February of this year.
Sirius Buying Group has asked its members to join them in wishing Gilks a fond farewell at its annual trade show in Milton Keynes next month. Earlier this month, the buying group conducted a sales analysis study, and identified that energy efficiency is the top trend driving consumer appliance sales, according to recent data.