mica diy
mica diy ltd. free business summary taken from official companies house information. free alerts. registered as 03796824
the email, specific to suppliers, continued :
we would like minimum disruption to you and the mica members so we would like to see you soon to discuss future trading. in the meantime please would you continue to accept delivered - to - store orders from mica members and invoice them to mica diy ltd on your current agreed mica group terms. all july invoices will be picked up by mica diy ltd .
neither director was available to comment. however, a company spokesperson told diy week :
the company went into administration yesterday afternoon. the warehouse and all stock is in the hands of the administrators. we will continue to trade under the name mica diy and mica members will still be able to trade under the mica brand, although they will no longer be supplied directly by mica
are you a mica supplier or a mica member? what do you think? have your say and leave a comment below .
over the past 110 years bhf has supported over three thousand independent hardware and diy retailers .
we are the only co - operative group of diy / hardware shops in the uk .
we have one of the largest selection of diy products locally, under one roof. .
mica is a co - operative of hardware & diy stores across the uk. all stores retain their independence & community ethos but gain buying & marketing power !
“mica strives to continually re - engineer and innovate, to be at the forefront of new developments in the retail hardware industry and thereby maximise the overall benefit of the mica group to all of the mica stakeholders” .
i wonder what the mica retailers think about the way suppliers have been treated? chatting to several of our customers they have lost all faith in the mica brand. how can mica continue without the support of suppliers ?
i' m happy to receive occasional email updates and details of offers that may interest me from my local mica store and mica on their behalf .
as a committed and founder member of mica i need mica diy ltd. prior to the vault, mica was successfully serving its members with promotion, marketing and buying deals. the vault was the right decision for mica, economic times have prevented its success. the decision to put mica into administration was not an easy one and certainly not taken lightly and not strategically timed. suppliers will feel very angry understandably. however if mica diy ltd is not supported by suppliers and members alike then 13 years of very hard work and commitment will have been in vain and the future of independent hardware shops will have been dealt another blow. corporate identity is crucial to the industry' s success and for me that is mica .
as one of the first 50 in mica we feel let down by the way this has been done. i don' t blame direct suppliers for not moving to the
new mica
and other companies are being very supportive to us as an independant and are willing to supply direct. foundation of sand for mica diy
join mica today and become part of south africa’s number one hardware and diy brands – because at mica, we pride ourselves on our product expertise, knowledgeable advice and customer service excellence. with over 140 stores nationwide, we also have the largest footprint of any diy or hardware retailer in south africa. our excellent country wide footprint means more convenience for our customers. find your nearest mica today with our nifty store locator .
home: david neill mica hardware (www. davidneillmica. co. uk )
mica has a proud history. we aim to please and impress every customer .
following the decision to form a co - operative, key criteria were agreed for members of the new mica group. these included being badged to mica, promoting through mica and investing in the business. after a period of discussion and consultation, 65 of the 78 members who were promoting through the marketing group, signed up to the new mica co - operative. mr ball told diy week he was happy with the percentages .
stax joint md david hibbert said of stax' s future involvement :
we' ve supplied mica for more than 10 years and we' ve really been part and parcel of their growth in that period. we' re keen to continue that support to mica diy and to offer all the assistance we can to mica retailers. our huge range and buying power means mica retailers will be able to offer a great range at competitive prices .
rytons lookryt transforms the aesthetics of any ventilation system. available now at selected mica stores
jo bamber, publications and events manager at diy week said: ‘ the partnership between spring fair and the diy week awards is an exciting one for both brands. not only will it enhance the new diy & home improvement division in hall 10 at spring fair, it will also attract new faces to this already very successful industry awards programme. ’
mica is a vehicle which helps its members compete with the larger corporate stores. mica is a co - operative voluntary trading group owned by its members who are all first class independent hardware stores. it is retailer owned and directed, and management run. in many ways it is similar to spar or nisa - what spar is to grocery stores, mica is to hardware / diy stores .
the diy sector at spring fair 2017 will be located within volume gift & home, which opens to visitors 4 february 2017 .
i' m happy to receive news & offer emails from mica, that may interest me .
why dont they (the new mica diy) promise to honour the debt owed to the suppliers so that over time they can be repaid for stock supplied. if mica - diy are keen to take old suppliers with them and trade again then the money cant exactly be
forgotton
. perhaps a delayed payment term or an agreement to pay over time would take the bitter taste away. that way at least they get their money for stock supplied ?
mica can provide you with a route to professionally set up a diy / hardware store under the mica banner, or we can help you convert your existing store to become a mica store with all the benefits that this brings. it is not a full franchise with rigid fixed length contracts, but a cheaper and more cost effective way of achieving your objective. the original concept of mica was launched in south africa is 1984, which brought together independent retailers under a single brand to market and build their businesses together. mica in the uk is a co - operative meaning its members decide the direction of the business for the benefit of each - other. there are over 60 mica stores spread across the uk, from northern ireland to kent, the isle of skye to glamorgan... mica is always open to any potential new member store. we specialise in assisting entrepreneurs to set up new hardware / diy stores, under the mica banner, and there are numerous examples around the country of successful mica stores set up from scratch. we do, of course, also welcome existing stores who would like to join the mica group to grow their businesses. this process of conversion is simple & cost effective. let us help you grow !
in fact mica diy is not a new company and was incorporated in june 1999 as mica (uk) management ltd. the name was changed on june 30 after its registered address was changed on june 3. and, while the directors are listed as stephen ball and belinda barnard, the company is currently listed as non - trading .
well done kingfisher! i’m going to make this store my main diy supply base. perfect example of where sustainability is a win - win .
merlin mica in royston has been recognised for excellence as one of the best hardware shops at the diy industry’s annual awards night held at the ricoh arena, coventry this month, taking home a silver award in the hardware retailer of the year category .
the meeting also saw the appointment of a new board of directors led by david morris of morris mica .
once again the show is fully supported by the industry’s leading trade associations bira, which will be presenting its annual supplier awards at the show, bheta and gima, and principal wholesale and marketing groups stax trade centres, home hardware southwest and mica diy .
welcome to the new merlin mica hardware website. we have two well stocked shops with an excellent local reputation for service & value. you will find us in royston, hertfordshire & sawston near cambridge. visit us today for all your hardware & diy needs .
the numbers of stores quickly grew, with the help from store owners in south africa who could explain how to concept works to british independents. several founder members (halls mica, st annes mica, saundersons mica & more) are still members of the group, some in their second generation of the family business working with us .
diy, industrial and hardware store owners, category buyers, sales staff, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, garden centres and non - fo ...
the comments by' committed mica retailer' just sound like a load of mica spin. no store should be so reliant on mica that they could not carry on without them. in these difficult times you should be able to deal direct with any supplier at similar, if not better, terms. mica uk ltd can' t lay blame to their failure simply due to the vault. if the management are so talented, why wasn' t the vault run as a separate incorporated company, so its failure wouldn' t bring mica down? in real terms, the mica brand is not particularly well known as a national brand. this can be easily demonstrated by asking any random consumer on the street. it is not the mica brand that has made the stores, but the stores that have made mica. the hard work by each store, including specialist knowledge by the staff, has provided loyalty in the locality of each store. stores were running before mica existed and will continue to do so after they have gone .
rounding up the latest news, nick davison, portfolio director of spring fair, said: ‘ we are delighted to be launching the diy sector at spring fair 2017 to offer diy and home improvement suppliers access to not just their core market, but crossover selling opportunities to the thousands of retailers already attending spring fair; it comes as a natural and exciting fit for the current breadth of other sectors at the show. we know that we already have visitors attending who are interested in the diy sector, so we are confident that their spring fair experience will be enhanced through this new hall and arrival of the diy awards. ’
mica is proud to be able to offer all their members a large array of services and support and are constantly driving enhancements and the addition of benefits to their portfolio which, as a mica member, you will have access to .
a constitution for the move was approved by mica members at the group' s annual conference in manchester last month .
spring fair, has announced the addition of an all - new diy sector for the 2017 show, taking place at nec birmingham from 4 - 9 february .
“mica is south africa’s leading expert in do - it - yourself and hardware brands in south africa. specialising in quality products in an all encompassing range of products for every home improvement job, mica is the only convenient place to go for expert advice and assistance. mica is the no. 1 home improvement brand – south african consumers’ brand of choice” .
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mica is one hundred percent owned by its retailers and is now a co - operative. this means that each member gets a co - operative voting share, with' 1 member 1 vote' applying to to all decisions on the direction of the company. it also means that all of the directors are independent hardware / diy store owners like yourself and are voted into place by their fellow mica members .
mr ball concluded :
the members decided they wanted a mica group to exist and invested in making that happen .
mica will again be partnering spring fair through it’s diy & home improvement sector hall of the uk’s leading home and gift event. after a hugely successful launch at this year’s show in february, which attracted 58, 000 visitors (of which over 3, 500 are specifically interested in diy and garden suppliers) the sector will be magnified to cater for the increased demand from the industry’s leading businesses with an impressive line - up of brands set to attend .
we were a mica supplier several years ago but could no longer comply with their onerous financial requirements, preferring to put all our discount into our pricing which is of greater benefit to our customers. with the exception of a few, all the mica customers continued to trade directly with us than go to the alternative mica suppliers so we feel our decision was vindicated. jegs electrical
i think we all should thank phil williams for all his kind and helpful words of encouragement to all the mica suppliers and retailers .
the writing was on the wall for mica ages ago when certain large suppliers started to deal direct with retailers offering them better terms .
mica is now a fully registered retailer co - operative group and has been since 2010. mica diy is fully owned by the member stores and run by a ceo who acts based on what the members decide we should do. we have no external influence, ownership or voting rights except for the principle of representation by election, and one member one vote. we are certainly unique in our industry, and possibly in the uk as a whole .
the founding members of the group, and most stores who have signed up since, joined mica to achieve this same goal, although today mica offers not just marketing, but also a powerful buying group, store development and setup, and digital support for independent retailers .
mr ball added :
becoming a co - operative will further reinforce to customers the positive nature of shopping a independent mica hardware / diy stores. we believe our new status will appeal to retailers who are looking to retain their independence whilst gaining the advantages of a national brand, to launch of develop their businesses .
there' s not been much publicity about mica uk going into administration. i thought that news agencies were currently jumping on any administration stories. saying that, mica uk didn' t even mention anything on their own website (www. micahardware. co. uk) .
the 2012 show will also mark the year the shows started using social media as they now have their own twitter account, @ totallyshows and facebook page, totally diy - tools - secure .
we' re all extremely sorry for the inevitable upheaval this will cause you. however, the executive was determined to find a way for members and suppliers to continue benefiting from the strengths of the group. therefore, a new company, mica diy, has been formed and is now trading, to take the business forward .
the forthcoming edition will also see the annual diy week awards (run by data team) re - locate to the national motorcycle museum on 7 february 2017, to coincide with spring fair. heading into its 65 th year, spring fair is renowned for bringing together leading industry names across the whole retail sector, making it a suitably fitting platform for the diy awards to take place .
hardware buying and marketing group mica entered administration last night citing the pressure of the recession. stax trade centres will take over the wholesaling responsibility .
diy & hardware, painting & decorating, hand & power tools, electrical accessories, home & cookwares, plumbing & bathroom accessories, garden products. plus all kinds of specialist & seasonal lines !
the face of mica has also changed a lot over the years, you can see the evolution of our logo and theme in the graphics above .
in an email to suppliers the company said that the launch of the mica vault followed by the credit crunch and recession had made the situation unsustainable .
the visitor promotional campaign for the 2012 shows includes a new look website, new on page and online ads, a comprehensive direct mail and email campaign and sponsorship of the industry leading diy week awards .
“totally is where retailers, from the multiples to the high street, from garden centres to department stores and online and tv, come to find their diy and related products and see them in action .
every mica shop shares one main aim - to help you the customer. after all it is you who keep us in business! we try to help you in every way we can and hope that by doing so whenever you need a diy / hardware product you will visit us - we all have ’regular’ customers who wouldn’t think of going anywhere else .
by 2005 the group had 120 members, but following a difficult period in 2008 / 9 after starting a warehouse facility the company was forced to go through an adminstration. a new mica was set up by a core group of mica retailers and today we have a stable membership of around 55 retailers .
what has mica diy now got to offer it' s members. any trust, loyalty and brand awareness built up under the old company has surely been eroded with the appointment of the administrators. as a mica supplier, we have no intention of dealing with the new company, and having spoken to several mica members, not one has objected to dealing direct with ourselves in the future. in my view i would not be surprised to learn that the board of management have carefully planned the date of the administration to coincide with the collection of all the may accounts from the members. furthermore, i bet not one supplier has been paid for their may invoices .
mica in the uk took the branding and the concept of the retailer group and adapted it for the british market. it kept the core brand design, and until 2014 followed the south africa development and changes as they were made, including the switch to ’mica blue’ from a previously grey colour in 2001 .
following the news, with home hardware southwest picking up 27 ex - mica stores to date and its scottish counterpart acquiring seven in the past 12 months .
commenting on the news on behalf of leading industry buying group, bira direct, managing director jeff moody said: ‘ bira direct are excited that the diy industry are to have their own specific location within spring fair for 2017. we are pleased to see so many suppliers already confirmed to exhibit and over the coming weeks we will be looking to further that list of suppliers by working closely with spring fair, to make this all new diy sector a great success for all bira members. with diy, home improvement, leisure, gift and lifestyle suppliers present, spring fair 2017 will be a one stop trade event for the whole industry .
at mica we think one of the most important elements of being part of the group is coming together for mutual benefit, to build working relationships and friendships .
mica is one of the largest hardware groups in africa with over 140 stores nationwide and growing. mica is member owned and managed by a small team of retailers who are passionate about the success of members in everything they do, providing a full support system in training, marketing, finance, merchandise and store development .
we \ ’ve won the new mills carnival window competition! come and see our \ ”recycling train \ ” made entirely from saleable stock here at ryans mica .
mica hardware is one of the largest hardware groups in africa with over 140 stores nationwide and growing. mica is member owned and managed by a small team of retailers who are passionate about the success of members in everything they do, providing a full support system in training, marketing, finance, merchandise and store development .
mica was set up in the uk in 1995 / 6 by two former senior members of staff at the bhf (british hardware federation), david braun and belinda barnard. the former was manager director of mica from its inception to 2005, and belinda was md from 2005 - 2009. they set up the company with initial assistance from mica south africa, a group of independent retailers who came together in the 1980’s to create a company to market themselves more cost effectively through joint branding .
the diy & home improvement sector will be strategically positioned next to volume gift & home and kitchen, dining & housewares. brands confirmed to exhibit include some of the biggest suppliers in the industry – including akzonobel showcasing dulux, cuprinol, polycell, hammerite and armstead through to amtech, a perry & co (hinges), avron trading, barrettine products ltd, bird brand, cemspec, centurion europe, chain products, charles bentley, dekor tools, fast pak hardware, hamble distribution, home hardware, mica diy, nw keys, rustins, rothwell industries (stanley adhesives), stax trade centres, ultratape and wilsons .
the impressive line - up will give core diy & home improvement retailers a new, one stop shop for their buying needs, whilst offering greater cross - sector buying opportunities from independent retailers, right through to larger multiples and garden centres .
we never received an email, found out through diy week. net. phone call not returned. stax sorted out for ongoing supply was predictable. as any future supplier knows, there' s nothing stopping any concern going bust twice .
44 - 46 albion road, new mills. ryans mica local can be found on on the a6015 in new mills next door to new mills news and opposite the music studio .
a' sign - up fee' for the co - operative - aside from the initial cost to join mica - starts at £1, 000. members are then free to invest
as much or as little as they would like over and above that figure
, mr ball told diy week. many of the existing members who have signed up to the co - operative, already held shares of various levels in the business .
, blaming the pressure of the recession, which followed the launch of its wholesaling arm, mica vault. subsequently stax trade centres replaced the vault as the group' s nationwide wholesaler .
another benefit of visiting a mica shop is that we know what we’re talking about! when it comes to advice, we’re second to none. with years of experience in the diy / hardware trade and expert knowledge of the products we stock, we can help you to choose the right product to meet your needs - whether it be a fixing for a cavity wall, a specialist primer for painting tiles, or a stainless steel cookset .
although our history is the making of us as a group, we are always looking ahead to help improve the mica experience and bring a productive and prosperous future to all of our members .
we have a committed staff whose first aim is always a happy customer. our staff are trained to assist you, whether its with getting a copy key cut, or finding the perfect colour to match those new cushions you’ve just bought. we have a long track record of excellence, having previously won mica retailer of the year for wales and been a previous finalist in the hardware retailer of the year category of the national retail awards for the diy sector .
although mica was originally launched in south africa in 1984, it was first set up in the uk in 1994 by a group of like - minded retailers bravely stepping forward to test the concept .
as the group grew, its buying and marketing power did so too, allowing mica members to enjoy better pricing and higher quality, but with cheaper advertising (by the economies of scale) .
‘three - in - one’ trade show, totally diy: totally tools: totally secure, has introduced a new strapline, ‘it’s where the trade trades’, along with a picture of a tool box anyone would be proud to own, to promote the show this year .
as a retailer, we can offer your business flexible & dynamic marketing, competitive group buying terms and complimentary retail support. mica produces monthly advertising driving customers instore, dealing with the biggest brand names .
come together with fellow independent retailers to exchange ideas and celebrate success at the annual mica exchange. this event is held at a luxury hotel and moves around the uk each year to allow as many members as possible to attend. so far its been held in 2011 in derby, in 2012 in bristol, in 2013 in edinburgh and in 2014 in cardiff. it includes the ‘supplier exchange’ where members to sit down with mica suppliers, each for a short period of time and talk business, new product & special deals. it also encompasses the mica agm, plus the less business focussed mica gala dinner, which includes the member & supplier awards for the past year & plenty of wine on the table! many long - standing friendships have been formed through these events, inter - members but also between members and suppliers .
a member - led national executive considered the options available and concluded that mica uk ltd could not continue in its current format and very reluctantly placed the company in the hands of administrators on july 8 .
click anywhere on the map to find information on your nearest mica stores. each marker represents a store location. we have stores in all four countries of the united kingdom, as well as several within greater london .
students use indesign software to create brochures of their work, exhibition announcements and business cards. discussion includes photo retouching, color management, artist statements, interviews or essays of student’s work, colophon acknowledgments and printing resources. the files can be applied to printed matter or the web. the course emphasizes a “diy” approach .
i joined mica in oct 2007. the purpose of my appointment was to establish a central hub and distribution depot for all mica members. the company s ethos, positive attitude and professionalism were amongst the qualities that attracted me to the company. put quite simply. used correctly the mica vault would provide the opportunity for members to decrease their storage space and increase their retail space, eliminate minimum orders, and allow the members to purchase a more diverse product range. i have read with interest how suppliers are reacting to mica members at this time. its, supplier frenzy, as they all try to attract new custom by offering the latest temporary discount. mica stood for quality and value at sensible prices, how can any supplier argue with that? after all it s your products we were marketing. put quite simply, it is a sign of the times; suppliers have to reduce minimum order values to obtain sales. tough times call for tough measures. the vault was planned, designed and implemented at a time of financial collapse. (who could have predicted that ?) i would like to liaise with those people, whom have a crystal ball and claim to have predicted this! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !, to those people i simply say, please share with me this weeks winning lotto numbers. i am an employee whom through this process will shortly find him self unemployed. i am not bitter, upset yes disappointed too. i am not blaming individuals or making accusations simply expressing my opinion. i wish the new business every success, and sincerely hope, members continue to provide support to (mica diy) along with suppliers. please continue to provide the general public with value for money products .
with the introduction of gdpr, mica has published a new public privacy notice, setting out the rights of our members, suppliers and consumers, as well as our responsibilities with regards to all personal data. a copy is included in this article .
independent retailers in the uk haven’t had a good time in the last 30 years. in the hardware / diy sector numbers have fallen from 25, 000 in 1970 to less than 6, 500 now. this worked out over a fixed period as 660 independent uk hardware stores closing every year - or nearly 2 per day, every day .
would it not be a good idea to have an on - line forum for mica suppliers to discuss the position with regards to the events prior to the administration and our legal position with regards to our outstanding debts. if anybody has any ideas please comment .
david hibbert, joint md, stax trade centres added: ‘ as one of the key trade shows spring fair attracts all the major players in the market. being at the nec is easily accessible for our customers, and stax as a leading nationwide wholesaler are delighted to be associated with the show and particularly the new area dedicated to diy and hardware. ’
mica has member shops throughout the uk - all of whom purchase their stock through the group. this gives us enormous spending power with our suppliers - which in turn means that you, the customer, can be sure of getting good, honest, value for money .
last november when jan nicolson stepped down as chairman and resigned from the mica board. the group will now operate as a co - operative with 68 investing members who, explained managing director steve ball ,
will be working together for the benefit of each other
.
the intermedia studio is intended to encourage collaboration among student composers, performers and artists at mica and peabody conservatory in a team environment, and to engage students in the investigation of a range of interdisciplinary multimedia projects, including internet, live performance, electronic theater, installation, video, and animation. this course is envisioned as an ongoing structure to bring music and visual arts students together from mica and peabody to promote and facilitate the creation of intermedia art and to further explore shared resources, joint research, and exhibition / performance opportunities. juniors and seniors only
supplier to mica i have known the directors over the past 3 years of our association and i am content that no existing director will benefit personally from this process. the demise of any company is sad and it is now vital for jobs and for the future of the brand that the new venture is successful. members will buy on service and price and thus far that has been the bedrock of the mica brand. i wish the new venture every success and the volt concept was a case of right idea wrong timing, and nobody could have predicted that .
we’re giving away a swan tea set to one lucky entrant! to enter, like us on facebook, tag the competition post with the independent mica store you’d collect the prize from in original post the comments box and share the post. for full terms and conditions click this article .
in response to your question, here at bheta we have both a credit circle, which can advise of what to do, rights etc and hopefully give an early warning of things like this. we can also provide a forum either online or in person for this to be discussed. please contact me via the office or urltoken to take this further. regards - andy vaughan, diy director
in 1970 no - one had heard of b & q or homebase - now they are the market leaders within the diy sector in the uk. other market sectors have met a similar fate as the superstores mopped up - grocers, butchers, electrical stores etc. in the grocery sector the massacre only stopped with the arrival of spar and nisa etc - independent groups which gave their members a fighting chance .
mica explains that its group marketing and buying power will continue to support independent retailers, allowing then to compete successfully in the marketplace, while its new co - operative status and retailer - only board will allow it to focus on increasing its supplier base. the group announced 12 further suppliers at the manchester meeting .
regular advertising by the multiples convinces consumers that they are cheaper - in fact this usually isn’t the case. normally a few key items are priced very aggressively to get customers into the stores, whilst the sundry products are more expensive to make up the shortfall. as mica shops we ensure that our prices are competitive .
i am genuinely sorry for the suppliers who have lost money in this fiasco (particularly small ones), but when i look at the mica vault stock list (which we have never been allowed to see before), it is evident there was a total lack of stock control at mica (some of the quantities of obscure and expensive items are quite ridiculous), but also, it shows that some suppliers obviously thought it was christmas and made hay supplying products they must have known would not sell. small wonder the chickens came home to roost... .. perhaps they should have put in stock on consignment with strict legal safeguards? of course it might not have happened at all if every member had been properly consulted and not just been told that the board had decided the vault was going to happen (with an embargo on open discussion). but then, democracy has never been a mica strong point... . .
* now closed * we’re giving away a draper pressure washer to one lucky entrant this fathers day! to enter, like us on facebook, tag the competition post with the independent mica store you’d collect the prize from in original post the comments box and share the post. for full terms and conditions click this article .
a continuation of il 400 and completion of the student’s senior year. students are encouraged to complete their portfolios and prepare a cohesive body of work to present to future clients. students will present their work and participate in the campus - wide commencement exhibition and the mica illustration showcase, a portfolio review by art directors and designers .
really, the big issue going forward should not be a question of whether or not the directors of a failed business have the gall to change their letterhead and expect suppliers to continue to support them. i think we can rely upon suppliers' common sense to deal with this! nothing to stop them honouring existing pricing whilst dealing direct with the individual retailers, is there? surely it' s about the confidence and viability of the mica members, isn' t it? it' s about the quality of the retailers and what (if anything) they want from membership going forward. firstly whether or not they choose to continue with a brand, mica or otherwise. only then, having decided what they want from the brand and what level of commitment they are prepared to give, does there need to be a discussion over whether or not they need to employ the same or different bureaucrats to administer it for them. personally, if i was a mica member, i' d be w... [ comment was too long ]
i had my doubts before ordering these. often lots of hype, no reality. delivery was quick. my first try was on a front door. 2 angles for it to contend with, before getting to the nightlatch. bend over a corner, i’d read it somewhere. it gives a head start on the angles. after a little fiddling, getting stuck and me thinking it wouldn’t happen, the mica slipped in and through the latch. door open. painless and swift. the delay was the mica digging into some adhesive foam insulation on the doorframe. once past the insulation, simplicity. it’s quicker than picking with a gun. i’d recommend this as an addition to any picking kit box .
this class will explore the world of materials and the processes utilized in transforming them. it will address both traditional building materials and systems as well as new materials, technologies and emerging digital fabrication potentials. students will engage in hands on building projects as well as research projects. students will also gain a familiarity with the equipment and processes in mica' s dfab studio facilities .
this course looks at various aspects of game design, theory, and practice with each semester focused on a different theme. faculty may include the mica' s game lab designer - in - residence, or a faculty member from another program at the college. students will be expected to be read, discuss, and write about related topics as well as producing finished projects .
it looks as if mica directors have not broken the law. in the same way that mps didn' t break the law with their expenses claims. and stax! ! - - - how pleased you must be with your part in this adventure... a nice new, cheap warehouse and lots of bargain stock. congratulations to you all. you must be proud .
the mica format is based on voluntary trading which allows for ease of buying and the stimulation of entrepreneurial flair and decision making at store level. with the backing of over 260 national supply partners that allow for the best value to shelf for the member in everyday quality hardware products that make the members more profitable and able to deliver the best to their customers at a relative market price .
as a long term corperate logod member i hope that common sense is used when making jugements. the new business is not identical to the old one as no wharehouse is involved. the old mica traded succesfully for many years. the decision to open the vault was a reluctant one after all avenues were explored. all we want to do is advertise products and have them in stock when customers arrive for them. a suprisingly difficult thing to do in this industry .
as a supplier to several mica members (but not to the hub / vault) alan silverwood ltd has to question, in the current economic climate, why mica members feel that they need to continue to source through a central office (and why suppliers feel that they need to supply the central office). many suppliers are eager for business and now have low minimum order values (ours has been 100 carriage paid for years), and are eager for business; i cannot think of any outlet who would devote shelf space to anything less. as for suppliers, why risk losing a potentially large sum of money with one accounting house (whose track record now has to be viewed with caution) when you could trade with individual stores. admittedly, there are higher costs involved in handling 20, 30, 50 different accounts, but this is surely made up by the removal of the discount and the spread of financial risk .
in contemporary cinema and video art sound occupies a crucial role both in the development of storytelling and in creating three - dimensional experiences for viewers. sound recording: on location and in the studio is geared to cultivate student’s audio skills for field, film set, and studio situation recordings. students will learn both technical and creative aspects of the recording process, by working with professional audio production equipment and mixing their own final soundtracks and compositions in the jhu mica film centre’s sound studio .
this pre - production bootcamp for student filmmakers from jhu and the maryland institute college of art (mica), provides intensive training in the crucial aspects of preparing to shoot a successful narrative film. students work with a professional screenwriter, allowing students to hone and improve their existing screenplays, practice the elements of writing for film, and learn how to do a script breakdown. workshops on working with actors, taught by a professional actor, will teach students the ins and outs of casting and directing. supplemental workshops will cover elements of pre - production such as budgets, production schedules, call sheets, and legal issues. screenings with maryland film festival personnel will train students to see films as festival curators do, with an eye toward what constitutes exciting, innovative filmmaking. this course is the prelude and prerequisite to narrative filmmaking ii, a six - credit production course during which students from jhu and mica will collaborate to shoot a short narrative film based on a student screenplay .
whether you are making printed t - shirts, woven scarves, one - of - a - kind garments, videos or performances, if you want to make a living off your studio work, you will need a business blueprint. this course is intended for students interested in starting their own small business after school. students will study the history of various business models which interfaced with textiles: piecework, cottage industry, and factory - scale manufacturing. students will research new business models such as studio cooperatives, vertically - integrated manufacturing and diy entrepreneurship, as well as pressing industry concerns such as fair labor practices, environmental impact and sustainable resources. after receiving group feedback on prototypes in the beginning of the semester, students will focus on a limited scale production of items of their choosing. students will also develop a business plan, project budget, a branding identity and a web presence by the end of the course. visiting critics include textile entrepreneurs, etsy staff, studio co - op managers, and independent business owners. the finished
production line
will premier at mica’s holiday market and / or student - generated pop - up shop in baltimore .
this class follows closely on the fall semester of humanistic theory. like the sophomore seminars, these two classes are “serially team taught” by two different instructors who bring different perspectives and intellectual frameworks to the subjects of the class. this class will require substantial research and writing and may require some community involvement, especially in mica’s community arts partnership. further work in professional development will be required. students will also work on making connections with the projects they are doing in the studio side of their integrated major .
all mica shops offer superb customer service. each shop is owner run and managed - with the kind of care and attention to detail that only an interested owner can bring. personal service is guaranteed - a thing so often lacking these days. if you need something we don’t have in stock we’ll try and get it for you; if you think you might need an extra roll of wallpaper, we’ll set it aside for you; if you’ve bought too many cans of paint, we’ll take them back .
each semester, one or more visiting artists of recognition are invited to the mica campus to work with a small group of seniors in their final semester of study. students work with the artist (s) via studio critiques and informal discussions both individually and as a group. this course is intended to offer juniors and seniors contact with independent artists, to exchange views and opinions, as well as the opportunity to further their familiarity with the issues and strategies facing artists today. prerequisite: juniors and seniors only .
this class will cover the basics of 2d and 3d design fabrication in the mica dfab lab. students will learn to work with a variety of 3d printers as well as extended techniques integrating the hand made and the digitally printed to create robotic arts, sound, games and new materials projects. 3d laser scanning will also be covered. the class is ideally suited for students whose practice incorporates electronics / robotics, sculpture, games, and sound, and who wish to complement their skills with advanced and experimental fabrication techniques .
the shows have been pleased to welcome back many of its regular brands and companies including, on the tools front – aw tools, abingdon king dick, amtech, arrow fastener, cannon tools, draper tools, monument tools, positec power tools, rolson tools and veto tools. in the diy and hardware sector big wipes, centurion europe, chain products, ciret, coo var, gorilla glue, jegs electrical, jms bridge, king cole, london & lancashire, oracstar, procter brothers, rothley, select hardware, shurtape, sika uk, trimaco and trollull (oscar weill) are all back for another year, and decorative product suppliers include liberon, plasti - kote, rustins and tor coatings .
during the second semester of the year - long senior thesis class, students complete and document the production and post - production phase of their senior project and put together their installation for the commencement exhibition. additionally, students prepare promotional materials, including an artist statement, a resume, a portfolio for the web and / or a demo reel for future employers. students present their work to faculty, guests, and peers. all senior projects are exhibited at mica commencement exhibition. required for and intended for senior animation majors .
today artists are living amidst the ever - growing need for community service and social justice. if you are interested in learning how to build a bridge between community arts and documentary production this 3 - credit course is for you. all course work will be directly connected to the finding our wings community documentary program and its subsequent documentary production. the wings program focuses on video skills as a support system for girls ages 13 to 18, to graduate high school amidst their challenged neighborhood with a greater than 60% dropout rate. the documentary production focuses on how seven east baltimore girls discover solidarity while navigating the challenges of budding womanhood amidst the pressures of pregnancy and gangs in their neighborhood. mica students may choose to collaborate with the teen girls, which includes teaching video skills and helping the girls to produce their own narrative productions. or, mica students may choose to work as a cinematographer and / or editor on the documentary. learning to create visually compelling media that bears witness and sustains community outreach is the ultimate goal of this course. students must interview for a seat in the class.
mica is the brand name of the voluntary trading group mica diy ltd ( also referred to as a symbol group ) for independent do it yourself ( diy ) and hardware retailers in the uk , who work together for group benefit in marketing , buying and retail support . it has around 60 members in the united kingdom ( uk ) , including all four nations of the united kingdom . the majority are in england – currently around forty-four ; in wales there are six , there are also six in scotland , and four in northern ireland . their size and locations are diverse . their headquarters are in stone , staffordshire , where they have been based since 1996 . it was set up with the assistance of mica south africa , a company set up ten years earlier with a similar model . unlike other similar groups mica does not have its own warehousing , instead it works with suppliers who deliver direct and has a relationship with stax trade centre , who act as the group 's preferred wholesaler . mica diy ltd became a registered co-operative retailer group in 2010 , and had previously since its inception been majority owned by its retailer members . its stated aim is to assist its retailer members to compete with the larger corporate stores . the business is owned and directed by its members , but management-run . it is similar to spar or nisa in many ways – working for hardware and diy stores as they do in the grocery industry . 
mica is the brand name of the voluntary trading group mica diy ltd (also referred to as a symbol group) for independent do it yourself (diy) and hardware retailers in the uk, who work together for group benefit in marketing, buying and retail support. it has around 60 members in the united kingdom (uk), including all four nations of the united kingdom. the majority are in england – currently around forty-four; in wales there are six, there are also six in scotland, and four in northern ireland. their size and locations are diverse. their headquarters are in stone, staffordshire, where they have been based since 1996. it was set up with the assistance of mica south africa, a company set up ten years earlier with a similar model. unlike other similar groups mica does not have its own warehousing, instead it works with suppliers who deliver direct and has a relationship with stax trade centre, who act as the group's preferred wholesaler. mica diy ltd became a registered co-operative retailer group in 2010, and had previously since its inception been majority owned by its retailer members. its stated aim is to assist its retailer members to compete with the larger corporate stores. the business is owned and directed by its members, but management-run. it is similar to spar or nisa in many ways – working for hardware and diy stores as they do in the grocery industry.
mica is the brand name of the voluntary trading group mica diy ltd (also referred to as a symbol group) for independent do it yourself (diy) and hardware retailers in the uk, who work together for group benefit in marketing, buying and retail support. it has around 60 members in the united kingdom (uk), including all four nations of the united kingdom. the majority are in england – currently around forty-four; in wales there are six, there are also six in scotland, and four in northern ireland. their size and locations are diverse. their headquarters are in stone, staffordshire, where they have been based since 1996. it was set up with the assistance of mica south africa, a company set up ten years earlier with a similar model. unlike other similar groups mica does not have its own warehousing, instead it works with suppliers who deliver direct and has a relationship with stax trade centre, who act as the group's preferred wholesaler. mica diy ltd became a registered co-operative retailer group in 2010, and had previously since its inception been majority owned by its retailer members. its stated aim is to assist its retailer members to compete with the larger corporate stores. the business is owned and directed by its members, but management-run. it is similar to spar or nisa in many ways – working for hardware and diy stores as they do in the grocery industry.