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Industry news
A new survey by consumer group Which? has found that plumbers, central heating engineers and electricians are the top three most trusted tradespeople, but noted that a quarter of consumers “feel anxious” when employing kitchen and bathroom fitters. Of the 1,461 Which? members who took part in the survey, 73% said they trust plumbers, while 75% said trust central heating engineers and 80% said they trust electricians. Conversely, builders, roofers and mechanics were named as the least trusted tradespeople. The consumer group noted that “there appears to be a direct link between the amount of regulation around particular industries and how trusted they are by the public”, with electricians and central heating engineers requiring annual assessments and qualifications. The survey’s participants said rogue traders, reliability and value for money are the biggest concerns they have when hiring tradespeople, with “tasks that require a large investment of time and money such as fitting new kitchens and bathrooms” increasing pressure to employ the right person. The top worry among Which? members was tradespeople not turning up when agreed, while 55% said they were concerned about traders they hadn’t used before “doing a bad job”, and 45% were worried about being “ripped off or taken advantage of because of their own lack of technical knowledge”.
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UK BATHROOM RETAIL MARKET SEES £235M SALES RISE
New research by MTW Research has found that sales in the UK bathroom retail market have increased by £235m in the last six years, with the research outfit adding that a “new boost for full-service bathroom retailers” is likely from next year following the closure of B&Q’s Homefit installation services. “The ‘traditional’ bathroom retailer excels at combining design, supply, install and post sales support as a ‘turn-key’ package,” said MTW Research Director Mark Waddy. “Other channels such as the sheds and internet-only retailers appear to be unable to compete with this level of excellence and are positioning themselves very differently as a result.” The research firm also noted that “increasingly innovative bathroom products demanding closer integration between retailer and installer are also boosting opportunities” for the market, with “more technically complex products” and consumers specifying luxury features meaning that an “enhanced design and installation” service is required from retailers. The report by MTW Research also found that a “softening of consumer demand” may result in a shift in product trends over the next few years. However, it added that bathroom retailers appear to be “well-placed” to adapt, with 45% of the market reporting growth so far this year. Other topics mentioned in MTW Research’s new report include Brexit scenarios, opportunities within multi-generational living and ‘techheavy’ bathrooms for the millennial generation, and a growth in the ‘showcase bathroom’ trend. To purchase the report, head to www. marketresearchreports.co.uk or call 08456 524324.
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association – BMA – and bathroom product manufacturer Inta have both called for better anti-scald education following the death of a 79-year-old Romford man who fell into a scalding hot bath. According to the BMA, the man is believed to have fallen whilst showering and accidentally knocked the hot tap, which poured scalding water onto his leg. He was unable to get up and lay there for hours which led to a loss of fluid, resulting in kidney failure, the BMA added. “This is another avoidable death reminding us all that it is a shocking fact that people die in the bathroom from scalding accidents,” said BMA CEO Yvonne Orgill, pictured left. “Scalding is deadly serious and the very young and the very old are the most vulnerable, as this case shows. “This could so easily have been prevented with a relatively inexpensive bathroom product with a built-in thermostatic device,” she added. “Our campaign Hot Water Burns Like Fire, which is supported by Amanda Redman MBE, has been designed to educate the public about the dangers and we have been lobbing within the industry for the mandatory inclusion of anti-scald devices.” Inta Director Stuart Gizzi, right, has urged installers to “make the safe choice when selecting and fitting bathroom products. “Yet again we are talking about another avoidable death caused by scalding in a bathroom that could have – and should have – been equipped better and safer,” he said. “Had that tap been fitted with an anti-scald device, this tragedy could have been prevented. A basic TMV2- or TMV3-compliant valve costs no more than £40 – it is not expensive when you’re talking about the difference between life and death.” He added: “I can’t reiterate enough how important the fitting of a TMV-approved fitting is. For years we have concentrated on educating the plumbing and heating industry about scalding but it’s clear that more still needs to be done.”
MAXTOP RAISES THE STAKES FOR ITS MAXTOP GEAR GAME
Kitchen and bathroom surface manufacturer Maxtop Quartz has upped the stakes for its recently launched online game, MaxTop Gear, by offering the highest scorer a £1,000 voucher towards the cost of a Maxtop Quartz surface. According to the company, the player who records the fastest lap time before the 31st May will win the voucher, which can be spent via the Quartz Made Simple store on Amazon. “MaxTop Gear is a fine balance between providing respite for installers during their break, or whenever they have time to kill, without making it too time-consuming and ultimately, distracting,” said Maxtop Quartz managing director Stephen Moss. “Because Maxtop is a unique surface, we wanted to create something that would match its uniqueness, rather than simply invest into other marketing tactics which may get missed in the busy marketplace.”
VOGUE (UK) WIN ‘BEST HEATING BRAND’ AT BKU AWARDS 2018
The UK’s largest British designer and manufacturer of premium radiators and towel warmers, Vogue (UK), wins big at this year’s Bathroom & Kitchen Update [BKU] Awards. Voted by industry peers as ‘Best Heating Brand’ this accolade is just reward for Vogue’s reputation and endurance in the kbb market spanning almost 30 years. The event took place at the Towel Hotel, London on 21st June 2018 and was hosted by muchloved English comedian and actor, Hugh Dennis. Unlike many other awards, BKU Award winners are not decided by a panel of experts, rather, winners are recognised on merit by votes from the industry at large. Secure online nominations are made and then voted on to produce five finalists in each category with the winner attracting the most votes overall! The BKU Awards are designed to recognise retailers, brands, people and services that make the kbb sector great, with votes taken from an entire cross section of the kitchen and bathroom industry including retailers, manufacturers, and distributors. Steve Birch, Sales Director at Vogue (UK) says “To be recognised by the very people who help build our business is truly rewarding. With such competition within the heating market, creating a point of difference and novel hook for our suppliers is key to our growth and retail success, and we pay tribute to all those who took the time to vote and ultimately, secure us the win as ‘Best Heating Brand’ for 2018.’’
SANIFLO MARKS 60TH ANNIVERSARY WITH INSTALLER COMPETITION
Saniflo is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its macerator with a “unique” prize draw for installers, who can enter each time they purchase one of a range of domestic macerators until the 31st September 2018. According to Saniflo, its very first units were invented to provide extra WC facilities in apartment blocks in France six decades ago. The company added that is has “become the generic term for macerators the same way Hoover has for vacuum cleaners”. To mark the occasion, Saniflo has put special stickers on the boxes of its Saniflo Up, Sanipro Up, Saniplus Up, Sanivite+, Sanishower+ and Sanispeed+ products explaining how to enter the prize draw and win cash prizes. The prize draw includes one prize of €6,000 as well as 10 €600 prizes and 100 €60 prizes. The product stickers will include a website URL and QR code to take installers to a dedicated web page to enter the competition, the winners of which will be drawn in October.
Vogue (UK), emphasise practical living through its Carina Contemporary Towel Warmer: a keel-shaped design with natural camber and asymmetric styling. A convenient dualpurpose solution, Carina epitomises modern heating design via the bold “D section” tubing, ample hanging space and practical top shelf! Ideally suited in a family bathroom, en suite, cloakroom and even utility room thanks to its extra storage, Carina is wall-mounted for added flexibility and is available 1200mm high with an option of two widths: 500mm and 600mm. Manufactured from Mild Steel and finished in Chrome, the Carina Towel Warmer is part of the Contemporary Collection by Vogue (UK) and is supplied with a 15 year manufacturer’s guarantee. Carina provides a heat output of up to 243/831 Watts/ BTU’s and is suitable for closed indirect systems, dual fuel and electric versions are also available making it a sustainable choice for both new build and retro-fit installation.
NEW WASHDAY WONDERS FROM AMICA
Amica has launched top spec washing machines featuring impressive A+++ energy ratings and a host of family friendly features to deliver the perfect wash.
Steam Touch Adds a burst of steam on selected programmes, helping to remove stains and give fabrics a fresh scent and a soft finish.
Opti Dose Research says that most users either over or under dose on detergent. Opti Dose adds exactly the right amount based on the weight of the load, the level of soiling and the programme selected.
Self Clean Drum Modern detergents are designed to work at between 30-40°c good for the environment but it does mean that grime from laundry can build up inside the drum causing an unpleasant odour. The self-clean feature refreshes the drum, removing lingering smells.
Add+ Allows washing to be added to the drum at various points in the cycle – perfect for stray socks etc that always seem to appear after the machine has started. There are three A+++ machines featuring these impressive new systems. WMS714 takes a 7kg load, 1400 rpm spin, variable wash temperature, 16 programmes, Pause, Stain Level Selection, memory function, anti-allergenic wash, and a door lock. WMS 814 (PICTURED) is also A+++ rated but has 8kg capacity in addition to the programmes and features on the WMS714. Top of the new range is the 9kg WMS914. “This new collection means that Amica offers some of the most competitive home laundry products on the market,” comments Marketing Manager Steve Corbett. “The energy ratings are really impressive and features such as Opti Dose, Add+ and Steam Touch make these machines family friendly. Best of all they are easy to use – not always the case with machines that offer a lot of choices.”.
