SPONSOR NEWS

VITRA PUBLISH THIRD DESIGN UPDATE: THE WATER ISSUE.

VitrA has published its third Design Update, this time the focus is water. Arguably the most important element in bathroom design, VitrA delves into the debate on modern day water consumption, water consciousness and how our relationship with water is changing. With a foreword from Margaret Talbot (Marketing Manager for VitrA UK), the water issue explores views from bathroom specialists, architects and designers exploring past, present and future perspectives on water.

One of the lead features in this issue is a discussion with Jane Withers, leading design consultant, curator, writer and founder of Jane Withers Studio. Water is a recurrent source of inspiration in her projects, including a prototype drinking fountain and Wonderwater café, Withers discusses how we perceive water as an “unwelcome guest” and her recent collaboration with A/D/O, called Where Will the Water Come From? in New York.

The cover pictures CJ Lim’s visionary project: Twenty Thousand Fish Above the Sea and is paired with a spread in VitrA’s Design Update exploring his project and an analysis of the challenges that rising sea levels pose to architects, engineers and planners. Read VitrA Design Updates here:

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WILSONART SMASHES 10K ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY FUNDRAISING TARGET

Wilsonart staff and management have surpassed its £10,000 charity fundraising goal.

Launched in February 2019, the team at Wilsonart pledged to raise £10,000 for Alzheimer’s Society, a charity very close to two of the staff: John Goldsborough and Kevin Allen. As the UK’s leading dementia charity, Alzheimer’s Society provides information and support, funds research for a cure, care and to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.

Nick Jones, Head of Sales for Wilsonart UK, said “2019 was our biggest fundraising year yet. Right across the business, all of our teams have got stuck in to support the Alzheimer’s Society. Working with Dan Nelson (community fundraiser for the charity) and meeting him earlier in 2019 has been tremendous and provided the inspiration we needed to reach our £10k target. Huge thanks to everyone involved in our many fundraising activities. Wilsonart feels proud to have supported this great cause."

To kick off a year of activities ‘Dress Down Friday’ saw team Wilsonart dressing up as their younger selves from the 80s and 90s inspired by Alzheimer’s Society’s own Flashback February campaign. Followed by months filled with charity bake sales and a sponsored slim and a pyjama party, the staff at Wilsonart announced 2019’s gruelling cycling challenge: Shildon to Shore, a 250mile journey from their Lambton Street, Shildon site to Shore Laminates in Perth, Scotland.

“I am proud of this year’s charity ride for Alzheimer’s society as I’ve experienced first-hand the impact Alzheimer’s has on people and families.” – Ian Dowd, Production Planner. Leaving at 8 am on the 28th of June, a team of 20 cyclists hit the road to Perth. En route, the cyclists were met by locals who made generous donations, some even providing refreshments to keep the team pedalling.

Cycling past some of the region’s iconic landmarks such as the Angel of the North and Alnwick Castle, and battling through challenging Scottish weather, the team completed their journey in 3 days raising an outstanding total of £7000 and combined riding a total of 5000 miles.

COMPUSOFT REMOTE WORKING PACKAGE TO HELP CUSTOMERS THROUGH CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

CAD software specialist Compusoft is offering a free Remote Working Package to customers using its Winner and Innoplus software to support those working from home during the Coronavirus crisis.

Tools available in the package include a free temporary home-working licence to enable customers to continue designing out of their office, as well as the free use of Showcase 360 to share designs and communicate with customers in a dedicated online portal.

Webinars

Compusoft will also provide free webinars for its customers on specific advanced training topics that will help them master new skills, such as creating 360 images and virtual online showrooms. This will help retailers to better present their designs online and continue to communicate with customers online in the best way possible.

Online training

In addition, the company has moved its classroom-based training to online training sessions, so that all planned training can continue for customers. Tips and advice articles on how to maintain sales whilst working remotely are also being sent to all customers to provide some helpful tips on what to do to keep their customer communication going through digital platforms.

Details on how to access and activate this package have been sent out to customers by email but any customer who haven’t received the communication can get in touch through the online contact form.

www.compusoftgroup.com

“Everyone is facing a very difficult and uncertain time and we want to support our customers through this crisis. We hope the Remote Working Package and the online training resources will provide some support to our retailers.”

Alex Ainge, MD of Compusoft GB.

VITRA WINS TWO 2020 IF AWARDS

VitrA has won two iF Design awards for their Equal bathroom collection and CementMix, VitrA's new tile range. The iF award is a globally recognised symbol of design excellence, with both collections being awarded for aesthetic quality, and userfocused, efficient design.

The Equal collection, designed in collaboration with celebrated designer Claudio Bellini, explores the blend between modern architecture and natural forms, utilising monochrome tones which infuse the bathroom with tranquillity. The bathroom series previously won a Good Design award in 2019.

Inspired by the minimalist trend, the CementMix tile range softens the harsh, industrial look of cement and through neutral colour tones and textures, creating a calm and warm aesthetic suited for indoor and outdoor design. Aided by modern geometric speckles, natural stone and marble chips, the range echoes the Terrazzo tile design with a contemporary twist. VitrA's CementMix tile range was also called a "trendsetter" by WGSN, an authority on global trends, in its report for Cersaie 2019.

Established in 1953, the iF Design awards received 7,289 submissions this year from 56 countries. Submissions are evaluated by an international panel of 78 including design and architecture experts. The award ceremony will be held in Berlin in May this year.

VitrA products have previously received numerous prestigious international awards, among them EDIDA, Design Innovation, Design Plus, Good Design, Iconic Awards, Interior Innovation, PlusX, Red Dot and Wallpaper awards.

Caption: top left VitrA Equal Collection by Claudio Bellini. bottom right CementMix featuring Light Greige.

www.vitra.co.uk

CLEARABEE EXPANDS SERVICE RANGE AND REACH WITH SKIPBAG ACQUISITION

Lance Chapman, Co-Founder of Skipbag

Clearabee, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of SKIPBAG, a national provider of skip bags and skip hire services based in Ripley, Derbyshire.

SKIPBAG serves thousands of business and domestic customers across the UK, selling skip bags to customers online and through a network of stockists, and arranging collection of them when full. The company was one of the first skip bag providers in the UK when it was launched in 1999 by brothers Lance and Jim Chapman. The purchase of SKIPBAG accelerates Clearabee’s expansion into the skip bag market and provides the company with a wider range of capabilities for handling construction waste. SKIPBAG will continue to exist as a retail platform and brand to facilitate the sale of skip bags to tradespeople, businesses and domestic customers across the UK.

With SKIPBAG now part of Clearabee, the company is forecasting sales of more than £21m in 2020. Daniel Long, co-founder and Managing Director at Clearabee, comments: “SKIPBAG is a fantastic brand which has provided a convenient, low cost alternative to traditional skips for more than 20 years. We are thrilled that SKIPBAG is now part of Clearabee. This acquisition complements our existing services and expands our reach and customer base across the UK.”

Lance Chapman comments: “It has been a pleasure to see the SKIPBAG business flourish and expand since it was founded. Clearabee shares similar values to us and I am confident that the SKIPBAG brand and service will continue to grow as part of Clearabee.” www.clearabee.co.uk

It has been a pleasure to see the SKIPBAG business flourish and expand since it was founded. Clearabee shares similar values to us and I am confident that the SKIPBAG brand and service will continue to grow as part of Clearabee."