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Industry News by kbb review
HALF OF ALL HOMEOWNERS PLANNING NEW BATHROOM
Demand for new KBB projects continues to rise with half of all UK homeowners planning a full bathroom refurbishment, a new survey reveals.
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The survey, from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA), also showed that was a rise from 45% back in January.
And plans are also being brought forward with 16% of respondents saying they plan to do it in the next 12 months compared to just 13% saying the same in January.
These numbers include DIY but slightly more (62%) are intending to do their planned work with professionals compared to January (59%).
Sustainability was a key feature of the survey with two-thirds of homeowners confused about where to start when making their homes eco-friendly, causing a significant barrier to uptake but creating considerable opportunities for knowledgeable retailers.
Just over three-quarters (77%) said that cost was a major issue as you would expect but 69% said that becoming more sustainable may cause too many disruptions.
Retailers could also take advantage of the 42% of homeowners that are planning on improving sustainability in their homes, according to the BMA. Of those property owners, 40% have already done building work to make their homes more sustainable.
However, the survey found that more than half (52%) believe that sustainability is not essential to them.
And while 89% of homeowners may think their homes are as not as sustainable as they can be, 58% of them have no plans to improve the sustainability in the home.
CAD software specialist ArtiCAD has added a new virtual meetings feature to its ArtiVR virtual reality solution.
The new feature allows KBB designers to host a virtual meeting with their client within the ArtiVR package. a virtual tour of their new room and demonstrate all the details and features of their design, in as much detail as they need to. Designers can also collaborate with their client to optimise aspects of the design in real time.
Virtual Meetings uses a device’s camera and microphone and ArtiCAD said that there is no need for any additional hardware, as all rendering and optimisation is handled in the Cloud.
The software, with the new Virtual Meetings feature, is available on a monthly subscription basis.
HAIER EUROPE REPORTS MASSIVE GROWTH AS ‘SMART’ SALES SOAR
Appliance giant Haier has reported a 20% growth in sales in its 2020/2021 financial year results boosting its global market share to 16.2%.
During the same period, it saw sales of its ‘smart’ MDA increase by 30% year-on-year and a 12% rise in sales for Haier Europe.
According to the brand, during the same period a quarter of all fridges and washing machines sold were from the Haier, Hoover or Candy brands.
The results which are said to put the company on track for its ‘ambitious’ business objectives – were shared at its annual conference.
The virtual conference, which saw 500 attendees across two days, included presentations from the CEO of Haier Europe, Yannick Fierling, UK & ROI CEO, David Meyerowitz (pictured) and Piergiorgio Bonfiglioli, Marketing Director IoT & smart solutions. consumer confidence increasing, which helped the group achieve #1 positions in several product categories: freestanding and built-in washing machines and washer dryers, freestanding and built-in tumble dryers, multidoor refrigeration and wine coolers.
Fierling said: “Our three-element strategy of accelerating value, increasing sales quantities and optimising brand value have supported brand expansion into new lines and categories. This, combined with increased manufacturing capacity, upweighting systems and our triple-brand and price quartile strategies, enabled us to mark a challenging but exceptional year.”
By the end of the 2020/21 financial year, the company had six production sites, with three new factories set to open this year in Romania, Turkey and China. It now employees 7,700 people, including 300 research and development engineers.
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supplied by SALES AND PROFITS AT ‘RECORD LEVELS’ FOR HOWDENS
Sales at Howdens for the first half of the year have shot up by 20% compared to 2019 and nearly 70% against the same period in 2020.
This performance, said chief executive Andrew Livingstone, meant sales and pre-tax profit were at ‘record levels’ for the period.
For the first half of 2021, sales hit £764m and pre-tax profit reached £119.2m. The company made a loss of £14.2m in the first half of 2020, reflecting the impact of the initial covid lockdown.
“Howdens delivered a very strong performance in the first half of 2021, with sales and profit before tax at record levels for the period,” Livingstone said. “Sales were 69% higher than the first half of 2020 –which was materially impacted by covid – and 20% higher than the comparator period in 2019. Sales of ‘everyday’ and promotional items were particularly strong and our profit, compared with 2019, increased at a faster rate than sales.” Livingstone also confirmed that the company’s roll out of new depots would continue, in the first half of 2021 seven new sites opened and one closed in the UK, bringing the total to 754.
However, while acknowledging ongoing uncertainties Livingstone said he believes there is potential for “at least” 900 depots in the UK. “This robust performance demonstrates the strength of our trade only, in-stock, local business model and the benefit of pent-up demand as people choose to spend more on their homes. With that in mind, we now believe there is potential for at least 900 depots in the UK, including 20-25 in Northern Ireland, and plan to start testing the Howdens model in the Republic of Ireland in 2022.
“While we are aware that economic uncertainties persist and also of the strong comparatives we will trade against in the second half, we are encouraged by the progress made so far in 2021 and remain confident in our business model for the future.”
COMPUSOFT SUMMER DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS REVEALED
Compusoft has unveiled the best kitchen and bathroom spaces submitted by its customers for its latest design competition.
The summer contest was open to designers using Compusoft’s Winner or Innoplus software.
The criteria for the kitchen side of the competition reflected what this season is known for – spending time outside with family and friends. What better way to reflect that than with designs that bring the outside in. Think bifold doors, floor-toceiling windows and islands with garden views. time with loved ones, in the bathroom category the brief called for functional, family bathrooms.
Entries were submitted via Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn and the judging panel was made up of Taylist Media managing editor Andrew Davies, Compusoft managing director Alex Ainge, Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms editor Lindsay Blair, and kbbreview editor Rebecca Nottingham.
The winning summer kitchen design came from Ashley Chapman of AC Design in Scotland. Ashley Chapman of AC Design in Scotland.
“As usual, there were some absolutely fantastic entries in this category,” said kbbreview editor Rebecca Nottingham. “Summer is all about fun in the sun, so we were looking for kitchens that brought the outside in and this space from Ashley had it all. The large-format bifold doors, floor-to-ceiling windows, natural stone flooring, skylights and a the ‘living’ wall all give that sense of being outside while, at the same time, being sheltered from the elements. And the natural light pouring through softens the stylish dark and moody handleless furniture.”
Nasser Fahad of Leonide Interiors in Chesterfield won the bathroom category with a design for a sophisticated, family space.
Commenting on the winning bathroom design, Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms editor Lindsay Blair said: “When you hear the term ‘family bathroom’, you often think of a bright, fun space suitable for young children. But what happens when those children grow up? We loved the way Nasser turned this brief on its head and looked towards creating a stylish, multigenerational family bathroom with a freestanding bath and wet room.”
You can view all the entries on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn by using #csdesigncomp. Both winners will receive a hamper of tasty treats.
PRONORM INVESTS €15M IN NEW KITCHEN FACILITY
Pronorm is investing in a new €15 million (£12.7m) kitchen production facility that will increase manufacturing capacity by 30% and help reduce UK lead times.
Work on the new 2,500 sq m plant has started at its headquarters in Vlotho, Germany, and is scheduled for completion in early 2022. New equipment will include a fully automated panel store, converting the entire production line to batch size one.
Pronorm says the extension will increase capacity from 30,000 kitchens a year to 40,000.
