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INDUSTRY NEWS supplied
IKEA TO TRIAL NEW RETAIL FORMAT WITH KITCHEN PLANNING STUDIO
Swedish home furnishing giant Ikea is set to open a new format of retail store in Norwich this autumn, with the branch acting primarily as a planning studio for customers looking to plan and purchase kitchens.
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The new Norwich store will be the first of Ikea’s Order and Collection Points, a new format it plans on rolling out across the UK to make shopping with the retailer “easier and more convenient,” according to the company.
“We are extremely excited to announce our plans to test and explore Order and Collection Points as an addition to our current sales channels,” said Ikea UK country manager Gillian Drakeford. “We know that customers in the UK like to shop across many channels and using multiple devices.” “Our customers are also telling us that with 18 stores in the UK, we are often too far away. Order and Collection Points give us the opportunity to trial new ways of being more accessible to our customers,” added Drakeford.
GEBERIT RELEASES AUTUMN TRAINING DATES
Geberit has announced the autumn dates for its free-to-attend training modules for installers as part of its Training Academy.
The training days allow installers to choose from different training modules with various levels of experience. Training modules include standard and premium WC systems and piping systems.
The company also offers personal or ‘bespoke’ training days that can be organised with an installer’s Geberit area sales manager.
All training days are carried out at Geberit’s Training Academy in Warwick. Attendees receive a free Geberit Duofix frame and flush plate. The company has already seen 350 installers taking part in the training days so far this year.
Geberit’s autumn training days are as follows: Sanitary and Geberit AquaClean 9 September 23 September 7 October 21 October Supply and drainage systems 10 September 24 September 8 October 22 October
www.geberit.co.uk
ABACUS HOLDS WETROOM TRAINING DAY
Abacus Manufacturing Group recently held a training day aimed at bathroom installers who were interested in learning how to fit and install wetrooms and become “waterproof professionals”. Abacus Managing Director Ian Pattison headed up the training day for the 15 bathroom installers who attended, using the brand’s Elements product range to demonstrate how to waterproof a room. “It was a great day and very beneficial for the installers to see how to use Elements in order to create a completely waterproof wetroom,” said Pattison. www.abacusdirectltd.com
MAX-TOP RELEASES SPECIALIST INSTALLATION TOOLKIT FOR QUARTZ RANGE
Kitchen worktop company Max-Top has launched a specialist blade and drilling toolkit designed specifically for the installation of its Max-Top Quartz work surface range. The toolkit features a diamondencrusted blade designed for clean cutting, as well as vacuumbrazed hole saws for accuracy, electroplated diamond hand pads for sanding surface edges and a bevel cutting cone for creating decorative edging on quartz worktops. The installation toolkit is available from Max-Top Quartz stockists. “The Max-Top Quartz installation toolkit is the latest in a series of exciting developments for our company and demonstrates our ongoing support for installers in the sector,” said Max-Top Managing Director Stephen Moss. “The kit consists of everything an installer may need when fitting the unique quartz surfaces and promotes best practice in aesthetics and efficiency. Thanks to the robust durability of the saw and blade technology, the equipment ensures longevity of use and precision and accuracy with each and every fitting.” www.maxtopquartz.co.uk
UK CONSTRUCTION WEEK ANNOUNCES SEMINAR PROGRAMME HOSTS
UK Construction Week has confirmed that broadcast journalists John Humphrys, Krishnan GuruMurthy and Steph McGovern will host the main stage seminar programme at the event in October.
The journalists will take part in debates, panel discussions, CPD seminars and workshops at the event, which for the first time will include the three-day Kitchens & Bathrooms Live show on 6-8th October.
John Humphrys will host the first day of the event to discuss Government policy, the housing crisis and the economy. BBC financial correspondent Steph McGovern will chair the second day, while Krishnan Guru-Murthy will host the final day to discuss procurement opportunities, unification of the industry and building information modelling – BIM.
“Right from the start we have set out to create a content schedule that tackles the real issues facing the industry today and so it’s crucial that the hosts have the experience and skills to ask those probing, challenging questions that really bring the debate to life,” said Richard Morey, group events director at the show’s organiser, Media 10. “To have such heavyweight figures as John Humphrys, Steph McGovern and Krishnan Guru-Murthy come on board to host the main stage is a privilege – I cannot wait to see what they bring to the table.”
www.ukconstructionweek.com
J. Rotherham has installed the UK’s first dedicated sintered stone production line. J. Rotherham’s investment includes a new Breton CNC saw, NC300 CNC router and a new 5 axis Breton Classica waterjet; the most precise machine available on the UK market. Designed specifically for cutting sintered stone slabs, the high pressure water jet creates a precise, clean cut like no other. Due to the tensile strength of sintered stone, J. Rotherham’s new water jet method is especially valuable when mitring high-quality worktops for built-up edges or when specialist shaping is required. A worthy addition to its 17 acre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Yorkshire, J. Rotherham’s integration of this production line is to primarily create increased capacity whilst achieving the best finish across the newly launched Lapitec and Neolith sintered stone worktops.
• Neolith sintered stone worktops are available in 23 finishes of 3mm, 6mm and 12mm thicknesses
• Lapitec sintered stone worktops are also available in 23 finishes but thickness choices are 12mm and 20mm. www.jrotherham.co.uk
ZIP REBRANDS AND PLANS NEW AUTUMN CAMPAIGN
Tap manufacturer Zip has unveiled its new brand identity with a new logo and the strapline, ‘IT’S WATER. REFRESHED.’ According to the company, the rebrand is designed to better represent its position in the market of not just hot water taps but also chilled and sparkling filtered tap water. The company’s previous strapline was “Instant boiling water.” “Our new brand better reflects our diverse range of products but also our proposition – that we are all about providing the purest, healthiest water possible, anyway you want it – instantly,” said Zip Sales and Marketing Director Paul Colebrook. “Our new-look marks the start of a very exciting few months, and years – it’s not just our brand identity that has been given a makeover – our products have too! “We can’t wait to unveil some exciting new products to our residential and commercial customers, we know they will love them as much as we do. Watch this space for our new campaign, launching this Autumn.” www.zip-hydrotap.co.uk
DARTS CHAMPION ADRIAN LEWIS VISITS TWYFORD HQ FOR DARTS CHALLENGE
Two-time Professional Darts Corporation world champion Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis, pictured left, visited the Twyford headquarters in Alsager for a meet-and-greet and nine-dart challenge, as part of a 12-month partnership between himself and the brand. Lewis attended with his manager, former world champion Keith Deller, and their wives. The group was given a tour of the showroom and presented with darts-themed cakes donated by Biddulph-based Cakes by Millrise. Twyford project manager Steve Flannery, pictured right, won the nine-dart challenge, and donated his prize of a darts board and set of darts signed by Lewis and Deller to a charity auction. Twyford formed a year-long sponsorship deal with Lewis earlier this year. “We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming Adrian to our Alsager headquarters,” said Twyford marketing head Sabine Mané. “He spent the whole afternoon playing against, and chatting with, members of staff and generated a real buzz about the place. Darts is such a popular viewing sport now across a really wide demographic that we look forward to maintaining this highly productive relationship over the rest of the year.”
