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KI TCHENS &

BATHROOMS NEWS THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR KITCHEN & BATHROOM PROFESSIONALS

JULY/AUGUST 2022

UK’S FIRST ATELIER FLAGSHIP SHOWROOM Beggs & Partners opens Roberto Palomba-curated space

TWO CONFERENCES, ONE THEME BMA and KBBG events revealed a common topic impacting KBB

CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK KBB showroom openings, art installations and exhibitions news ■ expert views ■ company profiles ■ products ■ SME support www.kandbnews.co.uk

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NO 171 VOL 16 JULY/AUGUST 2022

contents

BATHROOMS 35 Shower enclosures The industrial trend, which started with the Crittall-style enclosure, may have become more refined

5 First word

Editor’s comment

38 Just out

News

The latest bathroom products on the market

Round-up of industry headlines

16 People

NECESSITIES

Promotions and appointments

40 Heating

17 Inbox

National sales manager of The Radiator Company Alex Burgess reveals what consumers are asking about when purchasing a radiator or towel rail and arms you with the answers

Reader feedback

18 Conference reports Talks from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association and Kitchen Bedroom Bathroom Buying Group events

22 Exhibition review Clerkenwell Design Week returns as biggest event to date

40 BUSINESS 42 Retailer profile

25 KITCHENS 25 Worktops Why white surfaces remain a perennial décor, as manufacturers continue to add these light decors to their worktop portfolio

28 Dishwashers We outline how reductions in time, resource use and noise levels form a sales triptych for dishwashers

31 Just out The latest kitchen products on the market

Group retail sales and marketing manager of Beggs & Partners – the UK’s first flagship Atelier showroom – Nicola Flynn says trust is central to the business, from attracting customers to investing with suppliers

44 Supplier profile Omega Plc CEO Simon Barber and sales director James Bishton explain how a focus on value for money kitchens, and enhanced customer service, will drive sales through retail and contract

46 Company matters SME advice covering marketing, financial and management issues, as well as personal development

49 Last word Retailers must take the lead in sustainability in the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industry, says marketing and business development director at Hill’s Panel Products Dan Mounsey www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS JULY/AUGUST 2022

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FIRST WORD

NEWS & VIEWS

Tale of two conferences With two industry conferences – the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) Conference and the KBBG Annual Members’ Meeting – sharing a common topic of sustainability, the conversation volume has turned up in the KBB industry. Both events explored sustainability themes, from current sales levels and existing supply chain, through to legislation that will impact the future of kitchen and bathroom retail businesses. These events demonstrated the subject area of sustainability is more farreaching than saving water or reducing single use plastics – although, these topics are still incredibly important and of great significance to the KBB sector. Government’s drive towards Net Zero in 2050, with a reduction of emissions across all dwellings (newbuild and existing housing stock), sees the topic of sustainability as vital to all home improvement businesses. It is not an esoteric opt-in but a mandatory duty and, speaking at the KBBG Annual Members Meeting technical lead construction at the Manufacturing Technology Centre Steve Nesbitt said the issue will not be solved simply by planting a tree. In fact, he suggested not considering materials, energy used in production and delivery, as well as end of life possibilities for kitchens and bathrooms could even come with financial penalties. It means bathroom and kitchen retailers who have yet to embrace sustainability in their business or designs, because it’s not been

demanded by their customers, should now take the lead. And the disconnect between manufacturers creating sustainable bathroom and kitchen products but consumers remaining blissfully unaware of availability must be resolved. In fact, kitchen furniture distributor HPP has made a clarion call for retailers to play their part in spreading the eco-message from manufacturers and distributors through to their client bases, Speaking at the BMA Conference CEO Tom Reynolds said the biggest challenge to sustainability is creating a market. And Jane Blakeborough, research director at TrendMontor, said in its research, she found consumers believed sustainability was the responsibility of the manufacturer. What is for certain, sustainability should not simply be considered a box-ticking exercise by companies, or as a bolt-on for a business. There is an ever greater drive for it to be part and parcel of all bathroom and kitchen sectors, embedded into their practices and projects. Industry has highlighted sustainability considerations has spread far beyond specialist eco businesses, and now all kitchen and bathrooms sectors must join together and play their part.

KBN LIKES ✔ ...manufacturers’ focus on sustainability in their businesses allowing retailers and designers to create environmentally concious projects

KBN DISLIKES ✖ …to bid farewell to SieMatic UK MD Bernard Otulakowski, who has retired after 43 years of service, but is pleased to welcome UK national sales and markering manager Kerry Furber to the MD role.

KBN WANTS ! …to congratulate all the finalists of the Kbsa Designer Awards.

Philippa Turrell Editor Email your views on this subject, or any other, to pturrell@hamerville.co.uk To be removed from this magazine’s circulation please call 01923 237799 or email circulation@hamerville.co.uk Editor Philippa Turrell e: pturrell@hamerville.co.uk Designer Donna Booth

Group Advertisement Manager Craig Jowsey e: craig@hamerville.co.uk

Group Production Manager Carol Padgett e: carol@hamerville.co.uk

Advertisement Manager Marcus Hooper e: mhooper@hamerville.co.uk

Printer Walstead Roche

TRADE JOURNALIST/ EDITOR MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR 2014

HOME IMPROVEMENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2014

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ABC total average net circulation 11,714 (for the 11 issues distributed between January to December 2021)

© 2022 KITCHENS & BATHROOMS NEWS accepts no responsibility for damage or loss, however caused, to any material submitted for publication. While every effort is made to ensure facts are correct at time of going to press, no responsibility can be accepted for incorrect product descriptions or facts. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in any form, without prior written permission from the publishers.

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Private equity investor buys distributor

Saint-Gobain agrees to IDS sale Merchant group Saint-Gobain has agreed to sell ﬂooring, worktop and laminate distributor International Decorative Surfaces (IDS) to private equity investor Chiltern Capital. IDS has been owned by SaintGobain for 23 years, during which time the distributor has doubled its turnover and reported revenues in excess of £120million in 2021. It supplies over 12,000 product lines, servicing kitchen, bathroom, ﬂooring and construction sectors and has 11 regional branches, seven Makeover Centres and an online e-commerce platform. IDS will continue to operate with its existing management team under managing director John Bagshaw, who has led the business since its formation from the merger of L Bloom and Meyer Laminates in 1999. The management team will be

supported by the introduction of Tony Buffin as chair, who has previously held roles on the boards of Travis Perkins and Kingﬁsher and is currently the chair of HIG-backed Highbourne Group. John Bagshaw commented: “IDS has proved itself over two decades to be a strong business with an ambition for growth and we will be building on the support and infrastructure that being part of Saint-Gobain has given us over 20 years. “With my experienced management team, we look forward to a bright and dynamic future where we will take the business to the next level. “It’s very much business as usual and we look forward to continuing our partnerships with our trusted customer and supplier base. “With Chiltern and Tony’s support, we will build on our

leading market position, as well as expanding our product offering, to drive faster growth.” Joe Bennett of Chiltern Capital added: “We are delighted to partner with John and his management team. “With our investment and strategic support, IDS is well positioned to accelerate the development of its product portfolio and enhance its operational footprint to better serve its trusted customers and suppliers” In addition, Saint-Gobain will

also divest two UK glass processing facilities which specialise in the manufacture of double-glazed units. The two glass plants in Motherwell, Scotland, and Canterbury will be sold to Clayton Glass. It follows on from the company divesting UK ceramic tile distributor CTD Tiles and exiting the plumbing and heating sector with the sale of Bassets, DHS, Neville Lumb and Ideal Bathrooms to Wolseley.

Kerry Furber succeeds Bernard Otulakowski

Senior leadership change at SieMatic UK Following a career of 43 years at SieMatic UK, managing director Bernard Otulakowski has announced his retirement. He will be succeeded by Kerry Furber, who has worked for the luxury German furniture brand as national sales and marketing manager. Furber joined the company as southern regional sales manager in 2015, before being promoted four years later. Bowing out, Otulakowski said: “I have been both proud and privileged to work and represent this design lead global brand all my working life. “Many of our dealerships I have known for 40 plus years which is a

true testament not only to the brand, but the relationships we have forged. “In fact, I have had the enviable task of working with some of the strongest, loyal and professional studios within the kitchen industry.” However, he added it was time for a new approach to marketing the global brand: “My timely departure will allow the SieMatic brand to enter new untrodden territory and remain one of the leading brands within the industry.” Furber’s appointment comes at a time when the company is planning to grow its digital offerings. She said: “Being Bernard’s successor is a huge role to ﬁll but having worked with SieMatic for

the best part of almost a decade, I’m certainly ready, well-equipped and experienced enough to take on that mantle. “In fact, I’m really eager to push the digital side of our strategy

further. This will allow us to maximise our growth in the UK luxury kitchen market, and give as many people as possible the type of premium lifestyle experience that SieMatic can offer.”

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Turnover increase of 30%

IN BRIEF ■ Distributor of timber, panel and decorative surfaces James Latham has launched the Digital Showroom platform, an online speciﬁcation tool. It features 1,400 surfaces as 3D interactive animations, allows access to James Latham’s CPD library, and enables users to order samples and book remote consultations. Discover more details at www.rdr.link/KAG001 ■ Plumbing, heating and bathroom buying group PHG has presented bathroom supplier Roper Rhodes two awards at its annual conference. It was announced the winner of both the Instinct and Overall Supplier of the Year categories, beating 125 other companies to the title. Read more about the award winners at www.rdr.link/KAG002 ■ Leeds-based shower tray manufacturer JT has reported 50% increase in exports yearon-year, with a third of its sales now destined for the continent. Over the last 18 months, JT has exported more than 100,000 trays into Europe The growth has centered around a number of markets, including Italy, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands.It will now shift its focus to France and Germany. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAG003

Cosentino Group reports record year Manufacturer of Silestone, Dekton and Sensa natural stone surfacing, Cosentino Group has reported a record year in 2021, having increased its turnover by 30% to €1,401 million (€1,078 million in 2020). EBITDA was up 29% to €275 million and its net proﬁt increased by 59% to €104 million. Despite 2021 being a year of global recovery from the consequences of the pandemic, the company made investments totalling €105 million. Research & development, innovation, robotisation, industrial extensions, the circular economy and the commitment to a new energy model were the key areas of investment. These included the implementation of production lines for Silestone, which were completed in 2021. The company

also reported “signiﬁcant” increases in productivity for Dekton on two production lines, in addition to the contruction of new buildings for line 3, scheduled to start operations in the middle of this year, and line 4. At the same time, the company improved the automation of production plants and implemented new research & development, which has resulted in its HybriQ technology for Silestone. Furthermore, a Strategic Sustainability Plan approved in 2021 consolidated some of the

company’s major current projects. Cosentino Group started to construct, reportedly, the largest industrial photovoltaic facility for self-consumption in Spain, with 35 MW peak power and an energy production capacity of approximately 58.2 GWh/year. Other initiatives in the pipeline include the future construction of its own Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant. Cosentino Group also increased its workforce with the creation of 685 new jobs – a 14% increase in employees. It means the company now has a total workforce of 5,425. It owns 142 facilities – including Centres and Cities, four Hubs and ﬁve logistics operators worldwide. Last year also saw the opening of Cosentino Cities in Chicago, Atlanta, Tel Aviv, Palma, Stockholm and Sydney.

Following on from record sales in 2020

Blanco achieves “highest ever” sales Sink and tap manufacturer Blanco has reported an 18.5% increase in sales to €483million in 2021, compared to the previous year, achieving record sales. CEO of the company Frank Gfrörer commented: “Particularly in this difficult market environment, it is clear that our consistent focus on a premium brand experience at the kitchen water place has won over both our trade partners and our end consumers.” Adding to its collaboration with trade partners, Blanco now has an increased focus on consumers, investing in digital end customer channels and developing its online shop for spare parts and accessories. Frank Gfrörer explained: “By

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adopting this hybrid approach, we want to increase customer traffic to our trade partners and stimulate demand for high-quality system storage. “At the same time, we are supporting our trade partners to concentrate on their core business.” Over the last ﬁnancial year, Blanco has also invested €13million in strengthening its international

production and logistics network. Blanco has set out its plans for the current ﬁnancial year with an increased focus on its Blanco unit, which combines drinking, food preparation and cleaning. Blanco employs 1.647 employees with 1,140 in Germany and 507 at international locations, with 65% of its sales generated from abroad.

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IN BRIEF ■ Expanding its reach across global markets, Virtual Worlds is now available in the UAE. Led by Leigh Townley who has recently been promoted to country manager UAE and Northern Europe, the Virtual Worlds team will be meeting showrooms and suppliers to introduce them to the design technology. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAG004 ■ Palio Trade by Karndean, from UK luxury vinyl flooring manufacturer Karndean Designflooring, has entered into a commercial partnership with Darts ace Joe Cullen. “The Rockstar” was crowned Masters Champion, earlier this year, having beaten a field of the top 16 ranked players in the world. Find out what he had to say at www.rdr.link/KAG005 ■ The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BIKBBI) has launched a mobile app to optimise communication. Available in both the App Store and Google Play, it is free to download. Registered businesses can access news and opinions, technical information, as well as register and participate in events and seminars via the app. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAG006

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Six categories honour design excellence in kbb retail

Kbsa reveals Designer Award winners Trade association the Kbsa has revealed the finalists of its Designer Awards 2022, which will take place at The Belfry Hotel & Resort in the West Midlands on September 28, 2022. The Designer Awards span six categories, which include Kitchens up to £25k, Kitchens £25k-£50k, Kitchens over £50k, Bathroom Designer, Young Designer and Kitchen Concept Designer. Winners of each category will be chosen by an independent judging panel of industry experts. These include senior designer at Bulthaup Mayfair Ainhoa Bilbao, MD of And So To Bed Martin Gill, national retail sales manager of Blum Andrea Hilliard, director of The Myers Touch Keith Myers and MD of Stoneham Kitchens Adrian Stoneham. The list of finalists are as follows: Kitchens up to £25k Belinda Dangerfield – Qudaus Living (two entries) Scott Richards – Bathroom & Kitchen Planet, Stirling Sophie Owens – Qudaus Living Diane Berry – Diane Berry Kitchens Kitchens £25k-££50k Samantha Mascari – Mascari Design David Ladbury – John Ladbury & Company Toby Lister – Somax Kitchens Elizabeth Pantling-Jones – Lima Kitchens Clinton Paley – The Kitchen Partners (two entries) Kitchens over £50k Matthew Grantham & Ethan Bowen – Kreativ Kitchens Keith Myers & Amanda Smith – The Myers Touch Emma Gains – Butler Interiors Robert Guinan – Jacob Roberts

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Interiors Dominic Massarella – KC Design House Bathroom Designer Andrew Hewson – Dobsons Nicola White – Kitchens International (two entries) Richard Paul – Sovereign Bathrooms Winchester Gabi Riseley – Henry Rose Interiors Young Designer Dominic Massarella – KC Design House Sophie Owen – Qudaus Living Lucy Cunliffe – Diane Berry Kitchens Kitchen Concept Designer Felicity O’Hare – Kitchens by JS Geddes Liam Butler – Butler Interiors Anthony De Wynter – KD Design House Prince Rosales – Elements Kitchens Sophie Owen – Qudaus Living

Lucy Cunliffe – Diane Berry Kitchens Kbsa national chair Richard Hibbert said: “Congratulations to all of our ﬁnalists. The standard was once again really high. “There have been some stunning entries displaying the trend for open living spaces. These illustrate how well kitchen designers have met the challenge of designing not just kitchens but spaces that accommodate the ever-growing criteria for multigenerational living.” Quooker, Blum, Neff, Blanco, Airﬂow Developments, Fisher & Paykel, CRL Stone and Clear Insurance Management are sponsors of the awards, which will be presented as part of the Kbsa Conference. Watch videos of the Kbsa Designer Award winners in 2021 discussing their projects at www.rdr.link/KAG007.

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IN BRIEF ■ Hugh and Howard Miller of bespoke kitchen design company H.Miller Bros won a Silver-Gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for their ‘Urban Foraging Station’ Show Garden. Created for Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Liverpool, the garden was designed to encourage children’s engagement with nature through foraging, sharing healthy food, playing, relaxing together and “being in the moment”. Discover more about the design at www.rdr.link/KAG008 ■ Bathroom panels manufacturer, and brand of Wilsonart Ltd, Mermaid has joined the Made in Britain membership campaign. The company has 30 years’ experience of manufacturing bathroom panels at its factory in Perth, Scotland. Its Made in Britain status comes at a time when retailers, installers and homeowners may be considering UK-based alternatives to bathroom tiles. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAG009 ■ Alongside The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, furniture ﬁttings company Blum is celebrating its own 70th anniversary. Established on March 1, 1952, by farrier Julius Blum, the company originally made horseshoe studs. Blum now has a turnover of over €2.3bn, employs 8,000 people and boasts an apprentice programme. More on this story at www.rdr.link/KAG010

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Committed to work towards halving emissions by 2030

Howdens targets halving carbon emissions Trade kitchen supplier Howdens has committed to work towards halving emissions by 2030 and to achieve Net-Zero by 2050, in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The Science Based Targets initiative is a global body enabling businesses to set emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science. It is focused on accelerating companies across the world to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve Net-Zero emissions before 2050. Howdens is the ﬁrst major UK kitchen supplier to make a commitment with the SBTi and is the only kitchen manufacturer awarded FIRA testing status. Director of ESG at Howdens Rob Black said: “We are proud to make this commitment to working towards the SBTi Net-Zero Standard. “We join over 2,000 companies

across the world, that have had emissions targets approved or have ongoing commitments with the SBTi. “Our ESG vision to be the UK’s leading responsible kitchen and joinery business means that we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment in all areas, and we will continue to search for innovative ways in which we can effect change.” In January 2022, Howdens achieved carbon-neutral manufacturing at its sites in Howden and Runcorn certiﬁed by

The Carbon Trust. Howdens’ manufacturing and distribution facilities reached zero waste to landﬁll in 2019, and 99% of all Howdens UK depot waste avoids landﬁll. Founded in 1995 with 14 depots, Howdens has grown to 750 branches across the UK and Europe, supplying more than 470,000 tradespeople. Earlier this year, it was named the only kitchen manufacturer to be FIRA approved for its testing and quality assurance processes.

Enhancing resource efficiency

Medite completes €44million factory upgrade Medite Smartply has completed a €44million upgrade of its OSB factory in County Waterford, Ireland. It has seen the upgrade of its drying, energy and screening system to enhance resource efficiency, with the construction of a biomass plant. It means Medite Smartply will operate on 100% renewable biomass material for process drying and heating. The company has been investing in its factory for the past six years, with an initial spend of €59million to create new forming and ﬁnishing lines and a state-of-

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the-art continuous press in 2016. Managing director – commercial at Medite Smartply Chris King

stated: “We are extremely delighted with the completion of this project. “Not only will this upgrade allow us to deliver more sustainable bestin-class timber panel products, but the increased output of Smartply OSB will enable us to support existing customer positions and develop new market sectors and opportunities as part of our strategy and growth plan.” Smartply OSB is made from sustainable, fast-growing timber using forest thinnings of new-growth pine and spruce, including the tops which are not used to make any other wood-based product.

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IN BRIEF ■ Shower tray brand Senstec, manufactured by Classic Marble Showers, was announced winner of the Business & Product Innovation Award at FSB Northern Ireland’s Celebrating Small Business Awards. The award recognises businesses with a product or service which have disrupted a traditional market, with previous winners including Lowden Guitars and Instil Software. The patented Senstec shower tray has anti-slip rating PTV 48. See the story at www.rdr.link/KAG011 ■ Online bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing has posted a 5% dip in revenue year-on-year to £133.9million in its half year results to March 31, 2022. According to the company, it laps a “tough comparable period resulting from market outperformance during COVID19 related lockdowns.” The Lancashire-based company reports revenue is 39% up on a two-year basis, despite a reduction in customer demand. Read the full story at www.rdr.link/KAG012 ■ Bathroom and ceramic tile exhibition Cersaie is nearly sold out, with the organiser reporting 92% of the exhibition space for 2022 is already booked. The show, which takes place in Bologna from September 26-30, attracts professionals from construction, architecture and interior design. It is expected to ﬁll 15 halls of the BolognaFiere exhibition centre. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAG013

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Showroom and training centre for retailers

LochAnna Kitchens opens Design Centre Furniture manufacturer LochAnna Kitchens has opened a showroom and training centre for its independent retail partners and their clients. Located less than a mile from LochAnna’s headquarters in Bolton, and sat on the site of the company’s original HQ, the centre features 14 displays, offering a total of 18 door styles and 26 colours. The two-ﬂoor showroom, complete with working kitchen display, also features a presentation and training room, design hub, breakout area and a Selﬁe Station. In addition, it boasts some of LochAnna’s new collections which will be launching in Summer 2022, including the Thistleton Collection. Kitchen category manager Sinead Trainor commented: “Our

Design Centre is already providing a much-needed space for new and existing customers to learn more about LochAnna, complete our detailed product training course on site with the experts, and have the opportunity to experience the design details that really need to be seen in person to be appreciated.” Speaking about the decision to open a deidcated showroom, MD

of LochAnna Kitchens Paul Jenkinson said: “The LochAnna Design Centre is the start of a major new chapter in our growth and investment story. “The showroom will allow us to have a year-round showcase of the kitchens we so passionately design, a space for new and existing retail partners to touch and feel our products.”

MD Darren Woolsgrove leads buy-out

Harvey Jones acquired in MBO Handmade kitchen furniture manufacturer and retailer Harvey Jones has undertaken a management buy out backed by Coniston Capital. Managing director of Harvey Jones Darren Woolsgrove led the buyout and will take the business through its next stage of growth. Darren Woolsgrove will be supported by the incumbent executive board which consists operational director James Hadingham, sales director Matt Dagworthy, creative director Melissa Klink and marketing director Olivia Faranda. The investment has seen the exit of majority shareholders John Curwen and Andrew Kretzschmar. Andrew Fawcett, who has over

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20 years of experience in executive and nonexecutive roles across multiple sectors, will also join Harvey Jones as a nonexecutive chairman. Among his accomplishments, he has chaired manufacturer of beds and mattresses Silentnight Group and holiday park operator Park Holidays Group. Commenting on the MBO Woolsgrove commented: “The team and I are delighted to be working with Coniston and Adrian, and we are excited to be collaboratively working with them in Harvey Jones next phase of development.” Josh Henshaw, who led the transaction for Coniston and who will join the board of Harvey Jones

said: “Darren and the team have built an impressive business and offer a high-end, specialist service in an exciting market. “This combination made the company an attractive investment proposition and we look forward to working with them to continue to drive growth.” Founded in 1977, Harvey Jones designs and produces handmade and hand painted cabinetry and has 28 showrooms across the UK.

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PEOPLE

Position filled Appointments and promotions across the industry

LAKES

MERLYN

KÖNIGSTONE

FALMEC

Manufacturer of showering spaces Lakes has bolstered its board of directors with the appointment of Chris Thain as supply chain director. He brings a breadth of experience to the role having worked in various sectors, including distribution and home improvement companies. In his previous roles, Thain has been responsible for end-to-end supply chain. This new role at Lakes, will see Thain lead the development and introduction of all new products.

Shower surround manufacturer Merlyn Greg Pieterse has been appointed to the position of regional sales manager for East Midlands to North London area. Pieterse brings over seven years of bathroom and shower speciﬁc experience to the role, having worked for Roman Showers. With a speciﬁc focus on the Arysto Collection of enclosures, he will be responsible for growing brand awareness and building new partnerships in the region.

Surface manufacturer Königstone has welcomed Matthew Clatworthy as regional sales manager for the South of England. He has joined the company with a wealth of experience in the kitchen industry, having previously worked at Blanco UK for three years and before that over 14 years as showroom manager at Buildbase. Königstone supplies approved fabricators and installers with quartz and natural stone products.

Matt Verrey has recently joined extraction manufacturer Falmec UK as regional sales manager for the East/South East of England. Having been in the kitchen business for over 26 years, Verrey spent 21 of those years at sink and tap manufacturer Blanco UK, ﬁrst as sales desk manager before becoming business development manager. He also spent ﬁve years working for The 1810 Company before he branched out into project management.

unprecedented increase in demand and pressures on supply chain availability. Vanessa Billy is working alongside Nathan Smith and Fisher & Paykel’s area account managers to grow sales with both kitchen retail partners and direct customers. She has a broad range of experience and knowledge in customer service, acquired in her previous employment in the metal

industry and FMCG. Former kitchen designer Nathan Smith, who has worked for Colourhill Kitchens & Bedrooms and Wren, also brings his retail knowledge to the appliance manufacturer. Completing the trio of new recruits, Natasha Mottram has extensive experience in supply chain logistics, demand and inventory planning, as well as a history of working across varied markets.

FISHER & PAYKEL Luxury New Zealand appliance brand Fisher & Paykel has expanded its customer service team with a trio of appointments. Vanessa Billy and Nathan Smith have been appointed as customer success leads and Natasha Mottram joins the company as inventory and demand planning analyst. The new additions to the team are to enhance customer service in the face of an

REGINOX

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Sinks, taps and accessories manufacturer Reginox UK has welcomed David Linwood as area sales manager for the South West region. With more than 25 years of retail experience, 10 in the KBB sector, Linwood will be managing existing clients, as well as establishing new client relationships. He will report to Reginox UK’s recently promoted national sales manager Gareth Hughes.

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Inbox... Kandbnews The need for kitchens to serve multipurposes has accelerated the trend for blended living. German kitchen manufacturer @pronorm_official reflects this with a Vicenza Oak and Pebble Grey Ultra Matt kitchen, using a mix of solid and glass decors to create a broken plan kitchen interior. the.social.media.lady This is so relaxing to look at elementsrealestategroup Wow what a stunningly designed kitchen

Email us, write to us or contact us through any of our social media channels. Get involved, as we want to hear your views

Kitchens & Bathrooms News Shower tray brand SENSTEC Anti-Slip Shower Tray has won an FSB Award for Product & Innovation. SENSTEC Anti-Slip Shower Tray Thanks for your article! We are very proud to represent our industry amongst all the other incredible innovators. Neil Holloway Great news. Congratulations SENSTEC AntiSlip Shower Tray team!

Kitchens & Bathrooms News EXCLUSIVE: Country manager of RorosHetta Lucy Corlett-Shaw explains how built-in fire safety technology will drive UK sales for the Norwegian cooker hood manufacturer. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAG054

@Afsheen Khan Great feature, and great product @Matthew Jones Good read! Get in touch and contact the editor via email pturrell@hamerville.co.uk or through any of our social media channels:

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Kitchens & Bathrooms News Debate waged over the sustainability of existing sales channels for bathroom manufacturers at the recent Bathroom Manufacturers Association Conference. Do you agree? Gary Matthews Great to see the industry debating this theme, although the importance of an omnichannel approach is at least a 15-year-old consideration, despite current percentage shifts in end user desire. All KBB manufacturers need to focus on the tradesmen/consumer needs and work back to how they support varying sales channels through their market offering – there is room for everyone with a well thought through strategy. Good luck everyone – hope the debate was useful.

Kitchens & Bathrooms News Retailer Bathroom Takeaway is holding a charity auction to raise money for Prevent Breast Cancer Bathroom Takeaway Fantastic feature on today’s event – thank you Kitchens & Bathrooms News Tony Rands Wow!! Incredibly proud of my Bathroom Takeaway team for organising and delivering an amazing charity trade event in our Manchester store. On a lovely sunny day I lost count of the number of traders & property developers who put down their tools and came in for a butty, see our new displays, watch manufacturer demos and Donate to Wythenshawe hospitals ‘Beat Breast Cancer’ campaign. The team and event also featured on Kitchens & Bathrooms News website. £1,060 was raised from our raffle so thank you again to RAK Ceramics, Kartell, dell factor, Scudo, Karndean Designflooring UK and others who supplied some excellent prizes.

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NEWS & VIEWS

CONFERENCES

Two conferences; one theme

Sustainability formed a topic at both the Bathroom Manufacturers Association Conference and the Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group Annual Members Meeting.

BMA debate wages over sustainability of sales channels

Create sustainable market, urges BMA CEO

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) Conference hosted a Big Debate to discuss if current routes to market are sustainable, with the emergence of click and collect and growth of online. Kickstarting the discussion, at Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire, audience members were asked to vote on whether existing sales channels for bathroom manufacturers are sustainable, with most (43%) stating ‘no’. CEO of the BMA Tom Reynolds hosted a panel of industry experts who considered how the channels were cementing their future. The panel included CEO of Builders’ Merchants Federation (BMF) John Newcomb, managing director at MRA Research Mike Rigby, director of Eureka Research Dave Ruston, account development manager for home and garden at eBay Rosalind Bridges and director at TrendMonitor Jane Blakeborough. John Newcomb of the Builders’ Merchants Federation stated merchanting was a “very healthy” sector with sales up 30% on last year, which were up 20% on the previous year. He added: ”Kitchens and bathrooms are the single fastest-growing sector within builders’ merchants. We absolutely see kitchens and bathrooms as a core growth category for builders’ merchants.” Newcomb stated the future for construction sales was strong for merchants, both in new build and retro-ﬁt opportunities. The COVID pandemic saw a change to traditional routes of supply, with the growth of digital sales, and the panel explored whether this rise was sustainable. Account development manager for home and garden at eBay Rosalind Bridges stated the online platform saw a growth in sales of building materials during this time. However, John Newcomb of BMF warned manufacturers against choosing an online only strategy, stating merchants help break bulk and also have the direct relationship with local tradespeople. He stated: “The bigger issue is when manufacturers choose to go direct online, bypassing traditional forms of distribution. I know that is being discussed in several boardrooms.” But Rosalind Bridges also pointed out eBay can offer manufacturers and retailers a dual

Answering what will be the biggest challenge to sustainability, as part of the BMA Conference, CEO of the BMA Tom Reynolds said the industry must create a market. He commented: “I think we can innovate more water efficient, more energy efficient products all the time but unless there’s a market for those products then we are always going to struggle.” “So unless that market exists for sustainable products, then innovation really goes to waste. I think that’s the biggest challenge for sustainability in the sector. “We can be as willing as we would like but unless our markets are willing as well, that’s an issue.” It followed comments from research director at TrendMonitor Jane Blakeborough who outlined a consumer survey revealed they believed responsibility for sustainability lies with the manufacturer. Managing director at MRA Research Mike Rigby said he didn’t believe consumers understand the beneﬁts of sustainable bathroom products and there was a greater need for education. He exclaimed: “You’ve got to market and tell people what the beneﬁts are. They’re not going to subtly discover them.”

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approach to building their customer base, as she commented: “It’s normally new customers we bring to them, not cannabilising their existing customer bases.” In fact, Dave Rushton from Eureka Research stated online should be used as part of a repertoire of sales channels, as he pointed out tradespeople use up to four outlets when buying bathrooms. The need for omni channel sales was supported by Mike Rigby from MRA Research who said a third of tradespeople still go into store, as well as Jane Blakeborough of TrendMonitor who added: “We do know that online sales during COVID rocketed. We also know 72% of all retail sales took place in a physical store in 2020. That’s a huge number.” Driven by the pandemic, merchants embraced digitalisation, with the sector offering the likes of click and collect, which John Newcomb said is part of the adaptation of merchanting but not the only future. The panel agreed the need for merchants and retailers to meet the changing needs of their customer base will be the most important factor in the sustainability of sales channels. Jane Blakeborough explained: “Consumers are more conﬁdent and have certain expectations. They expect speed. They expect personalisation. They expect to be able to have online interaction and choice.” She stated DIY used to be dominant but now consumers are buying across a variety of channels and concluded: “I think the power of the consumer has grown during lockdown. They have expectations and the channels to market will survive if they meet these expectations.”

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Current sales levels unsustainable, but KBBG is optimistic Speaking at the start of the KBBG Annual Members Meeting at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, managing director of the KBBG Bill Miller addressed some of the challenges still faced by the kitchen industry. These included supply chain issues, price inﬂation and the reduction of consumers’ disposable income. He commented: “I said at the last annual Members Meeting, eight months’ ago, the kitchen and bathroom industry was facing some of its biggest challenges. To be truthful, I had hoped eight months’ on, some of those challenges would have been resolved. But I think it’s fairly obvious, a lot of the challenges have not been resolved but in some ways the list has grown longer.” He added: “Out of challenges come new opportunities.” Miller reported suppliers and retailers had seen an “amazing” amount of business over the last two years but said attendees have to consider what will come next after the boom

period. He stated GDP ﬁgures were slowing, and consumer conﬁdence was tracking at record lows, which would impact retailers working in the bottom end of the market. However, retailers working in the mid-to-top end of the market have clients who would be reasonably insulated from these challenges, Miller said. He stated: “I think the market will slow. It was inevitable it would slow. It isn’t sustainable at the record level we’ve seen. But I think it will slow to pre-COVID levels for independents. Der Kreis International saw 10.8% growth of sales from €4.73bn to €4.73bn, operates in 11 countries, and has 3,498 members in 2021. In the UK, KBBG sales grew 78% in 2021, with 41 members joining the association in 2021 and 31 joining in the last six month. Its turnover has grown 51.8% in 2022. Miller reported its turnover was driven by acquisition of new members, higher turnover from existing members and the introduction of new suppliers. UK manufacturer BA and CAD provider

ArtiCAD both recently joined the buying group. The Annual Members Meeting also featured presentations from founder of SBID Vanessa Brady OBE, sales director of AB Distributors Michael Boland and technical lead construction at MTC Steve Nesbitt. They covered topics including the role of design in a retail business, appliance innovation, as well as journey to Net Zero and what will be the implications for KBB retailers.

life costs – how do you repair, remediate, renovate that building in its substantial, signiﬁcant lifescale?” It includes visions on waste, reduction of time and reduction of energy, focused on offsite production, which reduces the need for onsite trade. Nesbitt says there is also an opportunity to reduce emissions by considering the use of UK manufacturers, adding: “I recognise within kitchens and bathrooms, there is a signiﬁcant level of import because customer preferences are demanding. “But we need to be looking at how do we facilitate our UK indigenous supply chain.” He pointed out a need to reduce waste, as

30% of new materials delivered to construction sites end up going to waste, although around 90% of non-hazardous construction waste is recovered, Nesbitt stated: “A question to consider is who has the responsibility for all of the kitchens and bathrooms removed from buildings when they get remodelled?” He looked at the automotive industry, which has an End of Life Vehicle Directive, and said the obligation for that product is on “anybody placing the vehicle or component into the UK market”. Nesbitt added: “In this instance, a lot of you put products into the market when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms,” Nesbatt explained the End of Life Vehicle directive was mandated by the EU and so failure to comply could result in an unlimited ﬁne. Estimating the size of the kitchen and bathroom market, with the impact of electronic and electrical waste in the EU where 52% of total waste is white goods, Nesbitt said The Treasury could introduce Carbon Tax. He pointed out consideration will need to paid to the material choice, as well as energy consumption in production, which can’t be offset simply by planting a tree which is a longterm strategy. He concluded kitchen and bathroom retailers and manufacturers would both have to consider the ﬁnancial impact of a potential carbon taxation.

Net Zero and its impact on kbb refurbishments Speaking at the KBBG Annual Members’ Meeting, technical lead construction at MTC Steve Nesbitt considered the impact of Net Zero 2050 on kitchens and bathrooms. He pointed out the UK Government has set the objectives for Net Zero for 2050, which is a legal obligation, and highlighted the potential of ﬁnancial penalties if not followed, Nesbitt said households account for a large proportion of emissions, 18%, and Net Zero would not only focus on new housing but also refurbishments. He explained: “According to the UK Research and Innovation Institute 85% of the built environment, present today, will still be standing in 2050. That’s an important message.” Nesbitt pointed out older homes require more energy to heat due to poor insulation, and added newbuild dwellings won’t be able to offset the existing housing stock. Therefore, he explained the routes to decarbonising existing properties will be renewable energies, and Government is already in consultation about removing natural gas from all heating systems. The UK Government has also funded a programme called Transforming Construction Challenge programme which has set objectives for construction. These include a 33% reduction in the cost of construction and whole life: “So this isn’t just about delivery, it is about through

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NEWS & VIEWS

EXHIBITION REPORT

London calling

Clerkenwell Design Week made a successful return to the Capital with its biggest ever event Clerkenwell Design Week returned to the London architectural and design community with more showrooms, exhibition venues and events than before. Following a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the show returned with more than 150 participating showrooms, 10 exhibitions, including three new venues, and more than 400 events held across three days. New for 2022 was Covered, an exhibition dedicated to interior surfaces with the Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with Ceramics Association of Italy, showcasing nine brands in a marquee. Visitors to the EC1 postcode were also met with installations, street sculptures and even a pedal-powered mobile bar. But as ever, integral to the event were the resident design showrooms, with a broad selection of participants. It included those in the bathroom and kitchen sector, such as Coalbrook, Cosentino, Devol Kitchens, Duravit, Gessi, Ideal Standard, RAK Ceramics and TOTO Here we offer a curated edit of the events of interest to kitchen and bathroom design professionals. You can also watch our twominute tour of Clerkenwell Design Week at www.rdr.link/KAG014

22 JULY/AUGUST K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

RAK CERAMICS UAE manufacturer RAK Ceramics opened its ﬁrst global Design Hub in Clerkenwell spanning over two ﬂoors, it measures 7,276sq ft and showcases the company’s sanitaryware, as well as brassware for both bathrooms and kitchens, including a working display. The space includes a collection from fashion designer Elie Saab, along with products from designers Maurizio Scuttella, Debiasi & Sandri, and Patrick Nourget. In addition, the venue boasts a dedicated area for tiling and its mega slabs which can be used for cladding, surfacing, and as decorative pieces. The Design Hub has been created “as an immersive environment to inspire creativity”

and includes a working kitchen display, working tap display, Virtual Worlds 4D Theatre and a Grab and Go sample area. Read more on this story at www.rdr.link/KAG015

DEVOL KITCHENS Furniture manufacturer and retailer DeVol Kitchens participated at Clerkenwell Design Week with its showrooms and at an exhibition. It exhibited at the British Collection at Crypt on the Green where it recreated a traditional haberdashery to showcase handcrafted accessories alongside its furniture collection inspired by the iconic shop interior.

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VITRA As part of this year’s festival, VitrA Bathrooms commissioned internationally acclaimed artist Lother Gotz to create a sitespeciﬁc installation – Colour Rush. It had been created as a reﬂection on the act of seeing and the artwork could be experienced from inside and outside the new VitrA showroom, offering subtly shifting space and colour during the day.

In addition, VitrA London held a panel discussion Colour + Me to explore the power of colour with artist Lother Gotz, VitrA design director Erdem Akan and designer Rhonda Drakeford. VitrA also took the opportunity to showcase its Tom Dixon-designed Liquid bathroom collection and previewed Root furniture, which complements its existing brassware range.

COSENTINO

TOTO Japanese sanitaryware company TOTO held an exhibition of public toilet architecture, The Tokyo Toilet Project (an initative of the Nippon Foundation), at its Concept gallery space. It featured 12 projects by architects and designers including works by Tadao Ando, Shigeru Ban and Kengo Kuma showcasing light ﬁlled spaces with accessible designs, where hygiene and comfort played a pivotal role. The city Government in Shibuya – one of Tokyo’s 23 districts – started work with the Nippon Foundation in 2020 to build new public toilets or renovate existing ones. The 17 structures were designed by 16 architects and designers. TOTO supported the architects and explored what would make a public toilet both safe and comfortable for people, including wheelchair users and parents of small children By November 2020, seven of the 13 planned projects had been completed.

CERAMICS OF ITALY For the first time ever, the Italian ceramic industry and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) participated in Clerkenwell Design Week. As part of a new exhibition entitled “Covered”, ITA London organised a space devoted to Ceramics of Italy which hosted Italian ceramic companies: Cerdomus, FAP Ceramiche, Ceramiche Keope, Litokol, Mirage Granito Ceramico, Ceramiche Refin, Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti, Ceramica Sant’Agostino and Ceramiche SettecentoValtresinaro. A programme of events included a conference devoted to Ceramics of Italy, which featured head of promotional activities at Confindustria Ceramica Cristina Faedi who discussed the latest trends in Italian ceramics. In addition, talks were given by Giovanni Sacchi from ITA London, Marco Pavoni, associate architect at Zaha Hadid Architects, and Annabella Nasetti, creative director of Living Concept Int.

GROHE United by their sustainable brand values, Grohe and Mosa partnered to celebrate the return of Clerkenwell Design Week, with a series of events showcasing the move towards a sustainable future. Both companies were celebrating their recent achievement of cradleto-cradle certiﬁcation. Throughout the three days, bathroom manufacturer Grohe and tile brand Mosa held a programme of CPDs and talks. These included an evening with cradle-to-cradle founder Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart, as well as discussions on circular design and sustainability from Grohe’s global design lead Patrick Speck and Mosa CEO Frank Spikker.

Cosentino City, London, hosted a plethora of events, workshops and talks throughout Clerkenwell Design Week. With sustainability as its core theme, it created Dekton Drop Boxes, installed around the area, to encourage visitors to post their used maps which would be upcycled into a paper mache sculpture by artist Emmely Elgerma. Lee Mccormack from smart sustainable software company MyGlobalHome shared insights into what constitutes a smart home with vice president global product of Cosentino Valentin Garci. In addition, global head of retail and innovation for Cosentino Cristina Mariaca presented a talk on a digital platform created for interior designers: C Top. In keeping with the theme of sustainablity, Cosentino also hosted Terrarium worktops alongside Leafage and joined with German Kiel to demonstrate building Facades with Dekton Slim. Clerkenwell Design Week also gave Cosentino the opportunity to preview four Dekton colours launching in July. Completing its activities Cosentino teamed up with Pedibus, a 12-seated bar bike clad in Dekton, allowing visitors to explore the event area and casually network.

ASTRO LIGHTING/ PENTAGON TILES British brands Astro Lighting and Pentagon Tiles launched a collaborative showroom space in Clerkenwell. The brands joined together as they share common supply channels, including luxury residential and hospitality sectors. The showroom showcases lighting design, alongside surfacing materials from Pentagon Tiles and Junkers ﬂooring. It also houses a working area and intimate courtyard space, plus a mood board section to view samples and materials. The space has been developed to encourage architects and designers to create and connect with the Astro Lighting and Pentagon teams for a one-to-one visit.

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WORKTOPS

KITCHENS

White noise

White surfaces have become a staple finish in kitchen interiors, as manufacturers continue to add these light decors to their worktop portfolio

1 The word ‘white’ may conjure up one pure and speciﬁc shade, offering a classic and staple colour for kitchen surfacing. However, according to colormeanings.com, there are 122 shades of white with names, HEX, RGB and CMYK codes. It’s unsurprising, then, manufacturers can continue to introduce a variety of white shades. Cosentino Group has recently introduced Moone to its Dekton palette, inspired by the warm glow of moonlight. Whereas Caesarstone has sought inspiration from snowy landscapes for its 5121 Layalite décor, which it has recently added to its portfolio of quartz surfaces.

Pure finish Commercial director of Brandt Design Julia Steadman explains why white is a perennial ﬁnish for kitchen worktops: “I think the freshness and vitality of white is appealing, plus it serves as an attractive contrast to so many colours and ﬁnishes, as the desire for personalisation continues. As white has an innate purity and can be either warm or cool in colour temperature, I think it also brings an element of luxury to the kitchen living space by contributing to a feeling of spaciousness.” Marketing manager at Cosentino UK Laura Davie agrees, commenting: “Crisp white worktops deliver a premium feel whilst letting the rest of the room do the talking; offering a blank canvas for personality to shine through via bold accessories, textiles and brassware.”

Dark times But the popularity of white decors is difficult to measure, since white-based colours also incorporate the recent trend for marble-effect worktops. In fact, Cosentino Group is set to launch four additional white-based marble effects into its Dekton surfacing collection. Julia Steadman of Brandt Design explains: “Given the popularity of marble-effect finishes, it can be hard to say where white finishes end and light grey variants begin, so we have got a healthy proportion of both finishes, as well as new appetite for dramatic, darker surfaces.” Does this suggest, then, that white worktop decor sales are or will be replaced by darker surfaces? Creative director of Harvey Jones Melissa Klink says the move towards greater personalisation has seen the introduction of more colour into kitchen surfacing, as she comments: “Post lockdown, we have seen a shift in this trend, with strong interest to personalise the kitchen space. Several of our clients are doing this by injecting pattern and colour, especially on the worktops.” Yet Melissa Klink doesn’t believe this will completely erase sales of white worktops, as she adds: “We will always design with white worktops. I don’t ever see that shifting. White worktops are timeless and bright, two elements that automatically bring satisfaction to an interior space.” While Julia Steadman believes white will be combined with colour: “I imagine white will

2 1. SILESTONE Ethereal Noctis is made using HybriQ+ technology, which ensures each surface has a minimum of 20% recycled material. Read more at

www.rdr.link/KAG016

2. GEMINI WORKTOPS Gemini Quartz Ultra HD uses nanotechnology printing to offer stone patterns, which come in a choice of 10 colours. Discover more about the range at www.rdr.link/KAG017

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KITCHENS

WORKTOPS

3. DEKTON Moone has been added to the Solid Collection of this ultra-compact worktop brand, and is inspired by the warm glow of moonlight. Download technical product ﬁles at www.rdr.link/KAG018

again be used creatively to balance bold colour choices and mixed materials in the kitchen living space, as we look towards 2023-2024.”

Material matters White decors are available across a raft of materials for kitchen worktops, from laminate, quartz and sintered stone through to solid surfacing and porcelain, enabling designers to meet all budgets. So is there greater focus on the material, rather than simply the colouration? Melissa Klink suggests clients are swayed by the aesthetics on social media and it is the designer’s role to educate clients about their worktop material choice: “Before clients would do a lot of their design inspiration alongside our process, but now clients are coming to us full of formulated ideas off social media outlets. So, our informative role about materials is much more critical to help clients ﬁnalise selections.”

Sustainability conversation And sustainability is forming a greater part of the conversation when selecting kitchen worktops, as Laura Davie of Cosentino adds: “As the world continues to combat climate change, consumers are ultimately letting sustainability guide their purchase decisions and are more dedicated than ever to selecting the most eco-friendly products possible, including surfaces for the kitchen. From efficiently managing energy and water throughout the production process, to carbon neutrality and recycled product composition, homeowners are relying on the brands they use throughout their home to be demonstrating sustainable practices.” Julia Steadman agrees that sustainability is spiking the interest of her customers, adding: “We are ﬁnding customers are well-versed in sustainability and are keen to learn about new developments, such as made-to-measure quartz surfaces which mimic the look and feel of marble.” While the worktop market keeps moving with developments in material, as well as colour and patternation, industry experts believe white will continue to be an inﬂuence in kitchen surfaces. So, designers can be safe in the knowledge there’s still lots of noise around white worktops.

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4. CAESARSTONE

5. CRL STONE

5121 Layalite has been inspired by the juxtaposition of soft snowfall and the roughness of metamorphic rock, bringing the aesthetics of a snowy landscape indoors. Request a sample at

Part of the Renaissance Collection, CRL Quartz River White features a marble pattern of whites, greys and browns to create movement and depth. Watch the video for more information at

www.rdr.link/KAG019

www.rdr.link/KAG20

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KITCHENS

DISHWASHERS

Clean cut

We outline how reductions in time, resource use and noise levels form a sales triptych for dishwashers

While the focus of dishwasher tech used to be on power, negating the need for a pre-wash rinse, and drying programmes so pots and pans are quickly ready for reuse, now performance is a given. So, the focus is on complementing consumer lifestyles. Convenience remains key through time-saving programmes, but accelerated by the pandemic and people working from home, enhanced hygiene and reduced decibel levels have also grown in signiﬁcance. Completing the triptych of buying factor is optimising resources of water, detergent and energy. In the current economic climate, as household bills continue to rise, the need to use less and save more will be a mantra in appliance purchases.

Reducing resources Busy lifestyles and the need to reduce the use of resources has seen a greater development of faster programmes and a proliferation of half load functions. Smeg offers dishwashers which provide a 27-minute Quick Programme and Sharp Home Electronics QW-WNA28F39DW 15place setting dishwasher has a 14-minute cycle.

Product manager at Smeg UK Lucy Dunstan comments: “It is important that everyday chores can be completed as quickly and easily as possible. That’s why several of our models feature a 27-minute Quick Cycle programme.” Of course, a faster wash programme reduces energy used during a cycle, but manufacturers have continuously worked on delivering appliances which reduce water and optimise detergent. Dishwashers category manager for

Miele GB Sian Bailey comments: “Over the last 20 years, Miele has successfully reduced the energy consumption of dishwashers by 44% thanks to the work of our technicians.” As well as wash programmes that adjust temperature and alignment of water jets, Sian Bailey adds: “Miele’s latest dishwashers also feature AutoDos, which can help users to save up to 30% of detergent by automatically dispensing the optimum amount needed for the size and soil of the load.” And with the current economic climate seeing spiralling energy bills, along with squeezed disposable income, experts believe 1. MIELE The G 7160 SCVi dishwasher boasts AutoDos, which automatically dispenses detergent. It detects half loads and has AutoOpen Drying which lets fresh air in and reduces energy use. Download the product sheet at www.rdr.link/KAG021

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2. KUPPERSBUSCH Boasting 15 place settings, the K-Series 8 has nine washing programmes, including half load and IonClean to prevent odours and bacteria from forming in the machine. Read all the product details at www.rdr.link/KAG022

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reducing resources will be a key factor in dishwasher selection. Product manager for appliances at Rangemaster Robert Stein points out: “As energy prices continue to rise, consumers will be looking even closer at efficient appliances.”

Changing label However, the issue of energy efficiency has been somewhat complicated with the changing Energy Label for dishwashers. “It makes it even more important for retailers to fully explain last year’s energy label and rating changes. Where models were previously A+, A++ or A+++ rated, these have been reclassiﬁed with many products now achieving E or even F rating. At Rangemaster, our Premium 600mm dishwasher is D-rated for energy efficiency and uses just nine litres of water”, explains Robert Stein.

dishwasher has always been a must-have for an open plan kitchen, although COVID has accelerated this demand as people look to create a dual quiet zone for both dining and working from home.” But Robert Stein of Rangemaster explains this is true for dishwashers no matter the kitchen design, as he explains: “Regardless of whether a homeowner has a large, open-plan kitchen or compact apartment, they will know how disruptive a noisy appliance can be, especially when entertaining friends, working from home or helping children.”

Sales growth Dishwasher penetration has grown slowly over the past couple of years, and according to Statista.com 49% of households owned a dishwasher in 2018. However, it is still far below mainland European countries, with 71.9% of private households in Germany owning a dishwasher in 2018, rising to 72.3% in 2020. Accomplished retailers will revisit the sales triptych of savings in time and energy, as well as noise reduction, not only to entice experienced consumers but also 50% of clients who have yet to buy a dishwasher model.

Enhanced hygiene But energy consumption is not the only focus for consumers, as following the outbreak of COVID, enhanced hygiene in the home has become more important. Appliance manufacturers have been keen to highlight at-home disinfection control, with the likes of steam functions in dishwashers. In fact, Beko introduced the HygieneShield range of appliances which included a dishwasher with Hygiene programme boasting steam and an additional hot rinse. While Kuppersbusch has a dishwasher with IonClean function to prevent odours and bacteria from forming in the machine. Most recently, Fisher & Paykel launched its latest generation DishDrawer with stainless steel interior to allow for higher temperature washes.

3 3. SMEG The DF613PX dishwasher has 27 minute and Eco settings, as well as Energysave technology which opens the door at the end of each drying cycle to save up to 20% energy. View more details at

4. FISHER & PAYKEL

www.rdr.link/KAG023

www.rdr.link/KAG024

The DishDrawer dishwasher features eight wash cycles and now has a stainless steel tub, allowing for washes at higher temperatures and lower maintenance. Learn more at

Less noise However, COVID also had the unintended consequence of increased demand for reduced sound levels in the kitchen, particularly for open plan schemes, as people began to work from home. It has seen manufacturers introduce models with noise level from 40dB to 44dB, below the level of a general conversation at 60dB. Sharp Home Electronics recently introduced a dishwasher model with a Sound button to minimise operational sound when required. According to the Quiet Mark National Noise Report 2021 over half of Brits (57%) would like to reduce the noise levels in their home, with a further 62% drawn towards quieter appliances. The report states more than one in 10 people (13%) would like their dishwasher to make less noise. Importantly, reduced noise levels can be proﬁtable too, as according to the Quiet Mark survey, two thirds of 18-34 year olds (63%) are willing to pay more for quiet appliances. Managing director of Kuppersbusch Sales UK Bodie Kelay points out: “A low decibel

5 5. RANGEMASTER The Premium 600mm fully integrated dishwasher has 15 place settings, uses nine litres of water per cycle, and has silent wash and energy save functions, as well as half loads and turbo drying. Read more at

www.rdr.link/KAG025

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KITCHENS

ADVERTORIAL

Boost your inspiration with Lathams’ Décors Campaign The UK K&B sector is rapidly evolving. With so much choice on the market, particularly when it comes to material options, it can be hard to stay focused and ahead of the competition. But at James Latham Ltd, it’s our mission to help you do just that with our summer 2022 Décors Campaign. It celebrates our 1,400-strong decorative materials collection, bringing our full catalogue of laminates, melamines, edgings, veneers and solid surfaces directly to you and your team. It’s certain to ignite your creativity and imagination, inspiring your next kitchen or bathroom project.

Decors Campaign Essentially, the Décors Campaign gives us the opportunity to showcase our broad range of decorative products. From timeless, industryleading brands including EGGER, HIMACS,

30 JULY/AUGUST K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

Kronospan and Abet Laminati, to Europeaninspired boutique brands such as Transformad, Xylocleaf, Avonite, Dekodor and Decospan, we’ll empower you to meet any brief. This activation also enables you to explore the depth of our high-performance décors portfolio, and the sheer breadth of textures, colours, shades and tones available. Encompassing industrial metallics, rusts, concretes, marble and natural timber to sensual leathers, linens and lacquerware, we have them all! Throughout the ranges, you’ll also find characteristics such as anti-bacterial, antimicrobial, flame retardance, impact resistance and even thermo-healing properties. Furthermore, we possess an extensive catalogue of MDF, plywood, fibre boards, beautiful hardwoods and modified, engineered and profiled timbers, offering both form and function in one place. This allows for an endless world of possibilities, complemented by an unrivalled distribution service, harnessing the power of our UK and Ireland-wide, 14-depot logistics network, to provide ‘Just in Time’ delivery. Fast, efficient delivery across our entire range, as well as a substantial reserve of stock, lets us meet large-volume orders of multiple materials at short notice. This ensures that you have the products you need, when you need them. And there’s more. Beyond the products themselves, the Décors Campaign will also emphasise how our forward-thinking approach to customer experience is central to our unique offering. We’ll show you how easy it is to find just what you’re looking for via our latest innovation: the new Digital Showroom. Whether a quick skim of, or a deep-dive into, our myriad décor

options, our advanced algorithm-back search function makes the selection process simple, engaging and enjoyable. The showroom allows you to see our entire décors range rendered in hyper-realistic, highresolution 3D, from every angle and under a range of different lighting conditions, to help make the most informed choice possible. This is enhanced by a straight-to-your-door sampling service and the ability to book a video consultation with one of our showroom staff. It’s taking the selection experience to the next level, so you can make the most informed material choice. So there you have it, our Summer Décors campaign. It not only reveals the extensive design potential of our unique catalogue, but also emphasises our readiness to meet the needs and demands of the sector’s vibrant kitchen and bathroom community.

To find out more visit www.lathamtimber.co.uk/decors or email info@lathams.co.uk

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PRODUCT ROUND-UP

just out

KITCHENS

1. CROWN IMPERIAL British furniture manufacturer Crown Imperial has unveiled a contemporary kitchen collection called Uno. Designed for modern lifestyles, Uno is offered in a choice of nine colours that can be paired together, combining colour and texture. Shown here as an open plan kitchen, created for cooking, entertaining and informal living, the island unit is styled in Pearl and is combined with black handleless proﬁles and plinths. View all the ﬁnishes and request a brochure at www.rdr.link/KAG026

2 3

2. CAPLE Kitchen appliance and furniture specialist Caple has introduced compact wine coolers – the Wi158 and Wi159 which operate at 39dB, below conversation level (59dB). The single zone wine coolers can accommodate up to eight Bordeaux-style wine bottles – white, red or sparkling. Both appliances feature Caple’s nofrost compressor cooling, switchable UV/heatfree LED lighting, wooden racks and white LED display. Download the brochure at www.rdr.link/KAG027

3. HAIER Appliance brand Haier has introduced the I-Pro Series 3 laundry range with A energy rating, fast washing programmes for greater convenience, and enhanced hygiene features. There are three appliances in the range, which boast a capacity of up to 10kg and have 15 washing programmes, including Steam Refresh and Quick 15. In addition, the I-Pro Series 3 laundry range also features internal digital scales to weigh the laundry and adjust how much water is required, as well as set the duration of the washing cycle. Read all the technical speciﬁcations at www.rdr.link/KAG028

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KITCHENS

PRODUCT ROUND-UP

4 4. EGGERSMANN

5. SIEMATIC

6. FRANKE

As the kitchen becomes an extension of living space, Eggersmann has introduced Glance glass cabinets. They feature glass fronts and sides with aluminium frames, in open and closed options for base and wall units, as well as tall cabinets. The glass doors have hidden hinging technology and the collection also boasts a wall panel system with front elements made of veneer, lacquer, concrete or aluminium. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAG029

German kitchen brand SieMatic has unveiled a collection of luxury kitchen furniture in a smooth brushed metal finish. Adding to the Pure collection, the metal finishes come in a choice of shades including Rose Gold, Bronze and Cool Platinum. Pictured is the S2 model in Rose Gold. Also available in ceramic finishes, the handleless cabinets can be metal framed to provide a contrast between matt stone and metal. Download a brochure at www.rdr.link/KAG030

Responding to consumer demand, Sink and tap manufacturer Franke has upgraded its Vital Capsule Filter range, to cater for differences in water quality in old and new houses. Now included with the tap is a standard High Performance ﬁlter, suited to new build homes with modern pipework, plus High Flow ﬁlter for homes with older pipework where sediment may be an issue. Vital Capsule taps come in a choice of three styles. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KAG031

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SHOWER SURROUNDS

BATHROOMS

1. KUDOS The Pinnacle8 range of shower enclosures, which spans hinged, sliding and centrefolding door options, is now offered with a matt black proﬁle. Discover all the features at

www.rdr.link/KAG032

Starting grid The industrial trend, which started with the Crittall-style enclosure, is far from over in bathroom design but its influence may have become more refined

2. THE SHOWER LAB Creating a walk-in space is Portrait, which is manufactured from 10mm glass and is shown with a Brushed Black Chrome proﬁle. View the online brochure at www.rdr.link/KAG033

When the industrial trend emerged in bathroom interiors, at first it may have been considered a passing fad. But its influence is still evident. Not only has the trend seen the advent of Crittallstyle enclosures but also more refined versions with horizontal lines replacing the traditional grid, and the introduction of matt black framed surrounds. Lakes Bathrooms has recently introduced the Onyx range of matt black enclosures as its managing director Bev Brown explains: “Demand for matt black showering spaces is proving to be an enduring trend. We have also added two new ‘Horizon’ showering spaces with distinctive matt black horizontal stripes to really make a statement. Inspired by the Crittall-style popularised in the art deco movement of the early 20th Century, Horizon comprises two walkin showering spaces, incorporating a pair of horizontal stripes, creating a natural horizon in the showering space.” The own-brand Essential range from Ideal Bathrooms was also recently strengthened with the launch of five matt black bath screens. And head of marketing and product management at Saniflo UK Ann Boardman states the industrial trend is still popular, adding: “There is still strong

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BATHROOMS

SHOWER SURROUNDS

interest in black frame Crittall Brooklyn Industrial with matching black ﬁttings.”

Black not industrial Judging by the plethora of brassware launches in a black finish, sales of industrial-inspired black frame enclosures are unlikely to waver any time soon. Kudos reports it launched a matt black framed shower enclosure are 2018 and its sales have grown steadily since. In fact, Kudos only offers black finishes in framed panels rather than grid-like formats, as sales and marketing director Nick Graville comments: “At Kudos we took the decision to only offer framed panels and not banded, as this market is much larger.” He comments: “Industrial styling is a growing trend especially in apartments within reclaimed buildings, like old mills where the design is in keeping.” However Graville argues: “But it is impossible to measure the trend based on the sales of shower enclosures with black profiles as some of these are installed in bathrooms that simply want a co-ordinated look with brassware and shower heads and these don’t necessarily represent industrial styling.”

Added colour option Whether strictly governed by the industrial look, or simply a diffusion of the original aesthetic to offer colour-co-ordination, it seems matt black framed surrounds are still de riguer for bathroom design. This is particularly true as there seems to have been a plethora of brassware now available in a black ﬁnish. Danish showering manufacturer Unidrain recently expanded its Glassline shower screens with a black frame version. Nick Graville of Kudos continues: “I think co-ordinated black enclosures will continue for some time as brassware and accessory suppliers offer large

3 3. ROMAN Adding to the Innov8 collection is a Framed Fixed Bath Screen in Matt Black, which comes with a choice of plain or ﬂuted glass. View the entire Innov8 collection at www.rdr.link/KAG034

4. LAKES The Onyx Collection includes walk-ins, hinged panels, quadrants and slider doors and features a matt black anodised ﬁnish. Discover all the models at www.rdr.link/KAG035

choices in this colourway.” However, managing director of The Shower Lab Max Finaldi believes the black finish simply forms one of a palette of frame finishes, as he adds: “The trend we see, especially around big cities, is for more finishes. We have eight currently in stock and four more to arrive shortly. These finishes are matching some of the best-known European brassware manufacturers, so naturally end users need a matching shower space to finish the look.” National sales manager, retail and merchant, of Coram UK Natalie Paley adds customisation is important in her company’s porfolio: “We have

expanded our enclosure offering with the launch of Sealskin Duka range of shower glass, which is proving to be hit with designers due to the customisable options for frames and proﬁles. This range offers a breadth of colours meaning that designers can opt for an industrial-inspired colour scheme and tailor it to match other elements in the bathroom design; whether that’s brassware, tiles or accessories.”

5 5. KINEDO The Brooklyn cubicle range measures 2m high and comes in the choice of a corner or quadrant model with sliding or pivot door, depending on the size. Download the brochure at www.rdr.link/KAG036

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Customisation of space So, designers can now expect more take up of a greater variety of frame finishes from black through to alternative warmer metals. Nick Graville points to further coloured finishes of Brushed Brass and Gold growing in popularity. Showering surround experts also point to textured glass as becoming more important in design, as Max Finaldi of The Shower Lab explains: “Premium touches like knurled handles and fluted glass will continue to trend.” In fact, Roman has recently introduced a black frame bath screen with reeded glass. It is the ability of the bathroom retailer to offer personalised shower surrounds who will win through in sales. Natalie Paley of Coram UK concludes: “Design-led options for bathroom and shower spaces have leapt ahead in recent years and consumers now have more choice than ever to create a space which reflects their taste and style; whether this is an industrial look, something minimal or a personalised option.”

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BATHROOMS

PRODUCT ROUND-UP

1. ABODE Brassware and sink manufacturer Abode has unveiled Kite, a range of bathroom taps and shower valves with diamond-style embossed handles. Kite provides options for basin, bath and showering areas, alongside shower head and arms, basin clicker wastes and overﬂow. The range includes a standard and tall basin mixer, deck mounted bath panel valves and concealed thermostatic value, all of which are available in Antique Brass or Chrome ﬁnishes. See the collection at www.rdr.link/KAG037

just out 2. MIRA UK manufacturer Mira Showers has unveiled Evoco which features a concealed, fullyenclosed box valve design with push button operation. It comes in chrome as standard, however the shower can be upgraded with Matt Black or Brushed Nickel ﬁnishes. Evoco is also available with dual and triple outlet options, including a 200mm deluge overhead and 110mm single spray handset. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAG038

3. BUSHBOARD

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UK manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom surfaces Bushboard has extended its Nuance panelling, with decors inspired by nature. The updated collection includes 11 options across the brand’s range of Nuance, Nuance Designer, Nuance Acrylic and Nuance vanity worksurfaces. Nuance panelling offers ﬁve categories that combine the appearance of stone, marble, wood, travertine and quartz, with all the panels guaranteed for 15 years. Download the brochure at www.rdr.link/KAG039

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4. HIMACS Solid surface material manufacturer HIMACS has extended its basin range, with nine models spanning ﬂush and top-mounted designs for residential and commercial settings. The basin collection now includes two “sqircle” top-mounted basins, which add to its existing range of square, rectangular and circle shapes. They are joined by seven ﬂush-mounted models, created for use with a HIMACS worksurface. View the entire basin collection at www.rdr.link/KAG040

5 5. UTOPIA

4 6. SANIFLO Adding to the Saniflo portfolio is the Saniflush complete ceramic WC with integrated macerator, for installation where gravity drainage isn’t an option. The Saniflush needs a water supply and electrical connection and, boasting two outlets, a basin or a shower can also be connected. With a rimless design, the WC features a 3.6 litre tank and soft close seat plus a 400-watt motor to pump waste up to a height of 5m and up to 100m horizontally. Read the data sheet at www.rdr.link/KAG041

Bathroom furniture manufacturer Utopia has added three circular mirrors to its portfolio – Luma, Luma Horizon and Orbitz. The Luma mirror is available in 500mm, 700mm and 900mm diameters and has a frosted illuminated halo surround, while Luma Horizon is mounted on to a backboard, available in 19 ﬁnishes. Orbitz is exclusive to the Roseberry painted timber collection and features a decorative surround to match the furniture. Download a brochure at www.rdr.link/KAG042

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NECESSITIES

HEATING

Supplying over 520 bathroom showrooms and merchants across the country, including independent and national brands, The Radiator Company has gathered valuable consumer insight. National sales manager Alex Burgess shares the ﬁve most frequently asked questions, so you are armed with the answers for your next radiator or towel rail sale.

1. What size radiator or towel rail do I need? Before talking about physical dimensions, it is vital to ascertain the heating requirements of the customer’s room, which are defined as BTUs (British Thermal Units). Every manufacturer must declare the certified heat output performance of each of its radiators in BTUs and this will determine the models that are suitable to achieve the room’s needs. Without knowing the room’s BTU figure, it is impossible to specify the correct radiator, and this could lead to a dissatisfied customer who has a radiator that cannot heat the space sufficiently, or conversely, overheats the room. It is simple to calculate the BTU, or heating requirements, for the room using online tools such as the BTU calculator on our website. Simply enter a few details about the room’s dimensions and whether the windows are double glazed to reveal the estimated BTU figure.

2. Will a new radiator help me to save money on my fuel bills? Ensuring that a radiator matches the heat requirements of the room, will help to ensure the central heating system is working efficiently. For example, customers often misinterpret a radiator that cannot heat the space (i.e. one that has a BTU output that is too low for the room) for the need to turn the heating up to try and compensate for the gap. This in turn necessitates the system to work harder and for longer, putting extra strain on the heating system. Conversely, a radiator that offers too much heat for the space is wasteful and places unnecessary demands on the central heating system. For towel rails, opting for a dual fuel model is recommended. This allows the user to switch between fuel supplies to heat the product – either from the central heating system, or from an electric supply via a heating element that is installed on to the towel rail. For bathroom settings, this option is particularly effective as the customer can continue to use the towel rail whenever warmth is required, even when the central heating system is turned off over the summer months.

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Hot topic

National sales manager of The Radiator Company Alex Burgess reveals what consumers are asking about their next radiator or towel rail purchase

3. Will I need to move pipework?

1. ELLIPSIS

This will depend on the dimensions of the new radiator, and we always recommend engaging with a plumber to assess what is possible. Pipes may need some adjustment to suit the new installation, and this should be undertaken by a professional plumber. It is surprising how much a good plumber can achieve without the need for lifting ﬂoors or messy routing and replastering, with clever use of the existing pipework and running the pipes along skirting for example. In

The Ellipsis Towel Rail boasts oval tubes and comes in three widths and four heights and is available in a choice of colours

some instances, such as a bathroom reconﬁguration, the pipes may require re-routing, or new pipework installed, so that the radiator or towel rail can be located elsewhere in the room. For customers looking to keep pipework alterations to an absolute minimum, they will

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2 2. ANACONA Anacona column radiators are made from steel and available in a range of depths, heights and widths.

need to use both the width measurements of the existing pipe centres and the BTU requirements of the room to choose their model. This can be accomplished by varying the height and/ or depth of the radiator. For example, column radiators are a great way to achieve extra heat (BTU) by adding columns to the radiator, without changing the width.

4. How quickly can I get my new radiator or towel rail? There are stocked products available on the market that can be delivered within 48-72 hours. For example, The Radiator Company holds over 1,250 SKUs that can offer this turnaround, so the customer has a huge selection of designer solutions that can meet quick project schedules and timeframes. For designs that are bespoke, made-to-order options can take a bit longer and this is determined on an order-by-order basis.

3. STEP BDO Made from aluminium, the Step BDO towel radiator comes in two heights, two widths and White Pearl or Chrome ﬁnishes

5. I am designing a period style bathroom – am I limited to cast iron radiators? Cast iron is synonymous with period styling and for those looking for a lighter material, there are designer solutions that offer an alternative by blending modern functionality with traditional design. Our Chalfront Floor Standing Towel Rail for example, offers a classical appearance with ball joints and brackets, combined with a steel column radiator that can even be supplied as an electric model.

4. CHALFONT

5. IRIS

Discover more about the models offered by The Radiator Company at www.rdr.link/KAG043

Chalfont ﬂoorstanding towel rail features ball joins and integral brackets and is available in two sizes with four ﬁnish combinations

The Iris Dual Fuel towel rail is available in three heights, four widths and comes in chrome

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BUSINESS

RETAILER PROFILE

Trust the process Group retail sales and marketing manager of Beggs & Partners Nicola Flynn explains how trust is core to the business, from customer relations to investing in the UK’s first flagship Atelier showroom. Founded in Belfast in 1960, family-run Beggs & Partners supplies bathrooms to retail clients and housebuilders across Northern Ireland and in Great Britain. Such has been its success; the business now totals 11 branches with seven in Northern Ireland and a further four in Great Britain. It has sold Ideal Standard for the past 60 years, so it’s perhaps no surprise its Belfast branch plays host to the UK’s ﬁrst Atelier ﬂagship showroom.

1 1. SHOWROOM OPENING Group retail sales and marketing manager of Beggs & Partners Nicola Flynn and Ideal Standard’s chief design officer and PS+A co-founder Roberto Palomba

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Providing inspiration Group retail sales and marketing manager of Beggs & Partners Nicola Flynn says the time is right to invest in its showrooms, as the business has remained busy even during lockdowns. “The property market remained rampant all the way through. People were conﬁdent to invest in their houses and they didn’t shirk on that.” In fact, she explains it brought a new customer base, with people spending money, which had been saved

for holidays, on a new bathroom. And all customers had one thing in common, they were seeking inspiration. Nicola comments: “We will always invest in our showrooms and make sure the product is right, that we’re giving people inspiration and that we’re leading the way in terms of design.” She explains Atelier by Ideal Standard has “cultivated something quite new and quite different”, with its latest designs based on classical models. Nicola adds: “I think, in the world of fashion, the best designs are always cyclical. And that’s what we felt when we looked at the concept of Atelier from Ideal Standard.”

Curated space It has seen Beggs & Partner invest “tens of thousands” in its showroom refurbishment but as Nicola says “it’s an investment worth making. We certainly wouldn’t invest in that level with any supplier; it has to be a trusted relationship. So, it has been a signiﬁcant investment,

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2. SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT Beggs & Partners has made a signiﬁcant investment in its showroom reﬁt because of its trusted relationship with Ideal Standard

3. CLASSIC DESIGN Roberto Palomba has reinterpreted classic design with reﬁned shapes and a raft of colours for sanitaryware and brassware

absolutely, but one that we know will pay off.” Ideal Standard’s chief design officer and PS+A co-founder Roberto Palomba has created a dedicated 56sqm space within the showroom. Adam Evans, channel director (retail) at Ideal Standard UK, explains the rationale behind the concept: “What we are trying to do is elevate the brand. The only way you can do that is in a good, well committed area. But, it’s actually as important to have the right partners with the right expertise who have the ability to sell it.” A dedicated branded space was an unusual move for Beggs & Partners, as Nicola explains. “We tend to blend brands, rather than having shops in shops. It’s never been our thing. I like the idea of customers walking around and discovering something quite different around every corner.” However, she placed her trust in architect and designer Roberto Palomba to deliver a space which would meet the values of the Atelier brand and Beggs & Partners’ customer base. Having highlighted some products and price points, Nicola adds: “We trusted the product that he wanted to lead with – the dramatic product. We trusted that was right in the positions he put it in. We then have some product around it that will appeal to a wider segment of the market.” Nicola adds: “Sometimes you just have to trust and have a fresh pair of eyes. What he’s done is so different. When I saw it, I absolutely loved it.” Currently in four of Beggs & Partners showrooms, the aim is to have Atelier represented in each of its 11 branches. Nicola adds: “Some of the branches won’t have huge displays but will have pieces that appeal to a broader market. It’s just about getting the right ﬁt for the right clientele.”

realistically. The communication has been really good, enabling us to understand what product was available, what the lead times were, and managing that process. Some of the bigger problems we had weren’t with the display product, it was things like MDF.” Nicola says this same level of communcation is used to manage her customers, as she comments: “Overpromising and underdelivering is the kiss of death and we know that as a business as well, in terms of how we deal with

Managing supply Having decided to update the showrooms during one of the most disruptive times in the supply chain, it’s surprising the refurbishment only took nine months from seeing the initial concept to completion. Adam Evans explains the company’s policy of dedicated stock holding for retail helped mitigate supply chain disruption and displays were provided bay by bay. Nicola added: “That worked well, and certainly having product ringfenced for us and expectations set

4. ATELIER COLLECTION The Atelier collection will be rolled out across the 11 branches of Beggs & Partners in Northern Ireland and Great Britain

our customers. We’ll make sure the customer knows if there is a possible problem. We’ll inform them and offer a solution. We’ll work with them to get to the right outcome, but we expect the same in return from our suppliers.”

Repeat business Supply is also a measure of success for Beggs & Partners, or to be more precise repeat supply. The Atelier range will be benchmarked on whether its family of products will be used throughout a home or whether customers return to buy for refurbishments and advocate others to select products from the Atelier collection. While for Adam Evans, success of Atelier will be judged on the effectiveness of the retail team: “For us, it’s just about building on the trust and relationships we’ve got, communication with a great product. It’s actually quite simple but it’s not easy.” Nicola agrees, and concludes Beggs & Partners is focused on its customers, building trust to deliver satisfaction: “There are two key things vital to customer satisfaction and that’s we have a core team of experts, some of which have been with us for 40 years. Our team can service our customers, they can sell, they can provide the right level of expertise but then we need supply to get right product, at the right price and the right design. That’s what the secret is, if there is a secret at all.”

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BUSINESS

SUPPLIER PROFILE

“We want to become the best not the biggest” Omega Plc CEO Simon Barber and sales director James Bishton explain how a focus on value for money kitchens, and enhanced customer service, will drive sales through retail and contract

Having celebrated its 25th anniversary, with a £20million investment in production and stockholding capacity, Doncaster-based Omega Plc is gearing up for further growth. It has already extended its £1million showroom, which boasts 60 displays and is claimed by the company to be “the largest, professional business-to-business display area in the UK.” So, it may be surprising to ﬁnd the company doesn’t have ambitions to be the largest kitchen manufacturer in the UK. However, the company does plan to double its £50million turnover by more than doubling the 18,000 kitchens it sells each year to 43,000 by 2024. CEO of Omega Plc Simon Barber explains: “We are ambitious for growth. We are constantly laying down capacity, but it’s about dealing with the right people. We want to become the best; we don’t want to be the biggest.”

Developing partnerships He is also keen to point out the importance of developing long-term relationships, from suppliers through to customers, which have ensured good stock availability even during the pandemic. Sales director James Bishton explains these partnerships have helped the company enhance its customer service proposition, commenting: “On Time In Full (OTIF) is now a given and an expectation. We now work on right ﬁrst time which encompasses a quality measure to our performance.” The company also offers a “30-day no quibble, free-of-charge replacement”, should a remedial be required. These are offered next day on stocked items, 48 hours if it’s got to be drilled or 96 hours if it has got to be painted: “That is industry leading by well over a week and a half for painted items”, says Bishton.

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1 1. MANAGEMENT TEAM Omega Plc CEO Simon Barber (right) and sales director James Bishton (left)

2. YORKSHIRE-BASED HQ

3. MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT

Based in Doncaster, its 400,000 sq ft facility comprises factory, warehousing and offices. It has gone through four phases of expansion

The company celebrated its 25th anniversary with a £20million investment in production and stockholding capacity

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He adds: “So if our customers encounter a damage, we just change it. That costs us, if we don’t get it right ﬁrst time. So, a lot of retailers are buying into that efficiency.” The success can be highlighted through the number of new customers joining the company and going through training at its inhouse Academy. Bishton says: “Typically we won’t run a course unless there’s a minimum of 10 people booked. We’ll run 24 ‘Introductions to Omega’ courses this year, and 12 focused on in-depth product knowledge.” However, to ensure the company is maintaining its standards, Omega measures customer service and quality, and will reward staff across the organisation with a bonus. Simon Barber adds: “We measure it on a weekly basis and everybody in the business can earn on that. Everybody contributes to quality and service, so everyone can earn on it.” He adds: “There’s a family feel to the business and as we grow, we don’t want to lose that. Everybody gets to share in the success, because they create it. We’ve got quite a collaborative approach to business.”

4 4. VALUE FOR MONEY

5. EXTENDING COLOURS

Its latest launch includes 10 doors, four of which are slab designs – with two concrete and two woodgrain effects all made from 100% recycled material.

Four painted colours of Cove Blue, Artic White, Spitﬁre Blue (pictured) and Botanical Green have been added to Omega’s 22-strong palette.

Value for money The next step of growing the business following its largest-ever product launch in 2021, is the launch of furniture targeted at Group 1 level price to offer more value and volume products. Simon Barber explains: “We will be moving some of the new launch focus away from the higher-end painted ranges towards stock ranges, which we hope will allow our customers to tap into the market at all levels and not just the premium level.” The launch includes 10 doors, four of which are slab designs – with two concrete and two woodgrain effects all made from 100% recycled material. These are joined by a Super Matt Jet Black, adding to its existing five colours in Super Matt. A skinny frame Sovereign foil Shaker door is available from stock in Limestone or Indigo Blue, with Light Grey and Graphite to be added as finishes in July, or as paint to order. In addition, four painted colours of Cove Blue, Artic White, Spitfire Blue and Botanical Green have been added to its 22-strong palette. The furniture is completed by eight handles in brushed and matt black, bronze and textured graphite finishes.

Contract opportunity Although it has 400 retailers in the UK - selling across its four brands of Sheraton, Mackintosh, English Rose and Chippendale - Simon Barber believes there are still geographical areas that could be explored to expand its retail network: “There’s an opportunity in improving and

5 increasing the geographical spread where we have gaps.” However, he also points to increasing sales through contracts: “We’re currently enjoying and expecting to continue growing in our core independent retail. But the contract market is an area that we’ve identiﬁed for some signiﬁcant growth. I’m expecting to double the number of kitchens sold into contracts this year, versus last year, and continue that strong growth. We are predominately a retail business, but I can see over the next three years, it may become a more even split in sales between retail and contract kitchens.”

Pricing challenges With ranges in stock, Omega has also alleviated

challenges of volatile pricing in the supply chain, predominately due to energy, transport and raw materials. Barber comments: “We’re fortunate that we don’t have to react immediately, as we’ve got stock which we’ve brought at previous prices. We are in a position to be able to absorb some of those price increases.” While he can’t guarantee price increases won’t be required in 2022, Barber adds: “We will try and give a period of forward pricing stability again”. Whether increasing kitchen sales through retail or contract, Omega is concentrated on controlled growth. “We’re ambitious but we want to do it steadily, so we maintain the high service standards we’ve set for ourselves and our customers,” concludes Barber.

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BUSINESS

SME ADVICE

Company matters

Offering support for independent kitchen and bathroom firms because your business is our business

SOCIAL MEDIA

backwards in coming forwards and celebrate the fact with your network.

Converting sales posts

‘How to’ posts

Remember the principle of ‘if you don’t ask you don’t get’? Nothing but sales posts will turn your potential audience away, but if you never actually ask for business, why should anybody give you any? So here, we have taken a look at how to drive and help convert sales with a variety of social media posts, from showcasing special offers, through to highlighting expertise and even offering advice.

Special offers Sales, time-sensitive offers with a positive call to action, let your potential market know about the extra special goodies you have on offer!

What we do It’s always worth going back to basics, every so often, to actually remind potential clients exactly

Free advice is always appreciated. Showing how you can solve a potential problem makes you far more likely to be called upon by a prospect to solve it for them. Find your potential customer’s pain point, provide the solution and gain the business.

Supporting the opposition what it is you do. People might love your posts, but nobody will buy from you if they aren’t certain of the products or services you offer.

Pride in product Hopefully, for your long-tern business future, you are proud of the products and services you offer. So show it! If you have a new product launch, or an existing one has won an award, don’t be

great way to ensure you’re on track for success. Remember your goals should be SMART: Speciﬁc, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based. For example: Reduce expenses by 5% by the end of Q3

2. Create a plan to achieve your goals

FINANCE 6 Steps to ensure your business is financially fit

As a business owner, you are probably always looking for ways to increase revenue. But what about ensuring that your company is financially fit and healthy? In this article I’ll share six simple tips that will help ensure that your company is in tip-top financial shape.

1. Set a goal Ask any personal trainer if it’s a good idea to set fitness goals and they’ll respond with an emphatic “yes!” The same rings true for your business’ financial fitness. Setting goals is a

46 JULY/AUGUST K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

Once you’ve set your goals, it’s time to create a plan for achieving them. If your goal is to reduce expenses by 5% by the end of Q3, then list out speciﬁc areas that are ripe for improvement and identify potential solutions. For example: ● Reduce postage expenditure by implementing an online postage system ● Create new systems to increase productivity ● Relocate to a smaller office space

3. Track uour progress Just as runners track their miles on their Garmin watches, business owners should keep track of their data in order to track progress and identify trends. However, instead of a smartwatch or phone app, business owners should opt for cloud accounting software. Cloud accounting software gives you greater ﬁnancial visibility and anytime, anywhere access to all of the numbers that matter. It also makes it easy to track your

Competition is healthy, but it needn’t be cutthroat unless you’re in the pirate sector. Attacking or remaining aloof from the competition will do you more damage than good. It gives the industry as a whole a bad rep for inﬁghting, for starters. And if you co-operate with the competition, if they can’t help a client, they’ll be far more likely to pass business to a company that has been supportive.

invoices and transactions, and get a handle on your cash ﬂow.

4. Prioritise cash flow Cash flow is one of the most important aspects of a healthy business. If you don’t have enough cash to pay your employees, suppliers and other bills then it doesn’t matter how much revenue you’re bringing in - your bottom line will be negative every month. Therefore, cash flow is central to the financial health of your business.

5. Hire an accountant Just as ﬁtness fanatics hire personal trainers, business owners need the guidance of a quality consultant/advisor/accountant. A great accountant will allow you to tackle the particular problems and pitfalls of your industry using a proven method for success. They will point out where there is room for improvement and identify opportunities for growth that you may have missed. Furthermore, they will coach you through the implementation of these strategies and keep you accountable, ensuring that your goals will be met.

6. Create financially-aware culture Finally, in order to ensure that your company is

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Bye to blankness Hopefully that gives you a whole raft of fantastic posting ideas! However, if you need help structuring your posting or indeed with post creation, we can manage your account on your behalf. Finally, whatever you post about and whenever you post about it, just remember to do one thing - Enjoy it! Because if you can’t enjoy the posts you create, why will anybody else?

EXPERT: Anna Rump or #thesocialmedialady COMPANY: Amelia Rose Media BACKGROUND: Social media consultant Anna Rump of Amelia Rose Media works with lifestyle brands to help boost their income. She has recently taken engagement on social media, for one company, from under 1% to over 20% in three months and brought in sales worth over £50,000. Anna Rump achieved this in under 90 posts across three platforms. CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KAG044

financially fit and healthy it’s important to create a culture where employees are actively engaged in improving financial performance. This can easily be done with team-building exercises, like brainstorming new ways to decrease expenses or increasing profits. Hire employees who are enthusiastic about improving the financial performance of your company by providing them with training and access to cloud accounting software so that they can monitor their daily tasks for possible improvements.

EXPERT: Kevin Bannister FCCA COMPANY: The Accurate Accountant BACKGROUND: Qualified accountant and managing director Kevin Bannister of The Accurate Accountant, works with KBB business owners to help them maximise their income and be as tax efficient as possible while ensuring they are fully compliant with HMRC. CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KAG045

RECRUITMENT Balancing success and employee wellbeing In business one of the first things to consider is the relationship between time and money, as there are ultimately two types of people – those who do the work and those who take the credit. It can therefore be hard to know what a person or company truly values, which is why I recommend finding the right balance between a company’s net income and the needs of the employee for a mutually beneficial relationship. The pandemic has accelerated trends for improved health and wellbeing in the workplace, and this has demanded new levels of agility in business with remote teams and hybrid working styles now the norm. Added to that, a rise in ecommerce sales, scaled back production targets, and operational changes are also impacting business structure, process, people, and technology, which is why we need to ensure open and honest communication from the top down. In my experience, even the best organisation forget emotions are central to building the right culture, as people are your most valuable resource. If you are only looking at the balance sheet to make efficiencies, you’re likely to fall into the trap of thinking your workforce is a drain instead of the rocket fuel to your business. We have all worked in environments which believe in ‘mushroom management’, where employees are kept in the dark and not given much context on the bigger picture surrounding their role. Sadly, this can lead to a vicious circle of unhappy staff and lower productivity which in the long run, will impact the sustainability of any business both economically and in cultural terms.

Create healthy culture If we look at the workplace trends over the last 20 years, employee conditions have changed to the point where work intensity and cognitive demands are at their peak – especially in the wake of COVID. Creating a healthy culture is therefore critical for both camps, as the addition of a ping pong table in the break room is just not going to cut it anymore. In 2022, signs of a happy and healthy workplace culture places huge emphasis on ﬂexibility, a key attribute that will encourage mutual respect on both sides of an organisation. As an employer, have you considered being open to carrying out a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats)? Imagine being able to trust your staff with more

information about their objectives, which go beyond normal sales targets and weekly catchups. I urge you to step up and stand out in your role as a leader. How do you want to grow your business? How are you showing up as an employer of quality? Do you give your employees value for money to reﬂect the time, effort and labour they spend on you? How do you measure success aside from money?

Job satisfaction For me, I want a business which is sustainable, healthy and ultimately fun! Remember the law of attraction says, ‘like attracts like’, and as the dynamic between employer and employee continues to change, we need to recognise there is more to it than just an honest day’s pay. Why should anyone have to ‘grin and bear it’ or ‘think of the money’ in a day and age where job roles are ever-expanding, and expectations are higher than they were a generation ago? The world will not stop turning if an employer is transparent about how a role may change and develop, or if an employee ﬂags they are burning out from a growing workload or unrealistic demands. We all have limits; we are all human. You are wrong to think that job satisfaction is about ticking boxes in an appraisal or surviving office politics. Instead, we all need to support conversations about mental health and wellbeing to create a working culture that beneﬁts all. EXPERT: Peter Jones COMPANY: Foyne Jones BACKGROUND: Peter Jones is founder and managing director of Foyne Jones, specialist recruitment agency for kbb retail, independent and national merchant and construction sales. He is also the host of podcast The Peter Jones Show, which covers recruitment and industry news and features guests which are leaders in the industry. CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KAG046

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BUSINESS

PROMOTION

KI TCHENS &

BATHROOMS NEWS We produce exclusive videos on www.kandbnews.co.uk interviewing business leaders and young people entering the industry. They cover industry-wide issues, retail initiatives, and design trends. Plus we’ve now added showroom tours. Here are our latest, just in case you’ve missed them

Kitchen retail in 2002 and the impact of a slowdown Managing director of KBBG Bill Miller says kitchen sales have been strong in 2022, with a growth in enquiries and higher order values, but says the current levels are not sustainable. He predicts the market will tail off in the second half of the year. However Miller also believes there is still plenty of pent-up demand for kitchens, with mid-to-high end retailers relatively sheltered from economic and political factors. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KAG047

RAK Ceramics Global Design Hub UAE manufacturer RAK Ceramics has opened its ﬁrst global Design Hub in Clerkenwell, London. Spanning over two ﬂoors, it showcases the company’s sanitaryware, tiles, as well as brassware for bathrooms and kitchens. Created “as an immersive environment to inspire creativity”, the design hub includes a working kitchen and tap display, Virtual Worlds 4D Theatre and a Grab and Go sample area. We take a two-minute tour of the space at www.rdr.link/KAG048

Two-minute tour of Clerkenwell Design Week In a two-minute tour of Clerkenwell Design Week, we take a look at the activities hosted by bathroom and kitchen showrooms participating in the event. We visit VitrA, Ideal Standard, RAK Ceramics, Duravit, Saneux, TOTO, Kohler and Cosentino to see new product launches, new showrooms, art installations and exhibitions, as well as a pedi-powered bar. See the video at www.rdr.link/KAG049

Why apprentices are vital for business | Luke Wedgbury | Coalville Kitchens Owner of Coalville Kitchens Luke Wedgbury says apprentices are essential to help grow his kitchen retail business. He has recently taken on an apprentice ﬁtter and is looking to employ more by the end of the year. Luke Wedgbury talks about his experiences taking on apprentices, the challenges he has faced, and just why they are vital to the future of the kitchen industry. See what he has to say www.rdr.link/KAG050

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LAST WORD

Retailers must take the lead in sustainability in the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industry, not wait for consumer demand urges marketing and business development director at Hill’s Panel Products (HPP) Dan Mounsey Sustainability is a massive topic at the moment and as a distributor, HPP can help spread the message about the eco credentials of our suppliers and their products by passing that information on to our retailers. But retailers need to take heed. Sustainability is not on their radar because consumers are not asking questions about it. We could let the issue take its course and hope that consumers will start to ask, but that could take too long. So we need retailers to start putting the message out there. It’s a Catch 22. It would be harsh to say retailers don’t care about sustainability, I’m convinced they do. But is it an important part of their selling pitch? The retailers are in the best place to get this message out there – someone has to break the cycle of this perceived apathy.

Carbon-positive chipboard At HPP, we are already working with our major chipboard suppliers to highlight the eco credential of their products, and are considering creating sustainability labels on goods packaging. HPP is a Diamond Distributor for Egger, which is one of its major suppliers of melamine faced chipboard products – all made from wood from PEFC and FSC accredited forests. Working in partnership with Egger, we are making our plants and products the greenest they can be. Our efforts are documented in the latest HPP catalogue for its

NEWS & VIEWS

Retailers spread the eco-message trade customers. Chipboard from Egger and Kronospan is carbon positive material; it stores more carbon than it releases. It has a 10 to 20year lifecycle and then you can recycle it again afterwards. The major manufacturers are trying everything they can to get that message through to consumers and we are supporting them in that by cascading the message. But it can’t disappear as soon as it gets to retailers. They have to become messengers too.

Company-wide We are also spreading the word by partnering with Blum, whose Environmental and Energy Policy features resource and energy management measures that include heat recovery systems, building insulation, intelligent

“We are taking account of sustainability in everything we do at HPP, from vehicles and their emissions, through to processes and packaging in our day-to-day operations. Less than 1% of waste from our plant went into landfill last year which means we are certified as a zero landfill.”

heating control systems, ground water cooling and energy-efficient lighting systems. The furniture fittings company also makes a substantial number of deliveries by rail and utilises an environmentally-friendly packaging system called ECO-Pack. And we are taking account of sustainability in everything we do at HPP, from vehicles and their emissions, through to processes and packaging in our day-to-day operations. Less than 1% of waste from our plant went into landfill last year, which means we are certified as a zero landfill company. We recycle as much as we can. We burn our offcuts. We have our own boilers that heat the various buildings, and we have installed solar panels. We have moved from polystyrene corner protectors on our doors and worktops to pulp-based protectors and all of our deliveries are now paperless. All of this comes down to awareness. If you look back five or 10 years, I’m not sure sustainability was a word on anyone’s lips, particularly in the KBB sector. Now it’s everywhere; everyone is talking about it – sustainability is a hot topic. This is about education and information. We are a fragmented industry, there is such a vast number of businesses operating in various different sizes and guises. It makes it difficult to have one set of information that is going to reach everybody. But it’s a problem that needs a solution.

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NEWS & VIEWS

MAKING HEADLINES

Top 3

BARWICK

website stories

What has been driving Kitchens & Bathrooms News website traffic? Here are the three stories with the biggest hits in May on www.kandbnews.co.uk

1 IDEAL BATHROOMS Distributor Ideal Bathrooms has moved its HQ and distribution to a purpose-built facility in Milton Keynes, which will improve the company’s stock holding and strengthen its next-day delivery. The Milton Keynes distribution centre boasts 108,000sqft of warehouse space, with “signiﬁcant” pallet locations, and will serve as the company’s southern distribution centre. According to Ideal Bathrooms, it means the company will improve its next-day delivery availability by more than 30%. All staff have been retained and the move has created additional job opportunities in the new distribution centre. View the rest of the story at www.rdr.link/KAG051

In an exclusive interview with Kitchens & Bathrooms News, managing director of Barwick Gary Campbell explains what a change in ownership, from a family business to investment ﬁrm, means for the bathroom distributor and its customers. He commented: “All the family felt the number one priority was to keep the name and for the business to remain independent. Also, we partner with some of the largest brands operating in the UK today and it is essential that those relationships, which have been established over decades, feel comfortable that nothing is going to derail our strategy in the foreseeable future.” Read the entire interview at www.rdr.link/KAG052

FALMEC Matt Verrey has joined extraction manufacturer Falmec UK as regional sales manager for the East/South East of England. He will be tasked with developing the company’s business, with new and existing customers, in that area. Having been in the kitchen business for over 26 years, Verrey spent 21 of those years at Blanco UK, ﬁrst as sales desk manager before becoming business development manager. Verrey also spent ﬁve years working for The 1810 Company before branching out into project management. See the rest of the story at www.rdr.link/KAG053

ADVERTISEMENT INDEX Here is a useful summary of all the adverts that appear in this issue of Kitchens & Bathrooms News. Each is listed with its page number and a direct URL that will get you straight to the relevant online information. BLUM UK (pages 18, 19) ....................................www.rdr.link/KAG100

Omega PLC (page 9) ............................................www.rdr.link/KAG109

C R Laurence UK Ltd (page 27)..........................www.rdr.link/KAG101

Reginox UK Ltd (page 17) ..................................www.rdr.link/KAG110

Cosentino UK (page 24)......................................www.rdr.link/KAG102

Riobel (inside front cover) ................................www.rdr.link/KAG111

Crosswater Ltd (page 4) ....................................www.rdr.link/KAG103

Saniflo Ltd (page37) ..........................................www.rdr.link/KAG112

Crown Products (back cover) ............................www.rdr.link/KAG104

Stelrad Radiators (page 13) ..............................www.rdr.link/KAG113

James Latham (page 30)....................................www.rdr.link/KAG105

Traymate Products Ltd (page 15) ....................www.rdr.link/KAG114

KBSA (inside back cover) ..................................www.rdr.link/KAG106

Vado (page 11) ....................................................www.rdr.link/KAG115

Lakes Bathrooms Ltd (page 34) ........................www.rdr.link/KAG107

Zehnder Group UK Ltd (page 6) ........................www.rdr.link/KAG116

Nolte Kitchen GmbH & Co.KG (page 33) ..........www.rdr.link/KAG108

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