Kitchens & Bathrooms News November 2022

BATHROOMS

MD INTERVIEW

MAKING

Paul Crow

the secrets of the

success

BATHROOMS

baths

We take a look at how designers can meet an even wider variety of tastes and budgets with freestanding baths

just out

KITCHENS

and

report

BUSINESS

Managing director of Ripples Paul Crow divulges the

secrets of success and plans to evolve the

profile

Managing director of Carron Bathrooms James McMorrine

about levelling the playing field for its professional customers and the company’s ambitions for

matters

rooms

SME

covering marketing, financial and

issues, as well as

word

Managing director of MHK-UK Marcel Crezee suggests how KBB retailers should react to rising

Up for debate

If there’s one thing the kitchen and bathroom industry enjoys, and indeed excels at, is exchanging ideas in lively discussion. So, it’s perhaps no surprise debate was at the heart of both the recent Kbsa Conference and Careers Day, organised by Simon Acres Group.

At the first Kbsa Kitchen & Bathroom Conference since COVID, and the most attended, the Big Debate panel of experts discussed issues pertinent to kitchen retail, such as continuing supply challenges, showroom opening policies and the role of retail in promoting sustainability. Whereas the inaugural Careers Day, which featured retailers, merchants and trade organisations, addressed the need for apprenticeships in the kitchen and bathroom industry. They stated the industry must embrace apprentices and highlighted their role in helping solve the skills gap crisis, safeguarding the future of KBB retail. All very different topics, but all significant for the industry.

With such individual businesses participating, each bringing to the table their own experiences, it’s foeseeable there are equally distinct views. And what is for sure is that these opinions will be shared with enthusiasm, passion and frequently divided opinion. Debates are healthy and important for business and industry development, as they allow KBB professionals to question, analyse and weigh up options. It could be argued rarely is the solution found in the black or white, but the grey area is often the most creative space.

However, these discussions cannot remain just talking shops. Having identified shared

concerns, debate panels must be just the starting point with suggestions for actionable plans to help resolve outstanding issues. It’s why it was particularly pleasing the Kbsa Big Debate brought forward possible ideas to help foster relationships between appliance suppliers and retailers, with the likes of Trading Agreements, suggestions on simplifying the concept of sustainability, or identifying possible solutions for showroom opening from open door, appointment-only or locked door policies.

It is also satisfying to note, there are apprenticeship opportunities already in the kitchen and bathroom industry, with young people waiting to start. Now the industry needs to embrace the opportunity and start employing young people to help their businesses grow over future months and years.

And no doubt, there will be further deliberations over best business practice for 2023 and beyond at the first MHK-UK Conference. In our Last Word MD of MHK-UK Marcel Crezee has already outlined his thoughts for how retailers should approach the challenging market. He states retailers must pass on costs to consumers, consider their cash flow and make plans now for softer trading ahead. Do you agree with his thoughts? Well, perhaps it could be up for debate?

Philippa Turrell Editor

01923 237799

…the first MHK-UK Conference is opening its doors to all kitchen retailers, helping the whole industry in these challenging times

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…German kitchen manufacturer Rational had to call in administrators and hopes a long-term solution can be brought about quickly for its retail network and employees.

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…to congratulate all the finalists, highly commended and ultimate winners of the Kbsa Designer Awards. You can watch video interviews with all the winners at www.rdr.link/KAJ001

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IN BRIEF

■ Appliance brands Belling, Stoves and New World have issued a safety warning relating to some of their gas range cookers. Consumers are warned they must use their gas grills with the grill door fully open, in accordance with the instruction manual. Customers are being urged to contact 0800 110 5728 or email consumersupport@glendimplex. com to confirm if their cooker is affected and to receive the latest advice. Read the full story at www.rdr.link/KAJ002

■ National kitchen supplier Magnet Trade has analysed the top kitchen trends under the #KitchenTok hashtag and reports kitchen organisation is number one, having amassed 1billion views. It found the same topic has been gaining attention across Google, YouTube and Instagram, with more than 200,000 searches a week. Discover all the TikTok kitchen trends at www.rdr.link/KAJ003

■ Hotel Interiors Experience (HIX) event will return to London’s Business Design Centre from November 17-18, 2022. The two-day event includes an exhibition, design installation, talks and networking opportunities for interior designers, architects, developers, as well as suppliers and hoteliers. Register for the event at www.rdr.link/KAJ004

Premium appliance manufacturer

Fisher & Paykel will open an Experience Centre on London’s Wigmore Street in 2023.

The space will be designed to bring to life the brand’s New Zealand heritage and showcase its ‘human-centred’ approach to design in an immersive space.

It will join the brand’s existing Sydney, Auckland, Shanghai, Costa Mesa and New York Experience Centres.

Featuring Fisher & Paykel’s kitchen and laundry appliances, it

will encourage customers to step into a hands-on experience while on the journey to planning their kitchen.

Fisher & Paykel chose Wigmore Street as its Experience Centre’s home due to its reputation as the heart of both the kitchen industry and London.

Spread across two floors, Fisher & Paykel will provide a platform to emerging chefs and sommeliers through interactive and informative cooking demonstrations.

At the time of going to press,

Starting mergers and acquisitions process Rational files for insolvency

German kitchen furniture manufacturer Rational has filed an application for insolvency proceedings for its assets.

The Local Court of Osnabrück ordered provisional insolvency proceedings and appointed attorney Stefan Meyer from Pluta Rechsanwalts as provisional administrator on Friday, September 16 2022

Stefan Meyer commented: “We were immediately on the ground following the insolvency court’s decision and are currently in the process of gaining a comprehensive overview of the very difficult situation.

“We are doing all we can to stabilise the business – an enormous challenge given the extremely exceptional circumstances.

“We will also work with the management team and the excellent and highly skilled workforce on ways of resolving this situation as quickly as possible, so

that a long-term solution can be found for this established company following this unavoidable interruption to distribution, design, production and sales.”

The production of new kitchens is currently on hold due to the failure of its server systems used to control kitchen manufacturing following a regional power outage in late August and September.

According to the company it caused considerable damage to the IT servers and irreparable data loss, as the emergency power supply also failed.

It means the company is not

Fisher & Paykel has also announced its UK MD David Woolcott left the company at the end of October, after five years in charge of the business.

Fisher & Paykel is being led by executive vice president business development, Laurence Mawhinney, while the company is in the process of appointing a new managing director.

able to accept new orders or forward information on existing orders to the production operation.

Rational cannot state when kitchen production may resume.

Despite the situation, the administrators’ intention is to preserve the business, avoid liquidation and find a solution that will keep the company going.

Established in 1963, Rational is owned by the Asian Bravat Group, which acquired the business from the Italian Snaidero Group in 2021.

It employs 64 people and Rational furniture is available from over 60 locations in the UK.

New Zealand appliance manufacturer joins ‘kitchen alley’ Fisher & Paykel to open UK Experience Centre

Non-members and members invited to attend MHK opens first conference to all retailers

Buying Group MHK has announced its inaugural conference and AGM, to be held on November 11 at the British Motor Museum in Warwick, will be open to all retailers.

Originally only open to MHK-UK retailers and suppliers, the buying group reported interest from startups and established kitchen showrooms encouraged them to open it to all kitchen retailers.

Commenting on the event, national sales manager of MHK-UK David Morris said “It’s all about

keeping our retail trade partners informed as well as an occasion to join us in celebrating our stellar successes.

“Besides presenting our performance figures and an appraisal of our offering – to include both product and business support tools – we will also be having a round table discussion and an open Q & A.

“It’s a great opportunity for our retail partners and potential showrooms to network both with

Increasing presence in the independent retail sector Aqualla creates GB sales team

Northern Ireland-based brassware manufacturer Aqualla has created a specialist team to increase its presence in Great Britain’s independent retail sector.

Led by head of GB sales Pete Banham, the team includes seven regional sales managers to cover the country.

Ben Kennedy will cover North London and Home Counties, Nigel Restall is responsible for the Midlands region, while Sarah Jowsey will look after the North East.

Completing the team, Ian Quigley will be responsible for the North West, Ed Thorn will take on the South East, Steven Sharp will look after Scotland and Shane Basset will be responsible for the South West.

Established in 2011 by managing director Steven Allaway, the Aqualla brand offers showers, bathroom taps and accessories.

Having acquired bath manufacturer Adamsez in 2020, Aqualla was bought by Damixa owner FM Mattsson Mora a year later.

Managing director Steven Allaway commented: “The last 10 years have been a real success story for Aqualla with strong sales both here in Ireland and across the UK. With our new specialist team, we are looking to drive forward those relationships across the UK market and expand our presence even further.”

Pete Banham, head of GB Sales at Aqualla, added: “The team will be out visiting customers, ready to introduce retailers to our four new tap ranges which have just launched, as well as our wider portfolio, including Adamsez baths.

“We look forward to letting the UK market find out more about our story.”

each other as well as with suppliers and MHK-UK management.”

The event will be attended by MHK-UK managing director Marcel Crezee and national sales director Paul Wheeler.

In addition, MHK Group’s CEO Werner Heilos and board member Dr Olaf Hoppelshauser, from Germany, will also be present.

The event starts at midday and finishes early evening with guest speaker Adrian Webster, author of ‘TNT’s (Tiny Noticeable Things),

who will provide insight on how to exceed customer expectations.

This will be followed by a dinner, with an option to stay overnight at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Stratfordupon-Avon.

To find out more about the event email d.morris@mhkgroup.co.uk

Innovation and customer satisfaction focus Coram Group appoints CEO

European bathroom manufacturer Coram Group has announced the appointment of Peter Huizing as its CEO.

Peter Huizing, 53, has more than 20 years of leadership experience at international level with FMCG companies, such as Heineken, Diageo, The Coca-Cola Company, Sodiaal and Friesland/Campina.

Having worked across four continents, Huizing’s role with Coram will focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction and he will work with the senior leadership team.

Coram Group has a brand portfolio which includes Impey, Sealskin, Duka, Geesa, Tiger and Coram Showers.

It designs and produces shower glass, enclosures, wetrooms and bathroom accessories and has a  UK manufacturing facility in the Midlands, which makes Impey wetrooms.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, the group also has offices in the UK, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Norway.

Huizing will focus on sustained international brand growth and integration, advancing the ‘One Coram’ strategy.

CEO at Coram Peter Huizing added: “I very much look forward to working with the team at Coram to further shape Coram’s growth. “It is a company with a long history, strong family values and a wonderful and relevant brand portfolio.

“I look forward to leveraging my experience and passion in the areas of people, brands, innovation, design and international expansion, to further build Coram.”

IN BRIEF

■ Sanitaryware manufacturer Lecico Bathrooms has been named exclusive UK distributor for Propelair, a low water and airpowered flush toilet. It will assume responsibility for all sales, marketing, and operational functions for Propelair in the UK. See more on this story at www.rdr.link/KAJ005

■ Kitchen retailer Magnet has celebrated its 30-year anniversary of achieving FIRA Gold Certification, a quality mark for products or installation services in the furniture and kitchen industries. It holds FIRA Gold Certification for Heavy Domestic Kitchen Furniture and is the longest certified kitchen furniture supplier. View the whole story at www.rdr.link/KAJ006

■ Contract kitchen retailer Stolz Kitchens has commenced voluntary liquidation proceedings. Established in 2017, the West-Sussex based company supplied projects for the likes of Taylor Wimpey, Lilyford Homes, St Josephs which is part of Berkeley Homes, and Crest Nicholson. Read more on this at www.rdr.link/KAJ007

The appliance industry must win back support of the independent kitchen retail sector, says managing director of buying group KBBG Bill Miller.

He said stock shortages, reduced profit margin and lack of communication from appliance suppliers are among the reasons the retail and appliance supplier relationship has broken down.

In fact, Miller said a common complaint of independents is that they don’t see sales representation from their major appliance brand suppliers.

“A lot of independents feel they are being bypassed by their appliance brands, that really don’t have much interest in them as a

customer group. They see their customers as a consumer and I think that’s a very dangerous position because you therefore, underestimate the impact the independent retailer has in the final buying decision of the consumer”, said Miller.

Stating retailers have the ability to switch sell appliances in the showroom, he said this is denied by appliance brands: “I think there’s a breakdown between reality of what is happening on the coalface of retail, so to speak, versus what I think is happening in the boardrooms of these big appliance brands.”

And Miller said this is not specific or isolated appliance

brands: “Almost all appliance brands have got to do some work in trying to win back some loyalty, some love and some trust from the independent sector.”

Miller stated appliance suppliers need to improve engagement with independent kitchen retailers. “I’m sure they’re engaged with their huge, national retailers but they’re just not engaged with the independent kitchen specialist retail chain. They’re not communicating with them; they’re not getting their take on things.”

Kitchens and bathrooms outperforming merchant market KBB third best performing category

The Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI)  stated total value sales were virtually flat (0.2%) in July, compared to the same month in 2021, but kitchens and bathrooms were the third best category.

Merchant volume sales were down 12.8% but price inflation remained high up 15.0%.

Out of the 12 categories sold through builders merchants 10 sold more in July 2022 compared to the previous year.

Renewables & Water Saving and Workwear & Safetywear performed best, up 25.5% and 20.2% respectively.

While Kitchens & Bathrooms was the third best performing category with an increase of 13.1%, followed by Plumbing, Heating & Electrical, which was up 10.7%.

Only Landscaping, with a dip of

4.6%, and Timber & Joinery Products, showing a decline of 14.4%, sold less.

Compared to July 2019, a more normal pre-pandemic year, total merchant value sales were 13.3% higher. With two less trading days

this year, like-for-like sales were up +24.1%.

Three categories did better than total Merchants, including Kitchens & Bathrooms up 11.3%, albeit the category grew more slowly.

Retail and appliance manufacturer relationship is broken Appliance suppliers must win back retail, says KBBG MD

Position filled

Appointments and promotions across the industry

WEX TRADE

Strengthening its southern sales team, UK supplier and distributor of worktops WEX Trade has appointed a former kitchen designer and ex-kitchen fitter. Chris Walker and Mark Baron bring with them a total of 22 years’ experience. They have joined the company in the newly-created roles of business development managers for the South West and South Wales and the South East, respectively. After spending 15 years with Wickes, Chris Walker has

experience of kitchen design and insight into what a consumer is looking for in a kitchen. As a previously selfemployed kitchen fitter with his own business, Mark Baron has a skill set that benefits when talking to retailers. Head of sales at Formica and Wex Trade Ryan Smith added: “The addition of Chris and Mark will add further value to the team, giving us a different perspective that will ultimately help our customers.”

TLW

LED manufacturer TLW has appointed Jessica Hughes to its customer support team, as part of the company’s and training offer for the KBB industry.

Hughes joins the business with several years of experience in customer service and will assist clients with management of their accounts. She commented: ‘Having previously worked in a similar customer support role in the construction industry, joining TLW has been an exciting change!”

QUIET MARK

Global certification program

Quiet Mark has appointed Samm Swain as director of retailer and brand partnerships. She will lead Quiet Mark’s UK, Europe and North America retailer and manufacturer certification partnerships.

Bringing over 25 years expertise in housewares, furniture, SDA, buying and merchandising, Swain has worked for retail groups and been a consultant for retailers, manufacturers and electrical brands.

KUDOS

Showering surround manufacturer Kudos has appointed Shaun Wells as retail support manager for the northeast of England. He will be responsible for an area which runs from the Derbyshire border up to Durham. Although new to the bathroom industry, Wells has many years of experience in the home improvement market, having been installations manager for a blinds business.

SALAMANDER PUMPS

Salamander Pumps has appointed a national training manager and customer experience manager. After 12 years working for the company, Mike Oxley has been appointed as national training manager and will develop and deliver Salamander Pumps’ training strategy. Debbie Evans has been promoted to customer experience manager, following two years at Salamander Pumps.

WHIRLPOOL UK

Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited, the home of Hotpoint, has announced the appointment of Alistair Dobson as supply chain director, UK and Ireland. He will be tasked with leading the company’s supply chain operations, including overseeing its commitment to creating a circular economy. He has worked for Whirlpool UK for over two decades.

DURAVIT UK

Gary Matthews has been appointed to the newly-created role of sales director at Duravit UK. He will work with the company’s showroom partners, bringing new products to market, and developing the existing product portfolio.

Matthews has over three decades of experience in the bathroom industry, with brands such as Grohe, Multi Panel and Ideal Standard.

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kandbnews

Join our two-minute video tour of @kesselerkitchens Surrey showroom. It’s the flagship store of sister studio @kesselerkitchenshove. You can read all about it in the October issue of Kitchens & Bathrooms News, which is now available online.

beautyfullbathrooms Stunning shop

kandbnews

Who doesn’t love a collab?

There’s been Nike and Dior, Schmidt and Christian LaCroix Maison and now Smeg and @veuveclicquot. Celebrating the champagne’s 250th anniversary, they teamed up to offer limited edition refrigeration.

ellahausofcolour

I love this picture! The fridge is amazing

Philippa Turrell

It’s always a delight to talk to Diane Berry, owner of Diane Berry Kitchens, who has added another accolade – The Kbsa Designer Award for Kitchens under £25k to her trophy cabinet. She talks us through the design and concepts she created for the kitchen.

Is your Kbb retail business ready for Gen Z and Alpha, who will be your customers in just eight years? Futurist Kate Ancketill posed the question at The Kbsa Kitchen & Bathroom Conference

Luke Wedgbury

Kitchens & Bathrooms News

In the first of Kitchens & Bathrooms News State of the Nation survey questions, how are KBB retailers finding the overall market?

Mark Conacher We’ve seen a gradual

slowdown in customers at Liberty over the last few months, but with fewer customers comes additional time for interacting with those we do have and conversions have risen as a result. Interestingly, we’ve also just landed a large home renovation project in St Andrews from a US customer. I’m guessing the weak pound is attracting attention in the USA.

Paul Wright No definitely not. If anything it’s still increasing.

Graham Robinson Stunning kitchen Diane Berry. Inspiring ideas for lower budget!

Diane Berry

Thank you. So nice to work for a young family and help them have a special space for their growing family. I do love my job.

Kitchens & Bathrooms News

Our October issue is out in print and online. MD of Roper Rhodes Leigh Leather tells us about the company’s recent acquisition by Svedbergs and what it means for the business. We take a tour of the new Kesseler Surrey showroom and find out what veteran retailer Sean Carter has learned by opening a second studio.

Plus, Simon Acres clarifies why

It was an interesting presentation but I think the time scales offered are a little premature. This will happen but when is the question? I’m certainly now paying more attention to my kids playing Minecraft

Richard Hibbert Luke Wedgbury ok meet you in Minecraft

sales training is essential in a challenging market.

Sean Carter

Thank you for the feature. Hopefully it’s not all controversial.

Simon Acres

Thank you Kitchens & Bathrooms News for the opportunity to highlight the importance of training in our industry.

Philippa Turrell

Appointment-only showroom policy qualifies customers

Leading kitchen retailers explained how they adapted their showroom opening policies, following COVID, with many adopting an appointment-only or hybrid model, at the Kbsa Kitchen & Bathroom Conference.

Director of The Myers Touch Keith Myers reported an appointment-only policy helps qualify sales leads, as consumers who are interested in buying a kitchen will make an appointment.

He said: “I think there are a couple of other things about appointments that we have to consider. Somebody who makes an appointment is qualifying themselves to you, to some degree, rather than just wandering off the streets.”

Myers added: “Booking an appointment also, in a sense, affirms the value that we have as designers and the skill we bring. It’s really important and because it’s important what we do, you need to book an appointment to see us and you should pay for our time as well.”

Stating appointment-only was beneficial to his business, because designers could prepare for their clients, Rob Mascari, director of Mascari Designs, said his business now operates a hybrid model.

He explained: “Whilst we are open, we have had a new website built and purposely not put on things like opening times”.

Instead he said the website had been

to arrange an appointment, even including a WhatsApp button, to offer an instantaneous and informal link to the business.

Mascari pointed out appointment-only could help retailers be more shrewd controlling overhead costs, particularly in the light of spiralling energy bills, by not heating and lighting a showroom when not in use.

Recognising the showroom is still significant to the process of buying a kitchen, director of Kitchens International Paul O’Brien said presentations are operated by appointment but its six showrooms still offer an open door policy.

He explained: “I think sometimes a closed door appointment can be a little bit sterile, whereas we find actually there is a bit more energy when people are walking though and experiencing the showroom.”

Tony Robson of Day True pointed out the

dependent on location, with consumer expectations of a high street showroom different to that of an out-of-town studio.

He exclaimed: “We have a showroom on Wimbledon Village High Street, which we pay a premium for and footfall is a big part of our business.”

Whereas, owner of Diane Berry Kitchens, Diane Berry says she bridges consumer expectations of showroom opening by having a locked door policy.

“If I was going to Cartier or Gucci, you’re going to ring a bell and you’re going to be greeted at the door. So that means we invite them [consumers] in and ask them if we can take them around our studio. Therefore we are in control. So don’t worry about being appointment only. Just lock the door put a bell on it and meet and greet.”

Retailers would welcome legislation on sustainability

More education is needed across society about sustainability, messaging needs to be simpler, and legislation is welcomed to force the issue were the comments of a panel of industry experts at the Kbsa Kitchen & Bathroom Conference.

Quooker managing director Stephen Johnson said: “I think as a country we make sustainability complicated. We talk about emissions, it disengages a lot of people. We have to look at how we can use sustainability in our business and to our advantage. For me that’s talking about simple things – specifying appliances that save energy, save water, save money and we have to talk about the benefits to the consumer. I don’t think, as an industry, we explain to customers how being sustainable actually will save them money. And I think if we can do that, it presents a really significant sales tool.”

Diane Berry, owner of Diane Berry Kitchens, explained in her business she recycles materials, has electic car charging points on the showroom and encourages the sale of energy efficient appliances such as promoting

induction over gas.

However, she also pointed out the sustainability of her business was also based upon designing and installing quality kitchens: “I sell high quality kitchens. Fit them well. Install them well. Make them last. We recycle all the kitchens we remove, if we can, and nearly all the kitchens we take out are sold by Used Kitchen Exchange.”

Director of Mascari Design, Rob Mascari added although there was frequently a focus on recycling, reusing kitchens is a much more sustainable solution.

And Diane Berry welcomed possible legislation which could see the onus placed on

retailers to be responsible for removing waste sustainably: “I would love that because we are already ahead of a lot of people.”

Tony Robson, director of Day True, added: “ I think it’s a shame legislation might drive it but I think it’s important that legislation does drive it because there’s an apathy. There needs to be more education in society.”

The panel highlighted waste concerns in the newbuild market, as director of The Myers Touch Keith Myers commented: “We were asked to quote for a £1.2million house and asked what the budget for a kitchen was and he said £12,000. If I spent a million pound on a house, I’m going to be changing that kitchen quite quickly, so where is the environmental aspect of that? I think there is a place for legislation although I’m not a great fan of legislation, so there is a quandry there, but I think in some situations you’re going to have to do something like that.”

Rob Mascari concluded: “We’ve got to be progressive. Our kids and future generations rely on what we’re doing now.”

Get ready for retailing in the Metaverse

KBB retailers should prepare their businesses for next gen consumers who shun ecommerce websites in favour of alt-commerce – shopping on social media and soon the Metaverse.

Speaking at the Kbsa Kitchen & Bathroom Conference, retail futurist Kate Ancketill said in eight years, half of the world’s population will be Gen Z and Alpha and will have more money to spend than millennials and baby boomers combined.

Ancketill commented on these richer, younger consumers: “They are not really into the traditional omnichannel issue of how to integrate online and offline, which has been the predominant workflow priority for most retailers for the last 10 years.”

Ancketill stated nearly 40% of Gen Z prefers using TikTok and Instagram to search over Google, and 62% of 13-39 year olds are interesting in purchasing from their social media feed.

“That is not going to shrink as a figure, that is only going to grow. That is where they want to be inspired but also increasingly where they want to buy”, she said.

Ancketill added in China, where TikTok is

known as Douyen, Gen Z consumers spend $26billion on the social media channel, which is more than the GDP of the country Iceland.

Seeking a merging of shopping with entertainment, led by gaming, Ancketill said this is reflected in the numbers wishing to buy using Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality: “92% of Gen Z have said they want to shop using Augmented Reality and at least 30% have shopped using Augmented Reality (AR).”

IKEA has introduced an AR game to encourage people to “Escape the Clutter” and clear the room with storage, which can be acquired through the social media.

She stated, like digital channels, Gen Z expected physical stores to be more social, more inclusive, gamified, more entertaining, with experience first and products second.

“Physical space is all about experience and community and gathering your tribe of customers together”, said Anketill.

Moving on to the future of retailing in the Metaverse, Ancketill explained 75% of US Gen Z shoppers have already purchased an item in a VR video game.

“You might be thinking what do I care?”

going to be buying kitchens in the Metaverse.

“Well, Walmart has filed several new trade marks that would indicate intent to sell virtual goods including electronics, home decorations, toys, sporting goods and personal care products.”

She pointed to a Metaverse called Solarno which sells luxury items like cars, clothes, and which Ancketill says could include kitchens.

She asked if kbb retailers were ready to meet the needs of the new consumer base: “I would suggest that even if the Metaverse feels a bit far away at the moment, it’s probably time to start learning about it.”

Kbsa names Designer Award winners 2022

Trade association the Kbsa named the winners of its annual Designer Awards at an evening ceremony, held at The Belfry in the West Midlands.

Awards were presented across eight categories by host British comic actress and writer Sally Phillips, across room design, customer service and retailer’s choice of supplier.

Keith Myers and Amanda Smith from The Myers Touch were presented Designer of the Year for Kitchens (over £50k).

They created a kitchen in a new build development, where they changed the door and French window positioning to help create the kitchen desired by the new homeowner.

According to the judges, the winning design resulted in an ergonomic kitchen, with a “fantastic” mix of colour, materials and textures.

Elizabeth Pantling-Jones from Lima Kitchens scooped Kitchen Designer of the Year for Kitchens from £25k to £50k.

She created a kitchen in an old village home, and had to contend with uneven floors and Aga, out-of-true walls, nooks and crannies.

The design was noted for its great detailing in a difficult space.

While Kitchen Designer of the Year (up to

£25k) was presented to Diane Berry, owner of Diane Berry Kitchens.

She knocked down the wall of two smaller rooms to create this space, for a growing family, and created an island with laminate top which could be upgraded when budget allows.

Judges liked the detail on the work island.

Andrew Hewson of Dobsons was named Bathroom Designer of the Year, for one of the largest bathroom projects he has ever created.

He had to make the cavenous 20sqm space usable, while tackling complex plumbing issues to make a balanced bathroom.

The judges all agreed it was well-considered, with a “great” distribution of the space.

Presented the Kitchen Concept Award, Felicity O’Hare of Kitchens by JS Geddes was

recognised for her “exceedingly well thought out and accurate” response to the brief.

Given the brief of an open plan kitchen for a multigenerational family, she created a kitchen with double islands and four distinct zones: cooking, prep, baking and cocktail/wine area.

Dominic Massarella of KC Design House was named Young Designer of the Year, for his project for a newbuild home.

His clients bought a plot of land and employed the use of KC Design House before they started building, so Masserella was able to influence the dimensions of the kitchen space.

Judges praised the balance of the scheme and he was awarded an education grant of £1,500 and a cash prize of £500.

Completing the winners, the Customer Service Award, which is based on customer feedback, was presented to Regal Kitchens and Kbsa Supplier Award, voted for by members, was presented to Quooker.

In addition, a trio of designers were also recognised as Highly Commended, each presented with a certificate and bottle of champagne: Lucy Cunliffe of Diane Berry Kitchens, Dominic Massarella of KC Design House and Nicola Whyte of KI Bathroom Interiors.

IFA makes comeback

Curated edit of the latest kitchen appliances unveiled at IFA 2022

After a three-year haitus, due to COVID restrictions, consumer and home electronics show IFA returned to Messe Berlin, taking up 80% of the floor space at the fairground. Despite lockdowns and ongoing travel restrictions in Asia, just over 161,000 people visited the five days of the show. Organisers reported, compared to pre-pandemic years, industry professionals and trade visitors made up a higher proportion of all attendees.

In addition, digital channels like IFA Virtual, the IFA App and the show’s social media platforms garnered more than 1.6 million impressions alone. Videos streamed across IFA’s own channels and that of exhibitors and keynote partners reached more than 11.8 million views.

Sustainability and connectivity

Sustainability was one of the biggest themes at this year’s IFA, alongside connectivity of devices and Smart Home solutions. In a keynote speech, chief executive officer of Arçelik Hakan Bulgurlu issued a passionate plea to the consumer and home electronics industry to collaborate and do

EXHIBITORS

1. DOMETIC

its part to contain climate change and reduce pollution. It saw appliance manufacturers look to the more efficient use of resources, both in manufacture of the models and use, from optimising food storage through to faster wash programmes – reducing time, water and energy use. With it was a growing focus on AI, allowing the machine to select the most appropriate and efficient method of completing a household task.

Return to form

IFA made a welcome return to the exhibition

calender. Chief executive officer of Messe Berlin Martin Ecknig commented on the show : “It’s been fantastic to see our halls packed once again. I’ve had really positive feedback from all the global brands and retailers that I spoke to, and I’m especially pleased that we recorded such large numbers of industry professionals and trade visitors attending IFA Berlin. We are on track for IFA to regain its full strength in 2023.”

Here are the curated highlights from the exhibition, but for the full report visit www.kandbnews.co.uk

Swedish appliance manufacturer Dometic has introduced a wine cooling drawer, called DrawBar with a five bottle capacity. Designed to fit 24” wide cabinetry, with the option to be faced with glass or custom panelling, Drawbar has five pre-set temperatures for cooling and storing wine. Patent pending, the wine cooling drawer has already won a 2022 Red Dot and iF Award. Discover more about the company at www.rdr.link/KAJ008

2. AEG

2Premium brand of the Electrolux Group, AEG revealed laundry that automatically adjusts time, water and energy use with an add-on filter to catch microplastic fibres. The washing machines offer a PowerClean program to clean clothes and remove stains at 30°C, while the tumble dryers use 3D Scan Technology to identify humidity levels ensuring garments are evenly dried. AEG also showcased its new range of fridges and freezers with models made with up to 70% recycled plastic in the inner liner walls, and two extractor hobs. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAJ009

3. MIELE

Under the theme “Quality ahead of its time for a better tomorrow” Miele demonstrated the effort it is making on protecting the environment and how it assists customers in living more sustainably. On a stand measuring 3,000sqm, the company showcased more than 400 products, including steam ovens with HydroClean self-clean and K4000 refrigeration with PerfectFresh Active, featuring a mist which reportedly keeps fruit and vegetables crunchy for up to five times longer. In addition, it unvealed a consumption dashboard for the Miele app, which records water and electricity used by cleaning appliances. Discover more at www.rdr.link/KAJ010

4. HAIER

“Connect to Extraordinary” was the narrative of the Haier stand with appliances which could be used with the hOn app to create personalised home experiences. It included the Washpass washing machine which uses AI to select doses of detergents and order them online, as well as call technicians if maintenance is needed. In addition, I-Pro Shine Series 6 and 7 dishwashers were designed with H-spray arm and three baskets to deliver 50% more cleaning performance than a standard model. While Cube 90 Series 7 Pro and FD 90 Series Pro refrigeration adjust the temperature according to the heat of the room or if expecting a grocery load and boast ice claimed to be 10 times purer. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KAJ011

5. SAMSUNG

As part of its Bespoke Home, Samsung showcased an AI oven which records timelapse video of the cooking process to share on social media, refrigeration, dishwashers, laundry and hobs with colour matching possibilities. However, the focus of the show was on creating an energy-efficient home, connecting appliances with services such as SmartThings Energy. Using this, AI washing machines, which also have a filter to remove microplastics, can optimise washing cycles, while AI refrigeration can adjust temperatures based on door opening. Further adding to its sustainable credentials, Samsung offers a 20-year warranty on digital invertor motors and compressors. Discover more at www.rdr.link/KAJ012

Bootiful interiors

Once a mere overspill of the kitchen space, the utility room has finally come of age and with it boasts a new glammed-up aesthetic. It’s out with lower spec, minimal design and in with stylish laundry spaces, perhaps even combined with a boot room to create a bootility. And they offer retailers both the opportunity to extend a kitchen project or as an individual sale.

The growth of the utility or boot room could be attributed to more people working from home and having the time to realise how ground floor use can be optimised in their house. Enter dedicated spaces for laundry, jackets and shoes and perhaps even a dog shower! Blossom Avenue brand manager at BA Aine McKernan comments: “A dedicated boot room or utility is a great way to introduce a practical solution at the backdoor and expand the main kitchen area. And as we approach the coldest, wettest months of the year, furniture schemes that add value are now becoming integral to daily life.”

1. SYMPHONY

As part of its Laura Ashley brand, Harbury kitchen furniture is shown here as a boot room, featuring tall hanging cabinets, bench seating and open shelving. Visit the site at www.rdr.link/KAJ013

Social media stars

Such is the desirability of utility, boot room or bootility storage, these spaces have become stars of social media for home interiors. Fabric care manager at Miele GB Alastair Cooke comments: “Increasingly, the utility or bootility has become an instagrammable hub for domesticity, demanding the same level of design specification and attention to detail as the kitchen.” While Jonathan Britton, brand manager of Perrin & Rowe/Shaws of Darwen EMEAA, puts some numbers to this as he reports: “The hashtag ‘utility’ has been used over 406k times on Instagram, which shows just how popular these stories have become with the modern-day homeowners. Perrin & Rowe gets tagged in so many amazing spaces on

social media by discerning customers sharing their renovation projects”.

Home added value

While a boot room or bootility may conjure up images of quintessential rural retreats, marketing and retail director at Symphony Group Simon Collyns says they are not restricted to country homes. Instead, he says: “Utility and boot rooms are very desirable with homeowners, wherever they are located (town or country) and whatever the style of house.”

The trend spans from new build properties right through to older homes and can be tailored to suit the size of most dwellings. Simon Collyns explains the financial benefit for the homeowner: “While a large utility and separate

2. DAVAL

This Bootility with storage, laundry area and dog shower is designed in solid Ash kitchen furniture, Pembroke, in handpainted finish Forest Green. Read more about the project at www.rdr.link/KAJ014

3. ROTPUNKT

Rotpunkt offers a range for the utility room with custom laundry cabinets, housing for appliances, tall units, and accessories such as integrated laundry baskets, adjustable shelves and angled storage. Discover the options at www.rdr.link/KAJ015

boot room would be the ultimate goal, a small utility or boot room or a combination of the two still brings significant added value to a property.”

Design considerations

So what should kitchen designers consider when creating these spaces? Unsurprisingly, it depends on the demands of the individual household, commercial director of Crown Imperial Tony McCarthy states designers should consider planning it in a similar way to a kitchen: “In designing a utility room the same principles apply as if it were a main kitchen, although customers may wish to opt for more practical elements to maximise a small space. Organised laundry storage solutions need to be easily accessible for all the family, as well as incorporating appliances with a lower decibel rating for a quieter laundry experience.”

For storage, designers can consider a choice of tall or floor-to-ceiling cupboards for storing brushes, airing clothes or concealing ironing boards, while boot rooms will require hooks, shelving and perhaps a bench seat. Matt Phillips, head of UK operations at Rotpunkt highlights furniture interior components coming to the fore, such as “specially-designed cavities for washer dryers, tall units with integrated laundry baskets adjustable shelves and angled storage options.”

While, Alastair Cooke of Miele offers some suggestions on appliance placement for a washing machine and tumble dryer, explaining: “These can be placed side by side with the doors opening in the opposite direction for convenience or stacked on top of each other depending on space and the design layout.”

Solidified home position

4. CROWN IMPERIAL

Offering a ready to go furniture solution, this utility shows a tall laundry cupboard and there is a choice of medium and high wall cabinetry including pull-out laundry baskets. Pictured in the Ashton range in Pale Grey. View the range at www.rdr.link/KAJ016

While the utility or bootility is not guaranteed to be the hottest trend to watch over coming months and years, the reason is that it will have solidified its position in home interiors. The need for an additional room is supported by the open plan kitchen space, which is now focused on socialising as much as cooking. So by relegating daily laundry chores to an adjacent room, it allows for a more conducive environment for entertaining. Managing director of Daval Furniture Simon Bodsworth explains: “I believe that bridging the gap between indoor and outdoor living will only grow in popularity with warmer summer temperatures and fresh design concepts like the bootility room are helping to retain the social aspects of open living by minimising noise from laundry appliances and preventing dirt and debris coming into the main areas of the home.” So designers should unleash their creativity and consider how they can create bootiful interiors.

5. BRANDT DESIGN

Designed in a galley-style

for overhead

at www.rdr.link/KAJ017

6. BA

Forming part of its Blossom Avenue brand, is the Bella Supermatt Indigo Blue Austin furniture, which answers the trend for ‘modern country’. Download a brochure at www.rdr.link/KAJ018

1. BLANCO

Sink and tap manufacturer Blanco has introduced its Linus-S tap in a PVD Satin Gold finish, mirroring demand for an alternative to Chrome. The spout can be swivelled 360°, with the Linus-S model also offering an extendable spray head. It can also form part of a Blanco Unit which combines sink, tap, under-cabinet waste organisation system, plus optional food waste disposer. Download product information at www.rdr.link/KAJ019

just out

2. CAPLE

Kitchen furniture, appliance, sink and tap supplier Caple has introduced Upton, featuring vinyl slab doors in a super matt finish. The slab-fronted doors feature a routered frame to emulate a Shaker style, which combine a contemporary kitchen look with elements of classic detailing. It is available in a choice of four colours Hunter, Light Grey, Indigo and Dust Grey, and the colours can be combined for a personalised look. Read the technical details at www.rdr.link/KAJ020

4. SMEG

Italian appliance manufacturer Smeg has partnered with renowned champagne brand Veuve Clicquot to introduce limited edition refrigeration. Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Champagne house, the Smeg x Veuve Clicquot fridges are available as FAB28 refrigeration and FAB10 minibar, created in its iconic yellow and which feature both logos. Discover more details at www.rdr.link/KAJ022

3. DEKTON

Created in collaboration with interior designer Nina Magon, Dekton by Cosentino has introduced Onirika. Inspired by marble patterns and the trend for immersive living, the series includes eight luxe decors: Awake (pictured), Lucid, Somnia, Neural, Trance, Vigil, Daze and Morpheus. Carbon neutral Dekton is suitable for residential and commercial projects from worktops and furniture, through to floors and walls both indoors and outside. See the entire range at www.rdr.link/KAJ021

5. FRANKE

On the back of the demand for the brand’s, premium Mythos 2gether hob extractor, Franke has introduced a more accessibly priced option –Maris 2gether. It features an integrated cast-iron grid extractor positioned centrally between the hob’s four cooking zones which draws out up to 700 m3/h of air from around pots and pans. In addition, Maris 2gether boasts two flexi zones for cooking on a fully flexible surface to suit pans of all sizes, View the Maris range at www.rdr.link/KAJ023

With the sofa now the focal point of a living space; similarly, the tub has become the central design feature of a bathroom. And there is no more commanding presence than a freestanding bath. But it’s not simply about the aesthetics of the space, a freestanding bath offers a luxurious bathing experience to provide a spa-like haven. Product manager from Acquabella Fernado Maceda comments: “Freestanding bathtubs are undergoing a transformation process that has not gone unnoticed by experts and interior design enthusiasts and highlighted as one of the main trends in bathroom design in recent years. This resurgence has gone hand-in-hand with the growing concern for the physical and emotional well-being of society, in turn giving rise to the bath-spa style that seeks to create a space of peace and tranquillity.”

Such has been the interest in freestanding bath sales, head of marketing at Utopia Bathrooms Helen Clark adds: “We’ve seen a consistent increase in sales over the last three years, even taking into account the current climate and the impact of COVID. Freestanding baths are still the ultimate statement feature in any bathroom and sales of our two models increase steady month by month.

Colour palette

Aided and abetted by the injection of colour, the freestanding bath has sealed its design status in

1. BC DESIGNS

Penny Set is a slipper bath, measuring 1360mm, and has been designed to cater for customers who desire a freestanding model but have limited space. Download the company’s brochure at www.rdr.link/KAJ024

2. ADAMSEZ

Siena has a 15mm slimline edge, comes in a 1700mm x 800mm size and is available in a range of bespoke outer colour finishes. See the technical information at www.rdr.link/KAJ025

3. KALDEWEI

Made from recyclable steel enamel, the Meisterstruck Oyo Duo is a double-walled bathtub, available in Alpine White and in a range of Kaldewei’s Coordinated Colours Collection. Download technical information at www.rdr.link/KAJ026

Slam dunk

We take a look at how designers can now meet an even wider variety of tastes and budgets, boosting freestanding bath sales

the bathroom space. The gloss white bath has now been augmented by matt finishes, neutral and natural tones, from warm earthy colours and water inspired palettes, to saturated and richer hues Sales and marketing director at RAK Ceramics UK Ben Bryden comments: “We’re seeing a greater use of colour in the bathroom, echoed in bath trends.”

Kaldewei has introduced its MeisterStruck Oyo Duo freestanding bathtub in Alpine White and in a range of shades from its Coordinated Colours Collection. While Utopia offers selected baths colour matched to its furniture and as part of its Harrogate Collection, Harrison Bathrooms offers custom painted baths which can be matched to any RAL.

Smaller sizes

Of course a freestanding bath often requires space for installation and Helen Clark of Utopia Bathrooms states: “Our retailers report that empty nesters keen to have the luxury of a

statement bath but lacking the space in their existing bathrooms are even turning spare bedrooms into large features bathrooms.”

However, the requirement for a large space is changing, as specification and design manager at the Sanipex Group Ashley Sinclair picks up on this: “There was a time when the freestanding bath was very much the preserve of the upper end of the market. This is partly due to the size of traditional freestanding baths, which required a generous amount of floor space. However, this is not so much the case today.”

In particular, there are compact sizes surfacing on the market, enabling bathroom designers to explore the use of freestanding baths in spaces previously unable to fit models. Brand manager of House of Rohl Emma Joyce says: “Compact freestanding baths are growing in popularity. Victoria + Albert’s five best-selling designs are now available in 1500 versions, as they fit into alcoves normally reserved for inset baths and add real luxury to a bathroom.” And

4. ACQUABELLA

The Opal Quiz freestanding bath is now available in a duo of finishes. It features three of the company’s textures on the exterior and boasts contrasting inner surface. See the product data sheet at www.rdr.link/KAJ027

5. UTOPIA

The Sensuelle bath is made from triple layer Resinite and is available with a range of painted skirt finishes to match the company’s furniture, such as London Grey (pictured). Discover more details at www.rdr.link/KAJ028

4James Harrison, owner of Harrison Bathrooms, adds: “There’s been an introduction of smaller, more compact, freestanding baths with thinner edges. The diameter of acrylic is thinner to give a larger bathing area. This means freestanding baths are far more accessible, more affordable, and smaller in size.”

BC Designs is launching a 1360mm slipper bath that will cater for those who desire a freestanding model with limited space. Darren Allison adds: “Compact freestanding models will be an area where we will continue to see growth in sales.”

More materials

However, equally significant to the growth of the freestanding bath market has been the wider availability of models across a broader spectrum of budgets. A greater variety of material choice has opened sales to the mid-sector.

Helen Clark of Utopia explains: “ As the material that the baths are made from moves from traditional cast iron to rigid acrylic, it’s become an option for the middle market.”

In fact, managing director at BC Designs

Darren Allison reports a mid-market bath is his company’s most popular model, adding: “Our freestanding acrylic boat bath – which we consider to be a mid-market product – remains our best-selling model, and we’ve seen an increase in sales of 30%.”

Upward trajectory

Yet that doesn’t mean the premium freestanding bath market is destined to peter out, replaced by mid-market models. Darren Allison explains sales haven’t diminished in the luxury sector: “There has also been a huge surge in upper-end products as well, with metal baths driving demand. Across the range, we’ve seen an uplift in sales of 50%, compared to mid at 20%.” In fact, industry experts are confident of an upward trajectory in sales, and a positive outlook for freestanding baths – in fact, some may say a slam dunk!

just out

1. MATKI

Showering surround manufacturer Matki has launched the Eclipse range of frameless enclosures. Available for corner or recess installations, the surrounds are made from 8mm glass with Matki Glass Guard Easy Clean Protection as standard. Wall frames and braces are part concealed behind the glass. Discover more about the collection at www.rdr.link/KAJ029

2. METHVEN

Brassware manufacturer Methven has introduced the dual head Aio S Cool Touch Diverter Shower, with 300mm drencher overhead and halo design handset. The Aio S version has been optimised to use 5.7 litres of water per minute – the lowest flow rate of all Methven showers. The slimline overhead operates at 8 litres per minute. Download the technical specification at www.rdr.link/KAJ030

3. IMPEY

Wetroom manufacturer Impey has introduced four additional finishes to its drain covers, available for linear and square wastes. Gold, Anthracite, Bronze and Black PVD finishes have been chosen to complement the brand’s Aqua-Dec EasyFit and Aqua-Dec Linear range of wetroom floor formers. In addition, Impey has also simultaneously launched Paragon, a choice of two stainless steel drain tops available in a brushed or polished finish. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAJ031

4. ROPER RHODES

Bathroom products manufacturer Roper

Rhodes has added Brushed Brass as a finish to taps, showers and accessories. The finish is available on the classical Keswick range of taps and concealed showers, Unity concealed and bar value shower, Storm and Nova taps, plus Capital accessories. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAJ032

45. GROHE

Global bathroom brand Grohe has unveiled the Solido All-in-One WC bundle concept, which is ready to install. It includes a WC model and installation components in one box and consumers can choose from classic or modern styles, across basic or luxurious budgets. There are four designs available, which boast features such as quiet flush or hygienic functions. Read all the details at www.rdr.link/KAJ033

Making Ripples

Established for over three decades, bathroom franchise Ripples has endured and in fact continues to grow from strength to strength. From its origins as a single studio in Bath, opened by Roger and Sandra Kyme in 1998, last year the business was named in the HSBC Elite Franchise Top 100. Its success has been mirrored by the number of retailers continuing to join the franchise, with two having opened this year, and a third set to launch. It has seen the Ripples brand make its first move into the North of England and the network total of showrooms expand to 16.

Significantly stronger

Managing director Paul Crow says the company’s success is based on its consumer focus, unlike much of the bathroom retail industry which he says is still discount-driven. “I think there’s lots of people who have got the same mindset as us – whether it’s showroom design, customer service levels or enthusiasm. But I also think those people are still, to a certain extent, dictated to by trading situations they have with suppliers who expect a certain amount of space and sales to provide the discounts the retailers need. They perhaps lack a little bit of clarity on who they could be,

whereas we’ve always pretty much stated we’re fundamentally a consumer-focused business.”

He says a business needs a clear and consistent vision. “To be a retailer, you’ve got to think like a five-star restaurant and that means you can’t change the menu if no-one is coming in that day”, says Crow. Instead he advises:

“What you’ve got to do is work harder to get people in or innovative. But you can’t change who you are as your identity.”

It certainly seems Ripples identity is attractive, as Crow is in discussions with two more potential franchises. Although he suggests the increased interest in Ripples could be partly due to COVID, where people have re-evaluated their work and lifestyle. Crow adds “That said, the franchise industry hasn’t seen the same results we’ve seen. We’ve certainly had more enquiries now than we’ve probably had for a number of years from experienced retailers and those new to the industry.”

And like many retailers in the home improvement sector, Ripples sales have been

1. MANAGING DIRECTOR

Paul Crow is managing director of the Ripples franchise, which was named in the HSBC Elite Franchise Top 100

2. RIPPLES BATH

The first Ripples showroom was opened in Bath in 1989, and the franchise now boasts 16 showrooms

buoyed by the results of the pandemic. “We’ve had a really good year. We’ve got some record figures coming out of showrooms and they add up to totals that we’ve not seen since 2008.” So, the company must now be near its peak in terms of sales and franchises? “Not quite, but we’re the best that we’ve been for every other way that we want to measure it - in terms of the profitability of our showrooms, our customer service levels, the quality of our marketing and the infrastructure that we’ve now put in place”, explains Crow.

Managing director of Ripples Paul Crow divulges the bathroom franchise’s secrets of success, and plans to evolve the business

Focus on digital

Through the lockdowns of COVID, Ripples focused on its digital footprint to promote its business. The company invested with its franchisees to create video case studies, letting them tell the story of the business. It featured the videos on its own website and also promoted them through social media. Ripples has also enhanced its digital services for consumers and is now able to look after them remotely, to improve the efficiency of the buying process. But does it also speed up the customer decision-making process? “They don’t make decisions quickly, but they want the ball in their court very quickly”, explains Paul Crow.

And he believes by growing a digital presence, it encourages more people to join the Ripples franchise, as it builds brand awareness. The company is able to drop digital messages to consumers who already know the brand, but may not know they have a showroom opening in that area.

Changes to business

But Paul Crow reports the biggest change to Ripples has been “the cultural shift around the business to be open-minded about if it’s not working is there a better idea?” adding “We’ve kept operations manuals and rule books in the drawer to collect dust, because we’ve built a culture where franchisees are saying ‘I’ve got an idea. Can I try the following?’”

This wasn’t the case 10 years ago, when Ripples was based on a formula of business

3. AWARD-WINNING SHOWROOMS

Ripples has a history of award-winning franchisees and. although having only opened in 2021, Chicester has already scooped a Best Showroom of the Year honour

success and almost seems counter intuitive, but Crow explains: “We realised our franchisees were different, that they’ve got different strengths and weaknesses. We don’t get upset if they’re not doing something the way we, ideally, want it. We don’t have those sorts of battles anymore.” And he adds: “It’s a better and easier business to manage than it ever has been.” Crow admits there are compromises but notes: “I have a ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’ approach, given the intent of the franchisee is always 100% in the best interest of the business.”

Growing franchise network

So what is next for the Ripples brand? “Realistically, we could open two franchisees a year comfortably”, says Crow. He expands: “I have just got to find a way of sharing what we do with more people because I have 100% faith that people will be surprised how inexpensive it is to open a brilliant business.” Part of the reason is that he believes showrooms don’t have to be large to be successful: “I don’t think retail showrooms need to be all about size anymore. I think that we all know customers just want help buying their bathroom and evidence you can help them through some displays that stimulate them and are worth parking the car for.”

world where everything is on Google and not likely to change”, Crow elucidates.

But isn’t he concerned about the challenging economic landscape? Crow states: “I never worry too much about external factors. All the time there’s business you should have won or quotes you could have done better with, then you’ve got nothing else to blame. We’re constantly trying to make everything that we can a bit better.” However, he concedes: “It will go a bit quieter, without a shadow of a doubt.”

Crow concludes there will always be a market for bathroom sales explaining: “Fundamentally, consumers are going nowhere. They want a new bathroom. Full stop. How much they spend is for all of us to figure out and to inspire them to spend more. But what we absolutely know is they want help doing it.”

4. TILE SHOWROOM

Ripples Beaconsfield also has a separate tile showroom which features porcelain, encaustic and marble options

He further discloses Ripples will continue to grow its own-brand product range to help its franchisees make more money. “It gives a bit of protection, from a price point, for our franchisees. It provides a comfort to them, in a

5. FAMILY FIRM

Following in the footsteps of her parents who started the company, Lisa Kyme is the owner of Ripples London, based in Hampstead.

We want to be the Mira Showers of baths”

It has been a transitional year for Carron Bathrooms, according to its managing director James McMorrine, having restructured its distribution and sales channels. But he now believes the bath manufacturer is set to grow market share over the next six to nine months, even if the market is smaller. “Part of it will be down to the fact we’ve got 12,000 finished baths, between our distributors and ourselves, on the ground ready for delivery”, says McMorrine. However, he also points out, sales success will be attributed to the recent decisions Carron Bathrooms has made to level the playing field for its trade customers.

Reorganising sales channels

The Falkirk-based bath manufacturer recently made the decision to reorganise its distribution, splitting with Eastbrook after 20 years, following a strategic review of the business. It saw the addition of Davroc “who didn’t have an acrylic bath offer” to its long-standing distribution partner Q4. The bathroom manufacturer also chose to cease supplying a number of online retailers, which saw a “significant” drop in its business.

James McMorrine explains Carron Bathrooms isn’t anti-internet but needed a strategy, to ensure all its trade partners could

1. MANAGING DIRECTOR James McMorrine

2. EDITIONS+

The Editions+ range of low rim, acrylic baths features five models, with options of gloss and matt finishes alongside Anthracite fittings. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAJ034

compete on a level playing field: “We’re now in the process of appointing just four to six online retailers who share our values, want Carron to be the lead product and get behind it.”

McMorrine explains its internet dealers have

Managing director of Carron Bathrooms James McMorrine talks about levelling the playing field for its professional customers and the company’s ambitions for growth

the same buying criteria as a displaying retailer: “If someone does buy Carron baths and retails them online, they’ve got to take them into their business premises, take ownership and deliver them. I think that’s creating a level playing field.”

However, McMorrine admits perhaps the timing of the decision could have been improved: “That loss of revenue at the same time as raw material prices going up was terrifying”, and he adds “the phrase we’re coining at Carron is ‘We’d have done things differently, but we wouldn’t have done different things’. We took a stand and I’m glad we did.”

Managing price hikes

The loss of internet business, together with price hikes of raw materials, saw the business “squeezed” last year and “battered” in 2022. McMorrine explains: “We literally couldn’t source fibreglass a year ago, and when we could the prices had increased by 200%. It meant the company had to increase its prices mid-year for the first time. “We had a mid-year price increase for the first time in 2021, and we went up again at the start of this year - both times by 6%, which is double what we normally go up by.”

With no indication that raw materials prices are likely to soften in the near future, Carron Bathrooms has also sought to reduce costs in its business to try and maintain prices. However,

this has not been through value engineering. “We’ve worked far too long and too hard to build a reputation for specification. We had to become more efficient”, explains McMorrine.

Automation for efficiency

Although the company has historical roots dating back to 1759 and still manufactures on the original site, Carron Bathrooms is a modern business and recently invested £1.5million into automation. “It has been transformative”, exclaims McMorrine. With three robotic spray lines, it has not only enabled the company to increase capacity, but he adds “we think the efficiency gain for Carron is in the region of 3540%.” And McMorrine explains: “If you can’t become more productive, the next two or three years is going to get really difficult because you can’t mitigate energy costs, you can’t mitigate raw material costs, we won’t lower specification and people shouldn’t be paying for Carron not to be efficient.”

In fact McMorrine believes energy costs will be the biggest challenge for the bathroom supply chain going forwards. “You cannot manufacture without energy. Fortunately, we’ve got a little bit of protection, as we took the decision to take a longer-term deal. We’re a medium-sized manufacturer and it’s scary but it’s no less scary –I would imagine – for an independent retailer who is trying to work out how they are going to make money if their energy bill goes up six-fold. They’ve got to find products they can sell and make a margin. We want to give retailers products they can get behind.”

Display-friendly range

As part of this ethos, Carron Bathrooms has recently introduced its Editions+ baths with a low roll height, which suits diplaying retailers. McMorrine explains why: “Historically, to make it easier to install a bath panel, the roll height of the tub was 50mm, we’ve reduced it to 18mm because 40% of our baths are going into another type of installation. It would be very difficult to sell the benefit of that product online, you need to see it in store. We are also doing it in a matt white finish, as opposed to just gloss white. It’s a small but meaningful range of products that people will want to put on display.

4. CELCIUS

Offered as rectangular DE and SE models, Celsius also comes in duo, oval, freestanding and shower bath models. See the entire range at www.rdr.link/KAJ036

people to buy from Carron because we’re British, we want them to buy because the product is great. We want to make the best bathtub in the world.”

Mira of baths

In fact McMorrine states his overall vision for the company: “We want to be the Mira Showers of acrylic baths in the UK. They are a well-known, well-regarded brand with trade professionals.”

And Carron Bathrooms is on a path to achieving its ambition: “We are starting to see some positive traction from the hard decisions we made in the first and second quarter”, as McMorrine adds “the big unknown, is what demand is going to be like with the increase in cost of living.”

3. QUANTUM INTEGRA

The Quantum Integra bath model comes in a choice of eight sizes, from 1500 x 700mm up to 1800 x 800mm. Find out more details at www.rdr.link/KAJ035

You’ve got to reward retailer’s investment.” Now the company plans to build on its current network of 600 retailers, increasing to over 1,000 in the next 18 months, so it can send consumers no more than 10-15 miles from their home to see a Carron bath.

With the well-documented issues in the global supply chain, will the company also benefit from consumers or retailers wanting to buy from a British manufacturer? “We don’t want

Having been saved from receivership by an MBO in 1982, then acquired by his father David McMorrine in 2000, James McMorrine says the company knows how to survive. He adds: “We’ve not stopped investing; we’ve just been more cautious and we are ready to go. The retailers I’ve met are not just good at bathrooms, they’re also very shrewd businesspeople. They’re going to start looking at their cash position too. If they know they can get any Carron bath within two or three days and a whirlpool bath in two weeks, we’re going to become even more attractive. There’s products that are difficult to get but Carron isn’t one of them.”

Company matters

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

MANAGEMENT

HR challenges facing small businesses

Every growing business faces challenges, including HR challenges; it’s never too soon to address your people strategy and ensure the organisation isn’t held back.

Recruitment and retention

Recruitment and retention are an issue for most organisations, many small businesses simply can’t attract the skilled workers they need. Without budgetary resources for in-house HR expertise, it can be really difficult to attract, retain and train employees.

A limited talent pool may be exacerbated when a small company can’t match the salaries offered by larger businesses. Then, when good employees are found after the formalities of onboarding, there can be problems with the

FINANCE

How a great accountant delivers peace of mind

An accountant does so much more than simply crunch numbers. A good accountant is someone you can trust to give you accurate financial information and advice, and to help you make the best possible decisions for your business. They can provide you with peace of mind, knowing your finances are in good hands.

Your accountant should be someone you feel comfortable communicating with, and who you feel confident will give you honest feedback. They should be up-to-date on the latest changes in tax laws and regulations, and be able to provide you with advice that is specific to your situation.

Let’s take a closer look at exactly how a great accountant delivers business owners peace of mind when it comes to their finances.

1. They’re qualified and experienced

One of the most important things to look for in an accountant is that they are qualified and experienced.

When you try to do your own accounts, you’re doing so without any knowledge of tax laws or the bookkeeping principles. This could easily lead to mistakes being made, which could

training, development and career path planning that facilitate retention.

HR difficulties are much the same as in larger organisations, with performance management and compliance at the forefront. That said, smaller organisations are often more informal, flexible and creative in terms of their approach to culture, inclusion and engagement issues. Where the boss is working alongside the workers then team building should be easier too.

Contracts, compliance and continuity

Compliance and contractual issues aren’t things to leave to chance and using an outsourced HR service is worth considering once you have more than a few employees. If you want to grow the business then you’ll need HR processes and strategies to cover KPIs, performance review, reward strategy, benefits, career plans and development so you can retain and develop

your employees to grow with the business.

If you don’t get these issues right, then it will exacerbate problems with recruitment and particularly retention. Losing experienced employees in a difficult environment is a serious disruptor; it’s not just the effort of costly repeat recruitment and onboarding, but there is a negative effect on employee engagement and morale.

should also be able to offer advice on how to best adapt to these changes.

3. They’re available when you need them

Another way an accountant can provide peace of mind is by being available when you need them.

cost you money in the long run.

When a qualified professional takes charge, you can rest assured that your accounts are in safe hands.

Your accountant should also have experience in working with businesses like yours. They’ll know the ins and outs of your industry, and will be able to offer you tailored advice that can help your business grow.

2. They keep up-to-date with changes

The world of business is always changing, and so are the tax laws. It’s important that your accountant is keeping up-to-date with these changes, so that they can advise you accordingly.

Your accountant should be proactive in their approach, and should let you know about any changes that could impact your business. They

Business owners often have questions or need advice at the most unexpected times. It’s important your accountant is available to provide guidance when you need it, whether that’s via email, phone, or in person.

Your accountant should also be responsive to your queries and should get back to you in a timely manner.

4. They’re a listening ear

A great accountant does more than just provide financial advice –they’re also a listening ear.

You might not always feel comfortable discussing your financial worries with family or friends. But you should feel able to talk openly with your accountant about any concerns you have.

Your accountant can offer impartial advice and help you to find solutions to your problems. They can also provide a sounding board for any new ideas you have.

Knowing that you have someone to talk to

Resources and resilience

Training and development are crucial in a sector faced with skills shortages. Poor performance management processes mean employees don’t know what is expected of them or what their career path with the enterprise looks like and that adversely affects retention and engagement. To retain employees you need to build a culture that values inclusion, diversity and fairness.

Communicate, take note of employee concerns, respect wellbeing and work/life balance; treating employees well pays off. Workers want managers who give them a voice, who show them the bigger picture, who are open and transparent, and who explain decision-making to them.

EXPERT: Liz Sebag-Montefiore

COMPANY: 10 Eighty

BACKGROUND: Founder and director of 10Eighty, Liz Sebag-Montefiore created the career management, leadership and management development company. Over the past 10 years, she has served more than 2,500 clients, including the likes of Travelodge, Barnado’s and King’s College London.

CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KAJ037

can provide a great deal of peace of mind, especially when it’s someone who actually knows what they’re talking about and can provide valuable guidance.

5. They have your best interests at heart

Finally, you should feel confident that your accountant has your best interests at heart. They should be honest with you and should always give you advice that is in your best interests, even if it’s not what you wanted to hear. A great accountant will always be looking out for your best interests and will want to see your business succeed.

When you hire an accountant, you’re essentially taking on a partner who will help you to grow your business. It’s important that you find someone who you can trust, and who will deliver peace of mind. A great accountant will be there to offer guidance and support, and will always have your best interests at heart. With their help, you can focus on what’s important –running your business.

EXPERT: Kevin Bannister FCCA

COMPANY: The Accurate Accountant

BACKGROUND: Qualified accountant and managing director of The Accurate Accountant, Kevin Bannister works with KBB business owners to help them maximise their income and be as tax efficient as possible. All of which while ensure full compliance with HMRC.

CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KAJ038

MANAGEMENT

Leadership in tough times

Let’s face it, navigating through climate change and the pandemic, has not been easy for any of us. It’s fair to say the ripple effects of the cost-of-living crisis and war in Ukraine, will be affecting us for some time and the latest pressures of rising food, energy and fuel costs will continue to dominate the conversation at home and in business, until we find an effective way to manage this level of inflation.

As a leader and business owner, this is your best opportunity to come forward, remain transparent and support your staff. It is time to step up.

Avoid mushroom management

Have you ever witnessed or partaken in a mushroom management style, where employees are kept in the dark? This is often an unintended consequence of taking a ‘need-to-know’ approach, with the mistaken belief anything at management level should be kept ‘private and confidential’ with little to no information disclosed.

Without trust, leaders will lose their team. So there is a huge price to pay in keeping quiet. By withholding information, you could be selfsabotaging your business and reputation as an employer. Harsh but true.

Support your people

Time after time, I have seen good people looking for new roles because they have simply lost faith, trust and confidence in their employer. I get so frustrated because this unfortunate state of affairs is entirely preventable! In my experience, if you don’t involve your team in the bigger picture – good and bad – you face the likelihood of your staff filling in the blanks without facts or opinion.

Open up to your team and advise them on the decisions you’re making or at least weighing up. By making

EXPERT: Peter Jones

COMPANY: Foyne Jones

your staff part of the decision-making process, you will increase overall company morale and provide a distinct separation of power between you and them.

Collaborative leadership

I believe collaborative leadership is the key to creative solutions and a healthy business. For example, what about introducing a monthly heating supplement instead of assuming that everyone wants a Christmas party this year? Or how about going to a four-day week or offering one day a week from home to save costs on heating and lighting the showroom, and your staff can reduce the cost of their weekly commute?

Other points could include the pros and cons of switching to an appointment-only system? Are there opportunities for more flexibility in the workforce so that your staff can cover holidays and sick leave more effectively? Is there a better way of managing Christmas opening hours? Which tasks can be batched together or done at different times for maximum efficiency? You could even look at your premises and see what can be done to prevent wastage when it comes to energy versus effort.

Work off the assumption your competitors are already having these conversations with their team and are getting a gameplan together. So step up by having an open, two-way conversation about how your business and its people are going to effectively navigate the next 6-12 months together.

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 who are leaders in the industry

CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KAJ039

KITCHENS & 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.

Kbsa Kitchen Designer of the Year (£50k and over) Director of The Myers Touch Keith Myers talks about his Kbsa Kitchen Designer of the Year (£50k and over) award-winning project. It was created for a new development, where he changed the door and window positioning to improve flow in the kitchen. Myers also speaks about his company’s overall approach to kitchen design. Watch the video at www.kandbnews/rdrlink/KAJ040

Kbsa Young Designer of the Year Designer at KC Design House Dominic Masserella talks us through the kitchen project that saw him win the Kbsa Young Designer of The Year. Designed for a new build home, where he was able to influence measurements, he created this kitchen which combines the functions of cooking, eating and socialising. Keep an eye out for the home bar. See what he has to say at www.kandbnews/rdrlink/KAJ041

Kbsa Kitchen Concept of the Year Senior designer of Kitchens by J.S.Geddis Felicity O’Hare explains how she approached the brief for a multigenerational household to win Kbsa Kitchen Concept of the Year. She talks about the award-winning project, where she used a double island to create zones, and explains how empathy allowed her to design this kitchen scheme. Watch her interview at www.kandbnews/rdrlink/KAJ042

Kbsa Kitchen Designer of the Year (under £25k) Multi award-winning kitchen designer and owner of Diane Berry Kitchens, Diane Berry talks us through the project that scooped her the title of Kbsa Kitchen Designer of the Year (under £25k). She explains how the kitchen has been designed to evolve as the family changes, new ideas she has used in the scheme, and the challenges she overcame. www.kandbnews/rdrlink/KAJ043

Make future plans now

Managing director of MHK-UK

Marcel Crezee provides clear advice for KBB retailers on how to react to the uncertain climate which includes rising costs

Purchase prices are rising, energy prices are increasing, and all suppliers, are battling hard against rising costs. These are just three examples of developments over which you have no influence but which you need to consider when making business plans.

Pricing and cash flow

Business may be good at present, however, many entrepreneurs at home and abroad have still not come up with a plan B when the market softens. You must pass on price increases. If you do not pass on price increases to your customer for one month, you will lose about 35% of your profit. If you cannot pass the price increases to your client because you have not changed your sales prices, you will lose 75% of your profit. Driving three or four times to a customer to be able to deliver a complete kitchen could cost you your entire profit margin.

Also consider your cashflow. Prepayments to your supplier for appliances, often a long time before they are delivered, puts your cashflow under extreme pressure. You may still have cashflow, but what happens if less or even no customers visit your showroom? How can you be sure your prices aren’t too high in comparison with your competition? Or that because you have paid the supplier so far in

advance you risk the liquidity of your business and can no longer trade?

Taking steps

We advise our entrepreneurs to take the following 10 steps over the forthcoming weeks and months to enable their business to remain successful:

1.Are you working with the right suppliers? Suppliers with whom you can confidently face the future? Are these suppliers the suppliers who can deliver, in every sense?

2.Is your company visible and findable on search engines. Are you on instagram, facebook, pinterest etc?

3.How are your online reviews?

4.Do you have any cash reserves to weather the coming storm?

5.Have you read your energy supply contract carefully or are you accepting price increases without knowing what is in your contract?

6.Do you have your fixed costs under control or can this still be improved?

7.Is your store clean and tidy every day? From inside and outside?

8.Are your kitchen displays up to date?

9.Have you made a business plan based on your future costs and expected turnover for the next 12 months, to arrive at the necessary margin you need to achieve to stay viable?

10.Is your CAD/pricing package putting a margin onto your cost prices, or are you still selling at book points?  If you are still selling at book points, you are meeting all price increases from your profits!

Ask the experts

Why not talk to industry experts, as everyone has their own expertise? Don’t be too proud, none of us knows everything. Did you know that successful entrepreneurs always have advisors (internal or external) operating in specialist areas? We guide more than 3,400 kitchen entrepreneurs in Europe and the United Kingdom and I like to see retailers in our industry being successful.

Think about or seek advice on the following:

1.Condition comparisons (Do you have the right conditions or can I still improve. (A single 1% improvement in your purchase price is an immediate 8.52% increase in your profit margin)

2.Cashflow (30 days payments with payment discount ensures your cash stays in your bank longer)

3.How can I increase my online performance?

My question to you…..do you have a plan B and are you ready for the future?

Top 3 website stories

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

2. MAGNET Kitchen

retailer Magnet has unveiled a new Autumn TV (TVC) campaign ‘Beautiful. Purposeful’, created as part of its Better. By Design brand ethos and online platform. The ‘Beautiful. Purposeful’ campaign has been created to show a Magnet kitchen is not just about being beautiful but also requires attention to detail and the need for a purpose behind the design. Created by McCann Manchester, the advert shows the relationship between a young girl and a barn owl, using the analogy of how the natural world has created the owl, which suits its environment. View the story at www.rdr.link/KAJ044

1. CYNCLY

Global software provider for residential and commercial spaces for the living industry Compusoft + 2020 (now rebranded Cyncly) has acquired Logicom, trading as Virtual Worlds. Logicom was founded in 1981 and the Virtual Worlds brand was launched in 1997. Operating from its office in Milton Keynes, the company has 73 employees. This acquisition strengthens Compusoft + 2020’s offering for the kitchen and bathroom market and will enable the combined group to leverage the range of manufacturer catalogues and pricing content. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAJ045

3. UTOPIA

Joint managing director of Utopia Furniture Ian Hall has announced founding director Liz Green passed away on September 2, aged 58. One of the three founding directors of the company, and Ian Hall’s sister, Liz Green was diagnosed with cancer in late 2021 and retired at the end of the year. Passionate not only about the company, but the bathroom sector as a whole, she held key roles within sales, marketing and customer services. Liz Green was well-known for her energy and sense of humour, and was central to the growth of Utopia. Read more at www.rdr.link/KAJ046

Franke

Reginox UK Ltd..........................................................................(page 11) www.rdr.link/KAJ105

Roper Rhodes Ltd........................................................................(page 9) www.rdr.link/KAJ106

Saniflo Ltd......................................................................................(page 4) www.rdr.link/KAJ107

Trend Kitchens............................................................................(page 16) www.rdr.link/KAJ108

Zehnder Group UK....................................................(inside front cover) www.rdr.link/KAJ109