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KI TCHENS &

BATHROOMS NEWS THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR KITCHEN & BATHROOM PROFESSIONALS

SEPTEMBER 2021

“WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER” Sales and marketing director of Blum UK David Sanders says everyone has a part to play in minimising affect on supply chain

KITCHEN FURNITURE A reduction in styling and impact on the planet, “less is more” is never more relevant

VADO Q&A Independent retailers remain “top priority” say directors

news ■ expert views ■ company profiles ■ products ■ SME support www.kandbnews.co.uk

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NO 162 VOL 15 SEPTEMBER 2021

contents

5 First word Editor’s opinion

6 News Round-up of industry headlines

12 People Promotions and appointments

14 Inbox Reader feedback

41 Last word MD at the Unified Water Label Association Yvonne Orgill looks at the need for water labelling and what it means for kbb retailers

KITCHENS

17 Kitchen furniture A reduction in styling, and impact on the planet, “less is more” is never more relevant than today when specifying furniture

22 Range cookers How the range cooker continues to resonate with the British consumer – from capacious cavities through to a rainbow of colours for personalisation

24 Just out

BATHROOMS 27 Showers With a continuing move towards luxury in bathroom design, we look at what this means for shower choice

30 Just out Latest bathroom products

32 Smart lighting

Latest kitchen products

Changeable lighting scenes, touch free controls and ease of use are just some of the reasons why smart lighting will spark the imagination of bathroom designers

BUSINESS 34 VADO Q&A Product and marketing director Angela Neve and sales director Lee Palmer of VADO on how the company plans to continue supporting bathroom retailers

36 BLUM INTERVIEW Sales and marketing director of Blum UK David Sanders says everybody has a part to play in minimising the effects on the supply chain

38 Company matters SME advice covering marketing, financial and management issues, as well as personal development. www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS SEPTEMBER

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FIRST WORD

Olympian supply effort The Tokyo 2020 Olympics has perfectly mirrored the past 18 months in kitchen and bathroom retailing. There have been extended deadlines, with the event postponed for an entire year, and then an intensive period of work following the restrictions lifting. Above all, it has taken an Olympian effort to stay in the game, let alone at the top of the game. But as the Games of the Olympiad have drawn to a close, the kbb industry continues its heroic efforts to meet the uplift in demand for new kitchens and bathrooms, which has seen increasing pressure on the supply chain. What may have started with suppliers playing catch-up in production post-lockdown has now been replaced by a shortage of raw materials around the world. It means delays are across the board in the kbb industry, impacting all products and all manufacturers. So it’s really no surprise, in a LinkedIn poll, Kitchens & Bathrooms News found the majority (52%) of respondents cited supply as the biggest challenge impacting kbb retail businesses. It could be argued, however, the prolonged wait for products is less of an issue than the quality of communication along the supply chain. Retailers have not only had to deal with extended lead times, but may have reorganised their historic ordering processes and cashﬂow to account for earlier ordering. Then, on top of that, kbb retailers may have

found out, at point of delivery, a product is not only out of stock but there is no conﬁrmed delivery date. All of which means an unhappy end-customer who is able to disseminate their disappointment across social media, negatively impacting on a retailer’s business. Kbb manufacturers have improved the communication of supply issue challenges but must remain as transparent, as possible, to help retailers make informed choices. Only then will kbb retailers be more in control of their business, and ultimately able to best serve their customers. And now, more than ever, kbb retailers must also carefully manage the expectations of their clients, highlighting the continuing challenges in supply. This is especially important as Checkatrade reported consumer awareness of shortages is low. These challenges aren’t for the short-term, as global shortages are predicted into 2022. But joining together, manufacturers, distributors and retailers, should ensure the supply chain is working as effectively as possible, even in difficult circumstances.

NEWS & VIEWS

KBN LIKES ✔ …The kitchen industry now has a further BA (Hons) qualiﬁcation to add to its existing Foundation Degree, enhancing the professionalism in the industry.

KBN DISLIKES ✖ …Pingdemic caused so many cancelled kitchen and bathroom ﬁts, placing further pressure on the supply chain. But is pleased the self-isolate alert has now ended.

KBN WANTS ! ……to congratulate RAK Ceramics, colleagues and its customers for raising £60,000 at the bathroom suppliers’ Charity Golf Day in aid of Rowans Hospice.

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 Production Assistant Stephanie Stapleton e: stephanie@hamerville.co.uk Group Production Manager Carol Padgett e: carol@hamerville.co.uk

Printer Walstead Roche Group Advertisement Manager Craig Jowsey e: craig@hamerville.co.uk Advertisement Manager Marcus Hooper e: mhooper@hamerville.co.uk

TRADE JOURNALIST/ EDITOR MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR 2014

HOME IMPROVEMENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2014

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ABC total average net circulation 12,573 (for the 11 issues distributed between January to December 2020)

© 2021 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.

www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS SEPTEMBER 5

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NEWS & VIEWS

MAKING HEADLINES

Extra year study can top up education

IN BRIEF ■ Aqualisa has introduced a mobile training showroom and online portal to communicate the advantages of smart showering to consumers, installers and specifers. Fitted with working products, the Aquastorm training truck boasts a demonstration area and the Smart Hub portal has been created to cover all aspects of smart showering technology, from wellbeing and eco-friendly beneﬁts to step-by-step installation. Read more at www.rdr.link/KD001 ■ Home appliance manufacturer Haier Europe held its annual conference, reporting 20% growth in the brand, with an increase of 12% in Europe, and revealing future production investment plans. The company also reported a 30% year-onyear increase in smart MDA sales, with more than 3million registered users, 18+ connected product families and more than 12million smart products in the market. View the entire story at www.rdr.link/KD002 ■ National distributor PJH has launched a Virtual Showroom for its Bathrooms to Love portfolio, which allows customers to visit its premises in Cannock and explore its latest ranges, remotely. For customers who are unable to visit its physical showroom, they can see new product launches and aspirational displays. It can also be used with a virtual headset to provide an immersive and interactive experience. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KD003

Bucks New University launches BA (Hons) Kitchen Design Bucks New University has announced the launch of a Batchelor of Arts honours degree in Kitchen Degree, claimed to be “the only course of its kind in the country”. The decision was made to introduce the BA (Hons) course after consultation with industry, current and past students. Course leader Jayne Hall Cunnick commented: “We found that there was a real desire to achieve further qualiﬁcations in the ﬁeld, as well as a need for this kind of expertise across the sector. “As the only course of this kind in the country and I think globally, it is really important for the ongoing success of the industry.” The part-time course will be taught mainly online, with

residential study blocks of two to three nights at Missenden Abbey Campus in the Chilterns. This follows on from the Foundation Kitchen Degree course, which has been running for the past seven years. Spanning three years of ﬂexible and distributed study, the foundation course forms an entry pathway into the additional oneyear, top-up honours degree. However, students can also come from a range of backgrounds, such as BTEC, HND, NHC, second year degree or foundation degree in other related subject areas, such as product design, interior design or architecture. Jayne Hall Cunnick said the course was already garnering a lot

of interest and plans for its launch may be brought forward: “We were planning to begin running the BA top-up course starting in the 2022/23 academic year, but we already have applicants who are keen to begin and with a few more applicants we may have enough to start in September 2021.” She concluded: “I believe that our students leave with an elevated way of thinking about kitchen design and their work is therefore at an incredibly high standard; this has untold beneﬁts for their organisation and most importantly their customers.”

More than 5,000 fitters surveyed

‘Pingdemic’ sees nearly half of kbb installations cancelled says BiKBBI Nearly half of kitchen, bedroom or bathroom ﬁts were cancelled as part of the NHS COVID app ‘pingdemic’, according to the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI). In a survey of over 5,000 installers, 47% cancelled jobs due to customers or installers being told to self-isolate by the NHS app. Based on the average cost of jobs, it has meant mostly selfemployed sole traders and SME businesses have lost millions of pounds. CEO of the BiKBBI Damian Walters commented on the affect

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of the ‘pingdemic’ stating it was unnecessary and unfair for installers to have taken a hit on their incomes. He said it was ridiculous that half had to stop working and earning, while the rest of the country recovered, particularly as installers spent the last year working to COVID-safe procedures. Walters said the disruption to businesses and customers had been a “real kick in the teeth” for people who wanted to invest in their homes and said it could cause months of disruption. He commented: “Jobs won’t be

able to be rescheduled for many months creating the risk of a wave of cancellations. “Having invested to meet the currently high demand, kbb retailers and manufacturers could ﬁnd themselves at a breaking point in the coming months.”

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Creating up to 300 jobs in Lincolnshire

Wren opens Europe’s largest quartz fabrication site Kitchen manufacturer and retailer Wren has opened Europe’s largest quartz worktop processing centre, creating up to 300 jobs in North Lincolnshire. The 150,000 sq ft Scunthorpe North site will cater for “unprecedented” demand of affordable quartz stone worktops. It will complement Wren’s current quartz manufacturing facility in Barton-upon-Humber. Wren began fabricating stone quartz worktops at the facility in July 2021 and the site will be operating at full capacity by December 2021. The company is recruiting for roles at the quartz fabrication

site until the end of the year. Wren Kitchens UK manufacturing operations director Kes Serelis said: “We’ve reinvested back into our business to create this new state-of-the-art facility which is required to cope with our increased demand of fabricating high-quality quartz worktops for our customers across the UK. “It will create a signiﬁcant number of manufacturing and support roles for the region such as machine operators, team leaders, compliance officers and managers. “It will be the largest quartz fabrication site in Europe, and we will be utilising the most sophisticated machinery in the

industry such as robotic CNC saws.” Wren currently has three manufacturing sites across North Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, with this its second site in Scunthorpe. In addition, it has developed a specialist quartz storage facility at its headquarters in Barton-uponHumber, as well as ﬁve quartz delivery depots across the UK in Gateshead, Watford, Thurrock, Basingstoke and Exeter.

To deliver the quartz, Wren has its own bespoke double-decker lorries with A-Frames to secure the stone during transit. In addition, works are also progressing on Wren’s new £120 million kitchen manufacturing and assembly facility at its headquarters in Barton-upon-Humber. The 1 million sq ft site will open by summer 2022, which will create 900 new jobs.

Entering steam oven market

Forms part of 15-year Environment Plan

Bora expands into new product sector

Government announces plans for mandatory water labels

Downdraft extractor manufacturer Bora has expanded its appliance portfolio with a steam oven, multi drawer, plus hob with integrated extractor at a new access point for the brand. CEO of Bora Willi Bruckbauer established the company in 2007 and explained why it had entered a new product sector: “Now downdraft extractors are everywhere, and Bora is advancing in every country in Europe, and we’ve not done anything different to what we were doing 14 years ago. “We’ve taken another look outside the box and thought what does the perfect oven look like?” The company has now partnered with one of Germany’s professional oven manufacturers to create Bora X Bo, a handleless steam oven, where moist air is extracted, puriﬁed

and recirculated into the room. It boasts three steam functions, is Wi-Fi connected, plus a 19” touch display which can also operate the Bora multi-drawer. The multi-drawer can be used for reheating or defrosting food, keeping meals warm or cooking at low temperatures. Completing the trio of appliance launches is the Bora S Pure cooktop with an integrated extractor, which adds to its existing Bora Pure collection. UK & Ireland sales manager for Bora, Andrew Cummings commented on the reaction to the launch: “The market has been watching with excitement to see what we did next.” All the latest Bora appliances will be available in the UK at the beginning of 2022.

Government has announced proposals for a mandatory water label for bathroom and kitchen products, as part of its approach to reduce water demand and meet the requirements of its 25-Year Environment Plan. The water label will be designed to help people make informed choices about how they can save water and be similar to the traffic light energy efficiency labels. The mandatory water label forms part of a series of measures, introduced by Environment Secretary The Rt Hon George Eustice MP, for households across England to use water more efficiently and to protect supplies for the future. These include encouraging local authorities to adopt a tighter standard of water use in new build

homes and developing a roadmap towards greater water efficiency in developments and through retroﬁts. The plans will see 110 litres of water per person per day as the standard of water use in new homes, compared with the current standard of 125 litres. Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “We must all work harder to tackle the pressures on our water resources by understanding and challenging ourselves on how much water we need to use in our daily lives.

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NEWS & VIEWS

MAKING HEADLINES

Group revenue up by nearly 70%

IN BRIEF ■ Household appliance manufacturer Whirlpool has reported net sales growth of 31.7% to $5,324million in its Q2 financial results. It follows on from “strong” financial results in Q1 which the company said was driven by sustained consumer demand and cost-based pricing actions. In Q2, the appliance manufacturer delivered cash provided by operating activities of $646million and free cash flow of $769million, primarily driven by strong earnings. View the entire story at www.rdr.link/KD004 ■ Medite MDF from Medite Smartply has launched a digital platform for MDF enthusiasts, such as kitchen and bathroom designers, joiners and furniture makers. It includes a membersonly community where users can share their projects and there is a monthly prize draw for those who upload photos. In addition, the website also features exclusive content and information on new product development. Discover more at www.rdr.link/KD005 ■ Appliance manufacturer Electrolux reported net sales increased to SEK 30,303million, corresponding to growth of 39.1% in its Q2 interim report. Its operating income increased to SEK1,983million, with operating cash flow after investments of SEK 1,456million. However, it also stated global supply challenges could have a higher impact in the second half of the year. Read the report at www.rdr.link/KD006

Howdens Group reports “record” sales and profits in H1 Howdens Group achieved record sales and profits in the first half of 2021, with a revenue of £784.9million and gross profit margin of 61.3%. Group revenue was up 68.8% on H1 2020, which was significantly impacted by COVID, but was also 20.3% higher than H1 in 2019. Gross profit margin was also up against 2020 figures of 59.4% and 61.9% in 2019, with a higher mix of everyday and promotional items. Howdens reported the price increases more than recovered increasing commodity and freight costs. Howden Joinery UK depot revenue of £764.1million was 68.5% up on H1 2020 and 67.1% higher on a same depot basis. Compared to H1 2019, Howden Joinery UK depot revenue increased by 19.8% and 15.3% on a same depot basis.

Chief executive Andrew Livingston said: “Howdens delivered a very strong performance in the first half of 2021, with sales and profit before tax at record levels for the period.” He continued: “This robust performance demonstrates the strength of our trade only, in-stock, local business model and the benefit of pent-up demand as people choose to spend more on their homes. “With that in mind, we now believe there is potential for at least 900 depots in the UK, including 20-25 in Northern Ireland and plan to start testing the Howdens model in the Republic of Ireland in 2022.” Howdens invested £23.8million, up on the 2020 figure of £22.3million in new and revamped depots, manufacturing capacity and digital investments in the first half

of the year. It saw Howdens open seven depots and close one in the UK, bringing the total number to 754, as well as revamp 28 depots and re-rack a further eight. In addition, the company reported its solid surface manufacturing facility is now open and 14 of its 17 new kitchen ranges now available, with sales of the new ranges higher than the ﬁrst half of 2019. Howdens also developed its digital offering with “anytime ordering” launched for trade customers, and reported increased web visits, online brochure requests and resulting depot contacts. The company plans to spend a further £90million in 2021, including new and refurbished depots, inhouse manufacturing and investment in digital.

Do-it-For-Me sales up 30%

Wickes on track for continued growth DIY and home improvement retailer Wickes half year trading update shows group sales have grown by 33.1% year-on-year and 22.4% on a two-year basis. In Q2, like-for-like sales growth was ahead by 47.6% and 19.7% on a two-year basis. Driven by local trade and DIY, the retailer reported core volume continued to grow “strongly” across a range of categories. While DIFM (Do-it-For-Me) sales in the ﬁrst half were impacted by the enforced closure of its instore kitchen and bathroom showrooms, the company stated virtual sales “continued to resonate well with consumers.”

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Since reopening sales at point of order, DIFM has grown over 30% on a two-year basis. The company states this will support sales growth in the second half of the year. According to Wickes, although it is “watchful” of the ongoing impact of COVID and wider economic environment, the outlook for the

first year is in line with its expectations. CEO of Wickes David Wood commented: “This performance once more reflects the strength of our business model and the tremendous support from our colleagues who have worked with tireless dedication to help the nation feel house proud. “We are managing to navigate inflationary pressure and industrywide raw material constraints by working closely with our suppliers, and we remain on track to continue to grow in a responsible and sustainable way, providing our customers with the products they need at the best possible value.”

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CAD suppliers join forces

Compusoft and 2020 to merge CAD suppliers Compusoft and 2020 are set to merge to create a “leading provider of space planning and manufacturing solutions for the residential and commercial segments.” The group will offer an end-toend suite of planning, design, visualisation, conﬁguration, pricing, quoting, ERP and manufacturing solutions. It will cover kitchen, bathroom, office and residential furniture, as well as commercial and residential windows and doors segments.

The combined workforce of Compusoft and 2020 will benefit from more than 65 years of experience in customer service, catalogue content and technology. Compusoft is a portfolio company of TA Associates, a global growth private equity firm. 2020 is a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, a private equity firm focused on investments in the financial services, healthcare, industrials and software industries. The newly-combined company will be majority owned by Genstar

and TA. Chief executive officer of 2020 Mark Stoever said: “This is a transformative transaction and the support from Genstar and TA will enable us to invest in the business, new technologies and our people. We look forward to completing the transaction so we can continue to build on our companies’ unwavering commitment to innovation and customer service.” David Tombre, chief executive

officer of Compusoft, commented: “Given Compusoft’s presence in Europe and 2020’s presence in North and South America, the two businesses are truly complementary.” The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021, and terms of sale remain undisclosed.

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NEWS & VIEWS

MAKING HEADLINES

IN BRIEF ■ Bathroom and tile manufacturer RAK Ceramics has raised £60,000 in aid of Rowans Hospice at its annual Charity Golf Day for colleagues and customers. Held at the Kings Course of the Warwickshire Golf Club, 21 teams gathered for 18 holes of golfing competition held in memory of Alan Abrams, a well-known and much-loved character in the bathroom industry who passed away in April 2019. Read all the story at www.rdr.link/KD007 ■ Glazed titanium steel bathroom manufacturer Bette has reduced the price of its built-in washbasins by up to 40%, following a reduction in production costs. It has reduced costs by optimising and automating the production of three of its built-in washbasins and has passed the cost saving on to its customers. For the BetteAqua, BetteComodo and BetteOne, the company has adjusted the designs to streamline and automate the production process. Read more at www.rdr.link/KD008 ■ Kitchen furniture manufacturer Nobia has announced net sales of SEK 3,622million, up 35%, in its interim financial report (January to June 2021). It follows on from its “solid” start to 2021, with organic growth of 3% despite the UK lockdowns. Nobia’s results also reported operating profit increased to SEK 347million, corresponding to an operating margin of 9.6%, and stated its was rebuilding its UK order book. View the story at www.rdr.link/KD009

Somerset-based manufacturing moves to Leicestershire

AQ Group acquires Hollys of Bath The AQ Group has acquired the assets, Intellectual Property and design rights for shower and accessories manufacturer Hollys of Bath for an undisclosed sum. It has also acquired the design rights for the soap dispensers range manufactured by Hollys of Bath for its former parent company Hornbeam Ivy. According to AQ Group, the soap dispensers range is a “real bonus element” of the acquisition, with closer scrutiny now paid to handwashing and sanitising because of the COVID pandemic. Customers for the soap dispensers include hotels, spas, kitchen distributors and cosmetic retailers. Manufacturing of more than 300

shower, tap and accessory products will move from Hollys of Bath current base, near Bath in Somerset to the AQ Group premises in Hinckley, Leicestershire. The company will sit alongside AQ brands which include Aqata and Aqualux shower enclosures, with brassware

marketed under Holly of Bath and Aqata. In addition, the Hollys of Bath brand is sold into Europe and the US market and provides an export opportunity for its new owner, with scope to develop its brands into new territories. Led by CEO Steve Lee, the AQ Group is positioned as a luxury ‘Made in Britain’ range of showering and bathroom products, with its latest acquisition dovetailing with its surround brands. According to the company, the acquisition creates a complete shower room solution, and is a “great added value” opportunity given challenges with escalating import costs and raw material price hikes.

Extraction specialist adds to Aga and Viking stable

Novy joins Middleby Corporation As part of a long-term global expansion strategy, Belgian induction and extraction specialist Novy has joined the Middleby Corporation. Middleby manufactures commercial and residential kitchen appliances, as well as food processing solutions, with brands that include Aga, Rangemaster, La Cornue and Viking. Headquartered in Elgin, Illinois USA, Middleby global sales were more than $2.5 billion across its three business platforms in 2020. It follows a consultation period where Novy ‘s shareholders, Soﬁndev, BNP Paribas, Korys and the Lannoy family, who originally founded the business, have been seeking an investment partner. CEO of Novy Carlos Wanzeele said: “Over the years, Novy has evolved into a highly-respected brand thanks to industry-leading

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innovation, superior product quality and dedicated personal service. “We have experienced greater demand as customers have chosen our brand, which has led to increased momentum. Our international presence has also grown signiﬁcantly in recent years, including in the UK and Ireland. “For Novy, this new partnership provides many opportunities in terms of product development and also access to a broader international sales network. “Because of the decentralised way Middleby operates its companies, our customers and other stakeholders should experience little to no change in

their daily interactions. CEO of Middleby Tim FitzGerald added: “We look for well-known and highly-respected brands with industry-leading technology for Middleby. “Novy is recognised for its market-leading innovations and product designs, complementing our expanding portfolio of premium residential brands. “The business is well-positioned in the built-in cooking segment of the residential market, a category which is growing globally, and we believe there are exciting opportunities to realise synergies with our existing residential brands.”

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Extending Hitachi brand into Europe

Beko owner joins with Hitachi Parent company of Beko, Arçelik has entered a joint venture with Hitachi to launch Arçelik Hitachi Home Appliances. Arçelik owns 60% of the company, which includes 11 subsidiaries transferred from Hitachi Global Life Solutions (GLS) and includes two manufacturing and nine sales companies for home appliances outside Japan. Beko’s owner has expanded its business to 150 countries around the world, while Hitachi has operated its home appliance business mainly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. According to Arçelik Hitachi

Home Appliances, the collaboration between the two companies will leverage strengths such as supply chain and technological capabilities. It has also been reported sustainability is at the core of Arçelik and Hitachi GLS and the partnership will increase competitiveness around energy efficiency and sustainable solutions. Former head of APAC and general manager of Thailand at Beko Zafer Üstüner will lead the joint venture. It will combine the sales network of both brands to extend the Hitachi brand to regions such as Europe and North Africa.

In addition, the business bases in production and procurement will be integrated to strengthen competitiveness. Arçelik and Hitachi GLS will also integrate the knowledge of both companies in the creation of connected home appliances. CEO of Arçelik Haka Bulgurlu commented: “This is a major step for us in achieving our global expansion, ambitions and goals to become one of the world’s top home appliances companies. “In the next few years, we will see Hitachi brand products covering full major domestic appliance need of customers and

growing both in existing markets and new ones (geographies) by the support of Arçelik companies.” President of Hitachi Global Life Solutions Jun Taniguchi concluded: “I am conﬁdent that by strengthening the complementary sales networks and product strategies of both companies Arçelik Hitachi Home Appliances will gain a competitive edge and become a market leader in the global home appliances market.”

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NEWS & VIEWS

PEOPLE

Position filled Appointments and promotions across the industry

LAKES

ABODE

SMEG UK

MOORES

Showering spaces manufacturer Lakes has welcomed Darren Bedford as national sales manager. Based at the company’s head office in Tewkesbury, he joins the existing team of area sales managers and will support them growing relationships with merchant customers. With almost 20 years’ experience in the industry, Bedford has worked for brands such as Wirquin, Merlyn and joins the company from Aqualisa.

Kitchen and bathroom sink, tap and showering manufacturer Abode has appointed Mark Fletcher as operations director. He will lead a team to ensure the supply chain and service propositions are fulﬁlled “efficiently and effectively”. Having worked in manufacturing environments throughout his career, Fletcher has experience in operational and general management roles plus Lean Manufacturing.

Appliance manufacturer Smeg UK has recently appointed Mark Euesden as southern contracts sales manager. He joins the company from Symphony, where he was part of the Skyline Division team, which specialises in high-rise projects. In his new role, Euesden will be tasked with winning new customers, boosting sales and representing Smeg’s product portfolio.

British kitchen manufacturer Moores has welcomed Mark Phelan to the role of head of customer experience. The newly-created position sits within the senior management team and his primary objective will be to help Moores deliver “best in class” customer service. Phelan has worked across varied sectors including ﬁnancial services, hairdressing and housebuilding but with customer service remaining a constant.

CAPLE

AQUALISA

SENSIO LIGHTING

Kitchen and bedroom supplier Caple has appointed Ian Garven as business development manager (BDM) for Scotland, following the retirement of Allen Dove. He is tasked with promoting and selling Caple’s portfolio of appliances, sinks and taps, kitchen and bedroom furniture to retailers, merchants and electrical wholesalers. Garven joins the company from Omega Plc, where he was kitchen furniture sales manager for Scotland.

Shower manufacturer Aqualisa has announced the promotion of Kate Lovell to head of marketing. She will be focused on deﬁning the company’s marketing and brand strategy, with an emphasis on digital initiatives and campaigns. Lovell joined Aqualisa in January 2020 as digital marketing manager, spearheading the development of the company’s new website, and introducing a digital platform to support and engage with trade customers.

Sensio Lighting has appointed two new senior roles to its growing team based in Castleford, West Yorkshire. Gareth Griffiths joins the business as sales director and Ian Simons has been named operations manager. Griffiths joins the company from Bristan, where he worked for 12 years and has 20 years of experience within the kbb industry. He be responsible for building a sales team of business development and key

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account managers and taking the lead on some national accounts. Whereas Simons brings 25 years of experience in senior operations roles in both SMEs and large multi-national organisations within manufacturing and distribution to his role. He will be responsible for all operational functions of the business heading up the supply chain, quality, distribution and customer experience teams.

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NEWS & VIEWS

YOUR THOUGHTS

Sponsored by

Inbox... Kitchens & Bathrooms News TKC Ltd has expanded its sales team with the appointments of Richard Glaysher and Simon Jones. Read more at www.rdr.link/KD010

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 RAK Ceramics raises £60,000 for charity at its annual Golf Day. Read the whole story at www.rdr.link/KD012

Kirsty McMullen Congratulations guys, welcome to a great company

Toby Griffin OMG!!

Kitchens & Bathrooms News Kbb CAD supplier Virtual Worlds scoops Retail Systems Award for its Augmented Reality and 4D Theatre. Read the story at www.rdr.link/KD013 Tom Reynolds Congratulations Nathan Maclean and team Emily McCullagh Well done guys

Kitchens & Bathrooms News British kitchen furniture brand LochAnna Kitchens invests in own trade showroom, rather than exhibition, for year-round use. View the story at www.rdr.link/KD011

Paul Langston Makes great sense in these times. Be great to see all the furniture designs/colours in one place. Ian Sutcliffe Great idea. Jim McCay Excellent decision

Get in touch and contact the editor via email pturrell@hamerville.co.uk or through any of our social media channels:

@kandbnews

Nathan Maclean This is a great win for us and our customers that are invested in Virtual Worlds. The award is for best use of Augmented and Virtual Reality across all retail sectors. Kitchens & Bathrooms News High-end interior design show Decorex International is returning as a live event to London’s Olympia in October. Read more at www.rdr.link/KD014

@kandbnews

www.linkedin.com/company/kitchens-bathrooms-news

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Colin Long That’s great news. Love Decorex

Kitchens & Bathrooms News CD UK is set to launch start-up Intelligent Appliances, encouraging consumers to make conscious choices about their kitchen appliances and “transforming the world we live in.” We speak exclusively with its founder and managing director Gary Baker. Read more at www.rdr.link/KD015 Tony Robson Hey Gary, I could be interested in the Urban Cultivator products… .looking for a solution like this to sell at Day True! James Capell-Abra Love this! CD UK innovating with sustainability in mind. The way forward. Emma Gannon Great point James – sustainability has to be at the forefront of mind for all businesses as we move through this decade. The sooner we all start doing the right thing for people and the planet the better… Peter Holland Great to see these innovations from CD UK

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FURNITURE

KITCHENS

Everything reduced A reduction in styling, as well as impact on the planet, the phrase “less is more” is never more relevant than now when specifying kitchen furniture

Often associated with pioneer of modernism and architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe, the phrase “less is more” is never more relevant than now for kitchen design. It could equally refer to the styling with pared-down aesthetics or to the environmental considerations and footprint furniture leaves on the planet. Consumers are interested in both, as head of UK operations for Rotpunkt Matt Phillips comments: “The sheer variety of new materials, colours and finishes available have ushered in a new era of design creativity with end users demanding beauty and utility, as well as sustainability.”

Design progression Of course the handleless furniture look has been popular for some time and it remains a key trend for kitchens now, as managing director of Daval Simon Bodsworth explains: “My feeling is that it is a go-to shorthand for homeowners who prefer a contemporary style and it is also an extremely versatile and practical style which appeals to all age groups.” It could be argued, it is because the look has continued to evolve from white banks of units to now embrace colour, material mixes and texture, keeping the look bang up-to-date. Pronorm’s national sales manager for UK & Ireland, Richard Turner charts the movement: “Five to 10 years ago the look for a handleless kitchen very much centred on being white, purist and pared back, then came the move towards organic neutrals of greys and sands, and from that point to a darker, moodier palette where the decor and texture are intended to be prominent.” And, with a move towards more eclectic interiors, the clean lines of handleless furniture have even embraced more classical styles, such as Shaker but with reduced framing. CEO of Scavolini Fabiana Scavolini comments: “Handleless doors have found their way even into more traditional designs. A Shaker-style door has a simplicity that pairs beautifully with a finger grip.” And Richard Turner of Pronorm

1 adds: “This design progression has enabled the handleless style to be successful for modern living where it’s less about creating the kitchen and more about the furniture style in the kitchen and living areas overall.”

1. MEREWAY Adding to its Q-line kitchen range, Mereway has introduced five finishes, including Tempesta Ceramica and Diamante Ceramica. See all the styles in the range at www.rdr.link/KD016

Large and small And handleless furniture is flexible, as the style not only suits large schemes but is also a practical solution for more compact kitchens. Kitchen category manager for LochAnna

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KITCHENS

FURNITURE

3 2. SYMPHONY

4. ROTPUNKT

Kitchens Sinead Trainor continues: “Large projects that incorporate open-plan living tend to create a statement, are design driven and minimalist, these spaces are a talking point with guests. Smaller projects use the space practically and hide appliances in order to create the feeling that there is more space. Both of these goals can be aided with the addition of handleless cabinetry.” Fabiana Scavolini agrees: “The way in which the handleless kitchen has evolved in style means it can be used to make good use of any space available. In a compact galley kitchen, for example, not having protruding handles can free up precious centimetres.”

Comfort FL is a sold oak, handleless Shaker-style door. Discover all the ﬁnishes and dimensions at

Lessening impact

Inspired by classic Shaker design, the Inline Princeton Collection features a framed, handleless door. The one-piece door is made from MDF and boasts a matt painted ﬁnish. Download the brochure at www.rdr.link/KD017

3. TKC The Stratto narrow frame Shaker door in White features the Vero handleless rail system in Rose Gold. It responds to the trend for metallic accents. View the technical guide at www.rdr.link/KD018

www.rdr.link/KD019

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The reduction in styling is mirrored by a lessened impact on the environment, which is a growing concern for designers and their clients. Kitchen manufacturers have worked hard to minimise or

4 completely negate their carbon footprint, from using biomass systems to heat factories, through to recycling waste and investing in offsetting projects. Matt Phillips of Rotpunkt says: “For us, sustainability is part of our business planning and who we are, so we can help retailers to help their customers create dream kitchens with a clear conscience. There is so much scope to educate consumers about the beneﬁts of choosing sustainable furniture and to ensure that is clearly labelled so that consumers and installers can see its provenance at a glance.”

Recycled wood Certainly, consumer interest is piquing in sustainable issues, as reﬂected by a Europewide survey carried out by appliance manufacturer Beko on people’s concerns about the environment. It found after recycling, buying sustainable products was the next effective

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KITCHENS

FURNITURE

5 5. CAPLE Based on a traditional Shaker Style, Oaten has a modern, slimline 68mm frame for a contemporary look. The five-piece door has a matt foil-wrapped finish and comes in a choice of six colours. Read more at www.rdr.link/KD020

6. CROWN Rimano is the latest addition to the Crown porfolio, with a bevelled design shown here in Sage and Mint. The furniture is available in a palette of 22 colours. View all the finishes and request a brochure at www.rdr.link/KD021

solution. And kitchen furniture manufacturers have “green products” which prove consumers don’t have to compromise on design for sustainable solutions. Simon Bodsworth comments: “I think the pandemic has focussed attention on raw materials, and sustainability is definitely at the forefront of the design conversation. Recycled wood is becoming a big part of furniture design for eco-friendly kitchens.” In 2020, Rotpunkt introduced greenline BioBoard Gen2 which uses chipboard that consists of up to 90% recycled wood and Scavolini uses raw ecological panels made from 100% recycled wood for its carcases. While the Renzo kitchen from Daval is not only made from recycled materials, but when it reaches the end of its lifespan the kitchen can be fully recycled. Sinead Trainor of LochAnna Kitchens adds: “Part of our product development for 2022 is looking at more sustainable and ‘eco’products.”

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6 Circular economy The ability to reuse or recycle kitchens to reduce landfill has also become a real talking point for the industry, particularly as furniture is designed for long-lasting use. Fabiano Scavolini comments: “A kitchen with a long lifespan automatically means a lower environmental impact.” She continues: “We advise our customers to re-use their kitchen in a holiday home or garage, or by donating to a charity or selling it on.” And the company has certification to attest 96% of its products have circularity. Mereway and Symphony have both recently joined up with The Used Kitchen Company to encourage retailers to sell ex-displays and urge customers to recycle their old kitchens. Managing director of Mereway Mark Mills explains why: “Prolonging the life of a Mereway kitchen makes total sense and is definitely winwin for our retailers and their customers, the

Used Kitchen Company buyers and of course the environment. Our kitchens are built to last and we know that they can give many years of service and pleasure beyond that of their first “owner!” And marketing and retail sales director of Symphony Simon Collyns agrees adding: “Extending the life of our furniture through this collaboration makes sense for us, our retailers, their customers and the environment, so we’re excited to be involved.” Whatever the style of kitchens will come into fashion, sustainability is only going to grow as an integral part of kitchen design as manufacturers and retailers look to recycle, reuse and reduce materials. Matt Phillips of Rotpunkt concludes: “I think that consumer demand and the climate emergency is moving to a point where key trends will converge in kitchen design, which will encompass everything from wellness, technology and sustainability.”

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KITCHENS

RANGE COOKERS

At close range We take a look at how the range cooker continues to resonate with the British consumer – from capacious cooking cavities through to a rainbow of colours A staple in any independent kitchen showroom, the range cooker continues to resonate with the British consumer. It is seemingly able to reinvent itself, not only to meet interior trends but to be found by new groups of consumers. In fact, Stoves conducted consumer research, in 2019, which revealed range cooker owners are becoming younger. It found 25-34 year olds were the highest proportion of consumers who had bought a range cooker in the past two years. However, in light of the pandemic, it could be argued functionality has been at the core of range cooker sales. Managing director of Bertazzoni UK and Ireland Maurizio Severgnini comments: “Despite multiple lockdowns bringing in-store shopping to a halt, the market for range cookers has seen a bounce back during the last 12 months and is now back to 2019 figures. We believe this is because more consumers are appreciating the vast number of benefits that range cookers provide or have been able to add one to their home following a kitchen refurbishment.”

Cooking function With capacious cooking cavities, range cookers could meet the most arduous batch cooking schedule, created by the lockdowns, and for athome entertaining now restrictions have lifted. Even before the pandemic, Stoves found in its research that consumers were seeking multifunction ovens, multiple cavities and a separate grill. And range cookers are able to meet the most demanding cooking requirements, with technology such as splitters to divide tall ovens, through to dedicated steam cavities and pyrolytic technology for easy cleaning. Maurizio

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1. SMEG Adding to its existing Portofino range, the 900mm double cavity range cooker (CPF92) sits alongside the 900mm single cavity and 1200mm double cavity model. It is available in four finishes. View the collection at www.rdr.link/KD022

2 2. FISHER & PAYKEL

3. BERTAZZONI

With a total capacity of 140 litres, the freestanding dual fuel range cooker (OR90SCG6B1) has nine oven functions also boasts pyrolytic self-clean. Read the specification at www.rdr.link/KD023

Part of the Professional Series is the 1000mm wide induction top, electric triple oven. It boasts 11 oven functions. Check out all the models at

Severgnini of Bertazzoni continues: “Range cookers facilitate a professional cooking experience in a home environment and modern range cookers, in particular, have the technology to allow this. Many now boast a variety of unique

functions, such as integrated digital food probes and some even come with a rotisserie.” He explains range cooking technology has not only borrowed from the built-in oven market but also from the hob sector. Severgnini adds:

www.rdr.link/KD024

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RANGE COOKERS

KITCHENS

4. STOVES Collaborating with UK paint brand Dulux, Stoves introduced its colour of the year – Brave Ground – across its Richmond Deluxe range cookers. It brings the total palette to 10 and you can read the full story at www.rdr.link/KD025

5. RANGEMASTER Expanding its offer, Rangemaster has introduced three Earth-inspired colours of Mineral Green, Stone Blue and matt Charcoal Black. The colours are available across seven cooker families and you can ﬁnd out more at www.rdr.link/KD026

“Cooktop technology has also advanced apace with induction models, such as that on our Professional Series 100cm induction top electric double oven, featuring a booster function for extra-fast boiling, as well as ‘boil and simmer’, which brings the pan to the boil and then slowly reduces to a simmer.”

Colour comeback Of course, such a large-scale appliance must also ﬁt with the demands of the latest interior styles. When cookery TV shows started to ﬁnd favour in schedules, the range cooker shed its farmhouse image for an industrial and restaurant-style aesthetic focused on stainless steel. Interestingly, however, with the revival of the classical kitchen, as well as the interior trend for personalisation, colour has made a return to the cooking appliance. Maurizio Severgnini says he had noticed the move towards colour in his company’s sales, commenting: “Colours, textures and metallics are having their moment within interior design and for consumers who are looking to bring colourful, contemporary looks to their kitchen there are plenty of different options from bright and beautiful appliances through to subtle accents such as the range cookers in our Heritage Series.”

Natural inspiration Interestingly, nature has most recently inspired the palette of British manufacturers Stoves and Rangemaster. Stoves introduced the Dulux Colour of the Year – Brave Ground – to its Richmond Deluxe range cookers, last year. It sees the company now offer 10 colours as part of its Stoves 2020 Colour Boutique line. While earlier this year, Rangemaster added three Earthinspired colours – Mineral Green, Stone Blue and Charcoal Black - to seven cooker families, bringing its total number of colours to 17. Brand and digital marketing manager at Rangemaster Emma Cowley continues: “With green and blue tones set to become an even

5 bigger trend in kitchens over the next year, these three nature-inspired colours are designed to enrich everything from dark, dramatic cabinetry to sleek, neutral tones and natural wood finishes. The ever-multifunctional kitchen offers the perfect canvas to bring nature indoors and, unsurprisingly, biophilic design is gaining traction in the design world as a way to connect with the outdoors, to make us feel good and benefit our health.” She adds: “While a brushed stainless steel range cooker will always be popular in a modern kitchen, we continue to see consumers incorporating appliances in coloured finishes as a way to create individuality.”

Memorable marketing Of course, colour not also provides a design advantage but can also make an independent showroom even more memorable, when

consumers are shopping around for their new kitchen. Emma Cowley of Rangemaster explains how coloured range cookers can be an important marketing tool for a kitchen showroom, “For the retailer, an appliance in a vibrant ﬁnish taking centre stage in a showroom display – or on social media – can only be a good thing. Not only does it work to attract attention and draw people into a showroom, it’s also a great talking point and conversation starter. And, of course, it looks fantastic too!” With kitchen trends for 2021 focused on large capacity appliances, nostalgia and dining in, it’s easy to see how range cooking remains key to kitchen design – ticking all those boxes. In fact, Severgnini concludes: “Whilst the built-in market will continue to grow, we do not believe this will be at the detriment of range cookers, which deliver both capacity and pleasure.”

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KITCHENS

PRODUCT ROUND-UP

1. FALMEC Italian cooker hood manufacturer Falmec has introduced Light, designed as a centrepiece for use above kitchen islands. The hood is enclosed by two smoked glass panels and two black satin aluminium proﬁles, which integrate with the LED strips, to offer illumination across the entire lower perimeter. Light also boasts Falmec’s Multi-Air technology, which provides a compact suction body and a slim-line aesthetic. Discover more about the products at www.rdr.link/KD027

just out

2 2. SHAWS OF DARWEN Fireclay sink manufacturer Shaws of Darwen has introduced the Gallery Collection, which features the company’s most popular sinks with exclusively-designed artwork. There are seven designs, each inspired by nature, with illustrative and abstract forms to complement classic and contemporary kitchens. The patterns are applied during the glazing process, so will not fade or taint over time. See all the designs at www.rdr.link/KD028

3. NOVY

4. REGINOX

Premium appliance manufacturer Novy has launched the Novy Easy Pro vented hob with an extractor that automatically regulates its speed during the cooking process. Measuring 800mm, the hob features four cooking zones that can be combined into two larger cooking Flexzones areas, either side of the central extraction. It features Pan Detection, Keep Warm and Stop & Go functions. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KD029

Kitchen sink, tap and accessories manufacturer Reginox has unveiled Hampton, which adds to its line-up of granite sinks. It has been manufactured from a new material which, according to the company, has a more natural feel and textured finish. Hampton comes in the choice of a single bowl or a bowl-and-a-half configuration, with both featuring a revised drainer profile. View the entire range at www.rdr.link/KD030

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5. COSENTINO Mineral surface brand Silestone by Cosentino has introduced Sunlit Days, reportedly the ﬁrst carbon neutral collection in the quartz and engineered stone market. The company has calculated its carbon footprint and is offsetting the CO2 emissions of the entire lifespan of the Sunlit Days series. Find out more and discover the ﬁve Mediterranean colours at www.rdr.link/KD031

6 6. EVERHOT Heat storage cooker manufacturer Everhot has partnered with cooker hood specialist Westin to bring the Everhot cooker hood by Westin to market. Available in six models, the Everhot cooker hood by Westin range measures from 600mmm up to 1500mm. The hoods come in a palette of 25 colours (including Marine Blue) to match the cookers. Read more on this story at www.rdr.link/KD032

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SHOWERS

Splash out 1

BATHROOMS

With a continuing move towards luxury in bathroom design, we look at what this means for shower choice The pandemic focused consumer attention on health, wellbeing and, when travel was restricted, the home environment. In many cases, it meant homeowners had more disposable income and were able to invest in spaces, such as bathrooms, to enhance their comfort and welfare. And with a greater focus on showering, with open plan and walk-in environments at the forefront of interior styling, it’s no surprise AMA Research reported a “significant and ongoing demand” for premium showers. Product and marketing director of VADO Angela Neve comments: “During the first lockdown we all appreciated the ‘finer things in life’ and perhaps in some cases had extra income to spend on home improvements due to not being able to travel or socialise away from the home. With that, spending a little bit more on something that is used everyday and gives a better user experience was something high on people’s must-have lists.” And CEO of Methven Martin Walker added this was reflected in his company’s sales: “Throughout the past 18 months we have seen an increase in sales of luxury showers and tapware due to the repercussions of COVID-19 restrictions.”

1. ABODE The Abode 300mm Round Showerhead in Matt Black is complemented by a matching valve and handshower and partners its Harmonie mixer taps. Find out the technical details at

www.rdr.link/KD033

2. VADO The VADO Tablet iO collection has been designed to be ﬁtted in a shower enclosure or above the bath and comes in square or circular designs. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KD034

3. ANTONIOLUPI Designed by Brian Sironi for Italian bathroom manufacturer Antoniolupi, Apollo is a collection of shower heads that combine water ﬂow and a lamp. There are four shower heads in the range. Discover more details at

www.rdr.link/KD035

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BATHROOMS

SHOWERS

4.TRITON Featuring a warm-up programme to save running off water, the Host digital shower is shown with a large overhead model. Watch the video at

www.rdr.link/KD036

5. METHVEN Wth a halo design, the Aurajet Aio shower boasts improved water efficiency due to an optimised ﬂow rate. Discover the entire collection at

www.rdr.link/KD037

Quality and co-ordination But how would you differentiate a premium model from the rest of the market? Industry experts agree it is dependent on the wants and needs of consumers. Leader category specialist UK for LIXIL EMENA Paul Bailey comments: “The focus for luxury bathrooms is very much integrated into the concept of wellness and personal care but it is important to tailor this to the customer’s individual needs and lifestyle to make sure the ﬁt is right. With this in mind, for a premium model shower we would expect to see an option for personalisation and personal preference considerations, such as the option to have different spray settings.” He adds: “At the very top end of the luxury shower market, we

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would expect to see a state-of-art system that takes showering and personal care to a whole new level, with advance water settings and additional mood boosting elements.” But, interestingly, sales and marketing director at RAK Ceramics Ben Bryden argues: “A premium model won’t necessarily be expected to be all-singing, all-dancing. In fact, premium is as much about good quality and reliability as anything else, combined with performance and ease of use.”

Industrial drives look Of course, aesthetics play a key role in luxury showering, with large deluge showerheads taking prominence, often complemented by

concealed valves. Marketing manager of Abode Leanne Adamson adds: “Our concealed thermostatic shower valves inject a little luxury into the bathroom, giving the feel of hotel chic in the home, influenced by spa-like, luxury hotels that consumers may have stayed in on their travels.” However, Ben Bryden says the fashion for industrial styling is changing showering choice, adding: “For a long time now, there has been a big emphasis on concealed shower fittings, in line with the trend towards minimal bathroom styling. However, this is now shifting and the demand for exposed shower fittings is really being felt.” The impact of industrial styling can particularly be seen in the choice of finishes with the likes of brushed nickel, brass, copper and matt black at the forefront of interior fashion. Angela Neve of VADO adds: “We have seen an increasing popularity in coloured brassware, with our Individual by VADO range growing rapidly. Individual by VADO includes a range of different brassware finishes,

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SHOWERS

BATHROOMS

6. GROHE Reﬂecting the trend for warmer brassware ﬁnishes is the Grohe Rainshower SmartActive 130 handshower. Download the brochure at

www.rdr.link/KD038

7. RAK CERAMICS RAK-Feeling shower valves can be chosen with a square or round handle and as a single or dual outlet. Read the technical speciﬁcations at

www.rdr.link/KD063

including Brushed Gold, Black and Nickel, as well as our most recent launch of Knurled X Fusion, a range of two-toned colour brassware.”

Government-led water-saving But, arguably, one of the greatest changes in luxury showering has been the natural association with lavish water use. Martin Walker of Methven explains why the mindset has altered: “There are genuine concerns that the UK will face severe water shortages in the next 20 years due to climate change and population growth and, as a result, the Environment Agency is urging everyone to reduce their water usage by 40 litres or more. Statistics show that water used in the bathroom accounts for 40% of a household’s daily usage and there are growing calls to amend Building Regulations to reduce water efficiency to 110 litres per person per day.” The Government has also recently announced plans to introduce mandatory water labelling, so consumers can choose more water-efficient products.

Consumer concern While Government legislation may help drive water-saving change, consumers are rightly concerned and are also keen to play their part. Paul Bailey of LIXIL adds: “As a nation, we are becoming increasingly more aware of the impact that we are having on the planet. In turn, this had had a direct influence on manufacturers, specification and design industries as decision makers can be seen to be increasingly incorporating a sustainable ethos into their projects in a combined effort to be more environmentally responsible.” Enter the likes of flow regulators, air injection sprays and even timed programmes on digital shower models. Marketing director at Triton Showers Tina

Simpson puts some ﬁgures to how consumers feel about water usage: “Our recent poll of 2,000 Brits found that for 44% of adults, reducing water waste is more important to them compared to ﬁve years ago.” She continues: “For the 61% of adults who said they knew how to monitor their water usage, the most common way to reduce consumption was opting to use a shower rather than a bath.” But Ben Bryden concludes there is still a way to go before consumers choose water-saving over aesthetics: “There is still an education to be had around exactly how these savings can be achieved and factors such as style and price are still the overriding factors when it comes to purchasing powers, leaving retailers with a job to do in this regard.”

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BATHROOMS

PRODUCT ROUND-UP

1. MATKI Extending its EauZone collection of showering surrounds, British manufacturer Matki has introduced Mesh glass to its wetroom panel. Featuring a shimmering and handwoven appearance, the silver or gold mesh is enclosed between two layers of safety glass. It boasts a frame which surrounds the glass edges, and is available in a choice of polished, brushed or natural ﬁnishes and in colours to complement or contrast with the mesh. Discover more details at www.rdr.link/KD039

just out

3. GEBERIT Bathroom manufacturer Geberit has unveiled updates to its Renova Plan bathroom furniture, with two new colours and a series of enhancements across the collection. It is now available in Hickory Light and Hickory, in addition to the existing high gloss White and matt Lava ﬁnishes. In addition, Renova Plan features a slim drawer system on the vanity unit and colour-matched internal panels. View the online catalogue at www.rdr.link/KD041

2 2. VITRA Bathroom manufacturer VitrA has expanded the colour options of its Plural collection. The monobloc basins, vanity basins and bowls are now available in Matt Clay Beige (pictured), Matt Moss Green and Matt Terra Rossa. These colours add to the existing palette of White, Matt White, Matt Taupe, Matt Mink and Matt Black. Watch a video featuring an interview with the designer Terri Pecora at www.rdr.link/KD040

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4 4. KUDOS British showering manufacturer Kudos has just launched the Ultimate collection of over bath panels. Based on the design of the Kudos Ultimate Walk-in shower enclosure, the ﬁxed bath panels are available in four sizes from 700mm to 900mm wide and measure 1600mm high. Made from 10mm toughened glass, the panels come with Lifeshield easy-clean coating and in a choice of six colour ﬁnishes. Discover the range at www.rdr.link/KD042

5 5. TOTO Japanese bathroom manufacturer Toto has added the WRAS-approved RG Washlet and RG Washlet Lite to its existing shower toilet offer. The RG Washlet has been designed to be more streamlined and compact, but maintain the functionality of its premium models. While the RG Washlet Lite offers many of the same beneﬁts but is positioned at an entry level price for the brand. Read the technical product details at www.rdr.link/KD043

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BATHROOMS

SMART LIGHTING

1. ANSELL LIGHTING The Prism Pro LED WiZ Fire Rated Downlight is dimmable and tunable between 2700K-6500k via the Wiz app or by voice. Discover all the technical information at www.rdr.link/KD044

Creative sparks

Changeable lighting scenes, touch free controls and ease of use are just some of the reasons why smart lighting will spark the imagination of bathroom designers Bathroom lighting has become increasingly sophisticated from changing colour temperatures, through to sensor controls and even integration as part of whole house solutions. What may have once been only available in commercial architecture or luxury residential projects is now achievable in many homes, as the technology is filtering down the market. Marketing manager for Octo at Ansell Lighting Rachel Morris points out: “Smart lighting is definitely filtering down across the different market levels and is not just for high-end residential applications anymore. There are some very cost-effective solutions that anyone can implement to create smart spaces.” And key accounts manager at Sycamore Lighting Guy Edwards agrees, adding: “Many domestic lighting manufacturers are now producing bathroom lighting with basic smart features.”

Personalised lighting Smart lighting enables more creativity when creating spaces, designing tailor-made and changeable experiences, depending on time of day. Lighting scenes can be created, saved and recalled at the touch of a button.

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2. GIRA The Gira pushbutton sensor 4 combines up to eight functions and allows the user to operate lighting, blinds, moderate the temperate and humidity. It comes in 11 ﬁnishes. Download the brochure at www.rdr.link/KD045

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SMART LIGHTING

Director of Gira UK Jacob de Muijnck comments: “Curated lighting is limitless, able to change and elevate the ambience of the bathroom and dressing area, which has become even more important for designers to increase the level of flexibility and creative flair. It is also benefiting discerning homeowners who are spending more time working from home and want to designate different zones of space for wellness, self-care and relaxation.” In addition, smart lighting enhances the inclusivity of the bathroom for use by all ages and abilities. Jacob de Muijnck adds: “I think the greater desire for personalisation and bringing spa-like experiences into the home means that regardless of age or background, we will want lighting controls which support the way we want to live our lives.”

Touch-free lighting Changes to the way we live could include a more sustainable lifestyle, supported by the likes of smart meters to determine how much energy is used in the home. Passive infrared sensors can provide low level lighting, which not only allows for night-time navigation without disturbing all members of a household, but is energy saving too. And sensor or even voice controls reduce the number of touch points in the bathroom, which in the “new normal” is becoming of greater interest to consumers. Sycamore Lighting has recently introduced Kinetic Wireless Smart Lighting Controls, which can be operated by a wireless wall plate, smart phone or tablet using an app or voice control via Alexa or Google. Jacob de Muijnck UK adds: “The increased emphasis on health and hygiene in response to the pandemic means that offering multiple options to control lighting like voice control or via app is hugely important.”

Whole or standalone? As the Internet of Things takes greater hold in the home, with the likes of Smart TVs, video doorbells and connected thermostats, it may only be a matter of time before lighting as part a whole house solution is more commonplace. Jacob de Muijnck explains: “There will be more opportunities at the top of the market for combining the best of traditional push button control with the latest sensor technology indoors so that lighting and other functions can be easily managed from a control panel, which is ideal for a busy family bathroom. For example, it is now possible to operate lighting and blinds, moderate the temperature and humidity via sensor technology and thanks to an external temperature sensor, underﬂoor heating will automatically begin to function on a chilly

BATHROOMS

evening or frosty morning.” However, Rachel Morris of Ansell Lighting believes, for the majority, smart technology will be standalone and incorporated into bathroom products: “I think smart technology being integrated into products, themselves, will become more mainstream. Products such as IP65 smart downlights, smart LED strip and wall/ceiling or bathroom mirrors with fully smart integrations.” Duravit features smart lighting in its bathroom furniture and mirrors, as managing director Martin Carroll explains: “Specifying products with integral lighting can work well as integrated, discreet technology with intuitive operation delivers the highest standards in design and quality which are of increasing importance to consumers. New technology such as night lights on mirror cabinets is making life in the bathroom easier, more enjoyable and even safer.”

3. SYCAMORE LIGHTING Kinetic Wireless Smart Lighting Controls can control and dim either 12/24V or 240V lighting, including pendant and extractor fans. It can be operated by smart phone, tablet or voice control. Download the catalogue at www.rdr.link/KD046

Education drives sales What is for certain is smart lighting will continue to grow in popularity, as bathroom designers and their clients become more familiar with the benefits this upgrade in illumination offers. Guy Edwards of Sycamore Lighting agrees: “Smart lighting is still in its infancy, but sales are increasing significantly. Education of customers, sales consultants and bathroom installers as to the features and benefits of smart lighting will play a key role in the future growth of this sector.” In fact he believes: “Smart bathroom lighting will become mainstream once end-users and installers embrace the features, benefits and ease of installation.” And Jacob de Muijnck concurs as he concludes: “Smart lighting will continue to become part of the design story as standard and I predict this will accelerate as we move through the decade and controlling the home remotely becomes an everyday norm.”

4. DURAVIT Created by Cecilie Manz, the Luv range includes mirrors with dimmable and colour adjustable lighting. They boast ambient light and have a touch panel for operation. Read all the details at www.rdr.link/KD047

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BUSINESS

Q&A

Independent retailers remain “top priority” Product and marketing director Angela Neve and sales director Lee Palmer of VADO on how the company plans to continue supporting bathroom retailers How has business been over the last eighteen months? Angela Neve (AN): Despite the constraints COVID-19 has had on the bathroom industry, VADO has demonstrated resilience and adapted quickly, performing above market average throughout the last 18 months. VADO’s diversity of offer, serving multiple markets and sectors, has enabled the business to focus on channels that have operated during lockdown, while preparing to support retail customers as and when they have been allowed to reopen. There has been a notable change in consumer spending patterns, in the last year, with VADO seeing demand for more RMI-orientated products as consumers look to invest in their homes.

What have been the greatest learning points during the pandemic? Lee Palmer (LP): During the pandemic, it has really shown how much our team and customers mean to us as a business and how we’ve pulled together to support one another. When shops were allowed to reopen, we made it our priority to make sure customers could open as safely and conﬁdently as they could, with our Reignite Retail initiative. We supplied them with COVID-secure kits including hand sanitisers, ﬂoor directions and social distancing signage for use in their stores. The pandemic also gave us the opportunity and time to review our processes and work on how we can be more efficient in our day-to-day tasks, providing our customers with the best VADO experience.

According to Norcros Group’s latest financial report VADO seems to have gained ground in OEM and the merchant sector but what are your plans for the independent bathroom sector? AN: Independent bathroom retailers have always been incredibly important to VADO, and it

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1. COMPANY DIRECTORS Product and marketing director Angela Neve and sales director Lee Palmer

remains our top priority to support them in every way we can. We have increased our brand and product portfolio to better support our customers who operate in different sectors, with OEM being one of several strategic pillars that make up our wider development strategy. OEM, alongside our branded offer, allows for enhanced category management for our larger accounts and enables consumers to make an informed choice to trade up through our portfolio. At VADO we believe in listening to the feedback of our customers, introducing our value portfolio Axces by VADO to support our trade counter retailers, targeting plumbers and ﬁtters looking for quality products at a more competitive price point. We continue to invest in all our brands, VADO, Individual by VADO being our premium offer and Booth & Co our traditional range to ensure we have something to suit every retailer and their customers’ aspirations. VADO has launched several new collections in the last 12 months and there is more to come during the remainder of 2021 and early 2022. Our most recent introduction, Knurled X Fusion has been one of our most well-received product launches to date.

2 2. KNURLED X FUSION Part of the Individual by VADO collection is Knurled X Fusion which features three ﬁnishes in a choice of four combinations. Discover the entire brassware line-up www.rdr.link/KD048

3 3. VIV APP The VIV app allows VADO customers to see products to scale in 3D Augmented Reality, and cuts down on printed material. Read the full story at www.rdr.link/KD049

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4. TABLET iO

5. EDIT

Offering a choice of four thermostatic shower valves, the Tablet iO collection includes an integrated shower kit, handshower and a choice of two or three outlets. Download the brochure at www.rdr.link/KD050

Extending the Edit collection, VADO has introduced the Mini Mono Basin Mixer for small bathrooms and two bath ﬁlling options. View all the options at www.rdr.link/KD051

LP: Our independent retail customers are key to VADO, and they are what our business has been built from. Our direction and strategy is to continue supporting our bricks-and-mortar showrooms whilst growing and expanding our customer base, introducing the VADO brand portfolio to more independent retailers. The brassware sector seems to be very busy with newcomer brands launching into the market, so how are you responding to this challenge? AN: At VADO we never allow ourselves to become complacent. We believe our products, services and aftersales are some of the best in the industry and look for continuous improvement in all that we do. We offer remarkable support to our customers and invest in them, offering high quality displays, a wide selection of consumer literature and seasonal promotions, along with our dedicated sales team to ensure we put our customers at the heart of everything we do. We have a comprehensive ﬁve-year product development pipeline and thorough commercialisation process to ensure we stay ahead of market trends. As a result, we are in a strong position to take advantage of demand for bespoke design, high-quality products.

How are you combating global supply issues and what impact has it had on the company? AN: Over the last six to eight months we have

invested in increasing our stock holding to provide higher levels of product availability. We have a robust forecasting process which ensures we regularly review demand trends, whilst increasing our lead-times accordingly. LP: We work hard to manage our customer expectations and ensure we communicate with them regularly, giving them as much information as we can. We pride ourselves on being open and honest where we have found issues, working closely with our clients to change products and give alternative options wherever possible. Have you had to raise prices or plan to raise prices in 2021/2022? AN: Over the past year we have incurred unprecedented increases in transportation and raw material prices leading to VADO introducing a 6% surcharge in May 2021. Over the coming months we will continue to monitor these key drivers with a view to determining next steps for 2022 later in the year.

What will be the biggest challenge for VADO over the next couple of years? AN: We are seeing consumers becoming more knowledgeable, often doing extensive online research before they even step foot into a showroom environment. At VADO we want to make the purchase journey as easy and enjoyable as possible, via our retail partners. We have invested in lifestyle photography to spark the imagination and marketing support for

easier product selection, while directing customer purchase enquiries via our website to the nearest independent retailer. We have launched the industry-ﬁrst VIV app, which allows customers to see our products to scale in 3D Augmented Reality, and cuts down on printed material which is better for the environment. We know there is a lot more to do but we have exciting plans and continue to invest in marketing alongside our retailer network. What will be the biggest retail opportunities for VADO? AN: We are going to continue to invest in our brand portfolio and support our customers at different price points. We want to further develop our brands and collections to expand our offering as well as our customer base and allow our retailers to increase their market share. We are seeing more consumers looking for a more tailored, individual look which reﬂects their personality. There is an opportunity to create more distinctive and design-driven products, which is where I see VADO really thriving. LP: Our retail focus is growing our sales by working with the exciting new product development we have coming up, as well as the opportunity to introduce the VADO portfolio to high-end, luxury showrooms. I’m also incredibly excited for our team to be getting back out on the road, meeting customers which is something we have truly missed over the last 18 months.

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BUSINESS

INTERVIEW

“We’re all in this together” Sales and marketing director of Blum UK David Sanders says everybody in the kbb industry has a part to play in minimising the affect on the supply chain Supply issues in the kbb industry have been well-documented, with a global surge in demand following the ease of lockdowns, and a shortage of raw materials. Furniture ﬁttings manufacturer Blum has not been immune. It reported an “above average” growth of 24.7% on the previous year, and although having invested €259million in production worldwide, the company has needed to adjust delivery times to cater for the “rapid” growth in demand.

Revised ordering In a letter sent out to all its customers, Blum reported it has instigated a revised ordering procedure on all key product lines across its ranges, for customers who buy direct including distributors. For each of its customers, Blum has calculated an Average Monthly Usage which as the name suggests is the amount that can be ordered each month. Any order going above the ﬁgure will be placed into a stock allocation process and if there is sufficient local stock holding will be despatched. If there is not enough local stock holding, it will be placed on back order and delivered at a later date. Sales and marketing director at Blum UK, David Sanders says it offers the fairest way to allocate limited resources. “We took that decision to say every customer is important to us, whether they buy a box of hinges off us every month or whether they buy a million hinges off us. Now that doesn’t mean we can give every customer exactly what they want. Nobody is hiding away from the fact that there isn’t enough for the demand. But we made the decision every single customer got something and if we’ve got it all you can have it all. So, it’s a fair and equitable distribution of product.” It has meant a slowdown in the order process, with the company now taking three days to conﬁrm when it can deliver. “We’re managing to meet the expectations of people but we’re still getting delays in the supply chain, so some lead times are going out or coming back in. But again, we’re being open and honest with people.” He exclaimed: “On some items there’s no delay. On some items by the time we get back to tell customers, they’ve already had it. But there are other items, especially some high volume drawers items, where people are

36 SEPTEMBER K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

being told it’s going to be six weeks before we can supply that.” As the son of an independent kitchen showroom owner, Sanders said he understands the importance of transparency to small businesses, allowing them to react to the situation. He says: “they may not like the answer but at last they’ll know when a product is coming, and whether they want to make alternative arrangements. If I never gave them any opportunity to resolve the issue that’s not really fair.”

Accounts hold The company also reported it has taken the bold step to not open any new trade accounts to support its existing dealers. Sanders continued: “We’ve got loyal customers who have dealt with us for 20+ years and we were being bombarded by people who couldn’t get product from their regular supplier who wanted to open an account with Blum, so they could buy product from us. I wasn’t going to be the building society that gives the best rates to new customers.” He continues: “It’s about working together to get the best result possible, based on the fact that we know we can’t give everybody what they want.”

1 1. SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR David Sanders is sales and marketing director of Blum UK

2. BLUM UK Headquartered at Milton Keynes, Blum UK stocks more than 2,000 SKUS

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Pricing transparency To further support its current retailers, at the beginning of the year, Blum UK promised to hold its prices for 2021. Despite the unforeseen price hikes in raw materials, the company absorbed the cost increase and stuck to its promise. “We held our promise because that is what people expect of Blum. On January 1, 2022, we’ll put our prices up. But, also in the spirit of transparency, by September 15, our customers will know exactly what that price increase is going to be. So they can cost in the price increase for quotations from September 15 onwards for kitchens they’ll be delivering in the New Year,” says Sanders. And he adds: “But the one thing I can’t predict anymore is will there be any more price increases in 2022? Will steel continue to rise? If it does, we will deal with it in the way people would expect Blum UK to deal with it. That is we won’t have a knee jerk reaction.” He exclaims: “Our goal, throughout all this, is to try and be as transparent as possible, while accepting the fact there are a lot of things we’re not in control of and we have to try to deal with that.”

“We took that decision to say every customer is important to us, whether they buy a box of hinges off us every month or whether they buy a million hinges off us. Now that doesn’t mean we can give every customer exactly what they want. Nobody is hiding away from the fact that there isn’t enough for the demand. But we made the decision every single customer got something.” Customer reactions And customer reaction to Blum’s openness and honesty has been appreciative and “heartening”, as Sanders said: “We stand for being in the market in the good times and being in the market in the bad times. Commercially, this is the best of times and yet in terms of supply it’s the worst of times. We’re not saints, all we’re trying to say is we will be open; we will be transparent. There are problems and there are going to be

problems in the future as well.” He points to supply challenges running into next year: “Do I see it going into 2022? The answer is yes – absolutely! How far? That really depends on whether the demand continues to run at the hot pace that it’s running at the moment.” Sanders urged the kbb industry to work together, stating collaboration has never been more needed than now. He called for kbb retailers to handle customer expectations, in this upturn of business, and said the mindset of endusers has now changed as they are prepared to accept delays and states the wait isn’t as important as meeting a deadline. Sanders concludes: “The supply chain problem is all of our problems. We all have to understand, in a situation like this, everybody has a part to play in minimising the effects on what goes on in the supply chain.”

3. AVENTOS At Interzum 2021, Blum introduced the latest generation of its AVENTOS lift systems, which fold up, swing up and over and lift up. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KD052

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BUSINESS

SME ADVICE

Company matters

Offering support for independent kitchen and bathroom firms because your business is our business mental ill health. But a much bigger drain on time is actually when your team comes to work when they are suffering with their mental health and are therefore not working to their full capacity. We call this ‘Presenteeism’.

Some of your team might be struggling but are not really aware of what mental health is or what self-care and positive mental health looks like for

Here are my tips on raising mental health awareness in your team: ● Talk freely about mental health – Lead by example by openly talking about mental health. Normalise it as a topic of conversation to help to reduce stigma and encourage colleagues to open up about their stress or mental health. ● Ask about self care – Asking your team about what they do to look after themselves can help them to reﬂect on what coping strategies they are using and whether they are helpful or not. This gives us an opportunity to encourage positive self care to help protect our mental health. ● Support a mental health charity – Consider supporting a mental health charity and getting your team involved. Perhaps you could

pages for our clients’ websites, working with their web designers, so that people would register for the brochure either as a download, or in print, thus providing my clients with a database of potential customers. With the help of a social media advertising specialist, we worked together to create branded and targeted digital advertising

campaigns for each client, with an ‘order our brochure today’ call to action. I was fully expecting most people would order a brochure as a download, because it’s all digital these days, isn’t it? Seemingly not. One of my clients has reported 80% of brochure requests are for a print version. This demonstrates that if someone is going to invest

Presenteeism costs

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Raising mental health awareness I know, I know... Another article telling you about another thing you need to think about in addition to the million things on your to do list. Hear me out though, because nailing this one can increase your ability to plough through that list and release more productivity from your team. Do you know how much time (and therefore money) is lost in your business due to mental ill health? Circa 55% of absenteeism is now due to

them. You see, mental health is different for us all. Awareness is also about spotting signs and symptoms in others so that we can offer them the right support.

Research suggests that presenteeism alone is costing businesses in the kbb industry circa £1,100 per employee per year. If you could reduce mental health-related absenteeism and presenteeism in your business, how much resource could that release? What would the impact on your team’s wellbeing be? And what impact would that have on your sales figures, your customer feedback and ultimately, your profit? So how can we do this? The first step is raising awareness.

Open up

MARKETING Long live print It’s all digital these days, isn’t it? There is no doubt that your website is your shop window and that you must have a visual presence on Instagram and Facebook, whether organic or paid-for. However, having a lovely website and posting beautiful images without any genuine calls to action can be a waste of your marketing budget, and you can also be missing out on new leads. During lockdown 2020, and given the demise of a consumer magazine dedicated to premium kitchens and bathrooms, I suggested to my independent retailer clients the best way to get their luxury projects seen would be by having their own content-rich brochure. It would be presented in a magazine style, where their projects would be featured as mini case studies. I teamed up with a graphic designer and we have since produced a number of brochures together from concept to completion. I also suggested my clients print a small number to give to people when they visited their showrooms, and I am glad I did. We also created

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●

arrange a team challenge to help raise some money for them too. Share your highs and lows – Try getting each team member to share their highs and lows in the weekly team meeting. You can celebrate the highs together and support each other with the lows. Invest in training – Stress Awareness offers a half-day Mental Health Aware training course, which is a great way of upskilling your team. It’s accredited by Mental Health First Aid England and is less than £50 per person. EXPERT James Capell-Abra COMPANY: Stress Matters BACKGROUND: Workplace wellbeing consultant James Capell-Abra works for Stress Matters and aims to get the kbb industry talking more openly about mental health, wellbeing and stress. As a qualified mental health first aid instructor, his vision is to get the kbb industry to see the value it can add to businesses by investing in the wellbeing and positive mental health of their colleagues. CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KD053

in a luxury kitchen then they want to read a stunning brochure at their leisure, not necessarily on a desktop or a tablet. After all, they can look at a website for that, can’t they? A brochure is a big investment, but it is also a great way to showcase all your beautiful professional photography and to tell your story at the same time. We work with clients to offer them a project-managed service from concept to copywriting, to art direction and design. We always recommend print and digital versions, and we can help with that too. Digital is only part of the solution. Long live print! EXPERT: Tara Silvester COMPANY: Left Right & Centre Communications BACKGROUND: Tara Silvester is owner of Left Right & Centre Communications, a PR and brand marketing specialist in content and design with 21 years’ experience working with kbb businesses. The company has just launched its own marketing brochure. CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KD054

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Attracting next gen kbb professionals I believe that children are the future and put frankly, the sooner the kbb industry steps up and reaches out to Generation Z the better. We can really position ourselves as an attractive, exciting and energising industry by engaging with young people online and in person by holding career-related events, which will spark their interest in areas previously unexplored. When you think about it, the three rooms that are in our industry are fundamental to the teenage experience – with the bedroom as a private den, the kitchen as the food factory and the bathroom well…as a transformative salon into adulthood.

Understanding youth culture We were all young once and so it pays to remember the mix of curiosity and uncertainty surrounding ‘the future’ when growing up. By making an effort to understand today’s youth culture and key concerns from climate change to housing and inequality, we can tailor our approach to their interests and start opening up the kbb industry as a dynamic, constantly evolving industry, which is worth investing in professionally. But how can you entice the youth of today? Your company could offer a dedicated spokesperson or brand ambassador who could serve as a mentor and community champion in your local area. By taking a warm, informal ‘ask me anything’ approach you will be surprised by the level of enthusiasm out there for ﬁnding a job that rewards personally and professionally, as well as help remove preconceived ideas about different trades in our industry.

Spread the world Alongside innovation, we have a responsibility to spread the word on the advantages of a career in kbb, such as job security, earning potential, learning and developing a trade-forlife (which in most cases are transferrable) or become a specialist in a particular area or product that you’re passionate about. People will always need a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom – at all price points – which means that skilled designers, craftspeople, engineers and sales professionals are always going to be in high demand. I honestly believe we do ourselves an injustice by playing down the worth of our industry and the fact that kbb speciﬁcally, is a multi-billion global market that is ever-evolving. The ability to have a lifelong career that is rich in transferable skills and able to provide regional, national and international opportunities is deﬁnitely worth shouting about! So let’s all bang the drum for our industry and protect the rising demand for skilled trades in kbb together… 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 who are leaders in the industry. CONTACT: www.rdr.link/KD055

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BUSINESS

PROMOTION

KI TCHENS &

BATHROOMS NEWS We produce exclusive videos, each week, on www.kandbnews.co.uk interviewing business leaders. They cover industry-wide issues, individual retail challenges or initiatives and design trends. Here are our latest, just in case you’ve missed them.

Luke Wedgbury | Coalville Kitchens | We’ve kept COVID restrictions in our showroom Owner of Coalville Kitchens Luke Wedgbury says keeping COVID precautionary measures in place, in his showroom, gives the business the opportunity to show customers it cares. He says it demonstrates the company puts the health and safety of staff and clients before sales. See what he has to say at www.rdr.link/KD056

Nick McNally | Kitchens by Nick McNally | Constricted trading and supply issues in kbb retail Owner of Kitchens by Nick McNally, Nick McNally talks about trading in a condensed time period and how construction supply issues could impact kitchen and bathroom sales. He believes increases in material costs, for the likes of extensions, could see kbb budgets pared back to offset building price hikes. View the video at www.rdr.link/KD057

Lauren Sutton | Virtual Worlds | Remote kbb design isn’t just for COVID Head of Design Hub at Virtual Worlds Lauren Sutton says its remote CAD service for kbb retailers was always a long-term plan and not just for COVID. She explains how the company is now extending its offer to provide virtual showrooms for both kbb retailers and manufacturer brands, alike. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KD058

JOB SEARCH | The power of LinkedIn Founder and owner of specialist recruitment agency Peter Jones says don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn to help you ﬁnd your next step on the career ladder. He offers three groups of ideas to help maximise your presence on the social media channel, help employers ﬁnd you and build your personal brand. See what he has to say at www.rdr.link/KD059

40 SEPTEMBER K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

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LAST WORD

NEWS & VIEWS

All about the label MD at the Unified Water Label Association Yvonne Orgill looks at the need for water labelling and what it will mean for kbb retailers

Traditionally water has not been at the top of the Government’s energy efficiency or climate change programme. The ‘Jaws of Death’ speech by Sir James Bevan in March 2019 marked a turning point and proved to be a signiﬁcant catalyst for change. The 2021 G7 summit that took place in Cornwall reinforced the Government’s commitment with climate change a major focus at the summit. The Government published a Ministerial Statement on July 1, outlining measures to take forward supporting water-efficient homes, as part of its 25-year Environment Plan to achieve clean and plentiful water. This paper included an intention to introduce a mandatory water label. The Government believes labelling consumer products is an ideal tool to improve knowledge and help consumers make more informed choices. The bathroom industry supports this view and that is why the Uniﬁed Water Label, which has been developed by the industry, is so well supported.

Educating consumers Consumers don’t understand how much water they use in the home or the link between energy and their carbon footprint. The Uniﬁed Water label (UWL) is a smart tool that provides clear information and can educate consumers about the choices they make. This is good news for retailers, as well as the environment, as the Uniﬁed Water Label which is already established in the kbb marketplace, offers retailers the opportunity to advise consumers on performance aspects, compatibility issues and helping consumers make the right choices for their water systems

and lifestyle. Retailers have an opportunity to get ahead and display the label along with information about the sustainability and environmental credentials of the products they sell. Research shows that consumers do want to have this information and that it will inﬂuence their purchasing decisions. Retailers can take advantage of point-of-sale material to highlight which products have the label and what it means to the consumer when they choose these products. Retailers should ensure they have the knowledge to make it part of the sales pitch, which will lead to more sales. Those that don’t take this opportunity will miss out on gaining these sales.

Compulsory displays Whilst the Government has announced its intention to introduce a mandatory label, the details of how it will work will not be available for some time. It is possible that, depending on the definition of mandatory, it may be compulsory for the label to be used and displayed, with those not complying facing a fine. Water labelling for the bathroom industry is no longer something that will happen in the future, it is underway now. The Unified Water Label Association is engaging with industry to encourage the use of the voluntary Unified Water Label. During 2022 the association will continue its talks with Government about taking the UWL as the mandatory label. Defra will also be consulting with industry next year, and the association is working with them to offer advice and help make it happen. Retailers and others in the industry can support the UWL by seeking out products that use the label and communicating the benefits to consumers now.

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NEWS & VIEWS

MAKING HEADLINES

Top 3

website stories What has been driving Kitchens & Bathrooms News website traffic? Here are the three stories with the biggest hits in July on www.kandbnews.co.uk 1. NOBIA Kitchen furniture manufacturer Nobia has announced net sales of SEK 3,622million, up 35%, in its interim financial report (January to June 2021). Its operating profit increased to SEK 347million, corresponding to an operating margin of 9.6%. President and CEO of Nobia Jon Sintorn stated: “In the UK we are rebuilding the retail order book after having been closed during the very important Winter Sales in the first quarter.” He added: “We expect retail sales to normalise in Q3, assuming no further lockdowns, whilst we anticipate it will take longer for the social housing segment and London property market to recuperate.” Read the entire story at www.rdr.link/KD060

Kitchen Manufacturers

2. FRONTLINE

Bathroom distributors Frontline and Smiths Briten have been sold by the Grafton Group to independent builders’ merchants Huws Gray. The deal for the merchanting business, which also includes Bathroom Distribution Group, Buildbase, PDM Buildbase, Civils & Lintels, The Timber Group and NDI brands was for £520million. In the year to December 31 2020, this division reported revenue of £828.2 million (2019: £1.02 billion) and adjusted operating proﬁt of £18.8 million (2019: £33.3 million). View the story at www.rdr.link/KD061

3. COMPUSOFT

CAD suppliers Compusoft and 2020 are set to merge to create a “leading provider of space planning and manufacturing solutions for the residential and commercial segments.” The group will offer an end-to-end suite of planning, design, visualisation, conﬁguration, pricing, quoting, ERP and manufacturing solutions. It will cover kitchen, bathroom, office and residential furniture, as well as commercial and residential windows and doors segments. Read more on this at www.rdr.link/KD062

ADVERTISEMENT INDEX BIKBBI ....................................(inside back cover)

Mereway ..................................................(page 42)

Caple..........................................................(page 19)

Newform S.p.A........................................(page 11)

Crown Products ................................(back cover)

Reginox UK Ltd ......................................(page 14)

Elica ..........................................................(page 13)

Riobel....................(inside front cover gatefold)

Grohe Ltd ................................................(page 26)

Senstec ........................................................(page 9)

Hills Panel Products Ltd......................(page 25)

Senstec......................................................(page 31)

Ideal Standard ........................................(page 15)

The Symphony Group ..........................(page 21)

Mereway Kitchens ..................................(page 4)

Uform ........................................................(page 16)

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