Kitchens & Bathrooms News March 2020 by Hamerville Media Group

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KI TCHENS &

BATHROOMS NEWS THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR KITCHEN & BATHROOM PROFESSIONALS

MARCH 2020

STOVES CELEBRATES CENTENARY 100 years of trading for cooking appliance brand

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS NEWS MARCH 2020

VINTAGE-INSPIRED BATHROOMS Classical styles and their influence on the modern home news ■ expert views ■ company profiles ■ products ■ competitions ■ SME support www.kandbnews.co.uk

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NO 148 VOL 14 MARCH 2020

contents

NEWS & VIEWS 7

First word

BATHROOMS

Editor’s opinion

35 Classical bathrooms

8 News

How period styles are influencing the modern bathroom

Round-up of industry headlines

40 Focus on…water efficiency

12 People

Industry professionals look at the role of the designer in creating bathrooms which use water efficiently

Appointments and promotions

13 Inbox

44 Just out

Reader feedback

Latest bathroom product launches

14 Most Wanted Interior design consultant Russell Dowers selects his three favourite products from our February issue

16 Talking shop Experienced kitchen professional Toby Griffin talks about why the industry should reconsider packaging

DESIGN 46 Design knowhow Get to grips with product knowledge, methods of use and planning

NECESSITIES 48 Kitchen lighting

18 KITCHENS 18 Classic contemporary kitchens Why the Shaker door still reigns for consumers

22 Healthy eating appliances How the global trend for healthy eating is impacting on appliance design, technology and specification in kitchen projects

27 Just out Latest kitchen product launches

30 Supplier profile Stoves celebrates its 100th anniversary of trading

Colour changing, integratation into furniture and voice control

BUSINESS

50 Reader profile Co-founder of Meliora Kitchens, Kelly Roden says a desire to do better is the ethos behind the business

52 Company matters SME advice covering marketing, financial, management as well as legal issues

54 Supplier Q&A Senior VP of design at Samsung Harry Choi explains how appliance design is evolving

55 Last word Retail sales director of Fisher & Paykel UK Mark Young explains why kitchen studios remain a cornerstone of the brand’s growth strategy and are influential to its experiential sales approach. www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS MARCH

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FIRST WORD

NEWS & VIEWS

Wake up and smell the coffee While the decline of the high street has been well publicised, there have equally been stories of hope. Pub and bar numbers have risen for the first time in a decade, with a growth of smaller operations (fewer than 10 employees) for the first time in 15 years. And the independent coffee shop sector has witnessed a boom with 80% of independent coffee shop owners reporting sales growth over the past 12 months, according to The Rise of the Independents UK 2019 Allegra Report. Facing the same challenges as independent kitchen and bathroom retailers, such as big brand competition, property costs and business rates, what can the kbb industry learn from this burgeoning hospitality scene? Firstly, it indicates consumers are still interested in food and drink, with it remaining an integral part of their social activity. It bodes well for kitchen retailers as consumers will continue to reflect their interests in the home. However, it also provides wider learnings, as to why consumers adopt these “third spaces”, which are informal places between the daily grind of the office and the comfort of their own home. The majority of independent coffee owners cited coffee and service quality as key factors. Is this beginning to sound familiar? Certainly, it is a drink that can be made at a lower price at home, so it signifies how quality product, supported by knowledgeable and helpful staff, can encourage consumers to spend. Equally interesting is 70%

of independent coffee shop customers surveyed chose to drink their beverage in-store, with nearly 1:5 (18%) citing atmosphere as the greatest impetus behind their visit. And there we have it…It’s the experience of being in a coffee shop (and perhaps the same can be said for pub and bar) which is helping the outlets compete effectively on the high street. Independent coffee shops and small pub and bars offer highly reﬁned, personalised experiences that just can’t be matched by the big chains. By combining quality product with excellent service and a personalised experience, the independent coffee shop or smaller pub and bar remain relevant. But more than that, it becomes an integral part of the high street. Just like the coffee shops and pubs and bars, independent kitchen and bathroom retailers can take this one step further and become involved in communitybased projects, perhaps encouraging them into their showroom – and becoming their “third place”. Immersing a business in the local community will not only help foster relationships and loyalty now but well into the future.

KBN LIKES ✔

…despite challenging economic conditions, it’s great to see the likes of Trade Mouldings investing in their business. It has recently spent £10million on a distribution centre and showroom

KBN DISLIKES ✖ …to hear of J. Rotherham falling into administration with the loss of more than 200 jobs. We hope it will ﬁnd a new buyer shortly

KBN WANTS ! … to wish Kohler and West One Bathrooms best of luck with their separate Clerkenwell showrooms

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 Peterborough

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

TRADE JOURNALIST/ EDITOR MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR 2014

HOME IMPROVEMENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2014

To receive your regular subscription copy of K&B NEWS contact: 01923 237799 UK: 1 year: £30 post paid Europe and overseas: 1 year: £50 post paid Airmail: 1 year: £65 post paid

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

Editorial & Sales Enquiries Tel (01923) 237799

Classified Advertising Nina Goldberg e: nina@hamerville.co.uk

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS NEWS Hamerville Media Group, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF

ABC total average net circulation 13,640 (for the 11 issues distributed between January to December 2019)

© 2020 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 MARCH 7

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NEWS & VIEWS

MAKING HEADLINES

Fourth generation company seeking buyer for business and assets

IN BRIEF ■ Staff and management of worktop manufacturer Wilsonart have surpassed its £10,000 charity fundraising goal for 2019. Launched in February 2019, the team at Wilsonart pledged to raise £10,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society. Read more about the fundraising efforts at www.rdrlink/KN050

■ Merchant Smith & Frater, alongside Rowan Manufacturing, has been acquired from the Rowan Group by James Donaldson & Sons (JDS). Headquartered in Fife, JDS is a family-owned business specialising in the processing, manufacturing, merchanting and distribution of timber and associated building products. This acquisition now opens up new product and market opportunities for JDS in the supply of kitchen manufacturing, door sets and bespoke joinery. Find out the whole story at www.rdrlink/KN051 ■ Kitchen and bedroom door manufacturer BA has announced its Blossom Avenue brand will be endorsed by architect and brand ambassador Patrick Bradley in 2020. The multi award-winning architect is most famous for his Grillagh Water House, described by Kevin McCloud of Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme, as his favourite project. Bradley will be at Kbb Birmingham in March to launch the latest Blossom Avenue designs, as well as celebrate BA’s 30th anniversary. Read more at www.rdrlink/KN052

8 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

J.Rotherham enters administration Kitchen worktop manufacturer J.Rotherham Masonry has entered administration citing “cash ﬂow issues”, making 205 employees redundant. Howard Smith and David Costley-Wood from KPMG were appointed joint administrators to J.Rotherham Masonry on February 3, 2020. Yorkshire-based J.Rotherham Masonry has a head office at Home-on-Spalding Moor and a manufacturing facility at Market Weighton. Twenty-ﬁve back office and production roles have been retained to support the administration process and complete existing orders while a buyer is sought for the business and its assets. As reported by KPMG, the company sought to appoint administrators after it suffered cash

ﬂow issues and was unable to meet its ﬁnancial obligations. Joint administrator and associate partner at KPMG Howard Smith said: “J.Rotherham has been delivering high quality stone masonry for more than four generations and has consistently invested in its manufacturing processes throughout its history. “While rising cost pressures and

challenging trading conditions have led to the difficult decision of appointing administrators, it remains highly regarded by its peers and customers. “As such, we are actively discussing the future of the business with a number of interested parties and hope to secure a positive outcome that will maintain the business in the area.”

Opening showrooms and distribution centres

Trade Mouldings invests £10m in distribution Cookstown-headquartered Trade Mouldings Distribution has officially opened its £10million distribution centre and showroom in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. The family-run business has invested “signiﬁcantly” across the group, including the 76,000sq ft Manchester premises. It follows the company’s launch of a new 25,000ft sq showroom and distribution centre at its Cookstown base, plus a 30,000ft sq showroom and distribution centre in Dublin to service Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland markets. Trade Mouldings specialises in kitchen, bedroom and bathroom unit doors and accessories. The new showrooms will carry a

range of styles produced in-house, as well as a variety of gloss and matt painted ranges from Italian suppliers. Sales director at Trade Mouldings Damien Connolly said: “We are already reaping the rewards of being able to service retailers across the UK and Ireland and the addition of our Rochdale showroom and distribution centre will help us meet demand. “Our extended warehouse

facilities allow us to keep sufficient stock of all our existing ranges and carry more product lines. “We are delighted to be launching a series of new product ranges at the Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Birmingham in March 2020.” The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin added: “I am delighted to have been invited to attend the official opening of this exciting new development in our town. As Mayor it is important to provide civic support to Trade Mouldings, who will play a vital role in our economic future. I wish the company and the new showroom huge success in the future.”

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Premium German sanitaryware brand responds to media speculation

Villeroy & Boch considers Ideal Standard acquisition Premium bathroom brand Villeroy & Boch has announced it is considering plans to acquire the Ideal Standard group. It includes the Ideal Standard, Armitage Shanks and Sottini brands in the UK. Family-owned Villeroy & Boch, which was founded in 1748, had responded to media speculation but stated the evaluation was at an early stage. It reported in an official statement: “The company’s corporate bodies have not taken any binding decisions on whether or not to make the acquisition, nor on any economic parameters.

“It is therefore also possible that Villeroy & Boch AG will not further pursue the project or that an acquisition be effected for any other reasons.” Ideal Standard is privately owned by Anchorage Capital and CVC Credit Partners and has achieved annual sales of €730million, with a 20% improvement in earnings, following a three-year turnaround. According to a statement from Ideal Standard: “The shareholders always explore all potential options to best secure the future strategic development of Ideal Standard, either as a stand-alone business or

in synergetic combination with other marketing leading players.” Villeroy & Boch reported a strong ﬁnal quarter in its preliminary revenue ﬁgures for

2019, with growth driven by its Bathroom and Wellness Division (+3%), as well as Tableware (+4.8%). It saw the company generate revenue of €833million for 2019.

Decision made to “allow for more growth”

Operations director succeeds founder

Kohler splits with West One

Matthew Pitt named Abode MD

USA bathroom brand Kohler and luxury bathroom retailer West One Bathrooms have announced plans to part ways in their shared managed showroom space in Clerkenwell, London. After 10 years of partnership, and three years of jointly managing the showroom, the decision was made to “allow for more growth through separate Clerkenwell ventures.” The bathroom manufacturer has reported it remains committed to the showroom, which was opened as its ﬁrst European Kohler Experience Centre in 2017.

It will continue to showcase the brand’s range of luxury bathrooms, alongside Mira and Rada brands. Managing director of Kohler Mira Craig Baker said: “It’s exciting times for both us and West One Bathrooms as we part to manage our own Clerkenwell showroom spaces. “Our Kohler Experience Centre model is popular around the world and we will continue our brand presence in this creative London district to inspire architects and designers. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with West One Bathrooms as a supplier of Kohler, Ann Sacks and Kallista through their wider network of showrooms.” West One Bathrooms has eight showrooms across central London, Surrey and Kent. It is set to open a new showroom in Clerkenwell in March, which will be the ﬁrst in a series of ‘Studios.’

Operations director Matthew Pitt has been named MD of sink and brassware supplier Abode and will assume the position on March 1 He succeeds Darren Holliday, who founded the company in 2002 and has spent 18 years at the helm. The existing management team will remain in place. Holliday will be moving on to new challenges, including studying for a Master’s Degree at Leeds University. Darren Holliday commented: “It has been a really hard decision to come to, but I feel like I’m ready for new challenges.” He added: “I know the company is in great shape and that I’m leaving the company in really good hands with Norcros and the management team at Abode.” Norcros CEO Nick Kelsall said: “Darren has worked tirelessly to grow the Abode brand into the success that it is today and I would like to thank him for his dedication

and valued contribution. “I would also like to offer my best wishes to Matthew in his new role at what is an incredibly important time for Abode.” Speaking about his new role, Matthew Pitt said: “I’m really looking forward to taking the business into the next phase of its evolution and I have lots of ideas. “The whole team at Abode are really passionate about what they do and it is a pleasure to be leading the company forward at such an exciting time.”

www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS MARCH 9

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NEWS & VIEWS

MAKING HEADLINES

Head of Asia Pacific region takes over the helm

IN BRIEF ■ Parent company of KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Hotpoint and Indesit, Whirlpool UK Appliances, has been officially recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer 2020 in the UK. Whirlpool EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) has been awarded, for the third year in a row, the Top Employer Europe for 2020. Find out more at www.rdrlink/KN053

■ Dutch kitchen furniture manufacturer, and part of the DKG Group, Keller Kitchens has partnered with North Westbased BKNC, a kitchen supplier which sells to the contract market. BKNC has been a supplier to the UK contract sector for over 29 years, servicing national and regional developers throughout the UK. Discover more at www.rdrlink/KN054 ■ Hoover Candy has celebrated selling more than one million freestanding appliances within a 12-month period. The sales achievement was ratiﬁed on December 20, 2019, with business ﬁgures having doubled those in 2014. According to the company, it has experienced “major growth” across all product lines. Read the whole story at www.rdrlink/KN055 ■ STOP PRESS Frontline Bathrooms and Roxor Group have both pulled out of trade show kbb Birmingham, following Coronavirus fears. In addition, the organiser of the show has closed the Chinese Pavilion. Read all the stories at www.rdrlink/KN056

10 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

BSH UK & Ireland names CEO Appliance manufacturer BSH UK & Ireland has announced Gunjan Srivastava has been appointed CEO, starting his position in April 2020. He succeeds Andreas Meier who will start a new role as executive vice president, head of consumer product division at BSH in February 2020. Gunjan Srivastava has worked for BSH since 2014 and has many years’ experience in the home appliance market. He joined the company as CEO and managing director of BSH India

and became executive vice president and head of region Asia Paciﬁc in July 2019 In his current role, Srivastava runs the BSH business across the Asia-Paciﬁc region including India, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. CFO of BSH UK & Ireland Ting Mensing is currently deputising in the CEO position. Commenting on his appointment, Srivastava said: “Working in the European market is an exciting opportunity for me, after

over ﬁve years working across the Asia Paciﬁc region, and I’m looking forward to getting started in the role in April.”

Deeper focus on commerical and technical operations

Management restructure at Grohe

Bathroom and brassware brand Grohe has undergone a restructure of its management team, “to have a deeper focus on commercial and technical operations” and accelerate the company’s growth. The management team for Grohe within Lixil EMENA will consist of Thomas Fuhr (left) and Jonas Brennwald (right). Fuhr will be responsible for technical operations of the brand

and will also serve as COO of ﬁttings Lixil International. Jonas Brennwald, who will also serve as CEO of Lixil Water Technology, will lead all commercial aspects for the brand and EMENA region for Lixil. Each will be supported by an executive team, focused on commercial or technical operations. CEO of Lixil International Bijoy Mohan said: “Lixil is made up of

many individual brands, each in a different way, but all with the same purpose to make a better home a reality for everyone, everywhere. “Our global Grohe brand is a key driver for outstanding growth. “I am pleased to have Thomas Fuhr and Jonas Brennwald help to further drive the integration of manufacturing, technology and commercial assets into Lixil to ensure continuous growth in the EMENA region.” Jonas Brennwald and Thomas Fuhr said: “We are pleased to have such a fantastic team of experts supporting our technology and commercial strategy to further develop synergies globally, bringing together all our strengths and enhance our business’s competitiveness.” Prior to these appointments, Thomas Fuhr was appointed CEO of Grohe and COO of ﬁttings at Lixil International. Whereas Jonas Brennwald was deputy CEO of Grohe and also serving as CEO of LWT EMENA.

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Sold to distribution group Newbury Investments (UK) for £46million

Travis Perkins sells off Primaflow Builders’ materials distributor Travis Perkins has sold off its wholesale plumbing & heating business Primaflow F&P to Newbury Investments (UK), a specialist distribution group for £46million. The sale is expected to complete at the end of January 2020 and the proceeds will be used to reduce Group net debt. Primaflow F&P has been part of the Travis Perkins Group since 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2018, attributable profits after adjusting items were £5million and

gross assets amounted to £102million as at June 30 2019. It follows the company’s announcement in December 2018, it would simplify the Group and focus on its advantaged trade businesses. According to the merchant, sale of the wholesale business will enable its remaining plumbing and heating businesses “to focus on delivering market-leading service to our direct trade customers.” Chief executive Nick Roberts commented: ”The divestment of our wholesale plumbing & heating

business is a further step in reducing the Group’s overall complexity and enabling greater focus and more disciplined capital allocation to our advantaged tradefocused businesses.” The Travis Perkins Group operates more than 20 businesses across the UK, including Wickes, Benchmarx and Toolstation. It owns 19 product brands within these businesses. Headquartered in Northampton, the group employs 30,000 people across more than 2,000 branches, stores and sites in the UK.

Merchant sales from BMBI

Kitchen and bathroom sales in pre-Election dip Total Builders’ Merchant value sales in November 2019 were down -7.4% compared with the same month in 2018. On one less trading day, average sales a day dropped 3.0%. Tools (-12.7%), Timber & Joinery (-9.6%), Ironmongery (8.0%), Heavy Building Materials (7.9%) and Landscaping (-7.4%) were particularly affected. The drop was less pronounced for Kitchens & Bathrooms at -1.2%. The best performing sectors in November 2019, compared with the same period in 2018 were Renewables & Water Saving (+5.3%) and Workwear & Safetywear (+3.7%). Compared with October 2019, November was down -10.0%. However, adjusted for two less trading days in November, the drop was less dramatic at -1.4%. All product categories were down month-on-month, including Heavy Building Materials (-10.9%),

Timber & Joinery (-10.0%) and Ironmongery (-9.8%). Kitchen & Bathroom sales were down by -1.4%. However, adjusted for trading days, Kitchens & Bathrooms was among the strongest performing sectors, with sales up +8.0%. Sales in the 12 months December 2018 to November 2019 were down -0.2% on the same

period last year. Adjusting for one less trading day, sales are marginally ahead at +0.2%. November’s BMBI index was 113.4, with Plumbing, Heating & Electrical the highest at 134.6. The Kitchens & Bathrooms index for November was 125.8. For more on this story or to read expert opinion covering trends and issues. Read www.rdrlink/KN059

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NEWS & VIEWS

PEOPLE

Position filled Appointments and promotions across the industry

DAVAL FURNITURE

KBBG

SENSIO LIGHTING

SIMON ACRES GROUP

British manufacturer Daval Furniture has appointed Nigel Palin as business development manager. He will be responsible for implementing new growth strategies and providing continued cultivation of new and existing customers. Formerly sales manager at the now dissolved Prentice Furniture for over two decades, Palin will be able to exploit his extensive industry experience as a skilled negotiator, strategic planner and expert sales and customer service provider.

The Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group (KBBG), part of European group Der Kreis, has employed Neil Whitaker-Johnson as regional sales manager, Midlands. He has held positions of national and regional sales manager in various companies including Blanco, Faith Furniture Company, Astracast and The 1810 Company. WhitakerJohnson is tasked with supporting the sales team, maintaining contact with current customers and expanding the customer base.

Sensio Lighting has named Stuart Law as its operations director, taking over from Paul Harvey, who will be moving to focus on special projects for the business. Law has spent the vast majority of his career in manufacturing at one of the world’s largest FMCG companies Procter & Gamble. A specialist with experience in lean methodology, automation and cultural development, his experience spans across FMCG, MPO, ceramics, printing, plastics and lighting.

Training, recruitment and media consultant to the kitchen and bathroom industry, the Simon Acres Group has expanded its business team with the appointment of Jordan Burns. He will be involved in developing new and existing relationships with clients as Simon Acres Group expands its range of support services offered for the KBB and merchant sector. Burns brings experience from his previous roles in sales and new business development in the exhibition industry.

WILSONART

MOORES

MHK HOLDING UK

MASTERCLASS KITCHENS

Wilsonart UK, based in Shildon County Durham, has employed Andrea Freeman as product manager for advanced surfacing technology. She will be tasked with driving product development and launch to market of AST products, which include digitally-printed decorative surfaces for a variety of commercial uses. An experienced creative director and designer, Freeman previously worked for Barbour and Redana Studio.

Furniture manufacturer Moores has appointed Paul Fincken as business development director. He will head the brand’s business development department and assist with the company’s growth. Fincken brings with him knowledge from roles as housebuilder sales director for Jeld-Wen, head of sales of speciﬁcation and housebuild channel at BCT and sales manager of residential at Ideal Standard.

MHK Holding UK, a subsidiary of European buying group for independent kitchen, bathroom and bedroom retailers MHK, has announced the appointment of David Morris as sales manager. He will work with UK independent kitchen retailers, advising them of the beneﬁts of membership. Morris has over 20 years’ experience in the retail, housing and kbb sector, working in business development for brands such as De Dietrich.

Masterclass Kitchens has announced Justin Dubiel has joined the business and will be taking up the role of area sales manager on the South Coast. He joins Masterclass with a wealth of industry knowledge having worked for a number of kitchen manufacturers during his career. Dubiel joins the company from ELK – Extreme Logic Kitchens, and prior to that spent ﬁve years with Elliott’s Builders’ Merchant.

12 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

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YOUR THOUGHTS

NEWS & VIEWS

TOP PRODUCTS

K I TC H E N S &

BATHROOM S NEWS

Most wanted

MOST WAN TED AWARD

Interior design consultant Russell Dowers selects his favourite products from our February issue and explains why he chose them

2 2. SAMSUNG If you live a busy lifestyle, then the Family Hub Refrigerator is the one is for you. There are cameras neatly located inside the fridge so you can create a shopping list on the ﬂy. It will suggest meals based on the inventory. It offers bespoke recipes based on your preferences. You can play music, watch a ﬁlm or see who is at your front door. This is the central hub of the home. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KN002

1 1. KALDEWEI A trend to watch in 2020 will be the continued use of colour, as consumers are braver than ever before. They don’t want a clinical white finish, which we became accustomed to, they want to make a statement. I particularly like the floor-level Conoflat shower surface from the Co-ordinated Colours Collection, as the range allows designers to select products to add real character to any space. Download the specifications at www.rdr.link/KN001

14 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

3. ROTPUNKT With so many of us now using the kitchen to cook, work and socialise, there is a need for the space to feel like the rest of the home. German kitchen furniture manufacturer Rotpunkt has introduced planters into its Core DM kitchen, which like the rest of its range is 100% Carbon Neutral. It means herbs are within easy reach, which is perfect for consumers who want to live a healthier lifestyle. Download technical details at www.rdr.link/KN003

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TALKING SHOP

NEWS & VIEWS

Pack it in

Packaging comes at a cost to kitchen and bathroom retailers, so isn’t it about time the industry considered reducing and reusing, as well as recycling? Experienced kitchen director Toby Griffin reports

When receiving deliveries or packages from suppliers these days, do you sometimes get the feeling you are opening up a Russian Doll? Layer upon layer of cardboard, bubble-wrap, more cardboard, plastic edge protection, shrinkwrap and polystyrene, all sealed with miles of tape; these behemoths can take 10 minutes to unwrap, and create a mountain of waste packaging for each item. This effort, waste (and the cost of its disposal) can become infuriating when you ﬁnally get a good look at the item, only to ﬁnd out it is wrong, or worse still, has been damaged somehow - Arghhhh!

Counting the cost Examples of over-packaging would be: a wellknown appliance manufacturer that sent me a small handful of brochures in a box measuring 800x600x400mm, complete with scrunched up paper filling the space inside. I presume in case the box gets dropped and the paper brochures get cracked somehow! I’ve also had a loo cistern delivered in a box a cubic metre in size, with enough bubble-wrap to sink a ship. The cost of disposing of the extraordinary amount of packaging is a forgotten about expense that racks up. For a typical kitchen or bathroom installation, I would estimate half a builders’ skip is filled with packaging; equalling between £100 and £200 that needs to be paid for. The over-use of packaging creates both a financial and environmental cost, which needs to be addressed.

16 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

Just take care When living in Solihull, a good few years ago now, I remember when a troublesome road junction was changed, and it seemed barmy. I, and every other driver, had to tip-toe our way around the new roundabout to avoid collision, and it seemed bonkers that this could have been considered as an improvement. A year after its introduction, I was speaking to a person from the council, bemoaning this stupid new junction, but he hit me with a retort that took me aback. Apparently accidents at this junction had halved since its introduction. It seems the extra care that drivers now had to take was paying off in the most extraordinary way. In hindsight then, although I still don’t like the junction, it really demonstrated that when circumstances mean we have to be more careful, we are exactly that - more careful! Back to the KBB industry then, it wasn’t so long ago that some sanitaryware suppliers sent

“The cost of disposing of the extraordinary amount of packaging is a forgotten about expense that racks up. The over-use of packaging creates both a financial and environmental cost.”

their products completely devoid of packaging, and it meant we all just took that bit more care when handling and storing it. Could it be that packaging an item ‘within an inch of its life’ legitimises poor handling and storage, and isn’t creating the beneﬁt it is meant to do?

Return and recycle So here’s a solution. What about packaging designed to be used a hundred times or more? Let’s take an example of a standard-sized item: a single oven. Changing only minutely in dimensions from one model to the next, there is no reason that a strong box cannot be designed which - on delivery – is opened, the item removed (perhaps in just a thin layer of shrink wrap), quickly and easily inspected, then the box returned either with the delivery driver at that moment, or collected at a later date (with say a £20 refund - a little like returning milk-bottles ‘in the old days’!). The list of products that are of a standard size in our industry is really long: 90% of appliances, 90% of sanitaryware, all brassware, laminate worktops, etc. So this could make a massive difference. At a time when it is incumbent on all of us to consider our business’s efforts to be sustainable, then the over-use of packaging is an epidemic that must be reversed. Using less packaging and rewarding people for taking care is part of the solution, but returnable packaging also seems like an open goal waiting to be scored.

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KITCHENS

CLASSIC CONTEMPORARY KITCHENS

Classically trained Fusion style furniture is becoming big news for kitchen designers, allowing a switch up of styling to suit a broad church of consumers

At one end of the design spectrum is the stark minimalism of the handleless kitchen and at the other is the raised and fielded door. However, in-between is a gamut of fusion-styled furniture. Featuring cues from classical ranges but with modern updates, with refined details and fresh colours, enter the classic contemporary styles and these are growing in popularity. Marketing manager at TKC Neil Taggart comments: “Classical contemporary is a kitchen that spans both styles incorporating elements of the two into one kitchen and we see this happening increasingly.” In fact, such has been the development of the trend, Dirk Kleykens export manager for Bauformat, which specialises in handleless kitchen furniture, reports: “Traditional kitchens currently represent around 15% [of sales] but this figure is growing.” Since much of the kitchen is dominated by furniture choice, of course the classic contemporary trend is evident in cabinetry. But it is also reflected in appliance choice and even sink and tap styling, as manufacturers have cross pollinated design concepts. Single lever taps and undermount sinks are now available in warmer metals, while more classical models, such as butler sinks are offered in contemporary materials, alongside fireclay ceramics. Managing director of Bertazzoni UK & Eire Maurizio Severgnini highlights: “Alongside this trend, we are seeing growing demand for classic appliances with modern functions, that enable consumers to make a statement.”

Simple Shaker However, at the heart of this crossover classic contemporary-style kitchen is the Shaker door. This chameleon of the kitchen can suit a modern, traditional or classical contemporary look. It sits equally well in timber, as in foil and even painted ﬁnishes. “Shaker doors might be associated with traditional kitchens but their

1. BAUFORMAT

1 18 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

Part of the Burger brand of kitchen furniture is the recently-launched Lea door, a wood-effect Shaker model. It is available in Black, Quartz Grey and Silk and is shown with English-style Cup handleS. See all the company’s ranges at www.rdr.link/KN004

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“Subtle painted finishes are ideal for timeless appeal in a luxury, classic scheme. The latest trends features lighter neutrals, which complement solid wood and wood veneer.” very simplicity makes them a perfect choice for a contemporary look”, says export manager of Scavolini Danilo Rossi. However, the Shaker door now boasts a revised and modernised design. Furniture manager at Caple Doug Haswell says: “The Shaker design has made a big comeback, however this time around it’s all about bold lines and less fussy detailing. The design emphasis is pared-down with fewer frills.” In fact, such has been the demand for the reduced detail Shaker; it has influenced the product portfolio of kitchen furniture manufacturer TKC. It recently introduced the Ascot slim Shaker door range with a 60mm frame. Neil Taggart of TKC continues: “Our product range reflects that vision. We’ve got two door ranges that provide options on narrower frame widths, stock two timber doors with five colours in each and we include products like tall walls and curves in every range.” And German brand Burger has also launched a Shaker door, as Dirk Kleykens of Bauformat adds: “Burger introduced the Lea door for 2020, a wood-effect Shaker-style in a low price group, which has been an instant hit.” But kitchen designers aren’t restricted to the use of the Shaker door, as developing in parallel are in-frame doors. Doug Haswell points out: “Cabinet doors, which sit within a frame, are proving so popular because they have been built using high quality, construction methods. This means consumers can feel confident their doors will always be aligned and therefore not drop out, which can happen with an ‘off-the-peg’ kitchen.” Certainly more traditional styles are making their mark in sales, as Dirk Kleykens adds: “Bauformat offers five traditional doors in 15 colours. Four colours were added to this collection in 2020. There are more options planned for 2021.”

Neutral colours Whatever door is speciﬁed for a kitchen design, it is how it’s used as part of the design which dictates the classical contemporary style. And as Kleykens highlights with its increasing colour choice across traditional doors, the ﬁnish is important. Neil Taggart points out there is now little difference between the choice of colours for traditional and contemporary kitchens, stating: “Colour choices are transcending both classical and contemporary doors meaning the lines

3 between the two are merging rather than blurred.” But Doug Haswell looks at how finishes can help create a timeless classic contemporary project, commenting: “Subtle painted finishes are ideal for timeless appeal in a luxury, classic scheme. The latest trends feature lighter neutrals, which complement solid wood and wood veneer perfectly.” And Danilo Rossi of Scavolini agrees: “Keep the colour palette neutral and choose a matt finish for the doors”, further advising “team them with a simple bar handle or even finger grip for a minimalist aesthetic. The addition of timber worktops or a breakfast bar will add a warm and welcoming quality to the kitchen.” He adds: “Finally, don’t forget that modern statement lighting can make a beautiful focal point over an island, a perfect complement to classic cabinetry.”

2. TKC Slim Shaker door Ascot features a 60mm frame to create a contemporary classic kitchen. It is shown in Light Grey and Dust Grey but comes in a choice of 23 standard colours or as paint to order. Email to receive the brochure by visiting www.rdr.link/KN005

3. BERTAZZONI The Heritage series appliance aesthetic was inspired by the original Bertazzoni stoves which were made at the start of the 20th Century. It features across its freestanding and built-in range in a choice of three matt colours. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KN006

www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS MARCH

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KITCHENS

CLASSIC CONTEMPORARY KITCHENS

4 Switching styles And timeless doors can be combined with a variety of furniture options to allow designers to switch up the look, depending on the age and tastes of any consumer. Danilo Rossi of Scavolini suggests consideration is paid to “open shelving, which will allow consumers to add personality by placing treasured pieces alongside most-used cookware but remember it will gather dust, so think carefully about how much to include. A good alternative is the current trend for units with glass fronts that allow consumers to put items on display without the added cleaning. It is also an update on the classic display cabinet.” And Dirk Kelykens agrees a mixture of furniture elements helps create the crossover look, adding: “Designers would be looking at introducing cornice and light baffle which would not normally feature on a contemporary kitchen. Then perhaps choose some wall units with glass doors in a lattice-style, “planked” effect end panels and solid wood accessories.” In fact, Kelykens offers a practical example of how designers can create a crossover look with its most popular classic contemporary style Cambridge door: “Bauformat’s Cambridge lacquered door is a solid ash frame with a veneered centre panel, and the grain of the wood is visible through the lacquer.” “We offer open drawers, wine racks and slide boxes in solid oak to accessorise and create design interest, or if a contemporary cross-over is desired, some of these features can be changed to a brushed steel effect.”

20 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

5 Long-term view

4. SCAVOLINI

Certainly the classic contemporary kitchen is not an interior look that is going to be out of date in the short term, as Neil Taggart adds: “From the consumers’ point of view, a classical contemporary kitchen always gives them the reassurance of an investment well made.” Therefore, it will remain a staple look for the kitchen designer, which is exciting as rather than being a dictatorial design it offers endless choice allowing them to personalise the scheme and meet the broadest church of consumers. Taggart concludes: “These options create kitchens that can happily span across generation and in doing so increases their appeal on the property market.”

The Carattere Kitchen features a frame door, which offers a contemporary update with a minimal handle. Base and wall units are shown in Ivory Ash Veneer with a worktop and splashback in Amazon Quartz. Receive the catalogue by email at www.rdr.link/KN007

5. CAPLE Parkhurst Grey is a Shaker-style kitchen with curved detail, providing softer corners. The fivepiece, foil door features a woodgrain finish to imitate the appearance of a painted wood. Find out the cabinet options and all the door finishes at www.rdr.link/KN008

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KITCHENS

HEALTHY EATING APPLIANCES

2 1 4 1. HOTPOINT The Hotpoint Class 9 combination steam oven (MS 998 IX H) has a capacity of 34 litres. It offers pure steam, steam and fan and steam defrost among its settings. Plus it boasts a steam cleaning function. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KN010

2. CAPLE Reﬂecting the consumer demand for powerful burners, Caple now offers the C789G gas hob. It features a central 4.2kW triple ring burner for wok cooking and all boast Directheat+ technology, which according to the company means less heat is lost compared to conventional designs. View the full speciﬁcation at www.rdr.link/KN011

22 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

Fit the bill How the global trend for healthy eating is impacting on appliance design, technology and specification in kitchen projects

Healthy eating is not a new concept but it’s growing in importance. No longer just a culinary pre-requisite of gym goers, it is now part and parcel of everyday lives. It may be buoyed by staggering statistics that 1:5 children in the UK leaving primary school are obese, or the public consciousness of animal welfare, boosting plantbased diets. Head of products at Smeg UK Laura Jones counters: “I think the trend for home professional-style cooking driven by cookery shows has more signiﬁcantly affected appliance design. Good, home-cooked food is likely to be healthier.” Whatever the cause healthy or healthier eating is a mega trend. And it has an impact on what people are choosing to eat, how they need to store produce and how they want to cook it, which ultimately inﬂuences their choice of home appliances.

Healthy steam Product manager of Caple Luke Shipway comments: “Most homeowners strive to commit to a healthy eating regime, which is why they are looking for appliances which will help them do just that.” And brand manager of Whirlpool Chairmaine Warner says the healthy eating trend beneﬁts retailers who can demonstrate their understanding of appliances and helps create additional sales: “This creates a positive opportunity for the retailer to exercise their wealth of knowledge, demonstrate the advantages and support the consumer in ﬁnding

a healthier lifestyle.” In terms of cooking, the healthy eating trend has seen a proliferation of steam cooking, from dedicated compacts through to combination ovens. Channel controller of KitchenAid Lee Collett comments: “Steam ovens and ovens with a dedicated steam function are increasingly sought after.” And these ovens have been price positioned to suit an array of budgets. In fact, it has even impacted on the range cooking market, with AGA Rangemaster offering a model with separate steam cavity – the Nexus Steam. Director of sales and marketing at AGA Rangemaster Iskender Diker says: “Nutritional cooking options such as steam are now viewed as preferential options, rather than novelties. In addition to offering consumers a wider choice of food preparation methods, regardless of the healthier diet they follow, steam cooking also helps to preserve foods’ nutritional value and moisture. It also prevents the transference of ﬂavours so that multiple items can be cooked at once, beneﬁtting users with batch cooking and meal prep process.”

Enter sous vide At the premium end of the market, consumers are starting to embrace sous vide which is taken from the professional cooking environment. Nick Platt, business director of built-in appliances at Hoover Candy UK explains: “The sous vide system is more likely to be sought out

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3 3. NOVY UK The Novy One Pro features a grill that works with a griddle pan for rapidly cooking meat, ﬁsh and vegetables in a healthier way. It also boasts a ventilation tower. Find out the technical speciﬁcation at www.rdr.link/KN012

4. HOOVER To complement its Vogue Premium steam oven, Hoover offers a blast chiller and vacuum sealer. It offers a function to marinate meats and make infusions. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KN013

by health conscious, food-loving consumers looking for quality appliances. It is a fast and healthy method that involves precise temperature control and cooking vacuum or bag-sealed food in a water bath.” However, it requires complementary appliances, such as a vacuum sealer and perhaps a blast chiller, which add to the cost and the complexity of steam cooking. In fact, sous vide could be a reason Charmaine Warner of Whirpool says despite the growth in popularity of steam, it can be “still perceived to be complicated to use and that the steam appliance has to be plumbed in.”

Hob-based cooking Although at the forefront of healthy eating, it should be pointed out steam is not the only solution. Industry experts also suggest hob-based stir frying as meeting the healthy eating trend. Sarah Whitfield, product manager for range cooking at Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, agrees adding: “Many people are going for stir fry dishes as a healthier cooking alternative, which has led to an increase in demand for more powerful wok burners.” And country manager of Novy UK Owain Harrison explains how healthy eating has impacted on product development of its hobs, adding: “Appliance manufacturers, like Novy, have viewed this shift toward healthier surface cooking options and have duly developed induction and vented hobs with specific functions that make it easier to cook healthier. Some feature special grill functions used in conjunction with a griddle pan, which can act like a standard grill or teppan yaki, rapidly heating meat, fish or vegetables using little if any oil.”

Optimum food storage As people increasingly cook more food from scratch, there has been a requirement for cooling appliances to be able to store a larger amount of fresh food. It has seen the development of larger drawers for produce, as well as technology to prolong the life of fresh food. Product

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KITCHENS

HEALTHY EATING APPLIANCES

5. STOVES The Steam & Infuse trivet has been created for the Stoves Delux range cooker to help consumers create healthy foods. According to GDHA it keeps moisture and ﬂavour in the food. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KN014

6. RANGEMASTER The 1100mm wide, Nexus Steam range cooker boasts a 35-litre dedicated cavity which boasts steam injection and allows users to control within a single degree.It is claimed to prevent the transfer of ﬂavours, allowing users to cook multiple recipes at the same time. Discover more details at www.rdr.link/KN015

7. SAMSUNG The Family Hub refrigerator features Twin Plus technology to keep food at optimum conditions and fresher for longer. It also offers a Meal Planner function, offering recipes based on its inventory and personal preferences. Find out all about all its hi-tech features by watching the video at www.rdr.link/KN016

manager for cooling at Glen Dimplex Home Appliances Carl Barnes comments: “The healthy eating trend manifests itself in people doing more cooking with fresh ingredients and that requires the capacity to store and preserve food for longer. So, functions and areas within refrigerators that circulate the air – for example salad crispers and dehumidiﬁers – are in demand.” It was the story at appliance trade exhibition IFA, with cooling manufacturers promoting refrigeration that optimised food storage conditions, keeping food fresher for longer. Beko introduced HarvestFresh, building on its Everfresh+ cooling technology that uses three lights to mimic daylight and preserve Vitamins A and C. In addition, Liebherr showcased BioFresh and Duocooling technologies on its Monolith refrigeration, to create “market fresh” conditions to keep food fresher for longer.

explore a selection of recipe ideas. The app then recommends the ideal settings, sets the [oven] temperature and timings.”

Healthy outlook Certainly the trend for healthy eating doesn’t appear to going anywhere soon. Even the most time-pressured consumer can cook from scratch with the likes of food boxes Hello Fresh and Gousto. Owain Harrison of Novy comments: “Whereas being time poor has often been the enemy of healthy eating in the past, food box companies that deliver organic vegetables and pre-made recipes to cook quickly, easily and most of all healthily are on the rise.” The movement towards healthier eating is undoubtedly being led by the consumer, so kitchen designers who are able to tap into the trend will win through in appliance sales.

Smart thinking

24 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

And connectivity could further help consumers who wish to eat more healthily, as fridge functions and cooking apps offer consumer guidance on recipes. Nick Bevan, head of product management digital appliances at Samsung, says its Family Hub fridge freezer has Twin Cooling Plus technology to store food at optimum level and keep it fresher for longer “but it also has a Meal Planner function that suggests recipes based on personal dietary preferences and refrigerator inventory.” While Indesit has developed the Turn & Go App which recognises ingredients and recommends recipes to cook using its Indesit Aria oven. Brand manager for Indesit Sara Bazeley explains: “Users simply take a picture of their desired ingredient and can

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ADVERTORIAL

LED.com

kbb 1-4 March 2020 NEC Birmingham Stand K125

NEW CATALOGUE LAUNCH SycamoreLED.com is a market leading manufacturer and supplier of LED lighting and control systems to the KBB market and lighting sectors. Established in 1998, Sycamore has built a strong reputation for offering unrivalled customer service and innovative products. Three new catalogues will be launched at the KBB exhibition in March this year, including the new Lighting Directory for 2020, a brand new Bathroom Lighting Collection, and a dedicated Kinetic Smart Lighting Controls catalogue. The Kinetic brochure includes the new Wireless Kinetic Switching system, which allows users to control their kitchen, bedroom and bathroom lights via a switch, app or voice control. The Wireless Kinetic Switch uses advanced self-powering technology to revolutionise the traditional mains wired switch. Without the need for cables or even batteries, this switch module communicates with a relay receiver to control and dim lighting. The switch connects to a wireless receiver which is easily programmed to communicate with the lights in the users home. The wire free design of the switch has an IP67 rating so it can be installed anywhere in the home, including the bathroom, using the fixing screws or self-adhesive strips provided. The sleek modern design with large easy press buttons and a screwless front, is available in 1 gang, 2 gang or 3 gang and has a 30 metre range. Users can also control their lighting via the Smart Life app, this is available to download from app stores onto compatible SMART devices. This can be used as a standalone function or it can also then be connected to a voice controlled device such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Users can then group together their lighting to make it easier to control the different zones. For example “Alexa, turn on plinth lights” or “Alexa, dim cabinet lights to 50%”.

In addition to this there will be a tunable option which will allow the user to change the colour temperature with the controls detailed above. For example: “Alexa change kitchen lights to warm white” The new and exciting bathroom collection showcases a selection of tunable & dimmable LED mirrors, some of which will feature a Bluetooth speaker. New LED ceiling lighting, as well as IP rated flexible strip and cabinet lights offer the complete lighting solution for any bathroom. The 2020 Lighting Directory features many essential products for illuminating any kitchen design. The new COB LED Strip is perfect for today’s popular handle-less kitchen designs, as the strip features a continuous run of LED’s in very close proximity to each other, eliminating the spotting effect without the need for aluminium extrusions or diffused covers. The new catalogues will be launched at the KBB exhibition. Please visit the SycamoreLED stand at K125 to pick up your copies, and take a look at all the new products live. T: 0113 2866686 E: sales@sycamoreLED.com W: www.sycamoreLED.com www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS MARCH

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PRODUCT ROUND-UP

KITCHENS

just out

2 1. INSINKERATOR

2. CAPLE

3. CROWN IMPERIAL

Adding to its Showroom Collection, exclusively for kitchen retailers, InSinkErator has recently introduced the premium E75 food waste disposer. It boasts stainless steel grinding, a 980ml chamber, 0.75 horsepower motor and comes complete with a stainless steel sink stopper and cover. The E75 food waste disposer is supported by a six-year parts and labour guarantee and joins the existing Evolution 250 and Evolution 150 models. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KN017

The Frampton tap from Caple is now available in Antique Brass, to meet the trend for alternative brassware finishes to chrome. It boasts a traditional-style design and features a single lever. Measuring 313mm high, with a reach of 250mm, it requires 0.5bar minimum water pressure. The Frampton monobloc, single control tap adds to the existing stainless steel model. Find out all about the traditional Frampton tap range from Caple at www.rdr.link/KN018

British kitchen furniture manufacturer Crown Imperial has introduced three vividly painted finishes; Rose, Lavender and Sky. Inspired by nature, the colours have been created to add a pop to the scheme. Pictured is Midsomer paired in Lavender and Rose, including pantry storage, finished in a natural oak silk lacquer with solid oak drawers. The colours are available across Crown Imperialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five fusion ranges; Ashton, Aspen, Cotswood, Midsomer and Pinova. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KN019

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KITCHENS

PRODUCT ROUND-UP

4. AIRUNO Designer cooker hoods brand AirUno has expanded its product range with the launch of its quietest cooker hood to date, the Elena Ceiling Hood. It boasts a minimum operating noise level of 37dB, approximately the same volume as a whisper. Measuring 900mm wide, the white glass hood with a white frame has four speed settings and a maximum rate of 664m3/h. Discover the technical details at www.rdr.link/KN020

5. CANDY Household appliance manufacturer Candy has launched six fridge-freezers with low frost technology. The A+ energy-rated models are available in a traditional 50/50 split, with a freezer capacity of 255L gross, and three come equipped with built-in water dispenser. Kitchen designers can choose the fridge freezers in either silver, white or black finishes. Read more at www.rdr.link/KN021

5 6. NEOLITH

Sintered stone brand Neolith has launched Full Body Veining technology, after seven years of development. It provides veins throughout the entire slab and which are also visible in the edges, replicating the veining found in stone, such as marble. The Full Body Veining technology will be used for 12mm and 20mm surfaces. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KN022

7. REGINOX Adding to its sink portfolio, Reginox has introduced the Tuscany ceramic sink manufactured from traditional fine fireclay. With a contemporary, slimline design, Tuscany has been created for a classical kitchen setting or modern penthouse. The 1.5 bowl model is suitable for undermounting and features a high gloss finish with a chrome waste. Find out more technical details at www.rdr.link/KN023

8. FRANKE

8 28 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

The Tale Wall cooker hood forms part of Frankeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recently revamped decorative hoods portfolio, which features 40 models. The T-shape model measures 1198mm wide and features three speeds, plus an intensive setting with an extraction rate of 700m3/h. Boasting an A++ energy rating, Tale Wall can be fitted as a recirculating or ducted model and is backed by a two-year warranty. Download a fact sheet at www.rdr.link/KN024

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9 9. SCHMIDT The Arcos Supermat range from Schmidt is available in five shades, including the claret red-style Sirra. It features tall floor-to-ceiling cupboards and larder units, the option of an internal drawer beneath the hob, deep pan drawers and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;floatingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cupboards on the rear of the peninsula. The 700mm drawers come in four depths and widths, as well as heights from 520mm to 910mm. Discover more details at www.rdr.link/KN025

10. PRONORM Pronorm has just launched a door in Arctic White with an antifingerprint, ultra matt finish and a visible natural oak inset. The oak inset is to elevate the design value and aesthetics of a simple white kitchen. Arctic White is pictured on the X Line handleless kitchen range and is also available across its Y-Line, Proline 128 and Classic-Line furniture. Find out more at www.rdr.link/KN026

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KITCHENS

SUPPLIER PEOFILE

Scoring a century Managing director of Glen Dimplex Home Appliances Mark Davison explains why Stoves has been resilient over the past 100 years and how it plans to grow its business through the kitchen specialist channel

30 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

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Stoves has long been a seminal brand in cooking appliances and is, in fact, celebrating its centenary having been established on Valentine’s Day in 1920. Then it was a manufacturer of sheet metal and gas heaters, but having recognised sculleries were transforming into larger kitchens, Stoves began to make cooking appliances. Originally based in Warrington, ﬁve years’ later it relocated to its current premises - a former munitions site - in Prescot, Merseyside. The company started making gas cookers, producing the Bakerloo, Reliable, Kitchenette and Newhome brands. By the 1970s Newhome had grown to such a success, it reportedly held a 15% share of the UK cooking market. Stoves exclaims its popularity came from the brand introducing a number of industry ﬁrsts to the range, such as an ignition button and self-cleaning oven lining, which are now a staple of oven design. And cooking continues to be at the heart of the company, with the brand offering both built-in and range cooking, as well as hoods, splashbacks, refrigeration, dishwashers and wine cookers.

Business changes Of course, for a company to have survived 100 years’ trading, it means it can’t have been smooth sailing all the time. And over the last 18 months, GDHA had to implement tough changes in the business, pulling out of loss-making appliances and outsourcing some of its product manufacture. It has been one of the biggest changes in the company’s history but helped secure its future. Managing director of GDHA Mark Davison explains: “We’ve changed our focus from a product point of view and within that we’ve made the decision to only continue certain manufacturing in the UK. So, apart from

our mini ranges, we’ve completely exited the 500mm/600mm freestanding cooking market with two ovens and a hotplate. We’ve had to change the size and shape of the operation in Prescot, which is never easy. We’ve had to reduce the number of people employed here, particularly in manufacturing.”

Focus on ranges However, the company retained the manufacture of range cooking in the UK. Mark Davison comments: “We are still making range cooking in the UK, which for the UK market is important. Our main competitor is made in the UK, Rangemaster, and from a marketing point of view it’s where we want to focus.” He continues: “The majority of the business is still cooking and going forwards we are focusing on range cooking more and more”, adding: “it’s an area we do think we can grow in.” Although Davison concedes built-in is a bigger category, he says it is much more competitive, adding: “We think there are better returns for range cookers at the moment”. And he makes the assertion: “I would like to be market leader in range cooking.”

New product development In fact, range cooking has been a recent focus of its new product development. It has seen the company introduce powerful wok burners, the ProFlex cavity splitter to divide a tall oven into two separate model, as well as connectivity through its Zeus timer. Mark Davison adds: “We happened to have produced a lot of new products on range cooking in the last 12-18 months.” However, he points out the company is not neglecting its other appliance sectors,

1. MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GDHA Mark Davison joined the company from AGA Rangemaster and now plans to make Stoves a market leader in range cooking

2. NEWHOME TAKES HOLD By the 1970s, the Newhome brand held a 15% share of the cooking market

3. FIRST COOKERS In the 1930s Stoves introduced its range of gas cookers, including the Bakerloo, Newhome, Reliable and Kitchenette models

4. PRESCOT PREMISES Stoves moved to its current premises in Prescot, Merseyside in 1925. Parent company GDHA invested £1.5million into the manufacturing site, decades later, to make range cookers

4 www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS MARCH

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KITCHENS

SUPPLIER PEOFILE

5. PRECISION Created in Umbra glass which is black and turns transparent when cooking, the Precision features four oven cavities. It comes with two 5kW Powerwok Plus Burners and a Proﬂex Splitter to divide the oven into two separate cavities. Watch videos on all these features at www.rdr.link/KN057

6. STIRLING MINI Featuring a monochrome Union Jack, the Stoves Stirling Mini range cooker is an electric model which measures 600mm wide. It features a main and top oven and four ceramic hob elements. View the entire Mini range at www.rdr.link/KN058

32 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

adding: “As we relaunch our other product ranges, such as built-in, then obviously we might adapt the focus to be more balanced. But at the moment, we’re focused on range cooking.“

Supporting range sales And the company has supported its range cooking with a six-ﬁgure investment in consumer market to modernise the brand and improve brand awareness. Davison admits: “We probably haven’t been investing as much in consumer marketing as we should have done and we wanted to focus on consumers at a certain stage in their purchasing decision. Because, clearly, when people are buying a new appliance it’s often in conjunction with a new kitchen. When you see a Stoves advert, now, you’ll ﬁnd it in the places people will look at when they are looking to buy a new kitchen.” The company is now also more targeted in

terms of the type of consumer it is trying to attract through its marketing activity: “We are now targeting 35+ professionals who are more into creating great food. They are probably more affluent and can pay a little bit more for both a better quality product and the certain style they want. We’ve positioned Stoves as being engineered for food, so we’re targeting people who want products that work well but at the end of the day don’t have to have all the gadgets but they help you cook better.” And he says Stoves is already “seeing some good results but you don’t see success overnight. We just want to make sure the Stoves brand appears on people’s lists when they are thinking about kitchens and appliances.”

Expanding showroom presence So, to reach consumers interested in purchasing a new kitchen with appliances, unsurprisingly

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Stoves is looking to grow sales through the independent kitchen showroom channel. Davison comments: “In terms of our strategy in the marketplace, we’re trying to now focus on channels such as kitchen multiples and kitchen specialists which, clearly for a product like ours, are increasingly important going forwards.” He continues: “It’s just part of an evolution. We have been a mass market appliance manufacturer. We’ve sold, in the past, big volumes of mainstream products through a lot of different channels but with probably more of a focus through electrical retail. And now, we’re being a bit more strategic and asking ‘where do the people shop who are looking to buy one of our new products going forward?’” That’s not to say Stoves doesn’t want to capitalise on the distress, replacement market as Davison explains: “If somebody’s cooker breaks down and they need to change it, we still want to be in that market for replacement. But, clearly, some of the more premium products are bought when somebody is buying a new kitchen. We still think when you’re paying £2,500 for a range cooker, in particular, people do want to go see the product and touch the product. Obviously that’s one of the primary ways we can get products in front of consumers.” In fact, such is the focus on growing the number of displays in kitchen showrooms, Davison states: “I would want to grow our presence in kitchen specialists by 300-400%.” Helping him achieve this ﬁgure, Davison is also looking to grow Stoves built-in cooking sales, as well as strengthen its refrigeration. “We have increased our reﬁgeration offer but I think we need to do a bit more in terms of breadth of range, and possibly include some more premium products.”

Against the backdrop of Brexit and uncertainty around trade deals, Davison believes “some green shoots are starting to appear, so maybe people are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t think we’re there yet, because every time you pick up a paper or click on the internet, there’s doom and gloom about retail sales on the high street. So there is a bit to go before confidence is restored and people are changing kitchens, buying appliances and moving house. However, he points out Stoves first financial quarter, which ended in December, “was probably better than we’ve had for a while.” And Davison says to continue to keep Stoves relevant for the next century, it is all about understanding the target consumer and what they are looking for in an appliance. He concludes: “It will be a blend of communicating the heritage and experience of the brand but not only talking about the past. Take a look at what we’re now doing to develop the brand for the next 100 years.”

“We have been a mass market appliance manufacturer. We’ve sold, in the past, big volumes through a lot of different channels but with probably more of a focus though electrical retail. In terms of our strategy in the marketplace, we’re trying to now focus on channels such as kitchen multiples and kitchen specialists which, clearly for a product like ours, are increasingly important going forwards. ”

British brand resilience With appliance brands entering and exciting the market, how has Stoves remained so resilient? “I think it’s a combination of things”, replies Davison. “I think over the years, we have had pretty strong product offers across the categories we operate in. We’ve expanded the range of products available, beyond cooking, so people can have the Stoves brand on refrigeration. We’ve improved the products with new features and new designs over the years. And also, let’s face it, we are seen as a British brand which for some consumers does make a difference.” And he explains why being British can inﬂuence a consumer, stating: “Some people like the fact they can buy an appliance that is linked more distinctly to a British business, including some products which are made in the UK, and are therefore providing jobs for people in the UK.”

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CLASSICAL BATHROOMS

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Vintage fair We take a look at how consumers are harking back in bathroom design with nostalgic interiors and consider how designers can cater for those who have an appetite for vintage

When minimalism became the coveted look for bathrooms, period styles were relegated to niche sales. However, there has been a noticeable move to more nostalgic bathroom interiors with traditional, classical, heritage looks (call it what you will), once again growing in popularity. Managing director of Roman David Osborne says he has recognised the increased interest in period-style bathrooms, commenting: “Heritage or traditional bathrooms did drop to a low level of display support, but over the last five years, we have seen most showrooms embrace the traditional look once again.” And Nygel McCormac, sales and marketing director at Ambiance Bain, agrees: “We have noticed our retailers adding heritage bathroom displays in their showrooms and talking more about consumers requesting a traditional style

1. BURLINGTON Jet includes black ceramic suites, with customisable baths, plus chrome taps and showers with black indices. Pictured is the Jet Edwardian basin, which measures 1200mm, with high level cistern WC. Watch the video at www.rdrlink/KN027

2. LAUFEN The New Classic collection has been designed under the creative leadership of Marcel Wanders, which interprets classical styles using SaphirKeramik. The full bathroom range includes washstands, washbasin bowls, WCs, a bidet and bathtub, faucets, mirrors and accessories, as well as furniture. Download the brochure at www.rdr.link/KN028

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CLASSICAL BATHROOMS

bathroom.” Certainly, there has been a plethora of period-style product launches across bathroom suites, baths, brassware and shower enclosures bringing the classical look more to the mainstream.

Restoration refurbishments It could be argued in uncertain times; people gain their emotional security from nostalgia and so turn towards creating traditional home interiors. Or equally it could be that with the help of TV interior shows highlighting period features, home improvers are more open to exposing them in their projects. Certainly that’s the view of head of design at Utopia Bathrooms Rich Shore: “The majority of the housing stock in the UK is period style and in recent years more and more people are choosing to refurbish rather than move on. Where previous generations tried to overboard or hide features such as traditional ﬁreplaces and mouldings, modern refurbishments are more sympathetic to the design details of previous generations and are choosing to accentuate rather than hide them. Naturally people are choosing periodstyle bathroom products, manufactured to modern day standards, to complete the look.”

Economical and environmental This appetite for more nostalgic looks could also be linked with consumers’ growing ecoconscience creating a look which isn’t subject to the vagaries of fashion. Therefore, not only is the interior more sustainable but also more economical as it doesn’t need changing so frequently to keep up with trends. Marketing director of Crosswater Juan Pillay points out: “The traditional look is timeless. Fitting a bathroom with this style of product creates longevity and is therefore more costeffective than overtly trend-led designs, as you’d need to update these far more often as interior fashions change.”

Victorian designs lead Interestingly, the interpretation of classical or traditional styling is often based upon Victorian design, as that was the starting point for bathrooms. Rich Shore of Utopia Bathrooms says: “Nostalgic themes can be seen across many industries but it’s particularly relevant in the bathroom sector, as the Victorians invented the concept of personal hygiene and sanitaryware that is the basis of our modern-day bathrooms.” However, there has also been a growth of interest in the Art Deco and Nouveau movement, think reeded glass, black sanitwaryware or ﬂuted bath design. But Rich Shore states: “Victorian will always be the most popular period as it was the longest lived,

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whereas Art Deco and Nouveau reﬂect a very decorative and indulgent period.” And marketing manager for VitrA Margaret Talbot points to how Victoriana inﬂuences product choice, stating: “Rolltop freestanding baths and high level cisterns have remained popular with many consumers using these Victoriana-style pieces for cloakrooms and lavish family bathrooms.”

Classical crossover While Victoriana may prove to be a starting point for designers wishing to create a classically-inspired bathroom, consumers don’t necessarily want to slavishly recreate a

3. RAK CERAMICS The Washington suite reinterprets classic shapes and proportions in a more modern way. It includes a choice of WCs, spanning high level cisterns, close-coupled and wall-hung. See the video at www.rdr.link/KN029

4. AMBIANCE BAIN Adding to its contemporary bathroom furniture range, is the Provence Country Door Style. It mixes traditional styling with curved corners. See all the company’s ranges at www.rdr.link/KN030

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5. FRONTLINE BATHROOMS Part of the Victorian-inspired Holborn brand is this WC with high-level cistern, with a choice of four seats. It is complemented by the console basin, measuring 845mm, with ceramic legs. View the online brochure at www.rdr.link/KN031

6. VITRA Valarte is a modern heritage-style collection featuring furniture and sanitaryware. It combines the essence of yesteryear with up-to-date features like washbasin vanity units, full-height doors and a shelf or drawers. Download the technical speciﬁcation of the vanity units at www.rdr.link/KN032

7. ROMAN The Victoriana shower enclosure was relaunched into the premium Decem range of enclosures, made from 10mm glass. It is available as a hinged door for alcove or corner, hinged door with inline panel, wetroom panel or Neo Angle. View the product information at www.rdrlink/KN033 reproduction look. Instead, they want a sanctuary with a crossover appeal combining classical elements with modern-day features for a more eclectic look. Marketing manager for VitrA Margaret Talbot says: “There is always a demand for bathrooms that provide a traditional look. But, these consumers also want a modern, functioning bathroom and seek on-trend colours, textures and features with real beneﬁts like soft-close drawers and doors offering inventive storage solutions.” And Nygel McCormac of Ambiance Bain agrees, adding:

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“We think the recent movement is because no longer do consumers have to choose a true traditional-style bathroom, but can mix the old with the new.” Head of sales at RAK Ceramics UK Ben Bryden explains how these eclectic looks are shaping the modern bathroom: “What we are beginning to see emerging is a new trend for ‘traditionally modern’ bathrooms. Rather than being put firmly into a contemporary or classic box, consumers want the opportunity to combine both looks, perhaps with a modern style and classical-style accessories or by choosing traditional-style sanitaryware and adding in patterned floor tiles and a statement bath. That kind of look is going to be just as popular in 10 or even 20 years’ time as it is now.” And Michael Sammon, sales and marketing director of Holborn, says how his company has responded to this trend, when he adds: “We’re now seeing a fusion with statement traditional pieces being given a modern overhaul which leads to some really eye-catching designs and innovations. At Holborn, we have fused the best of both worlds; the classic charm of a bygone age with a choice of modern colours and finishes brought effortlessly into 2020.”

Incorporating technology Where up-to-date technology may have ﬂown in the face of classical bathrooms, manufacturers have been quick to respond and used it to create period-style pieces. This is across all bathroom products from rimless or wall-hung WC models, through to bath tubs, lacquered in colour, and thermostatic brassware controls, to name but a few. Marketing manager of Burlington Faye Froy says: “The aesthetics of our traditional ceramics remain true to original, classic designs, however advancements in technology and changes in trends have enabled us to offer homeowners a choice of ceramics

9 38 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

8 and brassware with a more modern twist. Whether opting for Jet black ceramic ﬁnish, choosing black indices on brassware, or even walnut handles on taps, there’s a variety of contemporary styles available to bring traditional into the 21st Century.” And Juan Pillay of Crosswater agrees: “Traditional products are combining the technology of thermostatic shower valves with built-in safety features and precise water control with the veneer of a traditional trim set and options of crosshead or white ceramic handles to create the classical look.” He states digital technology is being integrated into more classical brassware: “The latest digital functions can now be sympathetically integrated into traditional-style brassware designs. This way customers can now get the traditional look with all the superior functions and useability of a modern item.” Reinterpreting classic shapes with modern tech, period-style bathrooms will remain a key look for designers.

8. PJH Part of the Bathrooms to Love collection is the Sherbourne suite which features Victorian angular styling with softer, modern elements. Pictured is a basin with full pedestal, high-level WC and Bayswater Slipper bath. Download the brochure at www.rdr.link/KN034

9. UTOPIA BATHROOMS Downton furniture is shown in the English Pebble ﬁnish and comes with an optional plinth inﬁll panel. Matching bath side and end panels are available to complement the look. See all the colour options at www.rdr.link/KN035

10. ROCA Adding to its Carmen sanitaryware range, which is based on a classic Roca collection from the 1940s, is a cast-iron, freestanding Slipper Bath. The bath is available in Black, Bordeaux Red, Navy Blue, Copper Grey and White exteriors. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KN036

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Water efficiency We talk to experts in retailing and manufacturing about water efficiency and its role in bathroom design With Climate Change splashed across the media, and a growing youthquake of opinion led by Greta Thunberg, sustainability is now a mainstream topic. Consumers are becoming more aware of how their lifestyle impacts on the environment. Recycling has become second nature, technology has enabled monitoring of energy use and so it’s not implausible reducing water wastage will be their next focus. In fact, recent consumer research from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association suggests it is already high on the consumer agenda, with 80% of respondents stating they were interested in water efficiency.

Population and city growth The need for water efficiency is only going to grow as the Environment Agency is already warning within 25 years there will not be enough water to meet demand. Changes to climate, which could see dryer conditions because of warmer temperatures, are just some of the stresses on water resources. However, this combined with a predicted population growth to 70million people in the UK in 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics, can further impact on water availability. Britain is also experiencing urban growth, with many of its cities sprawling, according to lecturer at the University of Cambridge Dr Charlotte Lemanski. And there has been a slow, upward trend towards urbanisation, with a 3% increase over the last decade. According to Statista.com, 83.4% of people in the UK live in cities. All of which means a greater use of resources in a concentrated area, which could further impact on water availability.

Duty of responsiblity So do designers have a duty of responsiblity to create bathrooms which are sympathetic to the environment? Should they not only consider the impact of their projects in water use but also help educate consumers on water efficiency and encourage them to select products that optimise water use? What are your thoughts?

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

“Great way to make a big difference.” Managing director of Neoperl Kevin Gates explains the importance of flow regulators and aerators to reduce water use There is now a growing appetite by all in the KBB market to save water as we are all conscious that these two rooms account for the highest usage of water consumption in the home. According to Waterwise, the water efficiency campaigning body, baths and showers alone account for 34%. Flow regulators and aerators can play an enormous part in reducing the amount of water we use. Today these devices can be retroﬁtted so we can all now do our bit to help the environment.

Flow regulators Flow regulators ensure that a constant water flow rate is maintained through an appliance, regardless of water pressure fluctuations. They are used today in taps, showers, water heaters, boilers and many other applications. They are a small hidden component that are often coupled with aerators, a component positioned in the spout of a tap, that shape the water to produce a non-splashing stream and add air to make the water pleasantly soft. A flow regulator works by using an integral

dynamic control ring (DCR) at its core. As water flows through it and, as the pressure fluctuates, the DCR deforms into the core of the flow regulator, either reducing or increasing the size of the orifice, to enable a stable and constant flow rate, independent of pressure. Used in combination with aerators they regulate the flow, saving both water and energy.

Retrofit regulators Not all shower heads or taps have these devices installed within them. If you consider that a European standard shower head can produce circa 18 litres of water per minute at 3 bar of pressure, using a flow regulator would reduce this dramatically, by anything up to 70% depending on the desired flow rate. A combined aerator with flow regulator can also be retrofitted to existing taps to save water and improve performance. They are a great way to make a big difference in water saving and it simply requires a stand-alone flow regulator incorporated into the showerhead or hose or dual core aerator in the spout of a tap. Encourage your customers to join the water-saving drive and make them aware of these effective solutions.

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“Water efficiency should be at the top of everyone’s agenda” Consumer demand

Managing director of the Unified Water Label Yvonne Orgill highlights the importance of water efficiency and providing more information to consumers Climate change and population growth are leading to the possibility of severe water shortages. Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency has estimated that by 2050, the amount of water available could be reduced by 10-15%. He also predicted many parts of the country will face significant water deficits by 2050, particularly in the South East where much of the UK population lives. Given these facts, water efficiency should be at the top of everyone’s agenda in the bathroom industry. Around 60% of the water used in the home is used in the bathroom, bathing, showering, washing, brushing teeth and flushing the WC. There is great potential to save water used by offering waterefficient bathroom products and changing people’s behaviour so they use bathroom products more efficiently.

There is a growing demand from consumers, the BMA’s 2018 research into bathroom buying habits, highlighted this clearly. The BMA research found consumers would be positively inﬂuenced to buy products if they had more information about water efficiency. The results showed more than 80% of respondents said water efficiency was quite or very important when purchasing a WC or a shower, yet almost 40% were not made aware of how much water the products would use. This clearly shows there is an opportunity for retailers and they are missing out if they don’t have this information available. Many manufacturers offer products that deliver good performance but use less water and energy, expelling the myth water-saving products don’t perform. Manufacturers

are now also supporting the Unified Water Label (UWL), which provides clear information on how much water products will use. Manufacturers can display the label, but retailers must seek to promote products that are registered and educate consumers on these options. Bathroom designers and specfiers also need to have the knowledge to advice on compatibility to help consumers make the right choices. It will benefit our planet if we all work together to help consumers become more aware and make informed choices about what to purchase.

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FOCUS ON...

“Easy to incorporate water-saving innovations” WC starting point

Marketing manager of Geberit Holly Aspinall offers the WC as a starting point for saving water in the bathroom Both homeowners and businesses are becoming increasingly mindful of their environmental footprint. And with sustainability in the industry taking centre stage, it’s vital that bathroom manufacturers, designers and retailers carefully consider the impact their projects and products have on the environment, and make a conscious effort to ensure the modern bathroom is as eco-friendly as possible. Reducing water consumption is considered one of the biggest challenges in the bathroom. Yet, it’s easy to incorporate the latest innovations and products which are both simple to install and have a signiﬁcant impact.

An incredibly simple and effective way of cutting back on consumption is by recommending a smart cistern with dual flush technology, such as the Geberit Sigma concealed cistern. Typically, traditional flushing systems use as much as 9 litres per flush, which on average adds up to a staggering 33 litres of water used in a standard household per day through flushing alone. By opting for the latest in behind-the-wall technology consumers can reduce their usage drastically. Geberit’s Sigma cistern can be reduced to achieve as little as a 4-litre full flush or 2.6-litre reduced flush, significantly cutting water consumption without compromising on aesthetic or functionality. Similarly, investing in a shower toilet which combines cutting-edge, smart features with water saving technology is an impressive way of elevating bathroom design without impacting on water efficiency. Geberit’s AquaClean shower toilet, for example, uses WhirlSpray technology and gentle oscillating spray with dynamic aeration to provide a “fresh-out-of-the-shower feeling,” but importantly only uses minimal levels of water. Ultimately, industry-leading manufacturers, like Geberit, have paved the way for water efficient products and eco-friendly innovations in the bathroom. As consumers continue to

become more concerned with sustainability in the home, it is important that both retailers and designers focus on creating spaces that combine elegance, style and practicality with strong green credentials.

“It’s about sparking up a conversation”

Director of Alon Interiors Sarah Reeve-Daly says bathroom designers have a level of responsibility to encourage water-saving Only a very small percentage of people have asked about water efficiency in our Gravesend showroom in Kent. However, we do feel a certain level of responsibility to encourage water efficiency and to do our bit. Last year, we researched Water Saving Week and contributed a blog and some ideas on how to cut back on water wastage.

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Some of our preferred bathroom suppliers have integrated water-saving technology in their products. Edens and RAK Ceramics both have big water-saving articles in their bathroom brochures. Quooker also has a section in its brochure regarding energy efficiency and water saving. And we do use these water-saving features as USPs to potential customers, marketing both the monetary and water-saving beneﬁts of such products. When you explain to customers these technological innovations can save them money in the future, and reduce their carbon footprint, it does change their perspective. It’s all about sparking up a conversation.

Raise awareness The industry needs to raise more awareness about water efficiency. Often, we ﬁnd, water saving is only spoken about when there is a water shortage. If people were more aware of the statistics in relation to our water

consumption, consumers may be more conscious when buying bathroom products. It links back to the proportion of clients who ask for water-saving products – there aren’t that many – which raises the red ﬂag that people need to be made more aware.

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PRODUCT ROUND-UP

just out

1. MERLYN Extending its shower surround collection, Merlyn has introduced the Series 8 Curved Shower Wall. It is made from 8mm toughened glass and measures 2015mm high. Following the contours of an offset quadrant, the Curved Shower Wall provides the practicalities of deﬂecting water spray. For more technical information visit www.rdr.link/KN037

2. CLEARWATER Forming part of the luxury collection from Clearwater is the Clearstone collection of baths and basins. Made from a composite material, it allows the baths and basins to be created with thin rims and, according to Clearwater, means they are scratch-resistant and easily repairable. All of the products in the Clearstone Collection come with a 10-year guarantee. Discover the entire range at www.rdr.link/KN038

3. NUIE Formerly Roxor’s value-led Premier Collection, Nuie has now introduced a Gloss Grey Mist finish to its Athena modular bathroom furniture. It brings the number of finishes available in the Athena range to eight. Featuring floorstanding and wall-hung cabinets, Athena units are supplied rigid in 500mm, 600mm and 800mm sizes with single, two door or double drawer options. Discover the range at www.rdr.link/KN039

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4. CAVALIER BATHROOMS

6. SAM LANDER

Adding to the Aquadart brand is Rolla 8, a frameless sliding door range made from 8mm glass. It is available as a wetroom panel, frameless enclosure, recess model or can be used with a corner post so the door can close against a wall rather than a side panel. Rolla 8 features an eyelet handle and the frameless enclosure option is available with Silver or Matt Black posts and support braces. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KN040

Sam Lander manufactures concrete Whirligig wash basins with patterns bespoke to each model. Each basin is made using a machine which founder Sam Lander has developed but are ﬁnished by hand. Designers can choose from a pattern in the catalogue or select their own colours, up to six, from a 16-strong palette. All basins come with a one-year warranty. Discover more at www.rdr.link/KN042

5. BC DESIGNS BC Designs has extended its range of colourful baths with the addition of complementary Colourkast basins. Made from Cian solid surfacing, the basins come in a choice of eight colours, which include: Gunmetal, Khaki Green, Mushroom, Powder Blue, Light Fawn, Industrial Grey, Satin Rose and Powder Grey. All Colourkast baths and basins come in a silk matt ﬁnish and the company also provide a matching Cian coloured waste. Find out more technical details at www.rdr.link/KN041

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DESIGN

SME EXPERTISE

Design know-how SPECIFICATION

Designing for health CEO of Falmec Sean Drumm explains the importance of eliminating air pollution in kitchen design

Whether you’re a novice or an experienced designer and just want a refresher, here we offer in-depth knowledge on products, materials, applications and planning. Now you can design projects with confidence

CAD TRAINING What should you consider when buying CAD? Support and training officer at Virtual Worlds Taomi Nevin explains what designers should consider when choosing a CAD package for their business Investing in CAD for your retail business is not something to be taken lightly – aside from the initial set-up costs, it will take time to train staff and get to know your way around the system. It’s important to do your research and opt for a package that is right for your business, your staff and, ultimately, your customers. As part of this research there are many things to consider, including:

46 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

As more and more of the world’s population congregates in built-up urban environments, our opportunities to interact with nature are on a rapid decline. Biophilic design seeks to restore and strengthen our connection with the natural world in the many spaces in which we live and work. Biophilic design speciﬁcally refers to the elements that can be controlled and monitored by ourselves, such as natural lighting, audio, plus importantly, the quality of the water and air around us.

Neutralise pollutants Food, water and air are the three elements that enter our bodies and the quality of all three is crucial for our health. While we can defend ourselves from the ﬁrst two, we cannot do the same with air. Indoor air may seem pure but could contain harmful components that we cannot see with the naked eye, such as microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, moulds, allergens, dust mites, smoke and odours. Pollution in the domestic environment may also expose us to risks of respiratory disease, asthma, infections and disorders in various systems. As we spend over 90% of our time indoors, the presence of these pollutants can have signiﬁcant negative effects on our health, especially the more vulnerable in society. Nowhere in the home is this more critical than in the kitchen, where the trend for open plan living means polluted air is a danger faced in every home. Neutralising these pollutants has been the target of Falmec with its patented E.ion system, which reduces bacteria by up to 85%.

What is CAD and do you really need it? Computer-aided design is the use of computers to allow creation, modiﬁcation, analysis, and optimisation of any design. CAD software is used to increase the productivity and knowledge of the designer, improve the quality of design, and to create a database for manufacturing. What support is offered by the CAD supplier? When being introduced to new software you need to have a good support base; whether in your showrooms or someone on the end of the phone who is trained to know the ins and outs of all technical and design-based queries. This will give you good peace of mind and gives you a level of conﬁdence when using the software, enabling you to hit the ground running. What CAD is required? CAD training is key in gaining and building general knowledge of the software. Undertaking relevant training allows you to optimise expectations and to realise the full potential of

the CAD package. CAD is a platform where you can turn your own ideas or customers’ ideas, into reality, especially in the forms of 2D, 3D, and even 4D Theatre. Knowing how to use them and what they are capable of will open up new areas of

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Biophilic purification The inclusion of natural or biophilic elements with a physical connection to nature is also known to overcome the negative ions by purifying the air and environment. A biophilic kitchen plan features interaction with nature and the incorporation of natural elements, such as plants or a herb garden, as shown in the Spazio hood by Falmec. Utilising biophilic design to facilitate positive physical and psychological impact is certainly having a moment. And the emphasis on designing kitchens for the speciﬁc beneﬁt of wellness is now stronger than ever. Looking ahead, biophilic design will continue to move up the domestic agenda as smart home technologies progress, bringing more intelligent, healthy solutions for the home.

opportunity when it comes to designing kitchens and bathrooms. Are you getting the best out of the manufacturers you work with? There are tons of beneﬁts of CAD software and certainly when it comes to manufacturers. CAD allows product ﬁrms to meet their goals more efficiently. Product development time, product quality, and productivity all improve when using CAD, which translates to reduced manufacturing and product costs, making everyone happy! Using CAD you can see products in a 360° motion, which allows you to drill down into detail. Manufacturers want you to get the best out of their products, and this is the best way to get their message across. How confident are you? It is not as daunting as you might think; we have users of all ages, creating outstanding designs. CAD training gives you the ability to do anything with the software. Let your dreams become reality!

FITTER’S ADVICE Don’t forget your drawers! Mark Conacher, director of awardwinning installation company, Liberty Fitting Service, reminds designers, ‘they mustn’t forget their drawers!’ It doesn’t seem long ago when the first thing I would look for in the design paperwork of a kitchen project was whether it was a high-line kitchen or a drawer-line kitchen. That dreaded drawer-line kitchen, Ugh! So many drawers to build, so many dummy drawer fronts to fit, way too many door/drawer lines to match up and God forbid any cabinet was slightly off square. You’d be adjusting doors and drawers forever. Other than the cutlery drawer, it pretty much ended up drawer after drawer of what you knew would be wasted space - each one too small to be of any real use in a kitchen. The alternative was the high-line kitchen with a single drawer pack, which consisted of two shallow drawers and a deep one. Great, if all you have is two pots and a frying pan. Then there’s the issue of seeing what’s at the back of each cabinet and then accessing it. None of this is easy when it’s all happening below waist height. So, do we want drawers or don’t we? Definitely! Just neither of the options described above. With greater use of double, deep-style drawers throughout your design,

instead of solely using the traditional base cabinets and full height doors, you can transform your kitchen from being awkward and hard to access into something that’s slick, with storage that’s accessible. No longer will that cheese grater be lost at the back of a unit, never to be found. Never again will your client be forced on to their hands and knees to reach for items at the back of the cabinet, all the while ﬁlled with the constant fear of knocking over everything that is precariously balanced at the front. The beauty of the double drawer set up is the complete ease of access to the whole drawer from above. By extending the drawer fully, everything that’s in there is within easy reach. No more hidden corners to deal with. With the clever use of divisional separators, the drawers can also be set up to suit the client’s needs without having the contents sloshing around inside. The additional depth in this type of drawer is also ideal for keeping pots and pans organised and easily and quickly accessible. A cool feature can be the use of a hidden drawer, tucked away and concealed from view inside a top-drawer void, ideal as a cutlery drawer. Having a made-to-measure inset tray inside this drawer, for cutlery, is a must. A completely different type of drawer for consideration in your design, would be a warming drawer. Life can be hectic at times and not every household can sit down, and all have dinner at the same time. A warming drawer will take the pain out of these situations for the customer by helping keep food warm. The same drawer with its low warming temperatures is also ideal for slow cooking. Where would we be without our drawers in the kitchen? It doesn’t bear thinking about!

www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS MARCH

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NECESSITIES

KITCHEN LIGHTING

Shining through 2 1. SYCAMORE LIGHTING The Wireless Kitchen Switch can be controlled via the Smart Life app. It can be connected to Alexa or Google Home. Download directory at www.rdr.link/KN043

2. ROTPUNKT Manila lighting strips come in stainless steel or matt black housing. The lights can be controlled by voice or remote control. View its ranges at www.rdr.link/KN044

48 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

Whereas once lighting was left as part of an electrician’s remit to choose fittings and fixtures, now it is an integral part of the room’s architecture for kitchen designers. So much so, lighting has been simplified with plug and play systems and has been integrated into the fabric of the furniture. Sales director of Sycamore Lighting Gary Wilson comments: “Integration within furniture is becoming very prevalent for lighting systems and the sleek designs of modern furniture lighting now allows for this.” Head of UK operation at Rotpunkt UK Matt Phillips says integrated lighting features in his company’s furniture: “We integrate LED lighting into cabinets with glass shelving to optimise display storage, which is becoming an increasingly important part of styling in contemporary kitchens.”

Popular COB strips It’s why LED ﬂexible strip lighting continues to be so popular, as it has continually evolved, and meets the needs for integrating into furniture. Now Chip on Board (COB) lighting offers dotless illumination. Gary Wilson explains: “LED strip lighting is now available in various formats, ie different cut points, no spotting, tunable and

Integrated, colour changing and voice-control lighting is big news for kitchen designers easily adaptable to all types of installation.” He continues: “Our new high output COB LED strip features LED points within close proximity to each other, creating a uniform light output with no spotting, perfect for illuminating handleless kitchen designs. The strip has a depth of only 1.7mm so is ideal for situations underneath a worktop, and is suitable for installation on all coloured handleless profiles without the need for an aluminium extrusion.” And, such is the popularity of the COB flexible strip, the Polar strip is one of Sensio’s lighting launches at Kbb Birmingham. The flexible strip eliminates the need for an aluminium or plastic profile, with a diffuser cover, which would traditionally be used to blend the light. It can be used under cabinets, along plinth lines, under worktop edges and inside larder storage.

Changing temperatures Interestingly, however, the simpliﬁcation of lighting installation should not be confused with comprised illumination. Far from it! Alongside simpliﬁed installation has grown the demand for more complexity in lighting. Buoyed by increased consumers’ knowledge about lighting

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3 effects, designers now have to consider variable colour temperatures in their kitchen projects. Gary Wilson of Sycamore Lighting explains: “The end user is more aware of colour temperature variations and the fact you can change this within one light should they prefer to do so. For example, they can change the colour temperature from a Warm White tone through to Natural White and a really bright Cool White, all achievable from a single light source. So future development will focus on these types of ‘hidden’ lighting within the actual furniture.” Hafele already offers a plug and play lighting system Loox, which can be used for undercabinet and accent lighting to drawers and cupboard interiors. And is set to launch extensions to its range at Kbb Birmingham, which offer pre-programmable lighting scenes of different colours and concentrations.

Smart controls But the big news in kitchen lighting has been a move towards more smart controls. Think remote controls, app and now even voiceoperated illumination. Matt Phillips of Rotpunkt UK points out: “We are ﬁnding that smart lighting solutions are really coming into their own. Automated solutions which can be controlled through virtual digital assistants like Alexa or Siri by voice or remote control are enriching the interiors market and offer designers even more

consumer-focused options for customised room schemes, enhancing their lifestyles choices.”

Across market Although they have been available for a while, at the premium-end, smart controls are beginning to ﬁlter throughout the market. Gary Wilson continues: “It is certainly a growing segment of the lighting market, and ease of installation along with integration into existing control systems is vitally important. Smart lighting controls have been available within different sectors for some time now. However, they have all been rather complicated and expensive, and not really suitable for anything but very large, domestic projects. The Sycamore Kinetic Smart Lighting control system changes that concept.” He continues: “It is a plug and play, userfriendly arrangement that allows all types of KBB lighting to be controlled. Therefore, it can be used in entry level installations as well as topend designs and everything in-between.” He continues to explain how it works: “App/voice and kinetic/wireless, battery-free switching allows the designer to dim and control kitchen lighting, including pendants, to create different zones in any given space.” Certainly lighting is stepping up in terms of technology, but also simplicity of ﬁt. So make sure your projects shine above competitors

3. HAFELE Plug and play lighting system Loox can be used in a variety of setting from under cabinet and accent lighting to drawer and cupboard interiors. It can be pre-programmed to create lighting scenes of different colours and concentrations. Watch the video at www.rdr.link/KN045

4. SENSIO The Polar COB ﬂexible strip light is available in a choice of Warm White, Natural White and Cool White. It eliminates the need for an aluminium or plastic proﬁle with diffused cover, which would traditionally be used to blend the spots of the light. Download the kitchen lighting brochure at www.rdr.link/KN046

4 www.kandbnews.co.uk K&BNEWS MARCH

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BUSINESS

READER PEOFILE

Better life 1 Co-owner of Meliora Kitchens in Bawtry, Kelly Roden says a desire to do better in servicing the customer is not only the meaning of the company’s name but also the ethos behind the business

3 2 1. HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM Having worked for a national kitchen retailer Leon and Kelly Roden decided to open their own, independent showroom

2. MARKET TOWN LOCATION Based in a market town with period properties, the Meliora showroom boasts original features such as posts and exposed beams

3. SPLIT LEVEL SHOWROOM The showroom is split across two levels and features kitchen and bathrooms in the upper section, as well as an area to discuss designs

50 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

With a background in kitchen retailing at a national company, husband and wife Leon and Kelly Roden believed they could offer customers a better service. So, two years’ ago, they opened their own business Meliora which means “ever better” in Latin and which is the ethos of the company. Most recently it has moved into a larger, adjacent property. Kelly explains why Meliora felt the need to expand: “In our previous showroom, we could only have one client in at a time. If a client was on the phone to the bank and someone else came in, it could be awkward. Here we have more separation for those kinds of conversations.” And the move also allowed the company to broaden its vision. Meliora was a Second Nature dealer and as Kelly explains “we always had a really good relationship with PWS but felt a little bit stunted.” She continues: “We were approached by a small factory in Mansﬁeld that make handmade kitchens and we would never have been able to display them [in the old premises] because it was too small. It was a leap of faith for us, and for the manufacturer who provided the display, because the only way we could do it was by moving. This premises really lends itself to the product.”

Instagram worthy The showroom boasts original features from posts and beams to arched windows. “We do a lot of barn conversions and our clients have spaces like this, so we really wanted them to feel as though they walking into something like they were going to have,” explains Kelly. She adds: “We wanted it to be ‘Instagram worthy’; that’s the vibe.” Certainly, the showroom offers standout kitchens, with the front display boasting a 2m island with adjoining 2m dining table. Kelly adds “It opened up being able to showcase what we could do in a personalised way.” The personality is carried through to the bathroom window display, with a raised platform to showcase a freestanding bath and Crittalstyle shower enclosure. Kelly adds: “Hurlingham, themselves, said retailers want to put a bath, especially copper, in the window. But a lot of the time when you’re in the showroom, they are hidden. Our customers are sat next to it during all our design discussions.” Designed by Kelly and made a reality by Leon, they worked on the showroom together. Kelly says: “We took the keys in April and moved into the new showroom in May with a ‘semblance of displays’.” And the couple took

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the bold move of opening it before completion. Kelly explains “The big stuff was done. It was just jobs like getting the tiling done on the bathrooms that needed completing.”

Supplier service Taking on a bigger space has meant taking on new suppliers and Kelly has chosen those that beneﬁt her business and her clients. Whether it’s because they have given her full rein of product for display, supported her with samples or listed the business on their website, each supplier has to prove its worth. She also explains she prefers to use suppliers who deal direct as “we’re ﬁnding distributors aren’t holding as much stock, which I understand as the market is really up and down. But particularly for bathrooms, it’s been tough. I may put an order in three or six months’ before I need it and when it comes to it being delivered half of it is missing and there’s no prior warning.” Although she points out both Barwicks and Maurice Lay are “brilliant”. And interestingly, location plays an important part in choice of suppliers, as Kelly adds “We like British-based companies with products designed for the British market. So with Caple ovens you get a grill pan with a handle.” And she adds: “Abode has been excellent offering us whatever we wanted for the showroom and when we ring them up and ask for advice they are really helpful. I love that they are based locally as well - in Barnsley – and our customers like that.”

Design advice One of her biggest bugbears is selling appliances: “They have become so devalued by the likes of Ao and Currys and not just profit margin, it’s the value consumers now don’t put in appliances. ‘It’s just an oven’. No, it’s not just an oven; you’ll use that oven a lot. If a customer appreciates it, they’ll pay for it but we have to build the value back into it a lot of the time,” says Kelly. However, style-wise, she finds consumers are more discerning. “I think social media has made people a lot more design conscious.” But she says they still need advice: “If they show me an image from Pinterest or Instagram, I’ll say ‘Glass doors are lovely but can you live with cleaning them and do you have something to present in them?’ Because as nice as they look, is it going to work for the customer?” It’s this kind of advice that sees very few “plinth kickers” coming into the Meliora showroom. “We sometimes get customers at the end of the process with a national retailer where the kitchen isn’t quite fulfilling what they wanted. But we’ve got customers, because of the area we are in, who want to be looked after. There seems to be a client that wants the quality - they

4 4. LARGE KITCHEN DISPLAYS At the front of the showroom is a large handmade kitchen display with 2m long island and 2m long table, with ﬁlament pendent lighting

may not necessarily want to pay for it because we’re still in Yorkshire at the end of the day”, Kelly laughs “but there is money here.” In fact, kitchen sales span from £15,000 to £50,000, not including ﬁt, with bathroom orders around £6,000-£8,000.

Practical business

5. WINDOW DISPLAY A Hurlingham bath and Crittal enclosure are featured in one of the showroom’s windows to draw attention from consumers who are passing by

This practical approach is reflected throughout the business, as Kelly chooses to work on proforma. “We don’t want to owe anything. It keeps us on top of our finances and not fall foul to these things we hear a lot about in this industry.” And the company is focused on supply-only sales, as she explains: “We use sub-contracted fitting teams, with contacts that we have built up over the years. Customers pay them directly and they’re not paying our VAT on top. So we find this works really well for the customer.”

Organising logistics

So how has business been over the past two years? “It has been tough. I think running any small business is a massive learning curve. I’m like a hamster on a wheel at the moment, trying to keep up. It’s a really good problem to have.” And her longer-term vision is to manage a project a week. Kelly admits “Logistics is our biggest pain, at the minute, in the business. If we’ve got to use as many suppliers as we need to get the customer what they want, that’s what we’ll do. But obviously, logistically, that’s really tough. It’s not all suppliers who will deliver to site and then if they will, it’s managing when they’ll do that and making sure there’s somebody there, as we don’t like customers having to take deliveries. So our next investment is getting a storage unit to take the delivery and then take it out to a customer.” It certainly demonstates how Meliora is consistently planning to be “ever better”.

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BUSINESS

SME ADVICE

Company matters

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

MANAGEMENT How to improve relationships with your employees Not just HR ﬂuff, this is about ensuring your workforce is happy at work because an engaged workforce marks the difference between an enterprise that outperforms its competitors and one that fails to grow. At 10Eighty we believe managers need to build empathy and understanding of the needs and interests of their team members - that’s how to ensure an employment experience that allows you attract the best and retain their services. Survey ﬁrm Gallup found managers account for the bulk of the engagement problem. Disengaged employees damage the organisation as they monopolise managers’ time and drive away customers. A toxic environment at work does not Expert: Liz SebagMontefiore Company: 10Eighty Background: Sebag-Montefiore is co-founder and director of HR consultancy 10 Eighty. Its services include career management, leadership and management development, executive coaching and mentoring, throught leadership, team effectiveness and career transition and outplacement. Contact: www.rdr.link/KN047

52 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

encourage the team to work collaboratively, to be innovative or creative, and that impinges on productivity. Sadly, the American Psychological Association found that 75% of respondents say their “boss is the most stressful part of their workday”; the numbers must be similar in the UK. Gallup found one in two employees have left a job “to get away from their manager at some point in their career.” Worse, employees with toxic bosses are more susceptible to chronic stress, depression, and anxiety; which increase the risk of lowered immune system, colds, strokes, and even heart attacks.

Making things better Employees value connection and want to feel their contribution is recognised and valued. This is facilitated with an employeecentred approach that enables employees to bring their best self to work. To make a start: ● Provide feedback to each team member on a regular basis, not once year, but often and in the form of an ongoing conversation to help employees learn and grow. This is NOT about micromanaging but about two-way communication and guidance. ● Provide recognition, thank people for doing a good job, celebrate success – you already know that positive reinforcement works. ● Provide information about how the enterprise is doing, corporate vision and strategy - employees want to feel involved and to feel their contribution is recognised. Good employee relations are the essence of talent management; a strong employer brand attracts the best candidates, so it’s important to ensure a positive candidate experience for all applicants and employees. What they say about you to their networks and via social media plays into the perception of your brand in the real world. Understanding the employee experience is critical for organisations operating in a highly competitive economy, as a strong employee experience drives a strong customer experience.

MARKETING Five ways to enhance your marketing So you have a developed a marketing strategy, but you want to make sure you’re now ticking all the boxes. Here are ﬁve ways you can make sure it works for you.

Be relevant Identify a target audience to whom marketing messages around a new kitchen or bathroom might be most timely and relevant. Rather than traditional audience groupings, based on socio-demographic or geographic data, consider signiﬁcant life-change triggers. In this case for example, people in the process of moving to a new home will be disproportionately more likely than others to consider refurb and upgrade projects, such as kitchen and bathroom installations.

Try to resonate Relevance will ensure we’re targeting the right people at the right time. Resonance will ensure our marketing messages are effective in inﬂuencing consumer behaviour and brand preference. In this case, we need to understand the motivations behind a home move. Attitudinal segmentation of our audience (sub-grouping them according to commonalities in the emotional motivations behind their move) will give us this perspective.

Understand buying behaviour Having established the emotions and motivations our marketing needs to tap into, we also need to understand how our audience engages with brands and ultimately, what inﬂuences their purchase behaviour. Behavioural psychology lends us some useful tips and tricks we can apply when choosing which marketing channels/media to use, and the content we create for those channels. Does my ideal customer need detail, assurance about decisions, personal validation, lifestyle inspiration etc? Do they need nudges or information? Help making quick decisions or time to reﬂect? You don’t need to be a psychologist - Social Psychology: A Very Short Introduction by Professor Richard Crisp).is a really easy read that give you loads of actionable tips

Features and benefits Products and product features will often have technical/design USPs of which their manufacturers are enormously proud. But research shows that consumers make emotional decisions before they make rational

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FINANCIAL Reasons for missing tax deadline

ones (‘I LOVE this house, it’s adorable, I really want it – now, can I see the electrical and gas installation checks/reports?) So we need to focus on beneﬁts, too. Kitchens and bathrooms are both rooms where we demand an unusual mix of comfort, function, style and quality, because they are places of happiness, relaxation, joy, warmth and more. Consider how we create mental shortcuts to these feelings in the marketing we create.

Measure, analyse, implement It’s critical to establish meaningful Key Perfomance Indicators (KPIs) for all marketing activity (both commercial KPIs and measures of the success of each marketing channel), and put in place robust measurement and reporting protocols. This will give visibility to the whole business on the impact and importance of marketing, as well as unearthing opportunities for reﬁnement and possible improvement.

Expert: Gareth Evans Company: Cogent Background: Evans is growth director of integrated marketing agency Cogent, which was established in 1930. He works with marketing leaders to explore ways to tackle communication challenges. This has seen him work on a number of research and insight projects, delivering new perspectives on things like the role of emotion in shopping, consumer attitudes to product launches, and unlocking the spending power of home movers. Contact: www.rdr.link/KN048

Last year, over 700,000 taxpayers out of over 11 million failed to submit their Self Assessment tax return by the deadline. Due to failing to meet the deadline, even if only by a day, they would have faced an automatic £100 penalty. While HMRC may allow the penalty to be appealed if the taxpayer has a reasonable excuse for failing to meet the deadline, each year it receives a large number of far-fetched excuses and this year published a list of the best ones received over the previous decade. These included a taxpayer whose mother-in-law had placed a curse upon them, another who claimed to be up a mountain in Wales and unable to reach a post-box or get an internet signal and one lucky (or unlucky) taxpayer who claimed to be cruising around the world on a yacht, unable to pick up post unless on dry land! While these implausible and unbelievable excuses always raise a chuckle, HMRC will also have to wade through the less fanciful but still unreasonable excuses for missing the Self Assessment deadline. If you miss a deadline and are issued with an automatic penalty, HMRC will consider your excuse if it deems it to be reasonable - but excuses far less ludicrous than the ones listed may still be deemed unreasonable if HMRC believes you have not taken suitable measures to meet the deadline. HMRC recognises that there may be occasions when taxpayers fail to meet the deadline through no fault of their own and for this reason, it will accept what it

deems to be a reasonable excuse for failing to meet the deadline. Sometimes life gets in the way of our best intentions and HMRC, as an organisation, recognises this so there are some reasons for late filing which will be accepted such as the death of a close relative shortly before the deadline, a serious or life-threatening illness, an unexpected stay in hospital, or the failure of your computer or software just as you were preparing your tax return. If you can demonstrate to HMRC that you fully intended to meet your taxpayer obligations but were unable to do so, they have the capacity to quash your penalty. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t have to complete your tax return you are still expected to do so as soon as you possibly can. Other excuses deemed to be reasonable include issues relating to HMRC’s online services, postal delays which could not have reasonably been predicted, delays due to a disability you have or being prevented from meeting the deadline due to a fire, flood or theft. If you failed to submit a tax return because you found HMRC’s online service too difficult to use, or relied on someone else to submit your Self Assessment and they failed to do so, these are not deemed good enough reasons not to have fulfilled your obligations as a taxpayer. HMRC starts from the position your taxes are your responsibility and you are expected to make all reasonable provision for submitting a tax return and making payment for your tax bill. Other unacceptable reasons include not receiving a reminder from HMRC, making a mistake on your tax return and payment failing due to lack of funds.

Expert: David Redfern Company: DSR Tax Claims Background: Managing director of DSR Tax Claims, a firm of tax rebate specialists serving clients nationwide. The company specialises in identifying allowable expenses for tax rebates for employed and self-employed subcontractors Contact: www.rdr.link/KK049

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BUSINESS

Q&A HARRY CHOI

Changing appliance fashions

Speaking exclusively to Kitchens & Bathrooms News, senior vice president of Digital Appliances at Samsung Harry Choi explains how appliance styling is evolving to meet consumer tastes Q: What are the biggest consumer influences on appliance design? A: We did research, 10 years ago, on trends in the home environment and home appliancerelated trends. The big findings, through UK researchers, predicted a trend called home intelligence. Due to the change of economy in 2008, many young people decided to stay at home and became more focused on the home environment. That is called home intelligence. They continually look for design trends and what objects could be in their home environment. Through this exercise, they levelled up their point of view in design and aesthetics. Q: How does the Bespoke refrigeration range, which is being showcased at kbb Birmingham, meet these trends? A: Appliances used to be considered a shameful item consumers wanted to hide away in the kitchen. There is an alternative solution such as built-in product, but it’s more expensive. Designers need to serve the consumer who has a nice kitchen but doesn’t have enough money for built-in and Bespoke refigeration could be a good solution. Q: Bespoke refrigeration can be built into furniture or used as a freestanding installation, is modular, and available in a choice of materials and colours. How did you decide upon the final palette? A: The palette is divided into two ranges of colours - moderate colours which are popular and will blend into a normal home environment and seasonal colours, released each year. We are also considering developing dedicated colours for European cities. Offering four platforms, nine different colours and two or three materials, when combined, provides more than 20,000 combinations.

54 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

Q: Samsung has openly spoken about designing for millennials, how do they differ from other generations? A: We did research with two groups of industrial designers who are creating our appliances – one group was Gen X and the other is the younger generation. Their design preferences were completely different. In the past, in order to be prominent, product would be in chrome but millennials really hate it. Now a lot of design is minimal and pure, monolithic mass. Q: Samsung is entrenched in the connected home; how does this meet the minimal fashion demands of millennials? A: Manufacturers have not been able ﬁnd a killer application which can give great value through connectivity of appliances. But within ﬁve years, we will be able to offer invaluable connectivity through our appliances. I strongly believe it.

Within a couple of years, all the controls for appliances are going to be simple. Washing machine with jog dials feature a lot of buttons but these will be simpliﬁed. Thanks to connectivity, there will no need for consumers to control the appliance, in detail, and this will be why we can create a simpler user experience. Q: What will be the biggest global theme to impact appliance design? A: Urbanisation is the most important and will hugely impact appliance design. Refrigerators will be smaller but have expert functions, such as beverage-centric or vegetable-centric, dictated by lifestyle. So a big refrigerator will be segmented and installed in different places. In Germany, consumers go to laundrettes because they don’t have enough space for laundry appliances. So do we need to develop small washers or ﬁnd another solution for laundering?

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LAST WORD

Experience days

Retail sales director of Fisher & Paykel UK Mark Young explains why kitchen studios remain a cornerstone of the brand’s growth strategy and are influential to its experiential sales approach

While the high street may have seen an increase in the influence of omni-channel kitchen chains in recent years, independent studios and showrooms are keeping ahead of the curve by offering an experiential shopping environment. When combining the perfect elements of new technology, fabulous displays and a memorable customer experience, independents can find their shop floors busier on a Saturday afternoon than many national-name kitchen retailers.

Consumer-centric Experiential design can be integral to the commerciality of high-end appliances, which is why it’s key to work with retail partners that can provide the best impression of your brand. Today’s consumer of premium products is looking for a 360° experience, and independents are in the perfect position to bring appliances to life in store. At Fisher & Paykel, we aspire to be the most human-centred appliance

“We choose to carefully partner with showrooms that provide a premium space that’s large enough to create theatre in store, allowing customers to interact with the products themselves and use them in the same way they might at home… Put simply, experience is everything.” brand in the world, and the way people live is at the heart of what we create. We want the products we design to facilitate the increasingly busy life of the modern consumer and believe the way to do this is to participate in an active collaboration with retailers, studios and showroom partners to delight and inspire the consumers that pass through their doors. We design and develop ﬂexible appliances that are modular and intuitive in nature to best facilitate the consumer’s patterns of use at

NEWS & VIEWS

home. With this in mind, we choose to carefully partner with showrooms that provide a premium space that’s large enough to create theatre in store, allowing customers to interact with the products themselves and use them in the same way they might at home. The smooth feeling of a high-quality fridge door handle; the ability to load and unload a DishDrawer yourself; and the warmth of a delicious, perfectly prepared canapé fresh from the oven in the show kitchen are all contributors in truly understanding how beautiful premium products are to use before making that ﬁnal step to purchase. Put simply, experience is everything.

Personalised approach It might be easy to argue that independents have a specialist edge over big retail brands in this respect, but the truth is independent retailers just have a clear passion for customer service that some high-street names can’t compete with. With independents there is an innate ﬂexibility that allows for the provision of personalised sales experiences on any given day and, when selling premium appliances, this is exactly the kind of approach required. Independent kitchen studios also beneﬁt from a consumer desire for destination shopping that delivers a personal experience. As premium kitchen appliances are rarely an impulse purchase, a specialised location where consumers can view extensive collections of appliances can offer more guidance, expertise and reassurance than a generalised retail environment.

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PRODUCT

SHOWCASE

To book a panel in this section please call Nina Goldberg on 01923 237799 or email nina@hamerville.co.uk SNICKERS

STUART TURNER

MUDD

DETACHABLE HOLSTER POCKETS IN SNICKERS’ NEW LITEWORK STRETCH TROUSERS Leading where others follow, Snickers Workwear stretch fabrics deliver unrivalled comfort and close quarter mobility on site. Snickers Workwear’s hitech fabrics and body-mapping designs give plenty of scope for every professional craftsman and woman to stretch their performance on site comfortably. Designed for a wide variety of jobs on site, these LiteWork 4-way stretch work trousers are the ideal choice if you’re working hard in warmer weather.

Getting information on the Snickers’ new Stretch Trousers is easy. You can call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788, checkout the website and download a digital catalogue at www.snickersworkwear.co.uk or email sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk

PRESSALIT

GROUT WITH CLOUT Providing a perfect finish for wall and floor tiling, MUDD Grout with Clout comes in six popular colours – white, dark grey, cream, light grey, limestone and black. Water and frost-resistant. Grout with Clout is formulated with added flexibility, reducing the risk of cracking, leaving a super smooth and hard-wearing finish, without patchiness or surface discolouration. Ideal for grouting ceramic, porcelain and mosaic tiles from 1mm to 15mm joint widths, it can be used in interior and exterior location – including power showers and swimming pools.

Powering water with Stuart Turner. Stuart Turner’s innovative Mainsboost range solves the problem of low mains water pressure and provides a simple and cost-effective solution to boost low or intermittent mains water pressure, for any sized property. Designed to connect directly to the incoming mains water supply of properties where low pressure or low mains water problems exist. Mainsboost products. are easy to install and provide a fully assembled and tested solution, delivering a consistent ﬂow of water at pressure to multiple outlets simultaneously.

For the perfect finish use with MUDD The Finisher silicone sealant, available in matching colours. www.mudd-tiling.com

FRANKE

Stuart Turner; engineered to excel. Email: info@stuart-turner.co.uk Web: www.stuart-turner.co.uk

AKW

ENHANCE THE BATHROOM EXPERIENCE WITH A PRESSALIT TOILET SEAT When it comes to the bathroom, there’s nothing quite as important as comfort. With award-winning Scandinavian design, toilet seats from Pressalit are the perfect addition to any bathroom. Manufactured with advanced engineering in Pressalit’s own factory in Denmark, this is a range that is not just designed for comfort and hygiene, but crucially built to last. The high quality of each seat creates something special for the bathroom. Pressalit first began making bathrooms and accessories back in 1954, and since then its attention to detail has gone from strength to strength. With features in the range including sleek lines, soft close, stainless steel hinges for stability, lift off hinges, both sandwich and wrap over tops, there’s no compromise on comfort, ease of cleaning or quality with Pressalit’s timeless design. Allowing multi-fit to many different universal bowls, or created as a perfect match to specific toilet bowl designs, a Pressalit seat brings both durability and longevity to the bathroom. Manufactured from colour ingrained Duroplast, Pressalit is so assured of the design and craftsmanship of its range, every toilet seat comes with a 10 year warranty.

Visit www.pressalit.com to view the full range or request a brochure.

SENSIO

FRANKE SINK AND TAP FEATURE IN OLD HOUSE, NEW HOME KITCHEN TRANSFORMATION Franke’s Vital Capsule Filter tap and a Peak stainless steel sink were chosen as part of a home restoration on the Channel 4 property makeover series, George Clarke’s Old House, New Home, which helps people make their period homes ﬁt for a modern life. A Vital Capsule Semi-Pro Filter tap in chrome and gunmetal and a single bowl Peak PKX 110 45 stainless steel undermount sink were selected as part of the renovation, which saw George help to painstakingly restore and update Cookie and Sophie’s Edwardian arts-and-crafts terrace house in Addiscombe, South London.

AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, has launched its new Origins Wall Panel range, offering installers and end users alike more design, colour and ﬁnish choices. The new AKW Origins Wall Panel range comes in both tongue and groove and square edge formats and is available in 16 different colourways. Having the option of 900mm and 600mm width tongue and groove panels or the 1200mm width square edge version means no matter what the quality of the existing surface, there is a wall panel solution to suit. In addition, the 16 contemporary decors in the Origins range have been inspired by the latest interior design trends, enabling a touch of style to instantly be added to any space.

Contact Franke: 0161 436 6280 or www.franke.co.uk

https://www.akw-ltd.co.uk/

CERAMIQUE INTERNATIONALE

KUDOS

The new Polar COB flexible strip light is one of the cool new innovations lighting up the Sensio stand at this year’s KBB Show. Polar is a new high-performance, cool running, flexible strip light designed to deliver a uniform line of light showcasing great advances in Chip On Board (COB) LED technology. COB technology creates the effect of one solid light beam as oppose to visible dots from individual diodes and is more commonly found in circular spotlights. Polar is the first in the form of a flexible strip light and as a result, it offers superb light output with a high lumen per watt rating of 540 lumens and an impressive CRI >90 (Colour Rendering Index). It therefore eliminates the need for an aluminium or plastic profile with a diffused cover which would traditionally be used to ‘blend’ the spots of light.

British manufacturer, Kudos, has incorporated their five coloured profile finishes, across its broad range of Ultimate shower panels, into their new priced brochure. The colours, which are designed to coordinate with the most popular shower controls and brassware finishes, include Matt Black, Polished Gold, Brushed Gold, Bright Nickel and Brushed Nickel. There has been a huge rise in the sales of coloured taps and showering controls over the past few years and there’s an obvious link between this brassware and any shower enclosure wall profile. These options from Kudos allow the designer to match or contrast finishes, adding further customisation to their room design, a trend that is forecast to grow during 2020.

Leading tile distributor Ceramique Internationale has launched an exclusive collection of contemporary concrete-effect glazed tiles, suitable for bathroom and kitchen walls. Manufactured by Italian producer Marazzi, Mist is a collection of high quality 25 x 38cm glazed tiles available in four tasteful, discreet tones with a matching décor tile. The range’s plain tiles in shades of Blue, Beige, White and Grey offer a softly tactile concrete effect while the patterned décor tile is designed to perfectly complement the whole collection.

https://www.sensio.co.uk/

https://www.kudosshowers.co.uk/

https://www.tilesandmosaics.co.uk/

56 MARCH K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk

056_KBN_MAR20_Layout 1 19/02/2020 10:13 Page 57

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ADVERTISEMENT INDEX CR Laurence.................................................................................................. (page 4)

Reginox........................................................................................................ (page 26)

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

Saniflo.......................................................................................................... (page 43)

Franke .......................................................................................................... (page 23)

Sycamore .................................................................................. Lighting (page 25)

Glen Dimplex Home Appliances ............................................................ (page 6) Hettich ...................................................................... (inside front cover, page 3)

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

HIB ................................................................................................................ (page 45)

Snickers ........................................................................................................(page 56)

Hills Panel Products ................................................................................ (page 29)

Mudd..............................................................................................................(page 56)

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

Stuart Turner ............................................................................................(page 56)

In Sink Erator ............................................................................................ (page 21)

Pressalit........................................................................................................(page 56)

International Decorative Surface......................................................s (page 17)

Franke ..........................................................................................................(page 56)

Lakes Bathrooms...................................................................................... (page 34)

AKW ..............................................................................................................(page 56)

Logicom Computer Services ................................................................ (page 11)

Sensio ............................................................................................................(page 56)

Merlyn ........................................................................................................ (page 39)

Kudos ............................................................................................................(page 56)

Reginox........................................................................................................ (page 13)

Ceramique Internationale ......................................................................(page 56)

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