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IN FOCUS... BLUEWATER BATHROOMS Left to right: Adrian Lount, Dominic Rogerson, Andrew Shepherd, Anthony Hewson (ASM), Paul Lount, Mark Robinson
Bluewater Bathrooms is a York-based bathroom supplier and installer. We spoke to Adrian Lount, who runs the business with fellow director Peter Reynolds, about how he got started – and what he thinks the future holds. Q. How and when did you get into the bathroom industry?
I started working as an apprentice bathroom installer, quite by chance, in 2006, and quickly learned the ropes – within 18 months I was ready to go it alone. The showroom opened in 2010 and we’ve never looked back.
Q. You established Bluewater Bathrooms over a decade ago; tell us the story about the creation of the company.
Peter and I were working together as installers, which had given us plenty of experience of bathrooms, and, to be honest, we just dived into it. We chatted about the idea for a while, and realised that there weren’t any other companies doing the whole process – from supply to installation – in York, so we went for it.
Q. We can imagine that a lot has changed in the bathroom world throughout your career; what has been the most significant shift for you? Tavistock 600mm Compass Double Drawer Freestanding Unit
One of the biggest changes is the scale of the choice available now, and Ideal Bathrooms really help us with this. The Ideal range is so extensive, which gives us as a showroom a much better chance of booking jobs, as we tick every box. Customers come in and don’t feel the need to look anywhere else, as they can see we offer absolutely everything.
The other shift we’ve noticed, is that trends are cyclical. When we started, creams and beiges were fashionable; now that’s old hat, and the trend for colours is back in – just like the Seventies!
Q. Having a digital presence has never been more important; how has technology helped Bluewater Bathrooms, and your customers, throughout Covid-19?
We used video calls to help our customers choose bathrooms by walking them through the showroom, so they could see everything. This allowed them to still progress with the project that they were planning, despite not being able to visit the showroom in person.
It helps that we knew the right questions to ask to narrow their choices down, so we could then just show them the relevant products, although that’s how we work in person anyway. Asking the right questions makes it easier for them and for us.
Essential Dakota 1200mm Wall-Hung Basin Unit - Marine Blue
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0800 634 2600 | atyourservice@idealbathrooms.com | idealbathrooms.com
