All News archive from December 2011
| BATHROOM TRENDS: Moods
Moods, the bathroom brand from distributor PJH, has added the roll-top Richmond bath to its collection of freestanding baths. The handcrafted, acrylic Richmond bath seamlessly blends tradition with contemporary styling and modern manufacturing, says the company. Keeping on-trend with the monochrome theme, this double-ended model is available with a choice of black or white exteriors. | |
| Canburg brands continue 're-organisation'
Canburg, owner of the Smallbone of Devizes and Mark Wilkinson Furniture brands, has dismissed unsubstantiated industry rumours on the current health of the two businesses. | |
| In-toto expands support team
High-street kitchens franchise In-toto has expanded its franchise management team with the appointment of Jasmine Powdrill as franchise development manager and Daniel Lloyd as area franchise manager. Powdrill has been with In-toto for two years and in her new role will be supporting new franchisees and those interested in joining. Lloyd joins the company from kitchen company Warendorf and will be looking after 19 established In-toto stores. | |
| KITCHEN TRENDS: Beko
To meet growing demand from consumers for American-style refrigeration, Beko has expanded its collection of side-by-sides with the addition of two new models. The GNEV221APB is offered in a gloss piano black finish and includes a number of features such as frost-free, fast-freeze, glass spill-proof shelves, electronic digital display and a water dispenser. For those consumers who prefer a more understated look, the A+ energy rated GNEV321APX model is available in stainless steel. | |
| ADVICE: Energy bills
With energy prices rising and Ofgem pressing for an overhaul of pricing, kbbreview has some tips on the best ways of dealing with the utility companies and how to save money by switching supplier... | |
| New MFI boss: 'We'll meet the needs of today's consumer...'
Tim Wallace asks MFI commercial director Adrian Storr whether the brand has learnt from the mistakes of the past... | |
| KITCHEN DESIGN VIEW: The cons of curves...
Bodie Kelay, director, Bauformat UK on the downside to curves in kitchens... | |
| KITCHEN DESIGN VIEW: In favour of curves...
Gerald Jones,managing director, Masterclass on why curves in kitchens are great... | |
| BATHROOM TRENDS: Mereway
The Adriatic slab door range from Mereway's Infinity bathroom collection is now available in five styles, with the recent addition of two new gloss foil finishes - cappuccino (pictured) and graphite. The comprehensive Infinity collection now boasts a wide range of modular and fitted storage solutions in 27 satin, gloss, wood-grain and glass door styles with 11 carcass options. | |
| Salter of the earth
Kitchen and bathroom furniture component specialist Hettich UK has announced the appointment of Luke Salter to the role of area sales manager for west London and Buckinghamshire. The company says that Salter brings with him 11 years' experience in the furniture fittings industry. The appointment, said Hettich UK, is part of its strategy to boost its sales and support teams around the country and more appointments are expected in the coming months. | |
| Biofuel subsidy hits wood prices
Government ministers and MPs have been warned that biofuel subsidies are damaging British manufacturing by causing raw material prices to rocket. | |
| Check it out
Retail expert Glynn Davis predicts a payment revolution as iPads double as mobile tills and people can pay with their mobile phones | |
| KITCHEN TRENDS: Masterclass
Masterclass Kitchens has extended the options on its exclusive range of kitchen furniture with the addition of 650mm-deep drawers and multiple drawer systems. Each drawer has a load capacity of 65kg. The Duo and Trio drawer systems, in lengths of 1,200mm to 2,000mm, allow two or three drawers to be opened at once, supporting loads of up to 585kg per configuration. | |
| iGranite App is 'holy grail' for showrooms
Kitchen makeover brand Granite Transformations has achieved what it's calling the 'holy grail' of home improvement marketing, by developing an iPad app that enables customers to preview exactly how new worktops, doors, drawer fronts and other elements will appear in their own homes. | |
| Dutch courage for C.P. Hart
Leading bathroom supplier C.P. Hart has a new check-in for its contracts team in the form of Ian Dutch, who joins as head of projects for hotels. Dutch has worked in the bathroom industry for the past 15 years and, says the company, "will bring a fresh impetus to the hotel side of the business by applying his expertise and knowledge of this sector specifically to major hotel developments and refurbishment projects". | |
| PROFILE: 20-20 Technologies
Online technology is allowing consumers to start designing kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms in their own homes, but will it bypass the showroom or generate valuable leads? Andrew Davies went over to Canada to see one of the biggest companies in the sector, 20-20 Technologies... | |
| CP Hart named 'best bathroom retailer'
Bathroom retailer and supplier CP Hart has been named Best Bathroom Retailer at the Northern Design Awards. | |
| BATHROOM TRENDS: Matki
Matki has strengthened its EauZone Plus collection with the addition of a wet-room panel with tray. According to Matki, this 10mm solid safety-glass panel combines the simplicity of a corner- or recess-fitting panel with the practicality of a low-level tray. The panel is designed to be located in a groove along the shower tray and requires no silicone sealant, the company says. The tray is manufactured from acrylic-capped synthastone treated with an antibacterial agent. | |
| MARKET ANALYSIS: Sanitaryware
Rob Jull, managing director of RAK Ceramics looks at the market trends in the sanitaryware sector... | |
| Act now to save high street, urges Portas
Act now to save high street, urges Portas | |
| KITCHEN TRENDS: Granite Transformations
Granite Transformations, the renovation and replacement worktop specialist, has made two key additions to its range of Italian granite worktops, Mystic Brown and Bianco Modena (pictured). Like all products from Granite Transformations, the new finishes are designed to fit neatly over existing worktops and splashbacks as a quick and affordable way to update existing kitchen designs. | |
| Grand designs at Stoneham
Kitchen specialist Stoneham has bolstered the size of its design department for bespoke kitchens with three new appointments. Samantha Judges (pictured) joins as a kitchen designer while Arvind Dhorajiwala and Emma Jeffrey joins Stoneham as design technicians. The 3D CAD drawings produced by the design team help secure customer approval and also contain all the information for machining and component inventory. | |
| Time for some new suppliers...
Retailer and designer Chris Etheridge takes a previous blogger to task on his supplier complaints... | |
| BATHROOM TRENDS: Hansgrohe
With a range of user-friendly features, the new Raindance Select 150 hand shower from Hansgrohe has been designed to appeal to a broad range of users. The new style handle makes it easier to hold and the Select function is a touch-control button that allows the user to change the spray mode function with ease. | |
| Uform is best supplier
Kitchen supplier Uform has won the title of Best Supplier Showroom 2011 at the annual Ireland Kitchen Trade Guide Awards. | |
| KITCHEN TRENDS: Nolte
Following the success of its recent in-house fair, Nolte has announced a number of key innovations, including the new Trend Lack collection. Nolte has used a new laser welding technique for edges that are virtually invisible, the company says. This more affordable range of high-gloss lacquer finishes is available in a selection of five on-trend colours. | |
| INTERVIEW: Tony Oates, JPD
JP Distribution, based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, has just celebrated its 30th birthday. Managing director Tony Oates tells Tim Wallace how he's developing new business and helping his retail network to stay afloat as the downturn makes good credit terms difficult to find... | |
| Major change for Mereway brands
British kitchen manufacturer Mereway is strengthening its Mereway Kitchens brand by bringing its other trading names under one banner. | |
| New kitchen brand grows from ashes of Habitat and Moben
A new multiple kitchen retail brand - KutchenArte - has been launched using former Moben showroom space and product purpose made for the Habitat stores. | |
| Record number of entries for kbbreview Awards
With the closing date now gone, the entries for the kbbreview Awards 2012 have been counted and verified and it's another record breaking year for the industry's leading event. | |
| How do you rate?
David Garden explains why new energy regulations are about to turn up the heat on cooling brands... | |
| Buy-out for Jacuzzi plant
Mark Prince and Dave Tutton, the ex-managing director and market director of Jacuzzi UK, have bought the company's Staffordshire ceramics factory. | |
| BATHROOM TRENDS: Bristan
Reflecting the growing trend for curves in the bathroom, specialist Bristan has launched the Curvare range. Pieces in the collection combine chunky curves with contemporary, angular styling. | |
| INTERVIEW: Jan Klomp, Imperial Sanitaryware
During the boom years, China became a manufacturing powerhouse in the bathroom industry as companies decamped east to take advantage of low labour costs. But with the purchase of Ideal Standard's Middlewich plant, Jan Klomp, managing director of Chinese-owned Imperial Sanitaryware, says those days are over. Andrew Davies went to meet him... | |
| MARKET ANALYSIS: Kitchen lighting
Michael Linsky, managing director at Sensio Lighting looks into lighting in the kitchen... | |
