I said the KBB show would give us some conclusions about the state of the industry, I wish I hadn't...

The UK's kitchen, bedroom and bathroom market is a truly remarkable thing. Amazing in fact.

No really.

Despite every financial analyst and institution in the world predicting at the very least a global slowdown and at worst a fully-fledged catastrophic recession the UK kbb industry is somehow performing like a tranquil oasis of unprecedented success in the centre of this stormy economic sea.

No, I mean it, really.

As I wandered around the NEC in Birmingham last month pounding the aisles at the KBB show, I asked just about everybody I met whether they thought there was a recession coming and how it would affect this industry. And virtually everybody came back with the same incredible reply: "Well, there's no doubt there's something going on out there but we're doing incredibly well, fantastic, one of our best years ever - would you like to see our new products?"

Could it be true? Is the UK kbb industry somehow immune to global woes? Can we sit back, rest on our laurels and laugh maniacally as we watch the money roll in while everyone else is struggling?

No, of course we can't, don't be silly. There's more chance of coming away from the KBB show without sore feet and a hangover.

Incidentally, have any of you ever literally rested on laurels? Are they comfy? They'd better had be after the kind of build up they've had.

Don't get me wrong, for all the talk of a visit from Doom and his close friend Gloom I don't expect exhibitors to stand in the middle of a major trade show and tell the editor of the leading trade magazine that everything is going wrong and can they come and stay at my house until it's all over. But I was genuinely pleased and surprised by the level of confidence on show, could it be that a level of calm maturity has passed over the industry and people are making decisions based on facts rather than gossip and emotion? I hope so.

The crowds at the KBB show seemed to come in waves - periods of virtual desertion followed by spells of manic business - and you don't have to stretch that image too far to apply it across the industry as a whole. There are will always be lean times for any long term business, it's how you anticipate and deal with them that will make you successful...and confident.

Andrew@kbbreview.com