Q What are you doing at the kbb Birmingham show? 

A Mark David is representing Nolte Küchen as its authorised retail distributor in the UK. The stand will include the Nova Lack high-gloss light grey kitchen in combination with the new Oak Smoky Silver carcass using the latest handleless look Matrix Line 150 door. In addition, the new dimension in worktops will complete this kitchen with a 16mm matching surface with horizontal detail. Star has been a best-seller for a number of years now and the latest colour offering of copper will also be launched at kbb Birmingham on the second kitchen.

Q How's business? 

A Business was very tough in 2009 but Mark David has reviewed every aspect of the negativity reported by dealers and addressed them with a new marketing plan, pricing strategies and a new grading system of dealers. Nolte Küchen has also frozen its prices in 2010 and launched a significant number of innovations showing continued investment in its product offering. We look to 2010 with a positive outlook and have every confidence that our loyal network of dealers will emerge much stronger once again.

Q Score your confidence in the industry's performance over the next 12 months out of 10. 

A The industry needs to focus on providing the public with the best of everything: service, experience, product and price. If this is achieved as an industry rather than by a section of it, then we will be able to make a move towards regaining consumer confidence to spend. It will be a slow process, but we have every faith it will gain momentum, scoring is difficult but 10 out of 10 for effort.

Q How do you feel the retail market has changed since the downturn? 

A Our middle market has suffered because the banks have stopped lending, but this area of the market will recover when the banks start lending money again. 2009 was a year of survival while people were unable to secure finance, but 2010 should see things start to change. The business we did in 2009 was of a higher value, illustrating that Nolte Küchen is becoming a more design-oriented product and the consumer is responding to that.