Editor Andrew Davies says issues from the Kitchen Conference aren't just for kitchens...

So after me burbling on about it here probably far too much we had out first kbbreview Kitchen Conference and very pleased I was with it too.

It was our first one, and I've got a list as long as your cliché of things to tighten up, tweak and swap to make next year's even better - and yes, there will be a next year.

But while it was a dedicated Kitchen Conference, there were lots of issues that arose that aren't just restricted to the kitchen industry and are just as crucial in bathrooms and even bedrooms too.

Firstly, and probably most importantly, the economy and its outlook. We had three speakers just on that subject and their conclusions weren't that optimistic. You can read more about it here but it can be summed up by saying we're not out of the woods so don't start expecting a sudden upsurge just yet.

Likewise, the connection between manufacturer's commitment to environmental issues, driven mostly by legislation, and whether retailers think they can make money out of it are also just as relevant.

You could also argue that questions kitchen specialist Darren Taylor asks about retailers' ability to pay their bills on time are equally as relevant to bathroom retailers. 

And while the existence of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association does put the bathroom industry significantly ahead of its kitchen counterparts, it still doesn't represent bathroom retailers. Who does?

My point is that while we in the media tend be the only ones who lump kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms together as one thing, there are plenty of things these disparate sectors have in common and those retailers that do both are the best ones to find that common ground.

Perhaps if you're one of them you could let me know what each industry could learn from the other in terms of supply, representation, design, pricing, displays, and all the other issues that overlap.

Incidentally, as one door closes another opens and while the kbbreview Kitchen Conference is out of the way, here's another date for your diary - entries for the kbbreview Industry Awards 2011 open on October 1st...