| DESIGN VIEW: Yorgo Lykouria
Yorgo Lykouria, a product designer for Alape, gives his perspective on basin design... | |
| MANUFACTURER PROFILE: Miele
Proving its long-term commitment to dealers, premium appliance brand Miele recently opened an interactive gallery in the heart of London. Rebecca Nottingham went to meet company ownersDr Reinhard Zinkann and Dr Markus Miele and UK managing director Simon Grantham... | |
| KBB EXHIBITOR PROFILE: Roca
Could Roca's award winning W+W be the way forward when it comes to domestic water saving and what to do with 'grey water'? | |
| RETAILER PROFILE: Timberfusion
When kitchen installer Jez Bayes took over an old copper mill in Harefield, Middlesex he planned to turn it into a workshop. However, his wife Esther had other ideas. Tim Wallace took a tour of their new Mereway showroom... | |
| MARKET VIEW: Andrew Walsh
Andrew Walsh, a domestic appliances analyst at GfK, examines the coffee machine market... | |
| MARKET VIEW: Wayne Dance
Wayne Dance, managing director of In House Inspired Room Design, looks at the traditional kitchen market... | |
| KBB EXHIBITOR PROFILE: Abode
From humble beginnings, Abode has achieved a leading position in the designer tap market. Owner Darren Holliday comes clean to Tim Wallace about how he did it... | |
| SNAPSHOT: Johnny Grey
Legendary kitchen designer Johnny Grey gives his thoughts on curves, geometry and the future of design... | |
| DESIGN VIEW: Sally Storey
Sally Storey, design director at John Cullen Lighting, explains why bathroom designers need to understand the potential of lighting... | |
| DESIGN VIEW: Ben Burbidge
Ben Burbidge, managing director at Burbidge, looks at the how traditional kitchen design is faring in the contemporary market... | |
| RETAILER PROFILE: Easingwold Bathrooms
Four years after setting up her first bathroom showroom at the tender age of 24, Ruth Snowden has just scooped the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for her local area. Tim Wallace travelled to Easingwold Bathrooms and Interiors in York to meet her... | |
| DESIGN VIEW: Neil Pooley
Neil Pooley, group product marketing manager at Miele, looks at what makes a consumer choose the right coffee machine... | |
| MARKET VIEW: Brian Grey
Brian Grey, marketing manager for Ideal Standard, takes a look at the basin market... | |
| TOP TEN 1: The economy
The long-term effects of the economic crisis on the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industry will be governed by consumers' willingness to pay for what they want... | |
| TOP TEN 2: Diversification
What's the best way to deal with a recession, stick to what you know or spread out into new markets? | |
| TOP TEN 3: The internet
Consumers undercutting retailers' quotes by sourcing their own products online is a huge everyday problem. But whose fault is it? | |
| TOP TEN 4: Representation
Just who speaks for the industry and represents its interests to the outside world is as much a mystery now as it was two years ago... | |
| TOP TEN 5: The environment
Number one in 2008, the environment slips to number five as the industry inevitably decides it has bigger fish to fry... | |
| TOP TEN 6: The value of design
With sales harder to come by, should retailers be putting a price on their skills as designers - whether the customer goes ahead with the final project or not? | |
| TOP TEN 7: The power of the multiple
Despite the failure of MFI, the multiples have proven comparatively resilient in the recession and there are new players looking to fill the gaps in the market... | |
| TOP TEN 8: Customer service
The market downturn put all the power back in the hands of the consumer, and the service they receive can make or break a deal - however the retailer is also a customer and their suppliers are facing the same dilemma... | |
| TOP TEN 9: Installation
Getting installation right and making the installer's voice heard is still an issue, but at least there are some moves in the right direction... | |
| TOP TEN 10: The grey pound
The over-50s market not only has the most money, but it's the one that responds the most to good service and product knowledge - so why don't more people know what they need? | |
| TOP TEN 2010: INTRO
In 2008, to mark the last kbb Birmingham show, we revealed the ten biggest issues facing the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industry as chosen by the kbbreview team. Now, as we approach kbb Birmingham 2010, we choose again - so what's up, what's down and what's new? | |
| PROFILE: Sylmar Technology
It might not be the first name that springs to mind when you say 'solid surface' but Sylmar Technology and the team behind the Maia brand are hoping to change all this. Rebecca Nottingham went to meet md Peter Holt... | |
| RETAIL VIEW: Michel Marcer
Michel Marcer from Ripples Bristol gives a shopfloor take on freestanding baths... | |
| PROFILE: Victor Paris, Glasgow
Whether it's top end brands or budget alternatives, Scottish bathroom retail giant Victor Paris has it covered. Gavin Derighetti gives Tim Wallace a tour of its multi-level Glasgow showroom... | |
| DESIGN VIEW: Larry Dunlop
Larry Dunlop, product designer, Adamsez talks us through freestanding baths... | |
| INTERVIEW: Victoria Redshaw
Victoria Redshaw is a trends forecaster for Scarlet Opus. She will be giving a seminar on design trends at kbb Birmingham on Sunday, March 21 at 11am... | |
| PROFILE: Anil Madan
Anil Madan is Twyford's brand manager and has taken over marketing for the sanitaryware veteran, but with an advertising agency background rather than a bathroom one can he bring a fresh approach to an old problem - why is the consumer so unaware of major bathroom brands? | |
| MARKET VIEW: Ros Collins
Ros Collins, senior product manager home laundry, Siemens outlines her views of the washing machine market... | |
| INTERVIEW: Philippe Starck
The legendary designer has just unveiled his first kitchen for Warendorf... | |
| MARKET VIEW: Jonathan Carter
Jonathan Carter, marketing manager, Victoria & Albert Baths takes a look at the bath market... | |
| PROFILE: Userview instructions consultant
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| INTERVIEW: Nick Hopkinson
Nick Hopkinson is a legendary industry figure but his company, Mark Two, nearly went under following the collapse of MFI and BGH. It survived thanks to years of goodwill and reputation and now has ambitious growth plans... | |
| PROFILE: Geoffrey Baker
Geoffrey Baker is the man that introduced Corian to the UK - 30 years on, it's a household name and Baker is already reproducing this formula for success with the next super materials, Parapan and Veritas, Jackie Daly went to meet him... | |
| MARKET VIEW: Darren Peake
Hotpoint's Darren Peake on why large loads are the future of laundry... | |
| SHOPPING AROUND: The Mystery Shopper speaks...
Our Mystery Shopper recalls the good, bad and downright ugly from more than 100 showrooms over the past year and has some suggestions for a good customer experience... | |
| PROFILE: La Cornue
Top-end appliance specialist La Cornue boasts an impressive list of exclusive global clients. Export manager Ronan Le Mestre tells Tim Wallace where the brand goes from here... | |
| PROFILE: Junction Two
So called because of its close proximity to the M5 motorway, Junction Two Interiors claims to be the biggest kbb showroom in the Midlands. Tim Wallace met owner Bill Pnaiser... | |
| INTERVIEW: Tesco
A spokesperson for the supermarket giant on the move into design and installation... | |
| ANALYSIS: The rise of the gastrosexual
Kitchen design is being influenced by an increasing male interest in cooking, according to Daval's Simon Bodsworth... | |
| INTERVIEW: Paolo Pininfarina
Paolo Pininfarina is the president and ceo of design house Pininfarina Extra... | |
| PROFILE: Umbermaster
At Kent-based kitchen showroom Umbermaster, they understand the importance of good customer service. Rebecca Nottingham went to meet husband and wife team, David and Nikki Bailey, in their award winning showroom... | |
| PROFILE: Utopia
Utopia is going 'back to basics' with a new strategy focusing on the needs of its customers. We caught up with md Simon Russell during the company's recent series of customer focus days and the launch of its new Timber Collection... | |
| INTERVIEW: Graham Ball on TrustMark
Graham Ball, ceo of the KBSA, assesses the pros and cons of TrustMark... | |
| ANALYSIS: Trustmark under fire
Membership is growing, but TrustMark - the government-backed quality mark for tradesmen - is facing accusations of underfunding and incompetence. Tim Wallace examines the arguments... | |
| PROFILE: Whirlpool
Croydon - famous for trams, tower blocks and Kate Moss - is home to Whirlpool's HQ and new training and brand experience centre. We caught up with md Ian Railton at the AtHome showroom launch... 24 November 2009 | |
| INTERVIEW: Stephen Joseph
Stephen Joseph, former md of Allied, now consultant at Theobald's. | |
| PROFILE: Belling
Mass market brand Belling held a big launch event last month to proudly declare itself the last of the truly British appliance manufacturers. Andrew Davies went to meet commercial manager Steve Dickson... | |
What do you think? Email the editor direct: andrew@kbbreview.com
