The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA) has created a new Bathroom Champion position to expand its focus on the bathroom sector, with retailer Koralia Hume appointed to fill the role.
Hume is a well-known retailer in the sector, and is the co-owner of Quarrybank Boutique, a finalist in this year’s kbbreview Awards. Quarrybank joined the association as a foundational member back in 2023.
According to the KBSA, the creation of the new Bathroom Champion role is in response to bathrooms’ “growing prominence within the home”, which has prompted the association to dedicate more focus to supporting this area of the KBB industry.
Going forward, Hume will work alongside Malcolm Scott, the association’s partner and membership director, as well as Richard Hibbert, KBSA chairman, to bring more bathroom suppliers into the organisation.
In addition, her responsibilities will also include forging new partnerships and promoting the benefits of KBSA membersip to other independent retailers across the UK.
“I feel truly honoured and privileged to step into the role of Bathroom Champion for the KBSA,” Hume commented. “It’s a tremendous recognition from industry peers and I’m incredibly proud to represent the bathroom sector at this level. My vision is to elevate the profile of bathrooms within the KBSA – bringing them to stand shoulder to shoulder with kitchens and bedrooms.
“Since joining in April, I’ve hit the ground running – in heels, no less! – and have already been engaging in meaningful conversations with some of the most influential bathroom brands in the UK. The energy is there, the appetite for change is real, and I’m excited about what lies ahead. Watch this space – we’re just getting started!”
KBSA chair Richard Hibbert was recently profiled for The kbbreview Interview in the December issue of kbbreview Magazine, where he discussed the rise of trade associations in the KBB sector, and whether he believed the association’s overall purpose and ambition were still clear.
In related news, Koralia Hume recently spoke to kbbreview to discuss the importance of emotional intelligence within bathroom retail – a topic she also discussed at last year’s KBSA conference.
