City Plumbing has joined the Bathroom Association, becoming the first national merchant member in a move that signals a broader push to unite the bathroom supply chain.
The move brings a significant new voice into the Association, particularly one with direct reach into both trade professionals and consumers through its branch and showroom network.
City Plumbing operates more than 350 branches across the UK, many of which include dedicated bathroom showrooms, giving it a strong influence over product selection and customer decision-making at a local level. Its entry into the Association is being positioned as a step towards better alignment between merchants, retailers, manufacturers and installers.
Daphne Doody-Green, chief executive of Bathroom Association, commented: “City Plumbing’s decision to join the Association is hugely symbolic. It’s a signal that our new, more inclusive direction is not just timely, it’s necessary.
“With over 350 branches, award-winning showrooms, and a frontline connection to customers across the UK, City Plumbing brings a vital perspective to our work. This partnership is proof that by collaborating across the whole supply chain, we can tackle shared challenges, accelerate innovation, and make bathrooms better, for people and for the planet.”
City Plumbing is part of the Highbourne Group and employs more than 3,000 people across nine businesses spanning trade, home improvement and DIY. Its scale and market visibility mean its involvement could influence discussions around everything from compliance and sustainability to product development and availability.
The closer integration of a national merchant into the Association could lead to more coordinated approaches to standards, as well as improved insight into consumer trends driven at branch level.
Steve Smith, managing director – bathroom at City Plumbing, said: “We’re proud to be the first merchant partner to join the Bathroom Association. Their direction aligns with our values of being customer-first and creating the future.
“By adding our voice to this influential community, we’re committing to a shared goal: creating a better, more connected bathroom industry where innovation thrives, and challenges are solved collectively.”
The Association said the partnership will support efforts to influence government policy, improve product compliance and promote sustainability across the sector – areas that increasingly affect retailers and designers on the ground.
Doody-Green added: “Our vision is clear. We’re building a platform where merchants, manufacturers, installers, and retailers can share knowledge, shape standards, and drive change together. City Plumbing joining us in this journey shows we’re on the right track.”
While trade bodies have traditionally been dominated by manufacturers, City Plumbing’s membership may signal a more integrated approach going forward – one that reflects the growing interdependence of the supply chain and the need for greater coordination across it.