One last thing: Andrew Davies
To celebrate kbbreview's 500th issue this month, managing editor Andrew Davies reveals what he loves most about his job, what he'd change about the industry, and what he considers to be his proudest achievement so far.
When people outside the industry ask what I do I say…
…I’m a journalist, which always raises their eyebrows. Then I tell them that it’s for the UK’s leading kitchen and bathroom business title and the eyebrows go down. Then they go back up again when they show me hundreds of pictures of their new kitchen or bathroom.
If I was in charge of this industry I would…
…make a case for real collaboration and cooperation. The independent KBB retail sector is a huge part of a huge market and could have serious influence if everyone pulled in the same direction. But, to do that, you need to explain why it’s beneficial for each individual business and no one has really done that.
What I love most about my job is…
…being allowed to be nosy. Lots of people think journalism is all about writing but that’s only 10% of it, the other 90% is just being endlessly interested in people and their stories. I am lucky enough to have a job that gives me a never-ending supply of them.
The thing people might not know about me is…
…I have a Pointless trophy and it’s much smaller than you think it’s going to be.
The work story I always tell to make people laugh is…
…I went to a dinner in Moscow on a press trip and saw dancing bears, elephants, leopards on leads being held by supermodels, contortionists, Catherine Deneuve and a new range of fridges.
The industry person I most admire is…
…hard to say without playing favourites. There are so many independent retailers who have built amazing businesses from scratch by being bold, ambitious and obsessed with pleasing the customer. The ones who are still that way decades after they started will always have my admiration.
I wish this industry would talk more about…
…collectively promoting the principle of the local independent retailer as a first choice to the consumer.
I wish this industry would talk less about…
…charging for design. Controversial I know, but it’s been a circular conversation that’s gone on since I started. Do it if you think you can, don’t if you think you can’t.
My proudest professional achievement is….
…probably just how long I’ve been doing this. Out of 500 issues, I’ve done 279 of them, how scary is that? I must also say that helping make the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards the biggest and most prestigious event in the sector is a huge thing too.
One professional mistake I’ve learned from is…
…we once didn’t spot a joke photo caption that our designer had added to a page assuming we’d pick it up during checks. The magazine was subsequently printed saying the person in the image was a murderer…
If I could go back to the day I started in this industry, I would tell myself…
…always, ALWAYS, check every caption.
I dance in my kitchen to…
…a bit of classic Motown, every time.
The song I always sing in the shower is…
…anything by Paul McCartney, that man knows how to write a tune.
Andrew Davies is the managing editor of kbbreview, which is celebrating its 500th issue this month. You can read the digital version of this month’s milestone issue here.