The MD of bathroom retailer Ripples, Paul Crow, reveals the top five products that caught his eye at this year’s kbb Birmingham show
First up is Laufen’s Cleanet Riva in matt black. It may not be something that anyone is asking for, but one of those products that when you show a customer, gives you so much to talk about. The superb matt finish, the full ceramic body (no colour mismatches here) and a highly desirable and functional shower toilet.
My next top pick is the Bank range from Coalbrook. Everything about this range is designed to maximise sales. It’s available in all the finishes that are selling so well, a simple and desirable design, available from UK stock, good margin potential and from a company that have a proven track record for service that we already trade with.
Usually when looking at beautiful ‘stone’ like basins and furniture it comes with the consequence of dealing with a somewhat unpredictable supply chain. Not anymore. The Dansani – Consentino (set 1) is a beautiful ‘Italian’ looking product from an incredibly well-run Danish manufacturer that can help us raise order values without the stress levels. Perfect.
From one of the shows favourite stands, presented by one of the industry’s most loveable people in Roberto Heredia. I saw the Quiz bath at its development stages in the Acquabella factory and to now see it proudly on the stand, with so much interest, is deserving of huge credit. I hope it’s a winner and I look forward to seeing it in Ripples showrooms.
A company with 125,000 Instagram followers should not be ignored and neither should their confidence in the new Mermaids Garden range. When Ca Pietra brings a product to market it usually means strong sales and whilst not to everyone’s taste, it sure makes retailing easier when you have products like this available to your showrooms.
