The Kbsa has welcomed four new members into the association in July continuing what the organisation says is a trend of retailers joining during “challenging times”.
Independent retailers Cole Roberts in Loughborough; HDM Kitchens in Taunton; Butler Interiors in Cumbria and Ridgeway Interiors based in Oxfordshire are the most recent recruits.
Michael Cole of Cole Roberts said: “We’re delighted to have been listed as a Kbsa approved retailer having supplied kitchens and bathrooms to retail and trade customers for over 14 years.
“After recently moving into our brand-new 8,000sqft showroom in Loughborough, this was the perfect time to join. We wish to reassure our customers given the current uncertainty within the market due to the issues surrounding Covid-19 and Kbsa membership will help us achieve this, as well as complement the reliability and high quality associated with the brands we supply, including our very own Projëkt German Kitchens.”
Mark Butler of Butler Interiors (pictured right with KBSA national account manager Allister Reed), said: “As a small independent business I often struggled finding time to do the non-essential tasks, Covid-19 came and like many I found myself with more time so I took the opportunity to clear my to-do list, which included taking my initial Kbsa enquiry further.
“When I contacted Kbsa chair Richard Hibbert he gave me help and advice that would normally only be offered to Kbsa members, he genuinely seemed happy to help another independent business during these unprecedented times. It was this level of service that made me certain I had made the correct decision of becoming a Kbsa member.”
Kbsa welcomes boost to housing market and support for small businesses
The Kbsa has welcomed the recent introduction of a stamp duty holiday, designed to boost the housing market, announced by the Chancellor as part of his Covid- 19 recovery plan.
The temporary holiday on stamp duty applies on the first £500,000 of all property sales in England and Northern Ireland, until next March, with immediate effect.
Kbsa National chair Richard Hibbert praised this move which he said would help many buyers and stimulate the housing market, which would in turn have a positive impact on the kbb sector.
“We are grateful that the chancellor has helped the housing market in this way and also welcome the initiative to pay firms a £1,000 bonus for every staff member kept on for three months, when the furlough scheme ends in October,” he said. “However, I am disappointed that he was not able to extend the VAT cut on hospitality to housing renovations and repairs, which is something we have been urging the government to do for a long time.”
“The Chancellor was right to stress that the job of getting the economy back on its feet has only just begun during his statement. We hope that the measures announced will be enough to generate a much-needed boost for retailers in the coming weeks and months.”