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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 252 29th August 2008
Kbbreview
Expo 2009 Joins Forces with the Tile and Stone Show and Floorstyle
Kbbreview
Expo 2009, the trade exhibition for the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom
industry, has announced it will now be joining forces with two other successful
events - The Tile & Stone Show and Floorstyle.
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on this Story]
AFG
Kitchens UK to Open Four New Miele Die Küche Showrooms
AFG
Kitchens UK Ltd., the sole importer and distributor for the renowned Miele
kitchen brand in the UK, is planning to launch its own chain of kitchen
studios dedicated to promoting the Miele die Küche brand.
The three new showrooms located in Manchester, Birmingham and Dudley,
which will open under the name of AFG Kitchens are scheduled to open in
early December 2008, with AFG Kitchens' new head office scheduled to follow
in January 2009.
[More
on this Story]
Aqualux
Invests in New Midlands Production Facility
Wednesbury-based
Aqualux is driving business forward as Arbonia Forster-Holding AG invests
£450,000 in a new 35,000 sq ft facility that will transfer its production
and assembly operations to a second site in the Midlands.
[More
on this Story]
Screen
Sales Stay Strong
Aqualux
is reporting that sales of its bath screens remain strong across all its
collections as homeowners opt to improve their home rather than move.
[More
on this Story]
Popularity
produces Pro-Value portfolio from Franke
Brand
new from sink specialist, Franke, is the Pro-Value portfolio of affordable
kitchen sink packages which has been designed with quality and value in
mind.
[More
on this Story]
James
Latham Renews Tilbury Deal
The
UK’s leading timber and panel products distributor, James Latham,
has signed a new three year agreement with the Port of Tilbury to continue
its successful partnership and consolidated storage facility.
[More
on this Story]
Utopia
Unveils 2008/9 Promotional Campaign
Utopia Bathroom Group has unveiled a planned
programme of advertisements, advertorials and makeovers to promote its
newly extended product range to consumers during the coming year.
[More
on this Story]
It's
All About the Label
Premium
German domestic appliance manufacturer, Miele, will be spreading its gentle
laundry care message to thousands of fashionistas at London Fashion Weekend
from 24 - 28 September 2008.
[More
on this Story]
Retailers
Can Enjoy 20% off GROHE Classics
To
coincide with the autumn refurbishing season, tap and shower manufacturer,
GROHE is offering 20% off its core product ranges from 1st September to
31st December 2008.
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on this Story]
Shaws
of Darwen Gains ISO9001
All
too often companies nowadays become 'pigeon-holed' as quaint or old-fashioned,
purely because they have existed for more than 100 years. Shaws of Darwen
has been manufacturing for 111 years and continues to be the country's
only 'British Made' fireclay manufacturer and market leader.
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on this Story]
Miele
Voted as Number One for Customer Service
Premium
domestic appliance brand, Miele has won the nationwide Domestic &
General Total Excellence and Quality (TEQ) award for 2008. More than 425,000
surveys were distributed to customers who had received an appliance repair
within the last 12 months and Miele was voted as having the highest levels
of after-sales service. This is the sixth time the company has received
this prestigious award.
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on this Story]
Less
is More for New Generation Stain Removal from Siemens
With
an increase in the number of integral stain removal programmes on its
new generation free-standing washing machines, less is definitely more
for kitchen appliance manufacturer, Siemens.
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on this Story]
Cooking
Up A Storm!
Miele
appliances took pride of place in a new generation of cookery schools
that opened in London this summer. L'atelier des Chefs originally launched
in Paris four years ago and to date 50,000 people have attended their
fun, relaxed classes.
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on this Story]
New
Corporate Initiatives Announced for KBSA Retail Members
A
number of new initiatives announced by the KBSA (Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom
Specialists Association) at its recent National Conference, have been
launched to retail members that will offer significant savings and opportunities
to develop new business streams.
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on this Story]
Diary
from Indonesia by Chris Sutton
Supplies from Indonesia have declined
considerably over the last five years but a few mills retain an interest
in shipping products to the UK. With environmental issues at the fore,
I visited Indonesia earlier in the year to see how mills were progressing
in their attempts to attain genuine FSC accreditation.
[More
on this Story]
Now
is the Time to Install a Water Meter
With new rises in water bills announced
this month now is the time to install a water meter and start saving money
immediately. Water meters have been proven to reduce water consumption
by 10%, lowering your water bill substantially.
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on this Story]
MFI
Makeover Ideas for No10
With
scaffolding going up outside No10 Downing Street, furniture retailer MFI,
has a few ideas to help Prime Minister, Gordon Brown lift his spirits
with a grand makeover for inside.
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on this Story]
TrustMark
Momentum Builds as FairTrades Drives Accreditations
FairTrades - the multi-trade association and TrustMark
Approved Scheme Operator (ASO) - is seeing a significant increase in the
number of businesses moving forward to TrustMark status; with the ASO
having managed the accreditation of another 16 KBB companies in the last
couple of months.
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on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 251 22nd August 2008
TrustMark
Momentum Builds as FairTrades Drives Accreditations
FairTrades - the multi-trade association and TrustMark
Approved Scheme Operator (ASO) - is seeing a significant increase in the
number of businesses moving forward to TrustMark status; with the ASO
having managed the accreditation of another 16 KBB companies in the last
couple of months.
[More
on this Story]
Kent
Kitchen Fitter Who Didn't Deliver Jailed
A Kent-based kitchen fitter who took nearly £30,000
in deposits from customers but failed to complete their kitchens has been
jailed for bankruptcy offences after prosecution by the Department for
Business.
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on this Story]
Mereway
Bathrooms ‘Pimps their Ride’ and Goes on Tour
Mereway Bathrooms has 'pimped a ride' in the form of
the company’s Mereway Bathrooms Showvan, which has now embarked on
a national tour of UK retail outlets and showrooms.
[More
on this Story]
Ideal's
Big Deal
‘The special promotion we launched in conjunction
with Showerlux and Ideal Standard has really been tremendously well received,’
says Ideal Bathrooms Commercial Director Danielle Lillis.
[More
on this Story]
Latest
Version of Planit Fusion Reflects Vitality of New Branding
Planit International - specialist in design and visualisation
software for the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industries and part of
the 20-20 Technologies Group – has announced the roll-out of V15
of its Fusion software to customers from early August.
[More
on this Story]
Maytag
UK Extends Service Coverage
Maytag UK, the premier manufacturer of the Amana, Maytag
and Admiral appliances has extended and increased its depth of service
to Scotland.
[More
on this Story]
LG
HI-MACS® National Distribution Announcement
James Latham, the UK's leading Timber and Panel products
distributor, has recently announced that its Ossett depot, West Yorkshire,
is now to control the national distribution of LG HI-MACS®.
[More
on this Story]
Forward
Thinking by Electrolux Design Lab Finalists
Electrolux has shortlisted this year's top nine Design
Lab finalists in its global competition with the iGeneration theme. All
of the finalists will be on display at kbb London in May 2009.
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on this Story]
MFI
Retail Ltd Falls Foul of ASA
A complaint, objecting to a sales promotion, on the
MFI website was upheld on all three objections according to published
details from the Advertising Standards Authority.
[More
on this Story]
KBSA
Announces New Appointments
The KBSA has announced three new appointments at national
level, as national chair Tony Nicholas and national corporate chair Barbara
Leech stood down, following the voting at the recent adjourned AGM.
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on this Story]
The
Institute Announces 'First Retail Member' in Romford
The Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installers
(or iKBBI as it's better known) has announced that Home Interiors By Anscombs
is the first kitchen and bedroom retailer in Romford to be awarded membership.
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on this Story]
Lightweight
Network UK Issues Invitation to Manufacturers and Designers
The Lightweight Network UK, a lobbying group formed
earlier this year to promote the use of light weight panels over standard
particleboard, is inviting interested delegates to attend its next meeting
for furniture manufacturers on 16th October at the REHAU HQ in Ross on
Wye.
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on this Story]
Deva
Boosts PR Offering
Deva is adding a new dimension to its PR offering with
the recent appointment of Karen Floyd PR & Communications Ltd to manage
its trade and consumer media presence and raise the Deva profile among
stakeholders.
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on this Story]
Consumers
Advised on How to Avoid being Caught out by Kitchen Cowboys
Following the jailing of a Kent kitchen fitter who took
nearly £30,000 in deposits from customers but failed to complete
their kitchens, kitchen manufacturer and retailer Sigma 3 is advising
consumers on how to ensure they are not left without a kitchen sink.
[More
on this Story]
Cosentino
Offers 10 Year Warranty on Silestone Kitchen Worktops
The Spanish-owned quartz work surface manufacturer,
Cosentino is to offer a free 10 year warranty on all Silestone kitchen
worktops installed between October 2008 and March 2009, sold through its
approved fabricators.
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on this Story]
Successful
Business Year for Miele
Miele achieved its highest turnover ever in the 2007/2008
business year, which ended on June 30th. The family-run company increased
turnover in the period under review by 2.5% to €2.81-billion, compared
with €2.74-billion the previous year.
[More
on this Story]
Electrolux
Invests in Eastern Europe
Household
appliance manufacturer Electrolux is preparing to launch a major new investment
in production operations in Eastern European countries, including Poland,
Romania and Hungary.
[More
on this Story]
Hansgrohe
is Official Partner of the German House in Beijing
Since Friday 8th August, more than 11,000 athletes from
all over the world have been fighting for Olympic precious metal in Beijing.
438 sportsmen and sportswomen from Germany are also taking part.
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on this Story]
Official
Opening for Manor Design
Manor
Design has announced the official opening of its new showroom in Basildon,
Essex, offering a comprehensive range of cutting-edge collections from
luxury bathroom manufacturer Villeroy & Boch.
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on this Story]
Premium
Appliance Brands Teams with 'Irish Cooking Queen' Rachel Allen for New
Range
Warrington based Premium Appliance Brands has launched
a new food preparation range designed in conjunction with Irish celebrity
chef and star of Rachel’s Food For Living, Rachel Allen.
[More
on this Story]
IKEA
Uses 20-20 Technologies' Virtual Planner
20-20
Technologies, specialist in 3D interior design and furniture manufacturing
software, has announced a long-term agreement to supply its 3D web visualisation
space-planning tool to IKEA.
[More
on this Story]
Baumatic
Chosen for Zero Carbon House
Private
Housebuilder Michael Shea took on the challenging mantle of building a
zero carbon house on the island of Unst, Britain's most northerly island
in the UK and Baumatic has been specifically selected as a partner in
the project thanks to its own green credentials.
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on this Story]
Cost
Savings through Carbon Footprinting
The
adoption of lean manufacturing concepts can help to reduce your company's
carbon footprint by as much as 20% and can also put you on the path to
make real cost savings, delegates at the Lean Footprint Masterclass were
told recently.
[More
on this Story]
CDHT
Launches New Partnership Stores with Buildbase
Chester
& District Housing Trust (CDHT) has opened onsite partnership stores
at ‘TrustWorks’, its repairs and maintenance site based at Octavian
Centre, off Sealand Road, Chester.
[More
on this Story]
THE
K&BZINE ISSUE 250 1st August 2008
Eurobath
Changes Name to VADO
‘June
2008 marked the 20th Birthday of Eurobath International Ltd. As with many
companies, the onset of a milestone birthday gave us the opportunity for
reflection! We feel that the Eurobath name no longer represents what we
do as a manufacturer of brassware who sells products all over the world.
As of the 1st August we are changing our name to VADO.’
[More
on this Story]
EXPO
Committed to Deliver
dmg world media, organiser of kbbreview EXPO reassures
the industry that its 2009 exhibition will go ahead. In a month that has
seen each of the key industry associations - the BMA, KBSA, KBB NTG and
iKBBI - throw their weight behind the dmg world media event, Mark Pearson,
show manager, confirms that it's full steam ahead for the Docklands exhibition.
[More
on this Story]
Massive
Growth for RAK Ceramics
Ras-Al-Khaimah
is one of the smaller parts of the United Arab Emirates, but it is home
to RAK Ceramics, one of the largest and most successful manufacturers
of tiles and sanitaryware in the world.
[More
on this Story]
Shades
Going for Gold!
Bathroom
furniture specialist, Shades' parent company, Moores Furniture Group certainly
has a lot to celebrate after receiving the Gold Medal Award from RoSPA.
[More
on this Story]
Stoves
Partners with Brian Turner to Save Britain’s Barbies
Astonishingly,
a third (33%) of the UK population has between six and 15 BBQs a year
– though many have ended a damp squib according to the new survey
by cooking appliance brand Stoves, which has prompted an SoS – ‘Save
our Summer BBQs’ campaign with celebrity chef Brian Turner.
[More
on this Story]
Belling
to Make a Special Appearance at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Number one cooking brand*, Belling, has teamed up with
BBC Radio 4 presenter and comedian, Chris Neill, in his slot at this year’s
Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
[More
on this Story]
Utopia
Expands Research & Development Department
Reflecting
the major emphasis it places on new product development, Utopia Bathroom
Group has greatly expanded its Research & Development Department.
[More
on this Story]
Victoria
& Albert on Show in London's Leading Store
Selfridges
in London's Oxford Street attracts some of the world's top brands - and
now Victoria & Albert is joining the likes of Hermes, Louis Vuitton
and Dior with a display of baths in the West One Bathrooms showroom on
the fourth floor.
[More
on this Story]
UBM
Acquires Arc and Sleep Events
UBM's Live Media business has announced the acquisition
of Mondiale Publishing's Sleep and Arc Exhibitions, Conferences and The
European Hotel Design Awards.
[More
on this Story]
'Take
up the TT Challenge' - says BMF
In support of the Trainee Team Challenge, organised
by the Institute of Builders Merchants, the Builders Merchant Federation
(BMF) are calling trainees from all sectors of the Builders Merchant and
Supply industry to take part in the TT Challenge on Thursday 18th September
at the National Motorcycle Museum.
[More
on this Story]
Center
Parcs Chooses CDA
Appliance specialist CDA has announced that its kitchen
appliances have been selected for installation in all of Center Parcs’
newly refurbished accommodation.
[More
on this Story]
Ideal
Bathrooms and Showerlux Promotion
Ideal
Bathrooms has teamed up with Showerlux, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers
of bathroom products, to launch an exclusive promotion for its customers.
[More
on this Story]
Ideal
Standard International Makes a Splash in Beijing
Ideal
Standard International, a provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom
solutions, has equipped numerous Beijing stadiums and building projects
for the 2008 Olympic Games.
[More
on this Story]
Indesit
Company Results for 1st Half 2008
Indesit
Company has approved its consolidated results for 1st half 2008. Sales,
amounting to €1,525m (down 1.4%), benefited from a price mix that
proved positive (1.8%) and volumes that rose 0.8%, thus enabling the company
to consolidate its market share despite the far from brilliant scenario.
[More
on this Story]
Electrolux
Searching for 90 ‘Kitchen Stars’
To celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2009, global household
appliance maker Electrolux is looking for 90 Electrolux kitchen owners
across Europe - all with a special story to tell about 'when they felt
like a star' in their kitchen.
[More
on this Story]
Armitage
Shanks Chosen for Birmingham Homes Programme
Armitage Shanks has announced its success in becoming
the chosen sole provider of sanitary ware for the refurbishment of up
to 40,000 homes in the Birmingham City framework Decent Homes Programme.
[More
on this Story]
New
Shower Enclosures Catapult Ideal Standard into Limelight
The launch of two new shower ranges, Connect and Tipica
by Ideal Standard - a leading provider of innovative, design-driven bathroom
solutions demonstrates the clear commitment to become a leading UK shower
enclosure brand.
[More
on this Story]
Garden
Kitchens Become Latest Big Trend in Home Improvements
For
a number of years the outdoor, or garden kitchen, has been a hugely popular
home improvement trend in many parts of Europe, and the USA in particular.
Now with a sharp increase in UK sales over the past year it looks like
we Brit's have chosen the outdoor kitchen as our next must-have addition.
[More
on this Story]
Golden
Touch - Key Trends in Bathrooms
By Cheryl Gurner, Creative Director, Bathrooms International
I sense a new style coming in, which I'm calling GLAM-CHIC!
It's a culmination of glamour and elegance, but with a new contemporary
sophistication. It's been growing underground for some time; it started
with the vintage revival in fashion and has gone on to advocate and re-appreciate
great design in the home from decades past.
[More
on this Story]