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Broughton Crangrove's New Customer Service
Broughton Crangrove's vast portfolio of leading branded, premier products and appliances, presented quarterly in the company's price book, is now fully supported by a new Product Returns team.
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Arrow and Kermi get Straight to the Point
Pictured at Kermi’s Training Centre at Corby are the Directors and Sales Executives of Arrow Distributors Ltd of Worcester with their counterparts from Kermi UK.
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Free Those Rubber Gloves
Only around 25% of UK households own a dishwasher. That means 75% of the nation are still slaving over a hot sink when there’s absolutely no need. Dishwashers are more hygienic, use less water and free up hours every day and this year’s Bosch dishwashers are better than ever, making now a good time to rid yourselves of those rubber gloves once and for all. All for only 16p a day.
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Kitchen Voices, Still Lives - An Exhibition of Photography by Robert Teed
We are all nosey, however much we pretend we aren't. We all want to know how our fellow human beings live. The media plays on this curiosity, with magazines and TV shows dedicated to showing us other people's houses, usually 'styled' and commodified as objects of so much worth to buy or sell or aspire towards owning.
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Tackling Misleading Credit Advertising
The OFT launched a review of credit advertising at the Trading Standards Institute conference in Manchester on Tuesday 22nd June. The review will monitor compliance by advertisers and publishers with the law. Enforcement action will follow where it is needed.
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Alcoa Wins New Product Award
The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors (CCGD) selected Reynolds® Release™ Non-Stick Grill Foil as the winner and best new product in the Paper, Plastics and Foil Category during its 11th annual Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards (year 2003-2004) program held recently in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
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Elementary School Bathroom puts Champion® Toilet to the Ultimate Test
The word 'waterfall' has a special meaning to Roy Ballard. While it conjures up for others images of clear blue water cascading down a glorious mountain terrain, it makes the elementary school building manager envision toilets overflowing in 'waterfalls', as he calls them, from the boys' bathroom. And the girls' bathroom. And just about every bathroom in the turn-of-the-century converted brownstone building in New York City's Greenwich Village.
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Whirlpool Corporation's Board Authorises $500 Million Share Repurchase Programme
Whirlpool Corporation’s Board of Directors has authorised a new share repurchase program of up to $500 million. The share repurchase will be made from time to time on the open market as conditions warrant, and will be funded with internally generated cash.
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Maytag Corporation Questions its Inclusion on CalPERS' 2004 Focus List
The Maytag Corporation on 9th June questioned the company's inclusion in CalPERS' (California Public Employees' Retirement System) 2004 Corporate Governance Focus List.
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Kitchen Showcase 2004: Last Week to Pre-Register!
Registrations have already hit an all time high, but if you haven’t already registered for Kitchen Showcase there’s still time. This year’s exhibition is shaping up to be one of the key events in the industry’s diary featuring around 20 stunning roomsets from top designers.
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Kitchen Showcase 04 Seminar Programme
This year's Kitchen Showcase incorporates the established Masterclass seminar programme which has proved immensely popular since it's inception in 2000. ‘Kitchen Showcase Conference 04 will be no different. The name may have changed but the calibre of our guest speakers is again of the highest quality representing a diversity of design disciplines. Conference speakers this year have been recognised for their innovation and leadership in furniture, lighting, colour, interior and industrial design.’ says the organiser.
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Bathrooms And Kitchens Industry Awards
Organiser of the Bathrooms And Kitchens Magazine Industry Awards, Bathrooms And Kitchens Magazine has begun its search for the leading designers and businesspeople for 2005.
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Kitchen Showcase 2004: Two Weeks to go!
Registrations have already hit an all time high, but if you haven’t already registered for Kitchen Showcase there’s still time. This year’s exhibition is shaping up to be one of the key events in the industry’s diary featuring around 20 stunning roomsets from top designers.
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Maytag UK Announces New Managing Director
Maytag UK, the American owned domestic appliance manufacturer, has announced the appointment of Richard Thompson as Managing Director. Richard joined the company on 10th June 2004. Richard brings a wealth of business and industry experience and has an accomplished background in engineering, service, sales and marketing.
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Arrow’s Purpose-Built Headquarters Hits the Mark with Staff
Staff and their partners at Arrow Distributors enjoyed an evening of canapés and drinks to celebrate the successful opening of the company’s new purpose-built headquarters and national distribution centre.
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Broughton Crangrove Takes on New Bathroom Brand
Broughton Crangrove has taken on the distribution of a new bathroom range by American Standard, Ceramica Dolomite. Broughton Crangrove will be delivering this new brand to retailers nationally, supported by the company's next day delivery service to the majority of the UK.
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Maytag UK lmplements SAP
Maytag UK is streamlining its operations and making it easier to do business with the company with the introduction of SAP. Maytag UK is the first site to implement SAP, part of Maytag Corporation's investment plans for international subsidiaries.
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Positive Support for TEQ Initiative at Corporate Forum
The KBSA's 2004 Corporate Networking Forum was well attended by 65 delegates on 18th May. Members gathered at the Anstey Hall hotel in Coventry to hear presentations on KBSA activities, the marketing and PR programme and developments on the website. However the most significant part of the day was dedicated to updating members on progress of the KBSA's TEQ initiative.
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Maytag's Newton Laundry Production Halted, Contingency Plans Kick in
Negotiations between Maytag Corporation and U.A.W. Local 997 on a new labour contract covering production and maintenance employees at Maytag's Newton Laundry Products plant in Newton, Iowa, have broken off, as both sides have been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement.
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Anna Chooses John Sydney for Liz Hurley’s Bathroom
Anna Ryder-Richardson the celebrity TV designer, who originally made her name on BBC’s popular programme Changing Rooms, has recently put her mind to something far more prestigious – designing a bathroom for the famous model and actress, Liz Hurley.
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Ei- GieneT™ DIY Spa from Ei Whirlpools and Spas
The 'Ei-Giene' DIY Spa system from Ei Whirlpools and Spas Ltd is a luxury Air spa that can be fitted to your bath. 16 Chrome, Gold or White jets positioned in the bottom of the bath, in a geometric pattern add feature and style to your bathroom.
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Latest Investment at Instarmac Designs out Packaging Problems
As part of its ongoing continuous improvement programme (the company has recently installed and commissioned a new £500,000 paste plant), Tamworth based adhesives and grouts manufacturer - the Instarmac Group plc, has just re-designed the packaging and colour coded its Ultra range of premium wall tile adhesives.
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Ardesco Features in Crown Imperial’s Latest Kitchen Catalogue
Ardesco, the new range of worksurfaces from Orama, the independent manufacturer of worksurfaces and associated decorative products, has been chosen for a series of shots to complement Crown’s stylish kitchen range.
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Electrolux Agrees Payment of SEK 3 Billion to Shareholders through Redemption of Shares
The Annual General Meeting of AB Electrolux resolved to implement a share redemption offer involving a right for the shareholders in Electrolux to have their shares in the company redeemed against cash payment of SEK 200 per share.
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Maytag Announces Major Restructuring and Lowers Earning Expectations
Maytag Corporation announced on June 4th a comprehensive business restructuring that consolidates the Hoover Floor Care, Maytag Appliances and Corporate Headquarters organisations. The 'one-company' transformation is designed to achieve market-focused speed of execution, to improve Maytag's competitiveness and to achieve an 8 percent operating profit margin goal in the first quarter of 2005. The company also lowered its earnings expectations for the second quarter and full year 2004.
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Groupe SEB buys All-Clad Group from Waterford Wedgewood for $250m
SEB is purchasing from Waterford Wedgwood its US-based cookware subsidiary All-Clad. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days, subject to approval by Waterford Wedgwood shareholders and by the Federal Trade Commission. .
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GROHE Products in Seven out of Ten Stadiums at European Football Championship 2004
Seven of the ten stadiums hosting EURO 2004 are new. The other three arenas have been renovated. They will host 1.1 million visitors who will watch the 31 matches. Seven of the ten stadiums were counting on the expertise of water technology specialist GROHE when equipping the sanitary facilities.
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Could your Bathroom and Kitchen Designs Win you £500?
The Bathrooms And Kitchens Industry Awards are searching for up and coming talent, with the Student Designer Award for Bathrooms and the Student Designer Award for Kitchens. Entries are being called from universities and colleges across the UK to recognise, and financially reward, the best young kitchen and bathroom design skills in the country.
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Planit Announces Further Improvements in Service and Suport
Software provider Planit International has announced a new service offering which will provide its’ customers with more information and a faster more efficient support service. The ‘Data Guarantee’ service will ensure that any corrections, updates or remedial amendments to the range of catalogues that are maintained by Planit will benefit from a defined and guaranteed turnaround service.
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Aquatec Water Softener Leaflet Attracts Complaint
A complaint, objecting to a leaflet for Aquatec RainSoft (Bristol) Ltd - a water filter company - that comprised a household water survey and sample bottle, was not upheld in three of the four objections according to published details from the Advertising Standards Authority.
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Oliver Heath Unveils the World's First Recycled Kitchen
Designer and BBC Changing Rooms presenter Oliver Heath unveiled the world's first recycled kitchen brought to you by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) at the ldeal Home Show. 'lt doesn't look like rubbish .... But it is' said Oliver. 'The sleek and stylish kitchen units, the cutting-edge flooring and the fashionable accessories all owe something to your household dustbin.'
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East Coast Fittings offers Customers new Advantage Strategy
The re-location of East Coast Fittings – supplier of premier furniture fittings – to a new 60,000 square feet facility has enabled the company to devise a strategy which it says is directly advantageous to its customers nationwide.
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Thermic Closed Measuring Cabin for Accurate Heat Emission Measurements
Thermic has brought into use a new measuring laboratory - with an investment of 12 million BEF - in which the heat emission of radiators can be measured in accordance with the current European standard EN442.
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Majority of Home and Garden Retailers have yet to Offer Online Shopping Despite Buoyant Market
Research carried out by Zendor, the fulfilment and e-business expert, shows that only a quarter of home and garden retailers have a transactional website in the UK. This is despite recent predictions by the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) that by 2009, a quarter of all UK purchases will be carried out online or via a mobile device. The IMRG also claims that a further 20% of all purchases will be influenced by online research.
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XDeep Refrigeration from Bosch
This year, Bosch is developing the top freezer sector with X-Deep - a roomy, extra deep top fridge freezer. It's 70cm deep, 70cm wide and 185cm high. The extra 10 cm in depth is vital for providing 25% extra shelf space, making this a real family sized appliance.
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More than Skin Deep with New Solid Surface Airspas - The V&A 02 Collection
Victoria & Albert is launching its solid surface Quarrycast™ freestanding airspas. Available from July 1st, the new V&A 02 Collection is made up of the Capri 02 and Monaco 02 which both feature a powerful 750w air system.
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Fisher & Paykel Appliances - Changes in Distribution
Fisher & Paykel Appliances is positioned to increase its number of retail stores in the USA, while change in New Zealand is also imminent.
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Sanitec Announces First Quarter Operating Profits up 58% on 2003 on Sales up only 4.5%
Sanitec has reported operating profit for the first quarter of 2004 at EUR 23.9 million, which is a substantial increase of EUR 8.8 million or 58.3% over the first quarter of 2003. The operating profit margin was 9.5 % of net sales compared to 6.2% in the first quarter of 2003 and 3.6% in the last quarter in 2003. The improved sales situation and restructuring efforts in Bathroom Ceramic production and cost savings in the Sales, General and Administration functions contribute to this notable increase.
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Topps Tiles Announces Q1 Profits Nearly Doubled on Sales up 28%
Topps Tiles plc, the UK tile and wood flooring specialist has announced interim results for the 27 weeks ending Saturday 3rd April 2004. Turnover for the period jumped from £56.2m to £78m while pre-tax profits were nearly double at £15.2m (£7.8m). The company also announced that sales were up 20% in the first six weeks of the second half.
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Mirari Finds A Place In Greece
The European-styled kitchen collection, Mirari - which is designed and produced by the Symphony Group plc - has received its first TV coverage through a new Channel Four television show. A Place in Greece follows the lives of Coventry couple Brian Saunders and Andrew Sutton as they pursue their dream of building their very own home in Greece, and sees a Mirari kitchen selected to feature in their new villa.
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No Significant Improvement in Underlying Conditions Says Villeroy & Boch in Q1 Report
When compared with the previous year, only insignificant changes were seen in the underlying economic conditions in the first three months of 2004. The generally expected revival of economic activity has not yet become apparent.
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Bathrooms And Kitchens Magazine Industry Awards 2005 - Call for Entries
Organiser of the Bathrooms And Kitchens Magazine Industry Awards, Bathrooms And Kitchens Magazine has begun its search for the leading designers and businesspeople for 2005.
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How De Dietrich Home Economists Can Help Dealers Boost Sales
The De Dietrich home economist service has two ways to help dealers sell its products. The first is by attracting customers to specially organised showroom demonstrations, and the second by providing a post sale home demonstration for the purchaser.
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Pegler’s Entry into Showering Marketplace - Shaking up the Sector
Pegler says that its entry into the showering market with shower ranges offering a cross sectional approach in pricing, style and design - 'from new low cost traditional and modern showers through to the new minimalist styling of Visio and Xia concealed showering products' – has set the pulses racing in the industry.
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Imperial Acts on Impulse in Renaming Mandarin
Parent-company Imperial Bathroom Products Ltd has announced that, on May 1st, it has renamed its UK sales and distribution company ‘Mandarin Buildings Products Ltd’ as Impulse Bathroom Products Ltd, in order to reflect and reinforce the success of the Impulse brand.
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James Hardie Springs into 2004 with A Wealth of Business Successes
2003 saw building products specialist, James Hardie launch into the UK amid considerable trade interest. James Hardie continues this success in 2004 with a number of significant business alliances and distribution deals for both its water-impervious, Hardibacker and its exterior siding, Hardiplank.
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Bushboard Launches Omega Range with Built in Microban Anti-Bacterial Protection
A laminate worktop offering permanent anti-bacterial protection has been launched by Bushboard. The company's range of Omega worktops and patented splashbacks, excluding the brushed aluminium design, is now available with built-in Microban technology.
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Hoffman Dovetail System Proves Essential to Dry Jointing Innovation
Sometimes things do go wrong with furniture – especially fragile items like sliding glass or mirrored doors which are particularly susceptible to breakage either during delivery or installation – or even in use.
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Roman Goes 'Off the Page' in Offering a Bespoke Shower Service
Roman has launched the latest Original brochure, with a picture of a custom understairs shower door alongside Roman's statement: 'We consider almost no space too small and can provide made to measure items to fit almost anywhere'. That's a pretty bullish claim. So, if you are thinking of investigating the bespoke route, what is now realistic?
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New Kohler Colours Demonstrate Character of Kohler Cast Iron
Kohler Co. continues to explore new colour dimensions in the kitchen and bathroom with the introduction of six new colours available exclusively on key Kohler Cast Iron products.
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Wirquin's Flexivision Changes Toilet Connectors' Market
Wirquin Plastiques of France is now making its Flexivision range of PVC toilet connectors and pipes available to British and Irish plumbers. The Magicflex, an addition to the product range, provides 1,000 possible positions with a single connector, and is a completely flexible outlet connector available on the market.
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New Advertising Campaign in US Shows Consumers Trust Hoover Products to Help them Move Beyond Housework
Hoover, a division of Maytag Corporation, says that it comes to the aid of busy people by providing products that help them clean faster and more easily - products for every budget, cleaning need and life stage. Its new ad campaign was launched recently on national network and cable TV in the US with spots for the new Hoover® EmPower™ bagless, upright vacuum cleaner.
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