THE K&BZINE - Your Kitchen & Bathroom Industry News First

Weekly Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
9th June 2006
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Gorenje, the Slovenian kitchen appliance manufacturer, has launched its updated and expanded 'Built-In' range of quality kitchen appliances
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Baby Belling has launched a new table top induction unit offering consumers a fast, safe and efficient cooking solution and creating increased sales opportunities for retailers
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Baumatic says that even heat distribution just got even more precise with the addition of an integral turntable to the company’s new B240 built-in oven
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A range of 'super quiet' dishwashers is being launched this month by Zanussi-Electrolux under the banner 'The Appliance of Silence'
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The new Amana 3D has sleek, elegant lines available in a combination of designs and materials to please the most discerning consumer and a 'must-have' product for retailers to display
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Cova Products has announced the addition of Lausanne PA, a mid coloured pear to the Cova press range of 3D forming veneers
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New Lava Stone is one of the latest contemporary designs to be added to the Mermaid waterproof wall panels range from Norske Interiors
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Express Line is a versatile and fast edgebanding service from European Decorative Products (EDP)
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PWS has extended its portfolio with a selection of slate flooring. As with other surfaces in the kitchen, flooring has become a key element
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Cova Products has announced the addition of Winchester PB, a light pippy oak, into the Cova Press Premier range of 3D forming veneers
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J&J Ormerod PLC (JJO plc) is unveiling the latest additions to its range of worksurfaces available with the Colonial and eco kitchen ranges
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Recognising that the choice of kitchen tap is an increasingly important element in the kitchen design process, PWS has responded with a host of new styles and finishes
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This month Trevi, Ideal Standard's brand for shower valves and kits, is previewing its new remote control shower TREVI LOGICAL
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Traditional shapes and designs aren’t always savvy with space, so Aqualux’s new Augmented Quadrant shower enclosure is a suitable shape for fitting units around it
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Building on the success of the Kubus undermount range of sinks, Franke has developed two new one and a half bowl models
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The humble sink has elevated its status enormously in recent years and PWS has unveiled an extended sink and tap collection in response to the growing interest in the wet area of the kitchen
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A new swing-out pantry unit from Häfele, by the makers of the company’s popular Vario-Corner unit, introduces large scale and very easily accessible storage for cans, bottles, jars and packages in tall cabinets to heights of 1700mm to 2150mm
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The new Zaar sanitaryware range from Heritage Bathrooms has space saving elements to ensure you can source a suite to suit your bathroom - whatever its size
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Crosswater says that as design is at the heart of all Crosswater products, it is no surprise that the new Mini range has not compromised style for size
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Imperial Bathrooms’ range of traditional cast-iron and bateau-style baths has been further extended with the introduction of three new hand-crafted, hand-finished roll top contemporary offerings
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Ideal Standard has announced the availability of its MOMENTS bathroom suite in the UK. MOMENTS is a fully integrated bathroom collection, created by the award-winning German design studio ARTEFAKT
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Egg Bath is the latest addition to the expanding Vado portfolio by Eurobath
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Kitchen products distributor, DK Distribution has introduced a vinyl oyster door with sculptured centre panel and subtle finish
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In response to the increasing number of local authorities implementing recycling schemes through segregated household waste collection, East Coast Fittings has introduced a range of in-cabinet segregated waste bins
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Scott Brothers Ltd is launching new and improved versions of its range of Pack-Mate compression bags
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This summer sees the launch of the minimalist model of the Discus radiator from Radiating Style, following the trend for adding accents of colour into the home
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After a century and a half, MHS now sells its own popular Hot Box but it is remarkably different from its original namesake
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Roman, the UK shower manufacturer, has created a state-of-the-art Showroom at its County Durham base to showcase its products and to also act as a Training Facility
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Members of the WPG - Women in Plumbing Group - were recent attendees of one of Aqualisa's popular shower training courses
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Iris Ceramica has launched its spring range with two new porcelain stoneware collections, Romantica and Olimpic
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PWS has recently introduced a range of travertine wall tiles. The range has been launched to complement PWS' new stone flooring range, to offer a wider selection of surfacing solutions for the kitchen
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Saint-Gobain Glass has launched SGG FEELING - the specialist glass wall tile range - in the UK, from spring 2006
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Whirlpool Corporation profoundly believes in the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
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Granada Material Handling (Granada), one of the nation's leading material handling solutions specialists, is the sole UK distributor of Fezer VacuPowerlift handling units.
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AMA Research has published its latest review ofthe 'Bedroom Furniture Market - UK 2006' report. The report is informed, comprehensive and up-to-date, and represents an aid to sales and marketing professionals involved in the industry
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Special Needs: A Growing Market

We were privileged last week to be invited to a groundbreaking event at the House of Lords, where representatives from various key players in the bathroom industry explained the work they had done in seriously addressing the requirements of the less well abled and people with special needs.

Knowing how difficult it is to use bathroom facilities just with a bad back means I am very well aware of how crucial this research is, and, more importantly, the fact that bathroom companies such as Armitage Shanks are coming up with the products to turn the research into reality.

Congratulations to those involved - the BMA and the NHIC particularly. The BMA is currently working on a guide to Special Needs, which will become part of the Generic Industry Guides that are central to the BMA's bathroom academy certification scheme. The message is clear: ignore this sector at your peril!

• The sporting behemoth which is the World Cup finally rears its (beautiful?) head today and it would be churlish not to wish our lads good fortune, with an additional hope that this tournament is remembered as a paragon of good sportsmanship and international harmony. And don't forget, you can still enter the Franke World Cup Fantasy Football competition.

• Finally, this week sees the launch of a new section on The K&BZine, dedicated to Kitchen and Bathroom Surfaces, which you will find in the left hand column, or here.

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Broughtons Takes to the Road
Broughtons, the specialist bathroom brand from Broughton Crangrove, takes its latest bathroom suites to the retailers.
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Kitchen Showcase 06 in Partnership with Gaggenau
Gaggenau, Europe's foremost manufacturer of luxury built in appliances for the domestic kitchen, has joined forces with Masterclass Events ltd, organisers of Kitchen Showcase 06, to deliver the largest UK event in 2006 dedicated entirely to kitchen design.
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Find it at 100% Design
100% Design, the leading contemporary design show established in 1995, continues to be the one stop shop for architects, interior designers and specifiers to source international contemporary design. An impressive list of over 450 UK and international exhibitors will exhibit at Earls Court 2, London from 21-24 September.
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Clearwater Makes a Splash at K/BIS
The recently established American arm of Clearwater Collection, Clearwater USA exhibited a selection of its free standing baths at K/BIS in April, and gained outstanding feedback.
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Cesana Makes a Statement at Salone Del Mobile
Italian shower manufacturer Cesana exhibited its range of stylish, contemporary showers at Salone del Mobile, the International Kitchen and Bathroom exhibition in Milan last month.
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Britannia a Hot Hit at Homebuilding & Renovating
Range cooker specialist Britannia was extremely pleased with the results from the Homebuilding & Renovating Show held at Birmingham's NEC earlier this month.
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More Events here

In support of its recent product launches, Burbidge has updated its product specification manual to include detailed fitting instructions for its five new kitchen ranges - Ravello, Amalfi, Mezzo, Opus and Lulworth.
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Premium brand De Dietrich has launched its 2006 brochure with a range of new products available as of 1st May 2006.
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First impressions are always the most important, which is why Heritage Bathrooms is launching its most stylish brochure ever.
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Fitted furniture manufacturer, Shades, has unveiled its latest lifestyle brochure that reflects the company's new upmarket look.
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Kitchen design specialist KCA welcomes new recruit Kate Rayner to the company’s team of talented designers.
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American Standard Companies Inc announce the appointment of John Rietveldt as vice president and general manager for its Bath and Kitchen business in Europe, which is based in Brussels.
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White-goods company Premium Appliance Brands Ltd (PAB) is welcoming three new staff to its head office to strengthen the corporate arm of the business.
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Pronorm, the German rigid kitchen furniture manufacturer, has appointed Richard Turner as the Area Sales Manager for the South West region.
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Franke, a leading kitchen systems manufacturer, has appointed a new assistant logistics manager, Lynne Woodward.
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PWS has announced three key appointments to its external sales team.
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Fisher & Paykel has announced that Andrew Smith has been promoted to Sales Manager in UK.
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Flair International has set up a UK dedicated sales team, headed by Sales Director Andrew Bullingham.
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Made in Britain Sanitaryware manufacturer Ashley Bathrooms has launched a comprehensively updated marketing support package for its dealers featuring high quality POS materials and a new 72 page brochure.
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Roman, the UK shower manufacturer, is offering retailers the chance to take advantage of the company's Bundle Promotion.
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Gorenje has launched two Premium Touch fridge-freezers, crystallised with Swarovski - one with 7,000 hand-embedded crystals (on sale in Harrods) and the other with a mere 3500 glass 'jewels'.
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Clearwater Collection, the manufacturer of luxury handmade freestanding acrylic baths, is bathing in success because its Bateau bath is being featured in a major advertising campaign.
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Aqualux is inviting its trade customers to share in its success by offering a promotion on its award winning Walk-In with Wet Room option.
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HomePro Insurance - one of the UK's leading providers of Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBGs) - has introduced a dedicated warranty product for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom retail installation sector.
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Range cooker specialist Britannia has launched a new sales promotion, which offers customers free accessories with range cookers sold between May 1st and July 31st.
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Heritage Bathrooms once again picked up two awards for best practice in manufacturing at Yorkshire's most prestigious industry awards.
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Clearwater Collection, the manufacturer of luxury handmade freestanding acrylic baths in Europe, has achieved the internationally recognised quality accreditation, ISO 9001.
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The Sorter waste management system from Franke has recently achieved a Red Dot Award for design excellence.
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The new Blumotion controlled closing system for cabinet doors on the hinge has won the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen ‘red dot’ Award.
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Following the launch of its extended Summer 2006 Design Guide that contains more products than ever, Imperial Bathrooms has updated and significantly improved its website.
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A new survey conducted by Zendor, the Manchester-based fulfilment expert, reveals that less than one fifth of the UK's top e-retailers promote a retail trust mark for 'safe Internet shopping' on their websites.
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The ‘Choose your ideal cooker’ page is part of the new Britannia website and makes searching for a range cooker very easy.
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Grand Designs Live Birmingham, 6-8 October 2006 at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.
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100% East returns to the Truman Brewery, from 21-24 September 2006.
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Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Dubai, has finalised its plans for ISH Kitchen and Bathroom Gulf.
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TheK&BZine Team:

Richard & Debbie Schwarz
news@thekbzine.com

Richard Place
sales@thekbzine.com

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FRANKE FANTASY FOOTBALL

Last Chance to Enter! It's Fun and There are Prizes!
The World Cup is almost upon us and this time around Franke has added to the excitement by sponsoring The K&BZine's very own World Cup Fantasy Football competition. Called Franke Fantasy Football, the rules are simple, entry is easy and free and the prizes are well worth it - 1st prize is 4 tickets to see a Man United game of your choice – and 2nd prize 2 tickets for a Man United game. LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED UP TO MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 11TH JUNE (but any points from matches already played will not be awarded).
[Enter Here]

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

RevoLOOtionary Water Saving Design from Impulse
A Birmingham company is hoping to flush out the water conscious public with the launch of the UK's first toilet with a 4.5 - 3 litre dual flush. ‘Launched at this year's KBB exhibition, this unique design from Impulse Bathroom Products is one of the most important developments in a world where water use reduction is rapidly becoming a priority,’ says the company.
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THIS WEEK'S NEWS

Inclusive Design in the Domestic Bathroom
The National Home Improvement Council, the Bathroom Manufacturers Association and Armitage Shanks combined to address an audience of Journalists, MPs and members of the House of Lords, in Westminster Palace at the end of May.
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Britannia Steps it Up in the Style Stakes at Grand Designs Live
Range manufacturer Britannia is raising the bar when it comes to client satisfaction by introducing Colourange, a new custom-made service allowing its range cookers to be crafted in any colour of the end-user's choosing. Launched at the Grand Designs Live Show, the range specialist enjoyed a phenomenal response from designers, stockists and the public at large.
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D.A.D Takes on BEKO
Domestic Appliance Distributors, the UK appliance distribution company, is to stock BEKO for the first time. Gloucester-based D.A.D will be supplying the company's dishwashers, cookers, laundry and refrigeration products to its network of nearly 1,000 retailers across England, Wales and Scotland.
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New UK Merlyn Warehouse and Showroom
As part of the company’s expansion plans Merlyn Industries has taken possession of a new 25,000 square foot capacity state of the art warehouse in Milton Keynes. Previously, Merlyn used 4 separate warehouse spaces in the area, but with the company’s growth the increased capacity of the new warehouse will enable it to hold a lot more stock, and streamline its operations.
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New Branding from Broughton Crangrove Galley Matrix
Lancashire-based distributor Broughton Crangrove has re-branded its products into three separate divisions - kitchens, bathrooms and heating products - in order to better differentiate itself in the marketplace.
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Fisher & Paykel Annual Results: Profits up, but Europe Remains Flat
The Directors of Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings Ltd announced on 26th May a profit after tax of $63.9 million for the year ended 31st March 2006. The result is marginally above the guidance provided to the markets on 9th February 2006.
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Millennium Designer Radiator Lights the Way at London Interiors
The Aeon Collection will be unveiling the new Millennium radiator on a specially darkened display space at London Interiors to accentuate a striking feature - laser-like beams of blue light on which the radiator's thick glass top appears to float.
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Let In-Sink-Erator Grind Away your Food Worries
In-Sink-Erator, the worldwide specialist in food waste disposers, will be exhibiting at the forthcoming Kitchen Showcase exhibition, to be held on the 27th – 29th June at Olympia in London.
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New Commercial Director for Servis
Charlie Jones is now Servis UK's new Commercial Director. Charlie, formerly Managing Director (Commercial) for Indesit Company joined Servis as a consultant in November 2005 and accepted the full time position as Commercial Director from the 2nd May 2006.
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Trojan Wins Out of Court Settlement Against Hoesch
National law firm, Walker Morris, has successfully enforced the design rights of Trojan Plastics Ltd following proceedings issued in the High Court after Hoesch Pty Ltd imported baths and panels into Europe which Trojan believed infringed both its UK and Community design rights in its successful CONCEPT shower bath and panel design.
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KBSA Retailer Excellence Award Finalists Announced
The KBSA has announced the three finalists selected for the 2006 Retailer Excellence Award. The finalists for this award are chosen by the retailers' own customers who submit an evaluation of the service they have received as part of the KBSA's regular vetting procedures.
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MB Opens New Décor Centre
MB Distribution has opened a retail showroom to display the range of Décor wall and ceiling panels at the company’s premises in Middlesbrough.
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A Record-breaking Three Days for Grand Designs Live 2006
Attracting over 50,000 visitors in three days, Grand Designs Live 2006 has broken 2005's record show-launch figures, with a 15% increase in attendance on 2005, with over 600 exhibitors taking up 32,000 square metres.
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Ashley Bathrooms Grabs the TV Spotlight - Twice
Ashley Bathrooms has supplied entire suites of 'Made in Britain' sanitaryware to two episodes of the popular Channel 4 home makeover TV show, 'Honey I Ruined The House'.
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Bristan's Quirinius Heated Towel Rail at 5 Star Hotel
Bristan is supplying 300 heated towel rails as part of the £70m refurbishment of the 5* Mayfair Radisson Edwardian Hotel in London.
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Two Centre Forwards Set to Clinch Title
For approximately 7500 hours now, a Miele washing machine and tumble dryer have been running in a gruelling endurance test designed to finish to coincide with the start of the football world cup.
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Winning the Energy Argument
AGA Group's strategy to provide the foodservice sector with more efficient equipment is bringing widespread recognition - as seen in a series of recent awards.
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And Finally...
Two pictures this week which somehow seem to go together: first, the Home Pub from Servis, launched to coincide with the World Cup (one can imagine hundreds being delivered today, only to be sent back by irate other halves on July 10th). Our second picture, meanwhile, needs no explanation, save perhaps to say that this particular washroom is in the USA, so as long as you stay within these shores, you are safe...
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BATHROOM NEWS

Bathroom Manufacturers Welcomes New Supporters

I have a number of new businesses to welcome into the association this week and people to thank for their support of the initiatives that we are leading. The BMA has had three new members join us since the kbb2006 exhibition and two significant new Corporate Sponsors for the Bathroom Academy.
Ted Goold – President BMA

[More Here]

KBSA CORNER...

Are Award Events Worth the Effort?
Awards are glamorous, exciting and fun, but when the glittering ceremony is over and the trophies have been received some may question, 'is it all worth it?' Ten years ago there was only one set of awards for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom industry, today we have at least six if you include those run by consumer magazines that also cover design in the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom industry.
[More Here]

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