Weekly Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
2nd May 2008
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Electrolux
Launches Auto-focus for Chefs
Electrolux is launching a new oven
called Inspiro, the first oven that thanks to a breakthrough heat
management technique automatically selects the right heating mode
based on the contents of the oven
More
here:
Team
UKI Steam Iron
Team
UKI,
the Birmingham based small domestic appliance brand, has added a new
steam generator iron to its collection
More
here:
De
Dietrich Designer Hood
This De Dietrich wall mounted designer hood is designed
to act as a showpiece above a 90cm hob and is sleek and sophisticated
in its minimalism
More
here:
Fagor
8kg Washer
Fagor large capacity 8kg stainless
steel freestanding washer dryer is AA-rated for energy and wash performance
More
here:
New
Monchrome Look Kettle
Monochrome is the latest 'must have' look from the
catwalk. Now you can make a style statement in your kitchen with the
new Morphy Richards Accents Dove White Kettle and Toaster
More
here:
Amana's
Speciality Wine Cabinets
The discerning consumer today wants to create a
sense of luxury throughout the home. We are finding that appliances
are creeping out of the kitchen, and updating and upgrading living
areas
More
here:
Electrolux
Island Barbecue
Gone are the days when barbecuing meant standing
in a cloud of smoke with your back turned to your family who impatiently
waited for their food at a nearby picnic table
More
here:
Maytag Creates Healthier Lifestyle
Maytag UK says that it has a wealth of experience when it comes to promoting healthy living through its premium range of appliances
More here:
A
New Generation of Cooking Appliance
ATAG's luxury MAGNA range features the Teppan Yaki, a new
generation of cooking appliance designed for socialising and entertaining
at home
More
here:
Cosentino
SenSa Granite
Specialist in natural stone, Cosentino is launching
a new range of granite work surfaces this autumn. SenSa Granite benefits
from exclusive stain protection, which is designed to last for fifteen
years
More
here:
Bushboard
Omega Ebony Stripwood
For a touch of the exotic, look no further than
Ebony Stripwood on Bushboard's newly launched Omega
worktop range
More
here:
LG
HI-MACS for Counter Top Perfection
A good example of how LG HI-MACS can
be used for design and performance perfection for a modern kitchen
worksurface with integrated sink
More
here:
Pyramis
Maestro Tap and Pre-Dish Washer
Pyramis, the sink and tap producer,
says that it has built a global reputation for excellence, innovation
and expertise
More
here:
Roman
Wall
Roman has expanded its range of showering products
even further with the introduction of a designer stone walling system,
which eliminates the need to tile
More
here:
Showerlux
Extends Glide Range
Glide, the top selling enclosure range from manufacturer
Showerlux is now available with pivot or bi-fold doors
ensuring that Glide enclosures really are the perfect fit in any bathroom
design
More
here:
Pentagon
from Adamsez
For a spacious showering experience without the
nagging worry of water leaking all over the bathroom, look no further
than the Pentagon shower enclosure from Adamsez
More
here:
New
Opus Colours from Burbidge
Burbidge
has launched three new bold colour ways for its ultra contemporary
Opus Gloss kitchen
More
here:
Gallery
Puts Groove into Kitchen Design
Gallery
has drawn upon a traditional wood panelling technique to create
its latest kitchen collection, Newport
More
here:
Tango
Sink from Carron Phoenix
For an entry level sink, the new Tango 100 from Carron Phoenix
is hard to beat. With its attractive circular styling and a low
price Tango is a smart choice for a utility room or those on a small
budget
More
here:
Smalls
from HiB
A new range of designer cabinets for small bathrooms
was launched to huge acclaim at the recent KBB show by HiB
More
here:
Duravit
Rolls Out X-Large in New Look
With new surface finishes, new design details
and additional items, Duravit has continuously renewed
the X-Large range, keeping this popular furniture collection, first
launched in 2000, abreast of the times.
More
here:
Socket
Solutions from Sensio
Lighting
specialist, Sensio, has diversified its extensive product
portfolio and now introduces the latest in streamlined kitchen design,
the EVOline retractable power socket.
More
here:
Marbella
from Aeon
Aeon Radiator Heaven unveiled
the new Marbella designer radiator at KBB in March. Marbella
is a departure for designer radiators, with four natural stone
elements divided and supported by polished mirror finish stainless
steel 'belts' in this vertical hanging design
More
here:
Consumer Direct - Finally a Watchdog with Teeth?
This
week we learn that Consumer Direct received more than 19,000 complaints
about builders, plumbers, electricians, decorators and other home improvement
traders in the first three months of this year. General building work
is by far and away the biggest source of complaints, but fitted kitchens
and central heating come second and third, in terms of installed value.
The government advice service has additionally issued a warning to potential
buyers of white goods to try and avoid getting ripped off. Apparently
British consumers registered more than 31,500 complaints about large domestic
appliances with Consumer Direct last year, two thirds of which concerned
defective goods.
This gives added resonance to the comments from Nick Edgell of HomePro
this week, who advises that, with the increasing influence of TrustMark,
especially in the KB market, independents should be looking to create
their own 'equality of perception' through TrustMark recognition.
New
Sales Manager for PWS
PWS has appointed Jane Hubery as Area Sales Manager, responsible
for the sales development of the PWS portfolio in the East Midlands.
[More
here]
[tc]
Appoints National Sales Manager
Neil Gregory has been appointed as National Sales
Manager for [tc] bathrooms.
[More
here]
Utopia
Procurement Manager
Karen
Stead has joined Utopia Bathroom Group Ltd as Procurement
Manager.
[More
here]
Roman
Plants the Seeds of Growth
Roman
continues to grow with the appointment of Steven Pape as Tray Plant
Manager at the company's shower tray manufacturing facility in Country
Durham.
[More
here]
Aqualux
Boosts Sales Team
Aqualux is welcoming an additional member to its UK wide
sales force as Gary Laister is appointed area sales manager for
the Midlands.
[More
here]
Marflow
Showroom Price Guide
Bathroom supplier Marflow Engineering has launched
its latest showroom price guide containing details of its complete
portfolio, from the traditional St James to the ultra contemporary
designer range, Tangent.
[More
here]
New
2008 Brochure from Showerlux
Installers and retailers looking for the latest innovations and
design styles for the bathroom can now take advantage of Showerlux's
new 2008 product brochure.
[More
here]
Wrighton
2008 Brochure
Wrighton
International, the retail kitchen brand from Now Kitchen
Group Ltd (a TSC Industries company), has introduced its new full
colour 32 page brochure for 2008.
[More
here]
Cesana
at Salone Del Mobile
Italian shower manufacturer Cesana exhibited
its range of stylish, contemporary showers at the Salone Del Mobile exhibition
in Milan last month.
[More
here]
Expansion
for Kitchen & Bathroom Show
The Kitchen & Bathroom Show has been
extended from two to three days to enable visitors with a professional
interest in the industries to spend time at the event during their normal
mid-week working day as opposed to taking up their valuable weekend leisure
time.
[More
here]
First
News from THE Conference 2008
TV presenter and comedian Nick Hancock has been announced as guest
host of THE Conference, which is taking place this year
in Tenerife, 26-29 June.
[More
here]
Tecnargilla
2008
Tecnargilla
is the international trade fair on technologies and materials for the
ceramic and terracotta industries, organised by Rimini Fiera in collaboration
with Acimac, whose upcoming edition will be held from the 30th September
to the 4th October 2008.
[More
here]
Indesit
is Poland's Champion
The prestigious award from the Academy of Management & Institute of
New Technologies in Lodz went to Indesit's 'Knowledge, motivation,
work' programme in support of higher women's employment rates.
[More
here]
Ad Campaign for Silestone
Spanish-owned Cosentino, the manufacturer of Silestone quartz work surfaces, has unveiled its new press advertisement for 2008.
[More here]
Roman's
New Website
Roman
has revamped and re-launched the company's website, giving it a
clean and fresh new look.
More
here:
Miele Plays Host to Sales and Customer Care Course
The Miele Experience Centre in Abingdon was the venue for the latest one day Sales and Customer Care course, which is approved by KBB NTG and CITB Construction Skills.
More here:
Tile Industry Digs Deep
The charity collection at the TTA Awards dinner has raised 13,961 pounds for the charity Children Today. This amount exceeds last year and is made up from cash on the night and pledges. Last year's collection helped the charity to improve the lives of several children.
More here:
New
Rialto Range from Hammonds
Whether you describe your style as vintage boudoir
or elegant and sophisticated, Rialto, the latest design from Hammonds,
offers versatility while providing storage solutions for the way
we live today
More
here:
Weber
Flexible Tanking System
The
weber.sys protec integrated tanking system is established
as a totally reliable wet area pre-tile system that enables tilers
to comply with the mandatory specification included in British Standard
BS5385
More
here:
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Cooking
Up a Treat
The purpose of today's kitchen is
not just a place to cook - it is a place to eat, entertain
and relax and therefore kitchen lighting is becoming
more and more decorative. Now Bath-based lighting designer
Chaos Design Consultants has combined the decorative
and the practical in the one new product - an illuminated
colour-changing splashback.
[More
on this Product]
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Cardiff
Tenders for Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades
Framework
Cardiff County Council
is tendering for a framework agreement for
carrying out the upgrading of existing kitchen
and bathroom facilities to Council owned
properties. Estimated value excluding VAT:
24,000,000 GBP. (Time-limit 28.05.2008).
[More
on this Tender]
Consumer
Direct Receives over 19,000 Complaints in First Quarter
Consumer Direct received more than 19,000 complaints
about builders, plumbers, electricians, decorators and other home
improvement traders in the first three months of this year totalling
almost £80 million.
[More
on this Story]
TrustMark
Levels the Playing Field for Independents
With
major kitchen and bathroom retailers - such as Homebase and Magnet
- now having been accredited by TrustMark; it is even more important
for independent businesses to seek 'equality of perception' through
their own TrustMark recognition,
says Nick Egdell, Managing Director of FairTrades.
[More
on this Story]
Masco
Announces Sale of Heating Group
Masco
Corporation (MAS) has announced that it has sold its European
based The Heating Group for a price of approximately $155 million
to an affiliate of Vaessen Industries, headed by Jos Vaessen.
[More
on this Story]
Whirlpool
Sues Kenwood over KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Whirlpool Corporation, Whirlpool Properties
and KitchenAid Europa have announced legal action against Kenwood
Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of De' Longhi S.p.A., of Italy,
for infringement of the shape of the KitchenAid stand mixer, which
is a registered trademark.
[More
on this Story]
Whirlpool
Expands Legal Action Against LG Electronics
Whirlpool Corporation has announced that it
has taken aggressive, new legal steps against LG Electronics Inc.,
of South Korea, and its U.S. and Mexican affiliates.
[More
on this Story]
Ideal
Bathrooms Grows Through Acquisition
Ideal
Bathrooms has announced the acquisition of Glasgow based bathroom
products distributor Inline Distribution.
[More
on this Story]
New
ArtiCAD-Live Portfolio from ArtiCAD
ArtiCAD,
a supplier of CAD solutions to the KBB industry, has announced
the launch of the first two products from its new ArtiCAD-Live
technologies portfolio.
[More
on this Story]
Indesit
1st Quarter 2008
In
the first quarter of 2008 Indesit Company’s sales reached
E756m, up 0.6% on the same period the previous year; Ebit was
up 1.2% and net profits were down 6.6% to E22m E498m from E542m
at 31st March 2007.
[More
on this Story]
Utopia
Announces Major Investment
Utopia has announced capital investment of over
1m in the Press and Spray room at its Bilston headquarters.
[More
on this Story]
Mayfair
and JSB Celebrate 10 Years
Mayfair
Taps and Showers, the UK manufacturer of taps and showers is celebrating
the 10 year partnership with distributor John Smith-Butler &
Sons Ltd (JSB Group).
[More
on this Story]
Mira
Electric Showers Confirmed as Water Efficient
Mira
Showers instantaneous electric showers are now accredited with
the BMA Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme.
[More
on this Story]
Introducing
the AEG-Electrolux Silent Kitchen
The biggest ever survey on noise in the home
commissioned by AEG-Electrolux in 2007 revealed that the vast
majority of consumers across Europe say it was a mistake not taking
more consideration of the noise an appliance makes at the time
of purchase.
[More
on this Story]
Classic
Marble at Innovation Awards, Valencia
With over 25 years of experience in the design
and manufacture of resin stone shower trays, Classic Marble has
been short listed for the UK Trade & Investment award for
Innovation in recognition of its ground-breaking product, Classi-
Seal.
[More
on this Story]
Award
Winning Consultancy Creates Kitchen in New Home
Colliers, the kitchen design consultancy service
based in Worthing, was recently appointed to create a high specification
kitchen for a new home by developer, Charles James Homes.
[More
on this Story]
Bathroom
Culture for the Over 50s - Kaldewei Study
In
the latest rheingold study entitled ‘Bathroom and bathing
culture practised by the 50+ generation’, Kaldewei - producer
of bathtubs - has examined the changes in requirements for this
important market and the impact on product design.
[More
on this Story]
ConstructionSkills
Says Sorry for 'Sexist' Advert
ConstructionSkills
has been forced to apologise for an advert in The Sun newspaper
that was accused of promoting a sexist view of the sector.
[More
on this Story]
Magnet
Launches Internet Recruitment Drive
Magnet has created a dedicated careers website
to support its mounting recruitment needs and nationwide expansion.
During the last 12 months, Magnet has recruited more than 700
employees across all areas of its retail and trade businesses,
and this growth shows no sign of slowing down.
[More
on this Story]
Choose
the Right White Goods Advises Consumer Direct
If
you're planning on buying a new fridge-freezer or washing machine
this bank holiday, make sure you do your homework and shop around
for deals says government advice service Consumer Direct.
[More
on this Story]
Coram
is Premier Choice for Walton Homes
Leading
regional property developer, Walton Homes, has exclusively specified
Coram Showers' flagship Premier range of shower enclosures for
all of its new build properties throughout Central England.
[More
on this Story]
Electrolux
Appliances Chosen for 'The House that Kevin Built'
Channel
4's Grand Designs has embarked on an ambitious new project - The
House that Kevin Built. Taking place in and around London's Docklands
4 - 9 May 2009, Kevin McCloud's challenge, with the help of celebrity
friends is to build a sustainable home in six days on site around
Excel.
[More
on this Story]
Victorian
Bathrooms Shows Grand Designs
Visitors
to Grand Designs LIVE are in for a treat as Victorian Bathrooms,
one of the UK’s leading retailers of traditional and contemporary
styles of bathrooms, will be displaying a complete range of new
products during the nine day long event (May 3-11).
[More
on this Story]
Planit
Joins KBB NTG to Foster Young Talent
Planit
International, the developer of design and visualisation software
for the KBB sector, has joined forces with the Kitchens Bedrooms
& Bathrooms National Training Group (NTG) and South Nottingham
College to spearhead a new initiative which focuses on attracting
young design talent into the industry.
[More
on this Story]
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Defra
Claims Retailers are Key to Water Efficiency
In
a new report titled 'Future Water - the Government's
water strategy for England', Defra when referring
to the Bathroom Manufacturers Association's (BMA)
Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme claims that
retailers are key in the development of water efficiency
initiatives.
[More
Here]
Building
A Business In 2008
This
time of year always brings numerous surveys and economic
forecasts about what is in store for the coming twelve
months. Now that the madness of the sales has passed
retailers in the KBB industry can take stock and assess
how their businesses are going to prosper during what
is generally termed to be 'tough trading conditions'.
[More
Here]
We
have archived items from the following Channels: News,
Appliances,
Awards,
Bathroom
Products, Events,
Kitchen
Products, Literature,
Marketing, People
and Taps
& Showers.
KBB
2008:[Exhibitors]
BKEXPO 2007: Exhibitor List here;
Product Launches here:
Reviews
here
Reviews
of product launches from KBB 2008 can be found here.
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