KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
18th May 2012
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International News
Products Karonia launches new Mistral brochure
Leisure Sinks range installed in Stratford Halo Project
Gorenje sponsors BTCC Pro racing driver
BMA's WEPLS 'Water Label' is adopted in Europe
A single Water Label for taps, shower valves and shower heads moves a step closer. Trade Associations from a number of European countries representing the tap, shower valves and handsets industry, together with major European manufacturers, have completed the first phase in the development of a single Water Label for bathroom products. CCS passes £60 million in Q1 2012 Consumer Credit Solutions the home improvement market credit broker, achieved over £60 million of approved loans during the first quarter of 2012. The spectacular figure puts the business on track to achieve a quarter of a billion pounds of approved loans in 2012. TTA Awards: a night to remember
10 kitchen and bath trends and treatments to inspire The National Kitchen & Bath Association reveals the prevailing trends seen in the 2012 NKBA Design Competition Out of the nearly 500 designs submitted to the 2012 NKBA Design Competition, rose some presiding themes. Fixtures, finishes, materials, colour palettes, technology, shapes, focal points and overall geometry are a few among the complex considerations that talented creative-thinkers factor into their plans when generating a room design. Be inspired and enjoy examples of ten trends and treatments to inspire! Rangemaster and Articad: design online for the world renowned range cookers
LDL launches new, large capacity Wesco waste system
Luxury bed-maker wins Queen's Award for Excellence
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Welcome to the
With the Eurozone crisis threatening to engulf us all and the potential of another banking crisis looming, many of us are worrying about what we should be doing with any spare cash we might have. Add to this the fact that the British non-Summer (apparently causing birds to bypass their mating calls in favour of 'Autumn's 'here, we're off to warmer climes' songs) is robbing us of the feelgood factor that normally encourages us to spend and it doesn't bode well for trade, does it? Now we're being warned that the Olympic Torch Relay, which arrives in England this evening and takes to the streets of Cornwall tomorrow before snaking through much of the country, is going to exacerbate the traffic problems that are so much a part of life these days. This, of course, means delayed deliveries, stressed-out drivers, disgruntled customers and worried traders. Let's hope that the influx of people to these shores, aiming to take part in the Olympics either as competitors or spectators, will bring with it some serious spending and thus boost consumer confidence. We certainly need a bit of a kick-start and this may just provide it! Yours,
Jan Hobbs
This Week's News
Newlyn by Mark Wilkinson OBE - launched this week
In this new furniture style Mark has introduced a fresh development in handle design, with a solid timber grip that he has set into the walnut facade - thus 'absorbing' the handle detail into the body of the design, in a modern interpretation of a classic characteristic of the Arts & Crafts movement. Hafele's new Kato handle range is fast and easy to fit
 Apollo continues to drive safety message home As one of the UK's largest retailers of made-to-measure blinds and shutters, Apollo Blinds is at the forefront of the industry's efforts to raise awareness of dangers relating to looped blind cords and is launching a campaign to drive the message home. Now in its third year, Apollo's Make Blinds Child Safe campaign, runs during the Child Accident and Prevention Trust's Child Safety Week, 18th -24th June 2012 and asks parents to check their blinds and assess whether they need to fit a safety device. Hettich opens the way to better sliding doors
Smart Systems' free online sales enquiry, quoting & ordering facility is seriously faster! Due to the increasing uptake by retailers creating the need for larger storage facilities, KBBConnect, by Smart Systems, has now upgraded to a more advanced Cloud hosting service provider. In addition to significantly increasing individual storage capacity, add yet further layers of security and give even greater reliability, it can also provide Internet connection speeds up to 50 times faster.
ECF strengthens sales & marketing teams
Over-bath innovation from PJH Group
As featured in its Bathrooms to Love Collection, the innovative and space-saving new design features a dual control thermostatic shower tower that is cleverly integrated with the shower screen. The streamlined corner shower column comes complete with adjustable riser kit and is available in three versions suitable for an L-shape, P-shape or Straight shower bath design. Scotland welcomes KBSA at successful regional meeting
A mixture of retail and corporate members travelled - in some cases significant distances - to hear presentations from Carron Phoenix on the changing face of the sink market, KBSA supplier Bartlett's on the current insurance offer and an update on activities from the KBSA. Vado sponsors World Cycle Tour
Daring Dynamos are planning to visit some of Vado's international customers during the tour, which is expected to last approximately two years. The KBzine Archive Search We keep an extensive archive of news stories and product information that have featured in past issues of The KBzine. If you would like to run a search of the The KBzine web site using the search tool below please just go ahead by entering in the name of the person, product or company or any other key words that you are looking for. How to contact us at The KBzine:
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clicking the link above. Recent News
Are you ready for an inspection? Following recent news that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is launching a series of surprise inspections on high risk work environments, workplace equipment provider Slingsby has compiled a checklist to help businesses stay on the right side of the law. The Kitchen & Bedroom Showroom, Bournemouth, 'very responsible' The Furniture Ombudsman has highlighted The Kitchen & Bedroom Showroom as a kitchen retailer that is acting as a very responsible retailer within the Bournemouth area.  Ian Kershaw appointed TTA Chairman
Building contractor fined after carpenter's fingers severed A Tower Hamlets-based building contractor has been fined after a worker's hand was severely injured by an unguarded power tool. Applications for ‘2012 Architect in the House’ initiative, now open Property owners across the UK are being invited to sign up for the 2012 Architect in the House initiative, devised by housing charity Shelter and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and sponsored by insulation specialist Rockwool. Leading UK bathroom supplier enters Forum’s late payment Hall of Shame
A leading UK producer of bathroom products has been entered in to the Forum of Private Business’s late payment ‘Hall of Shame’ after it increased its payment times from 30 to 60 days. Tile Depot has been confirmed as the newest member of The Tile Association. With TTA's membership rapidly expanding, companies operating within the wall and floor tile industry continue to see the importance of being a member of an organisation which promotes professionalism and technical standards in the tiling industry, as well as providing technical support to both members and their customers. New homes figures reveal continuing public/private sector divide Figures released today by NHBC have shown the gap between private and public sector registrations to build new homes in the UK continues to widen, with social housing showing a 54% decrease for March 2012, compared to March last year (2,460 - 5,330). FIRA members WCFM Sustainability Award success
Literature
Innovative price pledge coincides with new product book
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