Crosswater
Announces the Acquisition of Classic Showers
Crosswater
Ltd has announced the acquisition of Classic Showers Ltd which trades
as Simpsons Shower Enclosures.
Classic
Showers is based in Guildford, Surrey and the workforce of 60 will continue
to operate from the existing premises as a subsidiary of the holding
company.
David Hance, Crosswater's Group Managing Director commented ‘I
am delighted that we have completed the acquisition of a company which
has a fantastic reputation for manufacturing high quality products and
has a strong infrastructure of people who are well placed to facilitate
further growth. We are all looking forward to working with the team
at Simpsons.’
Christopher Simpson of Simpsons, will retire from day-to-day activity
yet remain as a consultant for a period of time. Richard, Duncan and
Hugh Simpson will be departing from the business to pursue new ventures.
The business will be headed by Philip Carr, Crosswater's Group Commercial
& Marketing Director and Martyn Denny, Crosswater's Group Product
Development Director.
For more information, please call Philip Carr on 07876 648 387 or visit
http://www.crosswater.co.uk
/ http://www.classic-showers.co.uk.
Masco Reports Record First Quarter Results
Masco
Corporation reported on 2nd May that net sales from continuing operations
for the quarter ended March 31st, 2006 increased nine percent to a first
quarter record of $3.2 billion compared with $2.9 billion for the first
quarter of 2005. North American sales increased 13 percent and International
sales decreased five percent. In local currencies, International sales
increased three percent compared with the first quarter of 2005.
Masco Corporation Highlights:
First Quarter 2006
- Net sales from continuing operations increased nine percent to a first
quarter record $3.2 billion.
- Income from continuing operations was $219 million or $.53 per common
share, excluding costs and charges associated with the Plumbing Products
segment; including such charges, income was $208 million or $.51 per
common share.
- The Company returned $408 million to shareholders through share repurchases
and dividends.
- The quarterly dividend was increased by 10 percent, from $.20 to $.22
per common share, making 2006 the 48th consecutive year in which dividends
have been increased.
- The Company had approximately $800 million in cash and marketable
securities at March 31st.Income from continuing operations before the
cumulative effect of an accounting change, net, and excluding costs
and charges associated with profit improvement programmes in the Plumbing
Products segment for the first quarter of 2006, was $219 million or
$.53 per common share compared with $207 million or $.47 per common
share for the comparable period of 2005. The first quarters of 2006
and 2005 benefited from net gains from the sale of financial investments
of $.01 and $.06 per common share, respectively.
Income from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of an
accounting change, net, for the first quarter of 2006 was $208 million
or $.51 per common share including $17 million pre-tax of costs and
charges associated with profit improvement programmes in the Plumbing
Products segment.
Net income for the first quarter of 2006 was $204 million or $.50 per
common share after giving recognition to the cumulative effect of an
accounting change, net, of $3 million or $.01 per common share related
to share-based compensation for stock appreciation rights for foreign
operations. Net income for the first quarter of 2005 was $231 million
or $.52 per common share which included income of $24 million or $.06
per common share related to discontinued operations.
As part of its profit improvement programmes, the Company announced
a plant closure in the Plumbing Products segment in January 2006. The
Company incurred $17 million pre-tax or $.03 per common share, of costs
and charges associated with this plant closure and other profit improvement
programs in the Plumbing Products segment in the first quarter of 2006
and, as previously announced, expects to incur additional costs throughout
2006. Implementing these programmes should improve the Company's earnings
outlook for 2007 and beyond.
The Company's 2006 first quarter results, seasonally the lowest of the
year, while better than expected, nevertheless continued to be adversely
affected by recent cost increases in commodity, energy and freight costs,
offset in part by selling price increases for certain products. The
Company has implemented and continues to implement additional selling
price increases for a number of its products and believes that by the
end of the first half of 2006, many of these cost increases will be
largely offset by such price increases.
Assuming no further significant commodity and energy cost increases
and excluding costs associated with its profit improvement programmes
and any other items, the Company believes, based on current business
trends, that it will now achieve 2006 full-year earnings from continuing
operations in a range of $2.40 to $2.50 per common share compared to
the Company's previous guidance of $2.35 to $2.45 per common share.
Including planned costs and charges related to plant closures and other
profit improvement programs in the Plumbing Products segment, which
are presently expected, in aggregate, to approximate $70 million pre-tax
($.11 per common share) in 2006, earnings from continuing operations
are expected to be in a range of $2.29 to $2.39 per common share.
Headquartered in Taylor, Michigan, Masco Corporation is one of the world's
leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products, as
well as a leading provider of services that include the installation
of insulation and other building products.
Web: http://www.masco.com
Saint-
Gobain Glass Launches SGG FEELING Glass Tiles in the UK
Saint-Gobain
Glass is set to launch SGG FEELING in the UK. The specialist glass wall
tile range will be available nation-wide from spring 2006.
SGG
FEELING brings something new to the tile market with is its patented
design. Manufactured using a specially developed high performance lacquer,
the tiles are cut to size and the edges digitally polished creating
a contemporary tile with precision tolerances. According to UK Marketing
Manager Emma McKay ‘Saint-Gobain has used the latest in research
and manufacturing techniques to develop a high quality glass tile product.
Produced to meet the requirements for both commercial and residential
projects, I am confident that SGG FEELING provides a stylish yet durable
product for the tile market.’
Designed in collaboration with the architect Patrick Nadeau and the
designer Jean-Baptiste Sibertin Blanc the SGG FEELING range maximises
the aesthetic qualities of glass, creating surfaces that are alive and
vibrant with light, very different from traditional ceramic décor.
Renowned international colour specialist Catherine Filoche worked with
Saint-Gobain Glass on the colour series for SGG FEELING. The resulting
eight interchangeable colours form the 'Basics' collection, central
to the range. The Metallic range is available in two contemporary designs
which incorporate silvered glass; the Engraved, comprising of four engraved
patterns with a coloured or mirrored finish; and the Borders, complementary
with the core range, available in six of the Basic colours. SGG FEELING
is available in a variety of modular formats, allowing for both individual
design and multiple applications. Two traditional formats (15x15 and
30x30cm) and two contemporary large formats (15x45 and 45x45cm) can
be combined with the Borders (5x15, 5x30, 5x45 and 15x15cm)
Easy to use, the SGG FEELING range is suitable as a wall tile in commercial
and residential spaces. SGG FEELING tiles are resistant to humidity
and have excellent durability, the tiles are cut and drilled in the
same way as ceramic tiles and are compatible with standard tile adhesives.
Non-porous and completely impervious SGG FEELING is easy to maintain.
Saint-Gobain Glass cemented its place in history in 1665 when the company
was created in order to produce glass for Louis XIV famous Hall of Mirrors
at Versailles. Over three hundred years later Saint-Gobain is still
turning great ideas into reality.
Web: http://www.saint-gobain-glass.com/feeling
Bosch:
Good Prospects Internationally
The
Bosch Group once again improved its sales and result in fiscal year
2005, and has made a good start to 2006. At the Annual Press Conference
in Stuttgart, Franz Fehrenbach, Chairman of the Bosch Board of Management,
said: ‘For the current year, we expect sales to increase by roughly
five percent.’
To further strengthen the company's international presence and innovative
strength, upfront investments in research and development as well as
in capital expenditure will remain on the same high level as before.
In 2005, research and development expenditure came to 3.1 billion euros
(2004: 2.7 billion euros). Capital expenditure came to 2.9 billion euros
(2004: 2.4 billion euros). The focus of international expansion is the
Asia Pacific growth region. Between 2005 and 2008, some 1.6 billion
euros are to be invested here, above all in China and India.
2005: good growth, improved result, strong balance sheet structure
The Bosch CEO was satisfied with the overall business development in
2005: ‘In terms of both sales and result, we have continued our
positive development.’ The consolidated financial statements were
presented for the first time on the basis of International Financial
Reporting Standards, or IFRS for short. According to IFRS, sales of
the Bosch Group rose by 6.4 percent in 2005, to 41.5 billion euros.
The pre-tax result increased from 2.7 to 3.2 billion euros. This is
equivalent to 7.7 percent of sales. This rise is mainly due to the significantly
improved financial result. The return on sales from operations, without
financial income, came to six percent. 'In order to continue to finance
our innovative strength internally, and to exploit growth potential
the world over, we still strive to achieve a pre-tax return on sales
of between seven and eight percent,'Fehrenbach said. Bosch sees risks
to its result in the constantly rising prices for raw materials, in
ever fiercer competition, and in increasing pressure on prices. Given
this situation, Fehrenbach said, special efforts would be required to
maintain the return on sales from operations achieved in 2005.
With an eye to international developments in the company's business
sectors, Fehrenbach said: 'Our broad-based regional and sectoral presence
is clearly paying off.'In 2005, Bosch grew especially strongly in Asia
Pacific. Here, the increase in sales was 16 percent. In the Americas,
Bosch grew by 11 percent, while the figure for Europe was 3.5 percent.
This allowed the share of sales accounted for by business outside Europe
to rise from 32 to 34 percent. Sales showed an increase in all the company's
business sectors: up by 5.4 percent to 26.3 billion euros in Automotive
Technology, by 6.1 percent to some 10 billion euros in Consumer Goods
and Building Technology, and by 12.5 percent to 5.2 billion euros in
Industrial Technology. As Bosch CFO Gerhard Kümmel concluded: 'Our
balance sheet is strong. Bosch is financially well equipped for further
growth.'
The rise in international demand for Bosch products is also having a
positive effect on the development of headcount. In its continuing operations,
including companies consolidated for the first time, the number of Bosch
associates increased in the course of 2005 by 13,000, to roughly 251,000.
‘By the end of 2006, we expect that the Bosch Group will have some
260,000 associates worldwide,’ Fehrenbach said. Most of these new
associates will be hired in the emerging markets. After creating 1,500
new jobs on a comparable basis in Germany in 2005, Bosch intends to
keep headcount in Germany more or less stable, at roughly 110,000. In
2006, the company again plans to invest close to a billion euros in
improving the competitiveness of its German locations.
Innovations as responses to global challenges
In addition, Bosch is working intensively in all its business sectors
on a great number of technological innovations. Fehrenbach: ‘Conserving
the environment and resources is a priority item on the global agenda.
To achieve this goal, we need not less, but instead more modern technology.’
At the beginning of 2006, some 23,600 associates worked in research
and development at Bosch - a good 1,600 more than one year before. Even
now, Bosch generates roughly half of its business volume in its Automotive
Technology business sector with products that the company was first
to launch on the market.
When developing new products, the company's thinking goes far beyond
short-term product innovations: ‘For Bosch, being innovative also
means considering alternatives that promise economic success only in
the long term,’ Fehrenbach emphasized. These projects range from
alternative drive concepts for automobiles to renewable sources of energy.
Even today, for example, BBT Thermotechnik generates six percent of
its sales with systems that make use of renewable energy - and that
figure is set to increase. In addition, Bosch Rexroth already provides
drive and control technology for wind farms. In future, it is even planned
that Bosch technology will help to generate electricity from ocean currents.
Sea-current energy technology is still in its infancy, but as Fehrenbach
pointed out: ‘Here, too, we are active at an early stage. Ecology
is a long-term task - just right for a company like Bosch, with its
long-term orientation.’
Web: http://www.bosch.com.
Wolseley
plc Acquisition Update
Wolseley
plc, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and
heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier
of building materials, announced on May 3rd three further acquisitions
for an aggregate consideration of £49 million. In a full year,
these acquisitions are expected to add approximately £82 million
in additional revenue.
Since the beginning of the financial year on 1st August 2005, a total
of 42 businesses in Europe and North America have been acquired for
an aggregate consideration of approximately £714 million. These
42 acquisitions are expected to add approximately £1,171 million
to Group revenue in a full year. Goodwill and intangible assets related
to these acquisitions is estimated to be around £464 million.
These totals do not include the recommended offer for Brandon Hire
plc which was announced on 28th March 2006.
North America
On 2nd May 2006, Stock Building Supply ('Stock') acquired the Efficient
Electric, United Electric, United Plumbing and D.S.I., Inc. companies
('Efficient') from Steve Menzies. Efficient Electric and United Electric
are installers of electrical services for residential projects in the
Las Vegas market; United Plumbing is an installer of plumbing services
in the Las Vegas market; and D.S.I., Inc. is an electrical supply house
that provides electrical products to electrical installers. The activities
complement Stock's turnkey framing construction services in the Las
Vegas market.
In the year ended 31st December 2005 Efficient had revenue of $94.1
million (£53.3 million) and gross assets of $22.2 million (£12.5
million) at that date.
On 27th April 2006, Ferguson acquired the Davies Water Equipment Company
('Davies') from Gregory Strayer, Greg Huth and Brad Scholl. Davies is
a waterworks distributor with three locations in Wisconsin. In the year
ended 31st December 2005 Davies had revenue of $49.3million (£27.9
million) and gross assets of $13.2 million (£7.5 million) at that
date.
Europe
On 2nd May 2006, PBM acquired the trade and assets of the Chelles generalist
builders merchant from Borghetto Materiaux which operates under the
trademark 'BigMat'. In 2005 the Chelles branch had revenue of Euro0.6
million (£0.4 million) and gross assets of Euro0.1 million (£0.1
million).
Charlie Banks, Group Chief Executive of Wolseley said: 'We are delighted
to announce these new acquisitions which support our strategy of sector
and geographic expansion. Davies takes us for the first time into the
waterworks sector in Wisconsin while Efficient positions us to provide
turnkey electrical and plumbing installation services to the US high-volume
production building industry in the Las Vegas market.'
Top
Design Awards for new Kermi Towel Radiators
Following
the European Product design award for Kermi's top of the range Toca
Shower Enclosure range last year the company has announced two further
awards for the new Credo Towel Radiators launched at the recent KBB
Exhibition.
The New Credo featuring clear geometric use of design with fully concealed
fixings. With respect to fuel efficiency and the ecology the New Credo
comes with fully integrated factory set thermostatic valve in perfect
blend with the overall design. The New Credo has won the European reddot
Design Award.
Additionally the New Credo Half with the same design features but open-ended
for easy towel placement has been awarded the ‘iF Product Design
Award 2006’ in further acknowledgment of the simple clean aesthetic
design.
Tel: 01536 446608
www.kermi.co.uk
BMA
to Launch Special Needs Campaign at Lords
This year's annual National Home Improvement Council (NHIC)
House of Lords luncheon on 22nd May is being held in association with
the Bathroom Manufacturer's Association and Armitage Shanks.
The BMA will take the opportunity to introduce its Special Needs initiative
to the press and will give a précis of the results from its recent
survey on bathrooms for people with Special Needs.
The aim of the survey is to ensure that manufacturers of bathroom products
have a full understanding of the latest requirements, both at home and
away from home, of people with special needs and the people, who care
for them.
Speaking for the BMA, Commercial Director Yvonne Orgill says, ‘as
well as contact with the press, the House of Lords lunch will be attended
by members of both houses and will give the BMA the opportunity to put
its message to members of the Government. We want to ensure that they
know how seriously bathroom manufacturers take design that includes
people with special needs.’
Web: http://www.bathroom-association.org/special.asp
'Sustainable
Homes' require Bathrooms to be larger, says BMA
In
a recent survey by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association into the use
of bathrooms for people with a disability - one in three, of the people
surveyed, called for larger bathrooms in British homes.
Reasons given for this demand include lack of space to manoeuvre a wheelchair
- lack of room around the toilet for a Carer to assist a disabled user
and also to transfer onto the toilet - plus general lack of space for
older homeowners, who may have grown unsteady on their feet - all pointing
to a need for 'The Smallest Room' to grow larger.
Respondents to the survey, which was carried out by the BMA amongst
professional Carers during April, also called for wet room styling and
a walk in shower or level access shower tray to be available in all
homes, so that dwellings become both inclusive and sustainable over
the life of the homeowner's family.
In existing homes the carer's also suggested that bathroom doors should
open outwards to release more space inside the room.
Speaking for the BMA, Marketing Manager Richard Moss explained, ‘if
we expect our new houses to be sustainable for use over the next 50
years we need to consider the needs of the next two or three generations.
It is time for us to stop thinking of the bathroom as the Smallest Room
and realise what a huge influence it is going to have on the lives of
British homeowners over the next four or five decades.’
‘Figures from the Office of National Statistics tell us that, by
mid-century, there will be 6.3 million fewer people, under 40 years
of age, in the UK - however their numbers will be more than made up
for by the increase in people over 60, in this age group there will
be an additional 6.8 million people by 2050.’
‘At a time when builders are being encouraged to reduce the size
of the floor plan for modern homes, the natural outcome is for 'smaller'
rooms,’ says Moss, ‘and yet the BMA survey shows that 'larger',
rather than smaller bathrooms are going to become more important to
make a home truly sustainable.’
‘The bathroom is a very important room in ensuring that people
can remain in their homes in their senior years and continue to enjoy
their lives fully. It's entirely possible that older homeowners will
demand that the bathroom, which enables them to continue to enjoy living
in their own home, becomes the most spacious 'upstairs' room rather
than the Master Bedroom, which is larger by tradition’.
Web: http://www.bathroom-association.org
KBSA
Design Innovation Awards Ceremony and AGM
This
year's Design Innovation Awards ceremony and AGM promises to be extremely
popular and those wishing to attend are being urged to book soon to
avoid disappointment.
‘Last year's inaugural event was so successful that I already had
a list of companies wanting to book before the details were announced,’
said KBSA operations manager Lucinda Kenny.
‘We have a fantastic new venue and a new award this year. We will
also be saying goodbye to Graham Hayden after 10 years with the KBSA
and I know many of his friends and colleagues will want to join us to
give him a good send-off.
‘We will be happy to welcome guests from the whole of the industry
to the Design Innovation Awards ceremony as we did last year, just contact
the KBSA for details.’
The event will take place at the Radisson SAS Hotel at Stansted Airport
on Thursday July 6th. The venue is located adjacent to the airport terminal
the hotel is also easily reached by either rail or road, being just
of the M11 motorway at junction 8.
‘The hotel facilities include a health and fitness centre, spa
and swimming pool and the rooms are all themed in three unique styles,
Urban, Chilli and Ocean. The hotel has a spectacular and unique 'wine
tower' in the main bar, which is 13 meters tall and houses over 4000
bottles of wine,’ adds Lucinda.
The AGM will begin at 3.30pm and is scheduled to close by 5pm, leaving
members plenty of time to prepare for the KBSA Design Innovation Awards
Champagne Reception and presentation dinner which will begin at 7.00pm.
Booking forms for the Design Innovation Awards ceremony are now available
from the KBSA.
Britannia
Launches New Sales Promotion for Dealers
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. Dealers will receive dedicated point of sale material
to support the promotion and consumers will be sent a promotional leaflet
when they request a brochure.
The accessories, worth up to £370, include some of the most popular
additions designed to personalise Britannia range cookers and make cooking
a real pleasure. The options include griddles that fit Britannia pan
supports; German crafted utensil sets; stay clean oven liners that will
help keep the oven interior in pristine condition; telescopic shelves
that provide a convenient way of serving directly from the grill pan
or oven tray; or a Britannia back panel with ladle rack that creates
the finishing touch to a range cooker.
‘This accessory promotion is part of our ongoing programme to support
Britannia dealers with high quality marketing material and promotions.
This latest initiative follows our well-received Marketing Support Discount
for dealers that support Britannia; and the new point of sale material
that we distributed in March which is a great success. It's rewarding
to see our point-of-sale material in showrooms all around the country.
We trust that this promotion will do very well for Britannia and its
dealers,’ said Britannia marketing manager Henneke Duistermaat.
Web: http://www.britannialiving.co.uk
100%
Light Launches September 2006
100%
Light is a brand new show launching at Earls Court 1, 21-24 September
2006. The new lighting show will be located alongside 100% Design and
100% Detail, adding to these already highly successful international
exhibitions. According to 100% Design co-founder and Brand Director,
Ian Rudge, ‘100% Design is now a global brand, recognised for making
an enormous contribution to the architecture and design industries.
The 100% branded shows held at London's Earls Court attract an unrivalled
audience of over 36,000 visitors. 100% Light is a natural extension
to the existing brands and a much welcome addition’.
100% Light will provide a forum for the very latest in architectural
and contemporary lighting products, welcoming first time companies to
the show. Acting as the launch pad for the latest unseen lighting products,
100% Light will showcase a broad mix of new manufacturers and designers,
providing a focused, comprehensive lighting show for the UK. Adding
to the mix will be a series of light dedicated seminars aimed at professionals
and exciting installations.
100% Light has created a new opportunity for many lighting manufacturers
and architectural lighting companies to participate and exhibit at the
100% shows for the first time. Positioned between the 100% Design and
100% Detail shows at Earls Court, 100% Light exhibitors will benefit
from this central position attracting 100% Design and 100% Detail visitors
whilst introducing key new visitor groups to the show.
100% Light, like its sister shows, has a panel of dedicated experts
to advise on show content. This year's 100% Light panel will consist
of: Laurent Louyer - Creatmosphere; Jason Bruges - acclaimed lighting
designer; John Nordon - Architect, Paul Cocksedge - award winning lighting
designer and Cressida Granger - Managing Director, Mathmos. The calibre
of the panel is reflected in the exhibitors already committed to exhibiting,
BLV, Concord: Marlin, DeltaLight, Hi Designs, Isabel Stanley and conciLUCE.
Creative Director, Tim Pyne, will design the 100% Light space. As Peter
Massey, Show Director for 100% outlines ‘The environment and atmosphere
is essential to the show's success and our aim is to create an exhibition
space, which reflects and enhances the needs for our particular exhibitors’.
Show information
Dates and opening times for 100% Light 2006:
Thursday 21st September: 1000 - 2100
Friday 22nd September: 1000 - 1900
Saturday 23rd September: 1000 - 1800
Sunday 24th September: 1000 - 1800
Venue: Earls Court 1, Warwick Road, London SW5
For more information: http://www.100percentlight.co.uk
Admission is free for trade and professional visitors who book online
(http://www.100percentlight.co.uk) Tickets will also be available on
the door.
Visitors to 100% Light can also gain free entry to its sister shows,
running at the same time (100% Detail at Earls Court 1; 100% Design
at Earls Court 2 and 100% East, at The Truman Brewery) on production
of a valid 100% Light entry badge:
100% Design: 21-24 September, Earls Court 2 London – http://www.100percentdesign.co.uk
100% Detail incorporating 100% Materials: 21-24 September, Earls Court
1, London – http://www.100percentdetail.co.uk
100% East: 21-24 September, Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London E1 –
http://www.100percenteast.co.uk
Kitchen
Showcase 06 in Exclusive Partnership Deal 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.
Kitchen Showcase is a design focused kitchen exhibition and conference
launched by Masterclass events (publishers of the Designer magazine)
in 2003. The 2006 event will be held at Olympia 2, London between 27th
and 29th June and will see more manufacturers exhibiting than ever before.
Over 20 of the world's leading kitchen companies including Linea Quattro,
Santos, Waterline and Crown will exhibit at the show alongside a number
of appliance manufacturers including Gaggenau, who recently signed an
exclusive deal as the show's main partner and sponsor.
Gaggenau and Kitchen Showcase 06 are both set to benefit from this mutual
association. In partnership with the most important high end kitchen
exhibition and conference in the UK in 2006, the Gaggenau brand will
be positioned with an audience comprising more than 2000 design professionals
and over 500 consumers who will visit on the closing day when doors
are opened to the public.
This audience will be the focus of the exhibition's publicity and marketing
campaigns, which will incorporate the Gaggenau logo as the show's main
partner. A carefully targeted direct mail, advertising and emarketing
campaign has already been implemented and is set to secure exposure
of the Gaggenau brand in the architectural, property development and
interior design markets as well as the self build sector.
At the show itself, Gaggenau will be represented at a dedicated and
exclusive product presentation area in the main visitor registration
hall and will be sited throughout the exhibition guaranteeing exposure
of the brand and product portfolio from the moment visitors enter the
show and throughout the entirety of their visit.
Commenting on this sponsorship agreement, Adam Roddan, Sales Director
forGaggenau UK, said, ‘We are absolutely delighted to confirm that
Gaggenau will be the main sponsor of this year's 'Kitchen Showcase'.
Both 'The Designer' magazine and 'Kitchen Showcase' exhibition are excellent
business partners for Gaggenau as we share the same brand values and
synergy. This sponsorship agreement is yet another example of our determination
to grow our position as the leading force in the UK's luxury kitchen
appliance arena by increased investment in the future of this important
market’
Accreditation and acknowledgement from the worlds' only appliance brand
with 'Super Brand' status worldwide is a fantastic attribute for Kitchen
Showcase. Indeed association with the Gaggenau name is certain to reinforce
kitchen showcase with the very best in design and product innovations,
making it a must visit event for all serious professionals involved
in kitchen design. 27-29 June are key dates in the industry diary for
2006.
Web: http://www.kitchen-showcase.co.uk
On
1st June 2006, the first Bathroom Forum of the Association of the German
Sanitary Industry (VDS - Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitärwirtschaft)
will take place in the Side Hotel in Hamburg.
Under the title 'The bathroom, the consumer and the end of mass marketing',
the 1st VDS Bathroom Forum will offer a platform for profound analyses,
information, prognoses and discussions.
Cigar czar Zino Davidoff once said, 'I didn’t do any marketing.
All I have ever done was love my customers.' This motto has not been
sufficient as a recipe for ongoing success for quite some time now.
Also or particularly in the sanitary industry, the world has become
more complicated, more complex and often less transparent. At the same
time the industry is attractive, innovative and thus extremely promising,
despite difficult economic phases and global competition. Therefore,
the 1st VDS Bathroom Forum is an information platform that wants to
open new perspectives and create new and unusual food for thought.
Furthermore, profound analyses, information and prognoses will also
be provided by presentations by experts of the Association of German
Sanitary Industry (VDA), Fritz Wilhelm Pahl and Jens J. Wischmann as
well as the contribution by Professor Dr. Peter Zec, president of the
world umbrella organisation of industrial designers and initiator of
the red dot design award, who will make a presentation on the topic
'Product designer(s) in the bathroom – less focus on zeitgeist
and more target group responsibility?'.
Further speakers are Prof. Dr. Jürgen W. Falter, head of the Institute of Political Sciences at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, and Prof. Dr. Martin Fassnacht, who holds the chair of Business Studies and is the director of the Centre for Market Oriented Management at the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management in Vallendar near Koblenz.
Record
Month for Lawcris Panel Products
Following
a boom of sales in March, Lawcris Panel Products has broken its financial
records by achieving a turnover of three million in one month alone.
The supplier of wood based panels' attributes its success to the growing
popularity of high quality, value-engineered products and the growth
of its veneering department.
Managing
Director Simon Hall said: ‘Melamine is experiencing a boom in the
marketplace following a surge in the popularity of value engineered
products. Lawcris' continued research of the latest trends has ensured
we are ahead of the game in providing a wider than ever choice of design
possibilities.
‘We have always been committed to re-investment, this has allowed
us to build one of the most self-contained panel businesses in the country.
Lawcris is unique in offering a full service from the distribution of
panel products through to the pressing and machining of component parts.
‘We are working within a highly competitive market, and Lawcris
has that 'added value' that many customers demand. The team ethos of
Lawcris means that we are all working towards the same end, and our
successful month is down to team effort’.
Chris Hopton, Lawcris Chairman and Co-founder said: ‘Lawcris is
renowned for having a strong pro-active team, every one plays an essential
part, no matter what job they do.
‘On top of this we have been lucky to have superb customers, who
have supported us over the years. We can't thank them enough for their
custom. Many have dealt with us since we started, and with their support
and our team, Lawcris is set to continue its growth for the next 24
years and beyond’.
Tel: 0113 282 057
International
Quality Standard for Clearwater Collection
Clearwater
Collection, the manufacturer of luxury handmade freestanding acrylic
baths in Europe, has achieved the internationally recognised quality
accreditation, ISO 9001.
The
company, which has grown considerably since its inception only 7 years
ago, now exports to 25 countries and has recently launched in the States
with Clearwater USA.
‘We are delighted to have achieved this internationally recognised
accreditation,’ says Darren Allison, managing director of Clearwater
Collection.
‘We have always been committed to excellence in everything that
we do, at every stage of the production process, all of our procedures
and all quality control and management systems have always been carefully
monitored and managed. This standard recognises this and tells everyone
that they are dealing with a company that takes quality seriously.
‘It will ensure that our growth is sustained and controlled and
ensure that we continue to meet the exacting demands of our customers.’
Clearwater Collection specialises in the manufacture of double-skin
acrylic freestanding baths and prides itself on the superb quality of
its baths along with the vast range of designs it offers, covering both
traditional and contemporary styles. More than 40 different models are
available and 14 new models were recently launched at the industries
showcase exhibition, KBB2006.
All Clearwater products feature the distinctive Clearwater badge, which
serves as a hallmark of excellence, and come with a lifetime guarantee.
Tel: 01274 738140
Email: enquiries@clearwater-collection.com
Web: http://www.clearwater-collection.com
Double
Win for Heritage at Yorkshire Productivity Awards
Heritage
Bathrooms once again picked up two awards for best practice in manufacturing
at Yorkshire's most prestigious industry awards.
For the second year running, Yorkshire-based manufacturing arm of Heritage
Bathrooms has received double recognition for its strong commitment
to the training and support of its workforce. At the Yorkshire Productivity
Awards ceremony held at the Metropole Hotel in Leeds recently, the company
was presented with two awards - one Highly Commended award for Most
Successful NVQ Training SME and an another award for Best Skills for
Life Intervention SME, for which Heritage was announced the winner.
These
two awards follow hot on the tail of last years' success, when Heritage
team leader Ronnie Moscrop won the Individual Award SME and the company
as a whole received a Highly Commended award in the Best Payback SME
category.
The Yorkshire Productivity Awards is an annual event organised by The
Virtual College, an Ilkley-based training company where Heritage employees
work to gain NVQ Level II qualification in Business Improvement Techniques.
In the past year, 16 of Heritage's employees successfully achieved this
qualification. Winning two awards at the event for the second year running,
reinforces Heritage's commitment to providing on-going support and training
for all of its staff.
Alistair Gladstone, Business Development Manager at Yorkshire Productivity,
comments: ‘Training is at the heart of maintaining the UK's position
at the forefront of this increasingly competitive sector. It is a pleasure
to be able to reward companies like Heritage, that have used Yorkshire
Productivity's training programmes to develop their staff and increase
their efficiencies.’
Tel: 0117 9633333
Web: http://www.heritagebathrooms.com
Will
the Government's New Building Regulations Affect your Business?
The
Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom National Training Group is working with
the National Association of Professional Inspectors & Testers (NAPIT)
to promote a series of seminars relating to recent changes in the building
regulations.
The seminars, which take place at venues nationwide during May and June,
aim to deliver an up-to-date bulletin on the new regulations that will
impact on the KBB sector and attempt to clarify newspaper reports of
traders being fined for failing to have their work certified.
The seminars are completely free of charge for anyone who registers
and will explain what the changes may mean for businesses engaged in
Kitchen and Bathroom installations, where designers and installers have
a growing responsibility to know about the relevant building regulations.
The seminars, which will be delivered by NAPIT, will encompass
o How changes in building regulations may affect installers and designers
o How kitchen providers can sell the benefits to their customers
o What happens during the assessment.
Candidates will also hear about
o The benefits from NAPIT Membership
o The Home Buyers' Pack
o News for Students and Apprentices
To attend one of these seminars you need to register to book a place
and the NTG expects uptake to be high.
NOTE: NAPIT is a professional trade body for electrical inspectors,
electrical contractors, electricians and allied trades throughout the
UK, as well as commercial and industrial sectors.
For all seminar venues, dates and times visit http://www.kbbntg.com
Selfridges
Calls on the Heritage Experts for FuturePunk Displays
Top
fashion store Selfridges brought in architectural heritage specialist
Drummonds to provide the backdrop for its recent themed fashion event.
Selfridges' window displays have long been recognised as practically
art installations in their own right. Drummonds, based in Hindhead,
supplied antique baths, staircases, floors, radiators and garden statuary
to create an atmosphere of 'decaying grandeur' for FuturePunk. This
provided a highly appropriate backdrop to the modern take on punk fashion
designed by la crème de couture including Givenchy, Fendi and
Chloe.
FuturePunk
presented Selfridges' interpretation of the attitude that has dominated
youth culture and influenced fashion for the past thirty years. It was
a multi-dimensional event featuring music, performance, exhibition and
talks, where exclusive luxury goods sit alongside vintage punk classics.
Drummond Shaw, proprietor of Drummonds, says, ‘One of the delights
of punk fashion was the way in which historic styles were reinterpreted
in a vibrant modern way. That's exactly what we do at Drummonds - take
ideas from the past to help create luxury, hand-made products fit for
the 21st century.’
Drummonds supplied all the items required by Selfridges from its 70,000
sq ft showroom in Hindhead, one of the largest sources of architectural
antiques and reclaimed flooring in the country. The company has built
up expertise in all aspects of interior design, having been involved
in the restoration of some of Britain's finest country houses.
This experience has provided the inspiration for Drummonds' own manufacture
of cast iron baths, solid brass taps and showers and accessories along
with hand-made brass door and window furniture.
FuturePunk was at Selfridges, Oxford Street, London until 22nd April.
For more information of architectural antiques or luxury new bathrooms,
flooring and brassware visit Drummonds at The Kirkpatrick Buildings,
25 London Road, Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6AB or call 01428 609444.
Whirlpool
Europe Introduces In.Home: Domestic Design Becomes Flexible and Experiential
On
the occasion of the Eurocucina international kitchen fair, Whirlpool
Europe introduces In.Home, its new research project unveiling new perspectives
in interior design. This project explores the extraordinary flexibility
and the endless transformation possibilities of today's home.
The project was developed by Whirlpool's Global Consumer Design, with
the collaboration of Syneo, an international design company based in
Milan. In.Home is the result of a year's research around the different
functional areas of the home, and the different needs of the individuals
living in it. The Whirlpool Global Consumer Design team was particularly
interested in investigating the process of use of the various objects
found in a home and the changing state of mind and behavior of the consumers
in the course of the day.
Every home is made up of a complex system of products and functions.
In.Home is a design venture that explores the patterns of interaction
between the user and Whirlpool products. It offers up a new sixth sense
where products adapt in relation to the situation or mood within the
home, at different moments during the day. To some extent, the project
reveals the adaptation and transformation of any given environment.
‘Connectivity is becoming a key word in our industry. This opens
up new opportunities for many potential partnerships with technology
players’, says Alessandro Finetto, director of Whirlpool Global
Consumer Design. He adds ‘In. Home establishes a new level of interaction
between consumer and product. It uses sensor technology in a totally
innovative way. The experience and the knowledge we have acquired with
the 6th sense range have broadened our vision and led us to produce
unexpected technological solutions.’
The domestic environment presented in In.Home uses simple materials,
connected though intuitive, interactive systems. Light is a central
element to the functional experience, even when the product is not being
used. Hence the collaboration with Artemide, the ideal partner to develop
integrated systems around the concept of ‘intelligent’ light,
adapting to the varying situations of a consumer's typical day. The
light creates a special atmosphere that communicates care and attention
for the consumer, and a new level of usability. In every scenario the
importance of the interaction between product and consumer is clearly
underlined.
In.Home is the culmination of a research venture Whirlpool Global Consumer
Design embarked on six years ago. Four projects successively addressed
the themes of product design (Macrowave, 2000), process of use (Project
F, 2002), kitchen environment (in.Kitchen, 2004), and the diverse needs
of the user (this year's In.Home). With In.Home, the consumer's experience
and interaction with the products become key parameters, for design
is intimately connected to everyday life.
All Whirlpool design projects start from the consumers' real world.
The usability team visits consumers' homes across Europe to understand
their requirements and sense their unexpressed needs, inspiring possible
new projects. A multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers, behavior
psychologists and sociologists, is constantly challenging established
ideas to find innovative, unconventional solutions.
‘In.Home represents a new step in our innovation journey’
says Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool Europe's president, ‘many of our products
have functions and features that derive from such research projects.
The courage and the ability to 'think out of the box', and to apply
the results to our industrial production, are the trademark of Whirlpool
brands. The freedom to experiment with challenging ideas leads to unexpected,
innovative solutions and a totally fresh vision of future perspectives.’
Bathrooms
are the New Kitchens
Leading
urban developer City Lofts Group reports that bathrooms have overtaken
kitchens as the key room that influences a purchaser's decision when
they are looking for a city centre apartment. Research from the developer,
which included focus groups of buyers actively looking for city centre
properties, showed that seven of the top 15 specification features that
they look for in a new home were situated in the bathroom. In contrast,
whilst the quality and design of the kitchen remained a key influence,
potential purchasers only listed three kitchen features in their list
of 15 priorities.
City
Lofts Group highlights that this shift in customer demand is driven
by the changing lifestyles of professionals living in urban locations.
Research by GAD (Government Actuary Department) and Mintel has shown
the 'eating out' market has increased by an annual rate of 7% over the
past decade, with a third of people dining out at least once per week.
The growing popularity of eating out has led to a reduction in the importance
that city centre purchasers place on the kitchen in their homes. Purchasers
are now looking for a kitchen which is low maintenance, ideal for preparing
quick meals and snacks, but most crucially is stylish and contemporary.
In contrast, the increasing pace of modern life has led to the bathroom
becoming a sanctuary where residents can relax and unwind. As a result,
many bathrooms in city centre apartments now have a luxurious feel and
try to recreate the ambience of a stylish health spa.
Participants in City Lofts Group's research provided a number of comments
that emphasised this trend. One participant commented: ‘They've
got it right having a superior bathroom than kitchen. If I was buying
a one-bed apartment I wouldn't be doing much cooking; you're going to
be eating out, but I still want the kitchen to look nice.’
Another participant in the focus group commented that: ‘I'm going
to spend more time in the bathroom. I can eat elsewhere, but I can't
use a bathroom elsewhere.’
Andy Hurst, Sales and Marketing Director for City Lofts Group comments:
‘The bathroom has become an important focal point of modern day
living evolving from being just an essential facility to a luxury room.
The bathroom allows an escape from the chaotic city lives a lot of people
now lead. It is a retreat for people to relax, recuperate and rejuvenate.’
City Lofts Group's bathrooms are designed by Conran & Partners,
ensuring style, quality and exclusive designs. A typical bathroom is
fitted from floor to ceiling with travertine tiles imported from Italy
and white sanitaryware by Villeroy & Boch which is complemented
by chrome Hans Grohe fittings. The bathrooms also include bespoke storage
space in the form of recessed hardwood cabinets that have been designed
by Conran.
City Lofts Group is currently developing a number of city centre schemes
in key locations across the UK including Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester
and Newcastle.
Located adjacent the iconic Liver Building in Liverpool, City Lofts
Princes Dock is a collection of 162 studio, one and two-bedroom apartments
in two interlinking 10 and 20 storey buildings. The scheme is scheduled
for completion in summer 2006 and will provide stylish signature architecture
in a prime city location. Prices for the remaining apartments at City
Lofts Princes Dock start from £165,000 for a one-bedroom and £212,000
for a two-bedroom apartment. For more information contact the marketing
Suite on Tel: 0151 236 1333.
In Salford Quays in Manchester, City Lofts Group is developing 203 one
and two bedroom apartments situated in two landmark 19 and 9 storey
buildings. They form part of the area's ongoing regeneration and are
situated next to the new Lowry Centre, which has already established
itself as one of Greater Manchester's leading cultural attractions.
Prices for the apartments at City Lofts Salford Quays start from £149,750
for a one-bedroom and £212,500 for a two-bedroom apartment. For
more information contact the marketing suite on 0161 877 5455.
In the centre of Cardiff, City Lofts Admiral House is the conversion
of the former Admiral Insurance Services' office building into 167 contemporary
designed one and two-bedroom apartments. Launched in March 2006, over
20% of the apartments have already been sold with the remaining properties
priced from £140,000 for a one-bedroom and from £210,000
for a two-bedroom apartment. For further information please contact
the marketing suite on 02920 472 447.
For further information on City Lofts Group and its developments please
visit http://www.citylofts.co.uk
Britain
to Lead the World in Work Revolution
Just
as Britain led the way with industrialisation in the 19th century, we
are looking to lead the world in changing the work culture in the 21st.
An initiative which aims to make the UK the most progressive economy
in the world was on 3rd May launched at the QEII Conference Centre in
London.
Called Work Wise UK, the initiative will encourage the widespread adoption
of smarter working practices, such as flexible working, remote working,
mobile working and working from home. Adopting this modern day approach
to working lives will increase business productivity and competitiveness,
reduce transport congestion and pollution, improve health, assist disadvantaged
groups, and harmonise our work and family commitments.
Meg Munn MP, DTI Minister for Women and Equality, said: 'Smarter working
should be integral in a modern economy. It increases productivity, competitiveness
and helps our economy perform better in the global marketplace. It also
helps people – it enables us to lead more fulfilled lives –
having greater choice about how we balance our work with our family
commitments. These flexible work practices benefit us all.'
An increasingly complex world means that employers and employees have
to strive to use their resources effectively; the one to gain better
productivity, the other to balance work-life pressures.
CBI Director-General, Sir Digby Jones, who spoke at the Work Wise summit,
said: 'Flexible, smarter working is here to stay. Nine out of ten requests
from staff to work flexibly have been accepted by employers and the
UK leads the rest of Europe in numbers of part-time workers. New technologies
will help more people in the future to ‘telework’ from home
or on the move.
'These new ways of working have benefits for companies seeking to recruit,
motivate and retain valued staff and for employees who have hectic or
demanding lives. More flexible working benefits the economy through
higher productivity and reduced transport pressure.
'The challenge for us all is to strike the right balance - both in and
outside of work - and achieve the maximum flexibility whilst still meeting
the needs of our businesses and customers.'
It is recognised that the UK workforce is now among the hardest working
in the world, an amazing transformation since the 1970s when the country
was viewed as the 'sick man of Europe'. Today, this work ethic results
in the UK average working week being among the longest in Europe.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, also speaking at the summit, was
keen to see working hours reduced through smarter working: 'Our long
hours culture is damaging the UK's productivity prospects. British men
work the longest hours in Europe and this isn't helping their firms
become more productive, nor is it good for the health of these long
hours employees or the happiness of their families. The attitude of
employers is the biggest barrier we face to a better work/life balance.
Unfortunately too few employers have yet to grasp the concept that flexible
working not only makes for sound business sense but is also good news
for overworked individuals.
'With statistics showing that only one in seven UK employees is able
to work from home occasionally and just one in ten is allowed to work
flexibly, we still have a long, long way to go before a decent work/life
balance can be achieved by everyone at work. Those employers who have
been bold enough to embrace flexibility are more likely to recruit and
retain staff and are less likely to suffer from high levels of staff
absence. A more flexible approach to work is the direction in which
we want to be going and I call on the UK's employers to work with unions
and the Government to make Britain a better, more productive place to
work.'
The advantages of an improved work-life balance are well-documented,
and although the UK is embracing smarter working practices, there is
a huge scope for improvement. Currently, there are 5.4 million employees
who work through some kind of flexible working agreement, of which 2.2
million are men and 3.2 million are women (Labour Force Survey, Autumn
2005). Of these totals, 3.3 million work from home in some form (LFS
Microdata Service).
'Work Wise UK will accelerate the change in working practices towards
a culture that helps balance work and life commitments,' said Phil Flaxton,
chief executive of the IT Forum Foundation, the organiser of Work Wise
UK, which was established in 1983 as a not-for-profit undertaking.
'Work Wise UK is about changing working culture for the better, changing
the way people work, giving them the skills to work smarter, to work
more efficiently,' he said.
Meg Munn MP continued: 'We’ve seen evidence that flexible working
is making a difference to people’s lives. But to really change
the way we work and maximise the benefits for everyone, we need to encourage
the widespread adoption of smarter working practices.'
The start of Work Wise UK involves a period of discussions and planning,
led by the CBI and TUC, on how to deliver the vision of up to half the
working population working smarter by the end of the decade. This consultation
will culminate with the publication of a concordat – a document
with across-the-board support which details the vision and how it will
be achieved.
Work Wise Week (3rd to 9th May) will mark the start of the three-year
Work Wise UK programme during which it is hoped many thousands of companies
and organisations will sign-up to the concordat and implement smarter
working practices to the benefit of their business, their employees,
and the country as a whole.
Further information about Work Wise Week and Work Wise UK can be found
at http://www.workwiseuk.org.
AND FINALLY...
The
Ups and Downs of the Business Name Game
Forget
a snazzy logo or stylish shop front - a new report from Yell, publisher
of Yellow Pages directories, highlights just how important a robust
business name is in the home services sector to attract consumer interest.
Yet despite its importance, more than a third of SMEs within the home
service sector (38 per cent) give little thought to the process and
stick with the first name they think of.
Yell's 'What's In a Name?' report combines the findings of a survey
of 630 SMEs from Yellow Pages advertiser database and a poll of 2,600
consumers, as well as insights from Dr Frank Monaghan, a linguistics
expert at the Open University. The report highlights a worrying gap
in attitude between these two audiences towards the importance of the
right name. It also provides a useful tool for start-ups, by revealing
the most common types of business name and how they are perceived by
consumers.
Label Junkies
More than half (52 per cent) of home services SMEs strongly believe
that a business name doesn't matter as long as the service is good,
and a quarter (25 per cent) said that a business name is the least important
factor in attracting customers. Yet with 11 per cent of consumers saying
they would be unlikely to use a company if they didn't like the name,
SMEs could potentially miss out on custom by making the wrong choice.
No Regrets?
It's clearly worth investing the thinking time up front, as feedback
from home services SMEs reveals the spontaneous, knee-jerk approach
to naming a business can sometimes be followed by regret. More than
a third (37 per cent) admit they would opt for something with more impact
if they had had the opportunity to change their existing name. And almost
a tenth have actually changed their name from that chosen at start up.
The Six Signs of Trading
Linguistics expert Frank Monaghan conducted an analysis of 1,000 randomly
selected Yellow Pages advertisers and identified six business name types.
* Family Focus (e.g. Bloggs and Son): The most common business
name type and found in 41 per cent of home services businesses. Designed
to create instant trust and show expertise gained through years of personal
experience.
* Pun-ter: Sixteen per cent of home service businesses have a
name that includes a pun and aims to put consumers at ease, raise a
smile and stick in the memory (i.e Blockaid Limited).
* Think and Link: Businesses that use a single word to create
a positive connotation for the business and its services (e.g. Diamond
Gleam - a bath restoration service), found in 15 per cent of home service
businesses.
* Geo-name: These businesses speak directly to locals with a
name that screams 'on your doorstep' (e.g. Clapham Plastering). Found
in 11 per cent of home service businesses.
* Straight to the Point: Eight per cent of home service businesses
opted for a name that directly highlights its business offering (i.e
Ceramic and Finishing Solution)
* Obscure: Just two per cent of home service businesses have
a name with no obvious connection or association with the actual business
operation (e.g. Neon Lights Hairdressing).
What works?
When it comes to consumer preference, 41 per cent of businesses in the
home service are getting their business names right - opting for a name
featuring a family name or 'and son' - the highest of any sector. Interestingly,
in the wake of the continued threat of the homogenisation of British
high streets, a tenth of respondents warm towards 'Geo-names' that indicate
a business is a local company.
Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, publisher of Yellow
Pages directories, said: ‘This research shows that when SMEs are
devising a name that will give them commercial cut through, it shouldn't
be a decision that is taken too lightly, as it could have repercussions
for the health and survival of the business.’
Dr Frank Monaghan said: ‘Customers can pick up the subtlest of
linguistic cues from the name hanging over the shop door or the listing
in their local directory and these can ultimately determine whether
they will want to talk to you, or your competition. Starting up a business
is similar on some aspects to naming a baby - so treat the whole naming
process as you would with a new arrival. The name is probably something
that they are going to be stuck with so you will want to give them the
best start in life.’
Yell's 'What's In a Name?' report is available as a PDF download from
http://www.yellgroup.com.