KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
24th April 2015
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 International News
Products
New compact wall-hung basin: the best option for a smaller bathroom
Baumatic appoints C&F Quadrant as exclusive distributor for Ireland
Striking new thermostatic showering from Burlington
Aptly named after famous British rivers the Trent, Spey, Tay, Eden, Stour, Severn and Avon; the new Burlington Traditional Showers combine period styling with modern know-how that comes complete with TMV2 approved valves for added safety, an 11mm bore on hoses (the standard is 8mm), internal filters to remove impurities and a non-return valve. SBID International Design Awards 2015 now open
Following the success of previous editions, this year's SBID Awards are designed to surpass the rest. The 2014 edition saw a 15% increase in entries than previous years from over 30 countries around the globe including the UK, Canada, Turkey, China, Russia, USA, Australia, UAE and more. Blanco launches new CombiColour shade for Silgranit sinks
Whirpool launches new Absolute design built-in and freestanding appliance range
The combination provides a distinctive and matching profile across both product categories. Angular and artistic: the new Tratto from MHS Radiators
Striking new thermostatic showering from Burlington
Leisure Sinks meets the university challenge
Utopia extends Qube range with new floorstanding option
More than 160 new products unveiled by Croydex for 2015
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I had to chuckle at the report issued this week (see below) about what tempts a homeowner to choose one tradesman over another. I get on well with my neighbours and last week invited those on one side, into my garden to see the problems their trees are causing. I hadn’t expected immediate action so was surprised to learn the following day that my daughter had overheard the lady discussing the job with a man who agreed to do it next morning. As I’d just encountered two local villains in my neighbour’s driveway, I became very worried. The look I’d given the pair must have said it all as the last time we’d been that close they’d kicked dents in a line of cars having just attacked and pulled a knife on a passer-by! I rang my neighbour, asking how well she knew the men. She’d had no idea about their criminal activities which extend far beyond those I’ve mentioned above. Apparently one had knocked to ask if she needed her windows cleaning! She resolved to cancel despite fear of repercussions on both of us but was intimidated into paying £120 ‘up front’ when they caught her unawares. Her husband arranged to work from home the following morning and when the men didn’t turn up he said that a lost £120 was a small price to pay for what could be a lucky escape. He left for work and can’t have been gone 10 minutes when the men climbed over his gate. He returned as soon as he picked up my call but became embroiled in the kind of scenario one sees on ‘Rogue Traders’: “There were three of us working” (there were only two – but that’s beside the point)... “Our boss said we misquoted. It should have been £1200 but we were allowed to charge £600. Your wife agreed £450 so you’ve got a good deal.” (She’d agreed £350 for a job worth £150 at most)… “We’re not leaving until you pay up”… It could have ended worse than it did. My daughter’s boyfriend finished lopping the trees as a favour, my neighbours have learnt their lesson and I’ve been out to buy some strong new window locks, which I should have done years ago. If you’re choosing a tradesman – do choose wisely! Yours,
 This Week's News
Jo Malone announced as Keynote Speaker at May Design Series
Taking centre stage at 12:30 pm on Tuesday 19th May, the inspirational business woman will share her story of making it from life in council housing to establishing a multi-million pound company and reveal the successes, failures, challenges (both personal and commercial), and motivation behind her achievements. Homeowners at risk of letting 'a wrong'un' in!
Whirlpool receives Energy Star Award - an industry-leading 25 times The US Environmental Protection Agency has recognised the Whirlpool Corporation with a 2015 Energy Star Partner of the Year award, which means that when the manufacturer's accomplishments are recognised in Washington, DC, on 20th April 2015, it will be for an industry-leading 25th time. LDL targets island life with new trio lighting collection
LDL is the premier UK distributor for Leyton Lighting and this launch marks the first in a series of new lighting products planned for the next few weeks. Leading KBB corporates put design and business intelligence centre stage... CAD software specialist for the KBB sector, ArtiCAD, is helping some of the UK's largest KBB corporations put design and business intelligence at the heart of their enterprises with the implementation of the recently launched ArtiCAD Online - a new, secure, cloud-based version of the company's ArtiCAD-Pro and BathCAD-Pro software. Abacus brings catwalk glamour to Bathe's bathroom showroom
Bathe has had a long-term relationship with Abacus and already has an extensive display of the company's Vessini range on the showroom's ground floor. Bauformat's new 2015 consumer kitchen brochure will smooth sales process
The 84 page A4 brochure is a valuable marketing tool to share with customers to emphasise the versatility and heritage of the brand; retailers are able to easily refer to a quick view of colour and finish swatches on the inside back pages to help ease the sales process along. New UK management team oversees smooth integration of two leading brands
Combining the in-front-of-the-wall design competence in ceramics and complementary bathroom products from Twyford with the market leading behind-the-wall sanitary technology of Geberit, the integration of the two businesses will be as seamless as possible with the aim to maintain the high quality service customers have come to expect from the two brands. New Kaldewei steel enamel washbasins launched
Now, alongside new design lines, washbasins are available to match with Kaldewei product families, Puro, Cono and Centro. In this way Kaldewei customers have the opportunity to fit-out their bathrooms in a single material, with a coherent design vocabulary and coordinated colours - from shower area to bathtub to washbasin. Verona takes on warrior challenge for charity
An 11-strong team completed the five-mile Yorkshire Warrior challenge at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, taking on ice baths, scaffolding climbs, muddy underground tunnels, river wading and log carrying. Rangemaster Sinks increases capacity to cope with consumer demand
The new equipment is part of an ongoing programme of investment for the company and a response to an upsurge in demand. In particular, there has been a growing trend for more geometric designs, so the new press encompasses electronic shimming technology, which allows more complex shapes to be formed from the high grade stainless steel sheets. 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. News in Brief Alno’s first-ever UK produced brochure, featuring stunning real customer kitchens designed by its dealers, is now available – T: +44 (0)113 3315 101 … Victoria + Albert Baths now boasts a Red Dot Award for Product Design for its Amiata collection - E: [email protected] … Hafele UK has launched a 3 in 1 Hot Tap which provides a jet flow stream of both cold and 98°C water through separate channels - E: [email protected] … BAL Rapid-Mat, uncoupling mat has been voted by industry experts as ‘Best Innovation’ at The Tile Association Awards 2015 - [email protected] How to contact us at The KBzine:
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