KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th January 2021
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It's a Wrap!
BCG has drawn the curtain on yet another Big Tour, with a spectacular dinner finale at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge, location for the 5th and final Big Tour earlier that day.
Sponsored by Essential Kitchen & Bathroom Business Magazine and hosted by Ulrika Jonsson, with special guests BBC newsreader Nicholas Owen and Radio Two DJ Ricky Salmon, BCG greeted 150 guests to enjoy a glitzy Hollywood themed dinner, Big Tour awards ceremony and Action for Children charity auction.
The Essential Night Out concluded BCG's 4th Big Tour travelling exhibition and received top executives, retailers and press from across the industry, to celebrate in the triumph of yet another year of Big Tour success.
For the second year, BCG presented an award for the Best Show Stand, but decided to mark the occasion by holding a mini award ceremony, commending the 'Best Bathroom Stand', 'Best Kitchen Stand' and 'Most Innovative New Product Launch'.
The winners were as follows:
Best Bathroom Stand - Twyford Bathrooms (Winner of last year's award)
Twyford Bathrooms was commended for the attention to the design and detail of its stand.
Best Kitchen Stand - Baumatic (Newcomer to this year's Big Tour)
Baumatic was attributed as being one of the most aesthetically pleasing displays at the Tour.
Best Overall Stand - GDHA
GDHA's sheer Britishness grabbed the attention of the judges with its stunning Union Jack theme and fabulous giveaways.
Most Innovative New Product Launch - The 'Slot & Lock Shower Enclosure' from Aqualux
This product was commended for its winning combination of ease of installation and style.
As well as the award ceremony and a fabulous four course dinner, the evening also hosted an auction in aid of Action for Children which was publically supported throughout the organisation of this year's Big Tour. Nicholas Owen, along with Ulrika Jonsson, downed the gavel on 13 magnificent prizes that were donated by some of the Big Tour exhibitors. Prizes included a Manchester United Box donated by Franke, a signed Manchester United Shirt by One Marketing, an apple iPad donated by 2020Fusion, a flight in a Cherokee Light Aircraft donated by Saniflo and a Football Match Break from Just Trays.
The evening was fantastically successful with over £10,000 being raised on the night going towards the installations of five kitchens previously donated to the Big Tour's 'Big Challenge'.
Having visited Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Weybridge across two weeks, BCG succeeded in attracting a first-rate calibre of Kitchen and Bathroom Retailers to the five Big Tour locations.
Interaction with customers is key to selling a product and the Big Tour gives this opportunity in abundance," reports Paul Crossley, Managing Director of JT. "We were able to showcase our innovative range of products to key customers and prospects across the UK.
"Big thanks go to BCG for its hospitality and organisation throughout the events - we are already looking forward to 2011."
Visitors were treated to exclusive Big Tour offers that contributed to a considerable number of orders being placed on each of the individual days.
Offers included:
* 70% off Ideal Standard and Just-Trays showroom displays
* Free taps with any Franke sink purchased
* Free displays available with purchases made from certain Twyford Bathrooms ranges
* Plus a host of other offers exclusive to retail customers visiting Big Tour.
Marion Morton, GDHA's BCG's account manager, says: "Big Tour is an extremely important event in our calendar as historically it has always given us the opportunity to launch new products to our trade customers in a very personal way - inviting them to our stand and talking them through the features and benefits that will help them to secure a sale."
Big Tour is now seen as an important contribution to the kitchen and bathroom retailer's yearly calendar, offering attendees the chance to:
• Talk to over 40 of the industries major brands, under one roof.
• See new products launched and demonstrated with the chance to talk to industry experts.
• Understand new trends, designs, innovation and technology.
• Benefit from exclusive offers that enable retailers to experiment with new product ranges, without large upfront showroom costs.
Chris Honer, BCG's MD concludes: "The quality of the retailers attending this year was superb; everyone that visited Big Tour was treated to an outstanding collection of the industry's finest brands. Our new products including Four Season, Baumatic, GE and Jacuzzi, all did exceptionally well, and have been fantastically received.
"It is obvious that our customers really value Big Tour as a way of seeing the entire BCG suite of products and discovering how BCG can really help their business perform day to day."
7th January 2011