News January 2010

kbbBirmingham announces seminars

Industry trade exhibition kbbBirmingham has announced its seminar programme, which will encompass the latest trends and developments facing the industry. It will feature key speakers Paolo Pininfarina, Robert Palomba, Robin Levien, Johnny Grey and Paul Rowlands. Across the four days of the show, they will be discussing topics such as where does high design fit in today’s bathrooms and kitchens? How to create a killer showroom and designing kitchens for the long-term.

In addition, Kitchens & Bathrooms News editor, to those interested in expanding into the heating Philippa Turrell will be presenting Water bout it? A look at water efficiency and Part G for retailers.

Completing the line-up, the CIPHE will be running a series of seminars dedicated and plumbing industry. It will include updates on changing legislation, as well as an insight into renewable and sustainable technologies.

Customer Service Award Mark Two scoops

After a tough year, national distributor Mark Two had something to celebrate, by winning a trophy at the National Customer Service Awards. The family business was recognised for best use of technology in providing customer service.

Joint managing director of Mark Two, Nick Hopkinson paid tribute to staff at the company: Twelve months ago we lost our biggest customer (MFI) and our biggest supplier (Bernstein Group) and things were pretty bleak. The team has done the impossible and this is just the icing on the cake. Mark Two supplies over 1,000 independent kitchen and bathroom retailers, Wickes, Focus, Tesco, Next, Clifton Trade Bathrooms and Jewson Graham.

Ripples celebrates in-house awards

Bathroom retail franchise Ripples celebrated its 3rd annual Designer Day Awards at the Richmond Hill Hotel in London. There are 17 bathroom showrooms in the franchise, employing more than 25 designers.

Guest speaker Graeme Kynman of the Bathroom & Kitchen Academy presented an afternoon of drawing skills then handed out the awards to Best Designer and Best New Designer. Emily Brooks of Ripples in Henley won Best New Designer, while Canterbury scooped two awards with Kirsten Wain winning Best Designer and the shop winning Best Showroom.

Chief executive of Ripples, Roger Kyme said: The key to any good business is staff and we are proud that all our showrooms employ the best. It is therefore vital to recognise and reward our designers on their technical design, presentation of their design and the overall wow factor as well as our franchisees, on their sales performance, administration and appearance of their showrooms."

BA Components rescues BLP

Northern Irish furniture components manufacturer BA Components has purchased Doncaster-based BLP from administration. Owned by twin brothers, Brian and Kieran McCracken, BA Components was established in 1990. The BLP business has over 100 year’s history and it underwent a management buy- out in February.But it became a victim of the current credit crisis and was placed in administration on December 7, 2009.

The joint business will now trade as BA Components with the BLP name preserved. But it will be jiresented in BA corporate style to sit alongside its Bella by BA and Zurfiz by BA brands.

Brian McCracken, BA Component’s managing director said: "The purchase of this well established and respected business makes total sense in the further development of both businesses," The position of operation will substantially strengthen BA’s position in the UK market, allowing us to further develop our offering to volume users, while introducing the BLP ranges to our large dealer base of small, medium and large retail outlets allowing opportunities for expansion and growth." Many of the administration functions for the combined operation be handled from the Cookstown head office but a planning and production team will be maintained and developed at the Doncaster site. Production of the full BLP portfolio, including PREDOR and PRODOR doors will be maintained and developed, with continuity of supply for customers.

Wolseley lends weight to Get Britain Building

Merchant group Wolseley UK is backing Get Britain Building (GBB), a pan-construction industry campaign to get politicians to recognise the value of the housebuilding sector, Wolseley UK trades under Plumb Center, Build Center, BCG and William Wilson brands and has a turnover of £1 .6 billion.

The GBB logo will appear on company vehicles, letterheads and marketing support, as local branches align themselves with a campaign for their customers. Rob Marchbanks, CEO Wolseley Europe and MD - Wolseley UK, said: "The unprecedented market conditions continue to be challenging and we fully support any campaign which provides a benefit to communities and the sector." We welcome the pledge by the Government to invest £1 .5 billion in the housing sector and encourage the Government to ensure the investment materialises."

Chris Pateman, Get Britain Building spokesperson, said: "The weight of a business like Wolseley behind the campaign cannot be underestimated."

Vado a do do

Vado has doubled its warehousing space with the acquisition of a 22,800sq ft depot in Cheddar, It will also provide office space for its expanded staff, a bank of meeting suites, plus a customer showroom. The warehouse is situated on a 1 .4 acre site.

Taylor Tiles Holdings in receivership

Taylor Tiles Holdings, parent company of award-winning bathroom showroom Taylor’s Etc, has gone into receivership. Owner Lesley Taylor has acquired the Taylor’s Etc retail business from its receiver, including its Cardiff showroom. Taylor Tiles Holdings was established 40 years ago by Brian Taylor and it was acquired by Lesley Taylor in 2004. At its peak, the company had a turnover of £6.4million.

Lesley Taylor said: "Taylor Tiles Holdings supplied all of the major developers, but like any business that has relied on the construction of new build properties, it suffered in the downturn culminating in a drop in business of some 60% in August 2009’ This reduction was totally unsustainable and unfortunately the company was
put into bank receivership; to be honest it’s heartbreaking."

Taylor’s Etc opened its Cardiff showroom in 2005 and won the Showroom Award for Bathrooms at the Industry Awards in 2007 It also scooped the Excellence in Retailing category of The Tile Association Awards (TTA). At the time of going to press, neither the number of creditors nor amount of money owed could be verified.

Lesley Taylor said: "It’s a very difficult position because the situation is that Taylor Tiles Holdings, who owed the money, is in receivership. What we’re doing is working together with our suppliers to try and build bridges with those affected and trying to find ways of trading through this downturn."