Design Award winners - Starck presented lifetime awardPhilippe Starck was presented with the Simon Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent Design Awards held in London. He was recognised for his work including designing showers for Hansgrohe, sanitaryware for Duravit and most recently Warendorf kitchen furniture.
Around 350 guests attended the event, hosted by George Clark of Channel 4's The Home Show. Helen Woodcraft of Project Orange won Living Space Design of the Year, while Bathroom Design of the Year was presented to Francesco Draisci and Paul Thrush of Francesco Draisci Studio.
Susie Rumbold and Sophie Rutherford of Tessuto Interiors and Jonathan Paul Woodcock of One Way Kitchens were presented with Kitchen Design of the Year (under £25k) and Kitchen Design of the Year (over £25 K), respectively. Completing the event was a raft of bathroom and kitchen manufacturers who were presented with Product Innovation Awards. |  |
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KBSA AGM fails againThe Annual General Meeting of the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association was brought to a halt when not enough retail members were present to cast votes. Although 23 retail members attended the AGM, the KBSA association rules demand that 25 retail members are required to allow voting on resolutions.
The association had to adjourn the AGM to be held alongside its corporate member BCG's Big Tour echoing the events of last year. National chair of the KBSA, Michael Ashton from Boulevard Kitchens commented: "It is very disappointing that we were not able to proceed with the official AGM business.
"We appreciate that many members travelled a considerable distance to be with us and we have extended our apologies."
He continued: "The legal work required to update the restrictive Memorandum & Articles of Association is extensive and we have still not found a satisfactory solution, however the board are now focused on resolving this issue as a matter of priority."
At time of going to press, the KBSA had met and passed its resolutions with 10 voting retail members present. Commercial director of Swift Electrical Wholesalers, Malcolm Scott was elected as corporate vice chair. |  |
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Come fly with BCGNational bathroom, kitchen and heating distributor BCG unveiled its Airmiles loyalty scheme at its recent Big Tour. The three-year loyalty scheme allows retailers and merchants who buy goods from BCG to claim free Airmiles for every purchase. BCG customers will be awarded one Airmile for every £10 spent with the company.
It means if a retailer or merchant spends £100,000 with the company, then they will receive airmiles equivalent to a return flight to Australia. The scheme has been devised to help retailers reward staff, as registration for Airmiles is under the company name, allowing them to be distributed among employees. Speaking at the launch, managing director Chris Honer said: "We want to give something back and reward our customers for their loyalty. We wanted to bring something into the market with gravitas, history and recognition, which would be long-term. So we are extremely proud to bring Airmiles into the industry. "It's long-term. It's going to build loyalty with existing customers and it also gives us the opportunity to bring in some new customers." |  |
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Umbermaster scoops Second Nature AwardKent-based showroom Umbermaster has scooped PWS' national award for Second Nature dealer of the Year. It was chosen as the overall national winner from over 200 Second Nature dealers. Entry to the awards is compulsory and is judged on criteria including branding, product and retail environment. Nine regional winners were selected and then mystery shopped on customer experience including service levels, design expertise and aesthetics.
Umbermaster's managing director, David Bailey said: "The team is delighted to be crowned Second Nature Dealer of the Year. It's testimony to the ongoing hard work and dedication of our staff. "Having invested heavily in new and inspirational displays, it's rewarding that the auditor was so impressed with the
showroom." |  |
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Kelly takes on HuppeRod Goodier is retiring as managing director of Huppe UK at the end of the year, after more than 20 years with the company. Mike Kelly has taken on the role of general manager, having joined the company in July.
He has held a number of senior sales and marketing roles, most recently seven years with a UK ceramic tile manufacturer. He has undertaken a review of Huppe UK's business operations and prepared a five-year growth plan.
His major objectives are to re-energise the business with support and investment from its German parent company the Masco Group to provide a focus and direction for growth. Commenting on his appointment Kelly stated: "This is an exciting challenge and a great opportunity for everyone involved. We will launch a new, customer-focused Huppe to the bathroom trade in 2010." |  |
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KBB NTG launches installer schemeThe Kitchen Bedrooms Bathroom National Training Group (KBB NTG) has introduced an Industry Standards Register for Installers to recognise qualified trades. In 2008, one of the biggest group of complaints received from Consumer Direct (a section of the Office of Fair Trading) was from kitchen, bathroom and bedroom fitting. The Industry Standards Register (ISR) will initially focus on kitchen installers but will be extended throughout other parts of the sector. A set of National Occupational Standards for installers has been created which will form the basis of assessment and training provision.
The initiative will include input from the Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installers (iKBBI), who has worked with the NTG to develop the model. Drew Carter, director of the iKBBI, said: "Our industry has long been without training and development that matches the needs of the professional KBB installer. "If you have training and development programmes that support new entrants as well as individuals at the top of their game, you need something to hold this all together that recognises their skills andexperience. The register (ISR) does this and is another step forward in recognising that keeping on top of your game requires continuous professional development, whether you're a sports professional or a trade professional."
The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT) has been appointed as the License Registered Body to run the ISR. Chief executive of NAPIT, John Andrews commented: "The launch of the Industry Standards Register is an indication of the commitment by the major players in the KBB industry to raise standards right across this diverse and complex industry." |
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AtHome with WhirlpoolWhirlpool UK has launched AtHome, training and brand experience centre in Croydon, Surrey. It incorporates all four of the company's brands, which include Amana, Maytag, KitchenAid and Whirlpool in their own presentation areas.
Managing director of Whirlpool UK, Ian Railton commented: "AtHome has been a concept which we have wanted to create for sometime, and it isperfect timing with the launch of so many new products and ranges across the brands this year. "Once underway, the project came together within a couple of months thanks to the professional planning, organisation, building and finishing by our team. We now feel we are in a position to offer our trade partners the very best in training and showroom facilities: it is here and ready for use whenever convenient." |  |
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Tesco fittingSupermarket giant Tesco has announced a free design and installation service for bathrooms and kitchens. The fitting will be performed exclusively by registered iKBBI (Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installers) members.
iKBBI director, Damian Walters commented on the launch: "I'm more than confident that our involvement will benefit all stakeholders, including the world class brand of Tesco, their customers and our members "the professional KBB installers." |
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Star car scheme from MooresThe Four Seasons brand from the Moores Furniture Group has launched its Star Rewards scheme to promote the brand. The promotion is a way of saying thank you to the company's star partners, with prizes ranging from a case of beer through to a holiday or a brand new car.
Open to all Four Seasons retailers, participants will be rewarded for increasing their year-on-year turnover of Four Seasons products. Every additional pound of revenue recorded, compared to the previous year, will be rewarded and the bigger the increase on last year's revenue the better the reward. The award for the top performer is a new car, which is not limited to just one retailer but is available to every retailer achieving the highest level of revenue increase. The programme is open now until July 31, 2010 and retailers can join at any time.
Commenting on the scheme, sales director, David Kirby said: "We have successfully rolled out this programme for our bathroom furniture brand Shades and it was incredibly well received by bathroom retailers. "We wanted to offer Four Seasons' kitchen customers the same opportunities and to reward their loyalty to the brand and encourage them to keep selling even in the tough economic climate. "As a supplier we view our relationship with our customers as a partnership and as such we want to reward their loyalty." |  |
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Consumer cashback from BSHBSH Customer Service has launched a cash back scheme for customers whose existing Bosch, Siemens or Neff domestic appliance is deemed to be beyond economical repair by one of the company's engineers. Aimed specifically at out of guarantee appliances no longer covered by the manufacturer's guarantee, extended warranty or Repair Care plan, the customer is eligible for a special cash back form.
The form entitles customers to a 50% refund in the engineer fee for the repair, if they replace their existing Bosch, Siemens or Neff appliance with a BSH model from a dealer outlet in the UK. To be eligible for the scheme the customer must pay for the engineer's visit on the day and the refund is undertaken by customer service once the form and appliance receipt has been returned.
Bernhard Vocke, BSH customer service director said: "Dealers have always been able to refer repair customers to BSHsafe in the knowledge that we offer fair pricing and expert service. This new cash back scheme rewards the dealers who refer repairs to BSH; it also ensures customers return to our brands - and to our dealers - when replacing their appliances." |  |
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William Ball branded storesDue to the success of its own studios, William Ball is now looking to roll out its branded store concept to select customers.
The company's four branded studios based in Grays (Essex), Worcester, Horsham and Haydock have enjoyed a sales growth of 38% year-on-year. Now it aims to set up 50 branded William Ball stores throughout the country, with the most recent addition being William Ball Exeter, previously trading as Mulberry Home Zones: Branded stores have access to the company's marketing material, including advertisements and literature, as well as a website that is hosted by William Ball.
Sales and marketing director, Peter Loftus said: "We can confidently show potential partners that our retail formula works and we've got the figures to prove it. "We have successfully bucked the current downturn in the market and we want to show those partners that come on board with our Branded Store Concept the secret of our success so thatthey can start enjoying incremental sales. "By working with partners who are equally as forward-thinking, providing them with the right training and support we know that we can give our customers a solid business model for the future." |  |
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Carron Phoenix memorial walkEmployees of Carron Phoenix raised £8,050 on a sponsored walk in memory of a colleague who died earlier this year. Marketing co-ordinator of Carron Phoenix, Nicola Natore died from cervical cancer at the age of 32.
Seven staff members walked the length of Loch Lomond, approximately 30 miles, to raise money for Cancer Research and Diabetes UK.
Sales & marketing director of Carron Phoenix, Neil Clark said: "Nicola made a tremendous contribution to the company during her time with us and we were all privileged to know her as a friend and colleague. "The memorial walk proved tougher than any of us had expected, but worth the blisters given the amount of money raised which will go to two very worthy causes. We would like to thank all those from within the kitchen industry who supported us with donations. |  |
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