KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
9th May 2014
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 International News
Products New expressions shower tray range launched by MX... Hidden waste system adds to stylish looks
Second bathroom collection from Ben De Lisi now available
Bringing basins into the digital age
Kitemarked sinks still flying high
Designer collections showcased by Crosswater
Distinctly Abode: the new Mikro Sink - beautifully simple...
Lustrolite continues to impress kitchen installers with its sleek finish and ease of installation
Black Sapphire sparkles amongst three new GT colours
IDS exclusively distributes nifty new Yu Seal solution for sealing upstands, splashbacks and tiles.
Just Taps Plus adds basin mixers to Inox range
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John and I are currently on our regular trip to Amsterdam where we produce a daily newsletter from an enormous cleaning exhibition at the RAI. We walk miles, work long hours and consequently I've been somewhat out of touch with my KBB industry colleagues and what's been going on in the UK. When John asked me to email my leader across I thought: "What the heck am I going to write about?" An hour later I'm still no closer to finding anything entirely relevant, so what follows has only the most tenuous links to the KBB industry - although I hope it will get you thinking - and prompt some response. I rather like staying away from home but hotel rooms are always a revelation and I'm often left wondering whether the designers actually try them out before going ahead with their plans. Things such as sockets being set too far away from mirrors/the bed so you can't use hair styling appliances while seeing what you're doing/use your laptop while in bed - or sockets set too close to the surface of the desk so you have to move the desk out to be able to plug the laptop in... you know what I mean, don't you? The absence of full length mirrors and decent lighting can also make it difficult to get ready in a rush (particularly when you're suffering from the effects of a late night) and sometimes I have to spend a while fathoming out how to get the shower to the right sort of temperature - or even sometimes working at all. The thing I can't get my head around though is why all the freshly laundered towels are so darned sticky that you feel you need another shower after you've used them! What exactly are we wiping over our newly washed bodies? And why do hotels insist on giving us a clean towel every morning so there's no hope of avoiding the stickiness? I know some hotels only change towels you've deliberately left on the floor as a sign that you want them changed, but not nearly enough of them do. Just think how much water is wasted each day, with towels in hotel rooms all over the world being changed unnecessarily! Why are we happy to condone this enormous waste of water? And as an industry that supplies these hotels with sanitary ware in the first place, aren't we in a great position to persuade them to consider only changing our towels when we indicate that we want them to? As I said at the top, I'd love your comments on this...
Yours,
 This Week's News
Bathroom Brands outlines wide-ranging plans to drive growth at 3-day internationally attended launch
To support projected growth, a £20 million investment is being made including a stunning new UK head office facility. Alongside this vast infrastructure investment, Bathroom Brands announced total rebranding, significant marketing actions and a new flagship brand - Arcade. 'Ditch the tiles: Use wall panelling for the wow factor in bathrooms and kitchens!' says Abacus...
No longer is traditional tiling always the natural choice. Instead, the market is moving towards panelling that creates a fresh, modern and luxurious look. Designers demand a wow product that sits well alongside the crisp lines of wall hung sanitaryware, induction hobs and stylish, uncluttered worktops.
The golf will be followed by the prize ceremony and networking dinner. Anyone working in the industry can take part, whatever your handicap. £5 of the £45 Green Fee will be donated to WaterAid.
Amore gives bathroom taps a brand new look with super slim flat top spouts and sleek single lever controls that move at the touch of a finger, thanks to the sophisticated ceramic disc cartridge inside each tap. New premium range of larder fittings from LDL are in solid oak
The full set of fittings and accessories creates the popular bespoke pantry look and includes door racks, useful rectangular storage boxes in sets of four, bottle racks which store four bottles, and sets of two wicker baskets - great for odd shaped items. Accessibility bathroom features purpose-made HEWI solutions
This ageing population will create a need for housing interiors that are comfortable, convenient and accessible to those with mobility issues, who are keen to live as long as possible in their own homes. Snowdonia Slateman is scene of next step in Croydex's fundraising campaign
Jason - who was part of Croydex's Brighton Marathon team - is participating in the Slateman Triathlon on May 18th. Nowhere left to hide for germs and bacteria - thanks to rim-free WC
The new Pro rimless WC doesn't have a flushing rim, which means that there's one less place in the bathroom environment for dirt and smells to linger. Instead, the water reaches every part of the inner bowl and gives germs and bacteria no chance to get established. 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. How to contact us at The KBzine:
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clicking the link above. Recent News
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Call to support efficient appliance sales A new report published today 'Promoting highly efficient electrical appliances' calls on the Government to help the public replace their old appliances and cut their energy bills by up to £75 a year. Henley Tiles: Inspiration brought to life
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Marketing
Utopia launches 25th Anniversary lottery To celebrate the company's founding in May 1989, Utopia Bathroom Group is inviting all its retailers to take part in a month-long lottery to win one of 25 luxury hampers. For every order placed in May a lottery ticket will be issued and then 25 winning numbers will be drawn at random on Monday 9th June. Worth over £250 each, the hampers contain a fabulous assortment of edible goodies plus a voucher for a Red Letter 'experience' day. Literature
New Furnipart catalogue available exclusively from LDL
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