KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
18th January 2013
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International News
Products Can't see the wood for the trees? On 3rd March 2013, a new EU Timber Regulation, which will affect the entire furniture supply chain, comes into force. Imperial Bathrooms unveils stunning new range of floor tiles
In 2003, the General Accounting Office in the United States issued a report warning that the US was entering a new era of water scarcity. The report projected that by 2013 at least 36 states could face water shortages. However, the report was incorrect. By 2008, five years earlier than projected, at least 36 states were already dealing with periodic, if not chronic, water shortages with California, New Mexico, and Arizona at the top of the list. Rearo expands top selling Selkie Range into the kitchen for 2013
Whirlpool right on trend for the Spring with its new Max microwave colours
New innovative extractor hoods from Blanco by Gutmann are show stoppers
Show-stopping cooker hoods are increasingly in demand, featuring the ever-developing technology in this area. All Blanco by Gutmann hoods are handcrafted to the highest standards and all offer the highest levels of air movement and a host of innovative but practical features. The bathroom cabinet - much more than storage
Commercial tile trends for 2013 Thousands of people across the country will stand in their kitchen this month, possibly cooking a Christmas feast for their family, and they will resolve to upgrade their kitchen as part of a New Year's resolution. Home improvements are a very popular resolution for many people to make, and with the kitchen one of the most frequently used rooms in any home, it's important for it to be both stylish and functional. This guide examines the trends which are taking over the kitchen world right now, and are set to be huge in 2013. The 'revamp'...
Made from genuine pewter in the UK exclusively for Hafele, this understated, robust and classic collection has been designed to maximise versatility through mixing and matching of handles. Hafele chose Pewter as the material for its debut range of branded hardware because of the inherent benefits to the customer. European Bathrooms agrees to settlement from Qualitex Supplies
Handles for handleless kitchens
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Britain has seen three major High Street chains go into administration this week: Jessops (for many years The High Street's camera specialist), Blockbuster (the long-time leader in home video/DVD rental) and HMV (the last remaining dedicated music outlet). And of course there was Comet not that many weeks back. As well as the recession, people are blaming the companies' failures on the growing use of the Internet for personal shopping and for Jessops this is particularly sad as its staff have shared their expertise with customers interested in finding out about a camera's attributes, they've demonstrated how the camera works and allowed the customer to 'have a play around with it' before seeing the customer go off to, no doubt, search for and buy the camera online, to save money. Perhaps if the marketing people had been a bit more switched on they'd have found a way of using the superior service offered in-store to the company's advantage - perhaps even by charging for it and then offering discount vouchers to be put towards purchases made at the store. I don't know if the company had an Internet-based mail order business but if it did, it wasn't publicised enough. Jessops' demise needs to be taken as a warning to other companies like it, to find a way to work with the Internet rather than ignore it in the hope that it won't take too much business away. And in case you're wondering why I've explained what the three companies do (when here in Britain we should all know) it's because John Austen tells me that we now have something approaching global readership and 120,000 page views, as this screen-grab shows.
Although this image depicts the locations of just the most recent 200 readers it does serve to illustrate how widely read KBzine is.
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Yours,
This Week's News
US remodelling recovery underway and picking up steam All signs point to a strong rebound for home improvement activity in 2013, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released yesterday by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
Svelte, is Crosswater's latest comprehensive range of solid brass basin, bath and showering products. The sleek design of the tap spout delivers a thin blade of water, which is easily controlled by the single, equally slim control lever. UK business needs smarter spending strategies for growth Industry report finds lack of awareness at board level of spending habits and inefficient supply chains holding back businesses.
Roman's Infinity tray range and Roman Stone tray range are both manufactured in Roman's on-site UK solid surface manufacturing facility. Breakthroughs in volume have seen the manufacturer now reducing pricing on these products. Out of the Woods: Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs The American Hardwood Export Council will showcase Out of the Woods: Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs at the Stockholm Furniture Fair from 5th - 9th February 2013. The project is a collaboration between Product Design students from the Royal College of Art in London, British Furniture maker Benchmark and the American Hardwood Export Council that began over 12 months ago, culminating in an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum for the London Design Festival 2012. New brochure details stunning 'Creative Bathroom Solutions'
Bluetooth in the bathroom - the latest 'Smart Mirrors' from HiB
Methven's new 'Aroha' tapware collection boasts distinctive exotic design
Transform a home kitchen into a chef's paradise
DIY accolade for CornerTape's SiliconeXP - two in one sealant adhesive award win
F & P Wholesale gets bigger and better in Bedford
Online plumbing supplier provides medical/ healthcare markets with medical taps and sinks One of the UK's largest online suppliers to the plumbing industry has extended its market reach into the professional medical industry by providing high quality, medical standard taps and sinks to a range of organisations including the National Health Service, GP surgeries, veterinary centres, laboratories and dental practices. 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
Lewisham merchant has a 'Year of Beer' on Inta
KBSA welcomes more new members
Burbidge kitchens expands business by taking on the Woodfit brand UK kitchen frontals and accessories manufacturer Burbidge, has announced that it has taken on the name and product range of Woodfit - a distributor of hardware components for the furniture industry - after the business went into administration. 
Soapbox: Census lessons for bathroom industry Yvonne Orgill, Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, writes...
The latest report from the 2011 Census makes fascinating reading and gives the bathroom industry food for thought. ArtiCAD celebrates 20 years in KBB industry with 20 year old clients
Fagor Spoutnik microwave showcased on Channel 5's 'All New Gadget Show'
Belling puts independents on the road
Marketing
A retailer opportunity to receive a free display thermostatic valve!
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The wonders of the Internet, eh?
