KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
26th July 2013
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International News
Products Vessel designer hammock styled suspended bath really has the 'wow' factor
If you're wondering whether to visit 100% Design...
Showerstyling by Showerwall is a brand new, custom-printed bathroom laminate being launched at 100% Design, stand K140, on 18th September. It will offer designers and specifiers the option of bespoke, digital printed wall panelling to give a bathroom a signature design, while also guaranteeing easy installation and maintenance. New, deeper, ergonomic natural stone baths offer deep relaxation
In a month when the EU welcomed another member state and the way was opened for another EU country - Latvia - to join the eurozone, we might well be lulled into assuming that neither the EU dream nor the single currency are discredited after all and that things are looking up. Indeed, the OECD's composite leading indicator for the eurozone has now been at, or above, the long-term average trend line for the last three months in a row and GDP projections even for the current year are being revised upwards. Franke launches its first downdraft hood
LDL extends range of Wesco waste solutions
New ovens deliver intelligent style and intelligent service
One for all with Glide II by Bauhaus
Thinner's a winner in worktops
New little wonders from Crosswater...
New Blum Tandembox Antaro available from LDL
The new, award-winning drawer profile, available in grey, silk white and stainless steel, has a contemporary rectangular gallery rail which can be combined with a number of colour co-ordinated design elements to create the required effect. Axor - Brand of choice for the Waldorf Astoria Berlin
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In last week’s Leader, I sympathised with the delivery teams that have to hump heavy loads around in this incredibly hot weather and suggested that we’re a little more relaxed over timekeeping; perhaps offering a cold drink rather than angry words if they’re moving slowly because of the heat. My words came back to bite me on the backside this week (as the saying goes) when – having persuaded my 85 year old mother that a Sainsbury’s superstore shop was a bad idea in this heat and that we should try an Asda home delivery instead – I downed tools to be at mum’s to await the delivery, scheduled for between 11.00 and 13.00. At 13.05 I called customer services to ask where it was, only to be told that according to terms & conditions, delivery may be up to an hour later than specified (well why not say 11.00 – 14.00 then so people can plan ahead? And I’ve yet to find this clause anywhere on the website)! The offer of free delivery next time naturally prompted the response that we wouldn’t be using the unreliable service again; customer services couldn’t do more so we asked to speak to a manager, whose call some time later revealed that a van had broken down that morning and that the spare was having trouble catching up time-wise; we were now third or fourth in the queue and could expect delivery by 15.00-ish. She offered to cancel the entire order, which we’d spent a good hour placing, and by now had waited more than three hours for, which as you can imagine made our blood boil! Asda had everyone’s phone numbers so why on earth didn’t it phone those likely to be affected, warn us all that there might be a hitch and offer an alternative slot for those unable to wait in beyond the specified time? Communication is key when things go wrong. Get it right and you can keep customers onside – don’t bother and they’ll take their business to suppliers that make them feel valued. Yours,
This Week's News
New Rapport taps from Abode are bang up to date! The Rapport collection of chrome finish taps, created especially for the UK market, forms part of a new range of bathroom brassware products from Abode, incorporating single lever, dual lever and wall mounted basin models as well as deck mounted bath mixers and shower mixers and concealed wall mounted thermostatic valves. It's all in the detail with British Ceramic Tile's new Character collection Following on from the launch of British Ceramic Tile's new Cookhouse Character collection, the company has unveiled its wide range of coordinating decor tiles. 100% Design unveils its 2013 Kitchen & Bathroom Hall 100% Design has further established itself as a September destination for the Kitchen & Bathroom industry, with brands including Dornbracht, Bulthaup, DuPont Corian, Mette and Keramag - and a seminal installation to explore design's role in the future of food production. New course will help companies source sustainable timber A new workshop for companies aiming to achieve FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) is being held on Thursday 15th August.
The Chain of Custody Awareness Workshop, run by FIRA, is designed to provide delegates with a key understanding of Chain of Custody and the requirements of the FSC and PEFC standards. New Evoline range from LDL available from stock The award-winning Evoline range is primarily known for bringing stylish power solutions to inaccessible places such as kitchen islands, overhead cabinets, breakfast bars and confined spaces. The discreetly integrated power, data and multimedia sockets enhance the potential of any kitchen design and also avoid the necessity to channel through walls. Survey reveals many Brits are confused by their washing machines A new study carried out by Indesit brand revealed that over 13% of Brits don't feel confident using a washing machine. And it's no surprise that 16 to 24-year-olds are the most reluctant to do their own laundry, with the most popular excuses including: Vertical Platinum hood from Amica raises the bar on performance and style Amica has launched a stunning new extractor hood, set to raise the style and performance bar, as consumers search for increasingly functional-design in the kitchen. Mereway Kitchens strengthen internal and external sales & marketing team Mereway Kitchens has strengthened its internal and external sales & marketing team with three new appointments. Robert Lee Distribution expands its sales team One of the UK's largest independent bathroom distributors has recruited two new members to its sales team. 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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Employers urged to take extra care of young people starting Summer jobs Workers are far more likely to be injured in workplace accidents during the first few months of a new job than at any other time says the British Safety Council. With the holiday season approaching, employers are urged to pay extra attention to the health & safety of young people hired for temporary, Summer work. BMA AGM delegates learn how to avoid jail sentence for wrongly labelled toilets!
De Dietrich exclusively chosen by Cornflake to feature in the Smart App-artment
Leisure sinks and taps installed at prestigious university
Travis Perkins Group show support for Water Efficiency Label
Chocks away for furniture industry charity cycle challenge! 50 staff at two furniture industry organisations are hoping to raise funds for their local hospice by cycling 874 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats, but they won't be leaving the building! 'Betsy' the trusty Whirlpool fridge freezer retires after 43 years' service
The sturdy EVL13C, nicknamed 'Betsy' by Alan and Marilyn West, has been running non-stop since the couple bought her back in May 1970. Government confirms its strong commitment to TrustMark in new Industrial Strategy TrustMark, the national quality badge for reputable tradesmen in the domestic RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sector, has received a strong vote of confidence this week with the publication of the Government's Industrial Strategy for Construction. Leading DIY retailers, builders' merchants and manufacturers are to introduce a voluntary labelling scheme to help consumers identify the water efficiency of bathroom fittings such as taps, showers, WCs and baths. Abode forms new distribution partnership
Marketing
New AMA report provides a major review of the UK Shower Market
Literature
New brochure for Sensio|Koch range Following the partnership of two of the most influential brands in the furniture lighting industry in 2011, Sensio and Wilhelm Koch have released a new brochure displaying the latest products from the range. |