KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
18th July 2014
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 International News
Products Wall-hung sanitaryware "to grow six fold in the next two years"
Good design and ingenuity are increasingly sought in the UK bathroom market and designers and consumers are now turning to solutions that have long been commonplace in European countries such as Germany and Austria. A fine heritage: from the kitchen to the sink
KBBG buying group's first Annual Members' Meeting hosted by Nobilia
The steel revolutions: new Alnoinox!
 British Ceramic Tile introduces its new on-trend Feature Floors range
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Apart from the storms that kept me awake for much of last night, (almost continuous lightning has a great way of lighting up the bedroom when you are temporarily without curtains!) the weather has been pretty good lately which has meant that my 86 year old mother has been able to enjoy a few al fresco meals on our patio. My office, which is next to the patio, is built around the old Victorian outside loo, which although far nicer than one might picture, still has the original loo because it’s set at an angle and replacing it with something more modern will involve digging out and replacing all the drains, which I can’t be doing with right now. I’ve noticed over the past couple of years that rather than use this loo, my mother has chosen to make her way through the house to tackle the very steep stairs to our upstairs bathroom instead and last night she told me why. Apparently, as she gets older, she’s finding it more and more difficult to sit on – and get up from - the low seat of the downstairs WC. A press release from our friends at DRA Public Relations informed me today that as we are all growing taller (they supplied the figures to prove it) their client has started manufacturing basins and WC’s in taller versions, to make life easier for us. Now that’s really what you call providing solutions for your users’ problems, isn’t it? And with all the recent figures showing that many of us in the developed world are becoming more obese than ever, I can see everything having to be built to withstand heavier weights too! In kitchen news, I learned from XFM radio today that a company is selling the option of the ‘toaster selfie’. You supply an image of yourself (or, I presume, anything else of interest) and it adapts a toaster so that it will produce slices of toast featuring the image. Makes a change from Jesus, doesn’t it?
Yours,
 This Week's News
Search is on for next Master Craftsmen The Tile Association has urged the finest tile fixers across the UK to apply for the Master Craft Award, the highest honour that can be bestowed in the industry.
The TTA worked closely over a number of years with the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers to reinstate Master Craftsmen into the wall and floor tiling industry in 2012. British Ceramic Tile enhances its portfolio with a stunning new capsule collection of Mosaics
Offering retailers four equally strong ranges within one collection, Mosaics has been designed with the aim of inspiring homeowners to use mosaic tiles in new and unique ways. Why less will always mean more for the successful independent kitchen specialist
"Very simply, says Bill, "Customers want to be enthralled and wowed by your kitchen displays - not confused. By showing fewer, but larger layouts, you will have more scope to show your design flair and be able to show realistic sized settings, which relate more closely to an actual, real world kitchen. Do not confuse your customers with unnecessary clutter and too much product for the eye to handle. Roman upgrades to ultimate 3D interactive CAD design software for retailers
The result is a major boost for Roman's extensive nationwide network of retailers. They are now able to design specifying from the complete Roman range, including enclosures, showers and accessories, using the latest CAD technology. This will allow them to create bathroom designs faster and more accurately than ever before. Britton Bathrooms makes life easier
For a tall person, a standard height pedestal basin can, quite literally, be a pain in the neck because using it involves stooping. New Spanish Oak adds striking masculine touch to new Linea finish
Spanish Oak joins Graphite, Blackwood and White Gloss finishes to extend the appeal of this sleek, contemporary range. Team 7 increases international reach with expansion to China
The Austrian furniture manufacturer's 300sq.m showroom in Beijing showcases the company's classic designs and bestsellers from the kitchen, dining, living and sleeping ranges, including high-class kitchens such as vao and k7, the award-winning flaye table and the flexible cubus and cubus pure modular systems. Abacus designs and fits new showroom for G H Brooks
Small business of the year award for Modern Homes
The Pride of Warwick Award was a very hotly contested award, with the judges looking for a clear business plan, the ability to demonstrate achievement of business objectives, and a strong understanding of customers' needs. 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
Positive market prospects for kitchen and bathroom distributors
Design Council completes line up for Bathroom & Kitchen Conference
Water Label praised by Minister
Kbsa agrees CITB sponsorship for Training Award 2014
BAL: holding everything together in airport expansion project
British Ceramic Tile embarks on a major recruitment drive in response to increased demand
David Osborne appointed as new BMA President
Building Adhesives Ltd's business excellence recognised
People
British Ceramic Tile reveals its new global sales director
Recruitment news at Holloways of Ludlow
Marketing
F & P Wholesale enjoys mobile bathroom showroom success
Literature
New Phoenix July 2014 Catalogue now available
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