KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
21st November 2014
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 International News
Products MX unveils new thermostatic mixer shower ranges
Re-thinking sanitation in support of World Toilet Day
New Blum lift system available as a complete pack from LDL
Manhattan makes heads turn, not just movies!
Finished in a premium quality gloss foil that produces a mirror-like finish (minimising any orange peel effect); Manhattan offers exceptionally high quality and affordability for the handless look that seems like it's here to stay on the market. Crosswater adds 'Glitz' and 'Sparkle' to bathrooms this Christmas
Lixil Water Technology Group: A new global market leader to be born
Whirlpool launches new dishwashers with PowerDry option
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A report issued just this afternoon by Government-endorsed ‘find a tradesman’ scheme, TrustMark, could provide a useful tool for showroom sales staff who may otherwise struggle to sell the benefits of using the services of their kitchen, bathroom or bedroom fitters, to buyers who believe (often mistakenly) that they’ll be able to do just as good a job themselves. Trustmark’s nationwide survey has revealed that a staggering 91% of British adults, when looking to buy a home, would reduce the offer they planned to make on a property that showed signs of poorly-done DIY, while more than half said that they would consider not offering at all. But perhaps what’s more staggering is the amount of money involved, with an average reduction on the asking price of 11%. This would result in a loss of almost £40,000 for the average English home, or £60,149 in London. Having to absorb this kind of reduction when you’re trying to buy a bigger or better home yourself can mean that your onward purchase is no longer affordable, so unless you’re a genius when it comes to DIY, it’s best off leaving it to the experts who carry out projects of this type day in, day out, rather than once in a blue moon. As I said, these figures are certainly worth sharing with your customers if you have installation services to sell. You can read more, further down the page. I’m going to be having a look at some of the latest bathroom and bedroom furniture and related products that will - like everything else - benefit from expert installation, when I visit the Sleep Event at London’s Business Design Centre on Wednesday and Thursday. I can’t wait to see what the exhibitors have in store…
Yours,
 This Week's News
Brits turn 'do-it-yourself' into 'devalue-it-yourself' Dodgy DIY by British homeowners may be devaluing the sale price of the average UK home: a staggering 91% of British adults would reduce their offer on homes with signs of poorly-done DIY by some amount, and over half (54%) would be less likely to put an offer in at all. What's more, Brits would reduce this offer by 11% on average, amounting to a loss of over £30,800 for the average English home.
In the capital, this figure shoots up to £60,149. KBSA welcomes another new corporate member The Kitchen, Bathroom & Bedroom Specialists Association has another new corporate member - BWT UK - part of the Best Water Technology (BWT) Group, which was founded by Joh. A. Benckiser in Schriesheim, Germany in 1823. BWT Group employs 2.643 people and its sales have steadily grown to reach over € 507.7 million last year.
The UK arm, BWT UK, is a UK leader in water treatment technology, supplying safe, high quality water treatment products for domestic and commercial use. The product offering includes luxury water appliances for the whole home and filtered drinking water for the kitchen. New report shows how healthy workplaces are managing stress One-quarter of workers in Europe report feeling stressed at work all or most of the time - and a similar proportion say that work affects their health negatively. Psychosocial risks; for example, monotonous tasks, high work intensity, tight deadlines, work-life imbalance, violence and harassment from the public or from colleagues, contribute to work-related stress.
A new report, published as part of a Europe-wide campaign Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress gives a broad overview on psychosocial risks at European workplaces and gives examples on the way forward at political as well as company level -all illustrated with real-life examples and case studies.
Five out of the 10 Max-Top Quartz finishes cater for the monochrome trend with Black Onyx and Diamond White the two best sellers to date. RBS names Propelair as successful innovator in the search for new 'green' inventions Propelair has been selected to take part in the Royal Bank of Scotland Innovation Gateway after 26 finalists pitched their green inventions to a panel of judges, in a bid to test their new products in selected RBS buildings and branches in the UK. InSinkErator features in award winning sustainable home
Fitted with some of the best energy saving devices and appliances on the market, the triumphant South Yorkshire and Humber build spans 600sq.m, but costs contractor and owner, Colin Goodwin, less than £1 per month in all fuel and electricity costs. Travis Perkins Group recognised as most improved in sector for Corporate Action on Deforestation
The report looks at the disclosures from 152 companies from around the world, representing a market capitalisation of over US$3 trillion, which responded to the investor call for transparency and accountability on deforestation and forest-risk commodities. The report has been produced on behalf of 240 investors who together represent US$15 trillion in assets by CDP, the international NGO that drives sustainable economies. Lakes Bathrooms launches new site for mobile web
The new site not only responds to the viewing screen, but is said to offer much wider choice for product selection, categorised not only by Collection, but also allowing visitors to browse based on space available and shape or type preference. Lakes Bathrooms says its investment in a new website is intended to improve accessibility for portable and wireless device visitors. New graphic catalogues available from ArtiCad
The latest updated graphics catalogues are: Made to measure bathroom furniture from Ben de Lisi for unique spaces
Along with standard options, Abacus can supply bespoke pieces. Each piece of furniture is handcrafted in the UK by Abacus' own team. Examples include bespoke wood and colour veneers, individual sizes and demister pads for steam-free mirrored doors. Hobsons Choice acquires Stewart Carr Design, Bulthaup Winchester.
The acquisition supports the Hobsons Choice vision to become a customer's first choice for Bulthaup kitchen design and installation. New national sales & marketing manager for Mereway Bathrooms
Tony, formerly sales director at Hammonds Fitted Bedrooms succeeds Tim Wood, who after 17 years of successfully growing the business, has grasped the opportunity to take over the North London and East Anglia region as sales agent from the retiring Philip Bickell, in the New Year. Alno (UK) acquires Bradburys Group
With its well-established kitchen retail showroom in Exeter celebrating over 17 years in business, plus a new Alno store opened in Bristol in 2013, Bradburys has been creating luxury Alno kitchens and providing a superb customer experience for many successful years. Utopia proudly presents the 12 dogs of Christmas!
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