KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th 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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I’m so relieved I’ve not been drawn into what has now firmly established itself as the Black Friday fracas – either by taking part in shopping scrums or experiencing the frustration of website crashes! I can understand those trying to bag a bargain online, but what is it with people in the stores? Have they no dignity? I chuckled at an image of a woman spreadeagled over a flatscreen TV, desperately trying to keep hold of it as a rival shopper did her best to drag it away, but on reading that shop staff have been attacked and several are sporting black eyes and other injuries, and that another shopper has been hurt by a falling TV, I felt sad. What have we become? Some customs we import from the US are worth taking on board, but others, such as over-the-top high school proms, supersized fast foods and of course Black Friday – well – I wish we’d never heard of them. And I have to ask: if someone’s buying a kitchen appliance or the like at a fraction of its normal price today, how likely are they to be spending out again on similar items at a more reasonable price in the run up to Christmas? Isn’t this just a case of bringing the Christmas shopping period forward and cramming it into one 24hr period, during which websites crash, staff are overwhelmed and injured and many unlucky shoppers will be left with – at the very least – a bad taste in their mouths, but perhaps relieved that they haven’t lost teeth? I believe shops are doing themselves a disservice by becoming involved, as the usual loss leaders to lure customers in, aren’t going to work in this kind of scenario, are they – well, not unless it’s an online shop? But of course, how can one store not become involved when its competitors are? I can envisage the headlines… “Stores say final shopping days before Christmas are ‘unusually quiet’,” or “January sales brought forward due to lack of sales”. I think we should ban Black Friday and I daresay all the delivery drivers will be feeling the same by this time next week.
Yours,
 This Week's News
KBSA calls for SME support in Autumn Statement The Kitchen, Bathroom & Bedroom Specialists Association has called for more support for SME’s ahead of The Chancellor’s Autumn statement next Wednesday. Graham Ball, Chief Executive Officer, said: “It really is time now for The Coalition to deliver on promises made in the past and get the banks lending more easily to SME’s. Whilst it has improved, there are still cases where the obduracy of the past has returned. Decision-making must be returned to a local level. Business Rates, of course, need modernising quickly as they cannot be sustained at the levels created when property prices were at their highest – that situation is just plainly daft!
The retail property trade body, which counts a wide range of FTSE listed property companies and town centre investors in its membership, is asking the Chancellor one last time to “press ‘go’ on reform of this archaic system.” World-class base for a business with world-class ambitions...
Lake View House was formally opened on Wednesday by Lord St John of Bletso, the Hereditary British Peer. The opening marked the start of a day of celebration for employees and their families, suppliers, customers and the press. Mereway win Business Innovation category at The Midlands Family Business Awards 2014
VitrA unveils Memoria in the UK at Sleep
Grohe launches five new products at Sleep 2014
* The Grohe Powerbox - This infrared tap uses water pressure to power itself. Grohe's innovative technology uses the tap's own water flow to drive a turbine, concealed in a small box installed below the basin. This converts the energy from the flowing water into storable electrical energy which then powers the tap's infrared function. British Ceramic Tile launches new retail brand
The House of British Ceramic Tile brand has been rolled out to the company's community of independent retailers, marking the start of a sustained communications strategy designed to engage directly with consumers and drive them in store. Abode launches new three and four part heritage mixer tap collection
The new mixers were previewed at KBB in March this year and now available nationwide through Abode's distribution partners. Propelair wins Green Apple Environmental Award for its UK-manufactured 1.5-litre flush toilet
The Green Organisation recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world and the Green Apple Environmental Awards are presented annually to UK companies, councils and communities. A new way to light and heat a bathroom from Auratherm
The new product, from Auratherm - part of established electric heating company, Ecolec, offers heat and light with remote controls, incorporating a four hour timer and an LED dimmer switch. The Auratherm vision of controlled heat and light in one electric product with a mirror is an intelligent way to save effort and energy. Teka goes a 'Touch' digital with Gas-on-Glass
Available as a five burner, 90cm model or four burner, 60cm model, the hob presents the perfect cooking solution to those who prefer the controllability of gas married with the sleek aesthetics of crystal tempered glass - and of course a hi-tech touch control panel with digital settings. 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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