KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
1st April 2016
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 International News
Products Blanco - German perfection at impressive KBB
TKC showcases new Lucente Cashmere kitchen range, premium wirework and revamped lighting collection
Sanipex Group UK showcased new ranges
Kitchen design that is as smooth as silk: that's Masterclass
Trend Interiors: creating a stir
Smart surfaces and clever ideas from Bushboard
Pronorm on-point with new products to create luxury kitchens
Ideal Standard unveils two new bathroom collections
Cosentino launches Dekton XGloss
Natural beauty set in stone with Raw Concrete
Latest kitchen lighting and power solutions
British Ceramic Tile sponsors the UK's first National Tile Week
More than one in three of us prefer neutrals when it comes to decorating our bathrooms
Slide into style with a new feature from in-toto
The kitchen is often the heart of the home... a busy hub of people gathering to eat, drink and socialise. |
BREAKING NEWS ABODE ACQUIRED BY NORCROS PLC Today, 1st April 2016 Norcros plc, the market leading supplier of innovative branded showers, taps, bathroom accessories, tiles and adhesives, announces its acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Abode Home Products Ltd. Today’s the day that the National Living Wage is introduced, increasing the pay of millions of the UK’s lowest paid workers (reportedly one in three people will benefit) in by far the biggest compulsory rise that’s been seen since the National Minimum Wage was brought in, back in April 1999. While it has long been felt by many that taxes collected from better-off workers should not have been used to subsidise the wages of the low paid through tax credits, enabling some of the more successful companies to increase profits through not paying their workforces a living wage, there are other companies that would have struggled – and still will – to pay what’s being demanded of them. So what’s the answer? Many have said that they will have to lay people off or reduce the opportunities for overtime work that may be paid at a higher than normal rate, to balance out the wage bill to manageable levels. Others are saying that they will have to reduce benefits in some way, perhaps by cutting the length of breaks or even holidays, or by reducing bonuses or altering commission structures to make it harder for staff to reach targets. Many recent studies have shown that company perks do more to promote loyalty and improve employee satisfaction than pay rises, so cutting perks is unlikely to be beneficial. It may encourage the most valuable members of the workforce to seek employment elsewhere and thus increase costs through the need for recruitment and the subsequent training of new members of the team. Staff turnover can also damage the business more subtly, with the lack of continuity and valued business relationships that are broken as a result, perhaps making clients consider switching to a different supplier. We, in the UK, are often slated for our lack of productivity and it is through addressing this issue that many see as being the best way of coping with higher wage bills and improving the company in other ways as a result. The Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development has, I believe, a good take on the best way forward. You can read its statements below – and if you have any comments on the suggestions made, or ideas that you’d like to share with KBzine’s readers, we’d love to learn about them. Yours,
 This Week's News
"Some years ago, when independent kitchen retailers sold a kitchen, it was a reasonably straightforward affair. For the beauty of ice in the home; go for Glacier from Lustrolite
Minimalistic decor and clean lines are always on-trend for kitchens and this cool-toned, minty blue high-gloss panel is the ideal way to keep your kitchen in style while adding texture and colour at the same time. Success of National Living Wage depends on businesses raising their game on productivity
"The introduction of the National Living Wage will increase the pay of millions of the UK's low-paid workers. Ultimately, though, it will only be judged a success if employers can sustain higher wages for the low-paid without the need for job losses and cuts to other pay and benefits. The NLW will increase costs for many businesses, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, which are set to be the hardest hit. But overall, more than half of employers in the UK said the changes will have an effect on their wage bill, according to CIPD research. British Ceramic Tile expands popular Ted Baker ArTile range
Part of the Ted Baker Residence collection, the ArTile family is a range of glass splashbacks that bring some of Ted's most iconic prints into the home, with the latest addition celebrating the trend for Orient-inspired patterns and colours. Promising start to 2016 for UK tradesmen 2016 has got off to an encouraging start for UK tradespeople as they declare revenues are up, according to new research. IronmongeryDirect's Annual Industry Review, which was compiled to gain a snapshot of the construction industry, found that 61% of trade professionals expect their business's revenue to increase in 2016. iKBBI commits to The Furniture Makers Company
Formed as a guild in 1952, established as a livery company of the City of London in 1963, and granted a Royal Charter in 2013, the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers has a strategy to support three key areas within the furniture industry: Education, Excellence and Assistance. All hail the Harrow - Burbidge launches new bathroom beauty
An amalgamation of contemporary and classic, Harrow has all the ingredients of a new modern classic. Constructed from premium timber to the classical proportions of the iconic shaker style, Harrow exudes traditional luxury, which is further enhanced when shown in its Natural Oak form allowing the beauty of real wood to shine through. For an injection of modernity, the range is available in Burbidge's extensive colour palette, with the new neutral tones of delicate Putty and Mink adding contemporary overtones. System Six Kitchens partners with Compusoft's Winner Design
In 40 years System Six Kitchens has gained the reputation of being one of the best high quality bespoke kitchen designers, planners and manufacturers in the South West. Insinkerator introduces new product brochure
Titled 'Enhance your Life, Enhance your kitchen', the brochure highlights the manufacturer's ongoing commitment to providing products that are sustainable, while adding style and convenience to the kitchen. Tilemaster launches new neutral-cure Silicone 3000+
Abode apprentices gain their NVQ's
A double whammy - HIB presents cheques to chosen charities
As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, an impressive £9,519.80 was raised in an epic fundraising challenge held last September which saw a total of 12 employees embark on the UK's infamous Three Peaks Challenge. 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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Utopia appoints creative brand co-ordinator
 Whirlpool UK appliances appoints new digital marketing manager
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British Ceramic Tile launches an exclusive Retailer Club at kbb Birmingham
Literature
LDL introduces new consumer guide to kitchen storage
Caple's updated appliance brochure is available now
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