KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
5th August 2016
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 International News
Products Franke adds the contemporary Smart tap to its best-selling Pro-Value range
'Wow factor' heating with new Sigma & Fog towel warmers by Aestus
New Sureseal enhances waterproof protection, performance and aesthetics
Steel announces Enfasi range cooker collection
Geberit Monolith: now even easier to install but as sleek and stylish as ever
Virtu has shaker-style down to a fine art...
New Eisl Eco home mixer tap range cuts energy usage and keeps bills to a minimum
Lift kitchen storage to new heights with Alno iMove
Vado launches Strata and Phase shower columns
Survey of SMEs across Europe and the USA reveals differing outlooks Well over a third (38%) of UK small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) believe that if they don't adapt their business models they will go out of business in five years. However, only a mere 2% have done something about it. These are the findings of the 2016 'SME Barometer Research' commissioned by Exact - an annual survey looking at technology adoption among 2,500 SMEs across Europe and the USA - which reveals a number of differing outlooks, across the countries studied. Gaia takes control of the whole house
SieMatic receives the highest possible brand endorsement with a golden accolade
Established after a directive from the German Bundestag (House of Representatives) over 60 years ago, the 'German Design Council' acknowledges international design and brand activity in Germany with its esteemed 'German Brand Award'. Grohe and Philips Sound bring the joy of music to the shower experience
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KBzine is on its annual broadcasting break, but remains live for important breaking news. See you in September! Oddly, for someone in my position, I only learned about this today but I find it incredibly worrying…. Back in my days as a young rookie reporter, the Government (or was it the predecessor of the EU?) was attempting to introduce VAT on periodical publications. Naturally, the publishers of ‘trade & technical’ titles, were up in arms, saying – quite rightly – that this would be a tax on knowledge. Now it’s happening with Internet publishing and, I believe (although I’m still trying to get my head around everything) this will include us posting links to your or your clients’ websites as well as your sharing or tweeting of any links we provide – such as forwarding coverage we’ve given your or a client’s company or new products, to, say, colleagues, customers and potential customers. The link tax would mean the beginning of a systematic erosion of a fundamental building block of the open Internet: the right to link. If it is passed, the Internet could increasingly become a one-way broadcasting tool, rather than a place of connections and people power. In September, the European Parliament is to decide the future of the link tax, which we believe is a cumbersome and unfair money-grab that would undermine everyone’s access to information and which will also limit innovation. The lobby pushing this regressive idea will be redoubling its efforts after the Summer break, but if it goes through, then an EU-wide link tax could be passed this next session (awaiting clarification re UK liability now re Brexit) OpenMedia is building an online tool to allow us to contact our MEPs with its expert-researched case against the link tax, and a personal message from us – the constituents. This means that for the first time MEPs will be hearing directly from us about the link tax. Developing the software is expensive and OpenMedia is asking for donations. You can donate now at www.act.openmedia.org/expression/donate?src=159917 Either way, if you want to be able to continue to share Internet links, do please write to both your MP and your MEP without delay. Links (while I can still freely provide them!) to further information is below: How does this harm publishers who want to innovate? Source: Media Publishers Action Ancillary copyright has "overwhelmingly negative impact.” Source: AncillaryCopyright.eu More evidence from Germany: ancillary copyright still not working. Source: Communia EU Lawmakers Are Still Considering This Failed Copyright Idea. Source: Fortune Yours,
 This Week's News
Brexit Bump & Bounce for Shower Market to 2020
Based on industry sales data, the report forecasts volume and values and suggests that sales of shower products are set for 10% growth by 2020, highlighting healthy fundamentals as consumer spending remains strong in 2016. Daval launches Mayfair & Varenna Kitchen Furniture Collection
Simon Bodsworth, managing director of Daval says: "Fifty shades of grey with accents of wood are very popular right now and the cashmere and grey oak seen across our new Mayfair and Varenna furniture collection answers this trend perfectly." UK drivers urged not to stop for anything other than marked police vehicle Following a second theft of a vehicle on a motorway in Essex this week, police are advising motorists not to pull over if requested to do so by anything other than a marked police vehicle. This warning follows a second theft between junctions 28 and 27 on the anti-clockwise M25 at around 14:10 on Monday, July 25th. KBSA announces further keynote speakers at 2016 National Conference
Andrew Davis, social media and digital marketing expert, will discuss how social media is evolving and what that means for businesses. Stylish fairytale furnishings for little princesses
The various children's room ideas and furnishings for princesses, from Portuguese manufacturer Circu, offer a big choice for interior design, with the availability of everything that corresponds to the fairy tale - down to the last detail. Start with choosing the wall colour... The bedroom of a little princess can be decorated in the classic shades of pink and violet, but designers can add shades like turquoise, jade, ruby and amethyst. The fabulous look can be achieved with accents of white, pale peach or special patterns. Dream Doors launches new kitchen design tool to allow customers to plan their perfect kitchen
Created after consultation with Dream Doors' kitchen designers and feedback from customers who had requested a digital aid to help think about what might work in a kitchen, the Dream Doors visualiser aims to help both consumers and franchisees. Perrin & Rowe adds a new extra special finish 'Aged Brass'
Introduced to work alongside the standard collection of Chrome, Nickel and Pewter by Perrin & Rowe, Satin Brass, Polished Brass, English Bronze, 24K Gold and the debut of Aged Brass are sure to answer the latest trend for metallic interiors. Indesit full time launderette completed over 200 washes at Camp Bestival 2016
AHEC European Conference 2016 programme: the future for American hardwoods
On Thursday 20th October, the conference will open with an overview of how AHEC Europe is working to create a bright and promising future for US hardwoods by inspiring decision-makers and creating new products for the built environment. This will include a session on the globalisation of the hardwood trade, focusing on the US domestic market, Europe, and of course China. V-Zug's Refresh Butler enables users to 'steam through the laundry'
Fashioned with a premium selection of cutting-edge modes and functions, the V-Zug Refresh Butler is thought to be an industry first for the UK being the only personal laundry assistance specifically designed for the domestic home. It can refresh and dry clothes, eradicating odours, reducing creases and eliminating 99.9% of bacteria. Saniflo roadshow already a success
The roadshow, which started in May and ends in October, is already leading to direct sales of Saniflo products, including numerous orders for Kinedo shower cubicles. TKC's Quickcab saves 75% of cabinet assembly time
Quickcab cabinets come with TKC's standard specification of an 18mm board and 18mm solid back panel on the base unit, and can be assembled in two minutes due to their innovative design, compared with 7.5 to 10 minutes for a standard flat-pack cabinet.
The new offices in Rickmansworth Road, designed by commercial interiors specialists whose clients include Google, MOO.COM, and KAYAK, are almost double the size of the company's previous accommodation, and offer ultra-modern facilities. Importantly, the new headquarters has much more space for dedicated training rooms and far greater space for meetings and technology presentations, including a new feature tech bench. HiB goes the distance as 10th van hits the road
Originally launched a decade ago, the HiB delivery service covers the length and breadth of the country each day in order to ensure all products are delivered on time and in tip-top condition. 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
KBSA announces further keynote speaker at their 2016 National Conference
 Channel 4 viewers see George Clarke give new Energy to period bathroom with Twyford
Croydex secures patent for Flexi-Fix Croydex has been granted a patent for its Flexi-Fix 'X' plate following a successful application to the UK Intellectual Property Office. British Ceramic Tile supports students at Plymouth College of Art
New dates announced for Graham Hayden's training courses
Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP (as she was at the time) visits new Maidenhead Screwfix store
Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group signs up its first bathroom supplier
City Distribution, based in Blackpool, has been servicing the North of England for 29 years. We take orders up to 4:45pm delivering the following day and even man our sales office on probably our customers' busiest day, Saturday, to deal with product enquiries and process orders for Monday delivery - arguably making a rod for our own back but today's retailer need every tool in the box to secure that all important sale. Hib enters the Virtual Worlds realm
Dream Doors announces winner of inaugural 'kitchen transformation of the year' award
People
Coram Group UK appoints James Walker as new national specification manager
Literature
Candy reveals new 'Built-in kitchen appliance collection 2016' brochure
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