KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
24th September 2010
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International News
Products Baumatic and E-cloth add sparkle to the kitchen
Leading appliance manufacturer Baumatic is giving away five of its top of the range BRC4IV dual fuel range cookers as part of a special promotion with EnviroProducts, the name behind the innovative E-cloth. Furniture built to last a lifetime: new brochure available
Chamber is delighted to announce that it has a new brochure showing a selection of its beautiful custom built kitchens, bedrooms and media rooms in both traditionally classic and contemporary styles. Chamber is a long established family run business, producing hand-built bespoke kitchens in its purpose built factory/showroom in Halstead, Kent. FIRA reinvigorates Innovation Award: Italiana Ferramenta wins with new range of cabinet hangers FIRA's Innovation Award has been given a new lease of life, with new guidelines and a completely new look, as part of the organisation's aim to encourage new creativity and thinking in the furniture industry. Exciting new wall tile ranges to inspire...
Whether you're looking for something subtle or bold, the new ceramic tile ranges from British Ceramic Tile offer a range of options to suit a variety of tastes and styles. Take off with Magnet Trade's Autumn Flights promotion Magnet Trade customers will be rewarded for their spend this Autumn with free flights to Europe and beyond. Sheer quality: the Stalto Professional tap from Abode
The Abode Stalto Professional tap offers cutting edge, up-to-the-minute creative styling with multiple functionality. This majestically tall stainless steel tap has been created for people who want the perfect blend of design, performance and sheer quality. The tap is designed to complement a contemporary kitchen without dominating the space. The moveable spout and single lever operation allows for one-handed control of flow and temperature. With its diverse application of use, this high specification monostem mixertap is also designed to provide flexibility in food washing and preparation with its extendable pull-out hand spray which requires a minimum 0.75 bar pressure. Abode taps form a perfect partnership with the company's newly created range of kitchen sink designs. T: 01226 283434 KitchenAid's double dishwasher is super functional
For those who like their dishwashers to be super discreet and super functional, KitchenAid's flexible Dishwasher Drawer represents a special touch of luxury. This spacious and versatile built-in model, offering an optional stainless steel door, will blend seamlessly into kitchen layouts of different sizes and formats. Work the look with Nuance worksurfaces in the bathroom
Bushboard's recently relaunched Nuance range of bathroom surfacing offers an increased choice of 20 worksurface designs and materials that will chic up any bathroom interior. |
Welcome to the
The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association has warned that an energy surcharge applied by large multi-national material producers is creating additional costs in the supply chain and playing havoc with kbb retailers' pricing levels. "It is unfortunate that this Energy Surcharge is being applied at a time when retailers have to look so hard at all of their costs," commented Graham Ball, CEO of the KBSA. It is an unnecessary extra burden to businesses at such a difficult and critical time. "The Energy Surcharge is reviewed every quarter, which means that it can continually change and this is proving very difficult for KBSA retailers to know what level of extra costs will be passed on. "We would urge these product manufacturers to re-look at this issue and to investigate a better and fairer system that will provide more certainty for smaller businesses further down the chain." The European Energy Surcharge was first introduced in 2004 as a result of increasing global oil prices and is applied to glass, steel and other building products. It was originally regulated by the IPE Brent oil price. However, in 2008 it became apparent that part of the oil price was determined by current exchange rates, which is now also taken into account. It strikes me that with the global economy the way it is at the moment and some strategists still warning that the danger of a 'double-dip' recession has not yet passed, anything that can be done to help companies - and particularly small businesses - plan ahead and ensure that their cash flow is not jeopardised, will be most welcome. And talking of boosting cash flow, don't miss our story: 'Lifeline for firms with just one week left to claim backdated small business rate relief' in this week's news. It might just save you some money... John and I are visiting 100% Design later today. If you're unable to get along to the show at Earls Court before it ends on Sunday, you can read all about it in next week's KBZine. Yours,
This Week's News
Desire: Carron Phoenix's latest tap creation
Desire combines well with many of Carron Phoenix's sink styles in stainless steel, granite and ceramic. The narrow cylindrical body incorporates a simple single lever handle in a slim, flat paddle style that is echoed in the spout which pivots through 180 degrees. Whilst petite and elegant in appearance, Desire has uncompromisingly high standards of functionality and high performance. Lifeline for firms with just one week left to claim backdated small business rate relief
Small businesses that face losing out on at least £200 million in backdated rate relief are being thrown a lifeline in the form of a free online claims system. Unless they lodge claims by the 30th September deadline, businesses occupying commercial premises between 1st April 2007 and April 2010 could miss out on backdated small business rate relief, which, according to figures from property specialist Leaseholders United, is worth at least £200 million. UK 'a nation of water wasters'
New research out today by leading bathroom manufacturer Ideal Standard reveals there is a lack of awareness when it comes to our water usage. Whilst many homeowners want to limit their water use, many are unaware of how much water they use and waste on a daily basis. Over half of people use double the amount of water they think they use, according to the latest figures from the water usage survey. Over 80% of people believe they consume less than 90 litres of water per day, yet each person in the UK uses an average of 150 litres of water a day. Retailers shift focus to sweat budgets
Here, Andy Rosson from Hangar Seven - one of the UK's largest commercial photographic studios - and brand managers from some of the agency's clients - Sainsbury's, Fired Earth, Betta Living and Silentnight - comment on trends emerging in retail photography and the challenges facing retail businesses. Exciting laminate worktops from DK
The 14 worktop designs offer various finished and effects including the fascinating white and black spark effects with suspended particles. Other effects include Luna Terracotta, Black Jade Matt, Polaris Metalic and Walnut (Wide Block). KitchenAid presents the ultimate in food and wine storage
The Wine Cabinet truly is a professional wine cellar built to expert standards, from the best materials and rigorous attention to detail. It is a dream for the serious wine connoisseur, storing a total of 188 bottles that will mature the finest of wines by replicating the conditions found in only the best wine cellars i.e. stable temperature, correct humidity and little or no vibration. Rehau invites visitors to live demonstration of new laser edge
This will be the first time the technology has been demonstrated in the UK and the event is designed to enable visitors to see for themselves the flawless moulded look which can be achieved when the edgeband is applied to board edges. BMA supports the Prince's START
Prince Charles set off this week with his green Royal train to take the message about water and energy efficiency, amongst other things, across the UK. The BMA is always pleased to see the important subject of sustainability being discussed and Prince's tour of the UK which is aimed at getting people to reduce waste and conserve energy, is great news. Superpan - the advanced substrate from Finsa
Superpan is one such product, especially developed for the MFC products market and now seen as the optimum substrate for the latest high gloss finishes and photo-realistic patterns and grains.
The California Building Standards Commission now references NSF International's plumbing standard in the latest version of the California Plumbing Code for water piping systems. NSF/ANSI Standard 14: Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials is recognised by code and regulatory officials, manufacturers and plumbers to verify the performance and safety of plastics piping system components and related materials. As announced in a recent Building Standards Bulletin, the California Building Standards Commission removed the state's amendment that excludes the use of cross linked polyethylene (PEX) for water piping systems from the California Plumbing Code. PEX is now permitted for use in all occupancies, including commercial, residential and institutional building construction, rehabilitation and repair under the jurisdiction of the California Building Standards Commission and responsible agencies in all areas of California. Retailers halve waste sent to landfill
Less than a quarter of waste produced by retailers is now sent to landfill compared with almost 50% in 2005. This dramatic reduction is one of the results revealed last Friday in 'A Better Retailing Climate Progress Report 2010' published by the British Retail Consortium. This is an update on the comprehensive set of goals signed by retailers two years ago for reducing the environmental impact of their businesses by 2013. New guidance highlights importance of managing stress during economic strife
Employers have been advised it is in their interests to prevent and manage stress at work, as a new guide is launched highlighting the potential legal risks they face if they ignore their responsibilities in this area. The guide, produced by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, with support from the Health & Safety Executive, ACAS and the cross-government Health, Work & Wellbeing programme, spells out employers' legal obligations in identifying and preventing stress at work. Tap into Savings comes to Braintree
A major national water and energy saving project - Tap into Savings - is being launched today at the Braintree Town Hall by project partners. Over the next six months, the project will visit 5,000 homes in the Braintree District, helping households save around 15% of their water use - at zero cost to the householder. Collectively, we'll be saving 247,500 litres of water a day - enough to supply 1700 people in Braintree with their daily water needs, or fill the main 8-laned swimming pool in Braintree twice a week. From now and until the end of February residents will be offered a range of free products, installed by an Anglian Water approved plumber, including a device to convert a single flush toilet into dual flush, tap inserts, hose guns and an E.ON 'ShowerSave'. They will also be offered a thermometer card that indicates whether a room is too hot or too cold, and gives contact details of where to get more advice. 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. News in Brief
Apollo has just launched two new types of shutters - a blackout shutter and a cost-effective Craftwood range to compliment its existing hard wood collection. T: 0800 915 3030 Indesit's Hotpoint and Indesit cookers, hobs, washing machines and tumble dryers have taken a record eight 'Best Buy' awards from consumer champions Which? since the start of the year. T: 08000 921 922 Fitted kitchen and bedroom specialist Betta Living has announced the opening of two new showrooms in Staffordshire and another in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. T: 0800 269 945 Brabantia has launched an all-metal bathroom bin.The Slide Bin De Luxe has a clever opening mechanism and can be wall-mounted or stood on a flat surface. T: 0845 602 4877 Merlyn has revived its 'Vivid' range of shower enclosures with the introduction of 22 new models. Vivid is available via distribution channels only, in response to disappointment at the earlier demise of the brand. T: 00353 56 779 1555 How to contact us at The KBzine:
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