KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
8th February 2019
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 International News
Products Clever evolution of tap technology with Blanco's Evol-S
This revolutionary smart tap has an integrated measuring function with a precise rotary control to give users the exact amount of water they need. The specific volume is set with the scaling wheel while the measured amount is delivered via the intuitive touch sensor system. The standard mixer tap functions of temperature and flow are controlled by the lever on the opposite side - the Evol-S is available handed left or right. New POS for Vista statement splashbacks
Vista includes a compelling showroom lure like Summer Palms along with Moorish patterns, geometrics, weathered London brick, metro tiling and vintage prints (just some of the inspiring options in the new collection which includes 14 designs in 9mm mdf and six in 4mm acrylic). Kai by Crosswater: part of the New Essentials collection
HiB hits the right note with groundbreaking launch
The RIBA + VitrA Talks series continues into 2019
Taps and showers one step closer to voluntary agreement says European Bathroom Forum
Silestone launches the new minimalist kitchen sink, Integrity Q
New colours, finishes and revamped brochure for Cucina Colore
'New Traditional' with Dark Gold Art Moderne II Towel Warmer by Vogue (UK)
First in Danby's UK range arrived - and it's a Red Dot Award winner!
CRL Stone launches six new colours of Ceralsio ceramic
Splash up colour schemes with Lustrolite panels
Spring cleaning in store with The Signature Collection
Bespoke concrete solutions from The Poured Project
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Well I've not received any press releases about it, but several friends who know I'm involved in the KBB sector have asked me what I know - and although I thought at first that they must be joking, I can see it's all over the Internet... Have you heard about Refridgerdating? Amongst many other wonderful things, Samsung's Family Hub Refrigerator allows you to monitor the contents of your refrigerator via your smartphone: great for planning what to cook the family while you're waiting in the rain for your delayed train, or even for deciding what top-up shopping you need to do at your local shops while on your way home. The Refridgerdating app takes it to a whole new level though by enabling you to take pictures of what's on your fridge shelves and then share it to your profile on the social media platform. It then works much like Tinder, with those searching for a partner able to swipe right or left when they see your fridge picture, with the decision based on the contents of what they think might be your food preferences. While Samsung hopes the app will beautifully match singletons based on what's inside their fridges, I can see all kinds of issues here... Going on the contents of my own fridge, it can sometimes look as if we're healthy eating fanatics whereas other times you'd think we were a family of heavy drinkers. A leftover Indian takeaway might lead someone to think that this is all we live on; shopping I buy for my mother and store until I visit, might make people think we're meat eaters at home, when we're not. And then you have the issue of - much as you can find with dating app users who aren't strictly honest with their profile info and who perhaps also Photoshop their images - the prospect of people stocking their fridges with foodstuffs they wouldn't normally dream of eating (or removing all the cans of beer), just to attract the sort of mate they're looking for. Can you imagine how this could turn out? And what about households where fridge space is shared, with each housemate or family member having their own shelf? I love many of the apps we're offered these days but am really not sure about this one... Are you? Yours,
 This Week's News
Most KBSA retail members have confidence in supply chains - whatever Brexit brings
While the majority of Kitchen Bathroom & Bedroom Specialists Association retailers do not have to deal with bringing their own products into the UK, they need to have confidence that their suppliers have plans in place to deal with all possible outcomes and luckily, a snapshot survey found that the majority of them have confidence that their suppliers have contingency plans in place for a no deal exit.
The industrial element is reflected through the smart cube-shaped units, reflective of warehouse storage shelving, and dark coloured tin handles (no 672 from Keller's range) which can be matched with aluminium framed display cases (as pictured). The Bolton model is also available in Concrete, Rust and Marble White. Rotpunkt urges KBB industry to support further education apprenticeships
Helping to 'provide a clear path into the kitchen industry', this announcement marks an important step for a qualification that sits just under the Level 4 & 5 FDA Foundation Degree in Kitchen Design, currently offered. Bertazzoni teams up with EQ Software Italian kitchen appliance manufacturer, Bertazzoni, has partnered with EQ Software to provide retailers with simple and easy access to its product portfolio. Since launching in the UK in May 2017, Bertazzoni has built a robust network of trusted stockists and distributors to ensure consumers have access to a high calibre of retail partners across the UK.
Bertazzoni has bolstered this by choosing EQ Software as its business management software provider. Winter promotions for Bushboard Evolve: Love to Shop on Every Evolve Surface + Free Evolve Displays
New Northern and Southern Ireland sales role for Ashton
For CRL Ashton will support retailers and stone fabricators throughout Northern and Southern Ireland, presenting them with the latest surfaces from the Ceralsio ceramic and CRL Quartz collections, providing POS material and building a strong network of suppliers throughout the region. Bora demonstrates the future of kitchen technology at architect@work
The show's theme, future-proof, was apt for the appliance manufacturer, which is revolutionising the kitchen with its cooktop extractor system. A working model of the new Bora Professional 2.0 was displayed throughout architect@work, which ran from 30th - 31st January. Blanco appoints new marketing manager
Membership continues to grow for KBSA
Uform reduces paint-to-order lead times Kitchen manufacturer and distributor Uform is pleased to announce a reduction in lead times for its Paint-to-Order timber items. This latest development means that Paint-to-Order timber items are now back to a 10- day lead time, which comes as a result of the company's recent £4million investment programme which was completed at the end of 2018. Commenting on the news, Uform CEO Eamon Donnelly says: "Following the success of our attendance at KBB last year where we launched a number of innovative ranges along with a new Kitchen Stori brochure concept, we experienced an unprecedented demand for Paint-to-Order products in the months that followed. HIB team sleeps rough to raise over £2,000 for homelessness charity
The Starfish Project, which is based locally to HiB, offers support to those suffering from addiction, coping with mental health issues, homelessness, relationship issues, learning difficulties and beyond. With four weekly drop-in centres the charity offers a vital resource to its surrounding community. 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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Out now: Maurice Lay Distributors' new trade price guide
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