NEWS | Round-up


People are funny and in this regular series, our kitchen retailer recounts some of the crazier moments he has had dealing with customers


Along came a spider


LIKE MOST kitchen retailers, I am fastidious about keeping my showroom clean and I spend a lot of time wiping down surfaces to ensure that it is spotless when clients visit.


That is unless I find a spider lurking in a sink, or in a cupboard, or in the loo. It is safe to say that am terrified of spiders and, even as a grown man, I can’t be within six feet of one without feeling the urge to scream or burst into tears.


On one autumnal day, The Fitter and I went to perform an M&E assessment of the home of The Reverend Kindly, who had been given funds by the diocese for a new kitchen.


He lived alone in the vicarage, a Gothic style property that had not been updated for more than 40 years. He apologised for the mess as we walked in, as it was obvious that his home hadn’t been touched by a duster or any polish during that time.


He led us to the kitchen, which was filthy and covered in cobwebs. I immediately felt a sense of unease. There was no way round it, we had to open the cupboards to see where things were in order to plan the new layout. The Fitter offered to look in the base units for pipework, while I had responsibility for the overhead cabinets. While he got down on his hands and knees to peer in to the cupboards beneath, I started to gingerly open the first set of doors. I felt I had the better option. As I looked in beyond some tall glasses, I saw it. It raised its two front legs like it was waving in a menacing fashion, and then it scuttled towards me. The sheer shock of seeing a big hairy spider made me bang my head on the shelf above. I turned around too fast as I was trying to hop away, when it jumped out of the cupboard and hurtled itself downwards on a single silken thread to the floor.


It raised its two front legs, like it was waving in a menacing fashion and then scuttled towards me


The spider was now on the loose in the kitchen, making an eight-legged run for it. I accidentally tripped on The Fitter’s leg and landed directly on top of him.


I was in pain and I started to groan, while shouting “spider! spider!! spider!!” The Fitter, not too happy, also started to moan and


groan. At that moment, the vicar entered the kitchen to find out what the commotion was.


He looked surprised, but he also looked amused. I rapidly got back on my feet, as did The Fitter. The vicar looked kindly towards us and then whispered to me: “I now know your nickname for him, and I won’t say a word.”


Then he smiled knowingly. “It’s ‘Spider’, isn’t it?” I sent someone else on that job…


14


Registrations are now open for kbb Birmingham 2024


KBB BIRMINGHAM, the UK’s biggest kitchens,


bedrooms and bathrooms


exhibition is returning in 2024, with registration now open for those wishing to attend the industry-must event. The event is scheduled to run from March 3-6, 2024 at NEC Birmingham, and will feature over 230 exhibiting brands across 26 different categories. Across its four-day run, the event usually


attracts upwards of 15,000 visitors,


making it the country’s largest and most influential trade event for the KBB industry. Some of the brands currently confirmed to be exhibiting include Electrolux, Aga Range- master, InSinkErator, Franke, Roca, Hanex, Nolte,


Nobilia, Leicht, Harrison Bathrooms, Microvellum, Sachsenküchen, Bariperfil, Turkish Ceramics, Leda Bathrooms, Sonas Bathrooms, Creda, St James Collection, Tru Blu. The full list of exhibitors can be found at kbb.co.uk. Kbb Birmingham event director Sam Fisher commented: “We can’t wait to welcome the KBB industry back to the NEC Birmingham in March 2024. With a whole host of innovative exhibitors set to take to the show floor, this is a must-attend event for retailers, installers,


developers, designers and all those seeking the latest KBB products, services, design trends and inspiration for the year ahead.” As the leading business media platform in the independent kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom retail sector, kbbreview is proud to announce it will be serving as the lead media partner for the kbb Birmingham show in 2024. This


strategic collaboration again brings


together the two biggest media entities in the sector to deliver unparalleled coverage and insights of the show and the wider market as it builds to the event.


Sub-Zero & Wolf unveils new-look London showroom


PREMIUM APPLIANCE brand Sub-Zero & Wolf has reopened its flagship showroom in Knightsbridge, following a period of closure to renovate its lower-ground level product suite.


Renovations on the showroom began earlier this summer, with help from luxury design practice James Brookman. The subterranean floor of the showroom has now been split into three designated areas: a circular meeting room for hosting clients and events, an Art Deco-inspired bar, and a professional-grade theatre kitchen incorporating the brand’s signature stainless steel appliances. The theatre kitchen has seating for up to 10 guests, and can also be used for demonstrations by the brand’s private chef, or for cooking classes. To celebrate the newly renovated showroom, Sub-Zero & Wolf recently hosted an opening event


at the venue, where attendees could get a first look at the new space, as well as enjoy food cooked in the theatre kitchen


Ricky Davies, managing director for Sub-Zero & Wolf UK, said: “2023 has been a milestone year for Sub-Zero & Wolf and we are delighted to unveil the Subterranean Showroom to our clients and industry network. “As a brand, we are constantly innovating and this new experiential layout is a step away from


the traditional showroom set-up, and one we hope presents our superior products and customer service in a fresh and exciting way.”


• November 2023


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