SHOW REVIEW | kbb Birmingham 2020 ‘Some big gaps, but a good show’


Trevor Scott, chief executive of Rugby Fitted Kitchens and former kbbreview columnist gets


immersed in a 4D experience with Virtual Worlds and is full of praise for Lochanna’s kbb show debut


rior to arriving at this year’s kbb show, I had already heard that bathroom exhibitors were a bit thin on the ground and, combined with the China pavilion being cancelled because of the coronavirus scare, it did indeed look a bit Spartan, with some big gaps and hoardings making the space look artificially smaller than it actually was. That said, those who did attend had made a great effort and many of the stands looked stunning. As a pure kitchen specialist, we don’t offer bathrooms, but I always like to keep abreast of trends. What was clear is that colour is back. Don’t worry, I don’t mean that pampas green or dusky pink suites are about to make a comeback. Many suppliers, mostly Italian and Spanish, were displaying hand basins in stone colours to complement the slate and stone resin shower trays we have seen for some years now, or white vanity bowls with more brightly- and pastel-coloured, undersides. This trend was also noticeable in the prevalence of freestanding baths, which was very refreshing to see. The transition from the bathroom hall to kitchens was dominated by the huge Virtual Worlds stand and after a full demonstration, it was clear that we are going to have to look very seriously at offering a VR interactive element to our customers’ showroom experience in the near future.


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all exhibitors had done a great job with their stands, there was very little new, just variations and added colours – although the 1810 sink workstation, for us, did stand out. Appliance brands had turned out in force, but particular credit should be given to BSH, which used the exhibition to further enforce its tri-brand message and launch some truly innovative new products. Caple also had a large and well-presented stand, demonstrating its


increased significance as a I was, yet again,


I was soon immersed in the world of sinks and taps and distributor-based products, along with many of the leading worktop and solid-surface material suppliers, and while it’s fair to say


disappointed by the small number of British brands that attended, those who did banged the ‘Made in Britain’ drum loud and clear


standalone brand. I was also pleased to see Elica had resolved the venting gas hob problem, successfully plugging that gap in the market. But the main event was furniture and while I was disappointed by the small number of British brands that attended, those who did banged the ‘Made in Britain’ drum loud and clear. Their stands were mostly quite small by comparison with the many German brands, who had virtually without exception put together truly international- standard exhibition spaces with multiple room sets of the very highest quality.


For Lochanna, this was its first show and boy did it make a good first impression – well done (see below). Uform also had a significant stand and about the only one we found offering sandwiches in its hospitality area, which was very welcome. They also had a presence on the Getley stand, which used the show as a launch pad for its new complete offering. But the only bespoke manufacturer, an area we in the UK are expert at, was Inspired Furniture, and I heard many a compliment being paid to its creativity. Many of the continental manufacturers were also showing crossover furniture for hallways, downstairs loos and en suites, which continues the theme of open-plan living, where consumers are now looking for a cohesive look throughout their homes. Blum, Hettich, Häfele, Kesseböhmer and others all exhibited the latest in storage solutions – an area of growing significance as consumers want functionality in their new kitchens as well as aesthetics. I was also pleased to see a growth in service providers, such as the buying groups and specialist training/recruitment companies like Acres Consultancy, as it would appear we as an industry are at last starting to grasp the importance of well- trained and knowledgeable staff. All in all a good show.


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· April 2020


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