One last thing...
One last thing... Tom Reynolds
CEO, Bathroom Manufacturers Association
When people outside the industry ask what I do, I say…. I represent the bathroom sector in conversations with the Government, regulators and NGOs. I also help companies by providing data that means they can make informed decisions.
The thing people might not know about me is… I worked as a cook at Butlins for a season in my youth. It was wild and very good fun, but I sincerely hope catering standards have improved since I was there!
If I was in charge of this industry I would….. Get rid of the free riders. Some companies benefit from our collective association action without paying in, or worse, sell non-compliant products that ape members’ products that have been painstakingly tested. That angers me.
What I love most about my job is… The people from across the industry. That may sound trite, but I’ve worked in other sectors and never experienced the same sense of community within the bathroom industry.
The work story I always tell to make people laugh is… Not appropriate for publication in the esteemed pages of kbbreview. See me in the bar at the BMA conference!
The industry person I most admire is… Difficult to say, as I’ve enjoyed working closely with many industry stalwarts. All of my BMA Presidents, from Alan Dodds to Craig Baker
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today, have been truly inspiring. However, I’d probably say David Osborne of Roman, because of his relentless passion for British manufacturing, advocacy for product compliance and doing it all with great humour.
I wish this industry would talk more about… Sustainability. I get fed up when people say “Consumers aren’t interested in the environment when they buy a bathroom, so what’s the point?”
One professional mistake I’ve learned from is… ‘The leaky loos scandal’ as reported by the BBC. I was too quick to go on the defensive when I should have talked about the innovation in our industry to engineer-out the problem.
If I could go back to the day I started in this industry, I would tell myself… Do not panic about the market’s peaks and troughs. The bathroom industry has tremendous resilience, and I will never forget how well most companies navigated the chaos of 2020.
All of my BMA Presidents, from Alan Dodds to
Craig Baker today, have been truly inspiring
"
I wish this industry would talk less about… Performance marketing and short-run ROI. If we are looking to build brands, both as suppliers and retailers, we’ve got to think longer term.
My proudest professional achievement is…. Can I have two? Pulling together global bathroom sector leaders to discuss water scarcity and sign the Windsor Declaration. But I’ve got to say, winning UK Trade Association of Year was pretty special, too.
kbbreview
I dance in my kitchen to… Bad Guy by Billie Eilish. I’ve perfected a unique style of Dad-dancing to this song, so the kids know to expect peak embarrassment when it comes on the echo dot.
The song I always sing in the shower is… Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones for a quick shower. Purple Rain by Prince for more of a soak.
The BMA’s Windsor Declaration initiative was also recently awarded the coveted Special Achievement Award at this year’s kbbreview Retail & Design Awards.
kbbr May 2025
Illustration // Jodie Byrne
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