FINALISTS | kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2023
INSTALLATION COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Alexander Worthing
Liberty Dundee
Opus Bathrooms Brighton
Simon Taylor Furniture Aylesbury
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The winner for this category in 2022, Alexander is an independent retailer founded in 1976 with showrooms in Worthing and Horsham. It runs a separate installations operation with a full-time team of fitters that has recently been expanded to cope with its annual 225 KBB installations. It offers a year’s workmanship guarantee and checks back with clients after three, six and 12 months to deal with any issues that may arise. Alexander controls every aspect of the installations to ensure a consistently high standard of workmanship and construction.
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Loren Eade kitchen sales designer, Rugby Fitted Kitchens (RFK)
Liberty is now entering its 20th year in business, and since 2017 has focused on residential work. The company aims to understand the customer’s anxieties over the fitting process and eliminate any stress in the process. To achieve a great customer experience, it believes that communication at all stages of the installation process is key. Liberty makes sure it follows up any contact made by customers, keeps them updated on
appointments and delivery dates and guarantees to be there at the time they promise.
Lucy Cunliffe sales designer, Diane Berry Kitchens
With two directors who are still ‘on the tools’, Opus was formed in 2020 but has 25 years’ experience in the KBB industry with previous businesses. Its fitters are fully qualified and the company has recently taken on an apprentice who will reach the end of their training within three years. Opus plans to employ another bathroom fitter in the next six months and intends to open a retail showroom within the next one or two years. Its small team aims to provide highly-skilled and friendly service with a wealth of experience.
Rosie Proto showroom manager, Pier1 Bathrooms
Simon Taylor Furniture has been manufacturing bespoke kitchen, bedroom and bathroom furniture since 1985 and is also an installation and project management company. It provides its clients with a turnkey service where it handles everything for them. Staff get in-house training and are also sent on relevant professional training courses. It will take on any structural work and liaise with structural engineers. It will also handle any plastering and
ceiling work. The company prides itself on a ‘white glove’ service.
Simran Pnaiser bathroom sales designer, Junction 2 Interiors
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Loren joined RFK after graduating with a degree in interior architecture. She may only be at the start of her career, but she has already exceeded all expectations of the team at RFK. Her current YTD sales hit the £450k mark, making her the company’s second-best performing designer. Described as organised and thorough in her approach to design, she is also said to have good project management and communication skills enabling her to successfully communicate her designs to customers and installers.
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For many, joining an
award-winning kitchen design company like Diane Berry Kitchens could be a daunting prospect but it’s something Lucy has taken in her stride. Described as “the one to watch”, last year she was short listed in the KBSA design Awards and received a special commendation from the judges for her skills. Her confidence is said to be growing by the day as she learns from experienced members of the team. She has even helped train new members of staff on all aspects of costing kitchens from two big brand portfolios.
Rosie has been with Pier1 Bathrooms since the company’s inception in 2019. Starting out as the junior member of a two-person team, according to managing director Stephanie Warner, with her passion, electric personality and design skills was destined to manage the showroom. Her keen eye for colours, textures and styles allows her to work
harmoniously with her clients to offer solutions to their individual requirements. She has worked tirelessly to help shape Pier1 into the award-winning business it is today.
Simran joined the family business in January last year, after finishing his degrees in marketing and finance. He has already made a huge impact on the business with sales figures grossing £1 million. He has even coordinated the
implementation of new design software. Simran has worked hard to educate himself on all aspects of the business, especially its extensive brand and product portfolio – working closely with reps and other members of the team to expand his knowledge and
understanding of design. · February 2023
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