NEWS | Round-up
VIEWPOINT Making sense
of water labelling Tom Reynolds, chief executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, calls for a sensible approach for a UK mandatory water efficiency label
WITH 60% of home water consumption within the bathroom, we in the bathroom industry are at the heart of discussions around water efficiency, supporting the Government’s aim to reduce personal water use to 110 litres per day by 2050. The proposals within a new Defra consultation call for a UK-wide water label for products such as taps, toilets and urinals, etc., that is standalone, with a simple design and hosting information indicating the water flow rate or consumption per cycle. This information is intended to give domestic and business consumers the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding water-using products. Under the proposals, suppliers will need to assess the water efficiency rating of their products and include the label with the product and in marketing literature. Crucially, the onus is on retailers to make the label visible to the customer, including on showroom room sets, in-store or via the internet and catalogues. The retailer’s obligations include potential action from a national enforcement authority if they fail to comply. The ‘action’ could be severe if it mimics the criteria for energy label enforcement. Manufacturers wholly support the idea that consumers should be able to make informed choices, knowing the water-use of fittings and whether they fit a ‘green’ ethos. Retailers, however, will be only too aware of the potential for consumer confusion,
Retailers will have a vital role to play in
informing and educating consumers
so they will have a vital role in informing and educating them about the possibilities for water-efficient products. Convincing consumers to buy and then use these
products is only part of the battle. Fixing leaky supply pipes, heavy investment in new infrastructure, more water-efficient new homes, and behaviour changes are all essential if the UK is to be genuinely water-resilient. Manufacturers are playing their part with significant R&D to deliver products with less water use. However, the battle will not be won if the consumer isn’t aware of our water scarcity challenge. Many manufacturers and retailers are already ahead of the curve and have adopted a voluntary water labelling scheme in the UK. The Unified Water Label (UWL) closely resembles the label design and basic criteria in the consultation document. The independent body behind the UWL has done much work in this area, meaning suppliers and retailers could deliver ubiquitous labelling ahead of the Government’s plans. The BMA has welcomed the proposals within the consultation, but greater clarity is still required around several ambiguous points. We are discussing our responses in fine detail with all stakeholders in the supply chain to ensure the best outcomes for manufacturers, retailers and the consumer.
6
New flagship store for Fisher & Paykel
APPLIANCE BRAND Fisher & Paykel will open its first UK Experience Centre on Wigmore Street at the heart of the London kitchen industry in 2023. Fisher & Paykel will take over the former Kitchen Aid showroom, which closed recently. The space has two floors and space for events like cooking classes, wine tasting and product demonstrations.
Aimed at retailers and consumers, the showroom will focus on an immersive experience that creates a ‘human-centred’ approach to design. It will also be an intractive showcase for the brand’s appliance portfolio.
“Thanks to meticulous planning from our team, the space has been designed not only to show our full range, but it will also act as a space to host events, cooking classes, wine tasting and demonstrations,” said a spokesperson. The New Zealand brand already has Experience Centres in cities across the world, including Auckland, Sydney, Costa Mesa, New York and Shanghai.
As the brand looks for a new MD following
the departure of David Woollcott, Laurence Mawhinney, executive vice-president business development, will lead the UK, Ireland and European business in the interim.
Record first half for Wickes but market is slowing
WICKES HAS reported record first-half sales bolstered by strong trade growth against a ‘softening’ DIY market. Revenue was up 1.3% to £822.3 million compared with H1 2021 (£812m), with like- for-like sales up 0.8%, and 23.4% on a three-year basis. Adjusted operating profit was down 9% from £61.9m in H1 2021 to £56.3m this year. Wickes chief executive David Wood said: “This was a half in which we achieved record sales, as customers continued to be attracted to our market-leading value, choice and availability, and I would like to thank all my colleagues for their hard work and support in delivering these results.
“While market volumes have declined, we have made further market share gains and delivered a particularly strong performance in trade, with an acceleration in the rate of sign- ups to our TradePro membership scheme.” The kitchen and bathroom side of the business has grown in the past 18 months, with new ranges in both categories and putting these products on display at showrooms. There has also been movement in the lower end of the market with six new ranges in the ‘Ready to Fit’ offering.
The Do It For Me (DIFM) side of the company, which deals with professional installations rather than the DIY side, is still a key focus. The Wickes installer network grew by 200 in the first half of 2022.
It’s in-store bathroom design staff have also been improved by driving customers’ engagement to use the design services when purchasing the products. There is also a push for add-on sales, such as tiling, flooring and joinery with the kitchen and bathroom sales. Wood said: “In DIY, we continue to cater for
an increased number of younger customers who first turned to home improvement during the pandemic, while in DIFM, delivered showroom sales have remained robust, as we launched new kitchen and bathroom ranges and worked through the elevated order book.” According to Wickes, the DIFM-delivered sales were up 29.7% like for like in 2021 as that side of the market was in a ‘recovery’. The order
book is at £136m and remains significantly ahead of the previous year. Wickes also accelerated its store refit programme and there are 11 refits taking place this year.
· November 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
