NEWS | Round-up
NEWS IN BRIEF
Distributor PWS is now offering a 48-hour delivery on all PWS and Kindred products with driver- assisted unloading (excluding the Scottish highlands and Channel Islands), with next-day Saturday delivery. It is also introducing live consignment tracking.
The Sink Space, which distributes Carron Phoenix and KWC, is running a summer promotion to mark its 10th anniversary. Trade customers will get a £250 credit when they spend £1,500 (exc VAT) in a single order until August 31.
Frontline has added a new exclusive brand to its portfolio – Holborn. It comprises sanitaryware, baths, furniture, heating, brassware, enclosures and accessories. Frontline says it combines the latest production technologies with traditional 19th century styling. All products have a lifetime guarantee.
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Showerwall is offering retailers a new brochure and POS package. The 68-page brochure features 69 decors across five collections. The revamped POS includes a waterfall display for door swatches and a custom acrylic box for decors.
LochAnna Kitchens has announced a partnership with Neff. Its retailers can now choose from the complete range of Neff appliances. The company said it is offering excellent prices for appliances that are purchased with its kitchens.
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Rauterkus resigns as CEO of Grohe
MICHAEL RAUTERKUS has resigned from his role as chief executive of Grohe and Lixil Water Technology EMENA. A statement from Grohe said that Rauterkus has decided to leave the bathroom brand “on his own request” after four years in the role and a total
of 12 years with the company. Former executive director of operations Thomas Fuhr has been appointed by the board to take over as chief executive.
Speaking of his appointment, Bijoy Mohan, chief executive of Lixil International, parent company of
Grohe, said: “Grohe can look back on an outstanding growth path. We are now adapting our organisational structure to ensure continuous growth in the EMENA region. I am very pleased to announce Thomas Fuhr as the new CEO of Grohe. He is an experienced and successful leader in operations and technology and will help drive the integration of Grohe’s manufacturing and technology assets into the global Lixil footprint.” Commenting on the contributions to the company made by Rauterkus, Mohan said: “Under his leadership, Grohe grew in EMENA twice the market growth during the past five years – through innovation in technology and the introduction of full bathroom solutions. With the IoT solutions, Grohe is now at the forefront of the industry. “We would like to thank Michael Rauterkus for his great commitment, which is the basis for Grohe’s innovative power and steady success. Under his leadership, Grohe has become a global market leader in this industry.”
For more on this read our interview with Michael Rauterkus – pages 32-34 – where he reflects on the achievements of the brand under his leadership.
Ideal Standard targets design crowd with £1m showroom in Clerkenwell
Of the design of the showroom, Ewer said: “The underlining theme and principle was to create a canvas to be able to house all the brands and the different solutions. Because we have the benefit of four floors. It really works well. We have a showcase floor on the top, and you then walk through the residential spaces in the middle two, and then it is a working space in the base area, that also has a space to work with our customers.” Clerkenwell is a hub for architects and designers, and
there are several bathroom studios just down the street on Clerkenwell Road. However, Ewer does not feel that this is a problem.
He said: “I think that our competitors are down the
IDEAL STANDARD International has launched a new four-storey, £1 million showroom in Clerkenwell as a move to integrate itself more with the design and architecture community. Stephen Ewer, UK managing director of Ideal Standard, told kbbreivew: “We are delighted with the space and the investment that has gone into it. What it means for us is that it is a real statement in the market that we are moving back into being design-led with retail. We are going to house the best team here. The focus is to integrate into this architecture and design community. We are back in the mainstream of design.”
The investment for the showroom was significant
according to Ewer and Ideal Standard said it was necessary for the company at this time.
The London design and specification centre features
products from its luxury brand Sottini, a selection of its residential products, right through to its commercial range – Armitage Shanks. The building can also be used as a space to hold meetings as well as design talks.
street for the same reason we are here – because this is the architecture and design community’s base. The concentration is the highest here [in Clerkenwell] compared to anywhere else in the UK. We have half an eye on the competition, but we are here for the community.” The showroom had its first preview at Clerkenwell Design
Week 2019 and marked its official launch with a party on June 26. The launch included a design talk with Roberto Palomba and Robin Levien. Palomba designed several products that includes the new colourful sinks that were launched at ISH 2019. The showroom is open during business hours on weekdays and the company is looking to open on Saturdays as well. Ideal Standard would like retailers who are bringing customers to make an appointment so the team can tailor the meeting to suit the exact requirements, but general footfall is expected and encouraged. Ewer said he was also focused on retailers: “Independent
retailers are a real area of focus for us. We have a lot of initiatives in place with Sottini this year. We have invested in our team, and we have our new range that launched at ISH as well as new ranges to come next year.”
kbbreview · August 2019
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