Round-up | NEWS


Confusion as local authorities challenge retailers that remain open


NOV 11


DESPITE CENTRAL Government ruling that KBB retailers can stay open under the new lockdown rules, some are being told to close their showrooms by local authorities, kbbreview can reveal. These retailers are being asked to close less than a week after the KBSA reported it had confirmation from the Government that they could stay open under the new lockdown. Tivoli Interiors in Camberley was forced to close by its local council; Rothwell Tiles in Kettering was asked to close but stood its ground and remains open, while More than Baths in Doncaster, was told it should close when it asked for clarification of the rules from its local Trading Standards. This was against the backdrop of what the KBSA said it was told, namely that “the Government has stipulated that ‘hardware stores and builders merchants’ are essential retail and this classification has been confirmed by BEIS for KBB retailers’.”


But this message has clearly not filtered down to local councils. Ann Hassell, a partner in More than Baths, said she was told to close. In an email from Doncaster Trading Standards, she was told: “Our position about showrooms being open is that they shouldn’t be.” Ann Hassell


said: “It just seems


unfair with different authorities saying different things.”


Brian Annalls, proprietor of Tivoli Interiors in Camberley, got the news that he would have to close in an email from Surrey Heath Borough Council. Annalls said: “So we are now shut. But you have people like


Wren


advertising that they are still open. The big people seem to get around this and the small family businesses get closed down.” But one KBB retailer


stood his


ground when local council repre- sentatives came into his store. Craig Casciani, owner of Rothwell


Tiles in Kettering, told them he was in the building and construction category, just like B&Q, Screwfix, Wickes, Toolstation, Howdens and Tile Choice. When he pointed out that he too had many trade sales, he said they seemed to “change their tune”. He told kbbreview: “I struggled the


first time when I shut down for seven weeks. I lost £41,000 and had to borrow that on a bounce-back loan.” Despite these localised challenges, the KBSA remained firm that showrooms can open.


December 2020 · Shock as KBB showrooms ordered to


close under new government rules NOV 18


ALL KBB showrooms in England must lock their doors as new surprise government guidelines were issued. This major U-turn directly contradicts the formal government direction given to the KBSA, on November 4 – the day before the lockdown began – telling them that KBB showrooms CAN open as they are classified as building suppliers. However, the Government has now backtracked and according to its official online guidelines the list of retail businesses that must close specifically includes “showrooms open to the public for products used in homes, including bathrooms, kitchens and glazing”.


The KBSA has confirmed the news, saying it believes the guidelines were updated on November 16 and that it


this change and have also reassured them that we will continue our efforts to ensure that the level playing field is maintained. We are aware that some showrooms such as Wren and Magnet are still open, and we are continuing our dialogue with BEIS and Trading Standards to address this and protect our members’ interests.


“This change only applies to show- rooms in England. In Wales showrooms are currently open and in Scotland, where they have a five-tier


system,


now requires kitchen and bathroom showrooms in England to close. KBSA national chair Richard Hibbert (pictured) said: “It is regrettable that showrooms must close, but it is welcome that the guidance is now very clear and we have a level playing field for all kitchen and bathroom retailers. “We have advised our members of


showrooms in all tiers can remain open.” The guidance goes on to state that “all premises, whether or not required to close, can be accessed... for maintenance, repairs or other work to ensure readiness to reopen at a point where this is permitted”.


The guidelines also confirm that installations can continue, providing they follow safe working rules.


Retailers react to shock government U-turn


NOV 19 RETAILERS HAVE responded to


the Government’s latest decision to close English KBB showrooms. Retailers’ reactions to the new rules have been mixed, with some calmly closing their doors while others – frustrated by the news – saying they won’t shut their doors until chains like Wren and B&Q do the same. We surveyed our kbbreview100 panel of retailers to see how they are dealing with the new guidance. Paul Mason, managing director of Bathroom Village, with showrooms in the south-west of England, said: “Bathroom Village will not be closing its doors. We have customers committed to appointments and we won’t be letting them down. Unless we are told by a local authority with a letter signed by the court, we will not be closing.” Stewart Woodruff, owner of MBK Design Studio in Coxheath, was clear and said: “If Wren and Magnet stay open, so shall I.” Shehryar Khan, director of Sheraton Interiors in Twickenham, called up his local Wren kitchens to see if they were open and was even able to book a design


consultation. But Khan is


unsure of what to do with his showroom. He said: “My heart says stay open and my head says closed.” Paul Crow, managing director of Ripples Bathrooms, with showrooms across England, has sent messages


7


out to his franchisee stores about the news and will be closing the stores. He said that he believes that what “all independents want is clarity and consistency so that they are not at a disadvantage to their competitor down the road”. Tina Riley of Modern Homes in Leamington believes that KBB showrooms should not have been classed as essential and, despite having a one-in-one-out policy from when the showroom reopened, she will


be closing. She said: “This


lockdown was really nothing short of a mockdown.”


Nathan Damarell of KF Kitchens in Plymouth was surprised about the turnaround. He said: “I thought that we should have shut initially. To be told we can stay open and then told we should close is bewildering.” Rugby Fitted Kitchens will close its doors after being open by appointment only. Owner Trevor Scott said:


“I’m


pretty annoyed. We opened by appointment only back in the last lockdown following Wren’s reopening and have continued in the same fashion ever since. There is so much confusion that we, and our clients, don’t know if we’re coming or going!”


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