NEWS | Round-up VIEWPOINT
Proud of our community spirit and generosity
Continuing her monthly series, Natalie Peters of Kitchens Etc in Norfolk, describes her experiences during the final year of her Foundation Degree in kitchen design at Bucks New University
New association aims to secure best future for bathroom retailers
BATHCOM IS an association for bricks- and-mortar and bricks-and-clicks bathroom retailers set to launch in July, subject to review.
WE ARE in a very different place from where we were a month ago. Everything has been turned upside down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I write this from home on lockdown. Our business has temporarily closed, I am home-schooling my children and trying to continue with my studies. We have been through some tough times in business, including a recession, but nothing as unprecedented and worrying as this.
The majority of businesses have had to close, many people are working from home, jobs unfinished, jobs unstarted, staff furloughed and no cash flow. It’s a time filled with uncertainty about what the future holds and it’s extremely challenging not only for business, but also adjusting to what is the new norm of life at the moment and the huge health concerns for everyone and their families. At our university residential in February, we had no idea that it would potentially be our last. We were excitedly planning our final residential in June but this has now been cancelled and we are waiting to hear what this means for us finishing the course, while the tutors and the university try to work out a plan. It’s a sad and scary time and you could be forgiven for struggling to find the positives, but there are many.
You could struggle to find the positives, but there are many
Many businesses have diversified and supported their communities, showing how quickly and creatively they can respond to bad situations. The new hospital created at the Excel Centre in London in less than two weeks; the new breathing aid produced by a collaboration between a university and Formula
One teams; new ventilators produced in under 10 days; over half-a-million people volunteering for the NHS. The spirit, innovation and generosity of the British people pulling together is definitely something to feel very proud and positive about. We are witnessing wonderful community spirit: people clapping for the NHS and key workers; people joining forces to help and look out for their communities and streets social-distance dancing to boost morale. For the foreseeable future, I have the precious time with my family that I have craved for over the past three years while studying, so I intend to make the most of it. I will be taking stock and trying to use the time wisely to think out of the box, just as the course has inspired us to do. I will also be considering how we respond and move forward with our family business. What it will mean for business and our lives is too early to say, but we will get through it. Stay safe and well everyone.
• Natalie is sponsored on her course by Franke 14
The organisation aims to promote independent bathroom showrooms and what they can offer consumers and also provide a place for retailers and suppliers to come together to discuss the issues surrounding the industry. Membership includes being part of a consumer-facing website that will direct visitors to their local independent bathroom retailer. Bathcom will also provide an online forum for retailers across the UK to connect and swap business advice and ideas. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, this part of Bathcom has been fast-tracked and is available now for retailers to use free of charge.
Mike Nicholls, managing director of Bathcom, has teamed up with former Bristan chairman Gary Lake and Kathy Freeman, who previously worked in a regional role for Tesco, to create Bathcom. They have already received interest from a number of key retailers and plan to start member sign-up soon.
The overall aim is to get 150 retailers to sign up within the first 12 to 18 months of launch. The retailers will be given geographic exclusivity. Nicholls hopes to attract ‘first or second players’ in a particular area. Retailers must have a turnover of £1 million, although that is flexible for rural areas and smaller towns. They must be a bathroom retailer and “have a comprehensive bathroom offering” of 75% of turnover, although Nicholls said there is room for flexibility on that.
2020 Fusion Inspiration Awards winners announced
KBB DESIGN software specialist 2020 has announced the winners of its 2020 Fusion Inspiration Awards.
Designers from across the UK were invited to submit their ‘most inspirational designs’, created using the 2020 Fusion design software, in four categories - Kitchens, Bathrooms, 2020 Cloud Decorative Items and 360° Panoramas. Experts from 2020 Fusion chose the final winner in each of the four categories. There was also a ‘Voters’ Choice’ award, with the top five entries receiving the highest peer votes becoming finalists. The final winner was determined by the 2020 panel of judges. The panel also picked an ‘Experts’ Choice’ winner.
The winners of each category (listed below) each received a £100 Amazon gift voucher:
• KITCHEN DESIGN CATEGORY: Steve Budd, Kitchens by George Rose Ltd, Ongar, Essex • BATHROOM DESIGN CATEGORY : Tara Sims, Total Plumbing Supplies • DECORATIVE CLOUD CATEGORY: Simon Allan, freelance kitchen designer • 360° PANORAMA CATEGORY: Oscar Morrell, Raycross Interiors, Surrey • EXPERTS’ CHOICE: Katie Francis, The Kitchen and Bathroom Store, Colchester, Essex • VOTERS’ CHOICE: Idil Sindir, Designer Kitchen Direct, Sheffield
· May 2020
Nicholls described Bathcom as “a community where retailers and suppliers can discuss business and share ideas” rather than a buying group. He said: “I want to provide the place where the answers can flow. A sustainable environment where we can work together.. By working together, we can be a lot stronger.” He added: “We want Bathcom to be a place where, when people hear the name, they automatically know they are dealing with a quality retailer. We want that message to get through to consumers as much as we can.” The consumer-facing aspect of Bathcom is a website that will explain to the public the value proposition of dealing with an independent retailer. Nicholls said: “We genuinely believe that the best place for a consumer to buy a bathroom suite from is an independent retailer. We will identify and explain who their nearest is. We won’t just give the name and address, but will explain the exact value proposition of that company.”
The website will include information about each member retailer with an overview of the products and services on offer, but it will also provide the human element and the back story to the company. It will be search-engine- optimised, so when a consumer searches for a retailer in their area, they will find an independent retailer, rather than an online retailer or a multiple retailer.
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