Contents | NEWS CONTENTS
NEWS, COMMENT & OPINION 6 News
A round-up of the latest KBB stories 18 Paul Crow
The Ripples MD talks budgets 20 Malcolm Scott
The KBSA corporate chair explains the crisis of demand and shortages
22 Stewart Woodruff MBK Design Studio’s owner shares his advice on returning to normal
24 Keith Brisley
Do design trends stifl e creativity? 26 Nathan Maclean
Virtual Worlds’ MD talks digital marketing
PRODUCTS & SUPPLIERS 28 Stephen Ewer
We speak to the Bathroom Brands CEO after his fi rst year at the helm
33 How to talk budgets Speaking about money is never easy, so here are some top tips
39 ISH Review
ISH was fully online but the brands still brought their A-game
47 Professional style kitchens Creating kitchens for keen cooks, and for those who like to entertain
54 Trends A look at the latest KBB products RETAIL
62 Retailer profi le: Draw A Bath A luxury bathroom showroom that has a keen focus on service
66 Showroom of the month We go to Ripples in Chelmsford
Retailer profi le: We visit Draw A Bath on the Wirral pg 62
kbbreview.com
Follow @kbbreview on Twitter for news and live updates from events
kbbreview.com for news, views, blogs, jobs, features and subscriptions Editorial Editor
Rebecca Nottingham 020 8515 2073
Advertising
Commercial director
Julie Williams May 2021 ·
Sales and marketing manager Tara McTigue
Account manager Lizzie
Keshishian
Account manager
Alan Rogers
Deputy editor Vicki Evans 020 8515 2045
Sub-editor Chris
Frankland 020 8515 2025
Commercial editor
Matt Baker 020 8515 2051
Art editor Erica Warden 020 8515 2145
Managing director Patrick Taylor
Managing editor Andrew Davies
Digital designer strategist Matt Balmer
Subscriptions
To subscribe to kbbreview or change your subscription details Email:
kbbreview@escosubs.co.uk Tel: 01371 851894 Web:
kbbreview.com/subscribe
For marketing
communications across different brands and media platforms contact: Commercial director Julie Williams 020 8515 2150
For print and online advertising contact: Sales and marketing manager Tara McTigue 020 8515 2071
Kbbreview is a controlled circulation publication mailed free to registered readers who meet our terms and conditions. Otherwise, subscription rates are £98.40 per annum plus £24 post & packing (single copy £1 + £2p&p). Overseas subscriptions are £169 plus £48 post & packing.
Taylist Media takes your privacy very seriously and will not share data you provide us with any third parties. For our full and updated privacy notice please see
taylistmedia.com/privacy.
ABC certifi cation
1st January - 31st December 2019 – Average net. Circulation 15,127. Total net circulation for audit issue dated December 2019 – 14,996 – 100% individually requested by registered readers.
5
Keep up to date with trends and news and follow @kbbreview on Instagram
Rebecca Nottingham, editor
rebecca@kbbreview.com
Professional style kitchens: How to design kitchens for budding chefs pg 47
The kbbreview interview: An in-depth talk with Bathroom Brands’ CEO pg 28
EDITOR’S COMMENT W
BACK TO NORMAL… ALMOST
elcome to the May issue.
I hope like me, you’re enjoying this – albeit gradual – return to normality. Or should I say, ‘new normal’? I’ve certainly noticed a spike in positivity among retailers since they were given the greenlight to open last month. And, despite concern from experts that supply chain issues could put added pressure on retailers and delay projects, early signs suggest that
most KBB retailers are optimistic for the remainder of the year. As we’ve all come to learn over the past 12 months, when you’re faced with the huge challenge of a global pandemic it’s easy to lose sight of the routine practices that need honing to ensure everything runs smoothly – both in life and business. That’s precisely why, this month, we’ve decided to focus on budgets and, more specifi cally, what is the best way to tactfully approach the subject without making your clients feel uncomfortable. We get advice from our kbbreview100 retailers on how they’ve mastered this dark art (pgs 33-36).
This month’s big interview is with the Bathroom Brands CEO Stephen Ewer (pgs 28-30). He took on the role just a few weeks after the fi rst lockdown last year, so he’s had a busy 12 months to say the least. During the interview he explains why – despite the pandemic driving consumers towards digital shopping platforms – independent KBB retailers will continue to “be the mainstay of the buying experience”. Elsewhere, we review this year’s ISH fair (pgs 39-44). Unsurprisingly, the pandemic forced organisers – of what is usually the biggest event in the bathroom industry’s calendar – to rethink the format and make it a completely virtual affair. We bring you highlights from some of the key brand’s that supported the exhibition.
Early signs suggest that KBB retailers are optimistic for the remainder of the year
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
