Round-up | NEWS CONTENTS
NEWS, COMMENT & OPINION 4 News
The latest news from across the KBB industry
14 People
Who are the movers and shakers this month?
16 Paul Crow
The Ripples MD says good relationships are crucial to his business
18 Nick Jones
Brands should be a backbone for retailers says Wilsonart’s sales leader
21 Darren Taylor The MD of Searle and Taylor is plagued by appliance shortages
22 Nathan Helms
Arte Form’s MD on the industry-wide skills shortage and Wras approvals
PRODUCTS & SUPPLIERS
34 Damian Walters The BiKBBI CEO tells the KBB industry what he really thinks
51 Shower toilets
How this niche product can appeal to many different buyers
56 Kitchen trends What’s hot in the hub of the home
60 Surface trends What are the latest surfaces?
62 Bathroom trends Products that are making a splash
RETAIL
65 The kbbreview100 Introducing the full squad of 100 retailers who’ve signed up to join our latest initiative
Focus: Why strong industry relationships are more important than ever pg 37
Show review: Who opened their showrooms at Hausmesse? pg 28
kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2021: Entries are now open pg 26
RETAIL & DESIGN
I Editorial Editor
Rebecca Nottingham 020 8515 2073
Advertising
Commercial director
Julie Williams November 2020 ·
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
EDITOR’S COMMENT
WHY WE’RE BETTER
TOGETHER
think we can all agree 2020 has been a challenge – and a year we’ll all be glad to see the back of. However, there are lessons in every challenge. And, if there’s one thing that living through a pandemic has taught us, it’s why closer relationships and mutual support are more important than ever for the industry. You could argue that every issue of kbbreview is centred around analysing the complexities of the different working relationships in the KBB industry but, because it’s so fundamental to the success of every business in the sector, we’ve decided to take an even closer look at it this month. It’s a talking point throughout the issue, with regular columnists Paul Crow (page 16), Darren Taylor (page 21) and TKC CEO Roy Saunders (page 6) wading in. We’ve also rounded it off with a special focus (pages 37-48), where we get the lowdown from a range of retailers on what makes a good supplier/retailer relationship. We also highlight how key this sense of community spirit was during the height of the pandemic by talking to a selection of manufacturers about what they did to support their retail partners through lockdown and beyond. We also throw a spotlight on what happens when these relationships don’t work and there is a breakdown in communication. In an interview on pages 34-35, BiKBBI CEO Damian Walters talks candidly about the shortage of skilled installers and how, unless drastic measures are taken, the industry is heading for a catastrophe. We recently launched the kbbreview100 initiative and, over the past few months, have been searching for 100 passionate independent retailers for a unique collaboration to help us build a stronger KBB retail community and strengthen our support to the industry. So, I’m delighted to be able to introduce you to the full kbbreview100 squad this month. We will regularly feature comment and opinion from these retailers in a bid to get real insight into what’s really going on in the industry. Before I go, I just wanted to share another bit of exciting news... entries for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2021 are now open. See page 5 and 26-27 for more information.
As always, your feedback on any of the stories featured is welcome.
Rebecca Nottingham, editor
rebecca@kbbreview.com
kbbreview.com
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Managing director Patrick Taylor
Managing editor Andrew Davies
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Production manager Katie Powell
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
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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.
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2021
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