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SHOW PREVIEW | kbb Birmingham Harrison Bathrooms Stand: E54


Harrison Bathrooms is launching a range of new products under its Scudo brand, including two new furniture collections – Esme and Muro Plus. The floorstanding Esme cloakroom unit is a perfect way to add additional storage space to a smaller bathroom without compromising on space, says Harrison Bathrooms. Esme is compact and slimline and is available with a space- saving ceramic basin. The single internal shelf offers plenty of storage space for bathroom essentials, while the soft-close doors provide quiet and controlled closure. Visitors to the stand can also expect to see an expansion of the Alfie and Aubrey furniture collections with new configurations, a new Puriti sanitaryware collection and compact marble basin.


Hettich Stand: R70


Among the products on show from Hettich will be its LightTower illuminated tower unit larder storage, with LED lights that switch on automatically with no mains wiring required. It comes in five width options for flexibility – all based on AvanTech YOU platform. FurnSpin will also be on show. This offers an “unprecedented level of access to the body of the cabinet”, Hettich says, with a “unique translatory rotational movement”, spinning around to reveal what is inside. It also has soft-close and push-to-open mechanisms. The German brand will also showcase WingLine, its folding/sliding door range, with design flexibility, and what Hettich says is a “revolutionary” pull- or push-to-move mechanism.


‘We’re investing tens of millions into the UK’ Nigel Palmer, head of communications and marketing, House of Rohl


Q & A


Q: What would you say are the main challenges facing your sector and how are you tackling them? A: Although competition continues to increase, we are


heartened to see a resurgence in the


appreciation of high-quality, artisan kitchen and bathroom fittings. Sustainability is becoming a higher priority for many buyers, and choosing products that are made to last, and that can be maintained without the need to replace, is key to reducing waste to landfill.


House of Rohl Stand: D68


Since House of Rohl was introduced at the kbb show in 2022, the family of brands that includes Shaws, Perrin and Rowe, Riobel and Victoria + Albert, has, it says, gone from strength to strength. Parent company Fortune Brands Innovations has now acquired British showering brand, Aqualisa. Standout new products from Perrin and Rowe and Victoria + Albert will be previewed for the first time, and of course the usual teas and coffees will be served using Perrin and Rowe instant hot water taps. With the acquisition of Aqualisa, the company is also keen to show the benefits of digital smart showering, and will have working displays to bring the technology to life. For any retailer or designer who doesn’t feel they fully understand the advantages of smart showers, this is an ideal opportunity to find out more, says House of Rohl.


Q: How do you think the relationship between suppliers and retailers has changed over the past few years? A: There are now so many aspects to running a successful kitchen or bathroom showroom, and the speed of change can be bewildering. In a complex world, manufacturers and suppliers need to make things simple and effective for their retail partners, and help with presentation, marketing and digital content wherever possible.


Our own House of Rohl family has been established for precisely this reason – to offer a portfolio of luxury brands that work well together,


with exceptional marketing materials and support, backed by a single organisation.


Q: How do you view the health of the UK market? In what ways could it improve? A: We are investing tens of millions of pounds into manufacturing in the UK, with a purpose-built new site in the West Midlands opening shortly. Our US parents recognise the exceptional design and manufacturing skill-base there is in the UK, and see the demand for high-quality kitchen and bathroom products increasing across international markets. The challenge, as always, is to spread the word!


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