FOCUSON DISTRIBUTORS Scott Cooper


Idea Bathrooms: Keeping customers at the heart of growth


BKU’s Matt Broughton speaks with Ideal Bathrooms Managing Director Scott Cooper about customer service, industry partnerships, distribution and why confidence remains the company’s biggest selling point.


KBB sector, but Ideal Bathrooms has continued to build on the customer-focused strategy that has underpinned its recent growth. Reflecting on the year so far, Managing


T


Director Scott Cooper says the business enjoyed an exceptional opening quarter before wider economic uncertainty began to affect the market. “It has been a game of two quarters,” he


explains. “The work we have done to make Ideal Bathrooms a customer-focused business has really paid off. In the first quarter we saw a number of records broken, including our biggest ever day of sales. In the second quarter, whilst we still saw growth, geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East and its impact on the UK economy lowered consumer confidence, which in turn affected the sector as a whole.” Despite those challenges, Scott says the


company’s priorities have remained unchanged. “Our main focus has been building on our


customer promise,” he says. “That means maintaining market-leading service levels, including approximately 99% OTIF performance and


he first half of 2026 has delivered mixed trading conditions for the


delivering within our promised two-hour window around 97% of the time. Ultimately, this is what has driven our growth. However, we can always be better, and we will continue to work hard to improve our performance, and ease to do business with.” The company’s customer-first approach has


also been central to its activities at industry events throughout the year. While InstallerSHOW, Clerkenwell Design Week and HIX remain valuable opportunities to engage with the wider sector and spot emerging trends, the NMBS Exhibition was Ideal Bathrooms’ key event for customers. “We focused on our customer promise,


Independent Living offering and new Spares & Solutions,” Scott says. “It was a great opportunity to meet customers face-to-face and showcase how we continue to support their businesses.” One event that has become increasingly


important for the distributor is its own Meet The Supplier gathering, bringing manufacturers and customers together under one roof. Rather than simply exhibiting products, the


event is designed to encourage collaboration, training and stronger business relationships across the industry.


“As a distributor we have a unique position to


bring lots of suppliers and customers together,” Scott explains. “With 27 suppliers showing everything that is new, providing training and offering deals, it is an event that engages our customers.” He adds: “It is everything I love about the


bathroom industry, the people in it all coming together and supporting each other and having a good time.” Supporting customers extends far beyond


events. Scott believes the biggest value Ideal Bathrooms provides is certainty, allowing retailers to concentrate on serving their own customers. “Confidence is the biggest thing we provide,”


he says. “I want customers to be confident they can get the products they need when they need them.” That confidence is built on the company’s


nationwide logistics operation. “Whether you’re in Truro or Inverness, it’s


Ideal Bathrooms’ dedicated vans that are on the road and deliver,” he says. “The Ideal team are the best in the business and are committed to supporting our customers throughout their journey with us.” The same philosophy applies to suppliers, who


benefit from national distribution across the UK and Northern Ireland. “With this simple mindset, we have seen


growth across our suppliers, helped our customers and grown ourselves,” Scott adds. Although the successful Meet The Supplier


event has now concluded, preparations for next year are already underway. “Our team have already set the date for the


Meet the Supplier event 2027,” Scott reveals. “So if you missed this year, keep your eyes open for the details for next summer.” There’s plenty more happening behind the


scenes too. “2027 is only around the corner, meaning our


Big Yellow Price Guide is imminent,” he says. “This new edition will include more of our ‘blue vans’, a wider selection of bathroom electricals and even more from Ideal Bathrooms.” He concludes: “We are also working on our


new Swan Bathrooms brochure, which brings onboard new and exciting additions to an already strong selection of products, which I am personally very excited about.”


20 BKU AUGUST 2026


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