INDUSTRY UPDATE
New Marketing & Sales Support at Kudos
Reece Wilcox has joined Kudos as Sales & Marketing Administrator for the business based at their Sandbach site.
His role is largely the managing and developing of the company’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, reporting on sales figures and general communication with the Kudos Retail Sales Managers, who are based across the country.
Reece said he is really enjoying the role and the people he works with at Kudos: “Every day is different and I’m always doing work that challenges and engages me. Everyone at Kudos has been really willing to help
and a pleasure to work with.” Outside work Reece plays football twice a week and has a second job as a DJ at weekends!
Kudos Shower Products Ltd has been designing and manufacturing shower products at their Cumbria facility since 1999. Their portfolio includes shower enclosures, shower trays, over-bath screens and wet-room solutions sold via KBB showrooms and merchants across the UK.
Knightsbridge heralds a bumper year with new 2023 catalogue
Knightsbridge has published the 25th Anniversary Edition of its catalogue, available to the trade now. The handy A5-sized, full colour publication is packed with over 3000 items, including over 400 new products. New high design accessories reflect the evolving aesthetic of the home, with Matt Black, Anthracite and Smoked Bronze finishes on electrical accessories and lighting now up there with more traditional items such as white and chrome, both polished and brushed. Smart appliances are represented with a comprehensive range of products that are easy to use and all controllable via one easy app.
Lighting introductions include SpektroLED, the 40-in-one configurable downlighter that now comes in fixed and tilt versions; and the Torlan range of non-corrosive LED battens with
variants ideal for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and other demanding environments. Other developments include recessed and surface-mounted downlights designed for light commercial, hospitality and high-end residential applications.
Please visit
https://www.mlaccessories.co.uk/catalogue-request to order a catalogue.
BIKBBI – Beware of change in consumer behaviour as we head in to economic downturn
s the UK embarks on an uncertain 2023, the potential change in shopper habits historically associated with a financial downturn could be costly for the whole industry. Manufacturers and retailers will likely see a rise in disputes and increases in compensation claims which will ultimately lead to customers’ withholding payments. This in turn will have a knock-on effect to the KBB installers who are typically SMEs, for whom withheld payments can significantly impact their business. Changing consumer
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behaviour is an indicator that even those businesses that are typically mindful of the profitability and reputational risks associated with installation in normal circumstances, should apply greater caution during extraordinary times.
The home improvement industry can historically chart the correlation between economic instability and an increase in negative consumer behaviour, especially with products and services associated with long lead times. As an example, buyers enter agreements, in some cases several months in
advance of delivery, during which time personal financial circumstances change, which leads to ‘buyer’s remorse’. This can then result in a rise in complaints and claims for compensation, as savvy consumers aim to claw back some of the spend, often seeking legal loopholes or citing contractual breaches. And once this type of dispute takes hold, it can take months or even years to resolve – and all the while it plays out, there will be an SME or sole-trader tradesperson at the end of the chain waiting for their money.
Businesses should not rely on what they’ve always done - we operate in a fast-moving world, with ever-changing legislation, consumer rights and expectations and is calling on all businesses operating in the UK KBB sector to review their internal processes and procedures relating to how they manage installation, whether they sell or recommend an installation service. A comprehensive review should include the current business model versus legislation and the Consumer Rights Act (2015), how compliance is managed, the credentials of those installers they work with or recommend to, and any agreements they may have with contractors, employees and their customers.
Retailers in particular are at risk and in order to aide them with their due diligence when it comes to installation, BiKBBI has created a free, no obligation online risk assessment to help retailers understand the risks associated with installation and check their risk exposure. The institute is in a Primary Authority Partnership with Trading Standards and is offering the assessment to all KBB retailers, regardless of size, and is open to BiKBBI retail partners and non-partners. More information can be found at the website.
Damian Walters
BiKBBI Chief Executive Officer
www.bikbbi.org.uk
BKU FEBRUARY 2023 43
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