POLISHED CHROME & BRUSHED BRASS Rob Shean
Roper Rhodes
Matt Broughton spoke to Roper Rhode’s Head of Product Development, Rob Shean, about the company’s goals for 2024.
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023 was a year of significant growth and diversification for Roper Rhodes, as described by Head of Product Development, Rob Shean: “We took major strides in expanding our product offering, particularly by introducing new categories such as bathroom lighting and baths, alongside offering a wider range of styles and finishes in our brassware collections. A notable highlight was the expansion of our Keswick brassware range to include brushed brass finishes across multiple styles, which resonated with our customers. This expansion has established us as a brand with a strong cross-category offering, covering all aspects of bathroom design from fixtures and fittings to finishes.”
The market has been challenging in 2023, but delivering high quality products which are carefully designed and developed for our customers - at the right price points - continues to stand us in good stead for the coming year. Ensuring that we maintain our high standards of quality and design across these new categories, while also keeping up with the logistical and operational demands of a broader product range is always a challenge but one which our team meet time and time again. We work tirelessly to ensure that our brand values, customer service and product quality
remain at the forefront of everything which we do.
Roper Rhode’s main goal for 2024 is to continue growing its product offering. This means not just expanding its range, but also offering more finishes, styles, and customisation options to cater to the diverse needs of our customers. “We’re also focusing on increasing our sales team to provide more on-the-ground support to our retailers,” explains Rob. “Additionally, we’ve invested in establishing an Irish distribution channel, which opens up new avenues for us in Eire and allows us to better support our Irish retailers. These steps are all part of our broader strategy to enhance our market presence and ensure that we’re meeting the needs of our customers and retailers as effectively as possible.” Roper Rhode’s first key focus for 2024 has been leveraging the customer research it invested in during 2023. Based on these insights, the company’s designers have been hard at work creating new products that further diversify its offering across categories. “This focus on design and innovation is driven by our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our retailers and their customers, ensuring that we stay at the forefront of bathroom design trends and preferences.”
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With expansion comes its own set of challenges
“We’ve observed a significant shift in how consumers view their bathrooms. It’s no longer just a functional space; it’s become a key area of design focus within the home. With consumer tastes evolving rapidly, our goal for 2024 is to ensure that our product designs, styles, functionality, and versatility are all aligned to meet these growing expectations. We’re committed to covering all bases, ensuring that our products not only meet the practical needs of users but also cater to their desire for aesthetically pleasing and design-forward bathroom solutions.” Addressing sustainability is an important part of Roper Rhodes’ operations, underscored by a comprehensive strategy with ambitious targets and KPIs, including annual greenhouse gas emissions reporting as per the GHG Protocol. “We’ve transitioned to electric and hybrid
28 BKU MARCH 2024
vehicles for our sales team, embraced renewable energy by investing in solar panels and switching to renewable suppliers, achieving our 100% renewable energy target ahead of schedule. Our commitment extends to product sustainability, with investments in Life Cycle Assessment tools for Environmental Product Declarations and a shift towards sustainable packaging materials. We’ve integrated Circular Economy principles into our design process, undertaken a rewilding project at our premises, and partnered with suppliers for Sustainable Maritime Fuels. Additionally, we engage our team in community projects and charity work, while ensuring our supply chain adheres to ethical standards through third-party audits. These initiatives reflect our dedication to reducing our environmental impact and leading by example in sustainable business practices.”
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