p56 BKU-MAR22 BIKBBI_bku 25/02/2022 08:45 Page 56
INDUSTRY UPDATE
Mereway Bathrooms unveil new user-friendly preview brochure for the new collection
Mereway Bathrooms have updated their core range of quality stylish furniture and sanitaryware and released a new brochure to showcase the range. Page 2 of the brochure showcases the new shaker door style and inspiring colours and worktops coated with the anti- bacterial SteriTouch technology. With a simplified pricing structure,the brochure is now broken down into two pricing groups to make estimating and ordering much easier. Mereway have focused on offering colour coordinated door and cabinets in most of the available finishes at no additional cost. This approach eliminates the need and additional expense for a customer to order and fit matching plant-on panels and makes dimensional planning simpler.
National Sales and Development Manager Ed Norris says ‘:As Mereway Bathrooms celebrates 25th year we want to extend our range and scope of bathroom choice whilst making trading with us as simple as possible. We pride ourselves on delivering a one-stop-shop for our retailers. In doing so we’ve simplified the layout of our brochure, reduced our price groups from four to two, and now offer a free sample swatch service.” Showroom displays are available to retailers at a significant to full discount and with complimentary fitting.
Franke launches online training academy
Franke has launched an online training programme as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting its valued retailer network. Through the Franke Academy, seven hour-long online sessions are currently available to book comprising: What’s New? - New Product Introductions; Profits Push – Increased Profitability; Boiling Brilliant! - Instant Boiling Water; Get Fresh – Filtered Water; Clean Up – WDU; A breath of fresh air – Hoods; and An Introduction to Carron Phoenix. Jo Sargent, sales and marketing director at Franke UK says: “The Franke Academy is the latest development within our extensive retailer support package designed to help our customers generate sales and enhance their margins. The training sessions are designed to help our retail partners learn more about the Franke brand and the features and benefits of key Franke products, giving them the tools to upsell and increase profits.”
Putting the KBB Industry on the National stage with BiKBBI’s Westminster Conference
ne of the goals in setting up the British Institute for Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BIKBBI) was to help make sure that industry gets the recognition and respect it deserves from the people that walk the corridors of power. That’s why we were so pleased that the Institute was able to put KBB installation on the national political agenda this month with a major conference at the heart of Westminster.
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Over 175 senior figures from the KBB industry were in attendance at the prestigious QEII Centre to hear keynote speeches from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Paul Scully MP and Labour’s Shadow Business Minister, Seema Malhotra MP. Both politicians remarked on the important role that the industry had played in the pandemic in keeping people employed and serving customers safely. Minister Scully set out how the Government intends to support small business in the KBB industry and beyond to emerge from the pandemic, while Seema Malhotra talked about Labour’s plans.
It was long overdue political recognition for our industry. We provide jobs for people of all backgrounds in every community of the UK while providing a valuable service to our customers. It is only right therefore that senior politicians from both of the major parties came to speak at our conference and learn about the support we need to thrive. The conference was also a good moment for the industry to think about the challenges we need to overcome to have a sustainable future. In particular, leading research organisation AMA Research presented evidence that proved how the skills gap crisis we’ve long warned of has well and truly arrived - with the record high levels of customer demand meaning that we desperately need to bring new talent into installation. The good news is that we now have a plan to tackle the crisis in BIKBBI’s ground-breaking apprenticeship programme, which I was delighted to announce at the conference, will move to an exciting new phase this year with a series of visits to schools to promote careers in installation to a new generation. The programme will only be a success though if the industry gets behind it. Our outreach work will make sure there is plenty of interest in installation apprenticeships among young people of all backgrounds and cultures so that our sector can begin to reflect our society. The challenge for the rest of the industry is to make sure that this interest is met with plenty of apprenticeship vacancies.
Damian Walters, CEO, The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BIKBBI) 56 BKU MARCH 2022
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