INDUSTRY UPDATE


Premium bathroom manufacturer Geberit has announced a new addition to its Showrooms team


Viveak Taneja will be taking on the role of Area Sales Manager within the Showrooms team. Viveak will be responsible for Geberit’s network of retail showrooms, helping to build and continue its strong relationship with their valued partners. Viveak Taneja joins the Geberit team after a vast and varied career with over 15 years’ experience in the bathroom industry. Viveak’s experience includes working within distribution and premium bathroom manufacturers based in the UK. Sonia De Gioia,


Showroom Sales Director said: “We are delighted to


welcome Viveak into the Geberit Showrooms team. His passion for the industry, knowledge and experience makes him a strong new addition to our group. Our retailers can look forward to meeting him personally and benefiting from his sector specific know-how.”


InSinkErator® appoints new Key Account Manager


InSinkErator® has announced the appointment of Amber Sheppard to Key Account Manager. Amber is responsible for South West England and the West Midlands and will support independent kitchen retailers, as well as plumbing and building merchants in these areas.


Bringing six years of experience to her new role and having spent the last three years working with Swift as an Area Sales Manager, Amber is very familiar with the market and brings expertise in building and maintaining successful business partnerships.


Amber says: “My main goals at InSinkErator® are to maintain longstanding relationships with our valued retail partners and merchants, as well as to seek opportunities to open new accounts. I’m keen to spread the word on the benefits of InSinkErator® food waste disposers and specialist kitchen taps. I look forward to supporting, developing and increasing the prospects and success of our customers’ businesses too.”


50 BKU OCTOBER 2022


BiKBBI – Keep Calm and Carry on


can’t quite comprehend the changes our nation has encountered since my last update in September! We have witnessed a defiant Boris Johnson as outgoing Prime Minister, Liz Truss moved into Number 10 as the UK’s 80th PM, a new Ministerial Cabinet was announced (with some interesting and controversial appointments), a global outpouring of love and support was felt following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and we’ve seen the arrival of our new Head of State, King Charles III. There’s also been mini-budget and some concerning threats from a Russian dictator – which in normal times would both be significant enough to command the headlines, but these are anything but normal times!


I


The amount of change we have witnessed in the last month is unprecedented in modern UK history, and there is no doubt that the events of September provided a welcome change in the media narrative; moving away from the doom and gloom of rising energy prices for a short while at least. But the energy crisis is back in the headlines, fuelled (excuse the pun) by the apparent and obvious turn of seasons, as the blistering heat of the summer wallows into frosty mornings and shorter daylight hours.


It does feel like the world has gone mad, especially considering the ridiculous and almost unimaginable speed in which things are changing and the record-breaking price increases we are experiencing for basic consumables, so it’s probably no wonder that, as the skies turn grey, our moods may follow suit.


Despite the obvious challenges, we should remain focused and, in a typically British mindset, adopt a ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ mentality. There is no mistaking the new government’s determination to boost the UK economy and support businesses, and whilst the longer-term impact of the decisions being taken today seem to be dividing the nation, the short- term relief is a welcome one. Businesses battling rising costs will take comfort in reductions in fuel prices for non-domestic energy customers and tax cuts, both of which will at least provide a stop gap for re- evaluation.


And, as we ponder our next move in ensuring survival of our businesses and livelihoods, perhaps some of these challenges we face may even help us to re-evaluate our personal lives and the impact we have on others, our communities, and the environment. It seems to me as good a time as any to truly appreciate what is important to us. God bless The Queen and God Save The King.


Damian Walters, CEO, BIKBBI


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