Kaldewei's vision of future bath design

Is this the future of bathing? Enamelled steel bath manufacturer Kaldewei UK thinks so. It has named this visionary bath the winner of its Iconic Concepts Design Competition. The brief was to design a futuristic bath that can be made from 3.5mm enamelled steel. It had to be 'a new icon for modernity - that reflected the Kaldewei brand and core values of style and pioneering innovation. In particular, it needed to take into account of how society's opinions have changed towards bathing and how consumers now see the bathroom as a haven of well-being.'

Will Hoskian from London-based practice Woods Bagot created this tub which is described as an “exploration of form based on the dynamics of fluid and directional flow”. The unusual and ergonomic design appealed to the judges for its elevation of bathing a ritual within the home.

Hoskian scooped the £5,000 prize for his design and commented on his win: “It was a real pleasure to participate in the competition and I’m thrilled about the win. Designing a new icon for modernity, for a brand that has a great history, a high level of design and strong presence in the industry, is always a challenge.”

Kaldewei often looks at the future of design, having commissioned a study by the Rheingold Institute into consumer’s changing attitude to the bathroom.

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A Shaw thing

Ceramic sink and architectural terracotta specialist Shaws of Darwen is a British manufacturing success story around the world. It is creating 'new classics' in sink design and continuing to grow

If Shaws of Darwen was described as a niche manufacturer of handcrafted fireclay sinks in the rural environment of Lancashire, you could be forgiven of thinking of a quaint, artisan company. But, for the past 132 years, this company has specialised in the precision of new and restoration architectural terracotta, which has been used in the new phase of Harrods. And this meticulousness in quality has been carried through to its 115-year old fireclay sink range. MD David Dare “Our architectural terracotta is designed to last 100 years – that’s 100 cold winters and 100 hot summers. But if I tell you it’s the same clay, the same glaze, made by the same people in the same place, you can see how that quality is carried through to the sink range.”

Shaws of Darwen is a British manufacturing success story. It was acquired in an MBO three years ago, led by MD David Dare, from its parent company Qualceram Shires which had fallen into administration. Since the MBO David Dare says: “We’ve seen growth year-on-year in both the terracotta and in the sinks division. Overall, this year we’re about 15% up on last year.”

David Dare attributes part of the company’s success to an insulated high-end kitchen market, particularly at an export level. “This year, we’ve increased our export sales – very deliberately. We are selling a lot in Northern America, Middle East, and Australasia and into Europe. Probably 60-70% of our business is export. But from a sinks perspective, the UK has grown by about 5% last year. Overall, this year we’re about 15% up on last year. We are just budgeting for next year and we’re looking at the same levels of growth.”

But it’s been the quality of the product which has seen Shaws of Darwen grow its business in the tough economic climate. David Dare says: “Whilst it may sound twee, we have genuinely been doing this since 1897. It takes nearly three weeks to make a sink and we do it all by hand. People find it very hard to believe in this day and age. We’ve not tried to automate it. Our best selling sink is the butler which hasn’t been changed for the past 130 years.”

And now the company has extended its 30-strong domestic sink range for the first time in five years, with the launch of four models, which David Dare says is unprecedented: He explains why: “We introduce new products slowly because we expect the designs to last 50-100 years – not one season”. And although it takes four to six months for the company to develop each design through to final stages, David says the majority of this time is gauging customer reactions around the world. In fact with CAD and rapid prototyping, Shaws of Darwen can create foam samples incredibly quickly.

Now extending its Classic Collection is a 1.5 bowl version of Brindle, a smaller 800mm version of its Shaker sink and a larger 1000mm version of its Butler. While adding to its Original Collection is Entwhistle, an 800mm framed single bowl sink with a three-hole overflow.

But the company manages to marry the traditional values of its handcrafted products, with the latest in 21^st technology, with up-to-date kilns and now a website to promote products, support retailers and even allow them to shop online.

And the company is continuing to grow and develop. "It galls when I hear all the tales of woe in the industry", comments David. "We are taking on new apprentices. The office-based staff [numbers] have grown, as we've invested in staff". He concludes: "Now, that's a positive story!"

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Just Add Water opens UK's largest Duravit display

Philippe Starck St. Trop steam shower
stands in front of Esplanade suite

The UK’s largest display of Duravit products can now be viewed at the Just Add Water bathroom showroom in King’s Cross, London. It boasts the German bathroom manufacturer's latest launches from ISH including bathroom suites Esplanade and Darling New, plus the and Nahho floating bath with Bluetooth connectivity, by Eoos.The sympathetically-designed space sits alongside displays by brands including Matki, Duravit and Grohe with its Spa range of brassware.



Nahho float bath with bath filler
concealed underneath the lifted flap

 Showroom manager of Just Add Water, Stuart Ringe was pleased with the Duravit-branded space, which took just four days to install. He believes the new product will add to his increasing footfall and already flourishing sales.

Speaking to Kitchens & Bathrooms News, Ringe commented: “We’ve been very, very busy from the start of the year and with the new product that we’ve got on, it just seems to have kicked off really well. Against last year, there’s been an increase [in sales] and that’s the way we want it to go.”

He explains one of the reasons for the showroom’s success is targeting new business by attracting consumers, on top of its interior designer and architect client base. Ringe said: “There’s no point standing still in the marketplace. You have to be proactive and go out there and get new business and we’ve very much done that and it’s starting to work. You’ve always got to strive to get new clientele.”

The Onto bathroom collection

The company has re-branded the outside of the building, which it shares with parent company Fayers, a 125-year old independent plumbing and heating merchant. And as part of its marketing campaign to raise its profile, Just Add Water has been leafleting and advertising in local magazines in its 10-mile catchment area. Ringe explain why: “Although we have been established, here, as a showroom for 10 years a lot of people weren’t aware of us.” There are also plans for more showroom events.

Ringe believes the stand-out showroom is now beyond comparison in the Capital. “It’s fantastic. I may be a little bit biased. But to be honest, I don’t know another showroom in London like this in terms of the scale.”

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Philippe Starck-designed St

Trop steam shower

EDITOR'S COMMENT: “It’s not worth my while”

Kitchens & Bathrooms News
Editor, Philippa Turrell

My TV’s broken, kaput, knackered. There’s no sound and no picture. It’s not the best time in the year to fork out for a new flat screen. But the ‘on’ standby button, and the fact it’s only five years old, suggests that it may just need a replacement part. Why not try a repair shop? Better still, why not try an independent, local business – after all we all know the high street needs support. They’ll be happy of the trade. Well, that’s what you may think. I’ve now tried four and the stock answer has been the same: “It’s not worth my while”. And there was I thinking the job description was in the title!

And it’s not just TV repair shops. I had a similar response from plumbers when my shower was leaking - but they added a sharp suck of breath through their teeth. There seems to be a number of small traders that think business through their doors is not only a given right, but it must be within a certain price bracket too. Could this be why the high street is so under threat?

So, it got me thinking if kitchen and bathroom designers or showrooms can be guilty of it, too? While you’re waiting for the ‘worthwhile’ project, have you turned down smaller sales opportunities? Have you helped the customer who needed a replacement part worth a matter of pence? Did you offer to go to their house and help replace the broken WC seat with rusted on wing nuts? (Yes, I’ve had that problem too!). When was the last time you offered free advice to someone who walked through your door or called your business?

...Or are you guilty of uttering the immortal phrase “It’s not worth my while”?

If you are, you’re not only missing out on future sales from that client. Who wants to go back to a business that was unhelpful? But you'll miss out on gaining a referral too – the cheapest form of advertising there is. Worst still, you may even find yourself with a poor reputation broadcast to family and friends - now no longer just locally through ‘word of mouth’ but further afield using social media!

But perhaps the scariest scenario for the independent bathroom or kitchen designer or retailer is you may even lose your perceived expertise. Consumers who have faced the “not worth my while” stonewall are turning to the anonymity of twitter or online forums. There you're not made to feel daft asking the question. You can find handy consumer-to-consumer recommendations and from savvy businesses who have found there’s a penny to be made in offering advice too.

With recommendations, quick-fix suggestions and even product user testings now available online it further diminishes the reason for a customer to step through a showroom door! So next time you’re tempted to say “It’s not worth my while”, take a good hard think. Is it worth risking the survival of your business, not to?

As for me, I’m off to buy a new TV. I think I’ll try the local, independent AV shop – they’re ever so helpful – they once gave me a speaker cable for free!

P.S. Thank you to @tim_foley1 @coraldesigns and @peteurban on twitter for their suggestions about how to remove a broken WC seat with rust wing nuts! The answer was WD40 and an adjustable wrench!

Symphony launches 'New Perspectives' support package for retailers

Furniture manufacturer Symphony has revisited its retail offer to introduce the New Perspectives support package to help them attract more customers, win more business and increase margins.

The New Perspectives package covers product choice, display assistance, ordering and delivery packages, training, marketing, support, exclusive sales territories.

But where this support package arguably stands out, is independent retailers will be able to ‘pick and mix’ from the offer to best suit their locality and client base.

Retailers will be able to choose from Symphony’s collection of product ranges to suit the design tastes and price mix of the locality.

In addition, they can pick from marketing materials – brochures through to sales promotions - so the package is tailored to suit each business.

Group marketing director of Symphony Group Simon Collyns explains the concept behind the flexible retail package: “We’ve recognised the market - at the moment - is very, very tough. We’ve also recognised that retailers are very much their own people, in terms of localised areas, what they want to do and how they want to present their own businesses”.

Group managing director Marytn Davis commented: “New Perspectives is a huge milestone for us. We have spend the last few years transforming our marketing, product range, manufacturing capability and service delivery, so that we can respond to independent retailers better than ever before. This means our retail offer is now the strongest it’s ever been, as we can deliver a real point of difference in terms of our competitors. We’re raising the bar when it comes to the retail market.

“New Perspectives brings everything together in a compelling and tangible package that demonstrates a clever commitment to our retailer partners and shows how far we’ve come as a business. We’re confident this is a market-leading offer.”

This is the latest initiative from Symphony to help increase its customer of independent retailers. Most recently, the company committed to a price promotion with 50% off its Gallery premium range of kitchens and last year the company invested a six-figure sum in its marketing suite at its Barnsley HQ.

Symphony has 500 dealers selling its Milano and Gallery Kitchens brands, Embrace bedrooms and Aquadi bathrooms brand.

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KBB businesses raise £60k for children’s charity

A team of 24 walkers from kitchen and bathroom businesses conquered the Atlas Mountains in Africa, raising over £60k for a local children’s charity.

Mark Two Distribution’s managing director Nick Hopkinson MBE and Craig Rothwell, managing director of 20-20 Technologies joined staff from DRL and Scott Dawson Advertising to raise money for Bolton Lads and Girls club.

The group completed the five-day challenge through Africa’s highest icy peaks in extreme conditions which reached -27°C.

Nick Hopkinson said: “It’s amazing what you can do with 24 people who have never been up a mountain before but who care passionately about giving chances to young kids. We set a target to raise £50k to help change young people’s lives and ended up with nearly £70k.

“Spending seven days in cold, harsh and sometimes dangerous conditions helped raise this money to pay for mentoring of looked after children and young carers in Bolton. Most of the party had never been up a mountain in their lives before and here we were leading them up Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, 4200 metres high, in the winter, in snow and wearing crampons!"
He added: “The group dynamic was fantastic - we not only changed the lives of the young kids benefitting from mentoring, but we changed our own lives too.”

Bolton Lads and Girls Club works with vulnerable young people in some of the town’s most deprived areas, providing more than 3,500 young people every week with a safe, warm and fun place to go with plenty of support and activities.

BrIT GIRL: French connection

Kitchens & Bathrooms News,
assistant editor Britta O'Boyle

Assistant editor Britta O'Boyle visits Ideo Bain in Paris to see what Ambiance Bain has to offer

Paris is probably known for being one of the most romantic cities in the world. And having dinner on a boat down the river Seine, with the Eiffel tower sparkling in the background is probably one of the most romantic things you can do. It is almost proposal worthy! Although, probably a little less romantic when you are with 20 retailers, none of you with your respective partners, but hey, who is complaining. You’re in Paris!

Romance by night, bathroom furniture products by day. Ambiance Bain exhibited along side a number of manufacturers including Duravit, Hansgrohe, Villeroy & Boch and Geberit at this years’ Ideo Bain exhibition. The company presented a number of beautiful new collections, including the Plaza range which features a SMO basin that can be specified in the full range of colours. The turquoise basin on display was striking, and the padded version of the furniture displayed in a brown colour won my approval in an instant with its different look, not to mention it ever so slightly looked like Cadbury’s Dairy Milk.

The Kitoi range featured a solid surface material along with back boards and the Dolce range can be specified with laser etching. But that wasn’t all. The company has also introduced a van featuring a range of products designed for the UK market. The van features numerous displays including a tall fitted WC unit alongside a small basin, designed for a cloakroom setting, as well as an curved basin furniture unit that curves inwards. The van will travel around the UK to present the products to retailers and designers. After a few months, it will return to France to be re-fitted with the latest products from the show and complete its UK circuit again.

                And Ambiance Bain was also responsible for one of the four ‘Immersion Space’ areas which looked at ‘bathroom spaces of tomorrow’. Designer Mathilde Bretillot created a concept space using blocks which could be opened or closed to reveal areas such as a walk in shower, wellness room or gym. The idea was to make the smaller space, for example the wellness area, become part of the larger room, rather than closing yourself within it. The concept was created using a white solid surface material for the shelving, along with back boards, which could be any colour or wood. The shelving within the concept could be moved depending on its purpose.

                I might not have witnessed any proposals, but I certainly witnessed some lovely products. And I am looking forward to seeing some more at my first kbb Birmingham. Paris has got it. But so has London - and we have a Queen to go with it!

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