Belling reveals 100 Collection



(L to R) CEO of Belling Denver Hewlett, plus
sales and marketing director Jonathan Casley

 Celebrating 100 years of trading, Belling revealed its 100 collection of limited edition cooking appliances at The Savoy in London. The 100 Collection includes four freestanding cookers, four built-in models, with the same white and chrome aesthetic carried through to a Baby Belling. The appliances span a choice of fuel options from electric, through to gas and even a dual fuel cooker.
For each 100 Collection appliance sold, Belling will donate money to its chosen charity Anthony Nolan. The Anthony Nolan Trust saves the lives of people with blood cancer who need blood stem cell or bone marrow transplants.
CEO of Belling Denver Hewlett commented: "In putting together the 100 Collection we wanted to create a range of products across all cooking categories that celebrated our heritage as a great British brand whilst also looking to the future. The result is a collection combining some of our most successful products with a limited edition, super-modern finish.
"We are also proud to be supporting stem cell charity, Anthony Nolan this year and will be making a contribution from sales of the 100 Collection alongside a a number of other fundraising activities."

For more news, views and product trends, subscribe for FREE to Kitchens & Bathrooms News.

From Paris with Love

Assistant editor Britta O’Boyle visited the Ideo Bain exhibition in Paris to find out what was new for the bathroom market

Paris is known for being one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And it is. Lovely buildings and architecture, amazing food, great fashion. What more could you want? Add some lovely bathroom products to the mix and well, enough said. The Ideo Bain exhibition in Paris, which runs every two years, had products on show from a number of manufacturers. We have picked our top four from the event…

Dornbracht had a number of products on display including the Deque brassware range and the Ambiance Tuning Technique, with the addition of the Horizontal Shower application. Deque comes in matt black or chrome and comprises a number of options including a wall-mounted cascade bath spout, single lever basin mixer and three-hole basin mixer. Ambiance Tuning Technique with Horizontal Shower allows the user to shower lying down, with the option of various flow types and is controlled using the central eTool controls located near the user’s head. 

The Kaldewei stand featured a range of products including its Conoflat shower tray, Super Plan Plus shower tray and the Couchage Relax. Conoflat features an enamelled outflow cover which fits seamlessly into the shower tray’s surface, making it flush with the floor. The Super Plan Plus floor-level shower tray features an installed height of 109 mm (including the company’s pop-up fitting KA 125) and is available in 12 different sizes. The Relax Lounger can be used on the company’s bathtubs including the Couchage. Its bearing capacity is 130 kg comes in four sizes: 1700 x 750 mm, 1800 x 800 mm, 1900 x 900 mm and 2000 x 1000 mm.

Grohe showcased a number of products on its stand at the Ideobain exhibition this year. Eurocube brassware, Concetto brassware, Power&Soul shower and Grohtherm F were among the products displayed. Eurocube features cut-out detailing on the lever handles to reduce the perceived volume of each piece, as well as the company’s SilkMove and StarLight technologies. The Power&Soul collection of showers are available with a choice of four spray patterns and in three design styles. They come in three sizes and benefit from Grohe’s AquaDirect spray controller, which enables direct and single-handed switching between the four spray patterns.

Finally, Villeroy & Boch presented its Futurion Flat shower tray. Futurion Flat is manufactured from the company’s Quaryl material, which is said to be warm to touch and easy to clean. The tray is available in ten sizes and three colours, including White Alpin, Star White, Pergamon. Futurion Flat can be specified in two formats and matching shower enclosures are available, including Futurion Walk-In, Squaro Walk-In, Subway Walk-In.

For more news, views and product trends, subscribe for your FREE issue to Kitchens & Bathrooms News

Whirlpool Corporation announces Europe president

Whirlpool Corporation has announced Jose A. Drummond Jr as executive vice president of Whirlpool Corporation and president of Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

His appointment becomes effective on April 2 and he will report to Michael A. Todman, president of Whirlpool International. Drummond Jr replaces Bracken Darrell who has resigned from the company.

Jose A. Drummond Jr was previously executive vice president of Whirlpool Corporation and president of Whirlpool Latin America.

President of Whirlpool’s compressor business Embraco, Joao Carlos Brega will succeed Drummond Jr as executive vice president of Whirlpool Corporation and president of Whirlpool Latin America.

Drummond joined Whirlpool in 1999 as director, procurement, Whirlpool Latin America and held a number of managerial positions, including vice president sales and marketing Whirlpool Latin America and vice president supply chain Whirlpool Europe.

He holds a Bachelors’ degree in industrial and metallurgy from FEI, Industrial Engineering College in Brazil.

For more industry news, views and product trends, subscribe for FREE to Kitchens & Bathrooms News

Grohe UK appoints first female MD

Grohe UK has appointed its first female managing director Maha M. El Kharbotly, who will lead the team to launch UK specific products to market.

Her most recent role was global category director at Grohe’s headquarters in Dusseldorf, where she was responsible for the sales and marketing of showers and thermostats.

During this time, El Kharbotly led the team to increase the category by over 15% in 2010, alone, and was a member of the team that introduced the Grohe five-year innovation portfolio.

Her previous experience includes key positions across the globe, including a brand management role at Whirlpool Corporation America. There she was a member of the global management development portfolio.

Commenting on her appointment, El Kharbotly said: “2012 will see Grohe launch an exciting innovative range of UK geared products to the UK market, including the design-led Grohe Spa collections. My aim is to continue to evolve and cement Grohe’s portfolio of quality, design and technology”.

For more news, views and product trends, register for your FREE issue of Kitchens & Bathrooms News

BrIT Girl: Ain't no mountain high enough

Assistant editor Britta O’Boyle has signed up to the Three Peak Challenge to do her bit in helping the construction industry

People who know me well would probably say that mountain climbing and I are not a match made in heaven. In fact, we would probably be at opposite ends of cupid’s arrow. But apparently, whether I put it down to a sugar rush from much chocolate or meeting the 4^th European Iron Man champion (a retailer) on a recent trip,  I've decided to climb three mountains in 24-hours (as you do).

I give you permission to laugh; even my mother did when I informed her of my genius idea. Not to mention the man in the camping shop when I told him I wanted pretty hiking boots (it seems these don’t exist). But joking aside, me and my very bright new waterproof jacket (I’m going with a purple theme) and my very beautiful hiking boots have signed up to do the COINS three-peak challenge next month. Yes, I really am going to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, along with five others from our publishing house (including K&B News ad manager Tom) in an attempt to raise at least 5,000 for the COINS foundation.

We aren’t the first to do this somewhat crazy challenge, and I’m sure we won’t be the last. Although saying that, it may be the first and last time I ever do it! Throughout the past nine years, over 250 companies and 3,000 people have taken part and it is said to be the construction industry's largest fundraising event, raising over £2.3million. The money has been used to build schools, homes and educate individuals in construction skills. This year is the 10th anniversary of the challenge and the COINS Foundation has pledged to donate £100,000 of the funds raised for five years to the first mortgage lending in Sub-Saharan Africa.

While the cause may not be KBB specific, the construction industry does impact our  industry and so I feel the pain it will cause me to climb these mountains will be worth it. NHBC figures showed that the total number of new homes registered remained static in 2011 compared with 2010, with figures declining in the final quarter to 21,152 compared with 27,262 in 2010. So it looks like the industry could do with a bit of help. And the chief executive of the NHBC, Imtiaz Farookhi said: “There is general consensus that the combined efforts of the housing and mortgage industries could have a positive effect on sentiment and volumes.” The more houses built, the more kitchens and bathrooms needed right? Therefore if raising money for climbing a few ‘big hills’ will help at all, then why not?

 Whether I ‘can’ climb these mountains is a totally different story, but I am sure going to try. Please wish me luck (and if you can afford to part with some cash,  please sponsor me too).

KBB: Show amazing!

A cursory glance at the floorplan of kbbBirmingham may have presented the story of a rather small and perhaps even dwindling trade event. The floorspace seemed to have dimished, even since its previous outing  of two year's ago, with hoardings brought forward and cutting off hall corners, that clearly didn't sell. But that would only be the story on paper. In reality, this was one of the most vibrant, enthusiastic and positive kitchen and bathroom shows to be held over the past few years – even if it wasn’t the biggest!

Visitors joined with exhibitors and exuded their admiration for the event, both in the show aisles and over social media. Aisles were flooded - with independent bathroom and kitchen retailers, as is the tradition on the opening day - but the four-day show continued to flourish, right up until the close of its doors. In fact, veteran exhibitor and managing director of HiB, Warren Ginsberg claimed that the opening day of the show was the best he had ever had in all his year’s of business.

Exhibitors had worked hard to attract and keep the interest of visitors from Caple’s and Hotpoint’s on-stand cookery demonstrations, through to Pegler’s waterfall feature, and even Jetstone’s MD John Van Den Heuvel wielding blowtorches.

The show may have been small but it was beautifully formed and seemed to capture visitor attention. But it wasn’t just the stands that appealed to visitors; the well-constructed seminar programme were also well-attended. The retail-specific seminars saw plenty of ‘bums on seats’, so much so that there weren’t any left for the discussion about design with Gerd Bulthaup. It was strictly standing room only. And retail visitor Russell Buckley of Stuart Henry Kitchens on the Wirral was enthused about the KBB Cookery Demonstration Area, which was offering advice about how to hold a similar event in their own showroom.

All in all, KbbBirmingham 2012 was the boost that the industry has long needed, perhaps even craved? It was a jolt in the arm for kitchen and bathroom exhibitors and visitors and even signalled a new start for the industry. This is the new ‘now’ and this is the environment the kitchen and bathroom industry has to trade in. And maybe it was the acceptance of this that saw such positive vibes throughout the exhibition halls. It certainly seemed to spark a step-change in attitude, which could more importantly be a leap forward for the kitchen and bathroom industry.

Advertising pays dividends for KBB retailers

Kitchen and bathroom retailers who advertise and invest in marketing their business are reaping the rewards, with a pick-up in business. Members of industry trade association, the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA), have recently reported sale

s increases from their promotions and advertising, through print and new media.

Mike Kentish from Abacus in the West Midlands has noticed a dramatic pick up since Christmas. The company consistently markets its business using magazines and free papers. He also believes a new high gloss and bleached oak kitchen display at the front of the showroom has also been responsible for increased footfall.  And Marcus Ware of Chantry Kitchens in Yorkshire also says business is picking up thanks to advertising and his 20% sale.

Although having decent footfall from his New Year sale, Dylan Wade-Gledhill of Cambridge Kitchens in Cambridge is continuing to advertise using a variety of methods. He is opting for print, through to radio and on the internet, as he’s SEO savvy.

But, arguably the most creative route for advertising has been by Kirsten Robeson of Cameron Interiors. She uses traditional print advertising but has looked to new sources to gain business. To tie in with the Six Nations Rugby, she’s recently advertised in the Scottish Rugby Union magazine Scrum.

So look to how you can best communicate with your prospective customers, through advertising, as it seems to be a winner for these businesses.

For more news, views and product trends, make sure you register for your FREE issue of Kitchens & Bathrooms News.