TALKING SHOP: Support kitchen students

Sean Phelan of the British Kitchen Designers Association says in a bid to launch a professional qualification, the industry must support students post-graduation, by creating a career path

The majority of readers of this article will be kbb professionals of one kind or another, specialist showrooms, interior designers, architects or specifiers. Some may have entered the kbb industry as a dedicated career choice, while others may have drifted in from other sectors. But there is one group of kbb professionals  - kitchen designers  - where it would probably be fair to say very few will have made a conscious decision on leaving school to enter this sector. The reason? There hasn’t been a dedicated career path or training scheme in the past. But this is about to change.As of September 2013, the first students will be entering Bucks New University with the express aim of qualifying with a degree in kitchen design .

With a course length of two years (full-time) and an third year (part-time) , this is not just a step in the right direction but a quantum leap. And that’s not only for the students but also for the kbb industry and the discipline of kitchen design. So it’ s a win win scenario?  Well not exactly.

Create post-graduate path

Given that the course fees are approximately £15,000 for the two- year course and another £15,000 can be added to that for living expenses , there could be a financial cost of at least £30,000 (subject to state grants ) for full-time students. And it’s not only the cost of the course, but the loss of earnings which could affect those already working in the industry who wish to study part-time. These new graduates will be entering the jobs market in late 2015, the first to have a dedicated kitchen design degree. Many will have to carry that debt forward with them, like other graduates, except unlike architects or engineers, there is no industry requirement for them to hold any qualification to practice as a kitchen designer.

Is it not incumbent upon the industry to set up a graduate entry programme for these young professionals, to aid their development and to gain from their training, for the betterment of the industry as a whole? Given that these young people can choose from a wide range of more established design disciplines and ones that have dedicated career paths, will not some incentive be needed to attract the brightest and the best?

Vocational route needed

And we should never forget that, as the vast majority of young kitchen designers will continue to enter through vocational routes (on the job training). A dedicated programme will still need to be developed for those who need to learn as they earn . Some might say that no special treatment should be given to those who enter through the graduate route, but should the industry not make the most out of these new graduates and encourage kitchen design as a profession as opposed to a job?

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Roper Rhodes acquires tc bathrooms design rights

Following tc bathrooms ceasing to trade, Roper Rhodes has now confirmed its has secured design rights for a number of its more popular ranges. In a statement released to the press, marketing director of Roper Rhodes, Simon Taylor commented: "We can confirm that the Roper Rhodes Group has successfully bid for the design rights of a number of tc ranges."
He continued: "Whilst we consider how best to incorporate these lines into our brand portfolio, including of course the very popular Mini range of sanitaryware, we wish to make it very clear that we are determined to protect these design rights."
The Roper Rhodes Group incoporates a number of brands, including Roper Rhodes, Tavistock Bathrooms, R2 and Trade.

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Leicht and Toto exhibiting at newly-rebranded kbb LDN

German kitchen furniture manufacturer Leicht and Japanese bathroom giant Toto are among more than 50 confirmed exhibitors at the newly rebranded kbb LDN (formerly kbbLondon) show.

According to the show's organiser, it is around 20 years since Leicht exhibited at a UK show and Toto has never appeared at any kbb exhibition.

In addition, the show has also confirmed Italian kitchen furniture manufacturer Arredo3 will be exhibiting for the first time in the UK.

These companies join the likes of Poggenpohl, Baumatic, Scavolini, Mark David, Abode, BK Nolte Contracts and Perrin & Rowe.

It will form part of The May Design Series, an umbrella event which includes three adjoining shows: Arc, a lighting event, DX which will focus on technology, and Interiors LDN.

It means visitors to kbb LDN will also be able to access the three additional, design-related events.

The May Design Series has been conceived for design professionals who work in residential and  commercial markets and is "realistically targeting 14,000 visitors" said brand director Andrew Vaughan.

The  interior and visitor experience of the May Design Series will be designed by Ab Rogers who created the look for Richard Rogers retrospective at The Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Comme des Garçons flagship store in France.

In total, The May Design Series will cover 20,000sqm, with half the space expected to be dedicated to kbb LDN.

kbb LDN, as part of The May Design Series, takes place at ExCel in London from May 19-21, 2013.

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High street must adapt or die

To survive the economic upheaval high street retailers must embrace multi-channel shopping, according to Phil Duffy of global financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps.

He stated: “There is a revolution taking place on British high streets today, one that is changing its face forever, impacting consumers, retailers and landlords alike. We need to recognise this change and both retailers and landlords need to adapt to survive. The driver for this is the rise of online shopping and the continued growth of the out of town retail park.”

According to figures from the IMRG Capgemini eRetail Sales Index, some £5.8billion was spent online in August alone, an 11% increase month-on-month.

Phil Duffy of Duff & Phelps commented: “This trend is expected to continue and with the increase in the number of smart devices – phones, tablets and the like – we would expect this to grow still further.”

He continued: “The message is therefore clear: If the high street is to survive then the sector needs to address the changing habits of the market and adopt a ‘bricks and clicks’ business model. Today’s consumer wants the flexibility this affords and retailers need to address this head on.”

Duffy further added: “Another major trend is the rise of what we would term ‘destination shopping centre’ and again this is going to affect not only shopping habits but retailers as well. Over the past decade the rise of the out-of-town shopping centre had been almost unstoppable and in many cases this has led to the rise of retail citadels such as The Trafford Centre in Manchester or Westfield in West and now East London. Those retailers that focus their energies in these hot spots are going to survive and arguably survive well in the current economy.”

He concluded: “Don’t’ take my comments that the UK retail sector is dead and buried. It is in fact in a period of incredible change. Those retailers that keep their nerve, and focus on adapting to changing buying habits, will be the ones that survive the current economic challenges. Let the market change and put the consumer in the driving seat and the sector will rebound.”

EDITOR'S COMMENT: Avoiding the Comet trail

Philippa Turrell, Editor
Kitchens & Bathrooms News

With the collapse of Comet, one of the biggest casualties of the recession since Woolworths, what lessons can we learn from its administration? It was a well-known retailer, and seemingly successful, selling branded major domestic appliances, alongside AV and electrical goods. But what made this household name, which employed more than 6,000 people, go pop?
Could it be the precarious position Comet occupied in the market. Comet wasn't the cheapest retailer of appliances or electricals, so was under pressure from internet prices. But it certainly wasn’t considered a specialist in any of its goods either. Arguably it didn’t satisfy either end of the shopper spectrum – the empowered, knowledgeable consumer or the value hunter. In fact even a statement from one of its joint administrator from Deloitte pointed out, it had "been battling the changing landscape of the electrical retail sector for many years." And further cited: "It has become increasingly difficult for it to compete with online retailers."

However retail analyst Richard Perks claimed the likely the demise of Comet was in the fact that it didn't embrace the internet, as successful retailers use the best of both.

So herein lies the first clue - make sure you are seen as a specialist in your chosen bathroom or kitchen field. Move your business away from possible price comparisons on the internet. Showcase your product knowledge, understanding of design and client consultation in one package that far exceeds a £199 price tag for a washing machine.  But, and here’s an important factor, use the internet to create internet traffic and to support your in-store offer.
Richard Perks also cited lack of investment in the chain and a slip in service standards that sealed its fate. Although unconfirmed by Deloitte, it points to two further areas that kitchen and bathroom professionals need to keep on top of. Just because times are tight, don’t let the standards in your showroom slip. As if to illustrate my point, CP Hart and Poggenpohl recently refurbished a showroom, which wasn’t performing to their expectations, but has since met with more successful sales.

And although we all know customer service must be the cornerstone of all retail operations, particularly for kbb specialists, make sure it truly is. Go the extra step, even if you don’t feel you should. Great customer service can deliver amazing customer recommendations. And let's not forget consumer experiences can now be broadcast ever further afield thanks to social media. Rather than 10s of people, consumers can now reach 100s.

While it’s always sad to hear of any high street retailer's demise, look at each individual case,  and see what may have gone wrong – but constructively. This will allow you to move forward with added understanding, perhaps an adaptation or two in your strategy, but certainly some confidence in your business.

Do you agree or disagree with this point of view? Email the editor with your thoughts.

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