NEOBankside "encapsulates spirit" of May Design Series

Brand director of the May Design Series, Andrew Vaughan said  award-winning housing development NEOBankside, in London, "encapsulates the spirit of what we are aiming for with the May Design Series." And he indicated the type of interior fashions shown in the housing development will be similar to those on display at the four co-located shows of the May Design Series, which include kbbLDN (sister show to kbbBirmingham), Interiors LDN, DX and Arc.
Vaughan added: "It epitomises the spirit of the visitor and exhibitor and the beauty and luxury we want to offer."
Alike The May Design Series, this London construction shares the Rogers name - with Rogers Stirk & Harbour having designed the housing development and Ab Rogers creating the look of the show's interior.
The May Design Series takes place at ExCel in London from May 19-21 and to win a free VIP ticket or £100 of Amazon vouchers, follow the instructions at the end of the video. There is also an app available to download with details about the show.

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Pop-up studio opening for Keramag Design

Luxury bathroom brand Keramag Design has opened a pop-up studio at Chelsea Harbour, London, to showcase its products to retailers, interior designers and prestigious house builders.

Open for six-months, although on a rolling contract, the studio features its four designer collections Citterio (shown), Preciosa II, Myday and Silk.

The pop-up studio has been designed so it can be transported to other locations, with plans to move it outside London at the end of the year or beginning of next year.

Firstly, Keramag Design is looking to establish a UK network of retailers, with a target of 60 by the end of the year, and 120 in total. Ideally, the company would like to attract retailers which also work in the small contract market and will give an area to Keramag Design. This area can then be designed and fitted out by a team from the company.

Retail national sales manager of Keramag Design, Lynn Dale continued: “Because there are only four series in the range, what we are looking for is for them to take a spread of each of the four ranges.” stating “in an ideal world”, Keramag Design would like for retailers to group the product together, and stated “that’s what we’re finding more people want to do”.

She believed the more retailers who visit the pop-up studio; the more likely they would be inspired to do a similar design.  

However, managing director of Keramag Design John Blackburn pointed out: “We don’t want to go into the market arrogant. It’s not the way I do business, so therefore I wouldn’t send the values into the brand into that way. We have a standard but we also want to have some flexibility.”

Keramag Design is already a third of its way towards its number of targeted retailers for this year. Lynn Dale said: “We have been out in the marketplace for four months now actively selling into showrooms. We’ve already got 19 showrooms and we have another 20 prospects. So, in a short space of time, we’ve actually achieved quite a lot.”
The brand is dealing through national distributor Robert Lee, regional distributor for the North of England and Scotland City Distribution and is seeking a regional distributor for the South.

Lynn Dale added: “They both have got stock on the shelves, so they can currently supply a next-day delivery, if needed. On the Keramag Design product, it is a three week lead-time and that is what we will always tell our customers. So that can be passed onto the consumer just in case, for whatever reason, stock isn’t on the shelf.”

But stock is being carried and Dale continued: “At the moment there’s quite a few pieces going out for displays but, equally now, we are stocking to get the pull-through from the showrooms that are live.”

And the aim, as John Blackburn, stated is for the company to be “number one or two brand in the luxury brand sector.” And he stated the brand would be looking to take market share to reach this position.

However he added: “The prediction in 2014, 2015 and 2016 is going to grow. For 2015-2016, the prediction is 4-5% [growth]. That’s why we think the timing [of the launch] is right because we believe we are now at the bottom, so we are only going to be in a position of growth.”

To visit the appointment-only, pop-up showroom, email Lynn Dale.

 

May Design Series App for kbbLDN visitors

An app is now available for visitors attending The May Design Series, which includes kbbLDN alongside InteriorsLDN, Arc lighting show and the interiors and exteriors technology show DX.

The May Design Series App can be downloaded from iTunes for iPad and iPhones, and it's also available on Android. It has been designed to allow visitors to better plan their time at the show, and allows them to create an agenda and ‘favourite’ exhibitors and speakers.

The App also offers the latest show news and features the Conversation Series of discussions, including Designing for Small Kitchens & Bathrooms, with Russell Buckley of Stuart Henry Kitchens and Stuart Irving of Ablutions Bathrooms. It will be chaired by Kitchens & Bathrooms News editor Philippa Turrell.

In addition, it features the most up-to-date exhibitor list, including Leicht and most recently Spanish kitchen furniture manufacturer Doca and Swiss appliance brand V-Zug.

It is the first time since Leicht has exhibited at a UK show in 18 years and sales director Graham Hopper explained why the company chose to now take a stand: “We have been very active in building through an increasing dealer base and via contract activities. In order to develop our turnover further, it was decided that we would exhibit at kbbLDN in 2013 as this would be an ideal platform to introduce our products to customers that perhaps have not seen Leicht previously. We are also keen to showcase our new designs for 2013.”

On a stand, with a 3.5m high ceiling, Leicht will showcase its extend+, a mid-way electronic tambour system and its Contino handleless range, in its latest colours and finishes.

Hopper concluded: “The important factor is the potential customers who are aware of the show and ultimately will attend. Having spoken to a very large number of customers, they are certainly aware of kbbLDN and will be attending.”

The May Design Series, which includes kbbLDN, takes place at Excel in London from May 19-21, 2013.