Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies, this is Episode Two of Season 13 and we've got a great one for you today as we look into the world of distribution with one of the biggest names in the sector - Waterline.

We have a great interview with Michael Marriott, who's the new CEO, and sales director Rob Taylor who's chalked up an astonishing 39 years with the company.

Waterline is, of course, owned by Crown Imperial and Michael is the grandson of the founder, continuing the lineage of the family-run business. His brother Barry Head is the current MD of Crown.

There are huge changes happening with distribution in the KBB industry - with consolidation, buy outs and big names calling in the administrators. Big brands who always relied on distributors are starting to go direct and margins are getting tighter and tighter across the chain.

Against this backdrop, Waterline has just launched its first ever bathroom range - an ambitious move into a very crowded market.

So why have they done it, what do they think about the direction of distribution in general, and how does a new CEO get under the skin of such a well-established company?

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host is editor-at-large Rebecca Nottingham and this is another of our very special Rising Star episodes where we meet the upcoming superstars of kitchen and bathroom retail.  

Between August 2024 and March 2025 we’ll be picking a monthly Rising Star to feature in the magazine, online and this very podcast. Those eight monthly winners then become the shortlist for the overall winner which will be revealed at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025 in April.

It's done with the support of our very good friends at Blum and you can find out more about them at Blum.com

You can nominate your rising stars, or indeed nominate yourself, via the awards website kbbreview.com/awards and there are only two rules:

They must be currently employed by a retailer - which we're defining as a company that sells direct to the consumer and they must be under 30 years of age on March the 4th, 2025. 

Other than that, they can perform any job role within your business – admin, design, sales, finance, installation, we don’t mind as long as they’re a star!

So let's meet our Rising Star for September, Georgia Astley. She's the branch manager at Kutchenhaus Lutterworth. At just 22 she's already clocked up experience in installation, design, project management and running a showroom and, as you will hear, she's loving every minute of it...

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Welcome to a very special bonus episode of the kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies, and today we're looking at one of the areas of kitchen design that doesn't get the recognition it deserves, and that's the panel finishes that make up the furniture.

When you actually think about it there's hundreds of colours, textures, grains and patterns all following, and often setting, the trends before they ever get near being made into furniture - and manufacturers are doing so at a speed that is mind boggling.

It's such an important part of the design journey that it definitely needs more attention so Andy is talking to Lauren Barker, the head of marketing and design for Lawcris.

Lawcris leads the field in wood based panel products, laminates and edgings with big brands such as Emporio Skin, Kronospan and many more. With over 40 vehicles in their fleet, they can provide next day delivery on all stocked products. You can find out all about them at lawcris.co.uk

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Welcome to this very special bonus episode of The kbbreview Podcast and, in fact, it's the first in a very special series of bonus episodes looking ahead to 2023.

Your host as always is managing editor Andy Davies and in this series we'll be talking to some key business leaders in the kbb sector and asking them where we are now and where we're going in the next 12 months.

Where are the opportunities?

Where are the pitfalls? 

What's the consumer going to do?

 How are they planning for their own companies?

First up we have Nathan Maclean from Virtual Worlds - it's leading the way in virtual reality solutions for retailers as well as offering hugely successful design packages. And Nathan himself has always been a real forward-thinker, applying very conceptual ideas to create practical applications so it's great to hear what his view of 2023 is.

This bonus episode is commercial content.

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Welcome to the kbbreview podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this is episode five of season six.

Couple of great bits of advice today - and we start with Trevor Scott from RFK and Sofia Charalambous from Origins LIving as they're two of our business judges in the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2023. 

And why are we talking to them now?

It's because entries close on this coming Thursday - that's November the 17th at 5pm. There will be no extensions, it's called the closing date for a reason.

So if you're there beavering away on your entry you'll want to hear some insight from the very people who might be reading your entry. What are they looking for? What do most entries not do enough of? And why waffle is your biggest enemy…

Then, in a total change of gear, we're talking mortgages and the housing market with friend-of-the-show Iain Swatton from mortgage tracking and comparison site Dashly. What happens to the market is, of course, directly linked to kitchens and bathrooms and with everything that's happened in the last couple of months, we all definitely need a bit of expert help to get our heads around it.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this is episode 4 of season 6.

We've got a couple of features for you today and they couldn't be more diverse.

Firstly, we're looking into what help is available to you and anyone who works in the wider kbb industry if you fall on hard times. 

This is, unfortunately, depressingly relevant  as we begin what could be a long period of economic hardship to which no one is immune. We're talking to Sue Dean from the Furniture Makers Company - a charity that covers the vast majority of those that work in this sector.

It's definitely worth a listen because it could happen to any of us and if it's not you it might be someone you know that you could help just by pointing them in the right direction.

Then sometimes it's worth featuring a story on here just because it's really fun, so we have retailer Steve Root from Roots Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms telling us how he set off on a quest to claim a little 3m by 3m square of a Corsican hillside for this industry.

Trust me, it's a good 'un, it has goats, hitchhiking, a record breaking storm and a non-slip shower tray.

LINKS

Roots Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms 

Steve Root travel videos

Furniture Makers Company

Sue Dean email: sue@furnituremakers.org.uk 

Sue Dean phone: 07366568458

Mental health text service: Text COMFORT to 85258

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host  as always is Andy Davies and  this is episode three of season six.

That's the official classification, but much more  importantly this is Part Two of our top retailer round table.

Last week was Part One of this in-depth discussion that took place at the KBSA Conference a few weeks ago.

And we've got a roster of some of the most high-profile kbb retailers in the UK talking about some of the biggest issues. We have…

• Tony Robson from DayTrue in London
• Keith Myers from the Myers Touch in Winchester
• Diane Berry from Diane Berry Kitchens in Manchester
• Paul O'Brien from Kitchens International in Scotland

and

• Ron Mascari from Mascari Design in Nottingham.

And you'll also heard from Dawn Short from Callerton and Stephen Johnson from Quooker giving the supplier's point of view.

In Part One we covered two big topics - how business has changed post-covid - including a great discussion on who is still running by appointment only - and we also looked at how our retailers are approaching the thorny subject of sustainability,

So if you haven't listened to that yet here's a link to listen now in your browser, or if you're using a podcast app you can find it in there.

In Part Two we're going to deal with another couple of BIG subjects, including probably the biggest of them all at the moment, the floundering supply chain in some categories and the disruption it is causing the retailers day-to-day business.

And then we talk training, development, apprentices and the next generation and whether or not this industry really has a plan.

Two big subjects for Part Two of this discussion, so don't miss it.

Don't forget that entries close for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2023 at 5pm on Thursday, November the 17th. It's totally FREE to enter and you can get all the details at kbbreview.com/awards

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies but that's really not important, the bit you actually need to know is that this is episode 2 of Season 6 and we're off to a flying start with the first of a two-part special.

Yes indeed, a double whammy this week and next. 

We're going to hear from a roundtable of top retailers discussing some of the biggest topics in the industry - post-lockdown business, supply chain problems, training and sustainability and it's all such good stuff that we're splitting it across two episodes.

At the end of September the KBSA ran a very successful conference and part of it was a fascinating on-stage discussion between Rob Mascari of Mascari Design, Paul O'Brien from Kitchens International, Paul O'Brien from Diane Berry Kitchens, Keith Myers from the Myers Touch, and Tony Robson from Day True. We'll also hear from Dawn Short from Callerton and Stephen Johnson from Quooker representing the suppliers.

There's a lot to unpick but we've dug out all the best bits for your delectation. In this first part we'll be looking at how their business has changed during and since the lockdowns, including some really interesting comments and opinions on working by-appointment only, and then we'll move onto sustainability and they're very candid about their views on who is responsible for what and whether consumers are actually bothered.

If you're interested in the episode mentioned by Tony Robson, here's the link

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, we’re back back for this first episode of Season 6, and in the next ten weeks we’ll be running up to Christmas with top guests, big name interviews, industry updates, fun stories, great case studies, in depth analysis, loads of hints and tips to help you run your business better.

Your host as always is Andy Davies and we're afraid you’re stuck with him, but don’t let that put you off as we’ve got a great season opener for you.

We’ve got an exclusive interview with Anthony Sant, he’s the managing director of AO Business – now over the last couple of years many of you will have turned to AO with a furrowed desperate sweaty brow to try and fulfil those elusive appliance orders.

However, AO have their eye on the independent kitchen retail market for more than just those very distressed purchases. They want to be a major supplier and distributor, they want you to come to them as a first resort not last. 

And you can see why, they have a hugely impressive logistical network, massive warehouses, the latest IT and there’s a huge chunk of the appliance market there that they just don’t have.

But, as you will hear from Anthony Sant, the USP is not the delivery part, it’s that they will take the old appliances away. The retailer’s legal responsibility for the removal and safe disposal of electrical waste will soon, Sant says, become an onerous burden for retailers and they will be looking for partners that will take care of it.

Please rate, review and follow us wherever you get your podcasts, and feel free to drop Andy a line - andrewdavies@taylistmedia.com

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies and as well as being episode 10 of Season 5, and it is also the last episode of Season 5. We're going to take a little break and we'll be back with Season 6 later in October.

But we're rounding this season off with a discussion about a topic that affects every single retailer in the country - what and how do you pay your staff?

In particular we're looking at sales designers - do you pay low salary and high commission? Or high salary and low commission? And how do you even work out what that commission is going to be in the first place? Is it based on turnover or profit? And if the whole point is to motivate people to sell, what does that mean for those who simply want to design.

We're talking all this through with two friends of the show - consultant Toby Griffin and top retailer Elizabeth Pantling-Jones.

It may be the end of Season 5 but we're right bang in the middle of entries for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2023. As always, it's totally FREE to enter and we have categories for kitchen and bathroom designers, retailers, installers and suppliers. The closing date is November 17th and if you want to find out more you can either go back a couple of episodes of this very podcast or go to kbbreview.com/awards.

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Welcome to the kbbreview podcast, this is episode 9 of Season 5 and your host as always is Andy Davies.

Great episode this week as we chat to one of the most high profile designers in the UK – Linda Barker. She is one of the original ‘celebrity’ designers, shooting to fame on Changing Rooms of course and is now a very successful interior designer and interior product designer plus, of course, a judge at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards.

We talk about how she got into design as a profession, how she got the Changing Rooms gig, and she tell us all about her new kitchen that she designed herself that will feature on the cover of the next issue of our sister consumer title Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms.

There’s no question in my mind that we wouldn’t have the huge choice and variety in the kbb industry today if the public’s understanding and interest in interior design hadn’t been kick-started by Changing Rooms. It’s a hugely influence on the trajectory of this industry and we discuss all that too.

Once again, a massive huge thank you to our very good friends at Masterclass for being our Season Five Kitchen Sponsor, as many of you will know, they are a proudly British manufacturer of quality kitchen furniture, offering an amazing range of unique products for over 45 years. To find out more about you can become part of the Masterclass family go to masterclasskitchens.co.uk/hello-studios

And don’t forget that entries are open now for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2023. It’s totally FREE to enter and we have categories for designers, retailers, supplier, and installers so there’s something for everyone.

Go to kbbreview.com/awards to find everything you need to know.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this is episode 8 of Season 5.

And it's a very special one because we're all about the launch of the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2023. Entries are now open, it's totally free and we've got categories for retailers, designers, installers and suppliers so there's something in here for everyone.

We're going to catch up with a few of the 2022 winners,  answer some of the questions we get asked the most, hopefully dispel some myths and we'll give you our top tips for putting together a winning entry.

In other words, everything you need to know about the awards is in this episode.

Special guests: Chantel Elshout, Kenny Luck, Shehryar Khan and Neil Gokcen

For all info on the awards go to kbbreview.com/awards

If you’ve got any questions at all about entering or booking your seats and tables, feel free to give Tracey a call on 020 8515 2113 or tracey@taylistmedia.com.

If you fancy finding out about sponsoring the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2023, contact Dean on 020 8515 2071 or dean@taylistmedia.com.

Alternatively, you can have a chat with your usual Taylist Media account manager who’ll be happy to help.

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The availability of appliances is STILL causing massive headaches for kitchen retailers, so this week your host Andy Davies is catching up with the man in charge of one of the biggest brands in the UK to get an update from the horse's mouth - Luke Harding, the managing director for the UK & Ireland for Electrolux.

• What is availability like for AEG?
• What's causing all the problems?
• What does it mean for prices?
• What does it mean for new product development?
• And, the big question, when is it all going to get back to normal?

Big questions for one of the biggest brands in the sector.

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this week it's Part Two of our How to be a Successful Retailer two-parter.

Andy has been catching up with winners from this year's kbbreview Retail & Design Awards to pick their brains about running successful and award-winning businesses.

Last week was a fascinating conversation between our Special Achievement Award recipient Paul Rowland from CP Hart and our Rising Star of the Year winner Angelika Kotarska from Angelic Bathrooms in Northampton - highly recommend going back to that one if you haven't heard it.

This week, well this is another great one, as we get to hear from our two Retailers Of The Year - Darren Walker from Laings in Inverurie, our Kitchen Retailer of the Year 2024 and Steph Warner from Pier1 Bathrooms in Hove - our Bathroom Retailer of the Year 2024.

These are two very successful and dynamic businesses with two completely different back stories - Laings first opened its doors in 1862, Pier1 in 2019. The Pier1 showroom is about 1,500sqft and Laings is more like 13,500sqft.

Laings employs about 90 people, Pier1….5

And, of course, they're about as far from each other geographically as it's possible to get while still being in the UK.

So two very different businesses, with two very different perspectives on what it takes to be the Retailer of the Year.

Today's episode is brought to you with the support of our very good friends at Lawcris. They lead the field in wood based panel products, laminates and edgings with big brands such as Emporio Skin, Kronospan and many more. With over 40 vehicles in their fleet, they can provide next day delivery on all stocked products. You can find out all about them at lawcris.co.uk

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This week we’re talking all about bathroom showrooms with a fantastic case study from TBK Design, a brilliant retailer in North London who recently moved to a brand new 30,000sqft showroom that it planned, built and designed with amazing results.

In fact, TBK won the Bathroom Retail of the Year 2021 in our very own kbbreview Retail & Design Awards

So coming up we have Chris Frankland from kbbreview talking to showroom manager Gary Parker on design, layout, customer journeys, and displays as well as the most important things - music and smells.

It’s an absolutely fascinating look at the thought process behind putting that showroom together so don’t’ miss it.

This week's episode is sponsored by PJH, one of the industry's leading distributors supplying over 3,000 customers with a range of brands including its own Bathrooms To Love and Prima Appliances, Sinks & Taps. It’s been at the top of the game since it started in 1972 and, for those of you quick with your maths, that means it's celebrating an amazing 50 years this year.To find out more go to pjh.uk

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, this is episode 5 of season 5 and your host as always is Andy Davies.

This week we’re talking about sustainability in the bathroom – no, wait, don’t switch us off, I promise it’s really interesting!

You see, that’s the problem. We all know how absolutely crucial it is that there is a global effort to tackle climate change but this industry is really struggling to engage pretty much any retailers or, indeed, end consumers in the movement.

It just seems that when they’re buying their dream kitchen or bathroom they want they want, and therefore their retailer will happily sell it to them.

And that’s particularly acute in the bathroom, the room with the biggest domestic impact on the environment thanks to the water use and the energy it talks to heat it. A recent survey from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association or BMA showed very acutely that consumers AND retailers think the responsibility for sustainability lies firmly with the manufacturer.

So is that fair? And if it is, what can the manufacturer do to engage retailers and consumers?  

We're talking it all through with BMA CEO Tom Reynolds and Dan Lintell, the sustainability manager at Triton Showers.

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Welcome to the kbbreview podcast, your host is Andy Davies and this is episode 4 of season 5.

And it’s a big picture episode this week as we’re all about the numbers. 

With so many scary numbers floating around about the economy we thought we’d ask two of our favourite researchers to come up with a couple of interesting numbers each that they believe really illustrate the current state of the kbb market.

And they’re not necessarily what you’d think.

We have kbbreview’s Matt Baker talking to Jane Blakeborough from Trend Monitor and Dave Ruston from Eureka Research. 

Then at the end, just as a little easter egg, there’s a short interview Andy did at the Bathroom Manufacturers Association Conference a few months ago with Robert Llewelyn – better known as the actor who plays Kryten from Red Dwarf . He’s actually a very accomplished conference speaker talking mostly about how the car industry is evolving and changing as it tackles its role in climate change – very relevant to the struggle the kbb industry finds itself in.

He's a very interesting guy but, don’t worry, Andy does get him to do the Kryten voice as well...

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode 3 of season 5 and your host as always is Andy Davies.

This week we’re looking at project planning - in normal times (remember them?) experienced retailers could do this stuff standing on their head, it’s about as core as it gets to running a successful kbb business.

But covid and all the subsequent product shortages have meant that the usual smooth plans have been thrown up in the air and retailers now must constantly juggle when jobs can be done and when they might be finished, if they are at all. 

Showrooms are full of empty slots where ovens and coffee machines should be as they’re robbing Peter to pay Paul just to get a kitchen over the line.

And, of course, they have to all that while managing the expectations of the customer all the way through.

We’ve got kbbreview editor Rebecca Nottingham chatting to two very experienced retailer Darren Taylor of Searle & Taylor and Phil Beechinor of Alexander Kitchens.

Once again, a massive huge thank you to our very good friends at Masterclass for being our Season Five Kitchen Sponsor, as many of you will know, they are a proudly British manufacturer of quality kitchen furniture, offering an amazing range of unique products for over 45 years. To find out more about you can become part of the Masterclass family go to masterclasskitchens.co.uk/hello-studios

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast. This week we're looking at an area that so many kbb retailers are increasingly relying on to drive leads – and that’s social media.

More precisely we’ve got a fantastic case study of one retailer who has taken social media and turned it into a huge part of their business mainly by utilising video through TikTok and other platforms.

We’re talking to Josh Delane from The Wood Works in London, and when I say he uses Tik Tok, he has over 400,000 followers and 6.5 million likes – one of his videos has had over 25 million views and, he says, anyone can do it with a bit of time and creativity.

Kbbreview’s deputy editor Vicki Evans caught up with him and it is genuinely inspiring stuff that shows just what’s possible with these new mediums so don’t miss it.

The Wood Works on Instagram

The Wood Works on Tik Tok 

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The products you choose to display - and how you display them - are vital parts of any kitchen studio but how do you make sure you choose the right ones? More importantly, how do you sign off on the best terms with the suppliers? 

What makes a good display deal? What are the red flags that make you walk away? How much space should the brand reasonably expect? And, perhaps most relevant right now, do you carry on displaying products that aren't available. 

We're discussing all this and more with two very experienced retailers, Jim Gettings from J&S House of Design in Oxfordshire and Alex Jenman from Gainsborough Kitchens in Lincolnshire.

A huge thank you to our friends at Masterclass for being our Season Five Kitchen Sponsor, as many of you will know, they are a proudly British manufacturer of quality kitchen furniture, offering an amazing range of unique products for over 45 years. To find out more about you can become part of the Masterclass family go to masterclasskitchens.co.uk/hello-studios

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast. This is the 17th of the final of season four. 

This episode is coming to you live(ish) from Clerkenwell Design Week. 

Your regular host, Andy Davies, has given the podcast over to kbbreview’s deputy editor Vicki Evans as she runs in and out of the bathroom showrooms in Clerkenwell, London.

During her visits to four showrooms - Rak Ceramics, Duravit, Hansgrohe and Vitra Bathrooms, we discussed latest trends, new products, guest designers, whether there is too much choice in the bathroom market and why bathroom manufacturers are becoming a one-stop-shop. 

Today, we are speaking with:

Ben Bryden, sales director for Rak Ceramics UK

Claire Carol, marketing director for Duravit UK

Fletcher Gaubert, regional sales manager and Erika Dodds, trade channel manager at Hansgrohe UK 

Darren Paxford, national sales manager for Vitra Bathrooms 

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies and this is episode 16 of season four.

This really interesting episode is about all about a word that paradoxically manages to be one of the most frequently used in this industry without anyone knowing what it really means.

Or, more precisely, everyone has their own interpretation and definition of what it means which therefore allows it to be used to describe pretty much anything you want.

And the word is……Bespoke.

To some purists it means a tree goes in one end of a workshop and kitchen comes out of the other. To many people, however, it means that the vast choice of modular options coupled with the huge variation in client’s spaces means that no two kitchens will ever be the same and so they are bespoke.

So if anyone can use it, where does the value in the word lie?

It’s a very woolly area so we're talking it all through Sean O’Malley from Arbor Lane Interiors in Kent which happily and proudly describes itself as a bespoke furniture manufacturer.

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Welcome to episode 14 of season four of The kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies.

Great episode this week as we look beyond the kitchen and bathroom industry to a couple of big external factors that heavily influence it. 

Firstly we’re delving into what’s going on in the retail market with top consultant Ian Scott and then we’re unlocking the front door of the property and mortgage market with Iain Swatton from mortgage switching site Dashly.

Cost of living rises, interest rates, consumer confidence, inflation, online vs showroom, remortgages and everything in between all in this top episode.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this is episode 14 of season four.

And what a story we have for you today. 

A few weeks ago on April 22, 2022, at Bristol Crown Court, Michael Black was sentenced to over ten years in prison for defrauding over £1 million from independent retailer Bathroom Village while working as its financial controller. 

He siphoned money off for several years by setting up multiple bank accounts and spent the cash on, amongst other things, extending his home in Hallatrow, a snow machine, a drone, hotel rooms and…floodlights and an umpire’s chair for his tennis court in the grounds of his house.

The fraud ultimately lead to Bathroom Village forced do a pre-pack administration to survive.

But survive it did and now, as that sentence is passed, it is a thriving business once again.

We get the full story from Bathroom Village managing director Paul Mason, trust me, you really don’t want to miss it.

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This is Part One of a two-parter that will conclude next week where we talk to winners from the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2024 to get under their skin, hear their stories and see what makes their businesses successful.

Next week, we'll be meeting our Kitchen Retailer of the Year - Laings in Inverurie - and our Bathroom Retailer of the Year - Pier1 Bathroom in Hove. Two very different businesses with two very interesting perspectives on the market.

But to kick it off today we've got an interview that's so interesting, so insightful and actually just gives you a bit of a warm feeling inside. 

As many of you will know, at our awards we give out our Special Achievement trophy. It goes to those individuals who have contributed something very special to their business and the industry as a whole and this year it went to… Paul Rowland from CP Hart.

CP Hart is, of course, the premium bathroom retailer that now has 15 showrooms and a £50m turnover. When Paul took it over 20 years ago it was really struggling and he has lead the team that has made it what it is today. He is the retailer's retailer.

At the opposite end of the career path, we also gave out the Rising Star of the Year trophy - this goes to individuals under the age of 30 who are making a real impact in their retail business and the 2024 winner was Angelika Kotarska who started her own bathroom retail business - Angelic Bathrooms in Northampton in 2022, aged just 22.

So, you can see where this is going can't you…we thought it would be a good idea to get them both together and see what lessons they can learn from each other and it's fascinating stuff.

Finding good people, managing through financial crises, the relationship with suppliers, finding customers, marketing - it's all in here and more besides from when Angelika and host Andy Davies went down to the flagship CP Hart showroom in Waterloo to see Paul.

Today's episode is brought to you with the support of our very good friends at Lawcris. They lead the field in wood based panel products, laminates and edgings with big brands such as Emporio Skin, Kronospan and many more. With over 40 vehicles in their fleet, they can provide next day delivery on all stocked products. You can find out all about them at lawcris.co.uk

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this episode 12 of Season Four.

This week, we’re getting down to some nitty gritty and looking at that most fundamental part of retailing – running a sale or promotion.

When do you do it? How do you do it? What gets the best results? How do you plan it? All this and everything in between is discussed in this step-by-step guide with top kbb retail consultant Paul Da Silva.

There’s loads of little validations, insights, hints, tips and advice in here so definitely worth a listen!

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode 12 of season 4 and your host as always is Andy Davies.

This week we’re talking about noise - more precisely the noise that all the stuff in your house, and of course your client’s houses, make. Beeping dishwashers, spinning washing machines, humming fridges, flushing toilets, boilers firing up, extractors …extracting.

The background noise of our homes has never been more apparent than when we were forced to live AND work there and there is a lot of evidence to suggest that it directly affects our health and wellbeing.

If you are a designer or retailer do you ever discuss noise with your clients? Do you ever truly consider the acoustics of a room in your project designs when it comes to specifying products.

It’s such an interesting untapped area for design so we’re meeting Poppy Szkiler, who is the founder of Quiet Mark, the organisation that certifies the quietness of products. 

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Welcome to the kbbreview podcast, your host is Andy Davies and this is episode 11 of season four.

This week’s show is all about changes in EU competition law....no, don’t touch that button, I promise it’s worth it because it deals with a subject that has been winding up kbb retailers for years – the price of stuff on the internet.

The law is changing – and it will be adopted in the UK too – to mean that suppliers can charge different prices for different channels. In other words, the investment you make in them as showroom retailers, could finally be rewarded with a lower price than they’re charging online retailers.

We have all the legal background and analysis with top lawyer Stephen Sidkin from Fox Williams.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast,  your host as always is Andy Davies and this is episode 10 of Season 4 .

It’s a really interesting episode this week too  as we discuss a subject that I’m sure many busy kitchen and bathroom retailers have somewhere in their minds at the moment – should I, or shouldn’t I expand the business?

Bigger premises, new location, expand your offering – it’s all so tempting isn’t it, but what are the pros and cons and what’s the train of thought that leads to the big leap?

We’ve got two great retailers, both have been on the show before, and that’s Dan Stronge from Jones Britain and Mark Edwards from House of Harrogate. Dan is literally in the middle of converting his new premises as he expands his business right now, and Mark went through the whole process a few years ago so we’re going to hear their stories, their decision-making process and some great advice for anyone thinking of giving it a go. 

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode nine of season four and your host as always is Andy Davies.

We’re back after a bit of a post-kbb show break and we’re kicking off with a really relevant and timely topic -  how are retailers coping with the across-the-board price rises hitting the industry? That means products of course, but also fuel, utilities and everything else.

And this leave those retailers with some very difficult dilemmas - do you pass that cost on to customer or not? And, if you do, when do you do it. 

We’ve got industry veteran Trevor Scott from RFK in the Midlands and comparative newcomer Antonia Robinson from Alexander James Bathrooms in Wigan.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode 8 of season 4 in old money, but all the cool kids are calling it the second of our two special episodes from kbb Birmingham 2022.

Your host is Andy Davies and  we're  carrying on with the themes of the show which  are the importance of getting back face-to-face, leading player's current views on the market and where it might go in the future and, of course, what's going on with the availability of products. 

Last time, there was a definite positive vibe coming from the manufacturers that there is light at the end of the tunnel but retailers were still seeing very real issues on the shopfloor. So let's see if others agree...

Featuring...

Luke Harding from Electrolux

Ashley Munden from InSinkErator

Richard Hibbert from the KBSA and KSL in Sudbury

and

Matt Phillips from Rotpunkt

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast,  this is the first of two special episodes of the show coming to you live from the NEC and kbb Birmingham 2022.

Your host as always is Andy Davies and we're looking at the state of the market, supply chain issues, and whether you can possibly predict or forecast what happens next.

In this episode we have Jim McEwan from Haier, Rashpal Sidhu from Roca, Jonathan Hartley from Samsung, and retailers Darren Morgan and Darren Taylor.

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast,  this is episode 6 of season 4 and your host as always is Andy Davies.

This time we’re challenging a bit of classic retail gospel – is the customer really always right?

In particular we’re looking at that in terms of kitchen and bathroom design, as long as it’s safe and complies with all the regs, can the client have whatever they want regardless of how much advice you’ve given them to the contrary?

Or is there a cut-off point when you say 'no' and walk away because you just wouldn’t want to put your name to it.

We're talking to two great designers, Jon Stewart from Vegas Kitchens in Folkestone and Kenny Luck from Luck and Fuller Bathroom Design Studio in Billericay.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, you’re listening to Episode Five of Season Four and your host as always is Andy Davies.

A New Year always gives us a great excuse to talk about predictions and trends for the 12 months ahead and beyond. So, given everything that has happened with lockdowns and covid how are consumers viewing their homes and what they need from them? What are the overarching trends and priorities that they consider when they embark on a major project and purchase?

We’ve got researcher Jane Blakeborough from Trend Monitor to talk us through her new report – the Top Ten Priorities For Our Homes in 2022. 

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode four of season four and your host as always is Andrew Davies.

It’s a cracking episode all about the future of installation in this industry. We’ve talked about the massive issues retailers have with finding good fitters many times on this podcast but it’s not going away any time soon. 

With no short term solution, we have to look at ways to make sure we don’t continue to face the problem in the future.

Andrew hosted the first conference of the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation - or Bikbbi  – at the QE2 Centre in Westminster. You can see Big Ben from the window so it was right in the heart of government and it focused on recovery, training, apprenticeships and attracting new blood into the sector.

So in this episode we have the highlights from speakers at that event and if you have had any issues at all with finding installers then you really need to listen, because this is all about solutions from the top down.

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This week's episode is all about that staple fixture of showrooms and their relationship with the brands they sell - brochures.

• What do retailers and designers actually use them for?
• What do they say about the brand?
• Do suppliers assume they get given out to every potential customer who comes through the door?
• Are too many simply thrown away and wasted?
• Should they have prices in them or not?

Such simple things touch on so many different aspects of the day-to-day life of a retailer so we're talking it all through with retailers Paul Crow, the MD of Ripples, and Adam Wollerton from Bathroom + Kitchen Eleven in Surrey AND in the supplier's corner Sofia Charalambous from Origins Living.

It's fascinating stuff so let me know what you think, here's my email andrewdavies@taylistmedia.com

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode three of season four and your host as always is kbbreview managing editor Andrew Davies.

One of the things that’s great about doing this podcast is getting to speak to fantastic retailers about how and why they do what they do.

And that is never more true than when we’re talking to finalists in the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards.

We’re now just a few weeks away from finding out who our winners are for 2022 at the event on March the 7th and in this special episode w're talking to a couple of our business category finalists to find out what makes them tick.

Before we meet them, we should caveat everything by saying that the fact w're talking to them is not indicative of how likely they are to win as the judging process is still actually taking place as we speak.

They’re just really interesting stories that are worth exploring and first up we have Neil Gokcen from The Birkdale Kitchen Company near Southport – a brand new business that’s not only up for New Kitchen Retailer of the Year but also Kitchen Showroom of the Year.

And then we have Darren Walker from Laings in Inverurie – a consistently high-performer in these awards and for 2022 they’re up for Kitchen Showroom of the Year as well as being in the running for both Kitchen Retailer of the Year AND Bathroom Retailer of the Year.

Two fantastic retailers, two very different stories of success.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode two of Season Four.

Today we’re going to look at a couple of opportunities for retailers, or at least things that should be if the way to crack them can only be found.

First up we’re talking about the small builder market, and that’s not big contracts or developers, we mean the builders that will do the extensions and the relatively small refurbishments that will almost certainly involve a trip to the single biggest kitchen retailer in the country – Howdens. Can independent retailers get in on some that action rather than just leaving them to it?

We're talking to Elizabeth Pantling-Jones from Lima Kitchens in Milton Keynes

And then we’re talking sustainability – it’s the single biggest issue that will dominate all our lives in the next 20 years and there’s no question it’s high on the agenda of manufacturers – but for consumers of kitchens and bathrooms and the retailers that serve them it just doesn’t seem to be registering – and that could be a real problem if the government introduces laws to force them to make it a priority in their projects.

So we’ve got a panel of bathroom retailers - Justine Bullock from The Tap End, Sam Colwill from BathroomsByDesign and Angus Kerr from The Bathroom Company as well as Tom Reynolds from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association to talk through just why that interest isn’t there and what can be done about it.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, we’re back and this is episode one of Season 4. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

If you heard the last episode of season three you’ll know that this is actually a double milestone – not only is it the beginning of season 4 it’s also our 100th episode overall so we’re kicking off with am absolutely fascinating discussion about that most fundamental element of running an independent retail business – getting the money off the customer. 

How do you as retailers decide what pricing structure you use with your customers? What deposit do you take and when do you take it? When and where do you ask your clients to settle the balance? And how do you arrive at the right permutation for you?

To talk it all through – we have Toby Griffin, very experienced retailer and now consultant and Dan Stronge from retailer Jones Britain in East Sussex.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode 23 of Season Three and your host as always is Andy Davies.

Really interesting episode this week as we delve into a couple of very different issues that have one thing in common – they are both incredibly important factors that will shape this industry for the next decade

First up we’re talking the environment and with the whole world focussed on Glasgow and the COP26 conference we're catching up with Richard Hagan from Crystal Doors who is there in the thick of it – what’s happening, what’s it like to be there, and what does it all mean for the KBB industry?

Richard is, of course, an evangelist for making this industry much more sustainable and his company has become an incredible example of just what can be done. If you want the background on his and Crystal Doors’ journey then go back to Episode 5 of Season 2 where we go into it in-depth, really inspiring it is too.  The link to that is here.

Then we’re revisiting the shortage of installers – still a massive issue of course – and we're talking to BiKBBI CEO Damian Walters and Quooker MD Stephen Johnson about the new KBB Fitted Interiors Apprenticeship – a real solution that maybe the answer to making sure we’re never in this position again.

It’s also now less than TWO WEEKS before entries close for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2022. The official closing date is November the 16th and there will be no extensions. It’s totally FREE to enter and we have categories for designers, retailers, suppliers, manufacturers and service providers and installers so there’s no excuse!

For everything you need to know go to kbbreview.com/awards

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, my name is Andy Davies and you’re listening to episode 22 of Season 3.

This week we’re talking about high demand – most people are experiencing it thanks to the boom for home renovation that kicked off during the lockdowns and now beyond.

And there’s no question that demand has shielded this industry from the turmoil experienced by so many other sectors

But, the big question is, how long is it going to last. Plus, equally as important, are the current supply issues hamstringing retailer’s ability to cash in fully on  that demand while it lasts?

We're talking to two people who are very much on the front line – first up we’ve got Bill Miller, the md of the Kitchen and Bathroom Buying Group – and he pulls no punches in his evaluation of how suppliers are handling the current problems .

And then we have Tom Setchell, the MD of retailer RFK in the Midlands, to give us the shopfloor perspective on the current boom.

Don't forget, entries are open for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2022. It’s totally FREE to enter so if you’re a designer with a fantastic project to show us, or a retailer with a great showroom, or a supplier with a hard-working team or an installation company with a top track record, we want to hear from you!

The clock is ticking though as the entries close on November 16th and there will be no extensions!

All the info on the categories and how to enter is at kbbreview.com/awards

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode 21 of Season Three and your host as always is Andy Davies.

We’ve got a really interesting episode for you this week as we look into how kitchens can help people live better lives.

The idea that your kitchen can improve your quality of life may sound a bit fanciful, but actually the kitchen is becoming the central hub that plays a massive part in how sustainably you can live day-to-day, how healthy you are in terms of what you eat and how you cook, and how happy you are in the space where you and your family spend most of your time.

And all those elements have become more and more  acute and front-of-consumers’ minds thanks to the pandemic and lockdowns.

But the question is, are retailers, designers and manufacturers doing enough to help people lead better lives in this way? Is there enough broad understanding of how people are living their lives and what motivates them.

Is the kitchen industry ahead of, or behind the consumer?

We're discussing all this with Erica Husain, a 'Better Life Consultant' for kitchen, bathroom and home retailer Day True based here in London.

This was originally recorded for a series of webinars that Hettich hosted as part of its excellent Experience Days programme a few months ago – I’m sure many of you will have seen at least some of them – but it was such an interesting chat that we thought it was worth putting it up here as a podcast – so thank you to Hettich for giving us the nod to do that.

Entries are flooding in for The kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2022. You’ve only got a few weeks left so make sure you don’t miss out. If you’re a retailer, a designer, installer, or supplier, we have categories for you.

It’s totally FREE to enter but what many don’t know at this stage is that, unlike other awards, if you’re shortlisted you get to come to the event in March for FREE too.

The closing date is November the 16th and thee will be NO extensions so head over to kbbreview.com/awards now to get all the details.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this is episode 20 of season three.

We’re rounding up our coverage of the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2021 this week with the full version of the interview with Keith Myers that you might have heard an excerpt from a couple of episodes ago.

Keith is, of course, from our Kitchen Retailer of the Year 2021, The Myers Touch in Winchester. It’s such a deserved winner and what we get to hear in this interview is Keith‘s underlying philosophy of not only what makes a successful retailer but also the value he puts on truly understanding who the client is and, in turn, how you can only do that if you understand who you are as a business.

This is really insightful stuff from someone at the top of their game so you don’t want to miss it!

Keith is one our 2021 winners but it could be you in 2022. Entries are now OPEN for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2022 and it is, as always, totally FREE to enter. There are categories for kitchen and bathroom design projects, showrooms, all round retailers, installers and suppliers. So whatever you are, there’s something for you.

The closing date is November 16 and all the info you need is at kbbreview.com/awards

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this is episode 19 of Season 3.

We've literally got a very special interview for you this time around as we talk to the recipient of this year’s Special Achievement Award Johnny Grey.

We handed him the trophy at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards up in Liverpool a couple of weeks ago so we thought we’d dust off this interview we did with him a couple of years ago where we walk through his career highlights and really get to hear him talk about his philosophy and approach to design.

It’s a really interesting discussion and, to put it in context, we spoke at a residential weekend for the Bucks University kitchen design degree where he was lecturing and curating the content for the students – it was, of course, all pre-lockdowns.

Don't forget that the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2022 entries are now open!  All the info is at www.kbbreview.com/awards

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It's a very special episode all about the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2021. We hear from the Liverpool Cathedral ceremony itself, including all the winner reveals as well as some key interviews with winners Keith Myers, Steven Pepper, Carl Terlecki and David Hall.

And we're afraid you can't avoid a bit of Andy's speech either.

It's a big bumper episode so sit back and enjoy!

You can see all the photos from the night at www.kbbreview.com/awards and you can also use that site to find out all about the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2022!

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies and this is episode 17 of Season 3.

We’re jumping head first into the still very difficult and complicated issue of supply and the very real problems many retailers are continuing to experience just getting the stuff they need.

In fact, in a very rough kbbreview poll, 54% of retailers said the problem was getting worse as time went on.

It’s a really nuanced and thorny issue full of finger pointing and very thin patience on both sides so in this episode we’re looking at the suppliers to try and understand just what is going on.

First up we have Danny Lay from Caple – an appliance brand that is somehow bucking the trend and delivering virtually everything on time and to order, so we're asking him what they’re doing right.

Then we’ve got the return of Tom Reynolds from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association and Paul Hide from the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances and asking them what exactly the current situation is, why it’s happening and – the thing everyone wants to know – why accurate and reliable communication from some very big brands is so difficult.

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Today we're looking at that tricky yet often desirable symbol of growth for an independent kbb retailer and that's …..the second showroom.

The vast majority of kbb independents operate out of one showroom, but many often seriously think about another. It's an obvious way to expand the business but there are plenty of cons to go with the long list of pros.

Finding the right location, spreading yourself too thin, finding people you trust to run it and starting to build a whole new customer base in a different area.

So we're going to talk it all through with a couple of top retailers and friends of the show - Mark Butler from Butler Interiors and Liz Pantling-Jones of Lima Kitchens. Mark took the plunge on a second showroom a few years ago and Liz is seriously considering that move right now.

Host Andy Davies met up with them a few weeks ago and this is a really interesting conversation that gets right to the heart of finding that showroom as well as weighing up all the pros and cons...

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Welcome to episode 16 of season three of The kbbreview Podcast with your host Andrew Davies.

This week we’re going to talk retail psychology again with the return of behavioural science expert and all round retail consultant Phillip Adcock.

And we’re talking about your showroom and how, from a retail psychology point of view, retailers should dress and prop those sets AND create a narrative journey around the showroom to lead customers through each one

What catches the eye with key POS in that environment? What can lighting do? How do you encourage interaction with working displays? What props should be on those displays to draw people in? What’s the thinking behind messages on saving energy and sustainability?

All this and more in this absolutely fascinating discussion.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode 15 of season 3 and your host as always is Andy Davies

This week we’re looking at two really interesting, highly relevant and timely subjects.

First up, we’re looking at the return of major industry events and in particular what’s happening with the kbb show in Birmingham in March 2022. As we're sure so many of you remember, the 2020 show took place just a couple of weeks before the first lockdown and since then the events industry has been clearly one of the hardest it – but the 2022 show is not only on, it’s looking like it will be better than ever. We find out the latest from Senior Event Manager Jenny Purves.

Then we move onto the most valuable of retailer resources – reputation. And in particular protecting your hard-earned reputation when customers are unhappy about things out of your control such as, everyone take a deep breath, the current delays on products.

We have a great case study from retailer Shehryar Khan from Sheraton Interiors in Twickenham as well as reputation management expert Andrew Hulland from agency Igniyte.

And what’s really interesting about this one, is how much it clearly affects the reputation those brands have with their retailers too, so don’t’ miss it...

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is episode 14 of season three with your host Andy Davies.

Today we’re talking installation – the continuing high demand in retail is putting enormous pressure on existing installers and highlighting even more the critical shortage of quality new installers.

Put simply, there aren’t enough fitters to go round so is there anything retailers can do right now to fix this – spoiler alert, no – and what part can they play in making sure this never happens again.

We’ve got an absolutely fascinating discussion with the return of Damian Walters from the BiKBBI and Mark Conacher from Liberty Fitting Services. 

Don’t miss this one as we touch on so many things that directly affect everyone in the KBB sector.

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