The kbbreview Podcast

Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies and this is another very special bonus episode of the show where we get to meet some of the industry's leading suppliers and really get under the skin of what makes them tick.

Today it's a great one as we talk to leading distributor Lawcris about a subject that is shaping, guiding and creating the business now and into the future - and that's sustainability.

It's a huge topic, but so, so important and this is a great case study of how one company is not just on it's own journey, but also how - as a distributor - it is learning and passing on the best practices of those above and below it in the chain.

We're meeting marketing manager Lauren Barker and I promise you this is such an interesting story so stick around for that.

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

This episode is commercial content

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Welcome to episode eight of season nine of The kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies and today we're talking about installers again. A couple of weeks ago we did a really interesting episode looking at new research into the influence they have over the consumer.

There was a LOT of interest in that one so today we're looking at how kbb retailers actually deal with installers. Which is better, using sub-contractors or employing them directly?

Subs are great because you only gave to pay them when you use them so you can expand or contract accordingly. However, you're at the whim of their diary and don't have ultimate control over what they do when.

So employing directly deals with that, but how do you keep them busy if business drops? And where do you even find them and persuade them to stop being self employed and go on the books of a different business?

There are lots of pros and cons and we'll be talking them all through with retailers Nick Warrington from Stuart J Warrington, Martin Jones from Cwtch Haus and Mark Conacher from installation company Liberty.

Don't forget you can find out all about the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2024 at kbbreview.com/awards

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and this is another very special bonus episode where we get under the skin of the industry's most interesting suppliers.

Today is all about Wharf - the solid surface supplier that's the brainchild of two old school friends who once mucked around in class, but together now run a very successful and innovative company - while still having lots of laughs along the way.

We'll be meeting Rob Bullen and Trevor Baker, who say that solid surface is long overdue a renaissance in the kitchen specialist arena, so stick around for that.

Yes, Wharf is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of solid surface acrylic worktops, they create stunning seamless products that complement any kitchen or bathroom design and a wide range of budgets. You can find out everything you need to know, including how to get in touch, at wharfsolidsurface.co.uk .

This episode is commercial content.

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies and this is episode seven of season nine. 

But as much as we all like knowing the reference number, this episode is all about something much more momentous - entries are open for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2024.

Entries opened on September the 1st for the biggest awards in the UK and Ireland kitchen and bathroom sector and after a triumphant night in Cardiff back in April for the conclusion of the 2023 awards, we're kicking off 2024 right here.

And it's a very, very special one as this time around we're celebrating an amazing 30 years.

So in this episode we're going to break down all  the important stuff you need to know - what's it all about? what are the categories? and how does the judging work? 

And, most importantly, we'll give you Andy's top tips for putting perfect entries together - and once you've heard them, there's no excuse for not entering....

It's also a huge pleasure to welcome back our awards Podcast Partner for 2024 - Sonas Bathrooms! It's great to have their support again as between now and the event in March we'll be bringing you special bonus episodes where we'll meet previous winners as well as 2024 judges and finalists. In fact, we'll be revealing the shortlist itself in a very special episode just before Christmas.

For all the info on categories and entering as well as booking your seats and tables at the event go to kbbreview.com/awards

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, this is Episode Six of Season Nine and today we're looking at influencers.

No, don't worry, we don't mean people who used to be on Love Island, we mean the people that have a massive influence on not only the products that go into new bathrooms, but also who consumers are buying those products from.

And that's installers.  

It's not news that installers have a big influence, but a new study has looked into the details of it and  found some really interesting nuances that underline just how important they are, and how that influence stretches up the purchase chain.

It was commissioned by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, or BMA, with the collaboration and support of its members, and we're talking through the findings with Dave Ruston from Eureka! Research and Jane Blakeborough, the BMA's research manager.

Here's the link through to the report overview

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and this very special bonus episode where we're bringing you more from our friends at Cyncly. 

In the last Cyncly episode we looked at the story behind the mergers of Compusoft, 2020 and then Virtual Worlds that make Cyncly the portfolio of essential CAD and business management software products for the kitchen and bathroom retail industry here in the UK.

So we've had the top level business strategic background, and that set the scene very nicely, but this episode and the next one are basically two-parter looking right at the other end of the process, the working designer in the showroom.

Just how essential are design packages like Winner for kitchens and Virtual Worlds for bathroom and business management packages  like EQ in the day-to-day running of a showroom?

It's easy to think of these things as technical bits of software but the truth is they are the tools of the trade and when they're working at their best, they not only make the designer's job much easier, but also the customer journey much smoother.

And when the journey is smooth, they're more likely to sign on the dotted line.

So we're going to meet Hugo Casto from Wilson Bathrooms in Glasgow and Manish Hirani from Moiety Kitchens in London and in part one, we're looking at the first stage of that journey, the initial consultation and then in part two in a few weeks time, we'll look at the design journey and the final presentation.

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Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast, this is Episode Five of Season Nine and we're talking apprenticeships today.

There's been a lot of noise around the need to have more apprentices and how it's a massive part of plugging the major skills gap in the installation part of the KBB sector - something that's only going to get worse if we don't find that new blood.

But apprenticeships are now a major vocational education pathway across pretty much all job roles - not just the traditional trades - and  so there's just lots of noise around the subject in general.

But, when you ask people why they haven't got any apprentices one of the most common replies is that they simply don't know where to start. Equally, they think they don't have the time, that it's expensive and they're going to get lumbered with some lazy teen who doesn't want to work.

So, today we're going to, hopefully, dispel al those myths and answer that first, most important, question - where do you start,

We'll be talking it all through with our expert, Hannah Hockley from The Apprenticeship Partner.

EPISODE SPONSOR

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, this is Episode Four of Season Nine and it's being delivered to you all wrapped up in a cardboard box of information stuffed with the plastic air pillows of relevance.

That's because we're talking about packaging today.

Every single kitchen or bathroom project you do generates loads of waste as you take every component out of its wrapping. Most of you will probably take it all away and dispose of it in the best way you can, and while a lot of it might be able to be recycled, a lot of it isn't and it's all just one more thing to think about.

But who is actually responsible for it, and what is being done to try and reduce it and at least make manufacturers in particular think much more about what they use, and how much of it is necessary?

I'm talking to our expert Josh Carradi-Remi from EcoVeritas and he'll be filling us in on Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR and the changing laws around packaging. Stick with it, it's much more interesting than that sounds!

EPISODE SPONSOR 

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host as always is Andy Davies and for anyone who says he's not then we demand compensation or we'll see you in court!

Yes, this week we're talking all about dispute resolution or, in layman's terms, what you do when you have a disagreement with a customer and shouting rude things about their mother to them through their letterbox just doesn't seem to be helping get it all to a mutually agreeable conclusion.

Genuine customer disputes are few and far between in the independent kitchen and bathroom retailer world, these are businesses built on exceptional customer service of course, but every now and again, despite all your best efforts, things can go wrong.

Or, probably more likely, awkward clients just aren't listening to reason.

And that's where you might need some professional help, so we'll be talking it all through with Ciaran Harkin from Dispute Assist.

EPISODE SPONSOR

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 - this is Episode Two of Season Nine and your host Andy Davies.

It's a  really, really interesting one today as we get a peak behind the curtain at the company that sells more kitchens than anyone else in the UK by a mighty margin - Howdens.

Last week saw the release of its half-year results for the six months up to the end of June and this was accompanied by an online investor conference call with CEO Andrew Livingston.

As a listed company, this is all public record of course so we listened in and pulled out a few nuggets that show how Howdens is doing given all the prevailing economic conditions, as well as some strategic highlights that demonstrate where its focus is, and where it sees new opportunities.

And, spoiler alert, many of those opportunities are about coming up the market in terms of value…

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