The kbbreview Podcast

]Meet Rising Star Max Hitchcox of Point 5 Kitchens in London.

In this latest instalment of our special Rising Star mini-series, George Dean introduces you to another young name set to shape the future of the KBB industry. This week’s guest is Max Hitchcox, the articulate designer helping drive the growth of Point 5 Kitchens - the retailer many of you may remember from our “Adopted Retailer” journey as it opened its second showroom.

Think of this as a backdoor sequel to that story, as Max reveals how his role is woven into the day-to-day running of the new space and what fuels his ambition as one of this year’s Rising Star finalists.

Proudly supported by Blum, we’re shining a light on the next generation of kitchen, bedroom and bathroom talent — and Max is absolutely one to watch.

We'll be revealing the overall winner at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026 event on March 2nd at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole - that's the Mon day night of the KBB show. The make sure you don't miss out on the biggest night in the kbb calendar, book your tickets now at kbbreview.com/awards.

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In this special awards edition of The kbbreview Podcast, host Matt Baker kicks off the countdown to the 2026 kbbreview Retail & Design Awards.

Entries have officially closed and judging is under way, with the all-important finalists reveal coming right here on the podcast before Christmas.

Before that, we’re shining a spotlight on our 2026 Awards Podcast Partner Sonas Bathrooms. Matt sits down with CEO Richard Sloan for a brisk “how’s business?” catch-up and a look at the real conversations happening with retailers as Sonas hits the road across the UK.

With bonus awards episodes coming thick and fast between now and the big night on March 2nd, this is your perfect warm-up...

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Meet Rising Star finalist Holly Magee — the creative newcomer shaking things up at Elysee Kitchens and Interiors in Ascot.

In this episode of The kbbreview Podcast, host George Dean continues our special mini-series celebrating the bright young talents shortlisted for the Rising Star category in the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026.

Holly may have only been with Elysee for a year, but she’s already made a remarkable impact — juggling projects, driving creativity, and proving exactly why the future of the KBB industry is in safe, and very capable, hands.

We’ve once again partnered with Blum to shine a spotlight on the next generation of retail and design leaders, and Holly’s story is one you won’t want to miss.

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This week on The kbbreview Podcast, host Andy Davies is back (slightly croaky but fighting on!) alongside our full expert panel — Trevor Scott from RFK, Liz Pantling-Jones from Lima Kitchens, Justine Bullock from The Tap End and Nick Warrington from Stuart J Warrington — for a brilliantly lively and brutally honest discussion.

We’re diving into one of the industry’s biggest headaches: what really happens when products fail on site or deliveries turn up damaged.

Is it actually possible to check goods properly under the time pressures suppliers give you?

Do you get the support you need when things go wrong — or does it feel like no one believes you?

And the big one… who should pick up the cost when disaster strikes?

If you’ve ever lost hours of your life wrestling with faulty products, replacement claims or damaged deliveries, this episode is for you. Packed with real-world insight, practical frustrations, and a few laughs along the way, it’s a must-listen for anyone in the kitchen and bathroom industry.

Hit play and join the conversation!

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This week on The kbbreview Podcast, we’re rolling out the red carpet and tearing open the gold envelopes because it’s all about awards.

Host Andy Davies is joined by his all-star panel of retailers - Trevor Scott from RFK in Rugby, Justine Bullock from The Tap End near Cardiff, Nick Warrington from Stuart J Warrington in Macclesfield and Liz Pantling-Jones from Lima Kitchens in Milton Keynes

And they’re digging into the big questions:

• Why should you bother entering awards in the first place?
• How do you craft a winning entry that stands out?
• And once you’ve won (or even just been shortlisted), how do you turn that into a prime marketing advantage?

Of course, it’s also a shameless plug for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026 because entries close at 5pm on Thursday November 13th! and you can check out all the categories and enter now at kbbreview.com/awards.

This episode is proudly supported by our 2026 Awards Podcast Partner Sonas Bathrooms and you can find them at sonasbathrooms.com.

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What makes a bathroom brand truly stand out? Andy Davies talks to Jorge Hernandez, Head of Design at Bathroom Brands, about how the power of differentiating by design drives the look and feel of Crosswater, Burlington, Britton, Clearwater, and the recently added Showerwall. They explore why great design at every price point isn’t just about style, it’s about helping retailers stand apart too.

This episode is sponsored content

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Pack your wheelie case and dig out that itinerary — this week on The kbbreview Podcast, host Andy Davies is joined by regulars Trevor Scott from RFK, Justine Bullock from The Tap End near Cardiff, Nick Warrington from Stuart J Warrington in Macclesfield and Liz Pantling-Jones from Lima Kitchens in Milton Keynes to talk all things supplier trips.

Are these factory visits and overseas events really worth the time away from the business? Do they actually change how you see a brand — or are they just thinly disguised jollies and perks of the job?

The team share the moments that genuinely changed their perception of a supplier, and their tips for making these trips truly worthwhile.

And, what you all really want to hear, we hear their best, and worst, experiences - strategically shaved reps in Germany, dancing bears in Russia, soggy feet in Venice and getting gout from over-indulgence in Spain, we cover a LOT of ground in this one!

It’s all here in another lively, honest and slightly sleep-deprived episode of The kbbreview Podcast.

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Welcome back to The kbbreview Podcast! Host Andy Davies is joined as always by Trevor, Scott, Liz Pantling-Jones, Nick Warrington and Justine Bullock and they're digging into one of the most frustrating challenges facing independent KBB retailers right now - getting customers to actually commit.

You’ve done the design work, nailed the presentation, and picked out the perfect products — but when it comes to signing on the dotted line the decision is delayed and delayed. So what’s really behind this growing hesitation? Are clients genuinely nervous about money, or just lost in a fog of indecision? And more importantly, what can you actually do to move them from “thinking about it” to “let’s do it”?

In this episode, we unpack the psychology behind customer procrastination and explore whether this signals a deeper shift in buyer confidence — or simply a need for sharper sales skills. How do you balance being a trusted designer with being a confident closer? Where’s the line between patience and persuasion?

It’s an honest, insightful, and occasionally heated discussion that every independent retailer will relate to.

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What happens when a key supplier suddenly can't supply? Whether that's administration, serious supply chain issues, discontinuation of ranges or just human error it's a serious headache for the retailer.

In this week’s episode of The kbbreview Podcast, Andy Davies is joined by Trevor Scott, Justine Bullock, Nick Warrington and Liz Pantling-Jones to explore what to do when the unthinkable happens - from keeping projects on track and managing customer expectations to finding reliable replacements fast. They also share hard-won lessons on resilience, communication, and why you should never put all your eggs in one supplier basket.

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In this latest special Rising Star episode, sponsored by Blum, kbbreview's George Dean meets Jessica Liu - a young designer whose career has been anything but accidental. From early days sketching in art class to mastering the intricacies of kitchen design, Jessica’s journey is one of focus, creativity, and determination.

Now part of the close-knit team at Chisholm Design, she’s already making her mark with projects that push her problem-solving skills to the limit - including a 400-year-old cottage where no wall was straight. Jessica shares how she embraces each challenge, what she loves about bespoke design, and why being part of a small, family-run studio brings her so much joy.

Tune in to hear how Jessica Liu is shaping her career one beautifully considered kitchen at a time — and proving why she’s a rising star in the industry.

This episode is sponsored content

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