Recent growth in business, people and product portfolios has led to a £100k investment which includes a new 850 sqm warehouse in Huddersfield. Administration facilities have also been expanded to house the expanded administration teams and services.
Paul Dwyer, Thomas Crapper’s Managing Director, comments, “We are delighted with our progressive development over the past few years. The Thomas Crapper brand is synonymous with quality and style – and is equally loved by designers, installers and homeowners. We have expanded our facilities so that our customer service levels remain at optimum levels.”
For further information on the Thomas Crapper range, please visit www.thomas-crapper.com.
Gemma Burns has joined the team at Kudos Showers as Customer Service Manager. She brings many years of customer facing experience to the position from a variety of different industries, which has helped her settle quickly into the role.
“I was looking for a role that utlised my sales and service skills and the Customer Services Manager position at Kudos suits me perfectly. It’s an exciting time to join the business, the company is thriving and we have lots of exciting products being launched. I have had some fantastic support from peers since I joined; I am enjoying a great team culture at Kudos.” Said Gemma.
Gemma is based at the Kudos facility in Holme, Cumbria and reports to Head of Finance for the business, David Jones, who adds; “Gemma has had a really positive impact on the team at Kudos, her dedication to customer services is there to be seen. In her short tenure we have recieved a wealth of positive feedback from our customers for the quality of her customer care and her friendly, calm approach. We wish her all the best in this position.”
Kudos was established as a UK manufacturer of shower products in 1999. Their product portfolio includes shower enclosures, shower trays, over-bath screens and wet-room solutions sold via bathroom showrooms and merchants across the UK. Check them out at kudosshowers.co.uk, call them on 01539 564040 or email info@kudosshowers.co.uk or gemma.burns@kudosshowers.co.uk
UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill will participate in an online workshop, hosted by The European Energy Network and ADENE, the Portuguese Energy Agency.
The EU Sustainable Energy Week partner event takes place on September 27th from 11.30-13.00. It will be based on the preliminary results of the European survey and study, which is still ongoing, by the European Energy Network (EnR), designed to understand consumers’ needs, motivations and willingness to choose labelled water use products, fixtures and equipment.
Yvonne says, “I am delighted to be part of this important European event that provides an opportunity to discuss and explore how labelling schemes can improve water-energy performance in the taps and showers market.
“The need to conserve water and energy has become more critical in the current climate emergency and unstable energy security contexts.
“Water efficiency is key if we are to adapt to water scarcity, which is increasing given the drought conditions that affect more than 50% of the European territory (according to the latest map of the Combined Drought Indicator 47% of the EU territory is in Warning conditions and 17% is in Alert conditions). At the same time, energy savings have become even more important, not only due to the fundamental carbon neutrality commitments to respond to climate change as urgently as possible, but also to address the geopolitical context of the war in Europe and energy security.
“This is a conversation that can no longer be ignored, and I would urge everyone to contribute to the survey, and work together to take action and facilitate change.”
Participation in the online workshop is Free, the registration form is available here
Today we talk to Tom Reynolds, chief executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, about the need to include accessible design as standard.
Much of our existing housing stock is woefully inadequate for an ageing population. Millions of homes have steps to the entrance, and few have an accessible downstairs toilet. Even parents trying to navigate a pram through a household will experience challenges.
While I believe the accessible, adaptable design standard set out in Building Regulations should be a mandatory baseline for all new homes, the home improvement sector needs to be ready to adapt and retrofit to meet our changing needs.
Most people want to live in their homes for as long as possible, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that most adaptations are made in the bathroom when mobility challenges arise. Changes to the WC are the most common, where the seat and height require adjustment with the addition of a grab rail. And while we have traditionally been a nation of bathers, level-access shower adaptations are a mainstay of any bathroom redesign.
However, redesigning bathrooms to meet changing needs does not mean abandoning attractive design. Yes, the adaptation must meet the user’s basic requirements to continue daily living activities, but we at the Bathroom Manufacturers Association firmly believe that form and function are achievable outcomes. Bathroom manufacturers’ in-depth knowledge of adaptations means that products are functional but also desirable and luxurious.
Most people are proud of their homes, designing them in line with their personalities and design tastes, so why stop when mobility challenges arise? Even small changes to a bathroom can make a world of difference and enable people to spend later life in their homes, avoiding disrupting and upsetting potential moves into residential care.
Specifiers, designers and retailers should know that creating accessible bathrooms is not a niche endeavour. And as the population ages, it will become more commonplace. There is an opportunity for us all to challenge the idea that functional equals ugly or utilitarian.
For those looking to make adaptations, the first port of call is often the means-tested Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). Not all applications to this fund are successful, however. According to the Independent Review of the Disabled Facilities Grant, around a quarter drop out because they have to contribute to the costs.
We want to see the DFG easily accessible to those in need and provide more choices to the end-user. After all, it’s a win-win outcome whereby people can stay in their own well-designed homes for longer while avoiding the rising costs associated with residential or hospital care.
Wilsonart UK, a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-pressure laminate surfaces, has appointed Chris Johnson into the role of Product Manager, as it looks to bolster the value proposition of its leading range of bathroom panels.
With a career spanning 14 years in product and category management across the building products industry, Chris will be responsible for the development of the business’s long-term product strategy with the aim of solidifying the Mermaid brand’s status as the number one choice among bathroom installers.
Providing a vital link between sales and manufacturing, Chris’s role will also see him manage product lifecycles and channel strategy as the Mermaid brand looks to build on the early success of its flagship Elite range.
Since starting his career as Assistant Product Manager at Howdens in 2006, Chris has worked in similar roles at Travis Perkins, Saint-Gobain Weber UK and most recently Plumbase, where he was Plumbing Category Manager for five years.
On joining Wilsonart, Chris said: “Having spent much of my career on the distribution side of the supply chain, I’m excited to bring an in-depth understanding of the installer market into my new role with one of the industry’s best manufacturers. I was already familiar with the Mermaid brand and its products having worked closely with the business during my time at Travis Perkins, so am looking forward to building on this by maximising the value we can offer to our customers.
“In our Elite range, we have a shower panel solution which has a legitimate USP in its 100% waterproof core, which gives us some really solid foundations from which we can build our product strategy.”
Chris’s appointment comes soon after Mermaid joined the Made in Britain membership campaign as the brand looks to support retailers and installers alike with a growing range of products manufactured here in the UK.
Neil Horton, Sales Director at Wilsonart, added: “Our decision to appoint Chris into the role of Product Manager puts us in a fantastic position to maximise our appear to bathroom installers with an unrivalled product range. Chris’s knowledge of the market and understanding of what installers need from their products will be a real asset to our business we push to grow our market share.”
For more information about Wilsonart UK and the complete spectrum of bathroom surfaces available, or to order a sample, visit www.wilsonart.co.uk.
After joining Saniflo in 2016 as a Technical Sales Engineer, John L’Erario has earned a well-deserved promotion to Kinedo area sales manager covering a territory from the North of the Thames, up to the East Midlands and across to East Anglia. During the six years in his previous role at the company, John spent considerable time supporting the sales teams with the Kinedo range of shower cubicles, enclosures and trays, which included shows and events, installation demonstrations and training, maintenance and customer support.
Prior to joining Saniflo John was a commercial vehicle sales representative and is now enjoying honing his sales skills again. He’s certainly hit the ground running signing up new showrooms including Bilton Bathrooms in Rugby, who have only recently taken Kinedo enclosures and trays for display and are reporting back some early customer success stories.
The new role has brought together all John’s skills and he’s relishing the opportunity to bring Kinedo to a wider audience;
“I have got to know the Kinedo product really well over the past few years and I can really see its potential. This practical experience is really beneficial when selling the benefits of the product to a showroom owner and I have several sets of displays currently being installed in a number of showrooms new to the brand. It really is the shower world’s best kept secret.”
Situated in the cave dwellings of the mountains of Matera sits the Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & SPA, which has been designed taking inspiration from its surrounding area. Exclusive partner and leading bathroom and kitchen fittings manufacturer, GROHE, delivered bathroom brassware for the project, aligning with the themes of water, sustainability, and timeless design.
First opened in 2018, the 35-room hotel has been built up in the mountains, and structurally traces the ancient caves tuff stone, providing a unique stay of natural beauty and wellness. With its integrated spa and origins of an area derived from a single drop of water, the project focuses on water and the benefits and importance of the natural resource, which closely aligns with GROHE’s own ethos of “Pure Freude an Wasser” (Pure joy of water).
Throughout the project GROHE’s Essence brassware was selected as the exclusive bathroom fitting range, providing an organic silhouette and premium functionality, further complimenting the interior and exterior of the development.
Specified in GROHE’s StarLight Chrome finish, the fittings provide a timeless design thanks to their minimalistic aesthetic and sustainable credentials, aligning perfectly with the project’s core ethos.
The GROHE Essence range took design inspiration from natural forms, resulting in a naturally curved, slim profile, while GROHE’s integrated technology provides resource-saving characteristics with a reduced water flow.
“Since the post-pandemic reopening of hotels and hospitality establishments, wellness has taken centre stage. Spa breaks, relaxing retreats and getaways in natural environments have been popular, with escapism back on everyone’s agenda. When travellers visit a destination as unique as this they want to be indulged by their surroundings. Our Essence collection was specified as part of this project thanks to its natural timeless aesthetic which works harmoniously within the interior, alongside GROHE’s proud commitment to preserving our natural resource, particularly when it comes to water” says Nick Brown, leader, Hospitality UK, LIXL EMENA.
Discover more about Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & SPA here and explore more of GROHE’s developments on GROHE X.
Duravit’s contribution includes the expertise of development engineer Franziska Wülker and products such as SensoWash® Starck f.
What might life on Mars look like? How would everyday living be managed? Two artists from Bristol, working with an interdisciplinary team, have taken it upon themselves to answer these questions by building the Martian House. Duravit is also in the mix thanks to the expertise of development engineer Franziska Wülker and products like SensoWash® Starck f – the Martian Toilet.
Visionary project Inspired by the Earth-like planet Mars, the artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent brought the project “Building a Martian House” to life in collaboration with Hugh Broughton Architects and Pearce+. The aim of the public art project is to build a real prototype of a Martian house.
Nicki Kent explained: “Mars is a place where you’d have to live carefully and resourcefully.” Ella Good added: “Imagining how a small community would live there offers a sharp lens on our lives here on Earth today and our fraught relationship with consumerism.”
Standard of living and comfort in an environmentthat is hostile to life Franziska Wülker, head of research & development at Duravit AG, came on to the initiators’ radar. In 2020 she took part in the NASA Lunar Loo Challenge, the aim of which was to develop a toilet that would work both in zero-gravity and on the moon. Wülker’s design ranked among the top three.
The development engineer’s fascination and motivation to be involved in the project arises from the discrepancy between the hostile planetary environment and daily comfort: “Everyday life on Mars is challenging and arduous as a result.
That’s why it’s so important that everyday items in the home are designed to be as simple and comfortable as possible. That applies especially to the things we don’t like talking about, such as using the toilet.”
Different approaches to a Martian toilet Requirements for the Martian Toilet include low water and electricity use, ease of operation and maintenance, prevention of unpleasant odors as well as the ability to use urine and feces as fertilizer.
Franziska Wülker identified various approaches: incinerating toilet, separation & composting toilet, freeze-drying, or a toilet with a water flush. Freeze-drying, for instance, removes any water contained in the matter and enables the dried residue to be disposed of. Mars is subject to cold temperatures and low pressure, both of which are required for freeze-drying. “At the same time, the overall process is complex, and we want to make life comfortable for the astronauts on Mars.”
Water extraction on Mars The total volume of the ice reservoir on Mars is 5,000,000 km³. Franziska Wülker: “On Mars there are ice caps at the north and south poles. Some parts of the planet have subterranean ice layers and glaciers up to 100 meters thick and close to the surface. So it’s best to build the Mars base where there’s lots of ice that’s easy to get at.” Water could be extracted by drilling and melting frozen water.
The Martian toilet: SensoWash ® Starck f Franziska Wülker: “SensoWash® reduces the consumption of toilet paper, which also ensures a high level of comfort and hygiene.” A symbiosis of toilet and bidet, Duravit’s SensoWash® shower toilet offers gentle and comfortable hygiene. Pure water is an ideal way to ensure gentle, highly hygienic cleaning. Significantly gentler and more sustainable than toilet paper, water removes bacteria, boosts circulation, and is gentle on skin.
Expanding on her theoretical ideas, Franziska Wülker said: “Treated grey water from washbasins, showers, etc. can be used for flushing via a circular system. It is also conceivable that an additional urinal could be used to separate urine and turn it into fertilizer.”
Franziska Wülker and the project team ultimately opted for a shower-toilet: “We opted for a toilet with a water flush. We’ve also integrated a shower function, which is comfortable and hygienic – plus there’s a lot more water than toilet paper on Mars.”
Exhibition in Bristol The house at M Shed Square in the English city of Bristol will be open to the public until October It will start off as an empty façade and will come to life thanks to alternating interiors that provide opportunities to collectively explore a new, sustainable culture.
Initiator Nicki Kent: “It is to be a place where people can research, experiment, and discuss: a blank canvas to try things out and imagine new perspectives for today’s lifestyles.”
Ella Good sums up: “Each of us has expertise to offer and a part to play in shaping our shared future.”
Lakes Showering Spaces has announced a new structure to the Board of Directors, reinforcing its commitment to continue to drive the business forward towards future growth.
Bev Brown, who joined Lakes over 10 years ago as finance director and fulfilled the role of managing director for the last five and a half years, has now stepped up to occupy a dual role of finance director and chairman. Meanwhile, existing director Mike Gahir takes on the position of managing director, while Darren Bedford, who joined the business 16 months ago as national sales manager has been promoted to sales director. Completing the board is Chris Thain who joined earlier this year as supply chain director.
This new structure enables Lakes Showering Spaces to continue to drive the brand forward and puts the business in a strong position for both its employees and customers, further cementing its commitment to delivering the highest quality products and service.
Bev Brown, chairman and finance director of Lakes, comments: “I am delighted to announce Mike’s appointment as Lakes’ new managing director. Mike has been instrumental in helping the board face the challenges that lie ahead, and he will continue to have a key role in driving the business forward on its journey.”
Mike Gahir, managing director, said: “The team at Lakes have been a key part of the development of the company over the years, and the board changes are designed to enable us to continue to build on the fantastic results already achieved. Even though recent global events and market dynamics have not been favourable for businesses generally, here at Lakes we are in an excellent position to continue to grow and reinforce the brand’s strong position in the markets where we operate.”
With 20 years of experience in the industry, Darren Bedford will continue to be a valuable asset to the team following his promotion to sales directorand appointment to the board of directors. He comments: “I am delighted to be joining the Lakes board at such a pivotal time for the company. There are fantastic opportunities on the horizon for us to grow sales even further through existing and new sales channels, and by working closely with our entire customer base, I am confident that we will achieve great things together.”
Chris Thain also brings a breadth of experience to his role as supply chain director having worked in various sectors throughout his career, including food processing, Amazon distribution and home improvement companies.
“I am pleased to have joined Lakes at an exciting time for both the business and brand,” commented Chris. “Having started working with the team, it is clear that they are very passionate about this company. There are some exciting initiatives planned that I am really looking forward to implementing with everyone here at Lakes.”
Lakes is a leading manufacturer and supplier of showering spaces, including walk-ins and bath screens, selling exclusively through builders’ and plumbers’ merchants, and retail bathroom stockists.
British bathroom specialist Aqualisa has hired Glenn Payne as director of sales within its specification division. In this new role, Glenn will report to Aqualisa sales director Tim Creedon, and will spearhead the expansion of its business in the specification, housebuilder and developer channels.
Glenn joins Aqualisa from construction materials company Knauf, where he held the position of head of sales for the UK and Ireland. Previous appointments have included head of projects for Grohe and head of business development at Whiteleaf Furniture.
With a career spanning more than 20 years in the construction product, KBB and furniture industries, Glenn brings extensive experience in sales strategy development, with an established track record in new business generation, building key stakeholder relationships and driving profitable revenue growth.
At Aqualisa, Glenn will accelerate the specification project pipeline and increase conversion ratios, with plans to expand the sales team and lead the Aqualisa, Elisa and Gainsborough brands into new sectors.
Tim Creedon, sales director at Aqualisa, said, “I am extremely pleased to welcome Glenn to the Aqualisa specification team. We will benefit greatly from his significant experience and achievements in the industry, as well as his proven background in negotiation, successful project delivery and commercial growth.”
Glenn Payne added, “It’s a particularly exciting time to be joining Aqualisa. The company’s powerful heritage in bathroom innovation, as well as its solid reputation for reliability and customer service, makes it an exceptional brand. I look forward to being able to advance its presence in the specification channel throughout the value chain, and increase the team’s coverage to a national level. This is an outstanding opportunity to extend Aqualisa’s business in the property development, architectural and specification arena.”
Glenn holds a BA Hons Degree in Interior Design from the Surrey Institute of Art & Design. A father of two girls, Glenn likes to spend time with his family, and his favourite pastimes include golf, cooking and travel.
