We are seeing the shortage of HGV drivers impacting all sectors of the economy. The pandemic, the ping-demic and the consequences of Brexit have created a crisis which is showing no signs of easing.

After months of well-documented warnings over the impact from national haulier groups, bathroom manufacturers are now also facing a range of supply-side challenges. Shipping and raw material costs have rocketed, leading to difficult pricing decisions and making it hard to enjoy the highly elevated levels of demand for products. Pent-up consumer spend is driving this demand, but without reliable logistics, supply chains are buckling.  

While there has undoubtedly been some supply disruption for merchants and retailers, the sector is working flat-out to prevent more widespread product shortages.

Government says it is talking with industry and is taking action on driver shortages, with stories of army intervention, increased vocational test capacity, and additional apprenticeship funding. These solutions are great for the two-three year picture, but they are unlikely to create the influx of drivers needed across all industries in the immediate and short-term. The one policy intervention that could make a difference, adding HGV drivers to the shortage occupation list to allow more EU drivers to work in the UK, has been explicitly ruled out by the Home Office. Let’s be honest, this is a political decision and a choice by Ministers to put the economy second to their ideology.

The haulage situation is compounded by problems in global shipping and volatility in costs of raw materials. DHL has warned shippers to expect higher freight rates long-term, with little easing in the market until Chinese New Year 2022 and ‘normality’ in 2023.

Having recently met with the Department for Transport and The Department for International Trade to discuss this issue, BMA is reiterating calls for the UK Government to demonstrate international leadership on this issue.
We are told various stakeholders in shipping, ports and logistics are now working together to better communicate, and it’s important for intelligence from this effort to be widely shared.

Global shipping issues cannot be handled by any single Government alone, but a functional shipping system is fundamental to our national trading ambitions. Government must use its newly independent voice to tackle the crisis, or the rhetoric about free-trade Britain becomes embarrassingly hollow.

There needs to be a recognition that shipping and haulage, the nuts and bolts of trading are a vital part of the economy. I fear the Government will need to find that out the hard way before expending any political capital.

With 2021 a boom year for home improvements, Water Regs UK is reminding installers to keep water efficiency front of mind when advising homeowners about bathroom makeovers.

At the turn of the year, almost one in six homeowners said they were planning some kind of home improvement in 2021*.

Many of those plans will include a bathroom upgrade and Water Regs UK sees that as an opportunity to remind homeowners about water efficiency.

As a nation, we underestimate the amount of water we use. A Water Regs UK study revealed that Brits believe the average person uses 72 litres of water per day, which is half the actual amount used by the average person**.

With this in mind, Water Regs UK is encouraging trades professionals to talk to their customers about the steps that can help reduce the amount of water wasted around the home.

Installers and plumbers are in a unique position, being trusted to offer expert advice and guidance to homeowners looking to upgrade their bathrooms.

The advice they can offer will not only save water, they can also save a customer money if they are on a water meter.

There’s an array of products and measures that can help make homes become more water efficient, but the Water Regs UK research showed that many people are unaware that some of them even exist.

10 common water saving measures Brits aren’t aware of:

1. Drought resistant plants (81%)
2. Taps with aerators that use less water (79%)
3. Cistern displacement device (74%)
4. Insulating pipework to prevent leaks (69%)
5. Using greywater or rainwater to flush your toilet (66%)
6. Shower flow limiter (65%)
7. Water efficient dishwasher (63%)
8. Water efficient washing machine (54%)
9. Water efficient shower head (51%)
10. Shower timer (49%)

As part of the Government’s 25-Year Environment Plan to reduce personal water consumption, it has recently been announced that mandatory water efficiency labels are set to be introduced in the UK.

The labels are being introduced in a bid to inform consumers on water efficiency while encouraging them to reduce water waste.

They will also be another prompt for installers to offer customers the best possible advice about water efficiency when specifying products for a bathroom upgrade.

Julie Spinks, Managing Director of Water Regs UK, commented:

“The introduction of mandatory water efficiency labels is a step in the right direction as it will give consumers better information to decide which products to buy and contribute to reducing the amount of water we waste as a nation.

“Any water label should also confirm that the product has been tested to show they are of suitable quality and standard. A product that is water efficient but then leaks would defeat the purpose of the label

“Plumbers and Installers play a crucial role in helping people make educated choices when it comes to choosing the right products for their bathroom and, with 2021 being such a big year for home improvements, that advice is more important than ever before.”

After an – inevitably – lower-key edition last year, LDF 2021 opens on the 15th of September and sees massive city-changing projects such as the official opening of Design District to smaller brands like TAKT and HØLTE who have been making waves in sustainability.

Following the grand opening on the 15th, Design District will be open for the public to explore throughout September, with Open City architecture tours and a packed programme of exhibitions and discussions will feature an A-list roster of thinkers and makers. Two of the district’s 16 buildings will be given over to exhibitions featuring emerging talents in art and design; the transparent, caterpillar-like, greenery-filled Design District Canteen by Selgascano will be open for food and drink; and there’ll be opportunities to explore the for-creatives, by-creatives members’ workspace Bureau.

New brands will make their debut on the global stage –  LDF will host Finland’s unapologetically ‘brutal’ new furniture house, Vaarnii – and exciting emerging talents will gain a much-needed platform through initiatives like Discovered and Designposts.

In a first for the festival, LDF’s 10 districts will each be celebrated with a distinctive sculptural waymarker. AHEC has joined forces with furniture studio Benchmark and Sebastian Cox, selecting 10 student designers and recent graduates to create ‘Designposts’. These public landmarks welcome visitors to each district while also expressing facets of the area’s unique character, culture and creative heritage The designers have been selected from two of the city’s leading design schools: four from London Met picked by Peter Marigold; and six from the Bartlett chosen by Izaskun Chinchilla. From a William Morris-inspired homage to the natural beauty of Walthamstow to a celebration of the Shoreditch streetscape, the red oak structures celebrate London, while giving the emerging design generation a high-profile platform to shine.

Locations: Islington, King’s Cross, Mayfair, Southwark, Shoreditch, Park Royal, Clerkenwell, Walthamstow, Greenwich Peninsula, Brompton

LDF Opening times: 24-hours, 18-26 September

The Unified Water Label Association is calling on the bathroom industry to play its part to tackle climate change, following the release of a landmark scientific study from the UN that claims human activity is changing the climate in unprecedented, and sometimes irreversible ways.

The new report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes clear that the warming we’ve experienced to date has made changes to many of our planetary support systems that are irreversible on timescales of centuries to millennia. It reports that the dangers of warming our planet are no longer something distant, impacting people in faraway places. According to Dr Friederike Otto from the University of Oxford, one of the many authors “Climate change is not a problem of the future, it’s here and now and affecting every region in the world.”

UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill says, “We welcome this report and hope that it serves as a wake –up call for the bathroom industry.  Climate change is happening here and now and can no longer be ignored.  We all have a responsibility to play our part and get behind the industry led Unified Water Label, which can make a real difference.

“The link between water, energy and carbon is one that we have highlighted in our recent campaigns to promote the Unified Water Label.  Our new website includes an energy and a carbon calculator that can calculate how much energy is used when water is heated, and how much relative carbon is used when changing to a product that uses less water.

“With our European partners we have been working with those involved in designing, manufacturing, selling, installing and purchasing water using bathroom products, to provide them with the tools they need to help consumers understand the issues around water scarcity, and the link with energy and carbon emissions.

“We have the products but we need to do more work to help people understand the impact of their water consumption, and nudge them towards positive behaviour change.

“We will launch a new campaign to coincide with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) which takes place in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November, which will encourage those in the bathroom industry to seek out UWL labelled products, and help drive home the message that if we reduce water wastage, we can have a positive impact on the environment.

“Those interested in finding out how they can become involved by supporting the UWLA or joining our campaign can find out more here.”

Wilsonart has announced changes to its UK team with the appointment of a new Project Manager and an internal Sales Team promotion.

Jon Mortimore (pictured top) joins Wilsonart UK as its new Project Manager for bathroom brands to provide structure and alignment to the product development of the company’s fastest-growing category in Europe. Starting out as a product manager in the food packaging industry, Jon’s career rapidly evolved towards more commercial roles that have led him to having full responsibility for top European accounts at Plastico. Moving then within the same industry to a large American based group, Dart Products Europe, Jon was focused on category management and product development and responsible for the ideation, conceptualisation and launch of many different innovative products.

Based in Wellingborough and working closely alongside the marketing team, Jon will be responsible for managing the introduction of expanded product lines and continued growth for this sector of the company.

“Jon joins us with wide experience in project management, which will greatly benefit Wilsonart brands across Europe as we continue to expand and develop in both the commercial and residential bathroom sectors. We’re pleased to welcome him to the Wilsonart family.” says Neil Horton, Sales Director at Wilsonart UK.

Wilsonart has also announced the promotion of Stewart Hooper to Key Account Manager for Mermaid Panels. With over 20 years in Sales as an Area Sales and Business Manager, Stewart’s vast experience and knowledge will be used to continue to drive sales growth within the business. Maintaining his work alongside the National Sales Manager, Stewart will support the newly increased and existing sales team, helping to target large sales opportunities, and promote new and exciting product ranges that will be coming to the marketplace during Q3 & Q4 of this year.

Keely Greenhalgh, National Sales Manager at Mermaid Panels comments: “Stewart has been with Mermaid Panels for over 14 years and during this time he has worked closely and established key relationships with retailers, showrooms, and merchants within the buying groups. In his promoted role, Stewart will have a more dedicated focus on continuing to grow these connections whilst creating new business opportunities too. We truly value the time and effort that he has dedicated to the business so far and are looking forward to this next chapter.”

About Wilsonart

Wilsonart is UK manufacturer of laminate worktops and home to leading surface brands, including Mermaid Panels and Bushboard.

www.wilsonart.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilsonartUK
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LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/wilsonart-uk/

Mermaid Panels, best known as a leading European shower panel supplier, has launched a new and improved website with a Professional Resource Centre for its trade partners, and enhanced features for its consumer customers.

The new website features an intuitive interface that streamlines the customer journey, customers from all sales channels including consumers, retailers, installers and designers will benefit from refreshed, inspiring and practical content as well as a selection of new features.

Featuring a completely modernised look and feel, the website provides a dedicated hub to spotlight Mermaid’s product range and delivers an inspirational journey through the brand’s decors and ranges via a user-optimised design.

Mermaid Panels’ trade partners will benefit from a new Professional Resource Centre, a digital hub designed for retailers and installers to access everything they may need: from FAQs and brochure downloads to a completely streamlined sample ordering process, and even an all-new ‘Find your nearest Business Manager’ function which facilitates a quick and simple way for customers to engage with and seek support from the brand’s experts directly.

“As a brand, Mermaid Panels serves several different channels and customers, and so first and foremost our objective was to create an accessible platform that captured this” says Sasha Betty, Digital Marketing Specialist at Mermaid Panels.

“The website overhaul has been 6 months in the making and we are thrilled with the final outcome and customer feedback so far. Whether you are a retailer, installer, designer or consumer, our new site will provide you with specialised benefits: from research and decision-making right through to installation and aftercare. We have taken on board common customer pain points over the years and invested in a solution that we feel will really make all the difference and also bring the Mermaid Panels brand firmly into the digital age.”

www.mermaidpanels.co.uk