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Lockdown support culminates in awards shortlist for Virtual Worlds

Virtual Worlds has announced it is a a finalist in the Kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2021, in the one-off Lockdown Support Special Award category

Focusing on how suppliers have looked after their retailer networks during the lockdowns, the category was the perfect fit for Virtual Worlds, which has supported its network of retailers in a number of ways since the beginning of the pandemic.

An important part of this was a lead-generation campaign helping retailers to capitalise on the reported increase in number of homeowners looking to improve their kitchen or bathroom during and post-lockdown. A nationwide social media campaign drove leads directly to retailer showrooms in an expansion of the company’s £100k ‘Making your home perfect’ consumer marketing drive.

Consideration was also given to some of the specific benefits of Virtual Worlds products and how they could help during the pandemic, particularly with more people working from home. As lockdown hit, Design Cloud and Pro Suite licences were issued free of charge, enabling retailers to conduct remote sales presentations of 3D interactive designs. Full technical support also remained available, with the Virtual Worlds team of product trainers and IT professionals available throughout for any remote one-to-one training sessions and to handle any technical customer queries.

Finally, with one of the biggest obstacles for retailers during the pandemic being cash flow, the Virtual Worlds COVID-19 care programme saw over £140,000 worth of financial support being given, via payment breaks for its retailers.

“2020 was a year in which the KBB industry had to pull together like never before and we were pleased to be able to support retailers to get through what was an extremely challenging time,” comments Virtual Worlds Managing Director Nathan Maclean. “To be a finalist in the Kbbreview Retail & Design Awards is all the more special because it follows such a difficult period.”

For more information on Virtual Worlds, please visit www.virtualworlds.co.uk

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Geberit announces winning partnership with British Olympian

Geberit Olympian

European bathroom manufacturer, Geberit, has this week unveiled a brand-new partnership with Rio Olympic silver medallist, Victoria Thornley.

Thornley steps into the spotlight as Geberit ambassador for the AquaClean shower toilet and will feature in related materials moving forward, including a national advertising campaign.

The ambassadorship announcement follows the latest silver medal success for Victoria Thornley at April’s European Rowing Championships, as she counts down the weeks until Tokyo 2021.

Sophie Weston, channel marketing manager at Geberit UK, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Victoria Thornley.

“Not only does Victoria have a passion and love for the water as a rower, she is also incredibly in tune and passionate about health and wellbeing, something we’re equally committed to by bringing the ultimate wellbeing solution to the bathroom with the AquaClean shower toilet.

“Through this exciting new partnership with Victoria we will continue to raise awareness of washing with water, a movement that has and continues to gather pace.”

Victoria Thornley commented: “I’m thrilled to be working with Geberit as ambassador for the Geberit AquaClean Shower Toilet.

“I have an incredibly close connection to water through rowing and I really like the feeling of washing with water. The AquaClean provides a fresh out-of-the-shower feeling thanks to its cutting-edge WhirlSpray technology, and eliminates the need for toilet paper, providing optimum hygiene in the bathroom.

“For me, success happens long before you get in the boat, and preparation is key in so much of what I do day-to-day to be successful. Preparation is an integral part of training and so having a bathroom routine that sets me up for the day and helps me to recover at the end of a session is really important.

“Technology is also of the highest importance to me, not only in my training but also in my everyday life, and the Geberit’s AquaClean is packed to the rafters with state-of-the-art technology, from its Whirlspray technology to my personal favourite, the heated seat!”

To find out more about the Geberit AquaClean shower toilet visit: www.geberit-aquaclean.com.

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New appointment to boost Kinedo brand

Shower brand Kinedo has announced the appointment of Nicola Lees to the position of Business Development Manager.  Nicola joined the team on 1st Feb 2020 and has hit the ground running thanks to her extensive knowledge of the sector.

Prior to joining the team at Kinedo, Nicola worked for City Plumbing Supplies (Part of Travis Perkins Group) for five years as a Senior Account Manager.  She was involved with new build plumbing contractors and housebuilders and prior to this she worked in sales for over a decade with some of the UK’s leading housebuilders.

Nicola is tasked with gaining specifications with regional housebuilders and to develop sales in the leisure sector as well as within bathroom showrooms. She will also be first line of support for national and independent merchants for both Saniflo and Kinedo.

Outside work the mum of one spends her spare time travelling and is planning a wing walking challenge – just for fun.

More news from Kinedo.

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Roper Rhodes adds 22 new recruits

Roper Rhodes has reported it has enjoyed robust sales over the last year and as a result has steadily been recruiting. The company has had 22 employees start this year already with more to come later in the year.

This expansion in people has been across all aspects of the business from logistics to customer services to marketing. Katie Staff , Head of HR commented “it has been a really busy but extremely rewarding time for us to be able to take on so many new people across both our Bath and Portbury sites. Our People are what set us apart at Roper Rhodes and we continually take steps and act on employee feedback to ensure our working environment and benefits make Roper Rhodes a great place to work”.

Leigh Leather, Managing Director said: “I’m so pleased to be able to make these sorts of announcements, it is testament to the team we have built up as it is through all their hard work we are able to make this investment. I am looking forward to further success with everyone at the company from those who have been with us 20 years to those just beginning their career with us”.

Over the last year, Roper Rhodes has introduced many new HR initiatives including developing wildlife-friendly gardens for employees to enjoy their lunches in, to employee recognition schemes. An Employee Assistance programme (in conjunction with BUPA) has just been introduced to help promote employee wellbeing.

To learn more about Roper Rhodes click the link

About Roper Rhodes:

Roper Rhodes Ltd is one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of bathroom furniture and bathroom products. Over forty years of experience goes into creating each and every one of our products. Functional, stylish and seamlessly put together, our range incorporates contemporary and classic designs. Our development programme ensures we are continually updating our product range to reflect changes in style.

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Kaldewei receives iF Design Award 2021

Kaldewei has been awarded an iF Design Award 2021 for its sustainable steel enamel MING washbowl.

The traditional contours of this exquisite MING bowl from Kaldewei are inspired by Chinese Ming vases. The washbowl is made from durable steel enamel; with its elegant lines, large interior depth and a delicate, filigree edge it is 100 percent
recyclable and offers a sustainable option.

Whether located a classic bathroom or in a more creative setting – the elegant MING with its convex curved silhouette creates an image that helps turn the bathroom into a sensual retreat. An easy-to-clean finish, the Kaldewei Pearl Effect, is standard on all MING bowls, it is also available in lava black matt, black, alpine white glossy and alpine white matt.

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Unidrain appoint new International Key Account Manager

Unidrain is expanding its sales force and is venturing into the export market, and as such has announced the appointment of International Key Account Manager Kim Kragbæk Larsen. Kim joined Unidrain in April and has been appointed for his expertise in sales; he will be in charge of expanding the export market for Unidrain.

Kim has over 20 years of experience within sales, most of which he gained amongst the cutting edge of the fashion industry; spending the last 10 years as Head of Sales at DK Company, Saint Tropez and Ilse Jacobsen. With the changing trends styles and innovation within the world of architecture and design, his experience in the ever-fluctuating world of fashion will stand him in good stead.

Kim Kragbæk Larsen says: “I am looking forward to introducing Unidrain’s products to the international high-end shops and department stores. Initially, my primary focus will be on the European market and I will be concentrating on getting the Reframe Collection, Unidrain’s series of bathroom accessories into the export market.”

Unidrain Reframe Collection

“At the same time, I will be working to ensure that Undrain and all they can offer is one of the first names that spring to mind when architects and designers are selecting drains and accessories for the bathroom. It will be an exciting challenge to bring my sales skills from the dynamic and fast-paced world of fashion into play within a totally new industry for me. Ethically this also appeals to me too; as this is an arena where the focus is on sustainability; the products have a much longer lifespan and a much smaller carbon footprint.”

More news from Unidrain

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Roca introduces new comfort height & rimless WC’s

Bathroom manufacturer Roca has added three new WCs to its portfolio, offering even more choice of design options and functionality.

A new addition to the popular Debba range is the Rimless Comfort Height WC (pictured bottom) available as both back-to-wall and close-coupled back-to-wall, with a 4.5/3litre flush and soft-close seat and cover. Due to the complementary design of both WCs, they can be easily paired with other products in the collection, as well as several others to provide a full bathroom specification. The Debba collection has a wide range of solutions that, combined with its soft, square design, fit seamlessly into any bathroom space.

Also new to the Roca portfolio, is The Gap Rimless Comfort Height close-coupled back-to-wall WC (pictured top), with a 4.5/3litre flush and soft close seat and cover. The Gap collection delivers both a compact and functional style. Its wide range, including the new Rimless Comfort Height WC enables full optimisation of any bathroom space, while its sleek, modern and stylish lines make it an ideal solution for any contemporary bathroom design.

The rimless aspect of the WCs adds another level of hygiene, simplifying and easing the cleaning process altogether. With no rim, the smoother inner walls eliminate areas for bacteria to thrive and therefore prevent a build-up of dirt. When flushed, the improved design not only prevents splashing, but also distributes the water around the entire bowl, reaching higher and cleaning the entire surface, acceding EU standards.

The added benefit of comfort height helps to future-proof the bathroom, ensuring those with mobility issues can use the WCs comfortably.

Debba Comfort Rimless WC's

About Roca

Roca is a company dedicated to the design, manufacturing and marketing of products for the bathroom space, as well as ceramic floor and wall tiles for architecture, construction and interior design. The company operates in 170 countries with 84 production centers and a workforce of 24,000 professionals worldwide. 

The family company is the market leader in Europe, Latin America, India and Russia. It also has a strong presence in China and the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Africa. Thanks to this, it is a world leader in its activity.

www.uk.roca.com

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LIXIL Red Dot and iF Design Awards add to 400 global awards

LIXIL collected 14 Red Dot and 13 iF Design Awards in April, adding to a total of more than 400 global design awards for the company, collectively. The new design accolades include faucets, showers, toilets and doors spread across living and public spaces.

“I am proud to see LIXIL’s brands collect a total of 27 renowned design awards to kick off another exciting year. The presence of LIXIL’s designs at notable global design awards over the years is a clear affirmation of our design processes. We currently have eight in-house design studios across the world, with over 100 in-house designers who are dedicated to implementing design thinking, and together with R&D, Marketing and other business functions, LIXIL is able to take on bold challenges to make better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere.” 

Following the centralization of the LIXIL Global Design Organization, Flowers is now also overseeing Brand Identity, building stronger connections across multiple brand related operations and long-term brand equity. 

“To fully unlock LIXIL’s potential, we are also building on the LIXIL’s brand portfolio and global leadership by sharpening and simplifying what makes each brand unique. I am confident that our approach will help us strengthen our relationship with the consumer.”

More people are spending time in the home, and the change in lifestyles has accentuated the need for new products and experiences. From supporting hygiene practices, to ensuring the efficient use of space, or adding comfort and in securing privacy, LIXIL continues to apply design to solve real-life challenges. 

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2020 launches exclusive 2021 Interior Design Trends

2020 has launched an exclusive on-demand webinar series on the latest interior design trends with three renowned manufacturers from the industry.

This webinar series was created for interior design professionals who want to learn about the latest industry trends. Knowing and understanding trends, what influences them, and how to apply them to their next design is crucial to the success of their business. It is also the perfect opportunity to bring suppliers, manufacturers and designers together on an inspiring project.

This webinar series consists of three videos within which one manufacturer presents the 2021 trends in their sector: Colin Swift from AEG for home appliances, Nicola Wiley from Symphony for kitchens and Richard Shore from Utopia for bathrooms.

“As a leading British designer and manufacturer of beautiful bathroom furniture, it’s imperative that we work with and anticipate current and future design trends. Innovative new product design is the lifeblood of our industry and so we are delighted to partner with 2020 and share our insights for this year.” – Richard Shore, Head of Product Design at Utopia.
The videos are available for free and on demand.

Visitors can request access by visiting the dedicated page.

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