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Fayers is the first independent merchant to launch Lakes innovative online showroom platform to its trade customers. and the first retailer to present the new shopping experience to consumers through the Just Add Water website.

Lakes, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of showering spaces, launched its virtual showroom concept in July as a pioneering selling tool for merchant and retail stockists and their installer and homeowner customers.

The online platform allows Lakes products to be viewed and favourited, helping merchant sales and showroom staff turn leads into orders, and upsell complementary products such as taps, showers, grab rails and shower seats. Accessed through the stockist’s own website, visitors to the Lakes showroom can also download joint-branded brochures and ask questions directly to the stockists’ staff via chat and email.

Fayers, a member of the Fortis buying group, was keen to include the Lakes virtual showroom platform on both its trade and Just Add Water consumer websites. Managing Director, and Fortis Category Director, Ken Beney says: “As a merchant and retailer, we often feature links to our trade partners and suppliers on our website, but these usually direct customers off our site and they don’t always come back to us to make a purchase. With the Lakes virtual showroom, we can offer our customers more product and technical information while keeping them within our site and hopefully securing the sale.

“As well as keeping traffic within our website and driving sales, the Lakes online showroom makes life easier for our staff as they can access it from our website – there’s no need to waste time logging in and out of websites. It’s a really exciting concept.”

After two years in development, the Lakes virtual showroom has been launched at just the right time, as online shopping has surged while access to physical showrooms has been restricted.  

Lakes Sales & Marketing Director, Mike Tattam, adds: “With the current physical restrictions on visits to showrooms, stockists are keen to capitalise on the growing online trend – and that’s where our online showroom platform can help our customers grow their business. By offering an enriched virtual shop window, that integrates with stockists’ existing facilities and staff and doesn’t substitute them, our stockists can engage with more potential buyers and help their sales and showroom staff turn interest into orders.”

The online showroom platform was developed by MRA Marketing. Managing Director Lucia Di Stazio says: “We created this showroom platform to enable merchants and manufacturers to offer a personalised online experience to their trade customers, and for end user customers. Lakes has raised the bar on what manufacturers can do to help their trade partners sell. Our virtual showroom delivers an engaging, interactive online shop window to attract more visitors while providing the selling tools required to convert online traffic into orders.”

Lakes Online Showroom is at www.fayers.co.uk/products and www.justaddwater.co.uk/products. To find out how your business can benefit, call Lakes on 01684 853 870.

The demands on bathroom design have risen significantly, with the shower gaining a lot more attention,
being preferred over bathing by 64% of UK participants surveyed in a recent study by global market research institute, Explorare, commissioned by GROHE.

As many as 43% are now viewing the bathroom as an indulgent space for wellness and relaxation with 48%
using the shower to help them relax, the survey found.

Whatever our reasons for showering; whether it’s an invigorating way to start the day, a quick freshen up
after working out or for pure relaxation, our needs vastly differ from person to person and even day by day,
and showers need to be able to meet this demand.

Alongside flexibility in design and functionality, the survey results revealed that safety and sustainability are two key factors consumers take into consideration when it comes to showering. 78% said that having a shower surface that doesn’t get hot whilst they’re showering was a priority and similarly, 61% deemed a thermostat that can balance out fluctuations in temperature an important factor in their shower’s performance. Meanwhile, around half (51%) of Britons are actively trying to save water with 54% seeking additional sustainable functions from their shower to help them live more eco-consciously in their day-today lives.

The combined results of the study provide in-depth insights into consumer behaviour around showering and help bring to light some key customer profiles:

• The “Hygiene Pragmatist”, who showers after exercise like 55% of those surveyed, does not spend
much time in the bathroom and favours a practical shower system that keeps water consumption to
a minimum.
• The “Wellness Lover”, who is looking for intelligent shower systems with lots of innovative features
for a truly luxurious water experience
• The “Freshness Enthusiast”, who prefers a shower system with comfortable user-centric features
and high design standards.

New market research Grohe

The market research reveals the bathroom is no longer a purely functional room used exclusively for personal hygiene. Expectations have risen considerably which has been accompanied by the increasing complexity of bathroom design and furnishing. Retailers, designers and installers can really build an understanding of their customer’s needs by exploring individual customer behaviour and combining this with their product and industry knowledge to make informed, relevant recommendations. At a time when 40% of us are using the bathroom for some much-needed space and me-time, conveying the emotional added value of a product can create plenty of upsell opportunities, and ultimately result in a higher level of positive customer satisfaction.

With the new study results highlighting that 36% would like to replace their entire shower systems and 54% desiring a large rainfall shower head that provides full shoulder-to-shoulder coverage, GROHE is delighted to announce the return of its showers cashback promotion.

Customers can claim up to £100 cashback when they purchase one of the many showers included in the promotion, ranging from the award-winning SmartControl range to the brand’s Grohtherm systems.

GROHE SmartControl uses innovative push-and-turn technology that allows you to operate up to three different water outlets with multiple spray patterns, from a powerful jet spray to luxurious rainfall experience, delivering a shower perfectly tailored to your mood. Installation and aesthetic styles featured in the promotion include exposed and concealed systems, round or square trims and showerheads in both Chrome or Moon White finishes.

The promotion runs from 1st August – 31st October 2020 with all cashback claims to be made by 30th November 2020. To find out more about the offer and read the full terms and conditions simply visit www.grohe.co.uk.

Pictured Top GROHE’s award-winning SmartControl shower system.
Pictured Middle: GROHE’s new Grohtherm 1000 Thermostatic shower system (only select Grohtherm models are included in the shower cashback)

More news from GROHE


2020 – a leading provider of applications and enterprise solutions has announced an agreement with Roxor Group to implement 2020 Ideal Spaces as their online lead generation tool. 

Roxor Group is one of the UK’s fastest growing manufacturers and distributors of luxury bathroom products. Their success rests on market-leading brands such as Hudson Reed, Nuie, Old London, Asquiths, Bayswater and BC Designs. They have enjoyed significant growth across all brands, outpacing their competition. Roxor Group were specifically impressed with the simplicity and easy placement of core products into the customer floorplan using the guided steps in 2020 Ideal Spaces.

2020 Ideal Spaces is a cloud-based 3D space planning solution that provides an industry platform enabling omnichannel retail for consumers, home centres, retailers and manufacturers. It improves the consumer onboarding experience through every step of the buying journey, from inspiration to qualification to space planning to purchasing—resulting in higher qualified leads and conversions.

“We’re looking forward to launching 2020 Ideal Spaces and excited about the possibilities that the platform will provide for our retailers and their customers,” says Dave Cullen – CEO at Roxor Group.  “It’s been a delight to work with the 2020 team during the development stage of the project and we are eager to see the software go live to reap the benefits of what this inspirational tool will undoubtedly bring.” For more information about 2020 Ideal Spaces, visit: www.2020spaces.com/2020IdealSpaces

Combining seamlessly with any colour scheme, from dark and dramatic, to bold and bright, and any style of room, CRL Quartz Venetian Arte has a timeless flair that brings a sense of luxury to the kitchen or bathroom.

Extremely easy to care for, CRL Quartz offers all the beauty of natural stones such as marble, enabling designers and consumers to embrace this trend, while providing many functional benefits that make this the ideal surface choice for high traffic areas of the home, such as the kitchen and bathroom.

CRL Quartz is an engineered surface created to meet the demands of modern living. Scratch, heat and stain resistant, Venetian Arte requires minimal maintenance and no need for sealing to keep it looking as good as new.

For more information, brochures and free samples call CRL Stone on 01706 863 600 or visit www.crlstone.co.uk

More news from CRL Stone


When creating a perfect bathroom there are so many more decisions to make than the shade of the tiles. The position and size of the showering space is one that needs careful thought and planning. Whether it is for a family bathroom or a smaller ensuite; if the shower needs one door or two, should the doors to be sliding or bi-fold and is the shower placed in a recess or is it in a corner? The Exclusive Solutions collection from AQATA has the ideal shower screen.

The Exclusive Solutions collection from AQATA includes an extensive range of options for creating a showering space in the bathroom. The wide range of screen sizes are suitable for both corner or recess showers and are then matched with the appropriate door fitting for the style and size of the room. The choice of doors includes pivot, sliding, bi-fold and hinged all with ClearShield Eco-Glass and alternative coloured finishes as an option.

The ES240 and the ES245 are ideal for smaller spaces, they can either be located in the corner of a bathroom or a recess, but to both save space and ensure a clean minimalistic look the door pivots to open. The enclosure height is 1880 mm, but non-standard sizes are available with AQATA’s made to measure option.

Sliding doors such as the ES300 shown below are ideal for wetroom style recess showers.
The ES260 is a bi-folding door option – an ideal solution for smaller bathrooms.

The Exclusive Solutions and other shower screen options are all shown in the AQATA Look Book which
can be requested by emailing sales@aqata.co.uk or visit the website and download it directly –
www.aqata.co.uk/brochure

As part of its major new product launch for Summer 2020, Utopia has introduced a highly innovative new super matt, soft touch foil finish, available in four of the newly launched colours – Blush, Sea Green, Azure Blue and Storm Grey.

According to Utopia, these new finishes are at the very forefront of material technology and offer a truly luxurious soft touch feel and a sense of quality. They feature a higher light absorption threshold giving that super matt finish and the micro-structure technology helps in reducing the impact of grease marks like fingerprints.

Utopia soft touch finish Bellla - new blush finish

Helen Clark, Head of Marketing at Utopia Bathrooms, comments “These beautiful new finishes not only look and feel sensational but they also open up exciting new opportunities in terms of design possibilities.”

Utopia Bathrooms

More news from Utopia Bathrooms

About Utopia Bathrooms

Utopia is the UK’s leading supplier of rigid bathroom furniture, specialising in quality products designed to meet the particular requirements of British bathrooms.

In addition to fitted and modular furniture, Utopia offers a complementary range of baths, sanitaryware, brassware and work surfaces. Utopia products are sold through professional bathroom retailers throughout the UK.

We’ve rarely so longed to be outdoors, on holiday or enjoying the unrestricted freedom of travel as now. As the manufacturer of premium bathrooms, Kaldewei shows how you can satisfy your craving for a holiday or a relaxing break – at home in your own bathroom. Kaldewei has put together a few design ideas for the bathroom, so you can create a carefree sense of holiday, sun and rest into your home.

The lush green of the rainforest, the turquoise Mediterranean or the dazzling blue sky with white fluffy clouds on a Tyrolean mountain are all sensual impressions of holidays which stay with us all our lives, providing the indescribable feeling of untrammelled freedom, relaxation and contentment. There is no better place than the bathroom to think upon these moments, snatch back that elation and free ourselves temporarily from the many constraints we face in daily life. With the right design, you can switch off from everyday life here and enjoy a real holiday feel in your own home.

Almost like the rainforest: natural materials meet natural decor

Immerse yourself in a virtual rainforest with maximum comfort for showering, bathing and freshening up at the washbasin. Natural materials for the flooring, bathroom furniture and accessories such as wood, velvet or silk go perfectly with the sustainable bathroom solutions from the Kaldewei Emerso line and the Nexsys channel showers, creating a harmonious effect in green, white and brown. Aside from tingling rain showers, natural decorations on the walls and plants in the bathroom all combine to create the impression of a natural paradise. This impression is reinforced through the use of steel and glass – fused together into unique Kaldewei steel enamel – whose elements also come from nature. Creating a wellbeing space that feels like the rainforest when combined with accessories such as comfortable chairs and cushions,
can be made into the perfect space for quiet and rest at home.

Mediterranean lightness in the bathroom: focus on curves and delicate design

Turquoise water surrounded by cliffs and that sense of lightness that is integral to the Mediterranean – both are reflected perfectly in the combination of turquoise and grey as wall and floor colours, together with the alpine white of an exclusive Kaldewei trio:

Kaldewei Meisterstück Incava Miena Washbasin Bowls & Nexsys_Shower

All multi-award winning classics, the Kaldewei Nexsys shower surface, the freestanding Meisterstück Centro Duo Oval bathtub and the Miena washbasin bowls are stand-out features in your holiday bathroom thanks to their curves and delicate design. The advantages are the bathtub’s curved corners, the delicate fine edges of the washbasin bowls and the shower’s integrated waste channel. The design of the shower area with the floor-level transition further opens up the room and accentuates the sense of unrestricted freedom in the bathroom.

Kaldewei Meisterstücke: Blue mountain sky meets ocean-like waves

Whether it’s a reminder of the dazzling blue of the sky on a Tyrolean mountain with a scattering of fluffy clouds, or of the roaring Atlantic’s crested waves: sky blue combined with white is trumps in your holiday bathroom at home. The bathtub and washbasins of the freestanding Meisterstück Emerso line and the Kaldewei Nexsys shower surface in alpine white offer a vivid contrast to the wall colour and bring back beautiful memories of long-past holidays. As you enjoy the pleasant feel of Kaldewei steel enamel on your skin as you bathe, you will be reminded of sea cliffs washed smooth by the water. And when you gaze over the slightly raised edge of Arik Levi’s beautifully designed Meisterstück, you get a sense of waves ebbing and flowing.

Kaldewei Emerso Meisterstück Bathtub & Washbasins Nexsys sm

These are sensual impressions that you can only experience in a Kaldewei bathroom thanks to the balance of natural materials and exceptional design. Because the surface of Kaldewei steel enamel is ultra easy to clean, your holiday buzz won’t be destroyed by laborious scrubbing– it will stay with you long after your bath or shower. Holidaying at home also means far less pressure on the environment. Longhaul flights will be difficult and no-one wants to spend soul-destroying hours in traffic jams. Kaldewei steel enamel with its natural raw materials which can be 100 % recycled further boosts this awareness of the environment.

Providing the perfect contrast to the bold décor and neon lights chosen to reflect the beautiful bustling Hong Kong streets, RAK Ceramics has supplied its Cementina series floor tiles for a new restaurant and cocktail bar in Dubai.

Located on The Pointe, a waterfront complex of upscale shops, restaurants & entertainment along a seaside promenade within the popular Palm Jumeriah district, the interior of the Fat Chow Cantonese restaurant, has been designed by Aces of Spaces to reflect the culture of the cuisine. RAK Ceramics Cementina tiles feature throughout the dining area of the restaurant, with their scorched cement appearance lending a prominent and amiable appeal to the setting.

Ideal for such a high traffic area due to its high durability and ease of care, the RAK Ceramics tiles lend an industrial, raw element to the atmosphere, combining with street art posters on the walls, bright signage and mix of textures to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

The robust tile is ideal for commercial flooring use such as with Fat Chow, due to its sound technical characteristics, with its rustic styling adding to the authenticity of the venue and helping the exterior and interior to flow seamlessly.

“Congratulations to our team in UAE for securing this project, which is a reflection of the type of high profile projects our UK team is also focused on,” comments Ben Bryden, Sales and Marketing Director at RAK Ceramics UK. “The whole venue of The Point is very prestigious and designed to a very high calibre, making RAK Ceramics products the perfect choice, one of the many reasons why UK customers are also keen to specify with us.”

Contact:

RAK Ceramics UK

01730 237850

www.rakceramics.com/uk/

GROHE has once again been nominated for the German Sustainability Award 2021 following last year’s successful top 3 ranking in the category “Germany’s Most Sustainable Big Companies 2020”. The brand, which is best known as a manufacturer of integrated bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, is now looking forward with excitement to this year’s award ceremony on December 4th, 2020 in Düsseldorf.

German Sustainability Award 2021

For the 13th year running, the German Sustainability Award Foundation will honour companies that combine economic success with social responsibility and environmental protection in an exemplary manner. “We are really very pleased with the nomination and the recognition it brings. We have been pursuing our sustainability goals for many years with high pressure and full conviction,” says Thomas Fuhr, COO Fittings LIXIL International and CEO Grohe AG. “This year we have again been able to reach important milestones. It encourages us to constantly scrutinise and improve our internal processes in the interest of a better environment.”

GROHE switched to CO2-neutral production in April 2020. Since July 2019, GROHE has been using green electricity at all five LIXIL EMENA production sites, which produce exclusively for the global brand, and in the German logistics centres.

In addition, the brand is also investing in solar technology, combined heat and power plants and innovative, manufacturing processes such as 3D metal-printing that conserve materials to ensure a value chain that conserves resources.

In order to offset CO2 emissions that could not be reduced in the past, GROHE is also supporting two compensation projects. However, the brand’s commitment does not stop there: By 2021, GROHE wants to make its sales offices climate-neutral and increase its energy efficiency by its own means in order to reduce the share of compensation.

Since 2018, GROHE has also been actively engaged in avoiding plastic with its “Less Plastic Initiative” which aims to replace plastic packaging with more sustainable alternatives. This initiative has to date already saved around 10 million items of product packaging made of plastic. By 2021, this figure is to be increased significantly to up to 35 million.

For GROHE, sustainability is an integral part of its corporate strategy alongside quality, technology and design and it is therefore deeply rooted in the brand’s DNA. GROHE sees itself on a continuous journey in terms of its sustainability initiatives – looking to the future, but also motivated by the numerous successes in recent years. In addition to repeated top rankings in the German Sustainability Award, the sanitaryware brand was awarded the CSR prize of the German Federal Government in 2017 whilst GROHE CEO Thomas Fuhr was also GROHE’s first 3D metalprinted tap ICON 3D

For further information about GROHE and its sustainability topics go to green.grohe.com

More news from GROHE

As part of its major Summer product launch, Utopia has greatly extended the colour choice for its Symmetry, YOU, i-Line and Geo furniture collections.

In all, 11 new finishes have been introduced taking the overall selection to 24 door finishes, the widest choice ever available at Utopia. The new colours are Azure Blue, Blush, Burnt Copper, Coastal Oak, Glacier Grey, Glacier Grey Gloss, Latte, Pewter Fusion, Silver Fusion, Sea Green and Storm Grey.  Of these, Azure Blue, Blush, Sea Green and Storm Grey are the brand new super matt, soft touch door finishes, featuring an innovative material technology that results in a luxurious feel with the added benefit of repelling grease marks such as finger prints.

In addition to the new finishes, the collections have also benefited from further range developments. Symmetry, the elegant curved furniture range available in fitted, freestanding and wall mounted configurations, has been extended with the addition of a central two door washbasin unit and curved single base units in left and right hand options as well as two additional cladding panel finishes in Glacier Grey and Coastal Oak.

Utopia Geo
Geo washstation in new Burnt Copper with White Gloss

For the popular YOU modular collection, a slimline ceramic basin has been added to extend the choice of slabtop and sit-on washbasins within the range, offering a sleek, lower profile. Finally, Geo, the collection that offers boutique hotel style, also benefits from the 11 new door finishes and two further new carcass options – Glacier Grey and Coastal Oak.

Helen Clark, Utopia’s Head of Marketing, comments “With this greatly enhanced colour choice, we are offering an incredible range of colour combinations from dazzling new on-trend options through to tried and tested favourites. Our newly extended Visualise interactive planning tool on the Utopia website allows consumers to experiment with their own choices quickly and easily until they find their ultimate combination.”

www.utopiagroup.com